decrepit

"Some carried their old decrepit mothers, some carried one, and some
another."

Page 39 Elements in Literature

I have heard decrepit used in everyday talk, as well as in movies and tv. Decrepit means to be old, worn down, often used to describe a old person.

sagamore

"By my master in this writitng, must be understood Quanopin, who was a
sagamore, and married to King Phillip's wife sister."

page 38 Elements In Literature

In our english text books sagamore is defined as a secondary chief in the hierarchy of several American Indian peoples.

plunder

"One of the Indians that came from Medfield fight, had brought some plunder, came to me, and asked me, if I would have a Bible, he had got one in his basket."

P.39 Elements of Literature

The book said plunder means goods seized, especially during wartime. I don't understand what that means but I think it means to rob or take someone else's possession by force.

provision

Elements of Literature

p.41

"Where they fell to boiling of groundnuts, and parching of corn (as many as
had it) for their provision."

I think that provision is supplies or food (especially for a long journey).

bier

"Four of them carried a great Indian upon a bier; but going through a thick wood with him, they were hindered."

Elements of Literature


p.39

I think that bier is a stand on which to put a corpse or coffin before burial.

wigwam

Elements of Literature

p.38

"In the morning, when they understood that my child was dead they sent
for me home to my master's wigwam."

I think that wigwam is an Indiam dwelling of some sort; maybe like a tepee.