there at his work,-a remarkable instance of the restraining power of God on the hearts of these furious and merciless infidels, who otherwise would doubtless in their rage have split out his brains with his own axe. But God had further business for him to do in the world, in conducting the affairs on Block Island afterwards, as before is briefly related, for many years, when the people there became more numerous, and until his eldest son, Captain John Sands, a gentleman of great port and superior powers, succeeded him. He died in the 72d year of his age. He was a benefactor to the poor; for as his house was garrisoned, in the time of their fears of the Indians, as before is noted, many poor people resorted to it, and were supported mostly from his liberality. He also was a promoter of religion in his benefactions to the minister they had there in his day, though not altogether so agreeable to him as might be desired, as being inclined to the Anabaptist persuasion. He devoted his house for the worship of God, where it was attended every Lord's day or Sabbath.

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His wife was a gentlewoman of remarkable sobriety and piety, given also to hospitality. She was the only midwife and doctress on the island, or rather a doctor, all her days, with very little, and with some and mostly, no reward at all. Her skill in surgery was doubtless very great, from some instances I remember she told me of. One was the cure of an Indian, that under disgust, as was said, he had taken at his wife or squaw, shot himself, putting the muzzle of his gun to the pit of his stomach, and pushing the trigger. The bullet went through him, out and opposite at his back. He instantly fell, and one of the spectators, who happened to be in the field at that time, and heard the report of the gun, told me, after he was fallen and wallowing in his blood, he saw the blood and froth issue out of his back and breast as often as he drew his breath. He was perfectly healed, and lived a hearty, strong man even to old age; whom I afterward knew, and often saw the scar at the pit of his stomach, as large or larger in circumference than our ordinary dollars passing among us.

Another signal cure she told me God made her an instrument of making, was on a young woman that was struck with lightning through her shoulder, when two or three others in the house were killed, so that when she adminis

tered to her by syringing, the liquid matter would fly through from the fore part to the hinder, and from the hinder part to the foremost, having a free and open passage both ways, yet was cured, and had several children, and lived to old age. I also knew her long before her death. She had also skill, and cured the bites and venomous poison of rattlesnakes.

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Mr. Sands had a plentiful estate, and gave free entertainment to all gentlemen that came to the island; and when his house was garrisoned it became an hospital, for several poor people resorted thither, as before is remarked, who being driven from their habitations and improvements, could bring but little with them. I heard his wife (who outlived her husband many years) often with admiration express the singular tokens of God's favorable providence in that time, by increasing remarkably the comforts of life on themselves and the poor that Providence had cast under their care.

I shall give but one remarkable instance more in this digression, with relation to Mrs. Sands, of whom I have been speaking. She had then but one little child, a girl, just able to run about and prattle a little. Her maid had occasion to go into the field on some business, and urged that the child might go with her. The mistress denied, and withal telling the maid, there was an old well in the field, which the child would be likely to fall into, or some other mischief would happen to her. The maid goes away, and the mother sits down in the door-way, to keep the child out of danger, as they had a mill-pond near the house; and as sewing linen cloth, and wanted a piece that lay on a table on the opposite part of the room, she bid the child bring it to her. The child went to a door that led into an inner room, where there was no other passage out, and closing the door, saying, "This, mamma, this ?" She said, "No, that," pointing to the cloth. She was busy, and thought no more of her child, until one of her neighbors came and said, "The Lord give you patience; your child is drowned." The man came by the child, and saw it floating on the water in the flume, but took no care of it, but went up to the house,whereas if he had then taken it out, he might have been a means of saving its life. But thus it must be in providence. The mother often lamented her presumption, in pretending to be her child's keeper, when she had found by sorrowful

experience, that she could neither keep herself or child, for it could get out no other way but by her, and she sat there for no other design but to prevent it, and yet was no ways. sensible when the child crowded by her. Thus the counsel of God it shall stand, and he will do all his pleasure, sometimes by wonderful, mysterious means; and it becomes us to stand still and know that God orders all events in wisdom, for the best good of them that fear and trust in him, and that acquiesce in his providence.

It is time to return to Mr. Sands, where we left him, working on his frame. The reason of his refusing to comply with the motions the Indians made to him, as before is noted, might proceed from a suspicion that in that case they might insult him; or whatever other thoughts might govern his conduct, is uncertain. However, the Indians being gone, he gathered up his tools, and drew off, and in his way met his partner bringing provisions, to whom he declared the narrow escape he had made for his life. Resolving not to return, and run a further risk of the like kind, they both went from the business. Notwithstanding, Mrs. Hutchinson pursued her purpose, by procuring hands, who built it. But she had not dwelt in it long, before these very Indians. had a quarrel with some Dutch people that dwelt near to her. However, the dint of their rage fell on this gentlewoman, whom they slew, with all her family, to the number of sixteen; and left none but a little girl, a relative of the family, whom they carried captive, but was after redeemed, and married to Mr. Cole of North Kingston, in the Narragansett country. She lived to a considerable age.

Having, according to my best intelligence, endeavored to give the world an exact and impartial account of the numbers of English slain by the Indians, in the Pequot war, and more westward, in the massacre committed on Mrs. Hutchinson, and after of Philip's War, as it is called, I come nextly to enumerate all I can find slaughtered by the French, and Indians under their influence, in the northern and more eastern parts of New-England.

In the year 1675, in time of Philip's war in the south and western parts of the country, the Indians in the eastward parts began their hostilities against the English, and, perhaps not without good reason, complained of injuries done

them by the English in divers instances; so that at first, before an open war had commenced, by private scuffles and combats they had slain 50 of the English, and they had killed about 90 of the Indians.

On August 14th, 1676, Captain Thomas Lake was slain by the Indians at Arowsick Island, in Kennebeck river, and 10 or 12 more.

At Casco, they killed one Wakely, his wife, his son, and daughter-in-law, big with child, and barbarously murdered two children, and carried three children captive.

The Massachusetts sent out Captain Hawthorn and Captain Syll, with others, in search of the Indians, and by the contrivance of the English, near 400 of the Indians were surprised at the house of Major Waldron, in Quochecho, September 6, 1676. One half, that were the principal aggressors in the rebellion, were sold for slaves; the other part were dismissed to return home. After this, for some time, the hostilities ceased on both sides; but it lasted not very long, for they killed several English at North Yarmouth, and at other places,-it is now uncertain how many. Captain Blackman seized near 20 of the Indians, with a design of examining them what their intentions were, (for they appeared very surly, and insulting the English), and also with a view to exchange them for English prisoners they had taken about this time. The yery honorable Mr. Stoughton, with several gentlemen from Boston, went to treat with the Indians, and exchange prisoners; and though the Indians had consented to the time and place of meeting, yet they came not, but sent them word that at such a place as they named they would come, which was several leagues further. They accordingly went thither, but to no purpose, for the Indians refused to appear, though they saw the English, and waited for an opportunity treacherously to destroy them, to which, they afterward said, they were advised by the French. So there was nothing done nor any prisoners exchanged. It was proposed by the gentlemen of the Massachusetts, to bring these Indian prisoners to Boston, and wait for an opportunity to exchange them for the English they had taken. Sir Edmund Andros, who was then Governor, was at this time at New York, which also, together with the Massachusetts and Rhode Island, were equally under his command. At his return to this part of his gov

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ernment, he gave special orders to those that had these Indians in custody, upon their peril forthwith to release them, with their guns, and all they had, or had been taken with them, without the exchange of any English prisoners ;-a mighty encouragement to the French and Indians to pursue their murdersome, cruel designs against us, without control. About this time, or not long after, Captain Rowden and Captain Gendal were taken prisoners, with many others, by the Indians. Captain Gendal had a release, but Captain Rowden was never recovered out of their hands, with several others.

Some time in September, Captain Gendal or Gindel, went with some soldiers to a place called North Yarmouth, with orders to build stockades on both sides of the river, for safety in case of a sudden invasion. While they were at work, an English captive, that probably had made his escape, told them there were 70 or 80 Indians near to them, and advised them to yield to them, and save their own lives. The soldiers were terrified at this report to that degree that all hastily ran away, and in their flight fell directly into the Indians' hands, who lay on the other side of the river ready for such an opportunity. The Indians soon came up, bringing the prisoners, their easy captivated prey, with them, dearly paying for their cowardice. The people of Casco, that were there at this time, resolved not to yield themselves to them, and also, if it were possible, to recover the prisoners so lately taken, without coming to an open fight. Accordingly, they laid hold of their neighbors with such dexterity and resolution, that they soon delivered all except one or two; they were about a dozen in all. But in the struggle, a surly Indian fellow held his prey fast, until one Benedict Pulcifer gave him a blow on his shoulder with his broad-axe. Upon which ensued a hot skirmish by discharging their guns on each side, till some were slain on both sides; how many is now uncertain. This action was followed with a heavy and bloody war for many years in NewEngland. However, the English so far prevailed at this time, as to constrain the Indians to quit the field and depart.

The engagement and conflict being over, Captain Gendal, with only a servant of his, passing over the river in a canoe in the evening, they, upon their landing, were both immediately slain by the Indians that lay hid in the bushes.