Page:What cheer, or, Roger Williams in banishment (1896).pdf/207

 STANZA VIII.

''The Narraganset hatchet stained with gore— Miantonomi lifts it o'er his head, Gives the loud battle yell, and names our valiant dead.''

To name the dead was considered a great indignity, and, among chiefs, a sufficient cause for war. Philip pursued one who had thus offended to Nantucket. The life of the offender was saved only by the interference of the whites. To avoid uttering the names of the dead they used circumlocutions, such as Sachem-aupan, Nes-mat-aupan; the sachem that was here, our brother that was here.

STANZA XI.

''And Annawan, who saw in after times Brave Metacom, and all of kindred blood, Slain, or enslaved and sold to foreign climes.''

Metacom was the original name of Philip. Anawan was the last of Philip's captains that fell into the hands of the English. He was with Philip at the time he was surprised and slain. Church, giving an account of the battle, says, "By this time the enemy perceived they were waylaid on the east of the swamp, and tacked short about. One of the enemy, who seemed to be a great surly old fellow, hallooed with a loud voice, and often called out, 'Iootash! Iootash!' Captain Church called to his Indian, Peter, and asked who that was that called so. He answered that it was Annawan, Philip's great captain, calling to his soldiers to stand to it, and fight stoutly."

STANZA XIX.

''Scarce do they leave a scant and narrow place, Where we may spread the blanket of our race.''

"We have not room to spread our blankets," was a phrase by which the Indians signified that they were straightened in their possessions.—See Heekwelder.