PRIMARY DOCUMENT

“The maner of their language”; an excerpt from “Map of Virginia. With a Description of the Countrey, the Commodities, People, Government and Religion” by John Smith (1612)

CONTEXT

In this excerpt of “Map of Virginia. With a Description of the Countrey, the Commodities, People, Government and Religion,” first published in 1612, the Jamestown colonist John Smith provides a list of Algonquian-language words and phrases he encountered in his dealings with the Virginia Indians of Tsenacomoco.Some spelling has been modernized and contractions expanded.

Author: John Smith
    Transcription Source: John Smith, “A Map of Virginia. With a Description of the Countrey, the Commodities, People, Government and Religion,” in John Smith, Travels and Works of Captain John Smith, President of Virginia, and Admiral of New England, 1580–1631, Part I, John Smith. Edward Arber, ed. (Edinburgh: John Grant, 1910). The electronic edition is also available from the Early Americas Digital Archive.

    FULL TEXT

    Because many doe desire to knowe the maner of their language, I have
    inserted these few words.

    • Ka ka torawincs yowo. What call you this.
    • Nemarough. a man.
    • Crenepo. a woman.
    • Marowanchesso. a boy.
    • Yehawkans. Houses.
    • Matchcores. Skins, or garments.
    • Mockasins. Shooes.
    • Tussan. Beds.
    • Pokatawer. Fire.
    • Attawp. A bowe.
    • Attonce. Arrowes.
    • Monacookes. Swords.
    • Aumoughhowgh. A Target.
    • Pawcussacks. Gunnes.
    • Tomahacks. Axes.
    • Tockahacks. Pickaxes.
    • Pamesacks. Knives.
    • Accowprets. Sheares.
    • Pawpecones. Pipes.
    • Mattassin. Copper.
    • Vssawassin. Iron, Brasse, Silver, or any white metal.
    • Musses. Woods.
    • Attasskuss. Leaves, weeds, or grasse.
    • Chepsin. Land.
    • Shacquohocan. A stone.
    • Wepenter, a cookold.
    • Suckahanna. Water.
    • Noughmass. Fish.
    • Copotone. Sturgion.
    • Weghshaughes. Flesh.
    • Sawwehone. Bloud.
    • Netoppew. Friends.
    • Marrapough. Enimies.
    • Maskapow. The worst of the enimies.
    • Mawchick chammay. The best of friends.
    • Casacunnakack, peya quagh acquintan vttasantasough. In how many
      daies will there come hether any more English ships?

    Their numbers.

    • Necut. 1.
    • Ningh. 2.
    • Nuss. 3.
    • Yowgh. 4.
    • Paranske. 5.
    • Comotinch. 6.
    • Toppawoss. 7.
    • Nusswash. 8.
    • Kekatawgh. 9.
    • Keskeke. [10.]

    They count no more but by tennes as followeth.

    • Case, how many.
    • Ninghsapooeksku. 20.
    • Nussapooeksku. 30.
    • Yowghapooeksku. 40.
    • Parankestassapooeksku. 50.
    • Comatinchtassapooeksku. 60.
    • Nussswashtassapooeksku. 80.
    • Toppawousstassapooeksku. 70.
    • Kekataughtassapooeksku. 90.
    • Necuttoughtysinough. 100.
    • Necuttwevnquaough. 1000.
    • Rawcosowghs. Daies.
    • Keskowghes. Sunnes.
    • Toppquough. Nights.
    • Nepawweshowghs. Moones,
    • Pawpaxsoughes. Yeares.
    • Pummahump Starres.
    • Osies. Heavens.
    • Okes. Gods.
    • Quiyoughcosucks. Pettie Gods, and their affinities.
    • Righcomoughes. Deaths.
    • Kekughes. Lives.
    • Mowchick woyawgh tawgh noeragh kaquere mecher. I am verie hungry?
      what shall I eate?
    • Tawnor nehiegh Powhatan. where dwels Powwhatan.
    • Mache, nehiegh yowrowgh, orapaks. Now he dwels a great way hence
      at orapaks.
    • Vttapitchewayne anpechitchs nehawper werowacomocomoco. You lie,
      he staide ever at werowocomocomoco.
    • Kator nehiegh mattagh neer vttapitchewayne. Truely he is there I
      doe not lie.
    • Spaughtynere keragh werowance mawmarinough kekatenwawgh peyaquaugh.
      Run you then to the king mawmarynough and bid him come hither.
    • Vtteke, e peya weyack wighwhip. Get you gone, and come againe
      quickly.
    • Kekaten pokahontas patiaquagh niugh tanks manotyens neer mowchick
      rawrenock audowgh.
      Bid Pokahontas bring hither two little Baskets, and I wil give her white
      beads to make her a chaine.

    Finis

    MAP
    TIMELINE
    1612
    "Map of Virginia" by John Smith is published, in which the author provides information on the Indians' and colonists' life in Virginia.
    CITE THIS ENTRY
    APA Citation:
    Smith, John. “The maner of their language”; an excerpt from “Map of Virginia. With a Description of the Countrey, the Commodities, People, Government and Religion” by John Smith (1612). (2020, December 07). In Encyclopedia Virginia. https://encyclopediavirginia.org/primary-documents/the-maner-of-their-language-an-excerpt-from-map-of-virginia-with-a-description-of-the-countrey-the-commodities-people-government-and-religion-by-john-smith-1612.
    MLA Citation:
    Smith, John. "“The maner of their language”; an excerpt from “Map of Virginia. With a Description of the Countrey, the Commodities, People, Government and Religion” by John Smith (1612)" Encyclopedia Virginia. Virginia Humanities, (07 Dec. 2020). Web. 25 Aug. 2026
    Last updated: 2026, May 13
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