USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Manchester > History of Manchester, formerly Derryfield, in New-Hampshire : including that of ancient Amoskeag, or the middle Merrimack Valley, together with the address, poem, and other proceedings of the centennial celebration of the incorporation of Derryfield at Manchester, October 22, 1851 > Part 11
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THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
fields preparing for their reception as manure-a kind of hus- bandry they had adopted from the Indians.
The Pennacooks commenced their preparation for planting, "When the oak leaf became as large as a mouse's ear." This was their rule as given to the first settlers.
They planted in rows, much the same as we do at present. The crows, which they called "Kaukont," from the sound of its caw or screech, devoured the young corn, and to prevent the depredations of this and other birds, small lodges were built in the fields, in which the elder children watched, and the men them- selves oftentimes. They did not kill these crows, as they held them as sacred, as their greatest benefactors. They had a be- lief, that a crow brought their first kernel of corn and a bean into the country from the outhwest-a present from their Great Manit, "Kautantonwit's" field, in the south west. From this kernel of corn, and this bean, they supposed they derived all their corn and beans.
Hence, they thought the crow entitled to a share, and did not offer a bounty for his head, even though he might at times take more than was fairly his share.
Their corn was of various sorts and colors, and was cured in various ways. Much of it was used when green, either boiled or roasted for immediate use ; and still another portion was gathered when in the milk, and dried in the sun upon mats for fall and winter use. The corn thus prepared, was called sweet corn, and when boiled or soaked and roasted, had much the same taste as green corn thus prepared. The ripe corn was gathered into heaps, and dried thoroughly and put by for parch- ing, and grinding. They generally parched their corn before grinding, or pounding rather, as they usually pounded their corn with stone pestles, in wooden mortars. Their pestles were usually of granite ; but often of other stone. They were often elaborately finished, and sometimes upon the top of them there was an attempt at rude sculpture. Dr. Belknap speaks of one, upon which was sculptured the head of a Serpent.
Their mortars were often formed of stone, but were more usually formed out of the transverse section of a log, and of- ten times were made in the top of a stump. Their parched corn meal they preserved in leathern bags, ate it with their meat, taking a little of it between their fingers, and placing it in their mouths. It was called Nokehick. Mixed with water and boiled into "hasty pudding," or mush, it was called "Na- samp." Hence our English word, "Samp," which is applied to a "hasty pudding," or mush made of new corn ground very
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coarsely. Green corn and beans mixed and boiled together were called "Succotash." Hence our English name of Succotash, applied to a variety of corn, excellent when green, for boiling. Oftentimes, the Indians would put a portion of their ripe corn into mats and bury it in the sand. The beans, they thought, originated with their corn, with their Great Manit in the south west. They were of various colors, and no doubt were varie- ties of the Mexican bean. They were mostly picked green for immediate use or drying, so as to preserve the taste of the green bean when cooked. A part were permitted to ripen, and as with us, were cooked diffierent ways. The variety mostly used by them was the one known as the "Kidney bean."
They had gourds of various kinds. The common gourd they cultivated for dippers and musical instruments, use and pleasure.
Other specimens of the gourd were cultivated for their edible properties, and were designated by the general name of Askuta- squash. The English preserved only the last syllable of the word as spoken by the Indians, and have continued it to this day-squash being applied to particular species of the Gourd or Pompion, which has become one of the vegetable luxuries of the modern table. How many persons are aware of the fact, when partaking of this luxurious and nutritious vegetable, that the name, and some of the best varieties of the squash, are of Indian origin ?
They cultivated the Water Melon and the Pompion or Pump- kin. The water melon was used in fevers. The squash and pumpkin were cooked by boiling or steaming, and often eaten raw.
Hunting, with the Pennacooks and other ancient Indians, be- fore the arrival of the Europeans, was a labor, as may well be supposed.
The bow, tomahawk, spear and knife, were the only weap- ons of offence or defence ; and these were of the rudest kind.
The bow of the Pennacooks was usually made of Walnut, White Ash, or White Oak. The arrow was pointed with stone ; sometimes of fine granite, but oftener of quartz and slate. The spear head and knife were of the same materials.
The bow was in constant use by the Indians from childhood, and they became wonderful proficients in its use. When bend- ing the bow, the string was drawn with three fingers, while the fore finger and thumb held the arrow. In this manner, a strong man could bend a very stiff bow, and one too that would throw an arrow with very great velocity.
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THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
Under favorable circumstances, an athletic Indian would send an arrow entirely through a bear or moose, so that the ar- row would go at some distance, after having passed through the animal, and fall to the ground with its spent force.
It is said by Major Long, that under favorable positions; the Indians of the West, will send an arrow through the body of a bison or buffaloe.
The Pennacooks, unlike the Indians of the present day, had no horses for the chase. They approached their game by stealth, and to get within bow-shot, required much skill and practice, and was a severe labor, and often unsuccessful at last. Hence, other contrivances were resorted to. A common one, and upon an extensive scale, was the driving yard. A well known resort for moose and deer was selected and enclosed on two sides of a triangle, forming a figure like the letter V. At the apex of the angle, a space was left open for the game to pass through, and near this open space, the marksmen were placed to shoot what game might pass. The less experienced of the Indians were sent out to beat the woods, and to drive the game within the enclosure. Once within this, the drivers closed up, and the game attempting to escape through the open space, were shot down by the marksmen. In this way, they were often success- ful in taking moose and deer. They often set snares of ropes at the open space of the drive, which being attached to the tops of saplings bent down for the purpose, would lift the game high in the air, in like manner as boys at the present time, with the same kind of snare, upon a small scale, take and suspend hares and partridges.
The English, before becoming acquainted with this kind of trap, were sometimes taken with them and suspended in mid air, much to their own astonishment, and to the amusement of their companions. Thus, in November, 1620, soon after the arrival of the "Mayflower," as Stephen Hopkins, William Bradford, and others were walking in the woods, they came to a tree where a young sprit was bowed down over a bow, and some acorns strewed underneath. As Bradford went about it, it gave a sudden jerk up, and he was immediately caught up by the legs, and hung dangling in the air !
They often selected a point or cape for these drives. The point of land extending from Auburn into the Massabesic, (Massa-nipe-sauke much pond place,) over which the "Der- ry Turnpike" passed in Auburn, was thus used for a "drive." The deer were driven upon the point, and then shot upon the shore ; or, if they took to the water, they were pursued
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in canoes and taken. This point of land is now called " Deer Neck," from this circumstance. Another Indian " drive" was at " Fox Point," Newington, a point extending into the Piscataqua. It is used for a fox drive, at the present day. The hunters assemble upon the Greenland road, forming an unbroken line of drivers at short distances from each oth- or, from Portsmouth Plains to Greenland. They then close up towards "Fox Point," shouting, blowing horns, and making such a general din, as shall start up all the foxes in the pine woods, far and near. As they approach the extremity of the point, they send forward their marksmen to shoot the game. The fox will not take to the water, and becomes an easy prey.
In like manner, the Indians took deer at this very place in olden times, and the present practice of hunting the fox for boisterous amusement, is one borrowed from the natives, in their necessity.
The bear and smaller game were often taken in the wooden trap, called by the Indians, " Kulheag." The kulheag was large or small according to the size of the game intended to be trapped.
A tree or sapling was first placed upon the ground in a place frequented by the game. Near the large end of the tree or sapling, two stakes of the proper size and length were driven into the earth, one on either side, to keep it in its place. Direct- ly over this another tree or sapling was placed, with the top or small end resting upon the bottom log or tree, and its large end suspended to a proper height betwixt the stakes, by the usual contrivance of the "figure 4," or by a small cord connected with a spindle. Upon the spindle such "bait" was placed, as was supposed to be the most palatable to the animal sought ;- and if the slightest nibble was made at the "bait," the curious intruder was secured by the fall of the suspended tree or sapling. The kulheag was a simple, but formidable and successful trap. With it, the Indians caught the Bear, Beaver, Lynx, and Sable ; or, as the Pennacooks would say, the Moshq, 'T'umunk, Psoughk and Whoppernocker.
A necessary part of an Indian hunter's outfit, was his racke ets or snow shoes, and the canoe. The racket consisted of a hoop of oval form, two feet in length, by a foot and a quarter in breadth; interlaced with sinews, or thongs of leather, and so strong as to bear the weight of a man. Near the front part of the racket was placed a strong strap of proper length, and fastened at each end transversely or across the lacing. In- to this strap or thong, or rather under it, the foot was thrust
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THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
and fastened, leaving the racket disengaged from the heel. This arrangement relieved the traveler ; as the racket at every step, dragged its heel upon the snow, instead of rising with the foot, and thus was rid of the loose snow upon the top of it .---- With the racket, the Indians could walk over deep snows with great speed, and could thus overtake the fleet deer, and power- ful moose, encumbered and tired by that obstacle, which human ingenuity had overcome, on the part of the pursuer.
The canoe of the Pennacook was made of birch bark, stayed with hoops and splints of the spruce. A suitable tree was se- lected and felled. The bark was then slit with a knife, length- wise of the tree, and peeled off in one piece. A sapling of some tough wood, usually ash, maple, or walnut, was split into two parts, made smooth, and of the requisite form. These were tied together at both ends, and then spread apart to the proper width and shape, and fastened in their position by stout cross pieces of proper length, and securely fastened with sinews, or the roots of the spruce, or the root of a small shrub called by the Indians "Wickapee." These pieces of sapling thus stayed and secured, constituted the gunwale of the canoe. It was taken and placed within the birch bark, and the edges of the back sewed or fastened to the gunwale with roots. Splints of ma- ple, ash, pine, or cedar, five or six feet in length, two or three inches wide, and an eighth or half of an inch in thickness were then placed lengthwise of the inside of the bark, and were se- cured to their places by strong hoops placed transverse of them, and fastened to the gunwale of the canoe. These hoops gave form to the boat as well as confined the splints, which were for the protection of the bark. Pitch was applied to the cracks and seams of the bark, and also to the splints, to keep them more firmly in their places. These canoes upon our river, were from twelve to twenty feet in length, and would carry from two to six hunters with their baggage. The canoes for lake or sea-coast service, were much longer and wider ; and capable of carrying from six to twenty men each. They were propell- ed by small paddles, and those riding were invariably seated upon the bottom of the canoe. A river canoe is easily carried by two Indians across portages ; and when carried, is placed bot- tom upwards upon the head and shoulders, a cross piece resting upon the back of each Indian. They are a treacherous affair to those not initiated, but to the Indians, they afford the best means of conveyance upon the water, and without his bark ca- noe he would be miserable.
They will stand a stiff breeze and a rough sea, and in Pas-
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EMPLOYMENT OF INDIAN WOMEN.
samaquoddy Bay, and the entrance of the Bay of Fundy, when the Steamer "Maid of Erin," was laboring against a strong tide, and a stiff breeze "dead a head," the Micmacs were "scud- ding" athwart our bows in their birch canoes, trimmed with "leg o' mutton sails," and with the most perfect impunity !
Of these canoes, John Jocelyn, June 28, 1639, being a pas- senger on board the Fellowship, then lying in Boston Harbor, thus speaks :-
"In the afternoon, I returned to our ship ; being no sooner aboard but we had the sight of an Indian Pinnace, sailing by us, made of birch bark, sewed together with the roots of spruce and white cedar (drawn out into threads) with a deck, and trimmed with sails, top and top-gallant, very sumptuous- ly."*
The Indian women had to build the wigwams, gather the wood, till the ground, carry the luggage, and perform all the culinary duties of the wigwam. The wigwam was construct- ed by planting some eight or ten saplings in the ground in a circular form, the tops being bent over and fastened together.
This rude frame was covered with bark, excepting a space in the top for the smoke to pass out. There was also an open- ing left in the side of the wigwam, towards the north, and another towards the south, to answer the purpose of a door- tay. Deer skins, or those of some other animals were hung at these apertures to answer the purpose of doors ; and were push- ed aside when they wished to enter or pass out. In the cen- tre of the wigwam a pole was planted reaching to the top of the same. Into this pole, at the proper height, a large pin was driven, upon which to hang the kettle of clay, copper, or iron.
Against the bottom of the pole, and directly under this pin, was placed a large flat stone, against which the fire was made, and which protected the pole from injury by burning. Upon this pole, they hung their fish to dry, and there, too, they hung the scalps of their enemies whom they had slain.
Mats were placed round upon the ground, and upon these, they sat, took their meals, and slept. Their cooking was very simple. Meat, they roasted upon split sticks or forks of wood, and if they were too poor to own an earthern or copper kettle, they boiled their nasamp or hominy, and their vegetables in a wooden trough by throwing hot rocks into the water. They used dishes of birch bark, and drank from clam and gourd shells, or from cups made of birch bark. They sometimes baked their
See Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll. Vol. III, 3d Series p. 280.
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THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
meat in a hole in the ground ; the hole being partially filled with rocks and heated. The meat was then wrapped in leaves and bark, and then covered with other hot stones, and last, the whole was covered up with loam. If a slack bake was anticipated, fire was built upon the top of this simple oven, and continued until the meat was thoroughly cooked.
They ate their food from their fingers, without the aid of the fork. The men were first served, and usually finished their meals before the squaws partook. Great deference was always paid to the men by the women, particularly when in the wig- wam. For a woman to step over the bow, arrow, hatchet, or pipe of a man, when they were lying on the ground even, was a great indecorum, and to be severely reprimanded. From these facts, it will be seen that the household duties were not very arduous. Sweeping, dusting, and the washing of dishes, were not of every day occurrence. Still there were great labor and heavy burdens imposed upon the Indian women. They had to raise the corn and all the other vegetables cultivated by the Indians. For this purpose, they must prepare the ground, plant and hoe the corn, beans, pumpkins, squashes and melons. This they did thoroughly, it would seem, as Roger Williams says, "they plant it, dress it, gather it, beat it, and take as much pains with it as any people in the world ;" and again, "the men assist in breaking up the fields; they also burn down the trees, and burn or cut the saplings for the wigwam poles." "When they brake up a field," says Williams, "they had a very loving, sociable, speedy way to despatch it;" somewhat like our huskings, and apple bees. "All the neighbors, men and women, forty, fifty, a hundred, &c., join and come to help free- ly." Thus they broke up their fields and built their forts.
The women of a family would often raise thirty or forty bushels of ears of corn and secure it properly.
It was the duty of the women to grind or pound the corn. This was done with the pestle and mortar. It was a la- borious work. The pestle was of stone, and weigh- ed from five to ten pounds. It was made with some sort of a head to it, to which to fasten a cord, and the other end of the cord was fastened to the top of a sapling, or pole, which would bend readily, and which would thus lift the pestle at every spring, and ease the labor of the squaw.
Their wigwams were usually twelve or fourteen feet in di- ameter, and were often fitted up with comfort, particularly for the winter season. They were often lined with mats of rushes, and bark, and these were most curiously wrought in colors. The
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EMPLOYMENT OF INDIAN WOMEN.
women were very skilful and ingenious in embroidering their mats, moccasins, and baskets, and in such work, they were diligently occupied, when nothing more pressing required their labor.
The wigwam for the summer was a frail and temporary af- fair, as it was removed from the winter encampment, to the fishing place, and from thence to the planting ground, then from one field to the other, and then again, oftentimes, from one spot in the field to another, to get rid of the fleas, which were numerous in hot weather, and which insect they called Poppek, from its celerity of movement.
The squaws not only displayed great ingenuity in their em- broidery of mats, &c., but also in working in feathers. Their feather mantles were most beautiful ; and the coronets they wrought for the Sagamons were of splendid appearance. There was one of these ornaments presented to President Wheelock, of Dartmouth College, and which was worn by a Sagamon, that would have graced the head of Wellington. It was cov- ed with scarlet feathers, probably from the Scarlet Tanager, and in form not unlike a German cap, making an unique appear- ance.
The Indian women of the higher class, were very affection- ate to their husbands, to their children, and to each other. There was seldom any difficulty among them, even when two or more wives dwelt in one wigwam. Among the Indians of substance, the wife employed some one to assist in taking care of the children. Often an old man would come into the wig- wam, and divert the children with his stories. for which service he was always requited with nasamp, succotash, or some savo- ry morsel. The Indian men and women were noted for their hospitality. A stranger happening in their village was enter- tained by the Chief. If he went into a wigwam, he was not asked if he had dined or supped, but the squaws placed food before him without the asking and he was invited to partake and was expected to do so. They felt injured if their food was refused by declining to partake of it.
Next after the food, the pipe was offered, and to refuse this was to insult them. If you ate only a single mouthful, or smoked a single whiff, they were satisfied.
The Indian children were kept lashed to the cradle till they could sit alone, and often afterwards. When necessary to con- vey them away, they were always carried upon the cradle. The cradle consisted of a piece of board two feet and a half in length by one foot in width. A row of holes was made the whole length of the board, upon each side, and one or two
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THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
inches from the edges. Across the foot of the board, a piece of wood was fastened some three inches wide, as a support for the feet of the child. A thin pad of deer skin was fastened some- times across the head of the board as a support for the child's head ; but they were often without this appendage. To the head of the board was attached a strap of moose leather, by which to suspend the cradle from the pole of the wigwam, or upon the mother's back, the strap passing about her forehead. To this board the Indian babe was tied with thongs, lying upon its back. In this position the babe was carried from place to place upon its mother's back, or suspended from the branch of a tree, when she was in the field, or from the pole of the wig- wam when she was about her domestic work.
To divert the child, playthings were often suspended over its head and within its reach, from a hoop at the top of the board, for that purpose, while the mother was ever ready to chant a "lullaby," in no unpleasant strains. By this treatment, the limbs of the Indian children were of perfect symmetry, and their bodies assumed an erect position, traits so remarkably devel- oped in the adult Indians.
Polygamy was practiced among the Pennacooks, and a man and wife could separate without ceremony. Yet separation took place but seldom. An elopement sometimes took place, but was punished in a most summary manner.
The Pennacooks stood pre-eminent among the Indians as warriors. War with them-war of conquest, was a settled and fixed purpose. And they followed out this purpose, till, under the counsels of the renowned Passaconnaway, they had subjec- ted to their power, or secured their alliance, by conquest, nego- tiation, or marriage, the Wachusetts, Saugusaukes, Agawams, Wamesits, Pawtuckets, Nashuas, Namaoskeags, Coosaukes, Win- nepesaukies, Pequauquaukes, Newichewannocks, Piscataquau- kes, Sqamscotts, Winnecowetts, Sacos, and Amariscoggins.
The Pennacooks, within the scope of our New England his- tory, sent into the battle field, noted and skilful warriors. The bravery, skill, and address of Passaconnaway, is proved by the extent of the confederacy of which he was the acknowledged head, while the attack upon Salmon Falls, and "Cocheco," with the fierce battle at Pequauquauke, show the skill and cour- age of Kancamagus, Mesandowit and Wahowah,-Pennacook Chiefs of a later day.
Their weapons of offence were the bow and arrow, the tom- ahawk, and scalping knife. The bow was displaced with the Pennacooks, by the light French shot-gun; and in their use,
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WAR, ITS WEAPONS AND CUSTOMS.
they became as expert as the French and English hunters them- selves.
Their tomahawk, originally, was but a billet of wood-con- sisting of a handle about two feet and a half long, with a knob upon the end of it, very much like the war-clubs of the Indi- ans of the Pac fic Islands of the present day.
Hatchets of istone were likewise used ; and after the advent of the European those of iron and steel, took their places.
These at first were made with no great skill-having a "bit" of steel, with all "eye" for the handle, somewhat like that of the hoe now in use. They afterwards became to be elaborate- ly finished, and oftentimes of the most exquisite workmanship, the blade of polished steel, and the head fashioned into a pipe, and the handle used as a stem-doing a great deal of credit to the skill of their English and French manufacturers, if not to their humanity.
The scalping knife was originally of stone, but this, in like manner, gave place to the finished cutlery of the French and English. War was determined upon by the Chiefs in Council, and once determined upon, the principal Chief announced the conclusion of the Council to the young warriors, and asked their assistance. The beating up recruits, or enlisting, was practiced in various ways ; but always with much ceremony. One method was by a dance, which may be called "The Fire Brand Dance." Brushwood, pitch knots, clubs, and sticks were gathered in an immense pile near the wigwam of the Sagamon. The Sagamon and his principal Chiefs formed a ring around this pile of brush, setting cross legged upon the ground.
Next to these, the warriors formed a second ring ; and back of these, the old men, women and children were mixed with- out order or rank. The pile being fired, in due time, the prin- cipal Chief stepped into the ring and dancing around, flourished his tomahawk and knife, naming his exploits, and the people with whom he was at enmity. At the mention of every ene- my, he would strike the fire with his hatchet, seize a brand, flourish it about in numberless vibrations with his hands, and contorting his body into every conceivable shape, he would bury his hatchet deep in the ground and leave the ring. Others would follow, and in the same manner dance about the fire, and fight it ; closing with burying their hatchets in the ground till the whole of the warriors inclined to follow the war path, had joined in the dance. Every man who joined in the dance, was considered as enlisted for the war.
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