Page:Good Newes from New England.djvu/74

 till their death or recouery. If they die they ſtay a certain time to mourne for them. Night and morning they performe this dutie many dayes after the buriall in a moſt dolefull manner, inſomuch as though it be ordinary and the note muſicall, which they take one from another, and all together, yet it will draw teares from their eyes, & almoſt from ours alſo. But if they recouer then becauſe their ſickneſſe was chargeable, they ſend corne and other gifts vnto them at a certaine appointed time, whereat they feaſt and dance, which they call Commoco.

When they bury the dead they ſow up the corps in a mat and ſo put it in the earth. If the party bee a Sachim they cover him with many curious mats, and bury all his riches with him, and incloſe the graue with a pale. If it bee a childe the father will alſo put his owne moſt ſpeciall iewels and ornaments in the earth with it, alſo will cut his haire and disfigure himſelef very much in token of ſorrow. If it be the man or woman of the houſe, they will pull downe the mattes and leaue the frame ſtanding, and burie them in or neere the ſame, and either remoue their dwelling or giue ouer houſe-keeping.

The men imploy themſelues wholly in hunting, and other exerciſes of the bow, except at ſome times they take ſome paines in fiſhing.

The women liue a moſt ſlauiſh life, they carry all their burdens, ſet and dreſſe their corne, gather it in, ſeeke out for much of their food, beate and make ready the corne to eate, and haue all houſhold care lying vpon them.

The younger ſort reverence the elder, and do all meane offices whilſt they are together, although they bee ſtrangers. Boyes and girles may not weare their haire like men and women, but are diſtinguiſhed thereby.

A man is not accounted a man till he doe ſome notable act, or ſhew forth ſuch courage and reſolution as becometh his place. The men take much tobacco, but for boyes ſo to doe they account it odious.

All their names are ſignificant and variable, for when