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Tous ies autres exemplaires originaux sont filmAs en commenpant par la premlAre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la darnlAre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un das symbolas suivants apparaitra sur la dernlAre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbole — ► signifie "A SUIVRE ', le symbole ▼ signifie "FIN ". Las cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre filmAs A des taux de reduction diffArents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul ciichA, il est filmA A partir de I'anglo supArieur gauch<A«KW9s;^ej iyi-.'».v>-.'!*'»4>i*miei^tmaii rl:3 4 r>lM Officers of the Society Elected for 1898. ALFRED C. COXE, Dana VV. Biuei.ow, Moses M. Baoo, I'rcsiihnt, THOMAS H. I'UOCTOU. Vice PreaidfutH, X. UUUTIS WHITE. CYKUS D. PUESCOTT. Correnponding Secretary, CIIAKLES W. DARLING. Recording Seccetary, DONALD McLNTYRE. Treamirer, WARREN C. ROWLEV. Executive Committee, Qeoroe C. Sawyer, W. I'lERREPONT WniTE, N. Curtis White. Oeoroe C, Sawyer. Henry J. Coooesiiall, W. Stuart Wolcott, Thomas R. Proctor, Charles W. Darling, Edward North, Moses M. Bago, Alexander T. Goodwin, N. Curtis White, Milton H. Merwin, Warren <:. Rowley, William K. Watson, P. C. J. DeAngblis, Librarian, MOSES M. BAQG. Board of Councilors, Ellis H. Roberts, Isaac 3. Hartley, Freder.^'K W. Guitbau, Robert S. Williams, Abbam B. Weaver, Dana W. Bigelow, Willis E. Ford, Cyrus D. Prbbcott, John L. Earl, Daniel N. Grouse, G. Alder Blumer, Thomas W. Spencer, W. Pierrepont White, wMSNWMMIHUUte^B The Mohawks. A^ ENgrniY into tiikiu oukhn mkihations ' AND INFLUENCK UPON TlIK WHITK HETTLKllH. By S. L. Kkky, The .l-ulcnt of the e»r., '"''-'.y '''/'jJ'Zt ^IT. York beci... very .oon to rocogn.M the tact tl,»t tliore i. a :r:te:rr„: - '::i :rr;r,.a, «„,. or.an»a h aaer.omewhore in the ,«-t a.d boundles, w.lderne... 11 e.e Torfe wore « „otenl tuotor . ■ the Revolutionary .trugRle. Our ^Stle, o.' the Mohawk Valley nret tl,e,n '»- '» -■ ^^ ft i, with their obscure and --^;",f;:7J '\UZTd has to do. The beginnings uf this histoiy aie far outside the Mohawk Valley. vflstlesB In the sixteenth century Europe swarmed with a lestle b populat on of adrenturous spirits. All avenues for romantic Svements had well nigh closed. The cr"-des were finished chivalry and knight errantry had waned, the era of tiade and "ce for all mankind had not ye^^-^f ' -f ^^^^^^ of mer, bred to arms, were fit for nothing else but wild exploits ''ThfdL'ctr; of a new world came in a good time for Europe It cleaxtdThe al, turned the minds of all to -w thoughts and new pursuits, and instilled new life and new hope and new «nercv into nations and individuals. The greed for gold, the ardent desire to make proselytes to the tr^fe faith, the live of adventure, the jealousy of nations tt se were some of the motives that sent men -^"« -^ ^^^ the unknown from all the harbors of Spain and Poitugal, France and England, and Holland and Italy. ONKIHA UISTOUHAI. SO< IKTV, C(»liiml)ii8 bulicvud tliiit lio limi diricovcM-cd tlio rnost ciiHtcrit oxt(MiHion of tho Spico IgliindM of the Iixliiiii Sou, mid if lio coiitiiiiUMl Biiiliiif? to tlio wcHt lit' would rciKdi Cliiiiii iiiid (Jipttn^o. An itn|iorfect Miiiiticiil knowlod^'o tliiit lod to cM'i'ora in liititiido and lon^'itudo fuhterod tliOHu uitoih in livter yoiu'M, und ciiuaod an nntiriii)( Hciircli for ti waterway tliitiij^li tlio American rontinont. In conHefiucnof of tliiH ovory rivor and ovory arm of tlio Mca wiiH t'xjdoiod from lludtjou Buy to tlio Uulf of Mexico. Among tlio many hold iidvonturerH wlio at that early day went sailing out into the went, was one who was the first to como in contact with the aborigines of tho Mohawk Valley. On tljo ICtli of May, ir);}r), .Jac(|ue8 Cariicr, with a goodly company of gontlemon, sailed from tho ancient fort of St. Malo. He was to search out some now land where troops of converted pagans would compensate for the ravages made by IjUther and (/'alvin upon tho church. His fortune lod him to enter the great river whi'cli he named Ht. Lawrence; but although ho did not and could not realize liow great a discovery he had made, still when he saw how vast was tho stream he was filled with high ho))eB that ho had indeed found the way to China. Carefully and slowly ho glided on between banks of autumnal foliage; wild fowl in immense numbers clamored in tho water, and herds of deer fed in the coves and bays. lie passed the grim gorge where the Saguenay is seen, and at the rock of Quebec he found tho Indian village of Stadaconn^. Here the Frenchmen were welcomed by dancing -d shouting, and held an audience with the "king," the ]^. .c Donnacoua. We have reason to think that these are the first Mohawks that appear in history. But they learn that still further up the great river, many days' journey, there lias another town far larger and more important. It was called Ilochelaga, as was also the rive" and the country around. Continuing his journey, on the 2d of October 1535, Cartier reached this great town — this unknown and mysterious Ilochelaga. And as this is the very beginning of the history of the Mohawk Valley — Stadaconnd and Hoche- laj rai ao 801 at bi "l ac la hi a di ill di C( A II 0( si g o: BI tl b S( a d 1. h f I c i TIIK MOIIAWKrt. lU iiiohI CHHtorit Sou, and if lio iioh (!hinft uiul trroi'8 in latitmlo iiii'H, uiul ouuaod tho Amoriciui iind ovory iirm to tiio Gulf of that oiirly diiy hviiH tho llrHt to VIohiiwii Valley . with a Kot'dly rort of St. Malo. ps of convoitod I by liUther and whicli he named ould not roali/e he miw liow vast it ho had indeed ika of autninna] d in tho water, IIo passed the at the rock of annf;. Here the )uting, and held onnacoua. We Mohawks that •eat river, many irger and more 80 tho rive- and , on the 2d of — this unknown ) very beginning m5 and Hoche- luKtt bolonKing to tho same tribe— and tho llr»t wo liear of that race of iavaKCs, who in llio uftcr time were uncli pr-iniincnt actors in all of <.ur bonier warfare, it may bo well to doHcribo lomowhat niinnlt'iy th« town and poopU'. That tlioy wero Iro.|uoiH and Mohawk I shall, as I procood, attomi)t to (lonionstrute, uh far as tho nnoortain data will allow, bnt at the same time 1 do not insist npon a theory foundod upon what may bo considorcd unsatisfactory evidence. Cartior'i account of Hocholaga and its people I will give in the graphic lunguago of Francis Parkman, the most fascinating of all our historians. " Where now are seen tho <|uays and storehouses of Montreal, a thousand Indians thronged tho shore, wild with delight, dancing, singing, crowding about tho strangers, and showering into tho boats their gifts of IImIi and maize; and as it^ grow dark llrcs lighted up tho night, while far and near tho French could see tho excited savages leaping and rejoicing by the blaze. At dawn of day, marshalled and acoutred, thoy set forth for Ilocholaga. An Indian path le.l thorn through tho forest which covered the site of Montreal. Tho morning air was chill and sharp, the leaves were changing hue, and beneath tho oaks the ground was thickly strewn with acorns. Thoy soon met an Indian Chief with a party of tribes men, or as the old narrative has it, "one of the principal lords of the said city, attended by a numerous retinue." Oroeting them after tho concise courtesy of the forest, h« led them to a tire kindled by the side of the path for their comfort and refreshment, seated them on the earth and made them a long harangue, receiving in requital for his elo(iuence two hatchet'!, two knives and a crucifix, the last of which he was invited to kiss. This done they resumed their march, and presently issued forth upon open fields covered far and near with the ripened maize, its leaves rustling, its yellow grain gleaming between the parting husks. Before them, wrapped in forests painted by the early frost, rose the ridgey back of the mountain of Montreal, and below encompassed by its cornfleldB lay the Indian town. Nothing was visible but its encircling palisades. They were of trunks of trees set in a triple row, the outer and inner ranges inclined till they met and crossed near the summit while the ONEIUA HISTORICAL SOCIEl'V. upright row between them, aided by transverse braces, gave to the whole an abundant strength. Within were galleries for the defenders, rude laddeis to mount them, and magazines of stones to throw down on the heads of assailants. It was a mode of fortification practiced by all the tribes speaking dialects of the Iroquois. The voyagers entered the narrow portal. Within they saw some fifty of those large oblong dwellings so familiar in after yoavs to the eyes of tlie Jesuit Apostles in Iroquois and Huron forests. They were fifty yards or more in length and twelve or fifteen wide, framed of sapling poles closely covered with sheets of bark, and each containing many fires and many families. Here Cartier and his followers stopped while the surrounding houses of bark disgorged their inmates— swarms of children, and young women and old, their infants in their arms. They crowded about their visitors crying with delight, touching their beads, feeling their faces, and holding up the screeching infants to be touched in turn. Strange in hue, strange in attire, with moustached lip and bearded chin, with arquebuse and glittering halberd, helmet and cuirass— were the marvellous strangers demigods or men ? Due time allowed for this feminine rapture the warriors inter- posed, banished the women and children to a distance and squatted on the ground around the French, row within row, of swarthy forms and eager faces, -as if" says Cartier, "we were going to act a play." Then appeared a troop of women bearing a mat with which they carpeted the bare earth for the behoof of of their guests. The latter being seated the chief of the nation was borne before them on a deerskin by a number of his tribesmou, a bed-ridden old savage, paralyzed and helpless, squalid as the rest in his attire, and distinguished only by a red fillet, inwrought with the dyed quills of the Canada porcupine, encir- cling his lank black hair. They placed him on the ground at Cartier's feet, and made signs of welcome for him, while he pointed feebly to his power- less limbs, and implored the healing touch from the hand of the French chief. •se braces, gave to lo laddeis to mount 1 on the heads of racticed by all the Within they saw ) familiar in after oquois and Huron gth and twelve or sely covered with |r fires and many B the surrounding 'irms of children, ;heir arms. They it, touching their screeching infants justached lip and I halberd, helmet lemigods or men ? ;ho warriors inter- a distance and i'ow within row, of Oartier, "we were of women bearing 1 for the behoof of nation was borne his tribesmoii, a 88, squalid as the by a red fillet, poi'cupine, encir- r's feet, and made ebly to his power- tn the hand of the THK MOHAWKS. 9 Cartier complied, and received in acknowledgement tlie red lillet of his grateful patient. And now from surrounding dwell- ings appeared a woeful throng, the sick, the lame, the blind, the maimed, the decrepit, brought forth and placed on the bi*rc earth before the perplexed commander, "As if," he says, "a God had come down to cure the..!." His skill in medicine being far behind the emergency, he pro- nounced over his petitioners, a portion of the Gospel of St. John, of infallable efficacy on such occasions, made the sign of tlie cross, and uttered a prayer, not for their bodies only, but for their miserable souls. Next he read the passion of the Saviour, to which, though comprehending not a word, his audience listened with grave attention. Then came a distribution of presents. The squaws and ciiildren were recalled, and with tlie warriors placed in separate groups. Knives and hatcliets were given to the men, beads to the women, and pewter rings and images of the Agnus Dei flung among the troop of children, whence ensued a vigorous scramble in the Square of Hochelaga." Then there was a blare of trumpets, and bidding their hosts farewell, they formed their ranks and defiled through the gates once more. " A body of Indians followed and guided them to the top of the neighboring mountain. Cartier called it Mount Royal— Montreal— and hence the name of the busy city, which now holds the site of the vanished Hochelaga." From the summit Cartier looked out "east, west and south, and saw the mantling forest over all, and the broad blue ribbon of the river glistening amid a realm of verdure. Beyond to the bounds of Mexico stretched a leafy desert, and the vast hive of industry, the mighty battleground of later centuries, lay sunk in savage torpor wrapped in illimitable woods." Such was Hochelaga, and it is evident from Cartier's account that it was an Iroquois town. The mode of fortification and the surrounding corn fields would prove this, for the Iroquois only lived in such towns, and were an agricultural people. All the Algonquin hordes were nomads, living the wandering life of hunters, gorged at one time with food, and shivering with cold and hunger through the long winters. i a B C» ! «> vaw/5*- -'^iiHsm*" 10 ONKIDA HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Tliere were also certain aftiniticH beiv, I'en tlieir language and tliat of tlie Iroiiuois. Caiticr says that tlie native name for the country around Quebec was < anada, and Canada is a pure Mohawk word signifying town or vlUage. Colden, also, says in his history of the Five Nations, that the ]\rohawks had a tradition, that they were formerly settled at Montreal, and that they were driven out by the Adirondacks. And last, but by no means least, is the archiV'ologioal evidence, .which will receive particular attention when we come to examine the prehistoric village sites of the Mohawk valley. Seventy years after Cartier's time the whole region was occu- pied by AlgoiHiuin tribes, and no trace remained of Stadaconc or of llochelaga. What had become of the people ? An overwhelming force of wandering Algonciuins had destroyed their towns, but it is not to be supposed that so lierce a race of savage warriftrs as these old llochelagans were exterminated. To what new land had they gone ? I think we shall find them seated in impregnable strongholds among the hills and in the dense forests of the Mohawk valley, Jleeing, for the time being, before their enemies, and biding tlieir time to wreak a sure and terrible vengeance on them all. They liad put the impassable wilderness of the Adi- rondacks between them and their northern foes. Seventy years had passed away, and now we come to the open- ing of the seventeenth centu' y full of great events and the most picturesque characters. The gentlemen and the free lances of England led by Sir Walter lia'.eigh ; the days of Jamestown and of John Smith ; of Pocohontas and Powhattan ; the days of Hudson and New Amsterdam ; the days of the Pilgrim Fathers, the Mayflower and the Plymouth Rock The century is full of action, of motion, of unrest, of cruelty, war and conquest ; all the seas of the world are whitened by the sails of discoverers, bucaneers, pirates, traders and missionariea. France remembers the St. Luwrence, and the crowds of heathen in Hochelaga, anr" sends Samuel de Champlain to four.d a New France in North America ; aud Holland, t: e most wonderful and interesting of all nacioTis, fosters science, and the arts, at home not only, but colonizes the East Indies, and sends Hendrick Hudson to found a new Amsterdam beyond the west- ern sea. THE MOHAWKS, n tlieir language and native name for the Canada is a pure le Nations, that the formerly settled at the A'lirondacks. ha'ologioal evidence, we come to examine illey. le region wag occu- ned of Stadacone or rwhelming force of )wn8, but it is not 3 warriftrs as these vhat new land had ;cd in impregnable snse forests of the efore their enemies, rrible vengeance on erness of the Adi- )es. 3 come to the open- )vents and the most the free lances of } of Jamestown and .ttan ; the days of le Pilgrim Fathers, unrest, of cruelty, ire whitened by the s and missionaries, ad the crowds of de Ohamplain to Holland, V. e most ers science, and the it Indies, and sends m beyond the west- Hudson and Champlain, in the same year— KlOU— began to make the history of our State and of the Mohawk valley. Of the former we need say little at present, for wo shall see the results f his discoveries further on in the settlement of New York, Albany and Schenectady. Of the latter, and of his first fatal interview with the Mohawks, which was so far reaching in its , llects, and is so intimately associated with our early history, we must treat somewhat in detail. In our prosaic age we look with wonder and astonishment upon t,iich men as t!hamplain and liis company, who came into a dis- mal wilderness of woods, tenanted only by savage beasts and Hiivage men, with plumed helmets tmd silken doubtlcts, with scarlet breeches and diamond shoe buckles, with lace and frills, and all the refined tastes, and fastidious hobits of the gentlemen jind scholars of the most luxurious country of Europe. It would seem to us that such a style of dress was illy fitted for the rough life of soldiers and discoverers in a land of such savage aspect aa the Canada of that day. But it was the way of the world in those days, some of tlie last lingering remains of an age of romance, which has, as we look back upon it, such a highly decorative aspect. Champlain had been in Canada since 1003 ; untamed by ad- versity, undaunted by dangers and disappointments, he was ever ready to reach out into that unknown wilderness of which he had heard from his Algonquin allies who came from far up the Ottawa and the St. Lawrence. " During the last autumn a young chief from the banks of the Ottawa had been at Quebec, and, amazed at what he saw, he had begged Champlain to join him in the spring against his enemies —these enemies were a formidable race of savages, the Iroquois, or Five Confederate nations dwelling in fortified villages within liuiits now embraced by the State of New York, and who were a terror to all the surrounding forests." This is the first we hear of these people, and the first rumor that reached the ears of the French concerning them. Champlain consented to go with the young chief, but it was not until May, 1G09, that he started on his hair brained expedi- tion—an expedition that in the after years resulted in so much woe to the colony of New France, for as well might he have ad- 12 ONKIDA UISTOBICAI, SOCIETY. ventured into the wild wolf's den, as to have aroused the fierco hate of the savage Mohawks . But Champlain despised the whole Indian race, and with ii courage begotten of ignorance, he set out with a few companions and a motley horde of Algonquins and Ilurons. Their course was up that river of many names, " The lliver of the Iroquois," the Kichelieu; the St. John ; the Chambly ; the St. Louis ; the Sorel. It is the outlet of the lake that bears his name. By slow stages the mongrel crowd of savages felt their way by canoe and on foot through the tangled woods, and past the roaring rapids. The glistening waters of the lake came into view, and great mountain peaks were seen, far off, and near at hand, and be- yond, far to the south in secluded valleys, and fastnesses of the hills, lurked the Mohawk. At last, not far from Ticonderoga, tliey came in sight of their enemies, and Champlain, like Great Heart, assayed to meet them with all the nonchalence of an old fighter. The account says : " Over his doublet he buckled on abreast plate and a back piece; on his thighs were plates of steel, and on his head a plumed casque; across his shoulder hung the strap of his bandoleer; at his side was his sword, and in his hand his arquebuse loaded with four balls. Such was the equipment of this ancient Indian fighter, whose exploits date eleven years be- fore the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, and sixty-six years before King Philip's war. Then from out their barricade marched some two hundred strong men; the finest fighters in North America. Champlain stepped forth and stood face to face with the Mohawks, planted his arquebuse, lighted the fuse and fired. Two chiefs fell dead? and after a fierce bu ;tle the Iroquois were routed and driven into the woods. "Thus," as Parkman says, "did New France rush into col- lision with the redoubted warriors of the Five Nations; Cham- plain had invaded the tiger's den, and now in smothered fury the patient savage would lie, biding his day of blood." But we are not to follow the fortunes of New France, although that is a subject profoundly interesting, and intimately associ- ated with the history of our own valley, l^et us go back with aroused the fierce n race, and with ii ;h a few companione one. Their course er of the Iroquois," the St. Louis ; the ars his name. By ; their way by canoe d past the roaring ito view, and great f at hand, and he- ld fastnesses of the • from Ticonderoga, am plain, like Great ichalence of an old buckled on a breast ates of steel, and on r hung the strap of d in his hand his the equipment of .te eleven years be- , and sixty-six years some two hundred nerica. Cham plain ! Mohawks, planted wo chiefs fell dead? ted and driven into nee rush into col- ve Nations; Cham- in smothered fury f blood." )w France, although I intimately associ- t us go back with THE MOHAWKS. IS the remnant of the Mohawks, who escaped the fatal fray with Champlain, and enter with them into their strongholds, among tiie dense forests of the Mohawk. The long and weary way leads from Lake George along the eastern edge of the Adiron- dack wilderness, and strikes the Mohawk river at some point west of Amsterdam, or perhaps the way may be across to the Siicondaga, and so through the forests to their villages. And now, in investigating this obscure and prehistoric period of the Mohawks, I have to reconstruct it as I may from personal investigations among the sites of their old villages. There is no written record, and if inferences are drawn and theories sug- gested it is with diffidence, and not with assertion. It will be remembered that the period suggested was after the destruction of Ilochelaga — somewhere between Cartier's visit in 1535 and Cham plain's attack in 1G09. That the Mohawks had not been settled in the Mohawk valley for a very long period is, I think, proved by the few sites of prehistoric villages that are found. There are only two with which I am acquainted. It is probable that there is one more, unknown, for in the after years they always had at the same time three villages to correspond to their three principal clans, the Tortoise, the Bear, and the Wolf. And as it was their custom to occupy a site only as long as the palisades lasted, and the supply of wood was abundant, it is evident that the two old sites could have been occupied only for twenty-five or thirty years, and as all of the many other sites of their villages in the valley come within the historic period — as proved by the white traders' wares found on them — it is evi- dent that they could not have occupied the valley very long in the prehistoric period.* If they had been here for hundreds of years, or a thousand, the sites of their old villages wouid be very abundant; as tliere are ♦Since this paper was written two other prehistoric sites have been found and examined; and from the similarity of the relics in all of these sites it is evident that they were occupied at the same time. The first of these newly discovered sites is on the bank of the Cayadutla creek, which enters the Mohawk at Fonda. The second is similar in all respects to the other three, and is on the bank of a stream which is also an affluent of the Mohawk. They are both only a few miles from "Qaroga." I i u ONEIhA HISTORICAL HOCIKTY. only two, it points very strongly to a short occupation. If thev were the refugees fleeing from the ruined llochelag.i, they wciv a remnant who sought to hide themselves from the fury of their AlgoiKjuin enemies; and thus we lind that these two old villages were not on the river where they could easily be reached, but fai- back in the dense forests, and upon the highest and most inac- cessible points that could be found. They are both upon thf banks of streams that are allhients of the Mohawk. 'J^he most western one is on the Otstungo, a branch of the creek that enters the Mohawk at Fort Plain. This village site was described and illustrated by Squire and Davis in their '« Ancient Monuments of the State of New York," one of the publications of the Smith- sonian Institution. S(iuire says it was the work of the " Mound Huilders," that convenient and mythical people who preceded the Indians, and knew a great deal more than they did. Then he says that iron axes and gun barrels have been found on the site of this Mound Builders town. It is not necessary to cont'overt Squire's ac- count, his own statements overthrow his theory. A little dig- ging in the refuse heaps along the steep banks would have proved that the place was absolutely Mohawk, and prehistoiic. The other town site is on the bank of the (hiroga creek, about ten miles from where it empties into tiie river, and as this one has never had the honor to be investigated and described I will give some account of my own investigations at the place, especially as the archaeological evidence is of importance, as bearing upon the origin not only, but the manners, customs, industries, and after migrations of the Mohawks. For convenience we will call ihe old village " Garoga." It is a rough and rugged section of country where the old glaciers have scattered bowlders in countless numbers, and where hillg and great banks of sand and gravel show the tumultuous action of currents, and swirling eddies of water. The hill on which the town was built is very steep on all sideg but one. The banks rise at a sharp angle for one hundred and fifty or two hundred feet, but the top of the hill is level and contains several acres of land. Palisades, similar to those of Ilochelaga, undoubtedly protected the town. The Iroquois and cognate tribes alone built these defensive structures. We have TIIK MOIIVWKS. 15 ccupation. If they aclicltig.i, they weii' m the fury of their lese two oUl vilhiges be reacheu, but fin- est and most inac- are both upon the lohuwk. 'J,'lie most Llie creek tluit enters ) was described anil icient Monuments of Aons of the Smith- ind Huikicrs,'' that id the Indians, and n he says tliat iron site of this Mound t'overt S'luire's ac- eory. A little dig- :s would have proved prehistoiic. [iaroga creek, about rer, and as this one ;ated and described vestigations at the )e is of importance, 3 manners, customs, wks. e *' Garoga." It is ere the old glaciers 3rs, and where hills 5 tumultuous action ;ry steep on all sideg 9r one hundred and the hill is level and similar to thoEe of . The Iroquois and bructures. We have minute descriptions of them in the Jesuit Relations, and other old writers. Sometimes there were as many as live concentric rows of palisades, the highest being thirty feet. Inside of this tnere was a row about six feet shorter, and these two rows were con- nected by a platform upon which the defenders of the town cou d vtaud, and upon which there were piles of stones, and also tanks of bark for holding water. In case the enemy succeeded m Htarting a fire the whole place could be deluged This pr.m.- tive and prehistoric water works and lire brigade was of the utmost Importance, for in attacking these wooden defences, l.re was the most elricacious weapon, and one which was dreaded more than all others. The danger was great at all times from the great mass of palisades; the piles of wood for fuel, and the ex- tensive long houses of bark and polos. Such a fortification could not be built without great labor; especially was it dillicult for a people absolutely in their stone '^Inthe defences of "Garoga" they must have used several thousand trees. To cut down a tree is a simple matter with a steel axe, but the way these savage men did it was s ow and tedious They first built a fire around the tree, and as the wood charred they hacked it with their stone axes, then they cut the logs the required length by the same process of bnrning and hacking, afterwards the palisad-,.. so formed had to be dragged or carried to their place, the holes dug; then elevated and securely fastened. To dig such a vast number of holes too was a great labor, for they had no hoes, or spades, or shove Is, nothing but sharpened sticks, the shells of the tortoise and the fresh water clam and their hands. . 4.^ As we reflect upon this great work, our admiration for the savage man increases, and onr inherited and traditional ideas about his laziness suffer a change. His environment was hard, and if he survived at all he could not be lazy. Within this palisaded enclosure were the "Long Houses, peculiar to the Iroquois. Some of them one huiidred feet long, but the largest over five hundred feet. They called themselves "the People of the Long House." The Mohawks guarding its eastern door and the Senecas its western. , „ , , The description already given of these houses at Hochelaga, 16 UNEID.V IIIHTORICAI. SOCIETY. will apply to thorn all in tlio Molmwk Viilloy; their position at "(Jiiroga" oan bo traced even at this lato day, by the dark earth, tiie burned stones, the clam shells, and fragments of bone and pottery. In all these commnnal honscs, and everywhere within the palisades there was of conrse a constant accnmulation of ashes, bones and debris of all kinds, and although savagew have little idea of neatness or of decency, still these accumulations had to be removed, and as this was done from time to time, they were carried out and thrown down the steep banks outside the palisades. Naturally where there was so much refuse many implements and weapons would be lost and carried out with the rest. In the course of years these banks of refuse accumulated to an enormous extent, and they resemble vei-y closely the same class of remains found in many other countries, and which in Denmark have been called by the archajologists " Kjokenmod- d.ags," kitchen middens. These refuse heaps are prolitice sources of information in regard to the people who lived at Garoga. The rains and winds of ages, and nature's chemistry have sweetened them, and wo need not fear to dig among this dust of the past. Perhaps it would not add to our comfort to retlect upon what they once were. When the place was occupied, no woods or trees were allowed to grow near at hand, the town stood bristling with its palisades on the "crown of this difficult hill," and no enemy could approach without being seen. Now the steep banks are covered with a heavy forest, and it is no easy task to open the refuse heaps among the tangled mass of roots. But the hard work is forgotten in the fascination of the quest. We dig a trench as near as we can about twenty or thirt; feet from the top of the bank. The earth is black and filled with charcoal, ashes and innumerable Unio shells, which are usually of the one species, "Unio Complanatus," and identical with those found at the present day in the Mohawk and its tributaries. As we go deeper into the bed of ashes, we begin to find frag- ments of that archaic pottery, which is peculiarly Mohawk. It TIIK MOIIAWKrt. 17 their poaition iit (lay, by tho ilurk 'ragmen ts of bone vhero within tho luhitiDn of ashes, ivagCM have little mulationa had to time, they were inks outside tho nch refuse many ried out with the je accumulated to ' closely the same ■ies, and which in its " Kjokenmod- if information in le rains and winds lied them, and wo past. Perhaps it ft what they once trees were allowed ; with its palisades no enemy could banks are covered 9 open tho refuse the hard work is enty or thirt " feet jk and filled with which are usually nd identical with Mohawk and its egin to find frag- arly Mohawk. It is " sui generis," and is one of the principal linka that connect into one continuous whole tho long lino of Mohawk village mteH. and not only so, but that connects these sitoH ..nmistakably with Cartior's viUago of Hochelaga; for in tho museum of the Mcdill University can bo seen many fnigmonts of pottery, dug up on the site of Hochelaga which are identical :n matorial, oolor, form and decoration to this Mohawk pottery which wc l.nd 80 abundantly in tho refuse heaps of (Jaroga, and in all other Mohawk village sites. Although no whole jars are over found, tiie fragments are often large enough for us to determine the ahapo and size, and to see that it was all made without tho use of tho potter's wheel. Tht wore of all sizes, from tho tiny toy made for tho children to tho great jar, solid and heavy that would hold several gallons. At (laroga the pits from whicii the clay was taken can bo plainly soon. Tlie whole work was done by tho squaws. It was worked into tho proper consistency and mixed with pounded shells, or some kind of granite rock, to pre- vent cracking during the firing. All tho jars wore round on the bottom, as they were to stand upon the ground or in the ashes; and they had a Haring rim so that they could be suspended by a cord if necessary. Tlio decoration was invariably certain con- ventionalized patterns of incised straight lines, but so varied that no two jars are over precisely alike; there is a striking re- semblance, but great variety, and they never advanced from tho straight line in their decoration. Not a curve is ever seen. The only departure from this general uniformity is where tho jar was made in a basket, in which case the imprint of the crossed meshes can bo seen; or where, in very rare instances, the human figure was used as a decoration. As the digging proceeds wo find the bones of many wild animals and birds, nearly all of them broken so that the marrow could be extracted. The comparoLivo anatomist of the Smithsonian In- stitution has reconstructed for me the fauna of Garoga, so that now we know pretty well what wild animals roamed the woods of the Mohawk valley in the prehistoric days. But we also find many bone implements, such as harpoons, -naments, awls and needles, and many the use of which we can only conjecture. The piercing implements are the most abundant; these were used for making their buck skin garments, and many of them 18 ONKIDA IIISTOHIiAI. HOllKTY, iiro US smontli imd Imnl uikI §lmrp iih tlicy wore wlien llrst niii.le. They me iiHUiiUy of tlio tihia of tlio (Uht, a very cIoho iiml luucl l.ono imioh like ivory in its tcxturo. Wo find specimons <»f wliiit nmy bo cullotl the jowolry of tho ludiiuiH, aii.l it sIiowh liow innate is the lovdof on\ani('iit in all mankind; these thin,-j;H at (ian.gi; lire gont'mlly oxoeedinsly rude; around piece of turtle dhcU; a pie(!0 of a deer's jaw with tho teeth still in place, the canine tet'tli of the bear; the cutting teeth of tiie l)eavor; and necklace hones made either of tho tarsus and metatarsus of tho deer, or of human piiah»nj,'08. All these are perforated for guspensiou, and many of tlio latter are elaliorat dy smoothed and worked. Stone implements in a more or less perfect condition are «|nito common either in the beds of ashes or scattered on tlie surface of the Held where the village stood. 'I'ho axes are all of the kind known as celts. No grooved axes have over been fonnd at (iaroga, The arrow heads are commonly of one typo, what have been called "war arrows," made with barbs, so that it would remain in the wound when the shaft was withdrawn. There aro also gpoar heads and scrapers, drills and knives, usually made of tho mineral called chert or hornstoue, and similar to those found among all eavage men. That tho dwellers in Uaroga had considerable artistic sense is shown in their fictile wares, in various carvings of bone, and more especially in their pipec, which are usually of clay molded in the form of various animals, and of the human face. The chief interest that attaches to these relics— as far as the present paper is concerned— is that they connect Oaroga back- ward to llochelaga and forward to the Mohawks in all tho sub- sequent periods of their history, as long as they remained in the Mohawk valley. At llochelaga and at Garoga the same pottery and pipes, the same bono implements and arrow heads, identical in shape and material, and suggesting strongly the same savage people. And as we follow the tribe in its migrations from one village to another, we shall notice the same similarity, only that there will be a gradual change as the white man's wares increased more and more in variety and quantity, and as the savage, unable to understand the now and higher civilization so suddenly thrust upon him, assimilated all of the vices and but few of the virtues Till'. MlHIAV.KH. 19 wlien llrst inside, y (iloHO 1111(1 liiirJ ilieoiinons of wliiit hIiowh liow iuniito Uiiii,i,'H iiL (iiinigii of turtU* dlioU; a pliice. the ciiiiino vor; iind iieckliico of tlio (leer, or of r BuapeiiHiou, and 1 worked, audition are <|uito [ on tlie Burfiice of all of the kind found at (iarof^a, , what have liccn t it would remain , 'IMioro are also ually made of the r to thoBO found artistic sense is ngs of bone, and ily of clay molded nan face. cs — as far as the ect Oaroga back- cs in all the sub- ly remained in the 3ry and pipes, the ical in shape and ?age people. And im one village to nly that there will es in.crea8ed more savage, unable to suddenly thrust few of the virtues of the white man, and so hipHM fn.ni u .tale in whi.h he was Hbundaiitly ublc to take oaro of hiuiHelt to a ntato of dependence and weakness. , , ,..., - After (Miamphiin'H battle with the Mohawks we liear little o them for H.nne time. He was untiring in bin exploiat-m and beaded one .arlike expedition into the country of tlio \ estorn Irociuois. Thu. is principally interesting in this c.mnect.on, as ho gives a ruuc drawing of an Indian town with palisades def(Mices and long houses, similar to those of llochelaga and ^"ln"l,'liin(l witli Colonel Sohnylor, iit hi8t hud tlie desired efTe(!l, iind it wiis decided tlmt ii eiiurcl-. -houhl be built for the Mohiiwks. It WI18 to be within ii fortilied enclosure, biilt to protect the exposed frontier from hostile IndiiinHund the Kronch of Ciiuuda. Tliero is coming into the Mohiiwk ii few miles west of Amster- dam a large stream, which, rising in the (.'utskill mountains, runs north one hund-..l miles. It is a beautiful and picturesnuo river, and was known to the Indians by tarious names, one of which, the Schoharie, remains to this day. At the mouth of this stream the fort and chapel were built in 171'^, and called Fort Hunter, after the Governor of the Province. Here was the lower castle of the Mohawks. A contract made with certain Dutch carpenters of Schenectady was for a fort of squared logs one hundred and fifty feet on each Bide, with a wooden chapel within the enclosure. This latter, however, was built of stone, with port holes on each side and ii vault beneath for a powder magazine. It was a day of great rejoicing when it was tinished. Here came the soldiers of Queen Anne, armed with enormously long muskets, and here came the Indians, and after a time came to them the Key. Petrus Van IJriesen to learn theiv language, and to teach and to preach to them. But Queen Anne not only built them a chapel, but also gave them a beautiful and valuable communion service. It was of silver and consisted of five pieces, each piece bearing the follow- ing inscription: " The gift of her Majesty Ann, by the grace of (lod, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, and of her Plan- tations in America. Queen, to her Indian Chappel of the Mohawks." This service continued at Fort Hunter until the Revolution, when it was taken by the tribe to Canada. It is still in constant use; three pieces at the Mohawk Church at Grand River and two at Deseronto. At the former also can still be seen the fair white linen cloth for the communion table,, embroidered with the armorial devices of the royal donor, and sacredly kept as an heir loom and a memorial of the days of old. TilK MOMAWKH, 33 iloliiiwk country, Tinit of tho live t liml thoilosiretl be built for tho closures biilt to H und tho Kronch west of Amstor- tskill mountuins, I iind picturcHfiuo 18 niimoH, one of .pol wore built in •of the Province. I'B of Schenectady fifty feet on each re. This latter, each side and a nished. . with enormously after a time came thei.' language, el. but also gave rvice. It was of aaring the follow- ^nn, by the grace and of her Plan- Chappel of the the Revolution, is still in constant and River and two ieen the fair white roidered with the redly kept as an Several ministers labored in thin unpromiding Held, one of whom Haid: " There is no hope of making thorn butter, heathens they are umi heathens they must be." Uiit altlioiigh the white man's example, as is usually the case, '.vas mostly bad and demoi-Hli/iiig, it is nevertheless probable that at (^uoen Aniio's Chapel her ministord did teach the Indian girls and boys something, and tiiut tho tribe learned in a da/,ed and confused way what the religion of tho white man was. Tne new fort so protected the Mohawk country that it began to bo safe for emigrants, explorers and adventiiiers to poi.otrato the beautiful land in much greater luimborH, and tlioy coveted the fair heritage of the Indian and took it all from him in various ways and by many ingenious devices. Now tho theory was in those days that the whole country belonged to the Queen by the riglit of discovery, but it was always allowed that the Five Nations owned the country in which they lived. So it came to i)a8s that when any one wanted a largo, fair stretch of country which he may have seen while wandering to and fro in tho earth and walking up and down in it, he, in the first place, bought it of the "native Indian owners," and received from them a deed with all tho savage emblems of their clan duly painted thereon. But after this was done to make the purchase more legal and sure, thoy procured from tlio Queen a Patent, elegantly written on parch- ment and with the great seal of the Province dangling at the bottom. There is a certain tract of land containing twenty thousand acres which was bought of tho Mohawks by certain gentry of the Province. It was a fair and beautiful domain of hills and meadows, of forests and streams, of trout brooks and natural deer parks; the very centre of the Mohawk country, and on which were tho sites of many of their old villages, and for the whole of it they gave to the poor Indian " three pieces of strouds, six pieces of garlin linen, three barrels of beer, six gallons of rum, and a fatt beast," and to make the enormity of the trans- action the greater, they had the effrontery to say in the deed that "the Indians were fully satisfied." Whatever success the Rev. Petrus Van Driessen may have had .14 A lllsioliii Al, SCI IKTV. ill ('liriHiiiinizinj? tilt' IiuliiuiM, ho cortii'iily iccfiTcd recognition 1111(1 II jfii'ut tomporiil reward from tliciii, for tliero wiiH'i.»nvi'yotl to iiiiii liy liflccti iiicii iiikI wniiicii of tlif Moluiwkx u tract of luiid two aiiil )■ liiilf niiii'H long \i\ oiiu iiiul ii l-ulf wide, and tlio conH'doratioii being (Mirioue, in (pioted froiii the yellow old deed UH folloWH: '• I'or jindjjin conHiiierdlioii of the hovo, (lond Will mid AtTectioii whieli we have and hear for the Uov. I'etrnu \'an DricHen, Minister of the goupcl, and iiIho for and in coiiHideration of tho great /-eal, unwearied I'aiiiB, KxpcnHeH ami TionhleH for the twenty yearn past, hy the aliove nientioned i'ctriis Nan Ih'ieHKeii, and his fatlierly Car' in the IiiHtrnctioii of ih and our J'eoplo in the ('liriiitian Weligioii, ainl i''aitli, 1. ringing iih into tho l''»dd of Cli.-int'H (Munch and pirtakern of hiH SiicraniontH nn a good and faitlifnl I'ai-tor of ChriHt'H l-"old ought to doe, to our great SatiHl'action ami Content; and further for the Coiirtidera- tion of the siiin of r,-.",'. \u shillingg, cnrreiit money of New York, to us in hand paid." The lii'Ht patent granted in the Mohawk country wan to Capt. IliirinaniiH \'an Slyck of Sciienectady, and wa^ a deed of gift from the Mohawks to him, their "loving eo/.oii and friend, whose grandmother was a right Mohogs (■■(|iiaw, and his father born with ns. it. being his. the said Ilarman, by right of iiiheri- tanco fioiii his father,'" This land is in the town of Palatine, and extends along tho river for six miles, and upon it is probably tho site of (ireon- halghs village of Canajoiha of KlIT. After this tho > idians were in constant turmoil, distress and tronble about tla.i lands. It was parcelled out in immense tracts tho whole length of the valley, and their village sites, and their corn fields, to say nothing of their hunting grounds and their fishing places, were given to the white man. Is it any wonder that they felt sore and aggrieved. This wag their homestead, but not only was that [given to others, but groat states contended for the vast territory claimed by the Five Nations by right of conquest, reaching to the banks of tho Ohio and tho Mississippi. But tho Indians were constantly protesting against these encroachments. The councils liold in Albany wore many, and ttiWm W B^W I wi I in: MiiiiAU KN. MS fired r('C<)j;iiiti(»ii ■0 wiiH'!.>iivi>yotl to < II tract of liiiiil ilf wido, 1111(1 tilt) i« }clI()W old dei'd (iond Will nwA k'l'v. I'l'triiu \'iiii 1 ill coiiHidcnition Hid 'ri'oubk'8 for Hied I'd Ills Nun oil of iH mid our 1. ringing iiH into lis Saoniniontu iih lit to doc, to our or the CoiMideni- t nioin.'}' of Now itiy was to dipt. ,s ii deed of j,'ift )/on iiiid friend, V, and Ilia father r ri<,dit of iiilieri- xteiids along the site of (ireen- moil, distress and out in immense vilhifjo sites, and ing grounds and in. ievcd. This was u to others, but limed by the Five )anks of the Ohio ing against these were many, and tiiev were carried on witii nil the decoriiiii and attention to preredent and cugtom m» neeoHHiiry, but they ai'com|>li» kegu, ;ir red coat*, 4 ps ticks, 1 cask pipes, :< ciinks tobacco, l'^ dozen knives, '4,•■'• cases lead, '.' cases shott, I |ts duMles, 4-i yards do, 1 keg paint, HS torn hawk^i, :. ps wtrouds, .') pairs blankets. And to the sucheiiiH in private: 14 blankt'tc, is bags powder, I'i shirts, a gallons rum. What an insane policy it was to put into the hands of these savages, irritated by the Iosh of their laiidH such an abundant supply of gnus, toiiiahawks and scalping knives. In speaking to the Mohawks at this council, (lovcrnor Hunter reminded them of the fact that their chiefs when in Knglaiid had asked to have ii church built and a ininister sent to tlujm. He liopetl thai now the (diiircli was built, and a good and pious man was settled among them, .hat they would attend the services and take held to his instructioiis. To this they replied: *' Hrotlier (.'orlaer: You jiut us in mind that wo desired a Missioner in every one A our castles to instruct us in the way to eternal life. We own that wo desired it. Hut wlioii wo consider that the Christians here, when it is Sabliath l)ays,_wliat line cloathes they have when they go to church, and that goods are still so dear that we can not purchase Sunday cloathes, but would be necessitated to go to church with an old bear skin and deer skin — We have deferred that matter till goods aro cheaper, that we may have cloathes suitable to go to church withall." This has a certain ring of civilization about it, but it shows a sad degeneracy. The proud and hiiughty Mohawks of lloche- laga and Garoga, clad in robes of fur and embroidered deer skin d'd not fear to stand before kings and assert that they were the "Konoshioni " men before all others. The building of a church and the establishment of a fortified post at Fort Hunter gave a sudden and wonderful impetus to immigration and the settlement of the Mohawk Valley. 86 ONEIDA HISTORICAL SOCIETY. As early as 1713 there were some settlers as far. west as Palatine; but the great immigration of the Palatines did not take place till 17'^;3, when several great patents were granted, and these continued in ever increasing numbers until all the lands of the Mohawks were taken up, and they lived upon their old domain only by sufferance. As the white population increased traders and merchants established themselves in the very heart of the Mohawk country and drew to themselves the Indian trade in furs, much to the disgust of Schenectady and Albany. There also bfgan very soon to be a surplus of white products and it was apparent that the bark canoe was not sufficient to transport the traders' merchandise up the river, or the increasing quantity of grain, of pot and pearl ash and ginseng that was to be shipped to a New York and European market. And so at quite an early day certainly as soon as 1730 llatboats and batteaus were used for this purpose, and a " King's Highway " was laid out along the bank of the river. The trade in ginseng had at this time assumed great propor- tions. It was and always had been regarded in China as a panacea, and immense quantities were imported into that coun- try. The source of supply had heretofore been the regions of Korea, but as soon as it was discovered that it was abundant in the Iroquois country, the trade became immense. And the Indians, from their minute acquaintance with the country, became the principal ones' who dug it up and brought it in. So persistent was the search for it. that at the present day, over great sections of the Mohawk country, where once it grew in abundance, now not a single plant can be found. After a time other nationalities, Scotch, Irish, English, helped to settle the Mohawk valley, but at first Dutch and Ger- mans were the people whj entered this beautiful region; a sturdy, hardy, liberty loving people who feared God, dealt fairly well with the natives, and were among the first to dispute in America the divine right of kings, and to assert in unmistakable^ terms their determination to resist all forms of oppression to the end. They were passing far up the valley as early as 1730, even to the German Flats and Kingsland. Among the great Indian traders who at this early day came B»tii3i^aaaiMi^wwa»>w^i&'.»tfi TBB BI0HAWK8. 37 as far west as •alatines did not its were granted, lers until all the lived upon their and merchants Mohawk country urs, much to the also began very iras apparent that lort the traders' ntity of grain, of shipped to a New ite an early day were used for this it along the bank ed great propor- id in China as a 1 into that coun- iii the regions of was abundant in nense. And the th the country, id brought it in. present day, over once it grew in d. I, Irish, English, it Dutch and Ger- lutiful region; a i God, dealt fairly rst to dispute in rt in unmistakable^ f oppression to the early as 1730, even is early day came into the Mohawk country was Jelles or Giles Fonda, afterwards Major of Militia, and the friend and neighbor of Sir William Johnson. He was located at Cachnewaga, and his trade was far reaching and extensive, having agents at Fort Stanwix, Oswego, Niagara and Detroit, who bought furs and ginseng of the Indians, tlius forestalling the traders of Albany and the French of Montreal. His yellow old papers, letters and account books give us a realistic glimpse of the times and condition of things in our valley Ht that day. We seem to stand face to face with men who long before the Revolution wrote letters from Niagara, and Detroit, and Fort Stanwix, who tell us how the " Sinica " Indians have gone out to dig ginseng, and how many packs were ready to be sent down from Niagara; how "Bully Roof" had turned his cows into the king's garden at niglii under the walls of Fort Stanwix, and how low the supply of rum '/as at Detroit. We read (lie names of the old batteau men, and how many trips they made to Niagara, and what they were paid, and how many packs of furs they brought. We can look into Fonda's old trading fort, and with the time stfiined bills in hand, see the kinds of goods upon the .lielves for white man and Indian. There were pewter basons and gilt ■cups, herring bone, thread and worm lace, nests of gilt trunks, scarlet striped gartering, stag couttoe knives, b'lck spring knives, yew handled lish knives, Irish and garlin linen, looking glasses with painted frames, Russia wrappings, fine chintz and white cotton molteons, strouds and Indian blankets, Penuiston shoes, and Imndreds of other things for the settlers and Indians. One great bill of goods amounting to €015 was to be paid for in seven months in ginseng root at three shillings per pound. This would require over 6,000 pounds of ginseng. • Here is a long account of sales in London in 17G7, of one hogshead of "Furrs" on account and at the risk of Mr. Jelles Fonda, Merchant at Cachnewago, foxes and martins, muskrat, fisher, otter, wolves and squirrels, but no beaver; they were practically extinct. The amount of the bill was £250, and the deductions for commissions, brokerage, freight, trimmage, purage, duty, bill money, landing, housing, sorting, beating, warehousing, &c., were €09 10s. 5d. But as an object lesson 38 ONKIDA IIISTORICAI. SOCIETY. showins to us the status aiul condition of the Mohawks whoso fortunc"s and changes we have followed in this paper from Ilochehiiia to this time. ^^ "The Indian Book, for Jelles Fonda, at Cachnewaga, 1703, is by far the most interesting and important. The French wars had closed; the Battle of Lake George had been fought, the village of the I'alatines at the German Flats had been destroyed, Niagara had surrendered to Johnson, (^lebec had fallen and the reign of New France had ceased. In all these events the Mohawks had taken part, following in Johnson's lead with more or less discipline, but still wreaking vengeance in their own savage way ujion their ancient enemies. And now in the great Conspiracy of Pontiac they held aloof and refused to tight against their friends the English, or to help in establishing a universal Confederacy of the Indian TribGS • So we see them in this year 1763 while the whole western country was convulsed by Pontiac's war, at homo in their Castles, restless under the restraints of an ever advancing civilization, indignant at the aggressions of the settlers, con- stantly complaining and protesting to Sir Wm. Johnson that their lands were being taken from them unlawfully. Finally, to give them something to do Johnson sent some two hundred of th^m to fight against the Delawares on the Ohio. What kind of savages were these Mohawks, who were the neighbors of the whites and who traded with Major Jelles Fonda at Cachnewaga? In the first place we can see the names of some of them in the old account book; they are childish, foolish and contemptuous, and show how low the Indian had fallen, and how he was despised by his white neighbor. A few retained their Indian names, but by far the greater part in this book are named as one would name dogs and horses: Old Brant, Brant in Thomas, Wide Mouth Jacob, Brant's Nicholas, Young Aaron of the Hill, Jan from the Hill, Young Moses, Snuffers David, The Squinty Cayuga, are few of them. A page from the book will serve as an example. IWWinTTillWWIIMIIIIiiiiill Mil llMIII — Mohawks whose this paper from hnewaga, 1703," :^ake George liad 1)6 Oeiman Flats •ed to Johnson, I had ceased. )art, following in ut still wreaking ancient enemies. 3 they held aloof e English, or to y of the Indian 18 whole western t homo in their ever advancing the settlers, con- m. Johnson that AvfuUy. Finally, ome two hundred 3hio. cs, who were the [ajor Jelles Fonda iee the names of ■e childish, foolish idian had fallen, . A few retained b in this book are Old Brant, Brant las, Young Aaron lufEers David, The e from the book THE >^0!IA\VKS. "Youx(i Moses, Dk. 30 •J. s.d. 10 12 8 II S 1 i •2 1763. Sept. -^0, To one French blanket. To one small do To 4 KIls White linncn, To 1 pair Indian Stockings, To 1 hat, . . . • To 1 pint of rum and one dram, . To 1 quart rum, I havo in pledge two silver wrist bands." But rum and beer are the principal commodities charged to all the Indians, although many bought blankets and stockings. Wide Mouth Jacob is charged witli a horsewhip, and is credited with a saddle. Many left in pawn silver arm bands, and wrist bands, and "draw bands." These were like bracelets, but the ends were free and perforated so that they could be made large or small. The "draw" bands were for the hair, to be drawn over the braids, and were made telescopic, one sliding into another so that in some cases the whole long braid was cased in silver bands. Montreal was the great source for the supply of these silver ornaments, and of others'of similar decorative character. Tiiey are found through ? wide region of country from the Atlantic to the Mississippi. Wampum bands and belts were also among the things left as pledges of the honesty of the customer; but all of these pledges were uniformly redeemed, and, in fact, to the credit of the ■ Indian be it said the accounts all seem to have been paid. The mother-in-law of young Moses bought a gallon of rum and left in pawn "2 stole traps " and two silver crosses. The latter were probably heirlooms from the time of the Jesuits. ■ We have now come to the time when for a mess of potage the Mohawks, and other nations of the confederacy, sold to the white man all of those vast landed possessions that were theirs by the same right that civilized nations claim theirs— the right of conquest. For 810,000 and rum without limit they sold Kentucky, West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania, and were thereafter of little account as owners of the soil. 40 ONEIDA HIHTORI<:Ar, SOCIETY. They continued to reside in the valley, they met in councils innumerable and stated their grievances constantly; they haunted Johnson Hall, and swarmed through the orchards and gardens, for Molly was the mistress, and her nation were licensed to do as they pleased. But there was a growing sullenness and discontent among them, for tliey saw their goodly land in the hands of the white man, and there was no help for it. Sir William died during the fir-t mutterings of the storm, and Sir John, his son, reigned in his stead. It is not my purpose to enter into any details in regard to the great struggle. Tiie story has been written many times. It has been said that Sir John has been traduced and slandered, but it is doubtful whether any of the df-^ndants of the Mohawk valley revolutionary patriots can ever be convinced that he did not do an atrocious deed when he incited the Mohawks and their kindred to lift the hatchet against the people of the Mohawk valley. How magnillcent was the bravery and love of liberty of these foeman of the Mohawks. Isolated on an exposed frontier, they not only had the British soldier to light, but they had the foes of their own household, and lash and worst of all they had the bloody Mohawks smarting with injuries real and imaginary, and stimulated by British gold, and led on by John Johnson and Guy — by the 'Butlers, by C.'oghan, and all the rest of the Johnstown retainers. Scant justice has been done to our valley by the historians, scant justice to a people who through all the long struggle were a bulwark on the most exposed frontier, who kept back that ever besetting tide from the north, which was ready to sweep down and overwhelm the Hudson and all New England; scant justice to men who faced all the hovrors that sayages can inflict, and who suffered more for the cause of liberty than any other section of the thirteen colonies. They fought Briton and Tory and Mohawk alike through all the long struggle, and at its close there was a wide waste of ruined farms, of smoldering houses, and churches, and barns, and three thousand widows and orphan children. Scant justice have the historianf, done to the Mohawk Vttiiey. «to$««,';sar less but Rome moie. would we be rejoiced to see the men of the Mohawk v'^lley lecog- nized, and Oriskany, and Stoue Arabia, and Sharon, likewise iGceivo their due meed of praise and appreciation . But the men of the Mohawk valley have never l^«<^" ^^^^^^'f f for that sublime self assertion that distinguishes the men o New England . But whether the deeds done hei-e are -VV^^^ or not, we have the consciousness that our forefathers did then duty nobly, and wc honor their memory. We have ccme to the closing scene of our sketch of the Mohawks. , . .. ,, „ oi,r.vPH In a few canoes a wretched band are seen skirting t le shoies of the Bav of Quinte. Discouraged, poor, homeless, t-y seek : site for; village in a new land. They have left then- na^^^^ valley, their churches, their iuuiting grounds, and the graves of their dead, and the white man occupies all the goodly ana A few years ago two Mohawks passing down the valley on the Cettral nulroad^vere seen upon the platfoi-m of one of te jars with animation pointing out to each other the objects of n i in this ancient seat of their tribe. They had a tmd itio al knowledge of it all, and the old Indian names of the lulls and trei^lB were familiar to them. They -uld see the chju^^^^^^^ Indian Castle which Sir William Johnson built for ^\l' ';f^'l;^ and the spot at Fort Hunter where Queen Anne bu.lt lei Indian chapel of the Mohawks. They passed by the sites o Teononto- gen and Osseruenon, and they .aw the hills among which Garoga ''"stdcal as they naturally are. these red men shed tears no •doubtrof regret and sorrow that in this old stronghold of their tribe they were nothing but strangers. dike through all I a wide waste of •ches, and barns, a. 3 Mohawk vniiey.