202 Judge Davis’ attempt to explain the inscription on Dighton rock. 
the taking of fish. The whole indicating a grand hunting scene in 
all its interesting varieties. A scene, which, next to war, most pow- 
erfully interested the savage inhabitants of the country. On this idea, 
we may find a probable explanation of several other figures. I think, 
¥ can see the sort of noose, described with so much naiveté in the 
** Journal of a plantation sctiled at Plymouth,” and in which governor 
Bradford was caught by the leg, while he came to look upon it ; and 
we can also make out the dog-trap, of which we have an account in 
Belknap and other approved writers on Indian habits and customs. 
I have mentioned, that the art of designing was not unknown and- 
not unfrequent among the Indians of this country. To this purpose 
there are many unquestionable authorities. Charlevoix, speaking of 
their wars, observes, that the chief of the victorious party leaves on the 
field of battle his fighting club, on which he takes care to trace the 
mark of his nation, that of his family, and his portrait, i. e. an 
oval with all the figures he had on his face. Others paint all these 
marks on the trunk of a tree, or on a piece of bark, with charcoal, 
pounded and rubbed, mixed with some colours. To come nearef 
home, Morell, in his interesting Latin poem on New England, thus 
speaks of their skill in embroidery ; 
3 “ Inducto tergore corpus 
“ Villoso, leviter miris se singula formis 
“ Texta ligant.”— 
And their baskets and other furniture he thus describes ; 
* Corbes 
“ Contextos formis, varioque colore tapetum, 
“ Stramine compositum tenui, mirisque figuris.” 
This is no poetic fiction. Honest Gookin says the same in plain 
prose ; and expressly mentions these portraitures of birds, beasts; 
