SPECK] 



A MOHEGAN-PEQUOT DIARY 247 



could steal. Then the people think these people are good because 

 they have money, maybe they have [even] a meeting-house [belong 

 to a church] because they have money. Poor Indian! He has not 

 money, he has not anything because he can not steal [or] lie! '^ 



May 23. — I am from Mohegan! I am not Pequot! Anyone 

 saying I am Pequot he is a continual bar, that is so! White men 

 think [they] know all things. Half [the things they are] saying not 

 are so. Poor white men. Many want aU this earth. It can not 

 be for another person [to] have anything to eat, because white men 

 want the money. They can not carry it [with them] when they die. 

 They must die when they don't know. Maybe [they are] not going 

 to know. These people are man3^ Good man is not frequent. 

 Looldng [for him, you] can not find him. These people can help 

 someone, but don't help anyone because they are stingy, only! I am 

 sorry for these people because not ever can they help it. Maybe 

 will they [be sorry] too! Ask him, maybe he knows, maybe not. 

 I can not say anything. 



May 30. — Birds. I love to see the birds, because [they are] pretty. 

 They do not say anything evil. They eat these things Ma'ndu" gives, 

 then they sing, because they do not want for anything. All things 

 Ma'ndu gives [them], that is so. All things! Yesterday I saw in the 

 river a snake; he had a fish in his mouth. I hit him, then he gave up 

 the fish. The fish is handsome. The snake is horrid, he bites you, 

 too. The fish is handsome. I am afraid of the snake, snake is a 

 spirit.^' 



Ma'ndu is good because he knows all things. Man does not know 

 altogether but a little. So it is knowing Ma'ndu. Ma'ndu is great, 

 very good, must you and I be good, too. Then when you will die, 

 you will stay in heaven, so says Ma'ndu. You must not get tired, if 

 you get tired you must ask for Ma'ndu, then will you get strength, 

 then will you grow strong because Ma'ndu helps you. Ma'ndu wishes 

 these people in heaven. Thither does not come anything not good, 

 because Ma'ndu can not take money. That is why he came here on 



M This remarkable composition is not one of Mrs. Fielding's best from an intellectual standpoint, though 

 it exhibits well her scathing contempt for those who had more than she did. 



" Mrs. Fielding of course designates God by this widespread .\lgonkian proper name. Ilowever, being 

 unable to define her concept of the deity, as if she could even do it herself, I adhere to the original name in 

 the EngUsh translation, preferring to permit the reader to reach his own conclusion as to the content of her 

 mind. 



•» Snakes figure in Mohegau weather and witch lore as supernatural agents. 



