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Trees Danced
Did Passaconaway
Possess Superhuman Powers?
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Not untrue that tale of old! |
Consider this: "Many of the things that Passaconaway did seem difficult to explain, but that he did them, in full view of both Indians and whites, there is no doubt. Both official and unofficial groups came from afar on divers occasion, and ample testimony to the authenticity of these events was given both verbally and in writing to the authorities at Massachusetts." Skeptics said that the events were merely magic tricks or that the great Passaconaway was "in consort with the Devil." But magic tricks at this level would have been technologically impossible in the 1600s; and the expression "in consort with the Devil" is admission that he appeared to have superhuman powers. The following are descriptions of Passaconaway's feats. What explanation does the reader have?
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"Very early he realized the effect of his magical powers upon the multitudes and is reported as having performed extraordinary feats "to the wonderment and awe" of his superstitious subjects. From Englishmen who mingled with the Pennacooks, and who were witnesses of several of his sleight-of-hand tricks, we learn that the powwow swam across the Merrimac under water at a place where it was far too wide to cross in one breath. It was explained that, after entering the water on the farther side, a mist was cast before the spectators' eyes and he was not again seen until he stepped out upon the bank in front of the wondering beholders. "Another time we are told that Passaconaway placed a bowl of water before him. The usual incantation then followed, in the midst of which a black cloud hovered over the assembled company and suddenly a sharp clap of thunder rent the air. To the amazement of the spectators, a solid piece of ice floated in the bowl; this trick was performed in the middle of summer. Settlers, reporting it, added: "Which doubtless was done by the agility of Satan, his consort." 54"Wood, in his 'New England's Prospect,' says: 'The Indians report of one Passaconawaw, that hee can make water burne, the rocks move, the trees dance, metamorphise himself into a flaming man. Hee Will do more; for in Winter, when there are no green leaves to be got, hee will burne an old one to ashes and putting these into 'water, produce a new green leaf, which you shall not only see but substantially handle and carrie away; and make a dead snake's skin a living snake, both to be seen, felt, and heard. This I write but on the report of the Indians, who confidentially affirm stranger things.'" 55 The Bashaba could hold a living, venomous snake in his hand as if it were a worm.56 From so many sources are these feats reported that there is little doubt as to their having taken place.5753 Morton: New England Canaan, 150-1. Sidis, W. J., PASSACONAWAY IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS. Boston: Badger, 1916, Chapter 1 |
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That Sachem or Sagamore
is a Powah of greate estimation amongst all kinde of Salvages, then hee is
at their Revels, (which is the time when a greate company of Salvages
meete from severall partes of the Countre, in amity with their neighbours),
hath advanced his honour in his feats or jugling tricks, (as I may right
terme them), to the admiration of the spectators, whome hee endeavoured to
persuade that hee would goe under water to the further side of a river to
broade for any man to undertake with a breath, which thing hee performed
by swimming over and deluding the company with casting a mist before their
eies that see him enter in and come out but no part of the way hee has bin
seene: likewise by our English in the heat of all summer, to make Ice
appeare in a bowle of faire water, first having the water set before him
hee hath begunne his incantation according to their usual accustom, and
before the same hath been ended a thicke cloude has darkened the aire and
on a sudane a thunderclap hath bin heard that has amazed the natives, in
an instant hee hath shoued a firme peace of Ice to floate in the midst of
the bowle in the presence of the vulgar people, which doubtless was done
by the agility of Satan his consort. C. E. Potter, HISTORY OF MANCHESTER, 1856, Chap. 5. |
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The early historians agree in the statement that he was regarded with the highest veneration by all the Indians, on account of a wonderful power which he was supposed to possess in the use of the magical arts. Wood, in his "New England Prospect," says of him; "The Indians report of one Passaconnan that hee can make 'the water burne, the rocks move, the trees dance, metamorphize himself into a flaming man. Hee will do more; for in winter, when there are no green leaves to be got, hee will burne an old one into ashes and, putting those into water, produce a new green leaf, which you shall not only see, but handle and carry away; and make of a dead snake-skin a living snake, both to be seen, felt, and heard'. This I write, but upon the report of the Indians who confidently affirm stranger things." The historian, Thomas Morton, gives a unique description of the chief of the Pawtuckets, as follows: "Papasiquineo, that Sachem, or Sagamore, is a Powow of great estimation amongst all kinde of salvages. At their revels, which is a time when a great company of salvages meete from several parts of the country in amity with their neighbors, he hath advanced his honor in his feats of juggling tricks. Hee will endeavor to persuade the spectators that hee will goe under water to the further side of the river too broade for any man to undertake with a breath, which thing hee performed by swimming over, and deluded the company with casting a mist before their eise that see him enter in and come out, but no part of the way he has been seene. Likewise by our English in the heate of summer, to make ice appear in a bowle of faire water. First having the water set before him, he hath begunne his incantations, and before the same has bin ended a thick cloud has darkened the aire, and on a sodane a thunder-clap has bin hearde, and in an instant he hath showed a prime piece of ice to floate in the middle of a bowle, which, doubtless, was done by the agility of Satan, his Consort." ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF LOWELL. Lowell (MA): Courier-Citizen Co., 1897. Pp. 65-66. |
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Passaconaway was famous for his almost superhuman feats of strength and magic. While he performed some of these elsewhere as he went among the tribes from Winnepesaukees and Ossipees on the north, to the Narragansetts on the south, his best work in this line was done at Amoskeag, where was to be found the perfect setting for all that he desired to accomplish in maintaining his position with the tribes. Many of the things that he did seem difficult to explain, but that he did them, in full view of both Indians and whites, there is no doubt. Both official and unofficial groups came from afar on divers occasion, ample testimony to the authenticity of these events was given both verbally and in writing, to the authorities at Massachusetts. One member of an investigating committee reported that he no doubt did the tricks, if such they were, but that he did so with the aid of his "Consort the Devil." After he accepted Christianity he sought the advice of the Apostle Eliot who advised wisely, in view of his intimate knowledge of the Indian mind, that they might continue so long as he did not ascribe what he did as due to the favor of deity. What did the Amoskeags and their visitors witness at Amoskeag Falls in what is now Manchester? They saw "rocks move, trees dance, green leaves in winter, blocks of ice in summer, squirming, harmless adders in winter, frozen fish and frosted branches in summer, and at any season dry leaves curling up and burning in a bowl, without apparent cause." He could seemingly call mists to envelope himself together with all those immediately near him, and to disperse the same mist at will. He would stand erect upon a pile of small dry sticks, have them ignited until he seemed to be a veritable flaming man. The mist would come and when presently it had gone, he would be found calm and unharmed. Reversing the process, the mists would come while there was no fire. Instantly flames would appear, only to have entirely vanished when the fleecy clouds passed on. Perhaps his most spectacular feat was accomplished while there were numbers of his own and of white visitors grouped on the river bank. The mist would come and when it had gone he would be found on the other shore with arms upraised. The watchers would soon be again, enveiled in mist, which soon passed on, when Passaconaway would be found coming up the river bank, dripping wet as one just out of the water. No Indian ever attempted to explain how these things were done. Was not their Passaconaway, greatest chieftain of them all, able to do things that no other Indian could do? The Great Spirit himself had given him these powers. Why should they inquire? Many a white man who did, received a stern rebuke, as was his due. Among the whites, whether sent officially or as voluntary visitors, there was much verbal and many written explanations, but the fact that almost none of these "explanations" were like any of the others, is an indication of how well the great bashaba guarded his secrets, which he carried with him to the grave. It is well, for they served their time and served it well, and helped to cement the confidence that, existed between the leader and his people. George Calvin Carter, PASSACONAWAY: THE GREATEST OF THE NEW ENGLAND INDIANS. Granite State Press, Manchester NH, 1947. Pp. 14-16. |
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We first hear of Passaconaway in history in 1627. Thomas Morton, being in this country at this time, thus writes of him in his "New English Canaan": "Papasiquineo the Sachem or Sagamore of the territories near Merrimack River, a man of the best note in all those parts (and as my countryman, Mr. Wood, declares in his prospect) a great nigromancer. That Sachem or Sagamore is a Powah of greate estimation amongst all kinde of Salvages then hee at their Revels (which is the time when a greate company of Salvages meete from severall partes of the Countre in amity with the neighbors) hath advanced his honor in his feats or jugling tricks to the admiration of the spectators whom hee endeavored to persuade that hee would go under the water to the further side of the river to broade for any man to undertake with a breath which thing he performed by swimming over and deluding the company with casting a mist before their eyes that see him enter in and come out; but no part of the way hee has bin seene; likewise by our English in the heat of all summer to make Ice in a bowl of faire water first having the water set before him hath begun his incantation according to their Usual accustom and before the same has been ended a thick cloude has darkened the aire and on a sudane a thunder clap hath bin heard that has amazed the natives; in an instant hee hath showed a firme peace of Ice to floate in the midste of the bowle in the presence of the vulgar people which was doubtless done by the agility of Satan his consort." Coburn, Silas R., HISTORY OF DRACUT MASS. Lowell: Press of the Courier-Citizen Co., 1922. Pp. 30-31. |
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If the reports which William Wood received from the Indians can be relied on, Passaconaway's feats of prestidigitation surpassed even those of our celebrated contemporary, Monsieur Hermann. It is said he could make the rocks move and the trees dance; that he could turn water into ice in summer and into fire in winter; that he could clothe the dried leaves of autumn with thetints of spring, and bring dead serpents to life; that he could metamorphose himself into a shining flame, and career through space like a Connecticut witch on a broomstick; and perform many other impossible feats. Crowley, MEMORIES OF THE INDIANS AND PIONEERS OF THE REGION OF LOWELL. Lowell: Stone & Huse Book Printers, 1862. P. 6. |
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He was the most noted powow and sorcerer of all the country, and his fame was widespread. It was thought he could cause a green leaf to grow in winter, trees to dance, and water to burn. SKETCHES OF REV. JOHN ELIOT AND OTHERS. Old Residents’ Historical Association Proceedings, Lowell, MA, 1896. Vol. III, p. 99. |
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For that chief had magic skill, And a Panisee's dark will, Over powers of good and ill, Powers which bless and powers which ban; Wizard lord of Pennacook, Chiefs upon their war-path shook, When they met the steady look Of that wise dark man. Tales of him the gray squaw told, When the winter night-wind cold Pierced her blanket's thickest fold, And her fire burned low and small, Till the very child abed, Drew its bear-skin over bead, Shrinking from the pale lights shed On the trembling wall. All the subtle spirits hiding Under earth or wave, abiding In the caverned rock, or riding Misty clouds or morning breeze; Every dark intelligence, Secret soul, and influence Of all things which outward sense Feels, or bears, or sees,— These the wizard's skill confessed, At his bidding banned or blessed, Stormful woke or lulled to rest Wind and cloud, and fire and flood; Burned for him the drifted snow, Bade through ice fresh lilies blow, And the leaves of summer grow Over winter's wood! Not untrue that tale of old! Now, as then, the wise and bold All the powers of Nature hold Subject to their kingly will; From the wondering crowds ashore, Treading life's wild waters o'er, As upon a marble floor, Moves the strong man still. |
Compiled by Dan Mahony.