EXPEDITION TO THE MASSACHUSETTS.

THE next and last narrative in this volume is that of the expedition to Boston Bay, and the country of the Massachusetts. The preceding narrative of the journey to Namaschet ends Aug. 15th, 1621; this begins about a month afterwards, September 18th, 1621. The sachem of the point of country whither their visit was directed, which about ten years after was to be called Boston, was under the sovereignty of Massasoit. The present expedition was one of peace and commerce, or "truck" with the natives, according to the expression used in the Journal.

The reader will remark with surprise, on this occasion, as on some others recorded in the narratives, the extreme fear in which the Indians seem to have stood of the English, shaking and trembling for terror. It is probable that this was partly owing to the report which Squanto had spread among them, that the Pilgrims had in their possession a cask containing the Great Plague, which had so fearfully desolated the country, and that they could let it out at pleasure. The poor creatures seem sometimes to have expected that the very sight and presence of the Pilgrims would make their bodies break out in the deadly carbuncles of the Pestilence.

This expedition ends Sept. 20th, 1621. The record of it in Prince's Chronology is succeeded by the following summer note from Gov. Bradford: "All the summer, no want; while some were trading, others were fishing Cod, Bass, &c. We now gather in our harvest; and, as cold weather

advances, come in store of water fowl, wherewith this place abounds, though afterward they by degrees decrease; as also abundance of wild Turkies with venison, &c. Fit our houses against winter, are in health, and have all things in plenty."

T seemed good to the Company in generall, that though the Massachusets has often threatened vs (as we were informed) yet we should goe amongst them, partly to see the Countrey, partly to make Peace with them, and partly to procure their trucke.

For these ends the Governours chose ten men, fit for the purpose, and sent Tisquantum, and two other Salvages to bring vs to speech with the people, and interpret for vs.

18 Sept. We set out about mid-night, the tyde then seruing for vs ; 1621. we supposing it to be neerer then it is, thought to be there the next morning betimes: but it proued well neere twentie Leagues from New Plimmouth.

We came into the bottome of the Bay, but being late wee anchored and lay in the Shallop, not hauing seene any of the people. The next morning we put in for the shore. There we found many Lobsters that had beene gathered together by the Saluages, which we made ready vnder a cliffe. The Supposed Copp's Hill. Captaine set two Sentinels behind the cliffe to the landward to secure the Shallop, and taking a guide with him, and foure of our company, went to seeke the Inhabitants, where they

met

met a woman comming for her Lobsters, they told her of them, and contented her for them. She told them where the people were; Tisquantum went to them, the rest returned, hauing direction which way to bring the Shallop to them.

The Sachim, or Gouernour of this place, is called Obbatinewat, and though he liue in the bottome of the Massachuset bay, yet he is vnder Massasoyt. He vsed vs very kindly; he told vs, he durst not then remaine in any setled place, for feare of the Tarentines. Also the Squa Sachim, or Massachusets Queene was an enemy to him.

We told him of diuers Sachims that had acknowledged themselves to be King I AM ES his men, and if he also would submit himselfe, we would be his safegard from his enemies; which he did, and went along with vs to bring vs to the Squa Sachim. Againe we crossed the Bay which is very large, and hath at lest fifty Ilands in it; but the certaine number is not knowne to the Inhabitants. Night it was before wee came to that side of the Bay where this people were. On shore the Saluages went but found no body. That night also we rid at Anchor aboord the Shallop.

On the morrow we went ashore, all but two men, and marched in Armes vp in the Countrey. Hauing gone three myles, we came to a place where Corne had beene newly gathered, a house pulled downe, and the people gone. A mile from hence, Nanepashemet their King in his life time had liued. His house was not like others, but a scaffold was largely built, with pools and plancks some six foote from the ground, and the house vpon that, being situated on the top of a hill.

Not farre from hence in a bottome, wee came to a Fort built by their deceased King, the manner thus; There were pools some thirtie or fortie foote long, stucke in the ground as thick as they could be set one by another, and with these they inclosed a ring some forty or fifty foote ouer. A trench breast high was digged on each side; one way there was to goe into it with a bridge; in the midst of this Pallizado stood the frame of an house, wherein being dead he lay buryed.

About a myle from hence, we came to such another, but seat

ed

ed on the top of an hill: here Nanepashemet was killed, none dwelling in it since the time of his death. At this place we stayed, and sent two Saluages to looke the Inhabitants, and to informe them of our ends in comming, that they might not be fearefull of vs: Within a myle of this place they found the women of the place together, with their Corne on heapes, which we supposed them to be fled for feare of vs, and the more, because in diuers places they had newly pulled downe their houses, and for hast in one place had left some of their Corne couered with a Mat, and no body with it.

With much feare they entertained vs at first, but seeing our gentle carriage towards them, they tooke heart and entertained vs in the best manner they could, boyling Cod and such other things as they had for vs. At length with much sending for came one of their men, shaking and trembling for feare. But when he saw we intended them no hurt, but came to trucke, he promised vs his skins also. Of him we enquired for their Queene, but it seemed shee was far from thence, at lest we could not see her.

Here Tisquantum would haue had vs rifled the Saluage women, and taken their skins, and all such things as might be seruiceable for vs; for (sayd he) they are a bad people, and haue oft threatned you: But our answere was; Were they neuer so bad, we would not wrong them, or giue them any just occasion against vs: for their words we little weighed them, but if they once attempted any thing against vs, then we would deale far worse then he desired.

Hauing well spent the day, we returned to the Shallop, almost all the Women accompanying vs, to trucke, who sold their coats from their backes, and tyed boughes about them, but with great shamefastnesse (for indeed they are more modest then some of our English women are) we promised them to come againe to them, and they vs, to keepe their skins.

Within this Bay, the Salvages say, there are two Riuers; the one whereof we saw, hauing a faire entrance, but we had no time to discouer it. Better harbours for shipping cannot be then here At the entrance of the Bay are many Rockes; and in all

are.

likelihood