Decennium luctuosum An history of remarkable occurrences, in the long war, which New-England hath…

The Condition of these Captives, has afforded ⟨p. 158⟩many very Remarkable Things, whereof 'tis a thousand pities that so many are lost. But because one of the Two Gentlemen Employed as Commissioners for the Treaty with the Indians, took certain Minutes of Remarkable Things from some of the Captives, I am willing to give the Reader a Taste of them.

The Condition of these Captives, has afforded ⟨p. 158⟩many very Remarkable Things, whereof 'tis a thousand pitties that so many are lost. But because one of the Two Gentlemen Employ'd as Commissioners for the Treaty with the Indians, took certain Minutes of Remarkable Things from some of the Captives, I am willing to give the Reader a Tast of them.

At Mares point in Casco-Bay, Jan. 14. 1698, 9. The Captives informed me, That the Indians have Three Forts, at Narridgawog, and Narrackomagog, and Amassacanty. And at each of these Forts, they have a Chapel, and have Images in them. They informed me, That Three Captives in one Wigwam, were Starved to Death last Winter. Mary Fairbanks, and Samuel Hutching, and some other Captives, told me, That Jonathan Hutching, belonging to Spruce-Creek, a Lad fourteen years old; They met him crying for want of Victuals, for in Two or Three Days he had nothing to Eat. Afterward, as he was going to fetch some Wood, he felt something hard in his Bosom. He put in his Hand, and unto his Astonishment, he found there Two Great, Large Ears of Indian Corn, which were very well Roasted. He Eat them, and knew not how they came unto •im. ⟨p. 159⟩Some other of the Captives told me, That one Mary Cater, (which person we now brought home with us, belonging to Kittery) her Master and many other Indians, came down to Casco-Bay. There seeing some Sloops, or Shallops, they thought they were the English coming upon them, and ran away, into the Woods, and left the said Mary Cater very Sick in the Wigwam, without any thing at all to Eat. They staid away many days; but left a Fire in the Wigwam. She Lay wishing for something to Eat, and at length in came a Turtle. She got That, and Eat it; but afterwards began to Despair of out living the Famine, which was Returned upon her. At length, when she was very Hungry, in came a Partridge; She took a Stick, and Struck it, and Dressed it, and Eat it. And by that Time she was Hungry again, her Master came to look after her. They tell of several of the Indians, that have killed themselves, with their own Guns, in taking them out of their Canoes. Assacombuit sent Thomasin Rouse, a Child of about Ten years old, unto the Water-side, to carry something. The Child cried: He took a Stick, and struck her down: She lay for Dead: He took her up, and Threw her into the water: Some Indians, not far off, ran in, and fetched her out. This Child we have now brought Home with us.