Chap. II. (2)

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Of the Tarrenteenes or the Indians inhabiting Eastward.

The Tarrenteenes saving that they eate not mans flesh, are little lesse salvage, and cruell than these Canniballs: our Indians doe feare them as their deadly enemies; for so many of them as they meete they kill. About 2 yeares agoe, our Indians being busie about their accustomed huntings, not suspecting them so neere their owne liberties, were on the suddaine surprized by them; some being slaine, the rest escaping to their English Asylum, whither they durst not pursue them; their Sagamore was wounded by an arrow, but presently cured by English Chirurgery. These Indians are the more insolent, by reason they have guns which they dayly trade for with the French, (who will sell his eyes as they say, for beaver:) but these doe them more credit than service; for having guns they want powder, or if they have that, they want shot, something or other being alwayes wanting; so that they use them for little, but to salute coasting boates that come to trade, who no sooner can anchor in any harbour; but they present them with a vollie of shot, asking for sacke and strong liquors, which they so much love since the English used to trade it with them, that they will scarse trade for any thing else, lashing out into excessive abuse, first taught by the example of some of our English who to uncloathe them of their beaver coates, clad them with the infection of swearing and drinking, which was never in fashion with them before, it being contrary to their nature to guzell downe strong drinke, or use so much as to sippe of strong-waters, vntill our bestiall example and dishonest incitation brought them to it; from which I am sure hath sprung many evill consequents, as disorder, quarrels, wrongs, unconscionable and forcive wresting of Beaver and Wampompeage: and from over-flowing Cups there hath beene a proceeding to revenge, murther and over-flowing of blood. As witnesse Maister Wayes Boate, which they sunke with stones after they had killed his son, with three more: buzzing the English in the eares, that they see it bulged against the rockes, and the men drowned in the beating surges: but afterwards being betrayed, as many as were caught, were hanged. Another who was situated on Richmonds Iland, living as he list amongst them, making his couetous corrupt will his law; after many abuses, was with his family one evening treacherously murthered, under a faire pretence of trade; so that these that lived beside the Law of God, and their King, and the light of Nature, dyed by their hands that car'd neither for God, King, nor Nature. Take these Indians in their own trimme and naturall disposition, and they be reported to be wise, lofty-spirited, constant in friendship to one another; true in their promise, and more industrious than many others.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

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