Question

In lines 87-90, Mann writes that "new England's major river valleys...held large,permanent villages, many nestled in constellation of suburban hamlets and hunting camps." What words in this sentence have strong connotations?

Answer 1

I would say that "large, permanent villages, many nestled in constellation of suburban hamlets" has connotations of being a well-settled area, well established and the "nestled" connotes a comfortable arrangement and in a "constellation of suburban hamlets" indicates a large series of "suburban hamlets" ie what sounds like the beginnings of  cities.