Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/61

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RUMSTICK AND NAYATT.
37

Another story goes, that while the Indians were removing the aforesaid treasure of "strong water," for which they had a most wonderful liking, the hoops broke, the barrel burst, and the spirits of rum sank into the sand, while the Indians' spirits sank within them, and in sad disappointment over their loss, they lifted up the mournful lamentation: "Rum stick here! Rum stick here!" Whatever may have been the views and tastes of the aboriginal inhabitants on the temperance question, and their actions in that locality, we are very sure that a more summary fate would befall such articles should they land within the same waters to-day.

West of, and about one mile from Chachapacasset Neck, is the point and section of land well known as Nayatt, still bearing its Indian title, though spelled Nayot in the old records. This point extends southwest into Narragansett Bay and was the nearest approach of the territory of the Wampanoags to the Narragansetts, who occupied the lands at and adjoining Conimicut Point, in Warwick, opposite Nayatt.

North of Nayatt, and separating it from a tract of land called by the Indians Annawomscutt, is a creek known by the name of Mouscochuck, now used as a canal by the New England Brick Company and on which their manufactory is now situated. Annawomscutt brook or creek flows into the bay west of the station at Drownville, and the section now known as Drownville bore the title of the brook, Annawom nscutt.

In the grand deed to the proprietors, one other creek is referred to under the name of Mosskituash, which, in the language of the Wampanoags, means a place where grass or rushes grow, and of which the natives made their beds or couches. Mosskituash Creek is within the Wannamoisett bounds, and empties into Bullock's Cove near the Viall Burying Ground.

The name Wannamoisett applies to the section about and east of Riverside. It was a favorite resort of the Indians as it included the long neck since called Bullock's Neck, the