HELPPPP PLSSS
“Having briefly spoken of the attributes of the land as far as needful, it will also be worthwhile to treat in the following the nature of its original natives, so that when the Christians shall have multiplied there, and the Indians melted away, we may not suffer the regret that their manners and customs have likewise passed from memory…The original natives of that country [New Netherland] … were called wilden by our people as a general appellation, though they are divided into many different tribes. That name, as far as can be ascertained, was given them from the first and is quite appropriate for a number of reasons. First, on account of religion, because they have none or so little as to be virtually in a state of nature. Second, as regards marriage and in recognition of landed property, they deviate so far from the general laws that they may be called wilden, because they act in those matters almost at will. Third, as the Christians, to set themselves apart, give foreign nations the names of Turks or Mamelukes or barbarians, since the term heathen is too general and little used abroad, they did not wish to include the American natives in that term either. Similarly, the terms black and white are customary among those who have business overseas, to distinguish the Negroes from our and similar nations, but neither of those names quite fitted the Americans, who tend toward the olive colored. Therefore our people, on the spur of the moment rather than with forethought, it may be supposed, called them wilden, as the first name that occurred to them. And since the first opinion of women and the uneducated is best, it seems appropriate that they be called wilden, because they are quite wild and are strangers to the Christian religion.” Their religion communicated by priest and prophet, was simple and true. The manner of worship is imperfectly transmitted; but their reverence for a Great Spirit, the observance of feasts each fear, the offering of beasts in thanksgiving and atonement is clearly expressed.
They believed the soul to be immortal—in the existence of a happy land beyond the view, inhabited by those whose lives had been blameless. While for the wicked had been reserved a region of misery covered with thorns and thistles, where comfort and pleasure were unknown. Time was divided into years and seasons; twelve moons for a year, a number of years by so many winters.
The tribe to which your speaker belongs and of which there were many bands, occupied and possessed the country from the seashore at Manhattan to Lake Champlain. Having found the ebb and flow of the tide, they said: “This is Muh-he-con-new,” “Like our waters which are never still.” From this expression and by this name they were afterwards known, until the removal to Stockbridge in the year 1630.
Housatonic River Indians, Mohegans, Manhattans, were all names of bands in different localities, but bound together as one family by blood and descent.
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