I received a letter from you by an Indian who saith that his name is Ta-mug-gut: whereas you write for butter and cheese it is not to be had in all our plantation. I spend it as fast as I make it, because I haue much resort and many workmen, which eate it as soone as I haue it and as for porke or bacon I haue none. I haue not yet killd any hoggs; only 2 of our neighbors killd some yesterday: but the weomen say with carriage it will putrifie especially seeing Indians will often linger on such a iorney two dayes: only I procured 3li. of Bacon of a neighbor which is sent you at 61i and 2li. of tobbacco I procured at another place which cost 18d per li. I haue no pepper but I haue sent 2 ounces of ginger at 3d also I haue sent 1d in a white paper: sault 1 quart sault 1d 1 li. sugar, 20d 4 loafes 2s 5d The whole is 9s and the bagg and basket to put the things in 6d: so the Lord blesse you in your proceedings. your euer louinge Frind

if you doe your businesse by Indians you will find it deerer then to send an Englishman:

As for the blew wampam there is 18s of it at 3 a peny but I will not take such as this vnder 6 a peny: I had rather haue white wampam then bad blew at 6 a peny: I will kepe it, because you may redeeme it for white if you thinke good our riuer will vent of any course blew wampam as the Bay doth:

I spake to this Indian in your behalfe: I tould him that the Gouernor sent you to serch for something in the ground, not for Black lead as they suppose but for some other mettell: I tould him that the Hill of Black lead by Quassink, was not so good as that which lay southward of it neere the cornefeild, where one Namoswhat liues. I suppose it is 5 or 6 miles southward of that place by Quassink.

I tould the Indian also that the Gouernor did send you to see what frindship they would shew you: I tould him also that they might safely trust you for venison or Beanes and wished them to let you haue such things vppon 496Trust. I also shewed him how the trust might be made sure on both sides: by splitting a sticke in the midle and by making notches: euery notch to stand for 6d in wampam: and that the Gouernor (meaning mr. Wintrop) would pay you at Boston in the Springe of the yeere Though it were 20 fatham.

he Tould me also that they would sell you beanes and corne and deere as soone as they tak any deere: but I feare they will make you pay well for it. I giue for a good doe 2 fatham for a fawne of a yeere 1 fatham: though yet I haue bought none, nor do not expect any this 14 dayes at sonest.

This is to testyfi to hom it may concaren that I weboukchen and nonmonshot haf soulled for and in concedocrachoun of souche goods as I haf resayefid of Mr. John Winthrope ten miles round about the hills where the netwes has called blak led and for mr. wentrouops pesabell ingoymat of it we bind our sallefs and heyers for ever to the trew pourforemans of the promisis and to this I sat my hand this prasount day and dat selled and delefoured in the prasouns of us 8 day of 8 monthe 1644:

These are to testify that I Nodawahunt owner of the land of Tantiusques where the blacklead hill is doe sell and give vp, and surrender all my right 497in that place for ten miles to John Winthrop the yonger of Mistick, and doe confirme the former sale of the blacklead hill and the land about it at Tantiusques, by Webucksham unto the said John Winthrop, and am fully satisfied for the same witnesse my hand this 11th of Nov. 1644.