History of Swansea, Massachusetts, 1667-1917; - citizen hylbom blog

26
History of Swansea
The first night the messengers were kindly entertained by
the Namaskets. At 1 p. m., on the second day, they reached
Slade's Ferry (in Swansea), where they were told that the
Dutch ship was afloat and sailing away, while Massasoit
was dead and buried. Hobomok, fearing that with Massasoit
dead there would be no safety for white men, urged an immediate
return; but Winslow, reflecting that they were then
in the country of the Pocassets, whose chief (Corbitant) would
be Hkely to succeed Massasoit, and that a visit might strengthen
the questionable friendship of that sachem, desired to go
to his dweUing, There was danger in this, for both Winslow
and Hobomok had been active in the Namasket expedition of
1621, which was aimed at Corbitant's Hfe in case Tisquantum
had proved to be slain, and the insincere sachem might take
this opportunity for revenge. But both of Winslow's conapanions
yielding to his desire, the party proceeded to Corbitant's
house (the sachimo-comaco) at Mattapuyst (Gardner's
Neck, Swansea).
The sachem had gone to visit Massasoit; but his wife,
the "squaw-sachem," treated the travellers with hospitahty,
while an Indian messenger went to Sowams for tidings. On
the journey Hobomok had touchingly mourned for his friend and
ruler, exclaiming, Neen womasu sagimus ! neen womasu sagimus I
etc., or," My loving sachem 1 my loving sachem I Many have I
known, but never any like thee!" Winslow adds that he was
assured by Hobomok that "Whilst I hved I should never see
his like among the Indians. He was no liar ; he was not bloody
and cruel, like other Indians; in anger and passion he was
soon reclaimed; easy to be reconciled towards such as had
offended him; ruled by reason in such measure as he would
not scorn the advice of mean men; and that he governed his
men better with few strokes than others did with many, truly
loving where he loved. Yes, he feared we had not a faithful
friend left among the Indians; showing how he ofttimes restrained
their mahce, etc., continuing a long speech with such
signs of lamentation and unfeigned sorrow as it would have
made the hardest heart relent.
This description gives us a highly favorable opinion of
Massasoit, and of Hobomok also. Under the circumstances,
it was doubtless a just tribute to the great ruler, of whose
character we should otherwise have little positive information.
Half an hour before sunset the runner returned from
Sowams, stating that the Dutch ship had just departed, but
that the king was still living, though he would doubtless die
before the visitors could reach him. The latter then set forth
with such speed as they could in the early darkness, and
"