USA > Maine > The history of the state of Maine; from its first discovery, A. D. 1602, to the separation, A. D. 1820, inclusive, Vol. I > Part 50
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wealth and
* Jeffreys, p. 66, 80 .- Indian Wars, (anon.) p. 269.
t Wolf-dogs are said to be the offspring of the fox and the wolf .- 2 Belk. Biog. p. 130-1. The Indians had no domestic fowls .- 1 Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. p. 213.
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10 1675.
A. D. 1615, property, which was not portable in every situation and move- ment ; and no money except wampam .* This was an article wrought out of shells, found upon the coasts of New-England and Virginia, and formed into beads,-all of a vivid color re- sembling pearls. Each " eye," or bead, was of a cylindrical form, about one 4th of an inch in length, smaller than a pipe-stem, and fluted through the centre, large enough to receive a strong thread. They were of two varieties, the white and the black or violet : the former was double in value of the latter, and rated at a farthing apiece,-now at a cent ; and both, in 1643, were by a colony law made a tender, in all debts under 40 shillings. Ten thousand of these beads are not unfrequently wrought into a single belt, four inches in width, and from two to three feet in length. Wampam is with Indians, the pearl of great price. It is interwoven into every part of their better dress; it is their money ; it is used as an interchange or token of the highest re- spect.
f'easts.
The natives have their songs of war, of sociality, and of wor- ship. But none of their usages are more general, than their feasts and dances on special occasions, such as war, victory, peace, marriage, and social meetings. In the war-dance, and it is believed, in that of victory, the females being the devotees of peace, never take a part : otherwise they are as fond of this amusement and exercise, as the other sex.
Samuel Champlain was present at an entertainment, in true native style, A. D. 1603, attended by the Algonquins, Eteche- mins, and Mountaineers ;+-the particulars of which give a fair specimen of similar scenes. The Algonquin Sagamore, Ama- dabison, who made the feast, took his seat between two perpen- dicular poles, on which were suspended their enemies' heads taken in war; and all the guests were seated around next the walls of the great cabin, armed with a kind of hard-wood spear, or dirk. To amuse the company, a young Indian took his dog, and, flourishing around the boiling kettles of venison, seven or eight in number, danced from one to another of the attendants, and when coming to the Sagamore, he gave the dog a twirl upon his back, and retook his place. He was followed by others
* Wampampeag .- Prince, p. 173.
+ Purchas, p. 933-936 .- The men only shout.
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CHAP. XIX.]
equally expert in the same feats. All with festive mirth partook A. D. 1615 of the repast ; and afterwards some told stories, others sang, and to 1675. several danced, with their enemies' heads in their hands. The Indians of Amadabison then arranged and seated before him, " their women and maids, in ranks ;" who suddenly sprang up, as the men stood singing behind them, and casting off their man- tles of fur and other articles of dress, except their beads, sang and danced till quite exhausted ;- when, the whole in concert shouted, he ! he ! he !- and resumed their mantles and their seats. After a short respite, the Sagamore arose and addressed the Etechemins and Mountaineers, urging them to partake in the festal and social joy ; when suddenly the whole company repeated loudly the same shout ;- every one, divesting himself of his mantle, or outer garment, joined in the general dance ; the guests, at the close, seizing something at hand, such as beads, flesh, or other article, and presenting it to the Algonquins. The entertain- ment was closed with foot-races, in which two of each nation were competitors ; the victors being rewarded with presents.
The principal amusements of the natives are dancing ;* foot- Amuse- races ; wrestling ; quoits ; chequers; and among the boys, bat ments. and ball. In summer, when the weather is fair and warm, both sexes bathe daily. At chequers, the older Indians are so expert, as boldly to challenge the most skilful white men to the game. Smoking tobacco is another habit and amusement, to which both sexes are strongly attached. Among familiar friends, the lighted pipe sometimes passes around, from one to another, like a cup of drink ; each taking a few whifs, in general conviviality. The calumett is the pipe of peace. Its boll is usually made of a soft reddish stone ; and its stem, about two feet in length, is of the hardest wood, oftentimes curiously ornamented. To smoke from it is proverbial of mutual friendship and peace. Like the seal to a contract, or the sanction of a promise ;- it is used as a pledge of faith and fidelity-and ever considered sacred.
The manners of the Indians are such as might be expected ; Their man- being the untutored-the unpolished children of nature. They ners. always enter a house without knocking, if the door be unfastened, and take seats without being requested. Nay, it was not unusual,
* Oldmixon, p. 15 .- He says the females are particularly fond of dancing.
+ 5 Charlevoix, p. 311, 897, 426, 437.
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A D. 1615, in earlier times, when they wished to warm, or be sheltered from to 1675. the storm, to burst in the bolted door of the white man, at any hour in the night, and tarry until it was their pleasure to depart. On meeting, they nod the head, are very fond of shaking hands, and prefer to be saluted with the endearing appellations, or names, of brother or sister .* The Indians seldom, in token of respect, uncover their heads, or remove their hats or caps, except in times of religious worship. What renders their visits less irksome, is the haste they commonly manifest; though they have no particular object of pursuit. Not many of them can speak English well enough to be readily understood ; and they are, with a few excep- tions, f never very frank to converse, or to communicate any facts concerning their tribe. Both sexes, so far as they fall under the observation of the English, are truly the patterns of modesty ; and instances of violence, offered to females or children are sel- dom known.
Names.
Names given or assumed among them, as among the ancient Hebrews, are significant of some event, incident, or interesting object in nature. The child inherits no name of its parents, nor does a woman change hers when she marries. They are fond of titles ; and Indian warriors are sometimes rewarded, like Ro- man heroes, by new or appendant names, expressive of their achievements.
Improve- ments.
Past events are celebrated in song ; the tablets of memory are their only records ; and intellectual improvement is never an ob- ject of Indian solicitude. One can hardly conceive of a people more destitute of what the enlightened parts of the world would deem necessary to society and the comforts of life. A few sim- ple implements of daily use, a few weapons of war, a few articles of apparel, are the principal specimens of their ingenuity. They
* That is, ' qua neccheer,' how do you do, my brother ?
t Aitteon, the chief, cannot speak English with facility ; but John Nep- tune and Capt. Francis can pronounce the language pretty freely-and both are communicative and intelligent. Neptune has the high cheek bones, the copper color, the large muscular frame, indeed, all the features and appearance of the true Indian race. But Francis is supposed to be a descendant of Castine or some other Frenchman. He is less of stature, more talkative, and more smiling than inost others. English Mary was so called because of her beauty, her correct language, and her amiable man- ners. " The awkwardness of her sisters has been known id some instances to be a great mortification to her.
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are entire strangers to the education, which imbues the mind A D. 1615, with moral and religious principles, and fills it with knowledge, to 1675. -which refines the sentiments and affections, and polishes the manners.
Their genius is principally mechanical ; and they have some Arts and little taste for the fine arts .* A few specimens of their sculpture music. in stone and wood, are striking miniature-resemblances of men, beasts, birds and fish. In Wells, has been found a long stone pestle, the end of which has the form of a " serpent's head," well imitated. They sketch, with considerable ingenuity, the pic- tures of animals, upon different substances,-sometimes upon their vessels and the bolls of their pipes.t As an emblem of the devices in heraldry, the Indian's signature always resembles some animal, which he selects, and adopts, and never changes. The natives, especially the females, have good voices and an ear for music. According to an account in Pring's Voyage, A. D. 1603, they danced excessively, around a youth of the crew, playing upon a guitar. Some Indians will play tolerably upon a violin ; and in their great dances, the time is kept by a light beat upon a drum, usually accompanied by a vocal tune. Their war songs are solos, with tones of voice rough and harsh ; their carols are more musical ; and their church chantings, in modern times, are imitative of the catholic forms of praise.}
The natives have ascertained the true qualities of many herbs, Medical plants, barks and roots ; and prescribe remedies for every mala- dy with which the human body is attacked. Fevers are cured by sweating the patient in a close wigwam, with the steam of wa- ter, raised by means of heated stones, and then plunging him into a cold bath. Blisters are raised by certain kinds of bark, bound upon the skin. Sores are cured by warm medicaments ; agues, by hot vegetable steam ; spasms and pleurisies, by sudo- rifics ; and diarrhea by astringents.
In these practices, and in some useful arts, we have been the
. Smith's Hist. p. 240 .- He says, among these Eastern Tribes, "their " arts, games, music, attire and burials," differ little from those in Virginia. t They paint their faces, though without much taste or skill .- 1 Coll. M. Hist. Soc. p. 61.
# A specimen of Mickmak music .- Tamija, alle-luya, tamija dore- vem, hau, hau, he, he ;- the two last notes were repeated by the whole com- pany in grand chorus .- Oldmixon, p. 23-4.
knowedge.
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A. D. 1615, copyists of the Indians. We have learned from them, to form to 1675. English im- and use the scoop net; the cylindrical baskets, for eel-fishery ; itations of the Indians. and snow shoes, or rackets, in winter travelling ; to lure and catch fish by torchlight ; to preserve vegetables from frost by burying them in the sand ; meat from taint by putting it into snow, or dry- ing it in the smoke ; and to dress leather with the brains of ani- mals, so as to give it a peculiar pliancy and softness. Their homony consisted of corn broken in a mortar and boiled. Their samp was whole corn hulled by scalding water, a little impregna- ted with lie. Their nokehike was corn parched and pounded. Suckatash was composed of corn in the milk, and green beans- a very palatable dish. The broth of a boiled bass-head, thick- ened with homony, was called upaquontop. They taught us how we might heathfully repose with the feet to the fire, after expo- sure in the open air ; and how to raise maize, or Indian corn,* by manuring the soil with fish, planting it when the leaf of the white oak is " big as a mouse's ear," and hoing it in hills. To subdue a tree they bruised the bark at the surface of the earth, and scorched its roots with fire, till it would grow no more. They beat up and mellowed the ground with a stone or wooden hoe ; and planted four kernels of corn, and two beans in a hill ; and scattered among them pumpkins and squashes.
Education.
The Indians have no schools ; nor till the Europeans came among them, had they any idea of reading, writing, or arithmetic. Attempts have been often made to teach them letters; and in the present age there are found among the eastern Indians several, who can read a little and write their names. But children un- disciplined at home, submit to school-government with great re- luctance. To mention an instance ;- the English teacher at Pleasant-point tells me, that because he gave an Indian scholar a blow over the shoulder with a bush, he leaped out at the window, and in a minute, there was not one remaining in the house, ex- cept the Instructer : when a sturdy brother of the Indian boy, forthwith rushed in, brandishing a drawn knife with violent men- aces. Parents have no ambition to have their children school- ed, and are unwilling to have them live in English families.t
* Indian Corn, or " Maize" was called by the natives, "Weachin."-D. Neal's, N. E. p. 569 .- The Indians ate the " entrails of Moose, Deer, Bears, " -and of fish, and snakes they were particularly fond."-H. Trumbull's Indian Wars, p. 91.
t Rev. Elijah Kellogg.
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CHAP. XIX.]
The thoughts of labor, restraint and discipline, fill them with ex- A. D. 1615, treme uneasiness and anxiety ; and they are always perplexed to 1675. with fears, that the power of custom and fashion, might change the manners of their children and alienate them from the tribe.
In the use of language, or arbitrary signs of ideas, the east- Indian lan- ern natives compare with all other human beings. They have guage. their dialects, though no one tribe ever had an alphabet. To invent the signs of words, was an ingenious thought, which never entered their hearts ; and nothing mortal can be the subject of more perpetual change, than a language never written-never reduced to letters.
All the dialects of the Abenaques and Etechemins as previous- ly shewn,* possessed such an affinity and similarity, as enabled those of different tribes to converse together without difficulty.} Vocabularies as well as facts and circumstances confirm this truth. -One of these word-books, was compiled by Ralle, the French Jesuit, who lived among the Canibas Indians 26 years, posterior to 1693 ;} another by the Rev. Ammi R. Cutter, commander of the fort, and keeper of the trading house at Saco, subsequent to his dismissal from his charge at North-Yarmouth, A. D. 1735; and a third, by Rev. Daniel Little, minister of Kennebunk, and missionary to the Etechemins, after the war of the revolution. These are all said to be preserved ;§ though that of Ralle, being in French orthography, is rather a book of curiosity thian of use.||
So far as the language of these natives has submitted to grammatical parts of speech, and the etymologies, inflexions, and combinations of words are known, it has many evident peculiari- ties. It has no article ; for a or an, they, like the Romans, use one; and for the, this or that. Nor have they any single word, by which to distinguish the gender of nouns or pronouns. The Tarratines say, Neah, I; Keah, thou or you ; Heckomah, he or she ; Neonah, we ; Acoumah, they. Their modes and tenses
* See Ante, Chap. xvii .-
t It was from the natives, that the extensive region of Maine, received the name, Mavooshen, or Mawooshen .- Purchas, p. 939 .- 2 Belk. Biog. p. 149 .- The Indians say, ' the tribes, at the river St. John, and at Pas- samaquoddy, speak the same dialects.'
17 Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. p. 254 .- New Series. § Sullivan, p. 265. || Ralle's Vocabulary, in Library of Harv. University.
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guages.
A. D. 1615, are quite defective. Their inflexions of verbs to the persons are to 1675. by prefixes, suffixes, and changes, thus :- Nemanche,* I walk ; Indian lan- Keamounche, you walk ; Heckomah-mounches, he walks ; Neou- nah-n'muchepowneak, we walk ; Aroumah-mauts-cheteck, they walk.t They never use adjectives in the degrees of compari- son ;- an Indian prefix, equivalent to very, being their qualifying term. Land they call keag ; to which they prefix other words, and form the names of their rivers. Penops-Keag, means rock- land ; Cunds'-keag, leg-land ; Medawam'-keag, ripples or peb- bles-land.}
* Ch has its proper sound always when used; never like k.
t In Mohegan, N'pumseh, I walk ; k'pumseh, thou or you walk ; premis- soo, he or she walks .- Dr. Edwards .- In Openango, Moonseh, I walk; L'mooseh, thou, he or she walks ; Munchench, we or you walk ; M'sa'-tech, they walk.
# These might be indefinitely multiplied. Passamaquoddy, in Indian orthography, is Pascodum [pollock] oquon [catch'em great many] keag [land].
The manner of counting, and a few important words and expressions will show us the affinity and repugnance of different dialects.
ENGLISH.
TARRATINE.
MOHEGAN.
VIRGINIAN.
One,
Pēz-a-qun,
N'quet,
Necut,
Two,
Neice,
Neese,
Ningh,
Three,
Noss,
Nish, Nuff,
Four,
Yeaou,
Yoh,
Yowgh,
Five,
Polenes-q,
Napanna,
Paranske,
Six,
Nequitence,
Quutta,
Comotinch,
Seven,
Tombowence,
Edana,
Toppawoss,
Eight.
Sonsuck,
Shwosuck,
Nusswash,
Nine,
Nour-lee',
Paskugit, Kehatawgh,
Ten,
Medâira,
Pruck.
Kaskeke."
Eleven,
Nogudouncow,
Twelve,
Neice-uncow,
Twenty,
Nes-ins-ca,
VIRGINIAN.
One hundred
Nogudatequa,
Necuttoughtysinough,
One thousand.
Nogudunquâ
Necuttweunquaough.
Heaven, Spumkeag, Tarratine ;- The heavens, Keesuck, Mohegan ; Spemenkako'uin, Algonquin. God, Chenee-wusque ;- Same among all the ETECHEMIN tribes. Father, Meetungus, T'arratine. Nosh, my father, Cosh, thy father, Mohegan. Nooch, my father ; Gooch, thy father, Del. ; and Nousce, Algonquin. Boy, Skeenooses, Tarratine ; Wuskeene, Mohe- gan ; Pilawetschitsch, Delaware. A man (a) Sanumbee, Tarraline ; N'nin,
(a) Mickmak, Kessona ; VIRGINIAN, Nemarough, [a man]. " One white man," is expressed in the Tarratine language by "Ouanooch ;- White man's shoes, by " Ou-a-nooch-wank-seh-nah ;"-and how do you do? by
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In their first endeavors to pronounce the world English, they A. D. 1615, uttered the sound, "Yengees," whence is the term Yankees .* to 1675.
Indian lan-
The similarity apparent in the dialects of our three Etechemin guage. tribes, though great, is not without many discrepancies. For in- stance, among the Tarratines, chu-ee is yes ; aun'tah, no. But among the Openangos, and Marechites, choh, is used for yes ; and scaud, for no or not.t
To resolve, or analyze a language, is an exercise, requiring long and deep reflection, critical knowledge, and profound logic ; of which the natives have not, in regard to either, the most distant notions. Their dialects were the dictates of nature. Letters, grammar, composition and style, were subjects among them, which admit of no improvement. Their language, in appearance when written, resembles short hand, or laconic phrases.} Many of their words are long ; one answering for several in the English tongue. The sounds of some vowels in the alphabet, are often
Mohegan ; Alisinape, Algonquin ; Leno, Delaware. Brother, Neecheen, Tarratine ; Nisanick, Algonquin ; Skinetch, Mickmak. Sun, Keezoose, Tarratine ; Keesis, Algonquin ; Keesough, Mohegan. Fire, Squitta, Tar- ratine ; Scoute, Algonquin ; Pockatawer, Virginian. Hair, Peersoo, Tar- ratine ; Lissis, or Lissy, Algonquin ; Milach, Delaware.
* Heckewelder.
¿ The Lord's prayer, in the Tarratine dialect follows, which Capt. Francis, and Capt. Jo Delislos and others, agree in saying, is very much so ex- pressed by the Indians at St. John's and Passamaquoddy .-- Metunk'senah, our Father ; Ouwa'ne, who is there; spum'keag-aio, up in heaven; kee'- nuck, adored be ; tle-we-seh', thy name; keah'-dabel'-dock, thy kingdom ; now-do'-seh, come ; keah-olet-haut' ta-mon-a, thy will ; num-ah-zee', let it be done; m'se-tah'-mah, over the whole earth ; t'hah-lah-wee'-keunah, like as ; spum'keag-aio, up in heaven ; me-lea'-neh, give; neo'nah, us; ne-quem- pe-bem-gees'o'coque, to-day; maje'me, every ; gees'-cool, day ; ar'-bon, bread ; mus-see-a'tos'sec, pardon ; neo'nah, us; com-moont'en-esk-sock', our trespasses ; 't-hah-lah-wee'-keunah, like as ; num-e-se-comele'ent, we forgive [pardon] ; tah-hah'-la-we-u-keah-ma-che-ke'-cheek, all wrong do- ers ; a-que-he', lead us not ; a-que-ah-lah ke-me-sah' coque, into temptation ; n'gah'ne, but ; numa-zee', deliver or take ; nea'nah, us ; neo'je, from ; saw'- got, evil things ; woo-saw'-me, because; keah-dabeld'-ock, the kingdom; ego-mah', is ; keel-o-ah', thine; noa'chee, the power ; done-ah'le, and [also] ; sazoos', glory ; neah'lets, forever ; quos'-que, amen.
# There are some vestiges of hieroglyphics, among the Mickmaks and some other tribes .- Sargent and Barton, p. 19.
Pah-que-num-se-eld'. The Mohawks, to avoid closing the lips, when talk- ing, say, for amen, awen .- Dr. Edwards, p. 10.
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A. D. 1615, repeated ; others and several of our consonants are 'quite rarely to 1675. Indian lan- used. Their accentuation, contrary to the English rule and guage: usage, is thrown as far as possible from the first syllable; yet their emphasis and cadences are natural, easy and forcible.
Unacquainted with literature and the arts, their language is far from being copious. Like that of other nations, its adaptation is to their wants, their employments, and manners. But it has strength ; it is simple and lofty; and in sound, it is soft and grateful to the ear. So easy is it of utterance, in their mouths ; that though many of their words are not pronounced by the English, without difficulty and exertion, the natives speak the longest and hardest of them, with a careless and even a graceful facility.
Their expressions are pertinent, and their sentiments full of reason and good sense. To supply the want of words, they make a free and appropriate use of similes and other figures of speech ; which give to their addresses, on special occasions, a peculiar originality and boldness .* They are sometimes eloquent. Their gestures are frequent and forcible, and their modulations of voice are correspondent to their sentiments.
* Mr. Manach, a French priest, who lived among the Mickmaks 40 years, or more, prior to 1763, learned their language and declared himself quite enamored with its beauties.
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CHAP. XX.]
CHAPTER XX.
King Philip's war-The Eastern Sagamores-Causes of the war-
The house of Mr. Purchas robbed-Wakefield's family de- stroyed-Skirmish at New-Meadows-Attack on Saco-Scar- borough burnt-Wincoln's expedition to Saco-Disasters at New- ichawannock-Forts at Sagadahock-The Indians in that quar- ter disturbed-Pacified by Mr. Shurte-An expedition eastward- Bloody skirmish at Newichawannock-Plaisted and his sons kill- ed-Attack on Sturgeon-creek and Wells-Affairs of the war- A truce-General warrants-A parley at Teconnet-Casco and Arrowsick laid waste-Pemaquid burnt-Troops at Dover-The sham fight-Casco revived and Fort Loyal founded-Cape Ned- dick destroyed-Saco fort surrenders-Mugg's treaty-War re- newed-Waldron's and Frost's expedition to Mare-point-Saga- dahock and Pemaquid-Skirmishes-Smart engagement at Black- point-Vessels captured-Peace-Losses.
THE first open hostilities between the eastern inhabitants and A. D. 1675. the natives, were commenced in the celebrated king Philip's war.
June 24. It broke out in the colony of Plymouth, June 24, 1675 ;* and King Phil- ' within twenty days, the fire began to kindle in these easterly ip's war.
* It will be recollected, that at this period, the towns and plantations within the present State of Maine, were thirteen :- 1. Kittery, including all the settlements on the north-eastern banks of the Piscataqua,-New- ichawannock river, and Quampegan falls [S. Berwick], and on Salmon Fall river [Berwick]. 2. York, including Cape Neddick. 3. Wells. 4. Cape Porpoise. 5. Saco, on both sides of the river. 6. Scarborough, viz. Black- point east, and Blue-point west. 7. Falmouth, including the peninsula, [Portland], Spurwink and Purpooduck [Cape Elizabeth], and Stroudwater [Westbrook]. 8. Pejepscot settlement southerly of the Lower Falls in the Androscoggin, and at Maquoit, 4 miles distant, on the margin of Casco bay .- [See ante, 1642.]-9. The plantations upon the Sagadahock and Ken- nebeck, including Cushnoc, and Arrowsick. 10. Sheepscot and Cape- newagen. 11. Damariscotta, or New-Dartmouth [New-Castle], and the Damariscove Islands. 12. Pemaquid. 13. Monhegan, Gorges' Islands, and the opposite settlements upon the Main. The country between Penob- scot and Passamaquoddy, now in possession of the French [since 1667-8], exhibited only a few habitations at Penobscot, Mount Desert, Machias and Schoodic.
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A. D. 1675. ' parts, though distant 250 miles.'* The English population of
amores,
Indian Sag- Maine at this period, probably exceeded 6,000 souls ;t and that of the Abenaques and Etechemins, it is believed, was twice, if not thrice that number.
The character and conduct of the Sagamores in this emergen- cy, reflect considerable light upon the war itself. Wonnolancet the eldest son and successor of the famous Passaconaway, was now chief of the Penacooks ; and he resolved to observe re- ligiously his father's counsel and take no part in the quarrel. Wholly to avoid the storm, therefore, he withdrew to places re- mote, and unknown to the colonists ; and his example was fol- lowed by the most of his tribe, who abandoned their homes, and sought safety and quiet in the heart of the distant desert.} At the head of the Newichawannock tribe was Blind Will, who was a believer in the prophetic communications of Rowles, his prede- cessor, and greatly perplexed with a presentiment, that the tribes would ultimately be exterminated. He therefore entered the English service, in which he continued about two years to his death. He has been accused of duplicity, in his professions of friendship and respect for the colonists; it being supposed, he inwardly hated them. §
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