Description of Mawooshen
A.D. 1623
The following is a transcription from this text, pg. 400 - 406.
The text contains notes in the margins, these are also included in italics,
as they are in the original.
| The description of the Countrey of Mawooshen, discovered by the English in the yeere 1602. 3. 5. 6. 7. 8. and 9. |
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| This descrip- tion of Mawooshen I had amongst M. Hakluyts papers. Climate and quantitie. Tarantines are said to be the same with the Souriquois. 1. Quibequesson River. [IV. x. 1874.] Asticon Sagamo. A great Lake. |
MAwooshen is a Countrey
lying to the North and by East of Virginia, betweene the degrees of 43. and 45. It is fortie leagues broad, and fiftie in length, lying in breadth East and West, and in length North and South. It is bordered on the East side with a Countrey, the people, whereof they call Tarrantines: on the West with Epistoman, on the North with a great Wood called Senaglecounc, and on the South with the mayne Ocean Sea, and many Ilands. In Mawooshen it seemeth there are nine Rivers, |
| 2. Pemaquid river. A great Lake. Anadabis. Three townes. Caiocame. |
The next is Pemaquid, a goodly River and very
com- modious all things considered; it is ten fathoms water at the entrance, and fortie miles up there are two fathoms and a halfe at low water; it is halfe a mile broad, and runneth into the Land North many daies journey: where is a great Lake of 18. leagues long and foure broad. In this Lake are seven great Ilands: toward the farthest end there falleth in a River, which they call Acaconstomed, where they passe with their Boates thirtie daies journey up, and from thence they goe over Land twentie daies journey more, and then come to another River, where they have a trade with Anadabis or Anadabiion, with whom the Frenchmen have had commerce for a long time. Neere to the North of this River of Pemaquid are three Townes: the first is Upsegon, where Bashabes their chiefe Lord doth dwell. And in this Towne are sixtie houses, and 250. men, it is three daies journey within the Land. The second is Caiocame; the third Shas- heekeing. These two last Townes are opposite one to the other, the River dividing them both, and they are two daies journey from the Towne of Bashabes. In Caiocame dwelleth Maiesquis, and in Shasheokeing Bowant, two Sagamos, subjects to Bashabes. Upon both sides of this River up to the very Lake, for a good distance the ground is plaine, without Trees or Bushes, but full of long Grasse, like unto a pleasant meadow, which the Inhabitants doe burne once a yeere to have fresh feed for their Deere. Beyond this Meadow are great Woods, whereof more shall be spoken hereafter. The River of Pemaquid is foure dayes journey from the mouth of Quibiquesson. |
| 3. Ramassoc. Panobscot a |
The third River is called Ramassoc, and is distant
from the mouth of Pemaquid foure daies journey; it is twentie fathoms at the entrance, and hath a mile over; it runneth into the Land three daies journey, and within lesse then a daies journey of the dwelling of Bashabes: upon this River there is a towne named Panobscot, the Lord whereof is called Sibatahood; who hath in his Town fiftie houses, and eightie men. |
| 4. Apanawa- peske. |
The fourth River Apanawapeske, lying West and
by South of Ramassoc, at the entrance whereof there is twentie fathoms water, and it is a mile broad: it runneth up into the Countrey five daies journey; and within three daies of the mouth are two Townes, the one called Meecombe, where dwelleth Aramasoga, who hath in his Towne fiftie houses, and eightie men. The other is Chebegnadose, whose Lord is Skanke, and hath thirtie houses and ninetie men. The mouth of Apanawapeske is distant from Ramassoc three daies journey. |
| 5. Apanmensek. A Lake. All the Lakes |
To the South-west foure daies journey, there
is another excellent River; in the entrance whereof is twentie fathoms water, and it is a quarter of a mile broad, it runneth into the Land two daies journey, and then there is a great fall, at the head whereof there is a Lake of a daies journey long and as much in breadth. On the side of this Lake there is a Strait, and at the end of that Strait there is another Lake of foure daies journey long, and two daies journey broad; wherin there are two Ilands, one at the one end, and another at the other end. I should have told you that both these Lakes, as also the rest formerly spoken of, doe infinitely abound with fresh water fish of all sorts, as also with divers sorts of Creatures, as Otters, Beeves, sweete Rats, and such like. |
| 6. Apponick. |
The sixt River is called Apponick, on which there
are three Townes; the first is called Appisham, where dwelleth Abochigishic. The second is Mesaqueegamic, where dwelleth Aminquin, in which there is seventie houses and eightie men; the third is Matammiscowte, in which are eightie houses and ninetie men, and there dwelleth Narracommique. |
| 7. Aponeg. |
To the Westward of this there is another River
called Aponeg: it hath at the entrance ten fathoms water, and is a mile broad: it runneth up into a great Sound of fresh water. Upon the East side of this River there are two Townes, the one called Nebamocago, the other called Asshawe. In the first dwelleth Mentaurmet, and hath in his Towne 160. housholds, and some 300. men. In the second dwelleth Hamerhaw, and hath in his Towne eightie housholds and seventie men. On the West side there is another Towne called Neredoshan, where are 120. housholds, and 100. men. There is a Sagamo or Lord called Sabenaw. |
| 8. Sagadahoc. Here C. Pop- ham built S. Georges Fort, and planted. Great Sound. Two Lakes. [IV. x. Kenebeke. |
Three daies journey from Aponeg to the Westward, there is a goodly River called Sagadohoc: the entrance whereof is a mile and an halfe over, holding that breadth a daies journey, and then it maketh a great Sound of three daies journey broad: in which Sound are six Ilands, foure great and full of Woods, and two lesse without Woods: The greater are called Sowaghcoc, Neguiwo, Niewoc. And in the verie entrance of this River there is another small Iland: from the West of which Iland to the Maine, there is a Sand that maketh as it were a bar, so that that way is not passable for shipping: but to the Eastward there is two fathoms water. This Sound divideth it selfe into two branches or armes, the one running North-east twentie foure daies journey, the other North-west thirtie daies journey into the Maine: At the heads whereof there are two Lakes, the Westermost being eight daies journey long, and foure daies journey broad; and the Eastermost foure daies journey long, and two daies broad. The River of Aponeg runneth up into this Sound, and so maketh as it were a great Iland between Sagadahoc and it. From the Iland upward the water is fresh, abounding in Salmons, and other fresh-water fish. Some thirteene or fourteen daies journey from the entrance in the North-east branch, there is a little arme of a River that runneth East some daies journey, which hath at the entrance foure fathoms water. Upon this arme there is one over fall, which standeth halfe a daies journey above this branch: upon this arme there are foure Towns: The first is called Kenebeke, which hath eightie houses, and one hundred men. The Lord whereof is Apom- hamen. The second is Ketangheanycke, and the Sagamos name is Octoworthe, who hath in his Towne ninetie housholds, and three hundred and thirtie men. This Towne is foure dayes journey from Kenebeke, and eight dayes journey from To the Northward is the third Towne, which they call Naragooc; where there are fiftie housholds, and one hundred and fiftie men. The chiefe Sagamo of that place is Cocockohamas. And on the small branch that runneth East standeth the fourth Towne, named by Massakiga; where there are but eight housholds, and fortie men. Upon the Northwest branch of this Sound stand two Townes more: The first is called Amereangan, and is distant from Kenebeke sixe dayes journey. In this place are ninetie housholdes, and two hundred and sixtie men, with two Sagamoes; the one called Sasuoa, the other Scawas. Seven daies journey hence there is another Sagamo, whose name is Octo- worokin, and his Townes name Namercante, wherein are fortie housholds, and one hundred and twentie men. A dayes journey above Namercante there is a downefall, where they cannot passe with their Cannoes, but are inforced to carrie them by Land for the space of a quarter of a mile, and then they put them into the River againe: And twelve dayes journey above this Downfall there is another, where they carrie their Boates as at the first; and sixe dayes journey more to the North is the head of this River, where is the Lake that is of eight dayes journey long, and foure dayes broad before mentioned. In this Lake there is one Iland; and three dayes journey from this Lake there is a Towne which is called Buccawganecants, wherein are threescore housholds, and foure hundred men: And the Sagamo thereof is called Baccatusshe. This man and his people are subjects to the Bashabez of Mawooshen, and in his Countrey is the farthest limit of his Dominion, where he hath any that doe him homage. |
| 9. Ashamahaga. |
To the Westward of Sagadahoc, foure dayes journey there is another River called Ashamahaga, which hath at the entrance sixe fathoms water, and is halfe a quarter of a mile broad: it runneth into the Land two dayes journey: and on the East side there is one Towne called Agnagebcoc, wherein are seventie houses, and two hundred and fortie men, with two Sagamos, the one called Maurmet, the other Casherokenit. |
| 10. Shawakotoc. A Lake foure |
Seven dayes journey to the South-west of Ashamahaga there is another River, that is sixe fathoms to the entrance: This River is named Shawakotoc, and is halfe a myle broad; it runneth into the Land fiftie dayes journey: but foure dayes from the entrance it is so narrow, that the Trees growing on each side doe so crosse with their boughes and bodies on the other, as it permitteth not any meanes to passe with Boates that way: for which cause the Inhabitants that on any occasion are to travell to the head, are forced to goe by Land, taking their way upon the West side. At the end of this River there is a Lake of foure dayes journey long, and two dayes broad, wherein are two Ilands. To the North-West foure daies journey from this Lake, at the head of this River Shawakatoc there is a small Province, which they call Crokemago, wherein is one Towne. This is the Westermost River of the Dominions of Basshabez, and Quibiquisson the Westermost. |
