On great occasions, and in their villages, the dancers often kept time to the music of a drum, and the chanting of singers, the drum consisting of the section of a hollow log, on one end of which was stretched the prepared skin of an animal. This was struck with a single stick, and in connection with the singers, made no very bad music. The running the gantlet, as before stated, was the usual ceremony, when the war party returned with captives; and the 'Scalp Dance' was performed when scalps were obtained by the returning war party.

CHAPTER V.

Passaconnaway and Conway identical.-Wood's account of him.-His sale of land to Rev. John Wheelwright.-His signature, and those of Runnawit, Wahangnonawit, and Rowls.--l'assaconnaway sccks the protection of the whites. They attempt to seize him.-Take his son and misuse him.-Passaconnaway refuses to hear Mr. Eliot preach, and leaves Pawtucket.-Hears him and publicly acknowledges his belief in the God of the English.---Desires Mr. Eliot to reside at Namaoskeag -Eliot has a bridle path cut and beat from Nashua to Namaoskeng.--Is sick and preaches at Pawtucket.-Passaconnaway's argument to Eliot.-His farewell speech to his people.-Grant to him by Massachusetts.-Nanamɔcommuck fand other children of Passaconnaway.--Passaconnaway's death.-His character.-Wonnalancet succeeds to the Sagamonship. -Liberates his e der brother from prison.-Publicly embraces christianity.Withdraws into the wilderness.-The English send for him.-Indian killed in Woburn.-- Outrage upon Indians at Chelmsford.-Betogkom preaches in the wilderness.--Wonnalaneet forms a treaty at Cocheco.--Syll and Hathorno seize four hundred Indians at Cocheco.-Most of them sold into slavery.--Wonnalancet retires to Canada.- Visits his friends, sells his land and returns to Canada. His character.-Kancamagus becomes Sagamon.-Writes Gov. Cranfield and asks protection of the English.-Treated with neglect.-Removes into the wilderness.-Comes into Piscataquack and makes a treaty.-Collects forces at Pennacook.-Makes an attack upon, and destroys Cocheco. 1s outlawed. Returns to Worombo's fort.-Is attacked by Capt. Church, escapes, but his wife and children are taken.-He attacks Church at Casco.-Makes a truce at "Sackatchock."-His death and character.-Christo resides at Namaoskeag. Suspected of being in the battle of Pequauquauke.-His wigwam destroyed.--A soldier in the pay of New Hampshire.--Retires to St. Francis and becomes hostile to the English.--Assists in capturing Mrs. McCoy of Epsom. --Comes to Canterbury in company with Sabatis, and captures two negroes.-The site of his wigwam.

The Sagamons of most note among the Pennnacooks, were Passaconnaway, Wonnalancet his son, and Kancamagus, usually called John Hogkins, his grandson. These Chiefs were successively at the head of the Pennacoks, and each in his

way, was a man of mark in his time. Passaconnaway was one of the most noted Indian Chiefs in New England.

His name is indicative of his war-like character-Papisseconewa, as written by himself, meaning "The Child of the Bear," being derived from Papoeis (a child), and Kunnaway (a bear.) This name he doubtless received at mature age, according to the custom of the Indians, from his supposed resemblance in courage and bravery in war, to that ferocious and powerful animal.

We first hear of him in 1627 or 8, unless indeed, the Sagamon whom Christopher Levett saw in the neighborhood of the Piscataqua in 1623, and whose name he writes Conway, may have been Passacomaway.* And it is very probable that such was the fact, for that Passaconnaway often had his residence in that neighborhood is evident from the fact, that when in 1642, the government of Massachusetts, wished to seize him, they sent a company of armed men for that purpose, with a warrant to Ipswich, Rowley, and Newbury, plainly showing that Passacounaway, at that time, had a temporary residence at least, in the neighborhood of the mouth of the Merrimack.t And that he should have been at "Piscataquack" in 1623 to visit the strangers of Thompson's plantation, just settling upon his territory, is equally probable. Thomas Morton, "mine host of Maremount," as he writes himself in is "New English Canaan," thus speaks of him, being in this country at that time. "Papasiquineo, the Sachem or Sagamore of the territories neare Merrimack River, a man of the best note and estimation in all those parts (and as my countryman, Mr. Wood, declares in his prospect), a great nigromancer" *

*

"That Sachem or Sagamore is a Powah of greate estimation amongst all kinde of Salvages, then hee is at their Revels, (which is the time when a greate company of Salvages meete from severall partes of the Countre, in amity with their neighbours), hath advanced his honour in his feats or jugling tricks, (as I may right terme them), to the admiration of the spectators, whome hee endeavoured to persuade that hee would goe under water to the further side of a river to broade for any man to undertake with a breath, which thing hee performed by swimming over and deluding the company with casting a mist before their eies that see him enter in and come out; but no part of the way hee has bin seene: likewise by our English in

See Mass. His. Coll. third series, Vol VIII, page 173. + See Winthrop's Journal.

the heat of all summer, to make Ice appeare in a bowle of faire water, first having the water set before him hec bath begunne his incantation according to their usual accustom, and before the same hath been ended a thicke cloude has darkened the aire and on a sudane a thunder clap hath bin heard that has amazed the natives, in an instant hee hath showed a firme peace of Ice to floate in the midst of the bowle in the presence of the vulgar people, which doubt!ess was done by the agility of Satan his consort."*

From which marvelous story we are to infer that Passaconnaway, to the character of a brave warrior, added that of a clever juggler. In fact, he held his people in great awe of him, the Indians supposing him to have supernatural powers; to have control over their destinies; that he could make a dry leaf turn green; water burn and then turn to ice; and could take the rattlesnake in his hand with impunity.

With such reputed powers, his acknowledged ability as a warrior, and wisdom as a Sagamon, Passaconnaway was the acknowledged head of the most powerful Indian confederacy east of the Mohawks, and as such received the title of Bashaba, a title much of the same import as that of Emperor.

On the 17th day of May 1629, Passacounaway with three subordinate Chiefs, sold the tract of land extending from the Piscataqua to the Merrimack, and from the line of Massachusetts thirty miles into the country, to the Rev. John Wheelwright and his associates, for certain stipulated and valuable considerations. This deed was signed by Passaconnaway the Sagamon of Pennacook, Rumawit the chief of Pawtuckett, Wahangnonawit the chief of Squamscot, and Rowls the chief of Newichewannock, and was witnessed by two Indians and some of the most respectable men of the Plantations at Piscataqua and Saco.

This transaction was one of importance. It shows that Passaconnaway, as early as 1629, was not only the chief of the Pennacooks, but that he was a Sagamon at the head of a powerful confederacy, and that thus early he had the sagacity to see the superiority of the English, and to wish them as a barrier betwixt his people and their eastern enemics.

The deed expressly acknowledges on the part of the chiefs of the Pawtucket, Squamscot and Newiche wannock, their being tributary to the Sagamon of Pennacook; the 7th and last arti

See Force's His. Tracts, Vol. II. New Eng. Canaan, Pages 25 and 26.

6

cle stipulating that "every township within the aforesaid limits or tract of land that hereafter shall be settled, shall pay to Passaconnaway our chief sagamore that now is and to his successors forever, if lawfully demanded, one coat of trucking cloth a year. This deed was signed and witnessed as follows:

In the planting season, Passaconnaway had a residence at Pennacook Island in the Merrimack at Pennacook, (now Sewall's in Concord) and another upon one of the Islands in the same river about a mile north of the mouth of the Souhegan, in Merrimack; while his principal residence was at Namaoskeag. Here, without a doubt, he sat in royal state, held his council fires, determined upon his war paths, gave his royal feasts, and performed those feats, that held his wondering followers as with the spell of enchantment.

Passaconnaway early saw the superiority of the English, and with his usual sagacity, he saw the entire hopelessness of the attempts of his people to subdue them. His policy was to make terms of peace with them, and it was in pursuance of this policy that he disposed of his lands to Wheelwright, reserving alone his right to fishing and hunting. It was that he might have the English as a protection against his enemies, who, since the plague had thinned his people, were becoming a source of

terror to them.

The Tarratines of the cast and the Mohawks of the west, were making continual inroads upon the New England Indians, and the Pennacooks, like the Mohegans, were quite willing to secure the friendship and protection of the colonists.

* See Records of Rockingham County.

In 1642, upon suspicion that a conspiracy was forming among the Indians to crush the English, men were sent out to arrest some of the principal Indian Chiefs. Forty men were sent out at this time to arrest Passaconnaway, but he escaped them by reason of a storm. Wannalancet, his son, was not so fortunate. He was taken by the party, while his squaw escaped into the woods. But while they barbarously and most insultingly led Wannalancet with a rope, he loosened the rope and attempted to escape, his captors firing at him, and coming near hitting him with their shot. He did not effect his escape, but was retaken.*

For this outrage, the government of Massachusetts feared the just resentment of Passaconnaway, and they sent Cutshamekin, whom they had arrested upon the same occasion and had discharged, to excuse the matter to the old Chief, and invite him to go to Boston and hold a conference with them. The answer of the old Sagamon savors a good deal of an independent spirit, and had he been younger by a half century, his answer might have been still more proud and haughty. "Tell the English," was his reply, "when they restore my son and his squaw, then will I talk with them." The answer was that of a man who felt he had been most decply wronged. His haughty spirit must have chafed under such wrongs, and it is possible under the sting such outrages could not fail to inflict, he might have regretted the policy he had marked out for himself.

It is probable that this outrage upon the family of Passaconnaway made a deep impression upon his mind, and led him to doubt the sincerity of the professions of the English toward him. And in 1647 he exhibited this distrust in a most summary manner. At this time, the Rev. Mr. Eliot visited Pawtucket for the purpose of preaching to the natives. It was the fishing season, and a vast multitude of Indians were present. Among them was Passaconnaway with two of his sons. The Old Chief, doubtless smarting under his wrongs, and thinking that a religion that tolerated such wrongs, was not worthy his attention, refused to see Mr. Eliot and retired immediately from the neighborhood, taking with him his son, saying, 'he was afraid the English would kill him.'t

In 1648, however, Mr. Eliot visited Pawtucket with better success, for it being the fishing season, he found Passaconna

* See Winthrop's Journal.

+ See Mass. His. Coll. Third Series, Vol. IV. page 82.