is the proper name, a word signifying a plain open country, with little wood; but the Pouteovatimis Indians pronouncing this word Mascoutins, and the French having heard of a very similar sound used by the savages to express fire, concluded that such was the name of the nation of which we are treating.

It is bounded by the nation of the Kickapous, and with these it has preserved a continual friendship and alliance. In 1672, the Father Alouez and Dablon, of the abolished order of Jesuits, entered here to preach the gospel. These were followed in their labours by others, and particularly the Father Mermet, who, being persuaded by Mr. Juchereau, native of Canada, undertook their converson in 1700. All, however, met with little success, such was the indocility and superstition

of that nation.

MASEDAN, a bay of N. America, between Acapulco and Aquara, near the cape of California, and where Sir Thomas Cavendish anchored after he had passed the straits of Magellán.

MASEITA, a small river of the province and captainship of Marañan in Brazil. It rises near the coast, runs n. between the rivers Tapicura and Maradi, and enters the sea in the bay which forms the mouth of the river Marañon.

MASHAMAYO, a small river of the province and government of Mainas in the kingdom of Quito. It rises in the country of the Iquitos Indians, runs e. and enters the Napo.

[MASHEET. See HANCOCK's River.] MASI, a settlement of Indians of N. Carolina; situate on the shore of the river Albama. MASIUARIBENIS, a barbarous and numerous nation of Indians, who dwell in the llanuras of the river Meta, to the s. w. They first began to be reduced to the Catholic faith with great success in the year 1726, when several flourishing settlements were established, which continued to increase under the direction of the Jesuits of the province of Santa Fé, until 1767.

MASKOUTENS, also MASCOUTINS, and called by Mr. de la Potherie, MASCOUTECHS, a river of New France or Canada in N. America. It runs s. e. and enters the lake of Kitchigamin.

[MASON, a county of Kentucky, on the s. side of Ohio river. It contains 2267 inhabitants, of whom 208 are slaves.]

[MASON, a township in Hillsborough county, New Hampshire, on the Massachusetts line, about 70 miles w. of Portsmouth, and 50 n. w. of Boston. It was incorporated in 1768, and contains 922 inhabitants.]

MASPA, a settlement of the province and government of Quixos y Macas in the kingdom of Quito. It is much reduced and poor, and four leagues from the settlement of Papallacta.

MASPARRO, a river of the province and government of Maracaibo. It rises near the city of Barinas Nueva, runs s. s. e. and enters the Apure by the n. side, after that of the St. Domingo.

MASPHIS, a nation of barbarian Indians of New France or Canada; the only ones who as sisted the American colonies, now the United States, in the war against Great Britain, by which those colonies became independent. The answer which this nation returned to the American deputies is very singular, "Here (said they) are 16s. the whole of our revenue; we had, indeed, intended to buy brandy with it, but we will drink water; we will sally forth to the chase, and we will sell the skins of the beasts that we kill, that we may give you the produce."

[MASQUE PocoNA, a jurisdiction of Charcas in Peru, extending above 30 leagues. Its air is hot, but not too great for vines. The city of the same name, where the bishop of Santa Cruz de la Sierra resides, is very thinly inhabited; but there are in other parts of the jurisdiction several popu lous towns. It produces all kinds of grain and fruits; honey and wax constitute a principal part of its trade.]

[MASQUES, or CHILQUES AND MASQUES, a jurisdiction of Cusco in Peru, which begins about seven or eight leagues from Cusco, extending about 30 in length. See CHILQUES.]

MASQUINONGE, a river of New France or Canada. It rises from the lakes in the country of the Algonovins Indians, runs s. e. and enters the river St. Lawrence, in the lake or pool which this river forms, and known by the name of San Pierre.

[MASSAC, a fort built by the French, on the n. w. side of the Ohio, about 11 miles below the mouth of Tennessee river. Its remains stand on a high bank, in a healthy agreeable situation.]

MASSACHUSETTS, a province of N. America, one of those which compose the republic of the United States. It is included in New England, and is a principal of the four parts into which this republic is divided; bounded n. by New Hamp shire, e. and s. by the Atlantic ocean and the province of Connecticut, and w. by New York. It is 170 miles in length, and 94 at its greatest width. It had from its first establishment, when it was only a colony of England, the privilege of electing its magistrates, governor, and assembly; as also to form and establish such laws as it might

think necessary for its government, without being subject either to the approbation of the king or parliament; but its inhabitants having been accused of certain abuses which they had made of this liberty, they were at last divested of these rights in the latter part of the reign of Charles II. This led to an insurrection; but they some time afterwards succeeded in obtaining another patent of privileges, which, although very favourable, was nevertheless inferior to that which they before possessesed, since now the court had reserved to itself the authority of nominating the governor and principal officers of the republic, and of the militia; and even although the council was elected by deputies of the people, yet did the governor reserve to himself the right of disapproving their choice, a system which was sufficient to do away in toto their accustomed prerogative.

The appeals which concerned 300l. and upwards, were to be referred to the king and his council, a practice both legal and constitutional; but if they were not disapproved by the end of three years, they were considered valid and authorised. There existed a dispute for many years with the English court respecting the salary of the governor of this province.

This state abounds in neat cattle, pigs, birds, and fish. The inhabitants employ themselves in making manufactures of flax, wool, and skins. On account of abundance of the timber requisite for ship-building, a considerable number of vessels are constructed. Here are mines of iron and copper, and some of the former have been worked. Its manufactures, and especially those of hats, have fallen off considerably, owing to the policy adopted by the English.

This province provides salted meat and fish to the Antilles islands, receiving in exchange sugar and molasses. Here are stills for making rum, also some sugar-mills. It was the most powerful colony the English had. Its inhabitants amounted, previously to the war of their independence, to 400,000, 80,000 of whom were capable of bearing arms; and all had the liberty of following their own religion.

In 1721, this province suffered much from the epidemic disorder, the small-pox, and, the deaths being very numerous, a celebrated physician adopted the plan of inoculation, practising it not only upon his wife and children, but also upon himself; when such was the ignorance and fanaticism of the people, that they declared the practice to be something monstrous, and to have had its origin in the infernal regions; and, accordingly, having ascertained that a certain person had under

gone the process, a large party convened at midnight near his house, and breaking open one of the windows, threw in a lighted granade full of combustibles. Indeed, the whole people being thus averse to this new mode of practice, the magistrates found it necessary to prohibit it for fear of a general sedition; they therefore convened the physicians, who, either from fear or other policy, declared inoculation to be prejudical; and, in consequence of this, a bill was passed to its prohibition, with a degree of universal satisfaction that has never been equalled. But the folly of this measure has been out-done by the cruelty of another, which offered a specific reward to any one who should put to death an Indian; and, in 1724, a sum of 22501. sterling was paid to John Lovewell, from his having, in a company of wretches formed for the purpose of hunting down those unhappy creatures, after the same manner as the chase of wild beasts, put to death 10 whilst they were sleeping round their hut. With this black act cast into their teeth, let the English vaunt of their humanity, and declaim against the pretended cruelties of the Spaniards in America; for these, even were they true, have never come up to such barbarism as we have just related; a barbarism which cannot find its equal in any other nation whatsoever.

[In Massachusetts are to be found all the varieties of soil, from very good to very bad, capable of yielding all the different productions common to the climate, such as Indian corn, rye, wheat, barley, oats, hemp, flax, hops, potatoes, field beans and peas, apples, pears, peaches, plums, cherries, &c. That part of the state which is distinguished by the name of the Old or Plymouth Colony, including the counties of Barnstable, Duke's, Nantucket, Bristol, and Plymouth, in point of soil, is the poorest part of the state, being generally sandy and light, interspersed, however, with many excelient tracts of land. The n. middle, and w. parts of the state have, generally speaking, a strong, good soil, adapted to grazing and grain; very si milar to the soil of New Hampshire and Vermont on one side, and to that of Rhode Island and Connecticut on the other. It has been observed that the effects of the e. winds extend farther inland than formerly, and injure the tender fruits, particularly the peach, and even the more hardy apple. The average produce of the good lands, well cultivated, has been estimated as follows: 40 bushels of corn on an acre, 30 of barley, 20 of wheat, 50 of rye, 100 of potatoes. The staple commodities of this state are fish, beef, lumber, &c.

The country is well watered by a number of

[small rivers, some of which fall into Connecticut river, which passes s. through the w. part of the state; others run n. to Merrimack river, which enters from New Hampshire, and waters the n. e. corner of the state; others pass into Connecticut and Rhode Island; Mystick and Charles rivers fall into Boston bay; others fall into the Atlantic ocean in different parts of the sea-coast. The chief capes are Ann, Cod, Malabar, Poge, Gay head, &c. The most noted bays are Massachusetts, Ipswich, Boston, Plymouth, Barnstable, and Buzzard's. There are many other bays of less note. The chief islands are Plumb Island, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, Elizabeth islands, and numerous small isles in Boston bay.

The chief iron manufactures in this state are described in the account of Plymouth and Bristol counties, and their towns Taunton, Bridgewater, Middleborough, &c. where nails have been made in such quantities as to prevent, in a great measure, the importation of them from Great Britain. Nail-making was not an object of considerable attention, until the general court laid a duty on imported nails of every size. This soon 66 gave nerves to the arm, and motion to the hammer; and from 400 to 500 nails indifferently made by one hand in one day, 1000 are now well made in the same time." The machine invented by Caleb Leach of Plymouth, will cut and head 5000 nails in a day, under the direction of a youth of either sex. There is a machine for cutting nails at Newbury port, invented by Mr. Jacob Perkins, which will turn out 200,000 nails in a day. The nails are said to have a decided superiority over those of English manufacture, and are sold 20 per cent. cheaper. There are duck manufactories at Boston, Salem, Haverhill, and Springfield, which are in a promising way. Manufactories of cotton and woollen have been attempted with various success at Beverley, Worcester, Boston, and Newbury. There are in this state upwards of 20 paper mills, which make more than 70,000 reams of writing, printing, and wrapping paper, annually. It was estimated in 1792, that 20,000l. worth of paper was yearly made by these mills. The other manufactories for cotton and wool cards, playing cards, shoes, lace, wire, &c. are noticed under the description of Boston, Lynn, Ipswich, Dedham, &c. There are several snuff, oil, chocolate, and powder mills, in different parts of the state, and a number of iron works and slitting mills, besides other mills, in common use for sawing lumber, grinding grain, and fulling cloth. There were, in 1792, 62 distilleries in this state, employed in distilling from foreign materials: 1,900,000 gallons have been dis

tilled in one year, which at a duty of 11 cents a gallon, yields a revenue to the government of 209,000 dollars. There are indeed few articles which are essentially necessary, and minister to the comfort and convenience of life, that are not manu. factured in this state. This commonwealth is remarkable for its literary, humane, and other societies, which are noticed in their proper places.

Massachusetts is divided into the following counties, whose polls, proportion of the public tax of 10007. and number of senators in 1793, were as follows:

The five counties of the district of Maine, included in the above, belong to Massachusetts. The town of Boston is rated at 3631 polls; and is to pay 911. 16s. 84d. on the 10001. From the above schedule, some opinion may be formed of the supposed value of the rateable estates in each county. A committee of the general court reported the above in June 1793; which report was referred to their next session.

The militia of Massachusetts is composed of all the able-bodied white male citizens from 18 to 45 years of age, excepting from the enrolment, within these ages, clergy, school-masters, civil officers of importance, either under the state or federal government, and also those who have held any military commission whatever. The whole is formed into 10 divisions and 21 brigades, and consists of 82 regiments of infantry; 48 troops, composing 12 squadrons or battalions, of cavalry; and 36 companies of artillery, generally two to each brigade. These, together, compose a body of about 50,000 infantry, 2000 cavalry, and 1500 artillery; the]

[The Massachusetts colony may be considered as the parent of all the other colonies of New England. There was no importation of planters from England to any part of the continent n. of Maryland, except to the Massachusetts, for more than 50 years after the colony began. In the first 10 years, about 20,000 souls had arrived in the Massachusetts. Since then, it is supposed more have gone from hence to England, than have proceeded from thence hither. Previously to giving a more detailed history of Massachusetts, we shall offer some accounts of the original state of this country, with respect to the inhabitants and soil.

The Massachusetts first planters distinguished the natives by four divisions, eastern, western, northern, and southern. The e. people had the general name of Tarrateens or Tarrenteens; they had their residence at Kennebeck, and the other rivers in the province of Maine, and country e. of it, and were part of the Indians called by the French Abenakis. The several subdivisions of these Tarrenteens or Abenakis, according to the rivers where they dwelt or generally resided, as St. John's, Penobscot, Norridgewock, Ameriscoggin, Saco, &c. were not known to the English until many years after. There was great enmity between the Tarrenteens and Aberginians, or Indians of Massachusetts bay, who although they had been formerly a great people, yet were so reduced, that upon alarms, they would fly to the English houses as to asylums, where the Tarrenteens durst not pursue them. The French traders were better known than the English to these Tarrenteens, and early planted prejudices against the English, which could never be eradicated. These were the Indians who first used fire-arms, which, with ammunition, they obtained from the French. The second year after the Massachusetts planters arrived, the Tarrenteens destroyed some of the English who went to trade with them, and pretended that they were drowned; but the truth being discovered, some of the Indians concerned in the murder were taken and hanged. Although they refrained from open hostilities for above 40 years, yet they kept no great correspondence with, nor shewed any affection for, the English colonies, but at all times were attached to the French, who speak of them as the most mild and docile of any of the Indian tribes. The w. Indians went by the general name of Mohawks, and under this name were included all the Indians w. of Quinnipiak, (New Haven), although the Indians of Hudson's river,the Moheganders or Mackhanders, were people of a different nation and language. The name of Mohawks struck terror into the Indians who lived e. of them.

The s. Indians were divided into many distinct nations or tribes. Those upon Long island and the main-land opposite upon the sea-coast, were accounted among the most savage. The Massachusetts Indians had but little knowledge of them. There was another subdivision, by the name of the River Indians, who had seated themselves in several commodious places upon the banks of Connecticut river. The next to them were called Mohegins, between Connecticut river and the Pequod river, and upon some of the higher branches of the last-mentioned river. Then came the Pe quods, seated between and about New London and Stonington, near to the sea-coast. These were supposed to be among the most warlike, active, and daring, and made the Naragansets, though more numerous, stand in awe of them, and would have made the English do so likewise, if they had been owners of English arms, and understood how to use them. They were represented to have been under greater prejudices against the English, from the beginning, than any other tribe. Next to the Pequods were the Naragansets, who lived along the sea-coast from Stonington round point Judith, and on what is called the Naraganset bay. They consisted of several lesser principalities, but all united under one general ruler, called the chief sachem, to whom all the others owed some kind of fealty or subjection. The Nianticks were included, and considered as a branch of the Naragansets. The Naragansets must have been very numerous. None of the Indians were supposed to increase, but to be continually decreasing, not in the English colonies only, but among the French in Canada also, and yet in 1675, at the beginning of Philip's war, it was generally agreed that the Naraganset tribe consisted of 2000 fighting men. They were the most curious coiners of the wampompeag, and supplied the other nations with money, pendants, and bracelets; also with tobacco-pipes of stone, some blue and some white; they furnished the earthen vessels and pots for cookery and other domestic uses. They were considered as a commercial people, and not only began a trade with the English for goods for their own consumption, but soon learned to supply other distant nations at an advanced price, and to receive beaver and other furs in exchange, upon which they made a profit also. The Pequods jeered them for their indisposition to war, and called them a nation of women.

The Wamponoags were next to the Naragansets. Their sachem was Massasoiet or Woosamequin, whose chief seat was sometimes at Pokanocket or