N00446:136
The triumphs of the reformed religion, in America. The life of the renowned John…
The triumphs of the reformed religion, in America. The life of the renowned John Eliot; a person justly famous in the church of God, not only as an eminent Christian, and an excellent Minister, among the English, but also, as a memorable evangelist among the Indians, of New-England; with some account concerning the late and strange success of the Gospel, in those parts of the world, which for many ages have lain buried in pagan ignorance. / Written by Cotton Mather. ; [Two lines from Luke]
Boston: printed by Benjamin Harris for Joseph Brunning i.e, 1691
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
They Live in a Country, where we now have all the conveniences of humane life: but as for them, their housing is nothing but a few matts tied ⟨p. 79⟩about poles fastened in the earth, where a good are is their Bed-Clothes in the coldest seasons; their Clothing is but a skin of a Beast, Covering their Hind-parts, their Fore-parts having but a little Apron where Nature calls for secrecy; their diet has not a greater dainty than their Nokehick, that is a spoonful of their parched meal, with a spoonful of water, which will strengthen them to travel a day together; except we should mention the Flesh of Dears Bears, Mo•se, Raccoons, and the like, which they have when they can catch them; as also a little fish, which if they would preserve 'twas by drying, not by salting; for they had not a grain of Salt, in the world, I think, till we bestowed it on them. Their Physic is, excepting a few odd Specifics, which some of them Encounter certain cases with, nothing hardly, but an Hot-house, or a Powam; their Hot-House is a little, cave about eight foot over, where after they have terribly heated it, a crew of them go sit and sweat and smoke for an hour together, and then immediately run into some very cold adjacent brook, without the least mischief to them; 'tis this way they recover themselves from some •• feases, particularly from the French; but in •hoft of their dangerous Distempers, 'tis a […] that must be sent for; that is, a Priest, who has more Familiarity with Satan then his Neighbours; this Conjurer comes and Roars, and Howls, and uses Magical Ceremonies over, ⟨p. 80⟩the Sick man, and will be well paid for it, when he has done; if this don't effect the cure, the mans Love is come, and then's an end.
They Live in a Country, where we now have all the conveniencies of humane life: but as for them, their hoasing is nothing but a few matts ty'd ⟨p. 79⟩about poles fastened in the earth, where a good are is their Bed-Clothes in the coldest seasons; their Coothing is but a skin of a Beast, Covering their Hind-parts, their Fore-parts having but a litle Apron where Nature calls for secrecy; their diet has not a greater dainty than their Nokehick, that is a spoonful of their parch'd meal, with a spoonful of water, which will strengthen them to travel a day together; except we should mention the Flesh of Ders Bears, Mose, Rackoons, and the like, which they have when they can catch them; as also a little fish, which if they would preserve 'twas by drying, not by salting; for they had not a grain of Salt, in the world, I think, till we bestow'd it on them. Their Physick is, excepting a few odd Spicificks, which some of them Encounter certain cases with, nothing hardly, but an Hot-house, or a Powam; their Hot-House is a little, cave about eight foot over, where after they have terribly heated it, a crue of them go sit and sweat and smoke for an hour together, and then immediately run into some very cold adjacent brook, without the least mischief to them; 'tis this way they recover themselves from some feases, particularly from the French; but in hoft of their dangerous Distempers, 'tis a that must be sent for; that is, a Priest, who has more Familiarity with Satan then his Neighbours; this Conjurer comes and Roars, and Howls, and uses Magical Ceremonies over,