Document: A Short Account of the Mohawk Indians, their Country, Language, Stature, Dress, Religion and Government, thus described and recently, August 26, 1644, sent out of New Netherland, by Johannes Megapolensis the younger, Preacher there. Image 028

Holding Institution
Ghent University Library, Belgium
Document ID
megapolensis_028
Description

A Short Account of the Mohawk Indians, their Country, Language, Stature, Dress, Religion and Government, thus described and recently, August 26, 1644, sent out of New Netherland, by Johannes Megapolensis the younger, Preacher there.
Dutch Title:  "Een kort Ontwerp vande Mahakvase Indiaenen, haer Landt, Tale, Statuere, Dracht, Godes-Dienst ende Magistrature, aldus beschreven ende nu kortelijck den 26 Augusti 1644 opgesonden uyt Nieuwe Nederlant, door Johannem Megapolensem juniorem, Predikant aldaer." Image 028

Document Date
1644-08-26
Document Date (Date Type)
1645-01-01
Document Type
book-pamphlet
Document Type Unlinked
book-pamphlet

Translation
Translation

revenge themselves upon the murderer until peace is made by presents to the next of kin. But although they are so cruel, and live without laws or any punishments for evil doers, yet there are not half so many villainies or murders committed amongst them as amongst Christians; so that I oftentimes think with astonishment upon all the murders committed in the Fatherland, notwithstanding their severe laws and heavy penalties. These Indians, though they live without laws, or fear of punishment, do not (at least, they very seldom) kill people, unless it may be in a great passion, or a hand-to-hand fight. Wherefore we go wholly unconcerned along with the Indians and meet each other an hour's walk off in the woods, without doing any harm to one another.

Johannes Megapolensis.

FINIS

 

 

 

A Short Account of the Mohawk Indians, their Country, Language, Stature, Dress, Religion and Government, thus described and recently (August 26, 1644) sent out of New Netherland, by Johannes Megapolensis the younger, Preacher there.

At Alckmaer, By Ysbrant Jansz. Van Houten, Bookseller and City Printing House in the Lange-straet, in the Printing Press

 

References

Images courtesy of Ghent University, public domain.

English translation used : The Project Gutenberg E-text of Narratives of New Netherland, by Various

Document Location
Document Finding Aid or Collection
A Short Account of the Mohawk Indians, by Johannes Megapolensis the younger, August 26, 1644
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A Short Account of the Mohawk Indians, by Johannes Megapolensis the younger, August 26, 1644