Page:What cheer, or, Roger Williams in banishment (1896).pdf/202

 on the east, and Seekonk and Providence rivers on the west. Mount Hope, or Haup as it is called in the text, forms its south-*eastern extreme. The number of warriors stated in the text as subject to Ousamequin, is hypothetical. Some of the Nipnets were tributary to the Narragansets, but the greater part of them were the allies or subjects of the Wampanoag Chief.

STANZA XLVI.

''His highest chief is Corbitant the stern— He bears a fox's head and panther's heart.''

Mr. Winslow, who had frequent conferences with this chief, represents him as "a hollow-hearted friend to the Plymouth planters, a notable politician, &c." He, with others, was suspected of conspiring against the whites, and Captain Standish was sent, on one occasion, to execute summary justice upon him and his confederates. He, however, escaped, and afterwards made his peace with them through the mediation of Massasoit. His residence was at Mattapoiset, now Swanzey.

STANZA XLVII.

''Yet oft their children bleed When the far west sends down her Maquas fell— Warriors who hungry on their victims steal, And make of human flesh a dreadful meal.''

In compliance with the common orthography, the name of this tribe is written Maqua. Williams says, that in the Narraganset dialect they were called Mohawaugsuck, or Mauquauog, from mobo, to eat; and were considered Cannibals. It is probable, from its location, that he speaks of the same tribe under the name of Mitucknechakick, or tree eaters, "a people," says he, "so called, living between three and four hundred miles west into the land, from their eating Mituckquash—that is, trees. They are men-eaters—they set no corn, but live on the bark of the chestnut and other fine trees," &c. Again, he says, "The Maquaogs, or men-eaters, that live two or three hundred miles west," &c. Thus it is plain that the Maquas were considered, by the Narragansets and their neighboring tribes, Cannibals.