170 THE ISLAND OF NANTUCKET. 



the temper and disposition of the Indians, and the 

 capabilities of the island, that he might report to the 

 citizens of Salisbury what inducements for emigration 

 thither were offered." 



Everything which he saw must have been satisfac- 

 tory; for immediately on his return to Salisbury a 

 company was formed and the island purchased. 



As has been before mentioned, a number of families 

 arrived from Salisbury during the year 1660, a settle- 

 ment was commenced, and the dwellings of civiliza- 

 tion began to adorn the hills and valleys where never 

 before had been seen aught save the rough wigwams 

 of the aborigines. From the first the Indians treated 

 the new-comers with favor; and in striking contrast 

 with other parts of New England, or the country in 

 general, the relations between the Nantucket Indians 

 and the settlers were always exceptionally pleasant. 

 Of course difficulties and disagreements arose in time, 

 often threatening serious consequences; but they were 

 settled in a peaceable manner, and they could generally 

 be traced to fire-water, — one of the first things that our 

 boasted civilization always carries with it on its inva- 

 sion of a new country. That the settlers were honest 

 and fairly bought the land from the Indians, may be 

 seen from the following documents: — 



Deed of Wanackmamar. 



This witnesseth that I, Wanackmamack, Chief 

 Sachem of Nantucket, hath sold unto Mr. Tristram 

 Coffin and Thomas Macy, their heirs and assigns, that 

 whole neck of land called by the Indians Pacummoh- 



