sionary career of the Mayhews.-Prince's Account of those English Ministers who have ministered at Martha's Vineyard, apud Mayhew's Indian Converts, p. 294-309. Gookin, in Coll. of Mass. Hist. Soc. vol. i. p. 204, 205. Coll. of Mass. Hist. vol i. p. 207. Brown's Hist. of the Propagation of Christianity, vol. i. p. 59, 60. Christian Observer, vol. xxvi. p. 742. Panoplist, vol. iv. (N. S.) p. 385.

(H) p. 170. Notice of the Indians under the care of the Rev. John Cotton.

Mr John Cotton presented Major Gookin, in September, 1674, with an account of his missionary labours at Plymouth. "I have not long lived here," he remarks, " but, in this time, I began to preach the word of God to a company of Indians, at a place called Kitteaumut. Since which, through the blessing of God, the number of praying Indians is forty males and females.-About ten of these can read the English books, and many more are very desirous to learn to read the

word. I sometimes preach to the Indians upon the Cape, at several places, and at Namassekett; whither come the praying Indians of Assawomit and Ketchequut.-When the courts are here, there are usually great multitudes of Indians from all parts of the colony. At those seasons I preach to them; which I mention, because God hath so far blessed it, as to make it a means to encourage some that live very remote to affect praying to God, viz. Maumanewat, Sachem of Sakonett, and some principal Indians of Coquitt, who made them confessions, and declared their willingness to serve God; and they do improve all the opportunities they can get to hear the word."

In the year 1693, Mr Cotton had five hundred Indians under his care.-Gookin, in Coll. of Mass. Hist. Soc. vol. i. p. 200, 201. Mather, b. vi. p. 61.

(I) p. 171. Letter from the Rev. James Fitch to Major Gookin, respecting his labours among the Indians.

"Your's I received, dated in September. And

I have hitherto delayed that I might be the better prepared for an answer to your queries. Concerning the Indians in this colony, and at Long Island, I cannot understand that they have any inclination to learn the knowledge of God; but when Mr Pierson did frequently try, in the several plantations in this colony, they did generally shew an averseness, yea, a perverse contempt of the word of God; and at present they will not yield to any settled hearing or attendance upon the ministry of the word. Since God hath called me to labour in this work among the Indians nearer to me, where indeed are the most considerable of any in the colony, the first of my time was spent among the Indians at Moheek,* where Unkas and his son, and Wanuho, are Sachems. These at first carried it teachably and tractably, until at length the Sachems did discern that religion would not consist with a mere receiving of the word; and that practical religion will throw down their heathenish idols, and the Sachem's tyrannical mo❤ narchy; and then the Sachems, discerning this, did not only go away, but drew off their people, some by flatteries, and others by threatenings; and they would not suffer them to give so much

* Montville.

as an outward attendance to the ministry of the word of God. But at this time some did shew

a willingness to attend. These few I began meetings with, about one year and a half since. What progress they have made I have informed the commissioners. First, in respect of knowledge they are enlightened in the common principles of the true religion. Secondly, in respect of practice, they have yielded to cast off heathenish devil worship, and on the Lord's day to meet together, to repeat and to confer about that which they have heard me teach them of the word of God. And he that is the chief amongst them, whose name is Weebax, hath learned so much, that he is willing and able in some degree to be helpful in teaching and prayer to the others, on the Lord's day. And this Weebax is of such a blameless conversation, that his worst enemies and haters of religion cannot but speak well of his conversation; and the same may be said of another, whose name is Tuhamon.

"The number of these Indians is now increased to above thirty grown persons, men and women, besides children and young ones. Some have shewed a willingness that their children should learn to read; but it is not yet two years since I began with these; and truly the charge and

expence to set up a school amongst them, is too great for me at present to compass. These Indians do suffer much, especially the chief among them, that it is wonderment they are not utterly discouraged, considering they are but yet in their beginnings; for the Sachem, and Indians round about, do to the utmost what they can, by reproaches, revilings, and threatenings, especially in a private and clandestine manner, to dismay them.

"And for the settlement and encouragement of these Indians, I have given them of mine own lands, and some that I have procured of our town, above three hundred acres of good improvable lands, and made it sure to them and theirs, so long as they go on in the ways of God.

"And, at this time, Unkas and his sons seem as if they would come on again to the ministry of the word of God. But it is no other but in envy against these, and to promote some present self with God to turn all to sal

design;

but it is vation, &c.

easy

"I have nothing further at present to add, but that the Lord would direct and prosper you in your pious intendments; so intreating your prayers for me, who am,-Your unworthy friend and servant in the work of the Lord,

"Nov. 20, 1674.

JAMES FITCH, sen.