Becoming America - An Exploration of American Literature from Precolonial to Post-Revolution, 2018a

BECOMING AMERICA
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY ENGLISH COLONIAL LITERATURE
with Negroes and East Indians, are rare with them. They have Comely Faces and
Tolerable Complexions, some of their Noses having a rise like the Roman.
Their Language is Lofty and Elegant, but not Copious; One Word serveth in
the stead of Three, imperfect and ungrammatical, which defects are supply’d by
the Understanding of the Hearers. Sweet, of Noble Sound and Accent. Take here
a Specimen.
Hodi hita nee huska a peechi nee, machi
Pensilvania huska dogwachi, keshow a peechi
Nowa, huska hayly, Chetena koon peo.
Thus in English.
Farewel Friend, I will very quickly go to
Pensilvania, very cold Mon will come presently,
And very great hard frosts will come quickly.
I might Treat largely of their Customs and Manners, but that will not agree
with my proposed Brevity.
As soon as their Children are born, they wash them in cold Water, especially
in cold Weather. To harden and embolden them, they plunge them in the River,
they nd their Feet early, usually at Nine Months they can go. The Boys Fish till
Fifteen, then hunt, and having given proof of their Manhood, by a large return of
Skins, they may Marry (else ’tis ashame to think of a Wife) which is usually at the
Age of Seventeen or Eighteen; the Girls stay with their Mothers, and help to hoe
the Ground, Plant Corn, bear Burdens, and Marry about Thirteen or Fourteen.
Their Houses are Matts, or Barks of Trees set on Poles, Barn-like, not higher
than a Man, so not exposed to Winds. They lie upon Reeds or Grass. In Travel they
lodge in the Woods about a great Fire, with the Mantle of Duls they wear wrapt
about them, and a few Boughs stuck round them.
They live chiey on Maze, or Indian Corn softed in the Ashes, sometimes
beaten and boyl’d with Water, called Homine. They have Cakes, not unpleasant;
also Beans and Pease, which Nourish much, but the Woods and Rivers aord
them their Provision; they ear Morning and Evening; their Seats and Tables
are the Ground; they are reserv’d, apt to resent and retain long: Their Women
are Chaste (at least after Marriage) and when with Child, will not admit of their
Husband Embraces any more till Deliver’d. Exceeding Liberal and Generous;
Kind and Aable; uneasie in Sicknesse, to remedy which, they drink a Decoction
of Roots in Spring-Water, forbearing Flesh, which is they happen to eat, it must be
the Female; they commonly bury their Kettles and part of their goods with their
Friends when they die, suspecting (poor souls) they shall make use of them again
at the Resurrection. They Mourn a whole Year, but it is no other than blacking
their Faces.
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