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CUTLER, PRES'T.) 1881. lA4«u ■s-:y-f ■ /■"'^,\--pi'-'^' 1 V' '^^:'i ■ " < » ; ( / ■ ^^^^1 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1881, by Elias Johnson, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 1'; • , 'i' \ • • V ( • h-i • t > fej 1 . • Wt ,".|| ', \ INTRODUCTION. " A book about Indians !" — who cares anything about them ? This will probably be the exclamation of many who glance on my little page. To those who know nothing concerning them, a whole book about Indians will seem a very prosy affair, to whom I can answer nothing, for they will not proceed as far as my Preface to see what reasons I can render for the seem- ing folly. But to those who are willing to listen, I can say that the In- dians are a very interesting people, whether I have made an interesting book about them or not. The Antiquarian, the Historian, and the Scholar, have been a long time studying Indian character, and have given plenty of informarion concerning the Indian, but it is all in ponder- ous volumes for State and College libraries, and quite inacces- sible to the multitude — those who only take up such book as may be held in the hand, sitting by the fire, — still remain very ignorant of the Children of Nature who inhabited the forests before the Saxon set his foot upon our shores. There is also a great deal of prejudice, the consequence of this ignorance, and the consequence of the representations of your forefathers who were brought into contact with the Indi- ans, under circumstances that made it impossible to judge im- partially and correctly. The Histories which are in the schools, and from which the first impressions are obtained, are still very deficient in what 6 INTRODUCTION. they relate of Indian History, and most of them are still filling the minds of children and youth, with imperfect ideas. I have read many of the Histories, and have longed to see refuted the slanders, and blot out the dark pictures which the historians have wont to spread abroad concerning us. May I live to see the day when it may be done, for most deeply have I learned to blush for my people. I thought, at first, of only giving a series of Indian Biogra- phies, but without some knowledge of the government and re- ligion of the Iroquois, the character of the Indians could not be understood or appreciated. I enter upon the task with much distrust. It is a difficult task at all times to speak and to write in foreign language, and I fear I shall not succeed to the satisfaction of myself, or to my readers. My title will not be so attractive to the American ears, as if it related to any other unknown people. A tour in Arabia, or Spain, or in India, or some other foreign country, with far less important and interesting material, would secure a greater number of readers, as we are always more curious about things afar off. I might have covered many pages with " Indian Atrocities," but these have been detailed in other histories, till they are familiar to ever}^ ear, and I had neither room nor inclination for even a glance at war and its dark records. THE AUTHOR. ^j ! PREFACE. To animate a kinder feeling between the white peoole and the Indians, established by a truer knowledge of our civil and domestic life, and of our capabilities for future elevation, is the motive for which this work is founded. The present Tuscarora Indians, the once powerful and gifted nation, after their expulsion from the South, came North, and were initiated in the confederacy of the Iroquois, and who for- merly held under their jurisdiction the largest portion of the Eastern States, now dwell within your bounds, as dependent nations, subject to the guardianship and supervision of a peo- ple who displaced their forefathers. Our numbers, the cir- cumstances of oui past history and present condition, and more especially the relation in which we stand to the people of the State, suggest many important questions concerning our future destiny. Being born to an inauspicious fate, which makes us the inheritors of many wrongs, we have been unable, of ourselves, to escape from the complicated difficulties which accelerate our decline. To make worse these adverse influences, the pub- lic estimation ot the Indian, resting, as it does, upon the im- perfect knowledge of their character, and infused, as it ever has been, with the prejudice, is universally unjust. The time has come in which it is no more than right to cast away all ancient antipathies, all inherited opinions, and to take a nearer view of our social life, condition and wants, and to learn anew your duty concerning the Indians. Nevertheless, 8 PREFACE. the embarrassments that have obstructed our progress, in the obscurity which we have lived, and the prevailing indifference to our welfare, we have gradually overcame many of the evils inherent in our social system, and raised ourselves to a degree of prosperity. Our present condition, if considered in connec- tion with the ordeal through which we have passed, shows that there is the presence of an element in our character which must eventually lead to important results. As I do not profess that this work is based upon authorities, a question might arise in the breast of some reader, where these materials were derived, or what reliance is to be placed upon its contents. The credibility of a witness is known to depend chiefly upon his means of knowledge. For this reason, I deem it important to state, that I was born and brought up by Tuscarora Indian parents on their Reservation in the Town of Lewiston, N. Y. From my childhood up was naturally in- quisitive and delighted in thrilling stories, which led me to fre- quent the old people of my childhood's days, and solicited them to relate the old Legends and their Traditions, which they always delighted to do. I have sat by their fireside and heard them, and thus they were instilled upon my young mind. I also owe much of my information to our Chief, John Mt. Pleasant. I have also read much of Indian history, and compared them with our Legends and Traditions. THE AUTHOR. lich THE IROQUOIS. I m NATIONAL TRAITS OF CHARACTER. In air the early histories of the Anjerican Colonies, in the stories of Indian life and the delineations of Indian character, these children of nature are represented as savages and barba- rians, and in the mind of a large portion of the community the sentiment still prevails that they were blood-thirsty, revenge- ful, and merciless, justly a terror to both friends and foes. Children are impressed with the idea that an Indian is scarcely human, and as much to be feared as the most ferocious animal of the forest. Novelists have now and then clothed a few with a garb which excites your imagination, but seldom has one been in- vested with qualities which you would love, unless it were also said that through some captive taken in distant war, he inher- ited a whiter skin and a paler blood. But I am inclined to think that Indians are not alone in be- ing savage — not alone barbarous, heartless, and merciless. It is said they were exterminating each other by aggressive and devastating wars, before the white people came among them. But wars, aggressive and exterminating wars, certainly, are not proofs of barbarity. The bravest warrior was the most honored, and this has been ever true of Christian nations, and those who call themselves christians have not yet ceased to look upon him who could plan most successfully the wholesale lO LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS f" slaughter of human beings, as the most deserving his king's or his country's laurels. How long since the pean died away in praise of the Duke of Wellington ? What have been the wars in which all Europe, or of America, has been engaged, that there has been no records of her history ? For what are civi- liz,ed and christian nations drenching their fields with blood ? It is said the Indian was cruel to the captives, and inflicted unspeakable torture upon his enemy taken in battle. But from what we know of them, it is not to be inferred that Indi- an Chief? were ever guilty of filling dungeons with innocent victims, or slaughtering hundreds and thousands of their own people, whose only sin was a quiet dissent from some religious dogma. Towards their enemies they were often relentless, and they had good reason to look upon the white man as their enemy. They slew them in battle, plotted against them se- cretly, and in a few instances comparatively, subjected individ- uals to torture, burned them at the stake, and, perhaps, flayed them alive. But who knows anything of the precepts and practices of the Roman Catholic Christendom, and quote these things as proofs of unmitigated barbarity. At the very time that the Indians were using the tomahawk and scalping-knife to avenge their wrongs, peaceful citizens in every country of Europe, where the Pope was the man of au- thority, were incarcerated for no crime whatever, and such re- finement of torture invented and practiced, as never entered in the heart of the fiercest Indian warrior that roamed the wil- derness to inflict upon man or beast. We know very little of the secrets of the inquisition, and this little chills our blood with horror. Yet these things were done in the name of Christ, e Savior of the World, the Prince of Peace, and not savage, but civilized. Christian men looked on, not coldly, but rejoicingly, while women and child- ren writhed in flames and weltered in blood. Were the atro- cities committed in the vale of. Wyoming and Cherry Valley unprecedented among the Waldensian fastnesses and the - r OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. II ^5 mountains of Aairvergne? Who has read Fox's book of Mar- tyrs, and found anything to parallel it in all the records of In- dian warfare ? The slaughter of St. Bartholomew's days, the destruction oT the Jews in Spain, and the Scotch Covenanters, were in obedience to the mandates of Christian princes, — aye, and some of them devised by Christian women who professed to be serving God, and to^ make the Bible the man of their counsel. It is said also that the Indians were treacherous, and more, no compliance with the conditions of any treaty, was ever to be trusted. But the Puritan fathers cannot be wholly exoner- ated from the charge of faithlessness ; and who does not blush to talk of Indian traitors when he remembers the Spanish in- vasion and the fall of the princely .and magnanimous Monte- zuma? Indians believed in witches, and burned them, too. And did not the sainted Baxter, with the Bible in his hand, pro- nounce it right, and was not the Indian permitted to be pres- ent, when the quie<^ unoffending woman was cast into the fire, by the decree of a Puritan council ? To come down to the more decidedly christian times, it is not so very long since, in Protestant England, hanging was the punishment of a petty thief, long and hopeless imprisonment of a slight misdemeanor, when men were set up to be stoned and spit upon by those who claimed the exclusive right to be called humane and merciful. Again, it is said, the Indian mode of warfare is, without ex- ception, the most inhuman and revolting. But I do not know that those who die by the barbed and poisoned arrow linger in any more unendurable torment than those who are mangled with powder and lead balls, and the custom of scalping among Christian murderers would save thousands from groaning days, and perhaps weeks, among heaps that cover victorious fields and fill hospitals with the wounded and dying. But scalping is not an invention exclusively Indian. " It claims," says Pres- '>'s-^'^,-'iis:-'\f:w 12 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS cott, " high authority, or, at least, antiquity." And, further history, Herodotus, gives an account of it among the Scythi- ans, showing that they performed the operation, and wore the scalp of their enemies taken in battle, as trophies, in the same inanner as the North American Indian. Traces of the custom are also found in the laws of the Visigaths, among the Franks, and even the Anglo Saxons. The Northern Indians did not scalp, but they had a system of slavery, of which there are no traces to be found among the customs, laws, or legends of the Iroquois. Again, it is said, " They carried away women and children captive, and in their long journey through the wilderness, they were subjected to heartrending trials." The wars of Christian men throw hundreds and thousands of women and children helpless upon the cold world, to toil, to beg, and to starve. This is not so bright a picture as is usually given of people who have written laws ana have stores of learning, but people cannot see in any olace that the coloring is too dark ! There is no danger of painting Indians so they will become attractive to the civilized people. There is a bright and pleasing side to the Indian character, and thinking that there has been enough written of their wars and cruelties, of the hunter's and fisherman's life, I have sat down at their Preside, listened to their legends, and am ac- quainted with their domestic habits, understand their finer feelings and the truly noble traits of their character. It is so long now since they were the lords of this country, and formidable as your enemies, and they are so utterly wast- ed away and melted like snow under the meridian sun, and helpless, that you can sit down and afford to listen to the truth, and to belie'/e that even your enemies had their virtues. Man was created in the image of God, and it cannot be that anything human is utterly vile and contemptible. Those who have thought of Indians as roaming about in the OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 13 forests hunting and fishing, or at war, will laugh, perhaps, at the idea of Indian homes, and domestic happiness. Yet there are no people of v/hich we have any knowledge, among whom, in their primitive state, family ties and relationship were more distinctly defined, or more religiously resoected than the Iro- quois. The treatment which they received from the white people, whom they always considered as intruders, aroused, and kept in exercise all their ferocious passions, so that none except those who associated with them as missionaries, or as captives, saw them in their true character, as they were to each other. Almost any portrait that we see of an Indian, he is repre- sented with tomahawk and scalping knife in hand, as if they possessed no other but a barbarous nature. Christian nations might with equal justice be always represented with cannon and balls, swords and pistols, as the emblems of their employ- ment and their prevailing tastes. The details of war are from far to gicat a portion of every History of civilized and barbarous nations, to conquer and to slay has been to long the glory of the christian people ; he who has been most successful in subjugating and oppressing, in mowing down human beings, has too long wore the laural crown, been too long an object for the admiration of men and the love of women. It seems you might be weary of the pomp and circumstance of war, of princely banquets, and gay cavalcades. The time and space you bestow upon King and courts, and the homage you pay to empty titles, are unworthy your professed repub- lican spirit and preferences, let us turn aside from the war path, and sit down by the hearth-stone of peace. In the picture which I have given, I have confined myself principally to the Iroquois, or Six Nations, a people wh'^ no more deserve the term savage, than the whites do that of heathen, because they have still lingering among the.Ti heathen superstitions, and many opinions and practices which deserves no better n?me. ^ WJT^'w^^l Hi I : ?'■ 14 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS ,*»' The cannibals of some of the west Indies Islands, and the Islands of the Pacific, may with justice be termed savage, but a people like the Iroquois who had a goverment, established offices, a system of religion eminently pure and Spiritual, a code of honor and laws of hospitality, excelling those of all other nations, should be considered something better than savage, or utterly barbarous. The terrible torture they inflicted upon their enemies, have made their name a terror, and yet there were not so many burnt, hung, and starved by them, as perished among Christian nations by these means. The miseries they inflicted were light, in comparison, with those they suffered. If individuals should have come among you to expose the barbarities of sav- age white men, the deeds they relate would quite equal any- thing known of Indian cruelty. The picture an Indian gives of civilized barbarism leaves the revolting custom of the wil- derness quite in the back-ground. You experienced their re- venge when you had put their souls and bodies at a stake, with your fire-water that maddened their brains. There was a pure and beautiful spirituality in their faith, and their conduct was much more influenced by it, as are any people, Christian or Pagan. . ; » Is there anything more barbaric in the annals of Indian war- fare, than the narrative of the Pequod Indians? In one place we read of the surprise of an Indian fort by night, when the inmates were slumbering, unconscious of ^ny danger. When they awoke they were wrapped in flames, and when they at- tempted to flee, were shot down like beasts. From village to village, from wigwam to wigwam, the murderers proceeded, "being resolved," as your historian piously remarks, " by God's assistance, to make a final destruction of them," until finally a small but gallant band took refuge in a swamp. Burning with indignation, and made sullen by dispair, with hearts bursting with grief at the destruction of their nation, and spirits galled and sore at the fancied ignominy of their defeat, they refused OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 15 to ask life at the hands of an insulting foe, and preferred death to submission. As the night drew on, they were surrounded in their dismal retreat, volleys of musketry poured into their midst, until nearly all were killed or buried in the mire. In the darkness of a thick fog which preceded the dawn of day, a few broke through the ranks of the beseigers and escaped to the woods. Again, the same historian tells us that the few that remain- ed, " stood like sullen dogs to be killed rather than to implore mercy, and the soldiers on entering the swamp, found many sitting together in groups, when they approached, and resting their guns on the boughs of trees, within a few yards of them, literally filled their bodi(?s with bullets." But they were Indians, and it was pronounnced a pious work. But when the Gauls invaded Italy, and the Roman Senators, in their purple robes and chairs of State, sat unmoved in the presence of bar- barian conquerors, disdaining to flee, and equally disdaining to supplicate for mercy, it is applauded as noble, as dying like statesmen and philosophers. But the Indians with far more to lose and infinitely greater provocation, sits upon his mother earth upon the green mound, beneath the canopy of Heaven, and refuses to ask mercy of civilized fiends, he is stigmatized as dogs, spiritless, and sullen. What a different name has greatness, clothed in the ;^arb of christian princes and sitting beneath spacious domes, gorgeous with men's device, and the greatness, in the simple garb of nature, destitute and alone in the wilderness. There is nothing in the character of Alexander of Macedon who " conquered the world, and wept that he had no more to conquor," to compare with the noble qi.alities of king Philip of Mt. Hope, and among his warriors are a long list of brave men unrivalled in deeds of heroism, by any of ancient or mod- ern story. But in what country, and by whom were they hun- ted, tortured, and slain, and who was it that met together to rejoice and give thanks at every species of cruelty inflicted i6 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS f'- \ upon those who were fighting for their wives, their children, their homes, their alters and their God. When it is recorded that "men, women and children, indiscriminately, were hewn down and lay in heaps upon the snow," it is spoken of as do- ing God's service, because' they were nominally heathen. " Be- fore the fight was finished, the wigwams were set on fire, and into those, hundreds of innocent women and cliildren had crowded themselves, and perished in the general conflagra- tion." And for those thanksgivings were sent up to heaven, the head of Philip is strung upon a pole, and exposed to the public. But this was not done by savage warriors, and the crowd that huzzaed at the revolting spectacle, assembled on the Sabbath day, in a Puritan church, to listen to the Gospel that proclaims peace and love to all men. His body was liter- ally cut in slices to be distributed among the conquerors, and a christian city rings with acclamation. In speaking of this bloody contest, one who is most eminent among the fathers, says : " Nor could they cease praying unto the Lord against Philip, until they had prayed the bullet through his heart." " Two and twenty Indian captives were slai^, and brought down to hell in one day." "A bullet took him in the head, and sent his cursed soul in a moment amongst the devils and blasphemers in hell forever." Masasoit, the father of Philip, was the true friend to the Engli-sh, and when he was about to die, took his two sons, Alexander and Philip, and fondly commended them to the kindness of the new settlers, praying them the same peace and good will might be between them, that had existed between him and his white friends. Upon mere suspicion only a short time afterwards, the elder, who succeeded his father as ruler, among his people, was hunted in his forest home, and dragged before the court, the nature and object of which he could not understand. But the indignity which was offered him, and the treachery of those who insulted him, so chafed his proud spirit that a fever was the consequence, of which he died. And that OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. >7 is not all. The son and wife of Philip were sold into slavery, (as were also about eight hundred persons of the Tuscaroras, and also many others of the Indians that were taken captive during the Colonial wars.) " Yes," says a distinguished orator, (Everett,) " they were sold into slavery. West Indian slavery. An Indian princess and her child, sold from the cold breezes of Mount Hope, from a wild freedom of New England forest, to drop under the lash, beneath the blazing sun of the tropics." Bitter as death, aye, bitter as hell ! Is there anything — I do not think in the range of humanity — ik there any animal that would not struggle against this? Nor is this indeed all. A kinswoman of theirs, a Princess in her own right, Wetamore Pocasset, was pursued and harrassed till she fell exhausted in the wilderness, and died of cold and starvation. There she was found by men professing to be shocked at Indian barbar- ity, her head severed from her body, and carried bleeding upon a pole to be exposed in the public highways of the country, ruled by men who have been honored as saints and martyrs. " Let me die among my kindred," " Bury me with my fath- ers," is the prayer of every Indian's heart ; and the most deli- cate and reverential kindness in the treatment of the bodies of the dead, was considered a religious duty. There was nothing in all their customs that indicated a barbarism so gross and revolting as those acts, which are recorded by New England historians without a censure, while the Indian's protests in his grief, at seeing his kindred dishonored and his religion reviled, are stigmatized as savage and fiendish. If all, or even a few who ministered among them in holy things, had been like Eliot, who is called " the Apostle to the Indians." and deserved to be ranked with the Apostle of old, or Kirkland, who is endeared to the memory of every Iroquois who heard his name, it could not have become a proverb or a truth that civilization and Christianity wasted them away. They were, not by one, but many, unscrupulously called (2) ./l*V.l'rt ^. i8 LEGKNDS, TKAUITIONS AND LAWS W^.- : '* dogs,, wolves, bloodhounds, demons, devils incarnate, hell- hounds, fiends, monsters, beasts," always considering them in- ferior beings, and scarcely allowing them to be human, yet one, who was at that time a captive among them, represents them as " kind and loving and generous;" and concerning thisVsame monster — Philip — records nothing that should have condemned him in the eyes'of those who believed in wars aggressive and defensive, and awarded honors to heroes and martyrs and con- querors. By the Governor of Jamestown a hand was severed from the arm of a peaceful, unoffending Indian, that he might be sent back a terror to his people ; and through the magnanimity of a daughter and king of that same people, that colony was saved from destruction. It was through their love and trust alone that Powhatan and Pocahontas lost their forest dominions. Hospitality was one of the Indians' distinguishing virtues, and there was no such thing among them as individual starva- tion or want. As long as there was a cup of soup, it was di- vided. If a friend or a stranger made a call he was welcome to all their wigwams would furnish, and to offer him food was not merely a custom, for it was a breach of politeness for him to refuse to eat however full he might be. Because their system not being like the white people's, it does not follow that it was not a system. You might have looked into the wigwam or lodge and thought cveiything in confusion, while to the occupants, there was a place for every- thing, and everything in its place : each h^d a couch which answered for bed by night and seat by day. The ceremonies at their festivals were as regular as in the churches, their rules of war as well denned as those of christain nations, and in their games and athletic sports there was a code of honor which it was disgraceful to violate : their marriage vows were as well understood, and courtesy as formally practiced at their fiances. IL < .;., OF THE IROC^UOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. »9 The nature of the Indian is in all respects like the nature of any other nf tion ; placed in the same circumstances, he exhib- its the same passions and vices. But in his forest home there was not the same temptation to great crimes, or what is term- ed the lesser ones, that of slander, scandal, and gossip, as ex- ists among civilized nations. They knew nothing of the desire of gain, and therefore were not made selfish by the love of hoarding ; and there was no temptation to steal, where they had everything in common, and their reverence for truth and fidelity to promises, may well put all the nations of Christendom to shame. I have written in somewhat of the spirit which will charac- terize n History, by an Indian, yet it does not deserve to be called Indian partiality, but only justice and the spirit of human- ity ; or, if I may be allowed to say it, the spirit with which any christian should be able to consider the character and deeds of his foe. 1 would not detract from the virtues of your fore- fathers. They we're at that time unrivalled, but bigotry and superstition of the dark ages still lingered among them, and their own perils blinded them to the wickedness and cruelty of the means they took for defence. ^ Four, and perhaps two centuries hence, I doubt not, some of your dogmas will seem unchristian, as the Indians seem to you, and I truly hope, ere then, all wars will seem as barbarous, and the fantastic dress of the soldiers as ridiculous, as you have been in the habit of representing the wars and the wild drap- ery of the Indians of the forest. How long were the Saxon and Celt in becoming a civilized and christian people? How long since the helmet, the coat of mail, and the battle axe, were laid aside ? To make himself more terrific, the Briton of the days of Henry II drew the skin of a wild beast over Ivis armor with the head and ears standing upright, and mounted his war-horse to go forth crying, " To arms ! Death to the invader !" The 1 . «. -'^ ao LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS paint and the Eagle plume of the Indian warrior were scarcely a more barbarous invention, nor his war-cry more terrible. It is not just to compare the Indian of the fifteenth, with the christian of the fifteenth century. But compare them with the barbarian of Britain, of Russia, of Lapland, and Tartary, and represent them as truly as these nations have been represented, and they will not suffer by the comparison. ! .\-; /CAPTIVE'S LIFE >MOf INDIANS, ILLUSTRATED BY THE LIFE OF THE "WHITE WOMAN.' .^ To be taken captive by the Indians, was, among the early colonists, considered the most terrible of all calamities, and it was indeed a fearful thing to become the victim of their re- venge. But those who were enduring the actual sufferings of captivity, or suffering still more from terror of uncertain evils, thought little of the provocation given by the white people. The innocent suffered for the guilty, and however persevering — I suppose the efforts of the government to be just — in its infancy, in a wild unknown coiPntry it was impossible to con- trol unprincipled marauders. Some atrocious act was first committed by white men, which drove the Indian to retalia- tion, and thinking pale faces were all alike, he did not wait till the real offender fell into his hands. When the white men first came, the Indian looked upon M ', OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 21 them as superior beings. They were ready to worship Colum- bus and his little party, and all others along the coast, until their simple trust was outraged beyond endurance, they wel- comed the strangers, gave them food when they were hungry, and sheltered them when they were cold. It was not till their encroachments became alarming, that the Indians asserted their rights, and if in all cases they had been as justly and kindly dealt with as by the Quakers of Pennsylvania, there Avould not have been so dark a record of sins, wrongs and tor- tures. If none but men of principle had made treaties with them, and all whose duty it was to observe them, had kept their faith, revenge had not come out so prominently in Indian character. But it was not in obedience to national policy that those who were taken in battle, were put to the torture, burned, and flayed. The Six Nations had never found it necessary to build prisons, and dig dungeons for their own people. If any man committed murder, they sometimes decided that he should die, and sometimes bade him flee far away where none who knew him could look upon his face. But crimes were so rare that they had no criminal code, and when they overcame their en- emies, they either adopted them and treated them as brethren, or put them immediately to death. White people have often put Indians to death, and oftener put them in dungeons to waste and starve, but it was not part of their practice to adopt them and eall them brethren. Had they sometimes done this, or sent them freely back to their friends unharmed, they might have conciliated where they were only made more desperate. When families are bereaved, they sought to be revenged on those who had bereaved them, and when warriors returned from battle, the prisoners were given up to the friends of the afflicted. With them alone it remained to decide the fate of those who fell into their hands. If they chose, they adopt them in place of the husbands, or brothers, who were slain ; r 22 LEGENDS, TRADITIUNS AiND LAWS ■ t ,f \ , and if they so decided they were put to death, and in any way they decreed. If the manner in which their friend had been killed was aggravating and greatly enraged them, they were very likely to decide upon torture, and inflicted it in a manner to produce the greatest suffering. But in such cases, they sometimes showed great magnanimity, and " returned good for evil." Children were often adopted, and by a solemn ceremony re- ceived into a particular tribe, and evermore treated as one of their own people. You have been in the habit of listening to heart-rending stories of cruelties to captives, but captives who were adopted were never cruelly treated. Those who were im- mediately put to death experienced great suffering for a few hours, and those who were preserved were subjected to hard- ships which seemed to them unspeakable, but they were such as are necessarily incident to Indian life.* They left no written chronicles to tell to all future generations the wrongs and tor- tures to which they were subjected, but one who sits with them by their firesides, may have his blood frozen with horror at the recitals of civilized barbarity. And there was one species of wrong of which no captive wo- man of any nation had to complain when she was thrown upon the tender mercies of Indian warriors. Not among all the dark and terrible records which their enemies have delighted to jnagnify, is there a single instance of the outrage of that deli- cacy which a pure minded woman cherishes at the expense of life, and sacrifices not to any species of mere animal suffer- ing. Of what other nation can it thus be written, that their soldiers were not more terrible at the firesides of their enemies than on the battle-field, with all the fierce engines of war at their command. To whatever motive it is to be ascribed, let this at least stand out on the pages of Indian history as an ever enduring monument to their honor. A little book which professes to have been written for the sole purpose of recording and perpetuating Indian atrocities, M OF THK FROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 33 and dwells upon them w-th infinite delight, alludes to this re- deeming trait in Indian character, but attempts to ascribe it to the influence of superstition, as it were necessary to find some evil or deteriorating motive for everything noble, or pleasing in Indian character. Their treatment of captives from among Indian nations were the same. And I know not that there has been any satisfactory solution of a characteristic which has been found among only one other civilized christian or barbar- ous nation. A wanderer among the Indian tribes once asked an Indian why they thus honored their women, and he said " The Great Spirit taught, and would punish us if we did not." Among the Germans I believed there existed the same respect for woman, till they became civilized. They may have been some superstitious fears mingled with a strong governing and controlling principle, but it is not on this account the less marvelous that whole nations, consisting of millions, should have been so trained, religiously or domestically, that degree of beauty or fascination placed under their care, though hund- reds of miles in the solitudes of the wilderness, should have tempted them from the strictest honor and the most delicate kindness. Mary Janison was eighty years a resident among the Senecas, and in the early part of the time the forests had few clearings, and the comforts and the vices of white men prevailed but little among them. She was born on the ocean, with the billowy sea for her cradle, and the tempest for her lullaby. Her parents emigrated from England to this country in 1 742, and settled in the unfortunate vale of Wyom- ing, where date her first remembrances, which were all the woes that fell upon her family, the wail of the sorrow-stricken and breaking of heart-strings. The last meal they took together --^s a breakfast, after which the father and eldest three sons . went into the field, and Mary with the other little children was playing not far from the house. They were suddenly startled by a shriek, and knew it must be from their mother. On running in they saw her in the hands of two Indians, C- ■ •% ''t*'-' "..(>• *t 24 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS IH i I ,< who were holding her fast. A little boy ran to call his father, and found him also bound by another of the party, and his eldest brother lying dead upon the earth ; the other two fled to Virginia, where they had an uncle, as Mary afterward learned, and those who remained were made cap- tives and hurried into the woods. All day they were obliged to march in single file over the rough, cold soil. Night found them in the heart of the wilderness, surrounded by their strange captors, and all the horrors of Indian life or Indian death staring them in the face. They had no hope of mercy, whether permitted to live or condemned to die. The mother said to Mary, '' My daughter, you, I think will be permitted to live, but they will deprive you of your father and mother, and perhaps of your brothers and sisters, so that you will be alone. But endeavor in all things to please the Indians, and they will be more kind to you. Do not forget your own language, and never fail to repeat your catechism and the Lord's prayer eve- rj- morning and evening while you live." This she promised to do, and having kissed her child, the mother was removed from her sight. Mary must at this time have been ten years of age. She was afterwards told, when she could understand the Indian language, that they would not have killed her parents if the captors had not been pursued, and that a little boy, who was the son of a neighbor, and was also taken, was given to the French, two of whom were of the party. In the marches of the Indians it was the custom for one to linger behind, and poke up the grass with a stick after a party had passed along, to conceal all traces of their footsteps, so a pursuit was seldom successful. In deviating from a direct course in order not to get lost, they noticed the moss upon the trees, which always grows thickest upon the north side, as the south side being most exposed to the sun, became soonest dry. They also had some knowledge of the stars, and knew from the 1 i OF llIE IKOQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 25 i position of certain clusters that wore to be seen at certain sea- sons, wliich was east and which west. Mary was adopted in phice of two brothers who had fallen in battle, and for whom the lamentations had not died away. The ceremony of adoption is very solemn, requiring the delib- erations of a council and the formal bestowing of a name, as a sort of baptism, from which time the captive is not allowed to speak any other language but the Indian, and must in all things conform to Indian habits and tastes. It is customary among them to give children a name w hich corresponds with the sports and dependence of childhood, and when they arrive at maturity to change it for one that corres- ponds with the duties and employments of manhood and wom- anhood. The first naine is given by the relatives and after- wards publicly announced in council. The second is bestowed in the same way ; and by this they are ever afterward called, except on becoming a Sachem, and, sometimes, on becoming a Chief or warrior another name is taken, and each denotes defmitely the new position. Each clan, too, had its peculiar names, so that when a person's name was mentioned it was* imhiediatcly known to what clan he belonged. A curious feature in the Indian code of etiquette is that it is exceedingly impolite to ask a person's name, or to speak it in his presence. In the social circle and all private conversa- tion the person spoken of is described if it is necessary to al- lude to him, as the person who sits there, or who lives in that house, or wears such a dress. If I ask a woman, whose hus- band is present if that is Mr. B — she blushes, and stammers, and replies, " He is my child's father," in order to avoid speak- ing his name in his presence, which would offend him. On asking a man hisnam^ iie remained silent, not understanding the reason the question was repeated, when he indignantly re- plied, " Do you think that I am an owl to go about hooting my name everywhere?" The name of the owl in Indian corres- ponding exactly to the note he utters. (3) -t \. ,v V l\ 26 ■■S" i!!i ^1 I LEGEN'Dhi, TRADnlONS AND LA\VS When Mary Jeminison had been formally named Dc-he-vva- mis, they called her daughter and sister, and treated her in all respects as if she had been born among them and the same blood flowed in her veins, or rather, they were accustomed to be more kind to captives than to their own children, because they had not been inured to the same hardships. There was no difference in the cares bestowed, no allusio i was ever made to the child as if it belonged to a hated race, and it never felt the want of affection. Maiy said her tasks were always 'ight, and everything was done to win her love and make her happy. She now and then longed for the comforts of her cottage home, and wept at the thought of her mother's cruel death, but gradually learned to love the freedom of the forest, and to gambol freely and gaily with her Indian play-mates. When she was named the)' threw her dress away, and clothed her in deer skins and moccasins, and painted her face in true Indian style. She never spoke English in their presence, as they did not allow it, but when alone, did not forget her mother's injunction, and repeated her prayers and all the words she could remember, thus retain- ing enough of the language to enable her easily to recall 'it when she should again return to civilized society, as she con- stantly indulged the hope cf cloi;ig, bj- an exchange ot cap- tives. But when she was foiirteen jears of age, her mother select- ed for her a husband, to whom she was married according to Indian custom. His name was Shci iigce, and though she was not acquainted with him previously, and of course had no af- fection for him. but pro\'ed not only an amiable and excellent man but a congenial companion, whom she loved devotedl)-. He had all the noble qualities of an Indian, being handsome and brave, and generous, and kind, and to her very gentle and affectionate. Now she became thoroughly reconciled to Indian life, her greatest sorrow being the necessary absence of her hu«iband on • I ''•- '• OF THE IROQUOIS, t)K SIX NATIONS. 27 the war-path and hunting excursions. She followed the occu- pation of a woman, tilled the fields, dressed the meats and si "ins, and gathered the fuel for the winter's fire, and although this stems to the whites as unfeminine labor, it was performed at their leisure, and occupied very little of their time. When the hunters returned they were weary and passive, and seldom were guilty of fault-finding, and so well did an Indian woman know her duty, that her husband was not obliged to make his wants known. Obedience was required in all re- spects, and wiiere there was harmony and affection, cheerfully )-ielded, and knowing as they did that scj)aration would be the consequence of neglect of duty and unkindness, there was realh' more self-control, and about little things, than those who are bound for life. They did not agree to live together through good and through evil reports, but only while they loved and confided in each other, and they were therefore careful not to throw lightly away this love and affection. The labor of the field was performed in so systematic a man- ner, and by so thorough and vvisely divisioned labor, that there were none of the jealousies and enjoyings which exist among those who wish to hoard, and ambitious to excel in style and equipage. And before the fire-w'ater came among them, dis- sentions of any kind were almost unknown. This has been the fruitful source of all their woes. It was not till Mary became a mother that she g.ive up all longing for civilized society, and relinquished all hope of again returning to the abodes of the white man. Now slu; had a tie to bind her which could not be broken. If she should find her white friends they would not recognize her Indian husband, or consider her lawfully married : the)' woulil not care to be connected by ties of blood to a people whom they despised ; her child would not be hap- py among those who looked iipon her as inferior, and she her- self had no education to fit her for the companionship of the white people. She looked upon her little daughter and thought, it is Sheningee's — it is dearer to me than all things else — I IT '< I ,i ■"^Y 28 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS could not endure to see her treated with avcndon or neglect. But only a little while was she permitted this happiness, her daughter died while yet an infant, and when Sheningee was away. Again the feeling of desolation came over her young spirit, but all around her ministered in every way to her com- fort, and became more than ever endeared to her heart. Af- ter a long absence. Sheningee returned. She afterwards had a son, and named him after her father, to which no objection was made by her Indian friends, and her love for her hu.sband be'cr.me idolatry. In her eyes he seemed everything noble and good ; she mourned his departure and longed for his return, for his affection prompted him to treat her w ith gentle and winning kindness which is the spirit of true love alone. But again the separation, and she must pass another winier alone. For hunting was the Indian's toil, and though they de- lighted in it, the pangs of parting from his wife and little one, made it a sacrifice, and spread a dark cloud over a long period of his life. And now it became dark indeed to INIary, for she waited long and Sheningee came not. She put everything in order in his little dwelling. She dressed new skins for his couch, and smoked venison to please his taste. .She made the fire bright to welcome him, hoping e\ery evening when she lay down with her baby upon her bosom, that ere the morning sun, the husband and father would gladden them by his smiles, but in vain ; winter had passed away, and the spring, and then came the sad tidings that he was dead, she became a wiriow and her child fatherless. Very long did she mourn Sheningee, for it seenud to her there was none like him. But again the sympathies of his people created a new link to bind her to them, and she said she could not have loved a mother or sisters more dearly than she did those who stood in this relationship to her, and sooth- ed her with their loving words. Net for four years was she again urged to marry, and during this time there was an exchange of prisoners and she had an ' A ,:;■» .^L.ui.'.. .:"■^■■^ial^i^■ Lj-^i.'. OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 29 ncss, her gcc was r young her com- txrt. Af- (Js had a )bjectioti husband loblc and is return, Mitle and r winier they de- ittle one, v^ period ,', for she ^•thin^i; in IS for liis made the n she lay •ning sun, nilcs, but lien came IV and her I'd to her ics of his she said :arly than md sooth- nd during he had an opportunity to return to her kindred ; she was left to do as she chose. They told her she might go, but if she preferred to remain she should still be their daughter and sister, and they would give her land for her own where she might always dwell. Again she thought of the prejudice she would everywhere meet, and that she' could never patiently listen to reproaches concerning her husband's people. It would not be believed that he was noble, because he was an Indian; and she would have no near relatives and those she had might reject her if she should seek them, so she came to the final conclusion and never more sighed for the advantages or pleasures of civilized life. She came with the brothers of Shcningee to the banks of the Genesee, where she resided the remaining seventy-two years of her life. Her second husband — Hiokatoo — she never learned to love. He was a Chief and a warrior brave and fearless ; but though he was always kind to her, he was a man of blood. He de- lighted in deeds u( cruelly and delighted to relate them. And now the fire water had become common, and the good were bad and the bad worse, so that dissensions arose in fami- lies and in neighborhoods, and the happiness which had been almost without alloy was no ".onger known among these sim- ple people. She adds her testimony to that of all travelers and historians concerning the puritj- of their lives, having never herself re- ceived the slightest insult from an Indian and scarcely know- ing an instance of infidelity or immorality. Rut when once they had tasted of the maddening draught the thirst was insa- tiable, and all the\- had would be given for a glass of something to destro)' their reason. Now they were indeed converted in- to fiends and furies and sold themselves to swift destruction. Hiokatoo hesitated at no crime and took pleasure in every- thing dark and terrible, but this was a small trial compared to those which Mrs. Jemmisonwas called upon to endure from the intoxication and recklessness of her son. Her eldest, the ra.i.S«6Sr>»^ ,■-•- I, >. - 30 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS I'' S, •V son of Sheningee, was murdered by John, the son of Hiokatoo, who afterward murdered his own brother Jesse, and came to the same violent death himself at the hands of others. When they came to be in the midst of tempi-Lion there was no re- straining principle, and even after they «■• ew up her house was the scene of quarrels and confusion in consequence of iheir in- temperance, and she knew no rest from fear of some calamity from the indulgence of their unbridled passions. The Chief of the Seneca nation, to which her second husband belonged, gave her a large trr.ct of land, and w hen tt became necessary that it should be secured to her by treaty, she plead her own case. The commissioners without inquiring particularly con- cerning the dimensions of her lots, allowed her to make her own boundaries, and when the document was signed and she was in firm possession it was found that she was ; he owner of nearly foar thousand acres, of which only a deed in her own hand-writing could deprive her. But though she was rich she toiled not the less dilHgently and forsook not the sphere of woman in attending to the ways of her household, and also, true to her Indian education, she planted and hoed and bar- vested, retaining her Indian dress and habits till the day of her death. During the revolutionary war her house was made the rendevous and headquarters of British officers and Indian Chiefs, as her sympathies were entirely with her red brethren, and the cause they espoused was the one she preferred to aid. It was in her power to sympathize with many a lone captive, she always remembered ner own anguish at the prospect of spending her life in the wilderness. The companion of In- dians, and though she had learned to love instead of fear- ing them, and knew they were, as a people, deserving of re- spect and the highest honor, she understood the feelings of those who knew them not. Her supplication procured the release of many from torture, and her generous kindness clothed the naked and fed the starving. •li I i^; ■ / OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 31 Lot after lot, acre after ucre the Indians sold their lands, and at length the beautiful valley of the Genesee fell into the hands of the white people, except the dominion of "the white woman," as she was always called, which couldn't be given up without her consent. She refused, at the time of the sale, to part with her portion, but after the Indians removed to Buffa- lo reservation and she was left alone, though a lady in the manor ^nd surrounded by white people, she preferred to take her abode with those whom she now called her own people. Most emphatically did she adopt the language of Ruth in the days of old, " Entreat me not to leave thee, or return from following after thee, for whither thou goest I will go, and where thou lodgcst I will lodge, thy people will be my people, and thy God my God, where thou diest will I die, and there will I be buried." She was as thoroughly pagan as the veriest Indian who had never heard of God, and she exclaimed with him that their religion was good enough and she desired no change. She was ninety years of ag«- — eighty years she had been an exile from the land of her bitth. She had forgotten the prayer her mother taught her, and knew nothing of the worship of her father, when one morning she sent a messenger to tell the missionaries she wished to see them. She had ever before re- fused to listen to them if they came to her dwelling, but they hastened to obey the summons, glad to feel that they should be welcomed, though quite uncertain concerning the nature of the interview she proposed. She was literally withered away, her face was scarcely larger than an infant's and com- pletely checkered with fine wrinkles, her teeth were entirelj-^ gone and her mouth so sunken that her nose and chin almost met, her hair not silvery, hut snowy white, except a little lock by cacli ear which still retained the sandy hue of childhood, her form which was always slender, was bent, and her limbs could not 'ongcr support her. She had revived the knowledge of her language since she had dwelled among the white peo- f ■. I il ';> ■ J', f > 1 '. f I .-A, 32 LEGENDS, TRAUniONS AM) LAWS pie, but, " Oh, " said she, as the ladic-s entered, " I have forgot- ten how to pray ; my mother taught me and told me never to forget this, though I remembered nothing else ;" and then she exclaimed. "Oh, God! have mercy uj)on me." This expres- sion she had heard in her old age, and now uttered it in the fullness of her heart. There had come a gleam of light through all the darkness and superstitions of Paganism, and this spark was kindled at the fireside of that little cottage home, and fell upon her heart from a mother's lips, and now revived at the remembrance of a mother's love and her dying blessing. It was eighty years since she had seen that mother's face, as she breathed out her soul in anguish, bending over her in the silent depths of the wilderness ; eighty }-ears since she listened to " Our Father who art in Heaven," from christian lips, and now the still small voice which had so long been si- lent, spoke aloud, and startled her as if an angel called. She tried to stifle it, and for man)' days^ after it awoke in her bos- om, she heeded it not, but it gave her no rest. No earthly voice had since reminded her that her heart was sinful, and needed to be " washed in the blood of the lamb, that taketh away the sins of the world." in order to be clean. The seed which had been sown in it when she was a little child, had just sprung up ; the snows of eighty winters had not chilled it, the mildew of nearly a century had not blighted it, and the heavy hand of hundreds of calamities had left it unharmed. She had not been in the midst of corruptions, therefore it had not been destroyed. The little germ was still ali\e, and proving that it had not been in vain. The aged woman sat pillowed up in bed with her children, and children's children of three generations around her, and lifting her withered hands and sunken eyes to Heaven, once more repeated, " Our Father, who art in Heaven," while a new light, like a halo, overspread her face, the tears flowed in floods down her cheeks, and in the dark eyes of every listener there glistened tears of sympathy in her new found happiness. M\ J\ ■•■ ":V^' 'i-:';- OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 33 When she was asked if she regretted that she had not con- sented to be exchanged, she still said, " No. I love the Indi- ans ; I love them better than the white people. Because they had been kind to me, and provided generously for my youth and old age, and my children would inherit an abundance from the avails of the lands, and herds, and flocks." A few days after the new light dawned upon her spirit, in the year KS33, Mary was numbered with the dead. She ad embraced the faith which makes no difference between those who come at the first or the eleventh hour, and those who were present at the dissolution of her soul and body, doubted not that J-sus had whispered to her the same consolation that fell upon the heart of the thief upon the Cross, "This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise" Customs and Individual Traits of Character. The more you read, and the better you understand Indian history, the more you will be impressed with the injustice which has been done the Iroquois, not only in dispossessing them of their inheritance, but in the estimation which has been made of their character. They have been represented, as seen in the transition state, the most unfavorable possible for judging cor- rectly. In the chapter of National Traits of Character, I have in two or three instances quoted Washington Irving, and might again allow his opinions to relieve my own from the charge of (4) ,i^Msm^m^^ I I 4 'i\ ^ 34 LEGENDS, TKADITIDXS A?>r) LAWS partiality. He says, in speaking of this same subject, that " the current opinion of Indian character is too apt to be formed from the miserable hordes which infest the frontiers, and hang on the shirts of settlements. These are too commonly composed of degenerate beings, corrupted and enfeebled by the voice of society, without being benefited by its civilization." "The proud independence which formed the main pillar of motive virtue has been spoken down, and the whole moral fabric lies in ruins. The spirits are humiliated and debased by a sense of inferiority, and their native courage cowed and daunted by the superior knowledge and power of their enlight- ened neighbors. Society has advanced upon them like one of those withering airs that will sometimes breed desolation oxer a whole region of fertility. It has encn-vated their strength. multiplied their diseases, and superinduced upon their original barbarity the law-vices of artificial life. It has given them a thousand superfluous wants, while 't has diminished their means of mere existance. It has driven before it the animals of the chase, who fly from the sound of the axe and the smoke of the settlement, and seek refuge in the deoths of remote forests, and yet untrodden wilds. Thus do we often find the Indians in the frontiers to be mere wrecks and remnants of once powerful tribes, who have lingered in the vicinit}- of settlements, and sunk into precarious and vagabond existence. Po\ert}-, repin- ing and hopeless po\erty — a canker on the mind before un- known to them — corrodes their s])irits, and blights every free and noble qualities of their nature. They loiter like \agrants about the settlements among spacious dwellings, replete with elaborate comforts, which onl)- renders them more sensible of the comparative wretchedness of their own condition. Luxury spreads its ample board before their e\'es, but they are exclud- ed from the banquet ; plenty revels over the fields, but they are starving in the midst of abundance. The whole w ilderness blossomed into a garden, but they feel as reptiles that infest them, IIow different >vasth<.'ir state while undisputed lords of --v..'?V OF Tin: IROnlfOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 35 the soil ? Their wants were few, and the means of orat-fication within tlieir reach, they saw every one among them sharing; the same lot, entiurin<( the same hardships, feeding on the same aliments, arrayed in the same rude garment. No roof then rose under whose sheltering wings, that was not ever open to the homeless stranger, no smoke curled among the trees, but he was welcome to sit down by its fire and join the hunter in his repast." In discussing Indian character, writers have been too prone to indulge in vulgar prejudice and passionate exaggeration, in- stead ot the candid temper of the truv.:' philosopher. They have not sufificiently consiilered the peculiar circumstance in which the Indians have been placed, and the peculiar principles under which they having been educated. No being acts more rigidly from rule than the Indians, his whole conduct is regu- lated according to some general maxims early implanted in his mind. The mor.il laws which go\ern him are few, but he con- forms to them all. The white man abounds in laws and religion, morals, and manners, but how man)- of them does he violate. In their intercourse with the Indians the white people were continually trampling upon their religion and their sacred rights. They were expected to look merel)- on while the graves of their fathers were robbed of their treasures, and the bones of their fathers were left to bleach upon the fields. And when exasperated by the brutality of their cont[uerors, and driven to deeds of vengence, there was verj* little appreciation of the moti\es which intluenceil them, and no attempt was made to palliate their cruelties. It was their custom to bur}- the dead with their best cloth- ing, and the various implements they had been in the habit of using whilst living. If it was a warrior that they were prepar- ing for burial, tliey placed his tomahawk by his side and his knife in his shield ; with the hunter, his bow and arrows and implements for cooking his food ; with the woman, their kettles and cooking apparatus, and also food for all. Tobacco was ;:i'';:.,.. A v-^ :...;. C. J *c^ ■-^!| ,-r. .- V K' 36 LKCF.NDS, TRADITIONS AM) I.AWS deposited in every grave ; for to smoke was an Indian's idea of fclicitv in the body and out of it, anil in this tiiere was not so much difference as one might wish, between them and gentle- men of a paler hue. Among the Iroquois, and many other Indian nations, it was the custom to place the dead upon scaffolds, built for the pur- pose, from tree to tree, or within a temporary inclosure, and underneath a fire was k-ept burning for several da\'s. They had known instances of persons re\iving after they were supposed to be dead, and this led to the conclusion that the spirit sometimes returned to animate the body after it had • once fled. If there was no signs of life for ten days, the fire was extinguished and the body left unmolested until decompo- sition had begun to take place, when the remains were buried, or, as was often the case, kept in the lodge for many years. If they were obliged to desert the settlement where they had long resided, these skeletons were collected from all the families and buried in one common grave, with the same ceremonies as when c'. single individual was interred. They did not suppose the spirit was instantaneously trans- ferred from earth to Heaven, but that it wandered in ierial re- gion for many moons. In later da}s they only allow ctl ten days for its flight. Their period for mourning continued only whilst the spirit is wandering, as soon as the)- believe it has en- tered Heaven the}' commenced rejoicing, saving, there is no longer cause for sorrf)W, because it is now where liappiness dwells forever. Sometimes a piteous wailing was kc-pt up ever)- night for a long time, but it was only their bereavement that they bewailed, as they did not fear about the fate of those who died. Not until they had heard of Purgatory from the Jesuits, or endless woe from Trotestants, did they look upon death with terror, or life as anything but a blessing. They were sometimes in the habit of addressing the chad, as if they could hear. Tlu; following arc; the wortls of a uKjther as she bends over her only son to look for the last time upon « $ i ■ OF TIIK IR<)(^)IJ{)IS, OR SIX NATIONS. 37 his beloved face : " My son, listen once more to the words of thy mother. Thou wast broiii,djt into life with her pains, thou wast nourished with her life. She has attempted to be faith- ful in raising- you up. When you were young she loved you as her life. Thy presence has been a source of great joy to her. Upon thee she depended for support and comfort in her declining da}-s. ]5ut thou hast outstripped her and gone be- fore. Our wise and great Create: has ordered it thus. liy his will, I am left yet, to taste more of the miseries of this world. Thy relations and friends have gathered about thy body to look upon thee for the last time. They 'mourn, as with one mind, thy departure from among us. We, too, have but a few days more and our journey will be ended. We part now, and you are conveyed out of our sight. liut vvc shall soon meet again, and shall look upon each other, then we shall part no more. Our Maker has called thee home, and thither will we follow." After the adoption of the league of the Irocjuois, and they duelled in villages, this was one of the duties enjoined by their religious teacher at their 'festivals : "It is the will of the Great Spirit that you reverence the aged, even though they be helpless as infants." And also, " Kindness to the orphan, and hf)spitality to all." " If you tie up the clothes of an orphan child, the Great Spirit will notice it, and reward \ou for it." " To adopt an orphan, and bring them up in virtuous ways, is pleasing to the (ireat .S[)irit." " If strangers wander about )()ur abode, welcome him to your home, be hospitable towards him, speak to him with kind words, and forget not, always to make mention o{ the Great Spirit." The Indians' lamentations, on beingdriven far awa)- from the graves of their fathers, have lK'i:n the theme of all histttrians and travelers. It can be easily imagined how those who so loved their homes and revered their fathers' graves, would be- come fierce with indignation and rage, on seeing themselves treated as without human feeling, and the sacred relics of the dead i)loughed up and scattered as indifferently as the stones, '1 ni ■ ( 38 i,i:(;i:ni)S, traditions and laws ■i I II i ^ :J- or the bones of llic moose and the deer of tlie forest. It was this feeHn^- that often prompted them to acts of liostiUty, which tlioseuho experienced them, ascribeil t«' wanton cruelt}' and barbarity. In many of the villages there was a strangers home, a house for strangers where they were placed, while tlie old men went about colleciing skins for them to sleep upon, atul iood for them to eat, expecting no reward. They called it very rude for them to stare at tliem as the)' passed in the streets, and said that they had as much curiosity as the white people, but they did not gratify it by intruding upon them, by examining them. They would sometimes hide behind trees in order to look at strangers, but never stood openly and gaze at them. Their respective attention to missionaries was often the re- sult of their rules of politeness, as it is a part of the Indian's code. Their councils are eminent for decorum, anil no person is interrupted during a speech. Some Indians, after respect- fully listening to a missionary, thought they would relate to him some of their legends, but the good man could not restrain his indignation, but pronounced them foolish fables, while what he told theni was sacred truth. The Indian was, in his turn, offended, and said, we listened to your stories, why do you not listen to ours? you are not instructed in the common rules of civility. A hunter, in his wandering for game, fell among the back settlements of Virginia, and on account of the inclemency of the weather, sought refuge at the house of a planter, whom he met at the door.- He was refused admission. Being both hungry and thirsty, he asked for a bit of bread and a cup of cold water. But the answer to every appeal was, " Y'o!/, shall have nothing hi're, get you gone you Indian i/og /" Some months afterwards this same planter lost himself in the woods, and after a weary day of wanilering, came to an In- dian cabin, into which he was welcomed. On intjuiring the * I \. r:i-.i.';i/f.i'ti._v- .■i':'"!i.'.i>\l7ft.J,; ■■ /k V*-.*^ '.. "■l»A.EX»-'.:-M .*i UF Till': 1K0(^U(JIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 39 way and distance to the settlement, and finding; it was too far to think of ^oinf( that nij^dit, he asked if he could remain. Very Cfjriliaily the inmatc:s replied, tliat he was .it liW.::)- to stay, and all they had was at his service. Tliej- j^^ave him tood, they made a bright fire to cheer and warm him, and supplied him with clean deer-skin for his couch, and promised to con- duct him the next day on his journey. In the morning the Indian hunter and the planter set out together tiirough the forest, when they came in sight of the white man's dwelling, the hunter, about to leave, turned to his companion, and said, " Do you not know me ?" The white man was struck with horror, that he had been so long in the power of one whom he had so inhumanly treated, and expected now to experience his revenge. But on beginning to make excuses, the Indian in- terruptt:d him saying, " when you see a poor Indian fainting for a cup of cold water, don't say again, ' get you gone, you Indian dog^' " and turned back to his hunting grounds. Which best deserved the appellation of a christian, and to which will it most likely be said, " Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these, ye have done it unto me." ^. ^.yi ..^'■'^■''■.■:.:,-. •^ -*...., V* V^; .': ■ < ' ■■■ m 40 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS CREATIOi\. ORKJIX OKTIIKCONTINKNT. i IIK ANIMAL, AND OV THE INDIAN, INTRODUCTION OF THE TWO I'RIXCll'LES OK^COOD /vND EVIL INTO THE (JOVERNMENT OE THE WORLD. i- '■ i I The Tuscarora tradition opiMis witli the notion that there Vvcre originally two worlds, or regions of space, that is an iipjier and lower world The rpper w(Mld was inhabited by beings resembling the human race. And the lower world by mon- sters, moving on the surface and in the waters, whicli is in darkness. When the human species vere transferred below, and the lower sphere was about to be rendered fit for their residence, the act of their transferrance is by these iileas, that a female who began to descend into the lower world, which is a region of darkness, waters, and monsters, she was received on the back of a tortoise, where she gave birth to male twins, and there she expired. The shell of this tortoise expanded into a continent, which, in the English language, is called " island," and is named by the Tuscaroras, \'owahnook. One of the children was called Got-ti-gah-rah-quast, or good mind, the other, Got-ti-gah-rak-senh,.or bad mind. These two antago- nistical principles were at perpetual variance, it being the law of one to counteract whatever the oiher did. They were not. however, men, but gods, or existences, through whom the Great Spirit, or " lioldcr ot the Heavens." carritti out his purposes. The first work of Got-ti-gah-rah-quast was to create the sun out of the head of his dead mother, and the moon and stars out /U. OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 41 of the other parts of her body. The light these gave drove the monsters into the deep waters to hide themselves. He then prepared the surface of the continent and fitted it for human habitation, by making it into creeks, rivers, lakes and plains, and by filling them with the various kinds of animals and veg- etable kingdom. He then formed a man and a woman out of the earth, gave them life, and called them Ongwahonwd, that is to say,, a real people. Meanwhile the bad mind created mountains, water-falls, and steeps, caves, reptiles, serpents, apes, and other objects sup- posed to be injurious to, or in mockery to mankind. He made an attempt also to conceal the land animals in the ground, so as to deprive men of the means of subsistance. This continued opposition, to the wishes of the Good Mind, who was perpetu- ally at work, in restoring the effects and displacements, of the wicked devices of the other, at length led to a personal combat, of which the time and instrument of battle were agreed on. They fought two days; the Good Mind using the deer's horn, and the other using wild flag leafs, as arms. Got-ti-gah-rah- (juast, or Good Mind, who had chosen the horn, finally pre- vailed. His antagonist sunk down into a region of darkness, and became the Evil Spirit of the world of dispair. Got-ti-gah-rah- quast, having obtained his triumph, retired from the earth. The earliest tradition that we have of the Iroquois is as fol- lows : That a company of Ongwahonwa being encamped on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, where they were invaded by a nation — few in number, but were great giants, called " Ronongwaca." War after war was brought on by personal encounters and incidents, and carried on with perfidity and cruelty. They were delivered at length by the skill and courage of Yatontea, who, after retreating before them, raised a large body of men and defeated them, after which they were sup- posed to be extinct. And next they suffered was from the malice, perfidity and lust of an extraordinary appearing person, who they called That-tea-ro-skeh, who was finally driven across 15) 42 LEGENDS, TRADltlONS AND LAWS the St. Lawrence, and come to a town south of the shores of Lake Ontario, where, however, he only disguised his intentions, to repeat his cruel and perfidious deeds. He assassinated many persons, and violated six virgins. They pointed to him as a fiend in human shape. In this age of monsters, the country was again invaded by another monster, which they called Oyahguaharh, supposed to be some great mammoth who was furious against men, arid destroyed the lives ;■' rr ■iy Indian hunters, but he was at length killed, after a long and severe contest. A great horned serpent also nc.vi" appeared on Lake Ontario who, by means of his poisonous breath, caused disease, and caused the death of many. At length the old women congre- gated, with one accord, and prayed to the Great Spirit that he would send their grand-father, the Thunder, who would get to their relief in this, their sore time of trouble, and at the same time burning tobacco as burned offerings. So finally the mon- ster was compelled to retire in the deeps of the lake by thunder bolts. Before this calamity was forgotten another happened. A blazing -star fell into their for) -.i atcd on the banks of the St. Lawrence, and destroyed the ; ? le. Such a phenomenon caused a great panic and constcrnat: i and dread, which they regarded as ominious of their entire destruction. Not long after this prediction of the blazing star it was verified. These tribes, who were held together by feeble ties, fell into dispute and wars among themselves, which were pursued through a long period, until they had utterly destroyed each other, and so reduced their numbers that the lands were again over-run with wild beasts. At this period there were six families took refuge in a large cave in a mountain, where they dwelled for a long time. The men would come out occasionally to hunt for food. This mam- moth cave was situated at or near the falls of the Oswego River. Taryenya-wa-gon (Holder of the Heavens) extricated these>six families from this subterraneous bowels and confines I ^-<„ OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 43 shores of tentions, issinated d to him ^aded by posed to nen, arid i was at Ontario ase, and I congrc- t that he d get to he same :he mon- thunder ippened. is of the omenon ich ther ^ot long These dispute rough a her, and over-run I a large e. The is mam- Oswego tricated confines i of the mountain. They always looked to this divine messen- ger, who had power to assume various sliapes, as emergency dictated, as the friend and patron of their nation. • ' ■' As soon as they were released he gave them instructions re- specting the mode of hunting, matrimony, worship and many other things. He warned them against the evil spirit, and gave them corn, beans, squash, potatoes, tobacco, and dogs to hunt their game. He bid them go toward the rising of the sun, and he personally guided them, until they came to a river, which they named Yehnonanatche (that is going around a mountain,) now Mf)hawk, they went down the bank of the river and came to where it discharges into a great river, running towards the midway sun, they named it Skaw-nay-taw-ty (that is beyond the pineries) now Hudson, and went down the banks of the river and touched the bank of the great water. The company made an encampment at this place and remained for a while. The people was then of one language. Some of them went on the banks of the great waters, towards the midway sun, and never returned. But the company that remained at the camp returned as they came — along the bank of the river, under the direction of Taryenyawagon (Holder of the Heavens). This company were a particular body, which called them- selves of one household. Of these there were six families, and they entered into an agreement to preser\e the chain of alliance which should not be extinguished under any circumstance. The company advanced some distance up the river of Skaw- natawty (Hudson). The Holder of the Heavens directed the first family to make their residence near the bank of the river, and the family was named Tehawrogeh (that is, a speech di- vided) now Mohawk. Their language soon changed. The company then turned and went towards the sun-setting, and traveled about two days and a half, then came to a creek, which was named Kawnatawteruh (that is pineries). The second family was directed to make their residence near the creek; and the family was named Nehawretahgo (that is big :.>,■ .Ky I ; j ■ , * 44 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS tree) now Oneida. Their language was changed likewise. The company continued to proceed toward the sun-setting under the direction of the Holder of the Heavens. The third family was directed to make their residence on a mountain, named Onon- daga (now Onondaga), and the family was named Seuhnowhah- tah (that is, carrying the name.) Their language also changed. The rest of the company continued their journey towards the sun-setting. The fourth family was directed to make their residence near a large lake, named Goyogoh (that is a moun- tain rising from water) now Cayuga, and the family was named Sho-nea-na-we-to-wah (that is a great pipe). Their language was altered. The rest of the company kept their course to- wards the sun-setting. The fifth family was directed to make tlieir residence near a high mountain, situated south of Can- andaigua Lake, which was named Tehow-nea-nyo-hent (that is possessing a door) now Seneca. Their language was also changed. The sixth, and last family, went on their journey toward the sun-setting, until they touched the bank of the great lake, which was named Kan-ha-gwa-rah-ka (that is a Cape) now Erie, and then went toward, between the midway and sun-setting, and traveled a great distance, when they came to a large river, which was named 0-nah-we-yo-ka (that is a prin- cipal stream) now Mississippi. The people discovered a grape- vine lying across the river, b\- which a part of the jjeople went over, but while they were crossing the vine broke. They were divided, and became enemies to those that were over the river in consequence of which, they were obliged to aband'^n the journey. Those that went over the ri\er were finally lost and forgotten from the memory of those that remained on the eastern banks. Ta-ren-ya-wa-go (the Holder of the Heavens), who was the patron of the five home bands, did not fail, in this crisis, to di- rect them their way also. He instructed those on the eastern bunk the art of the bow and arrows, to use for game and in time of danger. After giving them suitable instructions, he ;< OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 45 guided their footsteps in their journeys, south and east, until they had crossed the Alleghany 'Mountains, and with some wanderings they finally reached the shores of the sea, on the coast which is now called the Carolinas. By this time their language was changed. They were directed to fix their resi- dence on the banks of the Gow-ta-no (that is, pine in the water) now Neuse River, in North Carolina. Here Ta-ren-ya-wa-gon left them to hunt, increase and prosper, whilst he returned to direct the other five nations to form their confederacy. Tarenyawagon united in one person the power of a God and a man, and gave him the expressive name of the Holder of the Heavens, and was capable of assuming any form or shape that he chosed, but appeared to them only in the form of a man, and taught them hunting, gardening, and the knowledge of the arts of war. He imparted to them the knowledge of the laws and government of the Great Spirit, and gave them di- rections and enccjuragement how to fulfill their duties and ob- ligations. He gave them corn, beans, and fruits of various kinds, with the knowledge of planting those fruits. He taught them how to kill and to cook the game. He made the forest free to all the tribes to hunt, and removed obstructions from the streams. He took his position, sometimes, on the top of liigh cliffs, springing, if needs be, over frightful chasms ; and he flew, as it were, over great lakes in a wonderful canoe of immaculate whiteness and of magic power. . , i . Having finished his commission with the Tuscaroras at Cautanoh, in North Carolina, and the other five families, which were left at the north, he came down to closer terms and intimacy with the Onondagas. He resolved to lay aside his divine character and live among them, that he might exemplify the maxims which he had taught. And for this purpose he selected a handsome spot of ground on the southern banks of Cross Lake, New V'ork. Here he built his cabin, and from the shores of this lake he went into the forest, like the rest of his companions, in quest of game and fish. He took a wife gf the 'k 46 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS ii Onondagas, by whom he had an only daughter, whom he ten- derly loved, and most kindly and carefully treated and in- structed, so that she was known far and near as his favorite child, and was regarded almost as a goddess. The excellence of his character, and his great sagacity and good counsels, led the people to regard him with veneration, and they gave him, in his sublunary character, the name of Hi-a-wat-ha (a wise man). People came to him from all quarters, and his abode was thronged by all ages and conditions who came for advice. He became the first chief of all the land, and whomsoever he made his companions and friends were likewise clothed with the authority of chiefs in the tribe. In this manner all power came naturally into his hands, and the tribe rejoiced that they had so wise and good a man as their ruler. For in those days each tribe was independent of all others ; they had not yet formed a league, but fought and made war with each other. Nothing that belonged to Hiawatha, in his character of Ta- renyawagon, was more remarkable than his light and magic canoe, which shone with a supernatural lustre, and in which he had performed so many of his extraordinary feats. This canoe was laid aside when he came to fix his residence at Cross Lake, and never used it but for great and extraordinary purposes. When great councils were called, and he assembled the wise men to deliberate together, the sacred canoe was carefully lifted from the grand lodge ; and after these occasions were ended, it was carefully returned to the same receptacle, on the shoulders of men, who felt honored in being the bearers of such a precious burden. Thus passed away many years, and every year saw the people increasing in numbers, skill, arts and bravery. It was among the Onondagas that Tarenyawagon had located himself, although he regarded the other tribes as friends and brothers ; he had become indentified as an adopted member of this par- ticular tribe. Under his teaching and influence they became the first among all the original tribes, and rose to the highest OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 47 distinction in every art which was known to or prized by the Akonoshuni (Iroquois). They were the wisest counsellors, the best orators, the most expert hunters, and the bravest warriors. They also afforded the highest examples of obedience to the laws of the Great Spirit. If offences took place, Hiawatha re- dressed them, and his wisdom and moderation preserved the tribe from feuds. Hence, the Onondagas were early noted among all the tribes for their pre-eminence. He appeared to devote his chief attention to them, that he might afterwards make them examples to the others, in arts and wisdom. They were foremost in the overthrow of the Stonish Giants and the killing of the great Serpent. To be an Onondaga was the highest honor. While Hia..atha was thus living in domestic life quietly among the people of the hills, and administering their simple government with wisdom, they became alarmed by the sudden news of the approach of a furious and powerful enemy from north of the great lakes. As the enemy advanced, they made an indiscriminate slaughter of men, women and children. The people fled from their villages a short time before them, and there was no heart in the people to make a stand against such powerful and ruthless invaders. In this emergency, they fled to Hiawatha for his advice. He counseled them to call a gen- eral council of all the tribes from the east and west. " F'or," said he, " our strength is not in the war club and arrows alone, but in wise counsels." He appointed a pace on the banks of Onondaga Lake for the meeting. It was a clear eminence from which there was a wide prospect. Runners were dis- patched in every direction, and the chiefs, warriors and head- men forthwith assembled in great numbers, bringing with them, in the general alarm, their women and children. Fleets of canoes were seen on the bosom of the lake, and every inte- terior warpath was kept open by the foot-priftts of the different tribes, hurrying to obey the summons of Hiawatha. All but the wise man himself had been there for three days, anxiously 48 LEGENDS, T' .DITIONS AND LAWS i lil awaiting the arrival of Hiawatha, when a messenger was dis- patched after him. They found him gloomy and depressed. Some great burden appeared to hang on his mind. He told them that evil lay on his path, and that he had fearful fore- bodings of ill-fortune. He felt that he was called to make some great sacrifice, but he did not know what it was, it seemed to be hid from him. Least of all did he think it was to be his daughter ; ever careful ot her, he bade her kindly to accompany him. Nothing happened to hinder, or at all interrupt their voyage. The Talismanic canoe, which held them, glided si- lently down the waters of the Seneca ; not a paddle was nec- essary to give it impetus,while it pursued the downward course of the stream till they reached the point of the lake outlet. At this point Hiawatha took his paddle and gave it impetus against the current, until they entered on the bright and calm surface of the Onondaga, cradled, as this blue sheet of water is, among the lofty and far-swelling hills. When the white canoe of the venerable chief appeared, a shout of welcome rang among those hills. The day was calm and serene. No wind ruffled the lake, and scarcely a cloud floated in the sky above. But while the wise man was measuring his steps towards the place designated for the council, and while ascending from the wa- ter's edge, a rumbling and low sound was heard, as if it were caused by the approach of a violent, rushing wind. Instantly all the eyes were turned upwards, where a small and compact mass of cloudy darkness appeared. It gathered in size and velocity as it approached, and appeared to be directed inevit- ably to fall in the midst of the assembly. Every one fled in consternation but Hiawatha and his daughter." He stood erect, with ornaments waving in his frontlet, and besought his daughter calmly to await the issue, " for it is impossible," said he, "to escape the power of the Great Spirit If he has deter- mined our destruction we cannot, by running, fly from him." She modestly assented and they stood together, while horror was'depicl d irt the faces of the others. But the force of the OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 49 descending body was that of a sudden storm. They had hardly taken the resolution to halt when an immense bird, with long, extended wings, came down with swoop. This gigantic agent of the sky came with such force that the assem^ biy felt the shock. The girl being in a nature, and embodied in the combination of the Terrestial and Celestial nature, wa^ beautiful and fascinating in her looks and form, was borne away by this Celestial Bird to be seen no. more upon the earth. But Hiawatha was inconsolable for his loss. He grieved sore- ly, day and night, and wore a desponding and dejected coun- tenance. But these were only faint indications of the feelings of his heart. He threw himself upon the ground, and refused to be comforted. He seemed dumb with melancholy, and the people were concerned of his life. He spoke nothing ; he made no answers to questions put to him, and laid still as if dead. After several days the council appointed a certain merry- hearted Chief to make him a visit, and to whisper a word of consolation in his ears to arouse him from his stupcir. The result was successful. He approached \yith ceremonies and induced him to arise, and named the time when the council would convene. Yet haggard with grief, he called for refresh- ments and ate. He then adjusted his wardrobe and head-dress and went to the council. He drew his robe of wolf-skin grace- fully around him, and walked to his seat at the head of the assembled chiefs with a majestic step. Stillness and the most profound attention reigned in the council while he presided, and the discussion opened and proceeded. The subject of the invasion was handled by several of the ablest counselors and the bravest warriors. Various plans were proposed to defeat the enemy. Hiawatha listened with silence until all had fin- ished speaking. His opinion was then asked. After a brief allusion of the calamity which had befallen him through the descent of the great bird by the Great Spirit, he spoke to the following effect : " 1 have listened to the words of the wise men and brave (6) ' i ','' 5P LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS chiefs, but it is not fitting that we should do a thing of so much importance in haste ; it is a subject demanding calm re- flection and mature deliberation. Let us postpone the decision for one day. During this time we will weigh well the words of the speakers who have already spoken. If they are good, I will then approve of them. If they are not, I will then open to you my plan. It is one which I have reflected on, and feel confident that it will insure safety." When another day had expired, the council again met. Hiawatha entered the assembly with even more than ordinary attention, and every eye was fixed upon him, when he beg in to address the council in the following words : " Friends and Brothers : — You being members of many tribes, you have come from a great distance ; the voice of war has aroused you up ; you are afraid of your homes, your wives and your children ; you tremble for your safety. Believe me, I am with you. My heart beats with your hearts. We are one. Wc have one common object. We come to promote our common interest, and to determine how this can be best done. 1 ! : "To oppose those hordes of northern tribes, singly and alone, would prove certain destruction. We can make no progress in that way. We must unite ourselves into one com- mon band of brothers. We must have but one voice. Many voices makes confusion. We must have one fire, one pipe and one war club. This will give us strength. If our warriors are united they can defeat the enemy and driv«: them from our land ; if we do this, we are safe. . :, "Onondaga, you are the people sitting under the shadow of the Gr£at Tree, whose branches spread far and wide, and whose roots sink deep into the earth. You shall be the first nation, because you are warlike and mighty. " Oneida, and you, the people who recline your bodies against the Everlasting Stone, that cannot be moved, shall be the second nation, because you always give good counsel. OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 51 " Seneca, and you, the people who have your habitation at the foot of the Great Mountain, and are overshadowed by its crags, shall be the third nation, because you are all greatly gifted in speech. " Cayuga, you, whose dwelling is in the Dark Forest, and whose home is everywhere, shall be the fourth nation, because of your superior cunning in hunting. " Mohawk, and you, the people who live in the open coun- try, and possess much wisdom, shall be the fifth nation, because you understand better the art of raising corn and beans and making cabins. "You five great and powerful nations, with your tribes, must unite and have one common interest, and no foes shall disturb or subdue you. " And you of the different nations of the south, and you of the west, may place yourselves under our protection, and we will protect you. We earnestly desire the alliance and friend- ship of you all. " And from you, Squaw-ki-haws (being a remote branch of the Seneca Nation), being the people who are as the Feeble Bushes, shall be chosen a Virgin, who shall be the peace- maker for all the nations of the earth, and more particularly the favored Ako-no-shu-ne, which name this confederacy shall ever sustain. If we unite in one band the Great Spirit will smile upon us, and' we shall be free, prosperous and happy ; but if we shall remain as we are we shall incur his displeasure. We shall be enslaved, and perhaps annihilated forever. " Brothers, these are the words of Hiawatha. Let them sink deep into your hearts. I have done." A deep and impressive silence followed the delivery of this speech. On the following day the council again assembled to act on it. High wisdom recommended this deliberation. The union of the tribes into one confederacy was discussed and unanimously adopted. To denote the character and inti- macy of the union they employed the figure of a single m u u i'l 1 1 52 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS council-house, or lodge, whose boundaries be co-cxtensivc with their territories. Hence the name of Ako-no-shu-nc, who were called the Iroquois. ^ ■( < The great bird which visited them from heaven brought a precious gift to the warriors in the white plumes which she shed at the visit. Every warrior, as he approached the spot where they fell, picked up a feather of snowy white to adorn his crown ; and the celestial visitant thus became the means of furnishing the aspirants of military fame with an emblem which was held in the highest estimation. Succeeding genera- tions ?mbibed the cus* 1 from this incident to supply them- selves with a plumag >roaching it as nearly as possible ; they selected the plume of the white heron. At the formation of the confederacy Ato-ta-rho, being con- sidered next in wisdom and all other traits of character which constitutes the necessary qualifications of an honored Sachem, was ordained as the head Sachem of the confederacy, which office has been transmitted down to succeeding generations of the Onondaga Nation to the present time. Hiawatha, the guardian and founder of the league, having now accomplished the will of the Great Spirit, and the with- drawal of his daughter having been regarded by him as a sign Ithat his mission was ended, he immediately prepared to make ihis final departure. Before the great council, which had adopted his advice just before dispersing/he arose, with a dig- nified air, and addressed them in the following manner : " Friends and Brothers : — I have now fulfilled my mission here bel(l)w ; I have furnished you seeds and grains for your gardens ; I have removed obstructions from your waters, and made the forest habitable by teaching you how to expel its monsters; I have given you fishing places and hunting grounds; I have instructed you in the making and using of war implements ; I have taught you how to cultivate corn, and ■many other arts and gifts. I have been allowed by the Great , Spirit to commynicate to you. Last of all, I have aided you OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. S3 to form a league of friendship and union. If you preserve this, and admit no foreign element of power by the admission of other nations, you will always be free, numerous and happy. If other tribes and nations are admitted to your councils, they will sow the seed of jealousy and discord, and you will become few, feeble and enslaved. " Friends and brothers, these are the last words you will hear from the lips of Hiawatha. The Great Creator of our bodies calls me to go ; I have patiently awaited his summons ; I am cady to go. Farewell." As the voice of the wise man ceased, sweet strains of music from the air burst on the ears of the multitude. The whole sky appeared to be filled with melody ; and while all eyes were directed to catch glimpses of the sights, and enjoy strains of the celestial music that filled the sky, Hiawatha was seen, seated in his snow-white canoe, amid the air, rising, rising with eveiy choral chant that burst out. As he rose the sound of the music became more soft and faint, until he vanished amid the summer clouds, and the melody ceased. Thus ter- minated the labors and cares of the long-cherished memory of Ta-rcn-ya-wa-gon. I will now resume the history of the sixth and last family, the Tuscarora On-gwe-hon-wa, that were left at the Neuse river, or Gan-ta-no. Here they increased in numbers, valor and skill, and in all knowledge of the arts necessary in forest life. The country' was wide and covered with dense wilder- ness, large rivers and lakes, which gave shelter to many fierce animals and monsters which beset their pathways and kept them in dread. Now the Evil Spirit also plagued them with monstrous visitations. They were often induced to change their locations ; sometimes from fear of enemies and sometimes from epidemics, or some strange visitations. ~^ t-t 54 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS M I will now relate a few of the monsters that plagued them : The first enemy that appeared to question their power or dis- turb their peace was the fearful phenomenon of Ko-nea-rah- yah-neh, or the flying heads. The heads were enveloped in beard and hair, flaming like fire ; they were of monstrous size, and shot through the air with the speed of meteors. Human power was not adequate to c(joe with them. The priests pro- nounced them a flowing power of some mysterious influence, and it remained with the priests alone to e.xpel them by their magic power. FLYING HEAD AND WOMAN SITTINi; \\\ TDK KIRi:. Drum and rattle and enchantments were deemed more effective than arrows or clubs. One evening, after they had been plagued a long time with fearful visitations, the fly- ing head came to the door of a lodge occupied by a single female and her dog. She was sitting composedly before the fire roasting acorns, which, as they became cooked, she delib- erately took from the fire and ate. Amazement seized the flying head, who put out two huge black paws from under his streaming beard. Supposing the woman to be eating live coals be withdrew, and from that time he came no more among them. OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 55 And they were also invaded by a still more fearful enemy, the Ot-nea-yar-heh, or Stonish Giants. They vvcre a powerful tribe from the wilderness, tall, fierce and hostile, and resistance to them was vain. They defeated and overwhelmed an army which was sent out against them, and put the whole country in fear. These giants were not only of great strength, but they were cannibals, devouring men, women and children in their inroads. SIOMSH CIA.NT CHASING INDIANS. It is said b\' the Shawiitcs that these giants were descended from a certain family which was journeying on the cast side of the Mississii)pi. After some of them had crossed the river on a vine it broke, which left the main body on the east bank of the river. Those who were on the west side of the river went toward the northwest. Being abandoned in their wanderings, and being vagrants, without any knowledge of the arts of life, they forgot the rules of humanity. They at first began to cut their game in the raw llesh, which led them finally to become cannibals, and they practiced to roll themselves in the sand, which caused their bodies to be covered with a hard skin, so f -.'?^^^=smTw---r-rka i. !l :| 56 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS that the arrows of the Tuscaroras only rattled against. their rough bodies and fell at their feet. And the consequence was, that they were obliged to hide in caves and glens, and were brought into subjection by those fierce invaders for many win- ters. At length the Holder of the Heavens visited his people, and finding that they were in great distress, he determined to relieve them of these barbarous invaders. To accomplish this he changed himself as into one of those giants. As you will remember, it is said that he was able to change himself into any shape that he wished. He then joined himself with the invaders, and brandishing his heavy war-club, led them on un- der the pretence of finding the other five nations, which they were also in the habit of visiting. When they came near to the strong fort at Onondaga, they being weary of the long journey, and the night being dark, their leader bade them lie down at the foot of a mountain until the customary time to make the attack, which was at the break of day. But during the night the Indian benefactor ascended the height and over- whelmed the slumberers below with a vast mass of rocks. At this catastrophe only one escaped to carry the news of their dreadful fate, and he fled toward the north. The Tuscaroras and the other five nations were so much troubled with giants and other monsters that they were obliged to build forts to protect themselves. The way they built them was always by selecting an eminence, or rocky cliff, and on the back part was dug a trench according to the plan of the fort. Then timbers were set in the trench upright, projecting above the ground several feet, and being adjusted together as close as possible, and the trench being filled in again. They had two gates, one way to get their water, the other for a sally port. They were also molested by a terrific animal which they called Ro-qua-ho — a variegated lizzard — a swift runner and strikes very violent blows with its tail, whicii destroyed many hunters while lying in lurk for them. One day while a party or THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 57 of hunters were on their journey to camp-out for the purpose of hunting, the party consisting of four, they came to a very large hollow tree where they noticed quite a number of great marks of claws on the bark of the tree. Supposing it to be the lodge of bears, they laid their bundles down and made ready for their game. One of them bounded on the tree and climbed it, and he struck the trunk of the tree several times. When the supposed bear appeared, to their consternation it was found to be the enemy they so much dreaded, the Ro- qua-ho. The person on the tree only stepped behind it and the other three ran away for their lives. The Ro-qua-ho came down and pursued them, and while yet in sight one was caught, killed and brought back, and he carried the body into the tree. Then he went after the second which was brought in a short time, after which, he went for the third ; then the one on the tree came down and ran away also. While on his way he Heard a voice calling him ; he stopped, and behold, a man of stately form, with long flowing hair stood and said, " Why run? I have seen the distress of my people, I have come to deliver them out of trouble; now confide in me and we will prevail. I am your benefactor, Tarcnyawagon. Get behind me, the enemy is approaching." In the twinkling of an eye this Celestial, being was changed, and assumed himself into a great white bear. When the Ro- quaho came a great struggle ensued, but with the help of the man the enemy was killed. They were again molested by an extraordinary and ferocious animal in various places — a mammoth bear. One morning while a party of hunters were in their camp, they were alarm- ed by a great tumul breaking out from the forest. Upon going to ascertain the cause of this extraordinary noise, they saw the great monster on the bank pawing and rolling stones and logs in every direction, exhibiting the utmost rage. Another great animal of the cat kind appeared, and seized the bear and a dreadful fight ensued. In the end the bear got the (7; iy-i» ;vj*. . ^ ■ " ^■.T TVS;-'' .,;^W.'-:»^''^.: i/ 1 '■'\ •58 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND I,A\VS worst of it and retired horribly mangled, and never was heard of afterwards. After a while a pestiferous and annoying creature of the insect kind appeared in the guise of the Ro-tay-yo (a huge mosquito). It first appeared among the Tuscaroras along the Neuse river. It flew about with vast wings, making a loud noise, with a long stinger; and cii whomsoever it lighted it sucked out all the blood and killed them. Many warriors were destroyed in this way, and all attempts made to subdue it were vain ; but at length it retired of itself. Next they heard that it appeared about the fort at Onondaga, where it also destroyed many lives, until Tarenj'awagon made a visit to the ruler of the Onondagas. The great mosfpiito happened to come flying about the fort as usual at tliat time. Taren\a- wago immediately made his attack, but such was ihe rapidit)- of its flight, that he could scarcely keep in sight of it. lie chased it around the borders of the great lakes, towards the sun-setting, and around the great country at large, east and west. At last he overtook it, ami took his strong bow and sent an arrow which struck him through the heart and killed him, near Gen-an-do-a (the salt lake of Onondaga), hroni the blood flowing out on this occasion were the })resent species of small mosquito originated. I have now related a few of tin: tragedies of the dark recess- es of the forest, from the man)' that our tradition relates. ■ There was also a little old man of lingular appearance that frequented among them at their ball plays, and did not seem to be inclined to make acquaintance with any one. but kept by himself and appeared to be mild and humble. At length this man became very sick with putrefying sores from head to' foot and was very loathesome. Nobody knew who lu' was or where he came from ; he had no home; he gave hi^' name as Qua-ra, or Rabbit; he went from house to houso of all the different clans or tril)es in the nation, as for instance, the ICel, Snipe, Heaver, Turtle, Wolf, Deer. When he would approach V'T /n'"-'-""*T'^ "'^" ■"^.A'-*r-:,-v OV THE IROQUOIS, OR vSIX NATIONS 59 the house, seemingly to go in, they would loathe him to enter, ;ind when he came to the doorstep he would seem to hear their thoughts and then return ; thus he was repulsed from all the houses of the above clans, he finally came to the house of the Bear clan. When the mistress of the house observed him coming, she had pity on him, and presently prepared abed '';>r him with the best deerskins she had ; when he came to the door lie knew her hospitable heart and went in. She immedi- ately assured him of his welcome in her meanly hut, and that she was ready to do everything in her power to relieve his dis- tress, and appointed his lodge where he had laid himself near- ly exhausted. He then told her to go and get the root of a certain kind of plant, which she immediately did and prepared according to his direction, which he took and readily recovered. He then went through a series of diseases, directing her as before to get the different kind of medicines for the different diseases. Lastly, he became sick with that fatal disease, con- sumption. This he said was incuraL'e, and he must die. He then told her he was a messenger from Tarenyawagon, to show them the diseases that they should be subjected to, and also the medicine to cure them. And also to tell them the predic- tions of then- fate and doom. Said he could not withhold the water from his eyes, or keep from quaking when he thought of thgir irrevocable doom to which they were destined, and said : " There is a habitation beyond these great waters to- wHJds the sun-rising, which are inhabited by beings of very pale faces, and are looking only to themselves, have pity for nobody, and make their delight in doing mischief. They have killed Rah-wah-ne-yo (God) ; they mocked him and done all manner of bad things to him, and finally, they fastened him to a tree until he died. But death and the grave had not power to hold him. He arose and lives again, and he has gone to the world above, in those happy hunting grounds where all good O-qua-ho-w.i (Indians), will go when they die, and will see him as he is. ill il 60 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS ) .: 1 11 Mi i!i;i m ill " Now this class of pale-faces will come across the great wa- ters and make their abode on this island, and will bring poison to give you to drink, which will poison the spirit and kill the body. They will kill your husbands, brothers and sons, and drive you away to the sun-setting, and will deprive the child- ren that are coming behind, off their domain. They will drive you until you are in the great s.xlt water up to your waist. Oh, hostess, this is the final doom of your great nation. " And now as for you. Oh, mother, I have no words that I can utter, to express the sincere gratitude of my inmost soul. I have nothing to give to compensate you for all the tender- ness you have given me. But my blessings I will leave with you. I place in the midst of your clan, the Bear, a ma- jestic pine tree, which is ever green, and as the top reaches above all other trees, so will your clan be. Wherever the na- tion will be driven to, your clan will multiply above all others, and be the ruler of the nation. This is all I have to deliver unto you. I now commend myself to that Great Spirit thai has made us all, who ruleth above." Thus ended the last messenger of Tarenyawagon, who is now basking in the pleasures of that hunting gr^u id in the world above. l! or THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 6l TUSCARORA. Before the discovery, by Columbus, the Tuscaroras consisted of six towns, and they were a powerful nation, numbering over twelve hundred warriors, which, at a ratio according to the rule of estimating, would bring them at about five or six thousand souls. The Tuscaroras had many years of enjoyment and peaceful possession of their domain, consisting of six towns on the Ro- anoke, Neuse, Taw and Pemlico rivers, in the State of North Carolina. And they were also confederated to six other nations, which were the Corees, Mattamuskeets, Notaways and the Bear River Indians; the names of the other two nations I have been unable to obtain. My readers will readily see why sorne writers have it that t'ley consisted in twelve towns, and other writers would have it that they consisted in six towns. The real Tuscaroras consisted in six towns ; but with the confederate nations, altogether, were known to be in twelve towns, and all these different nations which composed the confederacy went under the name of Tuscarora, the Tus- caroras being the most powerful of the several nations. The tradition of the Tuscaroras admits of having captured Lawson and his party, and executed some of them to death on account of their encroachments upon their domain ; but con- cerning the massacre of Oct. 3d, 171 1, the Tuscaroras emphat- ically deny having taken any part in the affair whatever, oflRC' 6» LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS ially. The project was presented to them and in the council of the sachems, chiefs and warriors, they emphatically declined taking any part in such a movement, but said if the colonists made encroachments and trespass on their domain, it is no more tlian right and just that we defend our rights, and even cautioned their young men that they should not take any part whatever in the action; but, nevertheless, there were a few of the rash and reckless warriors that took part in the disorder. The Corees, Mattamuskeets, and Bear River Indians seemed to be the instigators of the project ; but there were several other nations that took part in the massacre. These three na- tions being considered Tuscaroras, on account of the confeder- acy, and the capture of Lawson and his party a little previous to this time by the Tuscaroras, led the colonists to conclude that it was the Tuscaroras who caused the disaster, and to them was directed the feud of the colonists. A little previous to these disorders, it seems tliat there were some white men, as our tradition states, with long coats and wide brimmed hats, visited several nations of the Indians in that neighborhood, and appeared to be ver}' friendly towr"d them, wished them success in everything, and told thePi ihat those settlers who were on the borders of tlieir lands and con- stantly encroaching and committing depredations upon the Indians, were not pf the government, but were merely s(juat- ters, who settled t^erc of their own accord, and if tht)- were cut off, there would be none to avenge them, and were advised to do so. It has always been a question in my mind who those white men wer^, to give such rash advice. Were they Quakers ? But what motive had they in advising, from which so great a disaster was the result ? Or, were tliey men in disguise, from the county of Bath, in which the massacre was committed, to make the Indians believe that they were Quakers, as the two counties were in arms against each other at that time. '■ ,• . . i!:i;i^ f>F TMK IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 63 To coioboratc the tradition above, I would call your atten- tion to part of a letter from President Pollock to Lord Craven, in the year 171 2, who attributes the calamity thus : " Our divisions," says he, " chiefly occasioned by the Quak- ers, and some other ill-disposed persons, have been the cause of all the troubles, for the Indians were informed by some of the traders that thi; people who lived here are only a few vag- abonds, who had run away from other governments and set- tled here of their own accord, without any authority, so that if they were cut off, there would be none to revenge them. This with their seeing our differences rise to such a heighth, that consisting of two counties only, were in arms one against the other, encouraged them to fall upon the county of Bath, ex- pecting it would have nt> assistance from this nor any other of the iMiglish plantations. 'I'iiis is the chief cause that moved the Indians to rise against us, as far as 1 understand." . The Tuscaroras never had the inclination of cutting off the inhabitancc of the pale faces. Nevertheless, they did not al- wa\'s remain idle or unconcerned spectators of the feuds and dissensions that so long jnevailed among the white people, to- ward the red me.i. 'I'he successive and regular encroachmonts on their huntiiig grounds and plantations, which the increase of the European poj^ulation occasioned, had not always been submitted to without murmur. Although they were pleased with the neighbors, from whom the)' had trade for their furs. ' the Inxpiois, without giving them a farthing to remunerate them for their portion of the lands so ceded, or foy the improvements that they had made, and isked if they were to be dri\en in this manner from place to place all the da)s of their existence, ami if that is the way a father should use their children, or brothers should use their brothers, and to keep them living in disap- pointment ; they also alluded to a treaty concluded at I'ovt Stanwix three )'ears before this, where the commissioners of the United States reserved to them land, which read as fol- lows : "Article 2. The Oneida and Tiiscarora Nations shall be se- cured in the possession of the lands on which they are settled." The commissioner then inquired into the merits of the com- plaint of the Tuscaroras, which the Irocjuois affirmed ; the commissioner then said to them, that it is not rij^lit to make a contract, or to grant an\'thing without faith ; it is only honor- able when you adhere to your stipulation. When Rob\-M-t Morris knew that the Tuscaroras were desti- tute of land, he reserved and donated to them two scpiare miles being 1280 acres ; the Senecasalso granted to them one squart- mile being 640 acres, which grant was made at the convention dated above. On the 13th day of March, iSoS, the sachems, chiefs and head men of the Seneca Nation of Indians executed a written indenture of the grant or deed to the Tuscarora Na- tion, of the one square mile of kuul above mentionc-tl, and was duly signed by the sachems, chiefs and head nu-n of the afore- said Indians. On the 2jd da>' of .Septe'uber, 1810. it was en- tered and put on file in the Niagara County Clerk's offici-, on page 56; and was again put on file in the Niagara County Clerk's Office, Lockport, in book of deeds 151, page 168, March . 13. 1879. OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. TI About the )c;ir l8(X), Solomon Lonj^bard and his brother held private council between themselves, consulting how the)' mij^ht obtain more land to make a permanent home for the Tuscaroras and their generation after them, they concluded to repair to North Carolina and see if they could procure any means from that source, whereby they inight obtain more land. In pursu- ance, the Tuscarora Chiefs in council appointed as delegates Solomon Longboard and Sacarrissa, being sachems of the na- tion in the year 1801, and in 1.S02 they effected a lease by the aic of the Legislature of North Carolina, from which accrued $13,722; and in the year 1804, ('cneral Dearborn, then Secre- tary of War, was authorized by Congress to buy land for the Tuscaroras with the said money, by which he bought 4,329 acres of the Holland Land Company, which is now on the south and east side of the three square miles mentioned above, which now constitutes the Tuscarora Preservation. The Tuscarora Nation was once more at peace and in pos- session of lands which they could call their own. m IT %. •M •ii :! ;r '\ ii H if t! 78 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS Tiiscaroras at North Carolina. In tracing the history of the Tuscaroras that migrated to the north and joined themselves with the Iroquois, we would not forget those few who remained with King James Blunt, a Tuscarora Chief, in North Carolina, who liad a tract of land allotted to them on Pamplico river. The smallness of their number disabling them from resisting the attacks of the south- ern Indians, Governor Charles Eden, of North Carolina, and the council, on the 5th day of June, 1718, entered into a treaty, by which the land on Pamplico river was abandoned b}' the Tuscaroras and another tract granted to them, on Roanoke river, in the })resent county of liirtie, in consideration of which they relinquished all claims of any other land in the province, butted and bounded as follows, viz.: Beginning at the mouth of Quitsnoy swamp, running up the said swamp four hundred and 35 poles, to a scrubby oak near the head of the swamp, by a great spring; then north ten degrees east, eight hundred and fifty poles, to a persimmon tree on Raquis swamp; then along the swamp and Pacosin main course north fifty-seven degrees west, two thousand six hundred and forty poles, to a hickory tree on the east side of the Falling Run, or Deep creek, and down the various courses of the said run to Morat- tock ; then down the river to the first station. In the administration of the Governor, Gabriel Johnson, Esq., at a General Assembly held at New Bern on the 15th day of October, 1748, by virtue of an act, this same limit of OF TMK IFiOQUOIS, OK SIX NATIONS. 79 land above was confirmed and assured to James Blunt, Chief of the Tuscarora Natiqp, and the people under his charge, their heirs and successors forever, any law, usage, custom or grant to the contrary notwithstanding. At the time the Tuscaroras migrated to the north. King James Blunt was the Sachem of those that remained, and his successor in ofYice, as we see in an act of the General Assem- bl}' of North Carolina, in the year 1778, was Whitmell Tuff- dick. The last Sachem, or Chief, of that part of the Tusca- roras — Samuel Smith— expired in the year 1802, at which time Sacarrissa and Solomon I>ongboard, both being Sachems of the northern Tuscaroras, migrated the residue of the Tuscaroras from North Carolina to their Reservation in Niagara county. State of New "S'ork, where they were again blended together in one nation. Concerning the land allotted to the Tuscaroras in Birtic — they have leased it several times; and I have selected a few of the laws of North Carolina that arc now in force, concerning the Tuscaroras in that state, namely: "A. 1). 1748, Vol. I, Chapter 43, page 174; by Potter, Taylor and Yancy, I'Lsqs. Anno Regni Georgii 1 1, Vicessinio second. " Gabriel Johnson, F.sq., Governor. "At a general assembly held at New Bern, the fifteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hun- dred and forty-eight. Chaitkk 43. '•An Act for ascertaining the bounds of a certain tract of land formerly laid out by treaty to the use of the Tuscarora Indians, so long as they, or any of them, shall occupy and live upon the same, and to prevent any person or persons taking up lands, or settling within the said bounds, by pretense of any purchase or purchases made, or that shall be made, from the said Indians. ■Y- i li' 11 i I \.:' ,] i 80 LEGENDS, TRAiaTIONS AND LAWS I t " I. Whereas, complaints arc made by the Tuscarora Indi- ans, of divers encroachments made by the English on their lands, and it being but just that the ancient inhabitants of this Province shall have and enjoy a quiet and convenient dwelling place in this their native country, wherefore, " lumuds of the Indians lands confirmed, — 2. We praj- that it may be enacted, and be it enacted by His Excellency Gabriel Johnson, Esquire, Governor, by and with the advice and con- sent of his majesty's council, and general assembly of this province, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same that the lands formerly allotted the Tuscarora Indians by sol- emn treaty, lying on Morattock river, in Birtie county, being the same whereon they now dwell. Butted and bounded as follows, viz : Beginning at the mouth of Quitsnoy Swamp, running up the said swamp four hundred and thirty-five poles, to a scrubby oak, near the head of the swamp, by a great spring; thence north ten degrees cast, eight hundred and fifty poles, to a persimmon tree, on Racjuis swamp ; thence along the swamp, and Pacosin main course, north fifty-seven degrees west, two thousand six hundred and forty poles, to a hickory on the east side of the falling run or deep creek, and down the various courses of the said run to Morattock river, then down the river to the first station ; shall be confirmed and assured ; and by virtue of this act, is confirmed and assured, to James Blunt, chief of the Tuscarora Nation, and the people under his charge, their heirs and successors, forever, any law, usage, custom, or grant, to the contrary, notwithstanding. ^^ Persons having grants to enter on desertion of the Indians. — 3. Provided, always, Tliat it shall and may be lawful for any person or persons that have formerly obtained any grant or grants, under the Lord's proprietors, for any tract or parcels of lands within the aforesaid boundaries, upon the said Indians deserting or leaving the said lands, to enter, occupy and enjoy the same according to the tenor of their several grants. I , OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. Si •' ImiuxHS not to pay qnitrciits. — 4. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That it shall not nor may be law- ful for the Lord Granville's receiver to ask, have or demand any quitrents for any of the said tracts or parcels of land taken up within the said Indian boundaries, as aforesaid, until such time when the Indians have deserted the same and the patentee be in possession thereof, and only for such rents as shall from thence arise and become due, any law, usage or custom to the contrary notwithstanding. " Penalty on persons purchasing lands of the Indians. — 5. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That no per- son, for any consideration whatsoever, shall purchase? or buy any tract or parcel of land claimed or in possession of any Indian or Indians, but all such bargains and sales shall be, and are hereby declared to be null and void, and of no effect; and the person so purchasing or buying any land of any Indian or Indians shall further forfeit the sum of ten pounds, proclama- tion money, for every hundred acres by him purchased and bought, one-half to the use of the public, the other half to him or them that shall sue for the same, to be recovered by action of debt, bill, plaint or information, in any court of record within this Ciovernmcnt, wherein no possession, pro- tection, injunction or wager of law shall be allowed or ad- mitted of. " Persons settled on the Indian 'lands to remove, and no others to settle there under a penalty. — 6. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That all and every person and per- sons, other than the said Indians who are now dwelling on any of the lands within the bounds above mentioned to have been allotted, laid out and prescribed to the said Tuscarora Indians, shall, on or before the twenty-fifth day of March next ensuing the ratification of this act, remove him or herself and family off the said lands, under the penalty of twenty pounds, procla- mation money; and if any shall neglect or refuse to move him (10) \ I:;'-- i^ 62 le(;ends, traditions and laws Uii'l or herself and family off the said lands, on or before the said twenty-fifth day of March next, and if any person or pt sons, other than the said Indians, shall hereafter presume to settle, inhabit or occupy any of the said lands hereby allotted and assigned for the said Tuscarora Indians, such person or persons shall forfeit the further penalty of twenty shillings, proclama- tion money, for each and every day he, she or they shall inhabit or occupy any lands within the said Indian bounds after the said twenty-fifth day of March next, the said penalties to be recovered and applied in the same manner as th» penalty in this act above mentioned. " Sttrviyors fee for laying out the Indians lands. — 7. And whereas, The said lands belonging to the said Tuscarora In- dians have been lately laid out and newly marked by George Goulde, Esq., Surveyor General, at the request of the said In- dians ; therefore, be it enacted, that the said George Goulde, Esq., have and receive for the trouble and expense he hath been at in laying out and marking the Indians' lands aforesaid, the sum of twenty-five jwunds, proclamation money, to be paid by the public, out of moneys in the public treasury. '■'Penalty of persons rani:;ini^ stoek on i/ie Indians' lands. -Z. And whereas, the Indians complain of injuries received from people driving stock, horses, cattle and hogs, to range on their lands, for remedy thereof, Re it enacted. That persons driving stock to range, or stock actually ranging on the Indi- ans' lands, shall, and are hereby declared, to be liable and sub- ject to the like penalties and forfeitures, and may be proceed- ed against in the same manner, and subject to the same recov- eries, as by the law of this province stock driven or ranging upon any white people's lane' are liable and subject to , and the said Indians shall and may enjoy the benefit of the laws in that case made and provided, in the same manner as the \vhite people do or can. any law, usage, or custom, to the coH' traiy notwithstanding. OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS, 83 LAWS OF NORTH CAROLINA, A. D. 1878, CHAPTER 1 36, PAGE 359, VOL. I, UV POTTER, TAYLOR & VAXCEV. "An Act for quieting and securing the Tuscarora Indians, and others claiming under the Tuscaroras, in the possession of their lands. "■Indian lands secured to t/ie Indians. — i. \\c it enacted, &c., That Whitniell Tuffdeck, Chief or head man of the Tuscarora nation, and the Tuscarora Indians now living in the county of Birtie, shall have, hold, occupy, possess and enjoy, all the lands lying in the county of Birtie aforesaid, whereof they are now .sei/.ed and possessed, (being part of the lands heretofore alotted to the Indii^ aforesaid by solemn treaty, and con- firmed to them and their successors by act of assembly, in the year one thousai^d seven hundred and forty-eight,) without let, molestation or hindrance, clear of all quit-rents, or any public demands by way of tax whatever, to them the said Tuscarora Indians, and their heirs and successors ; and that they, the said Tuscaroras, and their heirs and successors, shall forever be clear and exempt from every kind of poll-tax. " No purchases to be made of the Indians, nor their lands culti- vated. — 2. And whereas, the said Tuscarora Indians, by nature ignorant, and strongly addicted to drinking, may be easily im- posed on by designing persons, and unwarily deprived of tiicir said lands ; Be it enacted, That no person, for any considera- tion whatever, shall hereafter purchase, buy or lease, any tract or parcel of land now claimed by, or in possession of the said Tuscarora Indians, or any of theirs; nor shall any person set- tle on or cultivate the said lands, or any part thereof. In his own right, or under pretence as acting as overseer" for the In- dians ; and if any person shall hereafter purchase, buy or lease lands of the said Indians, or settle on or cultivate any }>art thereof in his own right or as overseer for the Indians, all such purchases, sales, leases or agicmin'. shall be and they are hereby declared null and void ; and the person so purchasing 'V ♦•<^'">. , -..'^TKi.-; .-•xy^j.'T ; ^iff.-/i«,- ■^.- --•-». y l! . 84 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS , I -^ ' ' buying or leasing, settling on or cultivating such lands, or any part thereof, shall forfeit and pay the sum of three hundred pounds current money for every hundred acres by him so pur- chased, bought or leased, settled on or cultivated as aforesaid, one-half to the use of the Tuscarora Indians, the other to the use of him or her who shall sue for the same ; to be recovered by action of debt, bill, plaint or information in any court having cognizance thereof. Provided that the said Tuscarora Indians may sell or dispose of their lands or any part thereof, with the consent of the general assembly first had aiid obtained. '' Former purchases from the Indians, under the sanction of the Assembly, secured. — ^3. And whereas, the chieftains and head men of the Tuscarora Indians, living in iSie cmint)', diil, on the twelfth da)^ of July, in tlle )ear one thousand seven hundred and sixty-six, for the consideration of llflecn hundred pounds to them paid bj- Robert Jones. Jun.. William Williams and Thomas Pugh, by indenlur.- under their hands and seals, de- mise, grant and to farm let, unl(. the saiti Robert Jones, Wil- liam Williams and Thomas Pugh. a certain tract of laml I) ing in the count}' aforesaid, containing about eight thousand .acres, more or less, bounded as follows, to-wit : beginning at the mouth of Deep creek, otherwise c.illctl hailing Run; thence running up the said cre-ek to tlie Indian head line; thence b)' the saiil line south sexcnteen degrefs e.ist, t\vei\(,' hundred and eighty jioles ; thence on ;i course parallel with the gineral current of the said creek lo the Roanoke river; ;ind then up the river to the beginning, together with the .appurtenances thereto belonging, to be held .and enjoyed hv the s.iid Robert Jones, William Williams and Thomas Pugh, their evet ulois, administrators and .assigns, in se\-(M-,ilty. fi-r and iluring the term of one hundred and lift\' \'ears, as ina\' nnjre fully .ippear by the said indenture, registered in the county ol Piitie afore- said and ratified by act of Assemhiv, passeil at Newbern, in the year one thousand seven hundred wxwX sixty-six : I^e it en- acteil. That e.icli and every of the p' rsons entitled to claims .r -. f V - - 7" 1^- ■ i'-.-:T, OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 85 under the demise aforementioned, or by grants from the per- sons claiming under the same, or either of them, and their heirs and assigns, shall and may have, hold, occupy, possess and enjoy the several shares, dividends or parcels of the said land to them belonging, in as full, free and absolute manner, and with the same legal privileges and advantages in every respect, and subject to the same taxes as if the said land had been (originally granted to the said Robert Jones, William Williams and Thomas Pugh by Lord Granville or by this State. " Regulations in regard to former demises. — 4. And whereas, the said Tuscarora Indians, for good and suflficient reasons, and for valuable consideration, have, since the twelfth day of July, one thousand seven hundred and sixty-six, and previous to the first day of December last, demised, granted and to -farm let sundry tracts or parcels of land lying in said county of Birtie to sundry persons, as by indentures duly executed may more fully appear; He it enacted, That all the land contained in the last mentioned demises, if the said demises were fairly, bona fide and without fraud, made by and obtained from the said Tuscarora Indians since the year one thousand seven hun- dred and sixty-six, and previous to the first day of December last past, shall not be deemed vacant lands, or be liable to be entered as such in the Laiul Office, unless the General Assem- bly shall hereafter so direct, but nevertheless shall be subject to the same taxes as other lands in this .State are liable to. " Method of trial for demises alleged to have been unfairly obtained. ',. And whereas, it is suggested by the Tuscarora Indians, that unfair dealings have been used in obtaining one or more of the demises iforementioned, and that they, the said Indians have at present no mode of obtaining redress in such cases. Be it therefore enacted, that the commissioners herein mentioned or a majority of them, shall and may, upon complaint of the said Tuscarora Indians, in court or meeting assembled, that a persoi. or persons has or have unfairly or iS ^-^, 86 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS th n 1 1' ■'& 111 \\ i fraudulently obtained any grant or demise for lands to them belonging since the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty-six, and previous to the first day of December last, sum- mon the person or persons so complained against, or cause him or them to be summoned to appear before them on a certain day on the land in dispute (giving at best ten days' notice pre- vious to the day in such summons appointed), then and there to answer the complaint of the Indians for having fraudulently or unfairly obtained a grant or demise of the land in question; and shall also summon, or cause to be summoned, a jury of twelve men, being freeholders in the county of Hirtie and not resident on or owners of any lands purchased of the said Tus- carora Indians; and the said commissioners, or a majority of them, shall attend at the time and place appointed, with the jury aforesaid, and having first sworn the jury to try and deter- mine fairly between the said Indians and the person or persons complained against, shall and may cause witnesses to be exam- ined on both sides, receive the verdict of the jury and return the same, with the panel, to the next County Court of the said county of Birtie, to be entered upon the record; and such ver- dict shall be as good and effectual as if obtained in any court of record ; and if the same be general the said commissioners, or a majority of them, shall and may appoint one or more per- sons to carry the same into execution ; but if special, then the court shall decide thereon, and cause the Sherifi of the county to carry such decision into execution. *' Commissioners for Indian affairs. — 6. And whereas the said Indians are often injured by horses, catth and hogs, driven on their lands by white people, the said horses, cattle and hogs breaking into the enclosure and distjoying their corn and other effects, and are also frequently deprived of their property, and abuses by ill disposed persons ; for remedy whereof, and also for recovery of suits or demands now due, or which may hereafter become due and owing to the said Tuscarora Indians; Be it enacted, that William Williams, Thomas I'ugh, Willie ;*; '^ :!'V OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 87 Jones, Simon Turner and Zedekiah Stone, be, and they are hereby appointed commissioners for the said Indians, and they, or any three of them, shall and may inquire into the com- plaints made by the said Indians, summon the persons com- plained against, before them, and award such restitution and redress as to them shall seem just and necessary ; and may ap- point an Officer or Officers to serve subpcena as, and to exe- cute such awards and determinations as they shall or may make in regard of the premises ; and the court of said county of Bir- tie, is hereby authorized and required to fill up, from time to time, by new appointments any vacancies which may happen among the commissioners by death or resignations ; and upon complaint of the chiefs or head men of the nation, and the rest of the Indians, in court or meeting properly assembled, against any of the commissioners for misbehavior, may inquire into the conduct of the person or persons complained against, re- move him or them if necessary, and appoint another or others in his or their stead. " Reversion of Indian lands. — 7. And be it further enacted, that the lands leased by the said Tuscarora Inc^ians to Robert Jones, Jr., William Williams and Thomas Pugh, and to other persons, shall revert and become the property of the State, at the expiration of the terms of the several leases mentioned, if the said nation be extinct ; and the lands now belonging to, and possessed by the said Tuscaroras, shall revert to and be- come the property of the State, whenever the said nation shall become extinct, or shall entirely abandon or remove them- selves off the said lands, and every part thereof. Provided, that no person shall have any preference of entry to any of the said lands by virtue of any lease or occupancy whatever, since December, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six, whenever the general assembly shall declare the said lands to be vacant. Read three times and ratified in general assembly, the 2d day of May, A. D. 1778. Signed by Whitmtll Hill, S. S. Thomas BENiiURV, S. C. ^r-TT '*■ " ITT.—../ . >.-*'f fell u 88 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS LAWS OF NORTH CAROLINA, A. D. 1780, ( HAI'TKR 167, PAGE 406, VOL. I, BY POTTER, TAYLOR & YANCEY. " An Act to amend an act, entitled an act for quieting and se- curing the Tuscarora Indians, and others claiming under the Tuscaroras, in the possession of their lands. " I. Whereas, By the said act there is no penalty imposed on the jurors or witnesses duly summoned, and failing to attend. " Attendance of Jurors. — 2, Be it enacted, &c.. That the com- missioners by the said act appointed, or any three of them, assembled for the purpose of holding a court, shall, and may inflict fines on jurors or witnesses so failing to attend, not ex- ceeding one hundred pounds, at their discretion ; and unless sufficient excuse be to them afterwards shown, cause the same to be levied and applied towards defraying the county expens- es of Birtie ; and witnesses and jurors who shall attend on the trial of any dispute between the said Tuscaroras and others, shall have and receive ten dollars per day for their attendance, to be paid by the party cost with all other cost ; and such trials may hereafter be had on the part of the lands belonging to said Tuscaroras, Birtie County, which commissioners shall direct. Read three times and ratified in general assembly, the loth day of May, A. D. 1780. Signed by Ai.F.x. Martin, S. S. Thomas Bkmu'ry. S. C. LAWS OF NORTH CAROLINA, A. D. l8oi, (HAI'ILK 608, 1'A(;K 965, VOL. 2, l!V POTTER, TAVlnR & VAN( KY. " James Turner, Esq., Governor. " At the gc'neral assembly begun and held at Raleigh, on the fifteenth day of November, in the year of our lord one OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 89 thousand eight hundred and two, and in the thirty-seventh year of the independence of said State. " An Act for the relief of the Tuscarora Nation of Indians. "Whereas, the Indians composing the Tuscarora nation, have, by their chief Sacarrissa, and others, regularly deputed and au- thorized, requested the concurrence of the general assembly of this State, to enable them to lease or demise, for a number of years, the residue of their lands situated in the county of Birtie, in such a manner that the whole of the said leases shall terminate at the same period. " Chiefs authorized to lease their lands, — i. Be it enacted, &c.. That the said chiefs Sacarrissa, Longboard and Samuel Smith, or a majority of them, be and they are hereby authorized to lease and to farm let the undemised residue of the lands allot- ted to the Tuscarora Nation in Birtie County, for a term of years that shall expire and end when the lease made by the Tuscarora Nation to P.obert Jones and others, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-six, shall end and expire ; and also extend the term or terms of the leases already made or granted for a shorter term, to a term or terms which shall expire at the same time with the said lease made in the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty-six, in such parcels and on such rents and conditions as may be approved by the commissioners appointed in pur- suance of this act, and which may best promote the intcrcbt and convenience of the said Indian nation. *' And, whereas, some difficulties have arisen respecting the receipt and payment on the rents of some of the present leases. " I'o make altiVatioiis witJi rispcct to roils. ?.. Be it further enacted. That the said chiefs, or a majority of them, be, and they are hereby authorized to make such alterations, by cove- nant and agreement, respecting the payment and receipt of any rents due, or that may become due on any of the existing 90 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS leases, as the commissioners appointed in pursuance of this act, or a majority of them shall approve. •' Whereas, the said Indian chiefs are ignorant of the usual forms of business, and may want advice and assistance in transacting the business respecting their lands, for remedy whereof and to prevent their being injured. " Got'crnor to appoint three commissioners to carry this act into effect. — 3. Be it further enacted. That the Governor shall ap- point three commissioners for the purpose of carrying the pro- visions of this act into effect ; and no lease, grant, demise, covenant or agreement made by the said Indian chiefs as afore- said, respecting said lands, or the rents thereof, shall be good or valid in law, unless the same shall be approved by the said commissioners, or a majority of them, and such approbation shall be expressed in writing and annexed or endorsed on such lease, covenant or agreement, and registered in the Register's Office in the county of Birtie, together with said lease or agreement ; and the said commissioners shall receive the sum of twenty shillings per day for their compensation and expens- es, to be paid out of the monies received by the said chiefs on leasing said lands. " Possessions of the tenants to be deemed the possessions of the Tnscarora Indians. — 4. And be it further enacted. That the occupaucy and possession of the tenants under the said lease, heretofore confirmed by act or acts of the general assembly, and such leases as may be made under this act, shall be held and deemed in all cases whatsoever, the occupancy and possession of the said Tuscarora Nation, to all intents tind pur- poses, as if said nation, or the Indians thereof, or any of them, actually resided on said lands. " Whereas, The said chiefs, Sacarrissa, Longboard, and Sam- uel Smith, being duly and freely authorized and empowered by the said Tuscarora Nation, have consented that the Indians' claim to the use, possession, and occupancy of said lands shall cease and be extinguished, when the said lease made in the ; I OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 91 year one thousand seven hundred seventy-six, %o Robert Jones and others, shall expire. " T/ie land to revert to the state. — 5. Be it enacted, That from and after the twelfth day of July, which shall be in the year One Thousand nine and sixteen, the whole of the lands alloted to the said Tuscarora Indians, by act of General Assembly passed at Newbern, on the fifteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One Thousand seven hundred and forty eight, shall revert to, and become the property of the state, and the claim thereto, from that time, be held, and deemed forever ex- tinguished. " 1/ any 0/ the lands be vacant it is not to be entered but by an express aet. — 6. And be further enacted, After the said lands shall revert to the State, if the same or any part thereto, shall be vacant, the same shall not be liable to the entry or entries of any person or persons, without an express act of the legisla- tion to that effect ; Provided always, That it shall not be law- ful for any person or persons to make any entry or entries on the said lands, after the passing of this act. Provided always, That nothing in this act contained shall be construed so as to effect the title of any individual; Piovided nevertheless. That no lot or parcel of lands laid off under the direction of said com- missioners, shall exceed two hundred acres ; And Provided further, That no lease shall be made but by public auction, of which due notice shall be given in the Halifax and Edenton newspapers." 1 ACTS OF ASSKMl'.I.V FROM 1821 TO 1825, PACK I3, CIIArTF.R 13, STATK I.IISRARV. 1 " An act concerning the lands held under leases from the Tus- carora tribe of Indians. " Whereas it is represented to this General Assembly, in be- half of persons, holding lands under leases for a long term of 92 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS tl '.) J ;i rM W:% years from the Tuscarora tribe of Indians, that they arc sub- ject to great inconveniences from their estates being mere cat- tle interest : For remedy whereof, " Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same. > " That the estates in lands now held by certain individuals, under leases for a term of years from the Tuscarora tribe of Indians, made in pursuance of certain acts of the General As- sembly of this State, shall be hereafter considered real estate ; shall decend to, and be devided among the heirs of any intes- tate, subject to dower and tenancy by courtesy, and other in- cidents to real estate, and its liabilitiy to execution, and its conveyance and devise, shall be governed by the same rules as are now prescribed in the case of real estate held in fee simple ; Provided that nothing herein contained, shall be so construed as to give to the individuals holding the said term of years, a right to enjoy the same for a longer period than is designated in the leases executed by the Tuscarora Indians, in pursurance of acts of the General Assembly of this state, nor as to give to said individuals any right which by the constitution of this state, is exclusively confirmed to the freeholders. 1': t ! LAWS OF NORTH CAROLINA FROM 1827 TO 183I, I'AOE II, VOL. I, CHAPTER XIX, IN STATE LIBRARY. ACT OF NOV. 17TII, 1S28. " An act concerning the lands formerly occupied by the Tusca- rora tribe of Indians lying in Bertie County, on the north side of Roanoke river. "Whereas the Tuscarora Indians have for more than a cen- tury been the firm and undividing friends of the white people of this country, insomuch that the people of North Carolina not only render to them full and complete Justice, but also to .i!4«e;v>R?j«>#t«aw^*is*«t ■ OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 93 exercise towards them that spirit of generosity ivhich their conduct has mcrrited : Therefore, " i. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina, and is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, that William R. Smith of Halifax, Simon J. Barker, of Martin and William Brittin of Bertie, be, and they are hereby appointed commissioners for the purpose of advertising and selling in manner hereinafter directed, the above named tract of land bounded as follows, to wit: beginning at the mouth oi Quitsnoy swamp ; running up the swamp 430 poles to a scrub- by oak, near the head of said swamp by a great spring ; thence north TO degrees cast 850 poles, to a persimmon tree, on Raquis Swamp ; thence along the swamp and Pocasin main course nor*^'i 57 degrees west 2,640 poles, to a hickory on the east side of Falling Run on Deep Creek, and down the various courses of said Run to Roanoke River ; then down the river to the first station. " II. And be it further enacted. That the title so to be sold by said commissioners shall be understood to extend only to the reversion of the State in said lands after the expiration of the lease from the Indians, under which they arc now held, and after the ratification of this act, and notice thereof to the commissioners, it shall be their duty to proceed forthwith to advertise in the newspapers most convenient to the premises, and also in five of the most public places in the counties of Bertie, Halifax and Martin, including the court houses in said counties, that a sale of said lands, according to the provisions of this act, will take place on Tuesday of the ensuing March term of the Superior Court of Birtie county, that is, on the 17th day of March next ; and it shall be the duty of the said commissioners to attend to the aforesaid time and place, and offer in the court house yard, at public sale to the highest bid- der, the said lands, according to advertisement, subject howev- er to the lease aforesaid, and the commissioners shall have pow- er to continue or postpone the sale from day to day until the i'}:.^ 1 idSteiMHiiB o '.^ ■M ■>>. lOO LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS 9i ' I X, f - made for their benefit, or, having agreed, shall neglect or refuse to remove from New York, and settle on the said lantls, within the time prescribed for that purpose, that then, and in either of these events, the lands aforesaid shall be and remain in the property of the United States, according to the said first arti- cle, excepting so much thereof as the President shall deem justly due to such of the New York Indians as shall actually have removed to and settled on the said lands. " Second, It is further agreed that the part of the Sixth Ar- ticle of the agreement aforesaid, which recjuires the removal of those of the New York Indians who may not be settled on the lands at the end of three years, shall be so amended as to leave such removal discretionary with the President of the United States ; the Menomonee Indians having full confidence that in making his decision he will take into consideration the welfare and prosperity of their nation ; J'rovided, That for the pur- pose of establishing the rights of the New York Indians upon a permanent and just footing, Uie said treaty shall be ratified with the express understanding that two townships of land, "&c. which goes on and locates the different i)ortion of lands to the several tribes or bands of the New York Indians which was proclaimed, July 9, 1832, " Whereas articles of agreement between the United States of America, and the Menomonee Indians, were made aud con- cluded at the city of Washington, on the 8th day of Februa- ry A. D. 1 83 1, by John II, Eaton, and Samuel C. Stambaugh, commissioners on the part of the United States, and certain Chiefs and headmen of the Menomonee nation, on the part of the said nation ; to which articles an addition or supplemental article was afterwards made, on the 17th day of February, in the same year, by which the said Menomonee nation agree to cede to the United States certain parts of their lands : and that a tract of couiitry therein defined, shall be set ai)art for the New York Indians ; all which, with the many other stip- ulations therein contained, will more fully appear by reference ■;;i >:*■ ■-.'"■-..i'^v .:■•■..: OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. lOI to the same. When said agreement thus forming a treaty, were laid before the Senate of the United States, during their then session, but were not at said session acted on by that body. Whereupon a further agreement was on the fifteenth day of March, in t'le same year, entered into for the purpose of preserving the provisions of the treaty made as aforesaid ; by which it is stipulated that the said articles of agreement concluded as aforesaid, should be laid before the next Senate of the United States at their ensuing session, and if sanction- ed and confirmed by them, that each and every article threof should be as binding and obligatory upon the parties respect- ively as if they had been sanctioned at the previous session ; and whereas. The Senate of the United States, by their reso- lution of the twenty fifth day of June, 1832, did advise and consent to accept, ratify, and confirm the same, and every clause and article thereof, upon the conditions expressed in the proviso contained in their said resolution, which proviso is as follows : Provided, That for the purpose of establishing the right of the New York Indians on a permanent and just foot- ing, the said treaty shall be ratified, with the express under- standing that two townships of land, &c.," as in article second above. " Whereas, Ik^fore the treaty aforesaid, conditionally ratified, according to the proviso to the said resolution of the Senate, above recited, could be obligatory upon the said Menomomee nation, their assent to the same must be h-'d and obtained." Which was done after some modifications respecting the loca- tion of the portion of land for the New York Indians. And as the modifications so made and desired, was acceded to also by the New York Indians, which was as follows : .. ■ '' To all to wiiom these presents shall come, the undersigned chiefs and head men of: the sundry tribes of the New York In- dians (as set forth in the specifications annexed to their signa- tures), send greeting : '* Whereas, a tedious, perplexing and harassing dispute and § < . :■ " !''' 102 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS i i controversy have long existed between the Menomonee Nation of Indians and the New York Indians, more particularly those known as the Stockbridge, Munsee and Brothertown tribes, the Six Nations and the St. Regis tribe. The treaty made be- tween the said Menomonee Nation and the United States, and the conditional ratification thereof by the Senatt of the United States being stated and set forth in the within agree- ment, entered into between the chiefs and head men of the said Menomonee, and George B. Porter, Governor of Michigan, commissioners specially appointed, with instructions referred to in the said agreement. "And whereas, the undersigned are satisfied and believe that the best efforts of the said commissioners were directed and used to procure, if practicable, the unconditional assent of the said Menomonees to the change proposed by the Senate of the United States in the ratification of the said treaty, but without success. "And whereas, the undersigned, further believe that the terms stated in the within agreement are the best practicable terms short of those proposed by the Senate of the United States, which could be obtained from the said Menomonees ; and being asked to signify our acceptance of the modifications preposed, as aforesaid, by the Menomonees, we arc compelled by a sense of duty and propriety to say that we do hereby ac- cept of the same. So far as the tribes to which we belong are concerned, we are perfectly satisfied that the treaty should be ratified on the terms proposed by the Menomonees. We fur- ther believe that the tract of land which the Menomonees in the within agreement are willing to cede, in exchange for an equal quantity on the northeast side of the tract of five hun- dred thousand acres, contains a sufficient quantity of good land, favorably and advantageously situated, to answer all the wants of the New York Indians and St. Regis tribe. For the pur- pose, then, of putting an end to strife, and that we may sit down in peace and harmony, we thus signify by our acceptance .„.l»...i,. .■!;u;;. X\' .^ ... 1 - .J, . .;. ■-.X w^ tt OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIQNS. 103 of the modifications proposed by the Menomonees ; and we most respectfully request that the treaty as now modified by the agreement this day entered into with the Menomonees, may be ratified and approved by the President and Senate of the United States. "Proclaimed March 13th, 1835." .fi' ii<9* 2' m 'i. * I V - 104 LEGENDS, TRiVDITIONS AND LAWS Treaties of New York Indians. Treaty with the New York Indians as amended by the "Sen- ate, and assented to by the several Tribes 1838. Articles of a treaty made and conchided at l?uffalo Creek, in the State of New York, the fifteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight luindred and thirty-eight, by Ransom II. Gillett, a commissi(^ner on the part or the Uni- ted States, and the chiefs, head men and warriors of the several tribes of the New York Indians, assembled in council ; witnes- seth ; " Whereas, The Six Nations of New York Indians, not long after the close of the war of the Revolution, became convinced, from the rapid increase of the white settlers around, that the time was not far distant when their true interest must lead them to seek a new home among their brethren in the West ; and, •' Whereas, This subject was agitated in a general council of the Six Nations as early as 1810, and resulted in sending a me- morial to the President of the United States, inquiring wheth- er the Go /ernmcnt would consent to their leaving their habi- tations, and removing into the ncighl)orhood of their western brethren Tnd if they could procure a home there, l)y gift 01 purchase, whether the Ciovernnient woidd acknow ledgt..' Iheir title to the lands so obtained in the same manner it had ac- knowledged it in those from whom they might receive it ; and further, whether the existing treaties would in such a case re- main in full force, and their annuities be paid as heretofore ; and, ii. ■, OF Till'; IROQUOIS, OK SIX NATIONS. 105 " Whereas, With the approbation of the President of the United States, purchases were made by the New York Indians from the Menomoni:es and Winnebago Indians of certain lands at Green Bay, in the Territory of Wisconsin, which, after much difficulty and contention with those Indians concerning the extent of the purchase, the whole subject was finally set- tled by a treaty between the United States and the Menomo- nee Indians, concluded in February, 183T, to which the New York Indians gave their assent on the seventeenth day of Oc- tober, 1832 ; and " Whereas, By a provision of that treaty, five hundred thou- sand acres of land are secured to the New York Indians of the Six Nations and the St. Regis tribe, as a future home, on the condition that they ui remove to the same within three years, or such reasonable time as the President shall prescribe ; and " .Whereas, The President is satisfied that various consider- ations have prevented those still residing in New York from rcinoving to Green Bay, and among other reasons, that many who were in favor of emigration preferred to remove at once to the Indian Territory, which they were fully persuaded was the only permaneiU and peaceable home for all the Indians. And they therefore applied to take their Green Bay lands and provide them a new home among their brethren in the Indian Territory ; and " Whereas, The President, being anxious to promote the peace, prosperity and happiness of his red children, and deter- mined to carry out the humane policy of the Government in removing the Indians from the east to the west of the Missis- sippi, within the Indian Territory, by britiging them to see and feel, by his justice r-ul liberality, that it is their true policy antl for their interest to do so without delay ; " Therefore, Taking into consideration the foregoing premi- ses, the following articles of a treaty are entered into, between the United States of America and the several tribes of the New York Iiulians, the natnes of whose chiefs, head men and (■3) io6 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS ■- warriors arc hereto subscribed, and those who may hereafter give their assent to this treaty in writing witliin'snch time as the President shall appoint." CIENEKAI, I'knVlSIoNS. "Article i. The several tribes of the New Ywrk Indians, the names of whose chiefs, head men, warriors and representatives are hereunto anncxxd, in consideration of the premises above recited, and the covenants hereinafter contained, to be perform- ed on t!ic part of the United States, hereby cede and relinquish to the United States all their right, title and interest, in the lands secured to them at Green IJay by the hicnomoncc treaty of 1831, except the following tract on which a part of the New York Indians now reside : Beginning at the southwesterly corner of the French grants at Green Bay, and running thence southwardly to a point and line to be run from the little Coca- lin, parallel to a lino of the French grants, and six miles from Fox river ; from thence, on said parallel line, northwardly six mill's ; from thence ca: twjirdly to a point on the northeast line of the Indian lands, and being a right angle to the same. "Article 2. In consideration of the above cession and relin- . quishment on the part of the tribes of the New York Indians, and in order to manifest the deep interest of the United States in the future peace and prosperity of the New York Indians, the United States agree to set apart the following tract of country, situated' directly west of the State of Missouri, as a permanent home for the New York Indians iiow residing in the State of New York, or in Wisconsin, or elsewhere in the Ignited States, who have no permanent homes; which .said eouutr)' is descril)etl as follows: Beginning on IIil' wis! line of ihe .Stale of Missouri, at the northeast corner of the Cherokee ti'.ict, and running thence north alonv the west linr of the State of i\Iiv souri, twenty-sevei miles to the soutlu'ily line of the .Missouri lands ; thence west .so far as shall be neevssary, by ruiiniu;.'; a line at right angles and ]).uallel to the west line alole.^.lid. lo .OV THE IROQUOIS, OK SIX NATIONS. 107 the Osage lands ; and thence easterly ajong the Osage and Cherokee lands to the place of beginning ; to include one mil- lion eight hundred and twenty-four thousand acres of land, be- ing three hundred and twenty acres for each soul of said Indians, as their numbers are at present computed. To have and holcl the same, in fee simple, to the said tribes or nations of Indians, by patent from the President of the United States, issued in conformity with the third section of the act entitled, 'An act to provide for an exchange of lands with the Indians residing in any of the States or Territories, and for their remov- al west of the Mississippi,' approved on the 28th day of May, 1S30, with full power and authority in the said Indians to divitle said lands among the different tribes, nations or bands in severalty, with the right to sell and convey to and from cacft other, under such laws and regulations as may be adopted b\' the respective tribes, acti'\g by themselves or by a general council of the said New YcM-k Indians, acting for all the tribes cffllcciivel)-. It is understood and agreed that the above de- scribed country is inler.ded as a future home for the following tribes, to-wit.: The Senecas, Onondagas, Cayugas, Tuscaroras, Oneidas, St. Regis, Stockbridges, Munsc^s and l^rothertowns, residing in the St'ite of New York ; and the same is to be ii- vided ecpially among them according to their respective num- bers, as mentioned in a schedule hereunto annexed. " Article 3. It is further agreed that such of the tribes of the New York Indians as do not accept and agree to remove to the country .set apart for their new homes, within five years, or such other time as the President may from time to time ap- point, shall forfeit all interest in the lands so .set apart, to the United States. "Article' 4. Perpetual peace and friendship shall exist be- tween the United States and the New York Indians; and the United States hereby guarantee to protect and defend them in the [leaceable possession and enjoyment of their new home, and liereby secure to them, in said country, the right to cstab- ■•Ks^',*-*!^.^-^'?^^- ■'! Ill 'J 1 08 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS. lish their own form of government, appoint their own officers, and administer their own laws; subject, however, to the Icgis- lation of the United States, reguUtting trade and intercourse with the Indians. The lands secured to them by patent under this treaty shall never be included in any state or territory of this Union. The said Indians shall also bo entitled' in all re- spects to the same political and civil rights and i)riviUgcs that are granted and secured by the United States to any of the several tribes of emigrant Indians settled in the Indian Ter- ritory. "Article 5. The Oneidas are to have their lands in the In- dian Territory, in the tract set apart for the New York Indians, adjoining the Osage tract, and that hereinafter set apart for ^he Scnecu;; ; and the same shall be so laid off as to secure them a sufificient quantity of timber for their use. Those tribes whose lands are not specially designated in this treaty are to have such as shall be set apart by the I'resiilent. "Article 6. It is further agreed that the United States will pay to those who remove west, at their new homes, all such annuities as shall properly belong to them. The schedule hereunto annexed shall be deemed and taken as a part of this treaty. "Article 7. It is expressly understood and agreed that the treaty must be approved by the President and ratified and con- firmed by the Senate of tl\,e United States, befcie it shall be binding upon the parties to it. It is further expressly understood and agreed that the rejec- tion, by the President and Senate, of the provisions thereof, applicable to one tribe or distant branch of a tribe shall not be construed to invalidate as to others ; but as to them, it shall be binding and remain in full force and effect. Article 8. It is stipulated and agreed that the accounts of the commissioner and expenses incurred by him in holding a council with the New York Indians, and concluding treaties at Green Bay and Duck Creek in VViscon.sin, and in the State Ul'- TIIK IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 109 of New York in 1836, and those for the exploring party of the present treaty, sliall be allowed and settled according to former precedents. srEci.M. I'KovisioNS ioR Till; ST. Ri;(;is. "Article 9. It is agreed with the American party of the St. Regis Indians, that the United States will pay to the said tribe, on their removal west, or at such time as the President shall appoint, the sum of five thousand dollars, as a remunera- tion for moneys laid out by the said tribe and services render- ed by their chiefs and agents in securing the tit/e to the Green liay lands ; and in removal to the same, to be apportioned out to the .several claimants by the chiefs of the said party, and a United States commissioner, as may be deemed by them ecjuitable and just. It is further agreed that the following res- ervation of land shall be made to the Rev. Elcazar Williams of said tribe, which he claims in his own right and that of his wife, which he is to hold in fee simple by patent from the Pres- ident, with full power and authority to sell and dispose of the same, to-wit: Beginning at a i)oint in the west bank of the l'\)x River, thirteen chains above the old mill-tlam at the rap- ids (^f the little Kockalin ; thence north fifty-two degrees and thirty minutes west, two hundred aiul forty chain.s ; thence north thirty-seven degrees and thirty minutes east, two hun- dred ch;.ins ; thence south fifty-two deg^recs and thirty minutes east, two hundred and forty chains to the bank of the Fon river ; thence up al(-)i)g the bank of the Fo.v river to the place of beginning. Sl'F.dAI. rUOVISK'N FOR THE SENEC.XS. "Article 10. It is igrecd with the Senccas that they shall have for themselves and their friends the Cayugas and Onon- dagas residing among them, the easterly part of the tract set apart for the New York Indians, and to extend so far west as to include one-half section (three hundred and twenty acres) 'il^i m I lO LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS w 1' of land for each soul of the Scnccas, Cayui^as and Onondatjas residing among them ; and if on removing west they find there is not sufficient timber on this tract for their use, then the President shall add thereto timber land su*"ficient for their ac- commodation ; and they agree to remove from the State of New York to their new homes within five years, and to con- tinue to reside there. And Whereas, At the making of this treaty, Thomas L. Ogden and Joseph I'^ellows, the assignees of the State of Massachusetts have purchased of the Seneca Na- tion of Indians, in the presence and with the approbation of the United States Commissioner, ajjpointed by the United States to hold said treaty or convention, all the rights, title, interest and claim of the said Seneca Nation to certain lands by a deed of conveyance, a duplicate of which is hereunto an- nexed ; and whereas, the consideration money mentioned in said deed, amounting to two hundred and two thousand dol- lars, belonging to the Seneca Nation, and the said nation agrees to receive the same, to be disposed of as follows , The sum of one hundred thousand dollars to be invested by the President of the United States in safe stock, for their use, the income of which is to be paid to them at their new homes annually, and the balance, being one hundred and two thousand dollars, is to be paid to the owners of the improvements on lands so deeded according to an appraisement of said improvements, and a dis- tribution and award of said sum of money among the owners of said improvement, to be made by appraisers hereafter to be appointed by the Senca nation, in the presence of the United States' Commissioner hereafter to be appointed, to be paid by the United States to the individuals who are entitled to the same, according to said appraisal and award, and their several- ly relinquishing their respective possessions to the .said Ogdon and Fellows.'" SPECIAL PROVISIONS I''(.)R THE CAVL'GAS. "Article ii. The United States will not set apart for the Ijii'i OV THE IRUC^UOIS, t)k SIX NATIONS. 1 1 1 Cayugas, on their removing to their new nomes at the west, two thousand dollars, and will invest the same in some safe stocks, the income of which shall be paid them annually at their new homes. The United States further agree to the said nation on their removal west, two thousand five hundred dol- lars, to be disposed of as the chiefs shall deem just and equi- table." SPECIAL 1 ROVISION lUK THE • >\( )M).\(;as < ).\ THE SENECA RESERVATIONS. "Article 12. The United States agreed to set anart for the C)nondagas residing on the Seneca Iveservation, two thousand five hundred dollars, on their removing west, and to invest the same in safe stock, the income of which shall be paid to them annually, at their new homes. And the United States further agree to pay to the saitl Onondagas, on their removal to their new homes in the west, two thousand dollars, to be disposed of as the chiefs shall deem equitable and just." SI'KCIAI. I'ROVISIOXS FOR THE ONEIDAS RESIDlNfl IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. "Article 13. The United States will pay the sum of four thousand dollars, tn be paid to Babtist Powlis, and the chiefs of the first Christian party residing at Oneida, and the sum of two thousand dollars shall be paid to William Day, and the chiefs of the Orchard i)arty residing there, for expenses incurr- ed and services r-endered in securing the Green Bay country, and the settlement of a portion thereof ; and they hereby agree to remove to their new homes in the Indian Territory as soon as tlu")' can make satisfactory arrangements with the Governor of tlu> State of N(. w ^^)rk for tlu; purchase of their lands at ( )neida." ^^IMaIAl. J'Ro\T-,l(»\ HiR 1 : 1 1. 11 >CARoUAS. "Aiticle 14. 'i'hc Tuscarora Nation ai';rce to accept the • country set ap.ut tor them in tlu' Indian 'I'ervitoiy, and to re- fill m m Hi! ii 3 i |.|1 I.. ; p; .il 112 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS move there within five years, and continue to reside there. It fs further agreed that the Tuscaroras shall have their lands in the Indian country, at the forks or the Neasha River, which shall be so laid off as to secure a sufficient quantity of timber for the accommodation of the nation. Ihit if on examination, they are not satisfied with this location, they are to have their lands at such a place as the President of the United States shall designate. The United States will pay to the Tuscarora Nation, on their settling at the west, three thousand dollars, to DC disposed of as the chiefs shall deem most equitable and just. " Whereas, The said nation owns, in fee simple, five thous- and acres of land lying in Niagara county, in the State of New York, which was conveyed to the said nation by Henry Dear- born, and they wish to sell and convey the same before they remove west. " Now, therefore, in order to have the same done in a legal and proper way, they hereby convey the same to the United States, and to be held in trust for them ; and they authorize the President to sell and convey the same, and the money which shall be received for the said lands, exclusive of the im- provement, the President shall invest in .safe stock for their benefit, the income from which .shall be paid to the nation at their new homes annually ; aiul the money which shall be re- ceived for improvements on said lands shall be paid to the owners of the ii'iTprovements, when the lands arc sold. The President shall cause the lands to be surveyed, and the im- provements shall be appraised by such persons as the nation shall appoint ; and said lands shall also be api)raised, and .shall not be sold at a less price than the ai)praisal, without the con- sent of James Cusick, William Mount Pleasant and William Clhcw, or the survivor or survivors of them. And the e.Kpcn- scs incurred by the United States in relation to this trust are to be deducted from the moneys received before investment. And whereas, at the making of this treaty, Thomas L. C^gden and jose])!! I'"ellows, the assignees of the State of Massachii- , . u , -4--..r,; OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. II3 setts, have purchased of the Tuscarora Nation of Indians, in the presence and with the approbation of the commissioner appointed on the part of the United States, to hold a treaty or convention, all the right, title, interest, and claim of the Tuscarora Nation to certain lands, by a deed of conveyance, a duplicate of which is hereunto annexed ; and whereas, the con- sideration money for said lands has been secured to the said nation to their satisfaction, by Thomas L. Ogden and Joseph Fellows. Therefore the United States hereby assent to the said sale and Conveyance, and sanction the same. ** Article 15. The United States hereby agree that they will appropriate the sum of four hundred thousand dollars, to be applied from time to time, under the direction of the President of the United States, in such proportions as may be best for the interests of the said Indians, parties to the treaty, for the following purposes to wit : Tq aid them in removing to their new homes, and supporting themselves the first year after their removal ; to encourage and assist them in education, and in being taught to cultivate their lands, in erecting mills and oth- er necessary houses ; in purchasing domestic animals and farm- ing utensils, and acquiring a knowledge of the mechanical arts. SCHEDULE A. CENSUS OF THE NEW YORK INDIANS AS TAKEN IN 1837. Number residing on the Seneca Reservations: Sonccas 2,309 Onondagas 194 Cayugas 1 30 2,633 Onondagas at Onondaga 3CX) Stockbridge 217 Munsees , , 132 (14) ■ VT-'i^ •T" j-'.-'J'"' ■ J'':~T " 1 m 114 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS Brothertowns 360 Oncidas in New York •. 620 Oneidas tit Green Bay 600 St. Regis in New York 350 Tuscaroras 273 The above was made before the execution of the treaty. R. H. GILLET, Commissioner. SCHEDULE B. The following is the disposition agreed to be made of the sum of three thousand dollars provided in the treaty for the Tuscaroras by the chiefs, and assented to by the Commissioner, and is to form a part of the treaty : To Jonathan Printess, ninety-three dollars. To William Chew, one hundred and fifteen dollars. To John Patterson, forty-six dollars. To Wm. Mt. Pleasant, one hundred and seventy-one dollars. To James Cusick, one hundred and twenty-five dollars. To David Peter, fifty dollars. The rest and residue thereof is to be paid to the Nation. The above was agreed to before the execution of the treaty. R. H. GILLET, Commisioncr. SCHEDULE C. SCIIEDULK APrLICAliLE TO THE ONONDAGAS AND CAYUGAS RESIDING ON THE SENFCA RESERVATIONS. It is agreed that the following disposition shall be made of the amount set apart to be divided by the chiefs of those na- tions in the preceding part of this treaty, anything to the con- trary notwithstanding : To William King, one thousand five hundred dollars. To Joseph Isaac, seven hundred dollars. To Jack Wheelbarrow, three hundred dollars. To William Jacket, five hundred dollars. To Buton George, five hundred dollars. OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. "5 The above was agreed to before the treaty was fully exe- cuted. R. H. GILLET, Commissioner. At a treaty held under the authority of the United States of America at Buffalo Creek, in the county of Erie and the State of New York, between the chiefs and head men of the Seneca Nation of Indians, duly assembled in council, and representing and acting for the said Nation, on the one part, and Thomas Ludlow Ogden, of the city of New York, and Joseph Fellows, of Geneva, in the county of Ontario, on the other part, concerning the purchase of the right and claims of the said Indians in and to the lands within the State of Nc / York, remaining in their occupation. Ransom H. Gillet, Esq., a commissioner appointed by the President of the United States to attend and hold the said treaty, and also Josiah Trowbridge, Esq., the superintendent on behalf of the Com- monwealth of Massac]iusetts, being severally present at the said treaty, the said chiefs and head men, on behalf of the Seneca Nation, did agree to sell and release to the said Thomas Lud- low Ogden and Joseph Fellows, and they, the said Thomas Ludlow Ogden and Joseph Fellows, did agree to purchase all the right, title and claim of the said Seneca Nation of, in and to the several tracts, pieces or parcels of land mentioned and described in the instrument of writing next hereinafter set forth, and at the price or sum therein specified, as the consid- eration or purchase money for such sale and release ; which instrument, being read and explained to the said parties and mutually agreed to, was signed and sealed by the said con- tracting parties, and is in the words following : This indenture, made this fifteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight, between the chiefs and head men of the Seneca Nation of In- dians, duly assembled in council, and acting for and on behalf of the said Seneca Nation, of the first part, and Thomas Lud- i!tr Il6 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS low Ogdcn, of the city of New York, and Joseph Fellows, of Geneva, in the county of Ontario, of the second part, witness- eth: That the said chiefs and head men of the Seneca Nation of Indians, in consideration of the sum of two hundred and two thousand dollars to them in hand paid by the said Thomas Ludlow Ogden and Joseph Fellows, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have granted, bargained, sold, released and confirmed, and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell, release and confirm unto the said Thomas Ludlow Ogden and Joseph Fellows, and to their heirs and assigns, all that certain tract or parcel of land situate, lying and being in the county of Erie and State of New York, commonly called and known by the name of Buffalo Creek Reservation, containing by estima. tion forty-nine thousand nine hundred and twenty acres, be the contents thereof more or less. Also all that certain other tract or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the counties of Erie, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus, in, said State, commonly called and known by the name of Cattaraugus Reservation, containing by estimation twenty-one thousand six hundred and eighty acres, be the contents thereof more or less. Also all that certain other tract or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the said county of Cattaraugus, in said State, com- monly called and known by the name of the Alleghany Reser- vation, containing by estimation thirty thousand four hundred and sixty-nine acres, be the contents more or less. And also all that certain other tract or parcel of land, situate, lying and being partly in said county of Erie and partly in the county of Genesee in said State, commonly called and known by the name of the Tonawanda Reservation, and containing by esti- mation twelve thousand eight hundred acres, be the same r- ^re or less : As the said several tracts of land have been heretofore reserved and are held and occupied by the Seneca Nation of Indians, or by individuals thereof, together with all and singu- lar the rights, privileges, hereditaments and appurtenances to f:\: .!• OB* THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 117 each and every of the said tracts or parcels of land belonging or appertaining ; and all the estate, right, title, interest, claim and demand of the said party of the first part, and of the said Seneca Nation of Indians, of, in and to the same, and to each and every parcel thereof ; to have and to hold all and singular the above described and released premises unto the said Thomas Ludlow Ogden and Joseph Fellows, their heirs and assigns, to their proper use and behalf forever, as joint tenants, and not as tenants in common. At the before-mentioned treaty, held in my presence, as superintendent on the part of the Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts, and this day concluded, the foregoing instrument of writing was agreed to by the contracting parties therein named, and was in my presence e:{ecuted by them, and being approved by me, I do hereby certify and declare such my approbation thereof. Witness my hand an ' seal, at Buffalo Creek, this 15th day of January, in the year 1838. JOSIAH TROWBRIDGE. I have attended a treaty of the Seneca Nation of Indians, held at Buffalo Creek, in the county of Erie, in the State of New York, on the fiteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight, when the within instrument was duly executed in my presence, by the chiefs of the Seneca Nation, being fairly and properly under- stood by them. I do therefore certify and approve the same. R. H. GILLET, Commissioner. At a treaty held under and by authority of the United States of America, at Buffalo Creek, in the county of Erie, and State of New York, between the sachems, chiefs and warriors of the Tuscarora Nation of Indians, duly assembled in council, and representing and voting for the said Nation, on the one part, and Thomas Ludlow Ogden, of the city of New York, m n8 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS I': and Joseph Fellows, of Geneva, in the county of Ontario, on the other part, concerning the purchase of the rights and claim of the said Indians in and to the lands within the State of New York remaining in their occupation. Ransom H. Gillett, Esq., a commissioner appointed by the President of the United States to attend and hold the .said treaty, and also Josiah Trowbridge, Esq., the superintendent on behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being severally present at the said treaty, the said sachems, chiefs and warriors, on behalf of the said Tuscarora Nation, did agree to sell and release to the said Thomas Ludlow Ogdcn and Joseph Fellows, and they, the said Thomas Ludlow (^gdcn and Joseph Fellows, did agree to purchase all the right, title and claim of the Tuscarora Na- tion of, in and to the tract, piece or parcel of land mentioned and described in the instrument of writing next hereafter set forth, and at the price or sum therein specified as the considera- tion or purchase money for such sale and release ; which instru- ment being read and explained to the said parties, and mutu- ally agreed to, was signed and sealed by the contracting par- ties, and is in the words following : This indenture, made this fifteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight, between the sachems, chiefs and warriors of the Tuscarora Na- tion of Indians, duly assemblnd in council, and acting for and on behalf of the .said Tuscarora Nation, of the first part, and Thomas Ludlow Ogden, of the city of New York, and Joseph Fellows, of Gene /a, in the county |of Ontario, of the .second part, witnesseth : That the said sachems, chiefs and warriors of the Tu.scarora Nation, in consideration of the sum of nine thousand si.x hun- dred dollars to them in hand paid by the .said Thomas Ludlow Ogdcn and Joseph Fellows, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have granted, bargained, .sold, relea.sed and con- firmed, and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell, relea.sc and confirm to the said Thomas Ludlow Ogden and Joseph "^vy^.-r "^ OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 119 Fellows, and to their heirs and assigns, all that tract or parcel of land situated, lying and being in the county of Niagara, and State of New York, conmoply called and known by the name of the Tuscarora Reservation, or Seneca grant, containing nine- teen hundred and twenty acres, be the same more or less, being the lands in their occupancy, and not included in the land con- veyed to them by Henry Dearborn, together with all and singular the rights, privileges, hereditaments and appurtenances to the said tract or parcel of land belonging or appertaining, and all the estate, right, title, interest, claim and demand of the said party of the first part, and of the said Tuscarora Nation of Indians of, in and to the same, and to every part and parcel thereof ; to have and to hold all and singular the above de- scribed and released premises unto the said Thomas Ludlow Ogden and Joseph Fellows, and their heirs and assigns, to their proper use and behoof forever, as joint tenants and not as tenants in common. At the above-mentioned treaty, held in my presence as super- intendent on the part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and this day concluded, the foregoing instrument was agreed to by the contracting parties therein named, md was in my pres- ence executed by them ; and being approved by me, I do here- by certify and declare such my approbation thereof. Witness my hand and seal at Buffalo Creek, this 15th day of January, in the year 1838, J. TROWBRIDGE, Superintendent. I have attended a treaty of the Tuscarora Nation of Indians, held at Buffalo Creek, in the county of Erie, in the State of Nc" York, on the fifteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight, when the within instrument was duly executed in my presence by the sachems, chiefs and warriors of the said nation, being fairly and properly understood and transacted by all the parties of Indians concerned, and declared to be done to their full satis- faction. I do therefore certify and approve the same. R. H. GILLET, Commissioner. I ill! if • I J 120 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS SUPPLEMENTAT ARTICLE TO THE TREATY CONCLUDED AT HUFFAIO CREEK, IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, ON THE 15TH DAY OF JANUARY, 1 838, CONCLUDED BETWEEN RAN- SOM H. (JILLET, COMMISSIONER, ON THE PART OF THE UNITED STATES, AND CHIEFS AND HEAD MEN OF THE ST. REGIS INDIANS, CONCLUDED ON THE 13TH OF FEBRUARY, 1838. The undersigned, chiefs and head men of the St. Regis In- dians, residing in the State of New York, having heard a copy of said treaty read by Ransom H. Gillet, the commissioner who concluded that treaty on the part of the United States, and he having fully and publicly explained the same, and believing the conditions of the said treaty to be very liberal on the part of the United States, and calculated to be highly beneficial to the New York Indians, including the St. Regis, who are em- braced in its provision, do hereby assent to every part of the said treaty, and approve the same. And it is further agreed that any of the St. Regis Indians who wish to do so shall be at liberty to remove to the said country at any time hereafter within the time specified in this treaty, but under it the Gov- ernment shall not compel them to remove. The United States will, within one year after the ratification of this treaty, pay over to the American party of said Indians one thousand dollr.rs, part of the sum of five thousand dollars mentioned in the special provisions for the St. Regis Indians, anything in the article contained to the contrary notwith' standing. Proclaimed April / 1840. In the year 1846, on the i6th day of May, about forty of the Tuscaroras emigrated from the reservation to their new homes in the Indian Territory, and in one year about one-third of them died on account of the sufferings they endured. They were destitute of everything, and the Government was to have OF Till-: IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. sustained them for one yt;ar, and to build houses fo; them, and provide all the necessaries of life, but they failed in fulfilling their promises on account of the misconduct of Dr. A. Hogc- boom, the moving agent of the emigration party. By reference to official documents in the Indian department it appears that a petition from a small party of discontented emigrationists at the Tuscarora village, dated March 4th, 1845, was sent to the President of the United States, expressing a desire to remove to the West. It also further appears that a letter had been received by the department from a certain D. G. (jrarnsey, dated May 8th, 1845, stating that a portion of the Senecas, and others of the Six Nations in western New York, were now ready to remove. The Government, justly fearing that there might be persons so anxious to possess themselves of the moneys ajjpropriated by law for the removal and sup- port of emigrati:ig Indians, as to resort to fraudulent means for the i)ur[)ose, by letters warned the Indian agent at Buffalo to be on his guard against such imposition. Afterwards, several petitioners from small fragnuMits of the Senecas and other tribes, were prevailed on tt) sign memorials to the President, asking to be removetl, and begging appropriations for that purjKjse. To those well accjuainted with these movements, there was sufficient evidence that persons interested in their removal were at the bottom of all this business. ( )f the Six Nations, once the owners and lords oi the soil within the boundaries of the great Commonwealth of New \'ork, there were many sniall remnants scattered over tlie western part of this State in a condition of wretched vagrancy; reduced by idleness ant! intemperance to poverty, and ready, for a trilling compensation, to have their names attached to an\' meniorial, without regard t(j its objects, for a smrdl sum of nione)' tlic)- would Kmu! ihemseUes to the service of any artful intriguer w hose designs were to defraud the Government. J^)' an act of C(jngrcss [)assed on the 3rd day of April, 1843, the sum of twenty thousand four hundred and seventy-seven (15) Ill i '■Mi I-.' ill i5;ii» 122 LEGENDS, TRAOITIONS AND LAWS dollars and fifty cents was appropriated for the removal of two hundred and fifty Indians to the countries west and south of the Missouri river. This appropriation was granted in conseque" ^e of repeated assurances made to the Indian department that this number were anxious to emigrate. The glittering prize thus hung up in the face of the noon-day sun was so bright and alluring that a goodly number of hungry candidates were soon seen entering the lists and struggling for the prize. But, alas ! for the condi- tions ; unless two hundred and fifty Indians could be procured to enrol themselves on the emigration engagement, and actu- ally embark for the West, the stakes could not be legally won. Here was the great difficulty. And yet one would sup- pose that out of four thousand eight hundred and eighty-five Indians, belonging to the following tribes, to wit : the Senecas, Onondagas, Cayugas, Tuscaroras, Oneidas, St. Rcgises, Stock- bridges, Munsees and Brothertowns, by taking up all the poor, degraded individuals, and gathering together all the sincere emigrationists, such a small proportion of tin- whole might easily be procured ; especially if these cinditlatcs for an agency had told the truth when they asserted that //-i/X'' l>'''^i<--^ cf the Indians ivcrc anxious to remove. \\y these movements the Government had been induced t(» believe that there really was an emigration party sufficiently large to meet the objects of the late appropriation, and to w.irrant the ajipointment of an emigration agent. Untler tliis impression, the .Secretary of War, by a letter dated Sept. 12, 1S45, addressed to Dr. Abra- ham Hogeboom, appointed him to that office, instructing him, however, that no movement was to be made unless the full com- plement of emigrants should desire, in good f.iith, to remove to the West, and Hogeboom was also explicit])' informed that " the Government would not umlertake the emigration of these Indians unless two Inindrcd and fifty of them, then residing in the .State of New York, exclusive of the Canada Indians, should muster themselves and actually go with the agent." \...- OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 123 As if to leave no door open for misunderst.'inding, the Commis- sioner of Indian Affairs at Wa:,hin<^ton addressed a letter to Hogeboom, dated Oct. 2nd, 1845, in which it was expressly declared that " two hundred and fifty Indians is the smallest number that will be emigrated." On the 27th of that month, Hogeboom wrote to the depart- ment giving it information that two hundred and nine Indians had enrolled themselves, and some of their chiefs had assured him that at Buffalo, Cattaraugus and Alleghany there would be twenty more. Thus the utmost number that the Doctor could tlare to hope for was two hundred and twenty-nine. If that letter was written in order to feel after the temper of the department, antl to ascertain how far it was disposed to relax its determination to send no less away than two hundred and fifty, he was not long in suspense, for by a letter dated Nov. 4th the Secretary of War again reminded him that he was " selected to act as emigrating agent only in the event that two hundred and fifty would go." But on the 7th of that * month Hogeboom again writes to him, dating his letter from Buffalo, saying he had ascertained that two hundred and sixty Indians had enrolled themselves, and had fixed on the 20th of that month as the time for starting." This sudden and unex- pected movement was not agreeable to the Secretary on account of the advanced state of the season ; but, hoping they might get out before the lakes and rivers should be impassable on account of the ice, he immediately ordered provisions for their sustenance at their intended homes, to be procured and be in readiness at the time of their arrival. Notwithstanding all these assurances on th'c part of Hoge- boom, when the time for tellling the truth came the whole scheme, failed ; a sufficient number of Indians could not be persuaded to go. The emigration was therefore indefinitely postponed. It will be seen by the foregoing statement that on the 27th day of October Hogeboom wrote to the department that only 'M ■h'li 124 LEGENDS, .TRADITIONS AND LAWS two hundred and nine had enrolled themselves, and he then admitted that only twenty more could be hoped for in addi- tion ; of course there was no prosi^ect of emigrating that season. Indeed the Doctor s:, s in that letter. s[)caking of the Indians, "they do not tiiink th y "ill be able to obtain the number of two handred and fifty to emigrate this fall." Up to this time nothing had been done to induce the war department to ad- vance any money to the agent. So, not only had the emigra- tion scheme failed, but, so far as the Doctor had been moved by pecuniary motives, he had also failed. This was no doubt a trying circumstance, but the trial did not long continue, for only ten days after he had written to the war department that the Indians did not think the)- could emigrate this fall, he wrote again to the .Secretary of W;u, under date )f Nf)v. 7th, 1845, s^iying " I have ascertained that two hundred and sixty Indians have enrolled themselves for emigration, and have fixed the time for starting on the 20th inst." The following is an extract from a letter from the de[)artment to I logeboom, dated Nov. 14th, in answer to his of the 7th. It was no doul)t a letter such as the Doctor much desired : Sir, — I have received your letter of the 7th inst., informing the department of the enrollment of two hundred and sixty New York Indians for emigration to their western homes, and proceed, fioiu that tJicrc appears to be no doubt of tlic tnovcvioit taking place, to give you some instructions, 6v:'c. * * * A requisition for $10,000 has this day been issued in your favor, \vith which you will be charged and held accountable for, under the head of "removal, &c., of New York Indians," per act March 3rd, 1843. (Signed) W. MEDll.L, Commissioner. Thus the Doctor was put in possession of the sum of ten thousand dollars, and we hear no more about the two hundred and sixty Indians, nor of any more trouble about Indian emi- gration during the remainder of the j-ear. The proceedings of Dr. 1 logeboom? and other persons inter- OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 125 est?cl in removinj^ the Senecas, necessarily produced threat agi- tation, and a very unsettled state among those who had no idea of emigrating. The chiefs on the reservations of Alle- ghany and Cattaraugus, harassed and perplexed by this vexa- tious state of things, at length determined to address the President on the occasion. This application procured the ap- pointment of the council which was held at Cattaraugus on June 2d, I046. In the spring of 1S46 Dr. Ilogeboom, hearing that the Gov- ernment had calletl a council of the Senecas, for the express purpose of inquiring officially whether there was an emigration party among them, and, if there was one, what its number, made great exertions to push off his emigrants. Regardless of the positive instructions of the Government, and without its knowledge, he hastily collected as many of the Indians as he could bring under his influence, and with them embarked in a steamboat at vSilver Creek, on Lake Erie, near Cattaraugus Reservation. The circmmstances and manner of the embarkation throws much light on the motives and conduct of this cmigratin"- agent. , The subject is graphically related in a speech of Israel Jemison, as made in a council of i(S46, and addressed to the Commissioners of the United States, as follows, to wit : , " Brothers ! The (juestion relative to enfigration being dis- posed of, I wiii explain the manner in which this removal of the Indians to the West has been effected. I believe it was irregularly conducted. Indeed, I may say, of this I am con- vinced. The agent who came to execute it was duly notified th.it the Government had called the present council forthecon- sidcr.'ition and investigation of this matter. As soon as it was known that this had been determined on, ^n'a/ efforts ivcrc iihxdc to hurry off the ouigrants and induce tlieni to leave before the eouneil xoonld meet. I am satisfied that many were decoyed away by various contrivances and gross misrepresentations on / ■|!i 126 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS the part of the cmigi:atin^ agent and liis emissaries. I myself remonstrated against these proceedings, and asked if it could be proper to inveigle ami deceive the Indians in this manner. In reply I was desired to be silent, to which I rejoined that many of them whom they had decoyed on board were then drunk, and in a state of unconsciousness ! These remonstrances availed nothing, and the whole were hurried awaj'. If any showed an unwillingness to go the)' were tokl they might return if they_chose, should the)- not like the place when they got there." The painful, and indeed the awful result of this inhuman conduct of Dr. Ilogeboom will be suen by reference to the memorial of the Seneca chiefs to the President of the United States, invoicing the aid of the Government to bring back the wretched sur\iving remnant of the poor dupeil i)eoplc. It is as follows : To His lixi'cllcmy, James K. Polk, Prisi(/iiit of flu- United States : The meinorial of the undersigned chiefs and warriors of the Seneca Nat'on of Indians, residing in the State of New York, respectfully showeth, That a party of the Seneca Nation, consisting, .Is your memorialists have been informed, of sixty-two persons, together wfth a portion of the Cayugas, Onondagas and v)neidas, resid- ing with us, and a party of the Tuscaroras, residing near Lew- iston, in Niagara county, left the State of New York last spring to settle in the cbuntry v.est of Missouri. That your memorialists have been credibly informed by letters received from individuals among them, and by the statements of such as have returned, that great distress has, from their first arrival there, existed among them, and does exist without mitigation, in consequence of the insalubrity of the climate ; tliat twenty persons of the si.xty-two Senecas were already dead some six weeks since, and about the same proportion of our friends of the other tribes ; that man)' others were sick ; that three of J. i f-' -r> ■> ■ ■ OF Till': IROQUOIS, OK SIX NATIONS. 127 the leading Seneca chiefs, one of the Onondagas, one of the One.idas, and a leading man of the Tuscaroras, were dead ; that the remnant of the people, with very few exceptions, were very anxious to return, but were destitute, of the means of doing so ; that many of them have sent earnest requests to us for assistance to enable them to do ^o ; but that only a few families among us are able to furnish efficient relief to their suffering friends. In view of all these facts, we would respect- fully request the President to furnish the necessaiy assistance to bring back the remnant of the party to their former homes, and to arrange for the payment of the annuities belonging to them, so that in future they may receive them here. Although they went out from us against our earnest remonstrance and en- treaty, and some of them mocking rur expressions of cohcern for them as we stood around the boat when they were going on board, stiM we shall rejoice to have them home again amongst us, for they are oiir brethren and their sufferings grieve us to the heart. Thirteen of the Senccas have already returnetl, and three others, we h;t\e heard, are on the way. This makes tlu' condition of liiose unable to return the more loncl)- and w fctchetl. We hope the President will not say it was ihcir own fault that the)- went there, for evt'U if they were to be blanied for iloing so, they ha\e already suffered a fearful [)uni.-;hmcnt. Hut we think th.it if the President were ac- cjuainted with the circum.tances he would pity rather than blame them for goiii;;. Notice had been repeatedly given from the War Department that unless a company of two hundred and fifty emigrants couUl be organized, none would be re- moved. Such a compan)' having failed to be organized in the fall of 1S45, we wert.; told that the Department had required the removing agent to refund the nione)' he had received for the purpcjse of remo\ ing them. In the spring of the present year certain men were running from house to house among our people saying that the agent still held the money in his hands, and would remove all who wished to go, u[)on the opening of 'm^ >t^.V 128 LKGENDS, TRADrTIONS AND LAWS !fl 11 ill n.'ivitiatioii. Directly after, notice was received from tlie Gov- eminent that commissioners were appointed, and that a Coun- cil would be held on a specified day, to ascertain if the recj 'i- sitc number wished to emigrate. When this became known it was immediately reported that the removing agent (Dr. Hoge- boom) had already contracted for their passage — that the steamboat would take them in at Cattaraugus Creek on a cer- tain day, and it was not necessary for them to wait for the action of the Government. The agent soon after appeared, accompanied by two individuals from Buffalo, who, as we were afterward credibly informed, instigated him to practice this fraud upon the Government, and endeavored, by representing" the country west as a paradise, to induce a large company to go on board their boat. Some of our friends, who had not dis- posed of their effects, were told not to mind their stuff, for the country to which they were going was so rich, Tind they would prosper there so rai)idly that they would never feel the loss of it, and one family were hurried away from their tabic, leaving everything upon it just as it was when they arose from their dinner. Wc have reason to believe that the whole company, except a few leaders, most of whom are now dead, were de- luded by these flattering but false rei)resentations of tliose white men, and inasmuch as the removing Agent appeared on the ground, with the money in his hand, these. sim[)le people were made to discretlit the orders received from the depart- ment, relative to the council 'of the 2d of June. Justice would indeed seem to require that these white men should repair the injury they have done to us, and not to us alone, but also to the government. Hut we have no power to compel them. Our only resource is to appeal to the government in behalf of our afflicted and tlesi)<)nding brethren, who are perishing under the accumula- ted pressure of disappointed expectations— grief for the dead and the heav}* hand of disease upon their own persons. We trust our appeal will not be disregarded. We think it is the OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 129 dictate of humanity, and we confidently believe that the voice of the whole country would approve the course of the Presi- dent if he would grant the needed relief. We would beg leave further to request the President to make known to us through our friend Philip E. Thomas, of Baltimore, who will present our memorial, the decision he may make in regard to it. And your memorialists, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c. Cattaraugus Reservation, Ded. 16, 1846. (Signed) James X Shongc, Moses Stephenson, N. T. Strong, Willian> X Jones, Robert X Gordon, Zachariah X L. Jimison, Dai, A Two Guns, Samuel X Wilson, William X Johnson, John X Boldcn, Benjamin Williams, George Lindsay, John Kennedy, Jr., George Greenblanket, David X Snow, John Huson, Solo- mon W. Lane, Jim X Junius, Henry Two Guns, Little X John, John Talor, John X Luke, Governor X Blacksnake, Israel X Jimison, William X Patterson, John X Greenblanket, S. M. Patterson, Moses X Pierce, James X Stephenson, Abraham X John, Jabez X Stephenson, Peter X White, Charles Graybeard. . In reply to this memorial, the following answer was received from the Indian Bureau at Washington : War Department, Oefice of Indian Affairs, ) Feb. 23rd, 1847. f Sir : — The application for the removakof the Seneca Indians back to New York who emigrated West from there last sum- mer has been' duly considered. With every disposition to gratify the wishes of the Society of Friends, and of the New York Indians, so far as it could properly be done, I have to in- firm you that the Executive Department of the Government has neither the authority nor the means to justify a compliance with their desire. In this particular Congress only could authorize the measure and provide the requisite means for the expense it would invalue. Respectfully your ob't servant, W. MEDILL. To PiliLll' E. Thomas, Esq., Baltimore, Md. (16) :i- ^.c\^:Jfd<..:. i-.'y^^i-^ ■"■r i '\ 130 .. ■*.''■ LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS When the chiefs were made acquainted with the result of this application, they addressed the following communication to the joint committee of Friends : Cattaraugus Reservation, ) March 22nd, 1847. f Respected Friend, Philip E. Thomas :— Permit us to address you a few lines, and, through you, the committee of the four-yearly meetings of the Society of Friends, in reference to the condition of our suffering friends and brethren still re- maining in the country west of the Mississippi. We suppose the committee are already thoroughly acquainted with the means used to decoy those Indians off, in contravention of the instructions of the Government to the removing agent. They were flattered with prospects of almost unbounded prosperity. The country was described as a paradise ; and they were told that there friends here, who might now refuse to accompany them, would soon be compelled to follow, and that it would be better to go now and get well started in their improve- ments, &c., as soon as possible. But, when they reached that country, instead of being a paradise, they found it rather a land of desolation, disease and death, and a large proportion of them are now lying beneath the turf. The survivors are dis- couraged and broken-hearted, in addition to the sufferings from the disease which ha« swept off their companions, and they are anxious to return. Application has been made to the Gov- ernment in their behalf, without obtaining relief, and, from a recent letter from Dr. Wilson, we learn that a similar applica- tion to the Legislature of this State is likely to fail. We can- not make any appropriation from our national funds until tjic meeting of our national council, as a law has been passed which would forbid it ; but if we delay till that meeting it will expose our friends to the horrors of the sickly season once more, and doubtless many more of them will perish in conse- quence. Under these circumstances we see no other resource but to l©ok again to those kind-hearted friends who have done A / OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. I3» so much already to relieve us in our distresses. Our obligations arc already very great, and vvc cherish deep feelings of gratitude for past favors. We would not willingly burden your kindness now were it not for the peculiarly difficult and perplexing con- dition of things just at the present timo. But we feel that humanity towards our own people demands of us to make this application in their behalf, as well as of ourselves, for we will always cherish a lively remembrance of your kindness. Wishing you the reward of the benevolent in the great day, we subscribe ourselves your obliged and sincere friends. In presence of Asher Wright, HENRY TWO GUNS, WILLIAM KROUSE, GEORGE X BUTTON, JOHN X GREENBLANKET, ABRAHAM X JOHN, JAMES SPRING, DANIEL TWO GUNS. Notwithstanding the fact that these Indians were carried away without the knowledge or sanction of the Government, and consequently without the requisite preparation for their comfort and subsistence in the western country, yet the Com- missioner of Indian Affairs, as soon as he was apprised of the movements of Dr. Hogcboom, anxious to afford them all the relief in his power, promptly ordered arrangements for their reception at the place of their destination, as will be seen by the following documents in the War Department, to wit : War Department, Office of Indian Affairs, ) June loth, 1846. ) Sir; — Information has been receently received at this office that A. Hogcboom had started for St. Louis with a party of New York Indians, in number about two hundred. This act of starting with a less number than two hundred and fifty, in connection with the recent action of this office, looking to a |i-:-! 132 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS K fill ^1 m , !l suspension of the emigration for a time, was wholly unauthor- ized, and of course unexpected, but as the party are without the reach of the Department, measures must be taken to sub- sist them. I have therefore to request that you will give direc- tions to the Osage sub.-agent to invite proposals as contem- plated in my instructions to you of the 14th November, 1845, to which you are referred. Respectfully, &c., , W. MEDILL. To T. W. Harvey, Esq.,Supt. Indian Affairs, St. Louis, Mo. Notwithstanding this humane effort on the part of the Com- missioner to make provision for the reception and accommo- dation of these emigrants, it appears that from the hardships and exposures to which they were subjected, and from the un- wholesome nature of the climate one-third of them perished within six months after their arrival at their intended residence; When their distressed situation was made known to the Depart- ment, the Commissioner immediately addressed a letter to the Indian Agent at St. Louis, calling his attention to their case, from which the following is extracted : War Department, Oi-ttce Indlvn Affairs, ) October, 29, 1846. ) Sir: — I transmit herewith a copy of a letter just received from James Cusick, one of the party of the New York Indians removed west last summer by Dr. Hogeboom, from which it appears that there has been much sickness and mortality among those Indians, and that they arc in a distressed situation. Mr. Cusick's letter, supported by Capt. Burbanks, is calculated to excite much anxiety on account of these Indians. They were removed contrary to the instructions and expectations of the Department at the time, and their having gone west was not known until they were some distance on the route. There was, consequently, no opportunity for making the requisite preliminary arrangement for their comfort and welfare on their OF TIIK IR()()U()IS, OK SIX NATIONS. 133 arrival west. After giving you f\,c 'nstructions of June loth for their subsistance, such had to L>.: 1 -ft to the judgment and views of duty, under these circumstances, of yoiirself and the Osage Sub. Agent, under whose immediate supervision they came, in regard to what further required to be done for them. In my letter of the 30th ultimo your attention was especially called to their situation, and no doubt is entertained, that your answers to that communication will show you have done, or caused to be done, all that could be done, under the circum- stances, for their relief. Should the amount now remitted not be sufficient to cover the expenses of what you have already done, or what it may be, in your judgment, further requisite to do for them in addition to their subsistance, for which there is a special appropriation, you will please report promptly ac- cordingly, and the necessary funds will be furnished. Funds will also be remitted on account of their subsistance when this office is informed that they are needed. Respectfully, W. MEDILL. Thomas H. Harvi:v, Esq., St. Louis, Mo. .i„.i',Wi...^-' ^^^^ / r\ B ' H 1 ^K i II 1 ': % 134 LECENDS, TliADITIONS AND LAWS Missionary Work. A RECORD OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CI'UkCII IN THE TUSCA- RORA RESERVATION OBTAINED liV INQUIRY. The church in the Tuscarora Reservation was organized in the year 1805, embracing six members only, under the care of the New York Missionary Society. Rev. Elkanah Hohnes, first missionary, from 1805 to 1808. Members of the Church — Sacarissa, a Sachem, and his wife ; Nicholas Cusick, an interpreter, and his wife ; Apollas Jacobs and Mary Pempleton. Rev. Mr. Gray, second missionary, from 1808 to 18 13. At first the Indians converted their Council House into one for public worship, and also for school operations, and in time they built a convenient chapel, which was painted red, and was des- tined to share the same fate as their dwelling houses at the hands of the British Indians in the war of 18 12. It was on December 20th, 181 3, when they were burned to the ground, in consequence of which the operations of the mission were suspended from 18 13 to 1817, when Rev. James C. Crane took charge of the mission until the end of the year 1826. In the year 1821 this mission was transferred from the New York Missionary Society to the United Foreign Mission Society. Rev. Joseph B. Lane, the fourth missionary, took charge of the mission from January 3, 1827, to June 8, 1827. Rev. John Elliot, the fifth missionary, also labored among "^ '/I V \ OF T'lE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 135 these Indians from June 22, 1827, to May 7, 1833, when he left the mission by his own request, being dismissed from the ser- vice of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, to which this mission v/as transferred from the United Foreign Mission Society in the year 1826, Rev. Joel Wood also labored in this mission from Octob' r 15. 1833. to October, 1834. Rev. William Williams also labored among them from Octo- ber 26, 1834, to August 29, 1837. Mr. Gilbert Rockwood arrived and took charge of the stiition as teacher and overseer of the affairs of the church, and was afterwards ordained to the ministry. Before he was ordained he would summon to his aid in the discipline and ordinances of the Church, at different times. Brother Asher Wright, and Mr. Bliss, of Cattaraugus Reserva- tion, and Rev. J. Elliott, of Youngstown. Ordained at Tuscarora Mission, July 3rd, 1839, Rev. Gilbert Rockwood as a missionary of the American Board of Commis- sioners for Foreign Missions, to labor among the Tuscarora Indians Invocation and reading of the Scriptures were per- formed by Rev. Lemuel Clark, of Lewi.'ton ; first prayer by Rev. John Elliott, of Youngstown, and former missionary at Tuscarora ; sermon by Rev. E. Parmely, of Jamestown , con- secrating prayer by the Rev. Asher Wright, of the Seneca mission ; charge by Rev. Asher Bliss, of Cattaraugus mission ; right hand of fellowship by Rev. A. Wright ; address to the Church and people by Rev. John Elliott ; concluding prayer by Rev. Elishi^ B. Sherrod, of Wilson ; benediction by Rev. Gilbert Rockwood. The exercises were listened to by an attentive audience of Indians, who probably never witnessed anything of the kind before. The ceremonies were solemn and interesting to the people tci the very clo*se, although considerablv protracted by passini, iiirougli an interpreter. What added to the Interest of the occasion was the ordina- ''I .-(>«..,, i-1 ':k- S>' 136 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS , I I • tion of three native members as Deacons of the Church, at the close of the ordination. The Church has received a refreshing from on high during the last winter, which has added a num- ber of members, and is still in a peaceful and prosperous con- dition. Rev. G. Rockwood was a fa-thful missionary ; he went in and out among the Indians, visited in their homes, and talked with them in their inroads, and was a great advocate in the cause of Tempcran. lie was a powerful p'cachcr, and at times had great icvivals; for instance, in the year 1852, when I was first awakened to concern for my soul's welfare. It was then my soul was first filled with rejoicing in my newly found Saviour ; it was then I first poured out my soul in fervent prayer. On the 7th day of March, 1852, was held a communion sea- son, and on that memorable day forty converts were idmitted to the full communion of the Church. Old men of seventy winters and youths of fourteen bowed down together to receive the ordinance of baptism, of whom I was one of the number, at the age of fifteen. It was a scene that angels might rejoice to behold. The wlolc number admitted to the Church that winter were fifty t) v r's. Rev. G. Rockvoo.' .ir ihed his work among the Tuscarora Indians on the first day cf January, 1861. Thus it is claimed that Rev. G. Rockwood spent the longest term of ministerial service at one installation in Niagara county but one, which was Rev. W. C. Wisner of the First Presbyterian church. Lock- port, N. Y. The American Board of Commissioners for l'\ireign Missions, when they withtnx'w Rev. Rockwood from this mission, also withdrew their supplies, when the Tuscaroras were thrown upon their own resources. In October following the church appointed as delegates Mr. John Mt. Pleasant, a Sachem ; Dea. Samuel Jacobs and Elias JohnsoTi, interpreter, to attend a meeting of the Niagara Presbytery at Yates, to make an a^jplication that this mission might come under the care of that ^t...:i .■L;!;.J,:,.w,«\. oi-' THE iRO(;)Uois, or six nations. 137 body, which was granted them on October 29, 1861. The Presbytery appointed as Committee on Supplies, Rev. Joshua Cook, of Lewiston, and II. E. Nilcs. In January, 1862, Rev. Charles A. Kcelcr was sent to take charge of the mission, who labored among them until 1863, after which the preaching was supplied by some of the members of the church, and more particularly by Dca. .S. Jacobs. Rev. George Ford supplied the Church with preaching every fourth Sabbath, and was succeeded by Rev. \Vm. Hall, and he by Rev. W. V. Barker, who began his labors among us in Oct., 1S77, and was formerly a missionary in India. A letter by James Cusick, concerning the Baptist mission at Tuscarora, to v/it : "In 1836, a portion of the Tuscarora Nation thought it ex. pedient to become ]ia[)tists, according to the dictates of their own conscience and free enjoyment of tlieir religion in this Re- publican ;.;<>ve;nmenl.. Consequently a Baptist church was built and organized among the Tuscaroras, and they were called in council with i.everal 15ai)tist churches in this county. In 1838 they were admitted into the Niagara Baptist Association at Shalby. . " In a n)ini -l-jrial council June :4th, 1838, Mr. James Cusick was exaniineil touching Tiis Christian experience, and called to preach the (j>)sj)(.:1 b)' rrovid'.^ni.e and the council. They de ciiKxi on that c|uesti(iii, and gave him ordination a> a native pre.Klier. ileciding ihat he was well qualified by a knowledge of theology; and now he has labore'd among several tribes of the Six Nations." The first Baptist Church at Tuscarora was broken up in the spring of 1846, on account of an emigration to the Indian Ter- ritory, under tlie inlluence of Rev. James Cusick, the party being com;)osed mostly of the members of that Church, which caused its overthrow. The next year, after about one-third of the emigration party had tlied in the Indian Territory, the re- (17) KM""* 'mmmm Mk if 1; 1 ij ■ ! • II ,t ^^WP 138 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS maindcr came homo among the Tuscaroras, but Rev. Mr. Cusick removed into Canada and labored among the Six Nations at Grand river. In the year i860 Rev. James Cusick began his kibors again among the Tuscaroras, in the town of Lewiston, having been invited here by James Johnson, with the view of reorganizing the former Baptist Church. On the fifteenth day of February, f86o, there was held a deliberative meeting at the house of James Johnson, Rev. James Cusick acting as moderator. There were present, Wil- liam Green, of Grand River; James Johnson, Isaac N. Jack, Isaac Patterson, Joseph Williams, Adam Williams, Sr. The church was organized on March 21, i860, at the house of James Johnson, Rev. James Cusick, Moderator, and Isaac N. Jack, Clerk. A council of delegates from Wilson and Ransomville was invited by the reorganized liaptist church to meet on the 26th day of April, i860, for recognition, which duly met. Rev. Wil- liam Sawyer, Chairman ; James Bullock, Clerk. Introductory prayer by Rev. L. C. Pattcngill ; hand of fellowship by Rev. Wm. Sawyer; address by Rev. L. C. Pattcngill, including prayer and benediction by Rev. Wm. Sawyer. Tl»e following- delegates were present, to-wit : From Wilson — Rev. L. C. Pattcngill, Dca. R. Robinson, Dea. A. Chapin. From RansomviMe — Rev. Wm. Saw\;jr, Dca. G. Hopkins, Dea. J. Bullock. They were received into fellowship of the Niagara Baptist Association June 14, i^- .y^;:-^>:fe.:i.4-. -^•'•; J i ''I i'' i; i( I 148 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS March 7 — " Communion season — forty additions to the church. The old man of seventy and the youth of fourteen bowed together to receive the ordinance of baptism. A scene that angels might rejoice to behold." March 8 — " Have written to Miss Howe to come on, my health bein^- very poor. Have obtained leave of absence for a few weeks, or months, if I should find it expedient to go on to New York to Dr. Nichols' Medical Institute." March 1 1 — " Several calls from my Tuscarora friends. They are very loth to have me leave, even for a short time, and it is a sore trial for me." March 13 — "Arrived at my father's in Lancaster, N. Y." March 18 — " Wrote in my journal, 'still at my father's,' but thinking continually of my dear Tuscarora children. May I soon be restored to them, invigorated both in body and mind." March 23 — " Quite unwell ; cannot tell how long I shall have to stay away from my school." April 26 — " Left Lancaster for Tuscarora." Mt. Hope, Tuscarora, April 28, 1S52 — "Once more in my own sweet home, greeted by the sparkling eyes and smiling faces of my dear children. Found Miss Howe nearly worn out and glad to be relieved. There have been several deaths during my absence — some among my scholars. Several calls this evening from my adopt- ed people, who seem so glad to see me." April 29 — " Resumed my duties in the school-room." May I — Sabbath — " Rising early went on foot with my lit- tle girls, though the road was muddy, reacheu the meeting house before 9 A. M., in time for Sunday-school ; sacrament in the afternoon. Five received into the church — three of them my scholars. So thankful to be once more with my be- loved Tuscaroras." May 18 — " Have had to relinquish my school again to Miss Howe, I am too feeble for school duties." June 22 — "A week ago yesterday almost the whole nation •^;F-:9#'%-!VfT OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. t49 turned out to help at the " raising." The excitement of the day was so great that I could sleep but little that night ; so happy! The Lord be praised. How mountains of difficulties have vanished. The Tuscaroras are doing nobly ; but, besides their work, to finish and furnish all will require about four hun- dred dollars ; this will take all my funds, but when I need more, I know that the Lord will provide. Have already ex- pended nearly one hundred dollars, yet, I trust there will be no lack. Donations are coming in from various quarters." July 23 — " How different my labors this summer from those of last winter. Unable to teach, have given my school to another ; nor, am I able to visit much among the people. Oc- cupy my time chiefly in taking care of my little girls, teaching them to sew, and preparing bedding for my contemplated boarding school ; thankful that I may do a little, though I long to do more." Sept. 3 — " Being unable to teach, and thinking that I might do more good here, if ever, to study medicine, having consult- ed my friends and Mr. Treat, I shall go to Philadelphia to at- tend medical lectures. Have bade adieu to my humble home, not to return before next February." Miss Thayer returned from Philadelphia in February, 1853. Miss Mary Walker had taught the school during her absence. Shortly after her return to Mt. Hope, Miss Abigail Peck and Miss Cinderella Britto arrived, the former to teach school, the latter to assist in housework. Miss Thayer to have general su- pervision as matron of the boarding school. The American Board doubled their appropriation, so that each one of the la- dies were to receive one hundred dollars a year, and find their own board. Miss Thayer taking it upon herself to meet the other expenses of the school. Timely donations in money were received from Philadelphia, Brookjyn and New York, and various small sums ; also boxes of clothing and some provision from friends in neighboring towns. March 23 — Miss Thayer writes : "PLive received one hun- 'i'if' ■l\ f^:* !■ i H Y'' 1 i. i -.i .. -i. '■•'? • 11.' ! * ■■■ 1*i i a J ■ ;! ' i ,1 ' "1^ 1 u ■ i'i :(i ' i '11 i '!!: ' 150 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS dred dollars from the Sunday school in Mr. Barnes' church, for my building; have hired two carpenters to do the inside work, it having been framed, shingled, enclosed, and most of the lathing done, by the Tuscaroras. My health is failing again and my mind much racked with planning, as my associates each want a separate room for their own private use, I have been obliged to vary from my original plan so as to secure pleasant rooms for them with chimneys for stoves."' May 7 — " The building goes forward rather slowly, and my associates are becoming somewhat impatient on account of the delay ; yet we shall have a better finished and more commodi- ous house than I had at first planned. Though very much worn both in body and mind, I do not regret ha\ing undertak- en the work. Am more and more convinced that the only hope for the moral and physical well-being of the Tuscaroras. is to train up the children in the way they should go. The work is begun, and the Lord is able to carry it forward, either with or without me." Miss Thayer's health continued poor and she took a vacation of four weeks, in the summer, leaving her associates in charge. Then wrote to Mr. Treat that she should be obliged to give up the management of financial affairs, and asking them to assume the responsibility. To confer with him on the subject, Mr. Treat requested Mr. Rockwood, Miss Thayer and her associates to meet him in Buffalo, where he would stop on his way to the meeting of the American Boai J at Cincinnati. The result of the conference: The boarding school was transferred to the immediate care of the Board, with Mr. Rockwood as Superintendent ; the ladies to retain their respective positions — teacher, house-keeper and matron. From this time Miss Thayer felt greatly fettered, and the impression m-c\v upon her that her presence was not desired at Mt. Hope ; that her usefulness there was at an end. Long and praj-erfully did she weigh the matter, and at last, though it nearly broke her heart, she asked to be dismissed OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 151 from the field. Her request was granted, and Miss Thayer closed her labors at Mt. Hope, December 31, \^t^^, and longed to die. It was the saddest day of her life, the bitterest trial • she ever experienced, this giving up all her hopes of useful- ness among her beloved Tuscaroras. She knew not whither to go ; could not tell the people what she had done. Samuel Jacobs was going to Cattaraugus, and Miss Thayer went with him, hoping the Lord would give her work to do there. Engaged temporarily in teaching, was there until the latter part of July, 1.S54; in August applied to the Pres- byterian Board for an appointment as missionary teacher for one of their schools among the Southwestern Indians, which was granted, and she was sent to the Chickasaws, in the Indian Territory; arrived there in November, 1854; labored among the Chickasaws, Creeks and Choctaws until September, 1865, when again broken down in health, she reluctantly gave up the work of a missionary teacher, and returned to her father's house in liristol. Wis., accompanied by her husband, (Theo- dore Jones), and her three young children (two sons and a daughter). She has since resided in Bristol, Wis., on the farm given to her by her father and brothers, a quiet, pleasant home. Her children are growing up in the fear of the Lord, having all of them, five years ago, (in Ai)ril, 1873), united with the Congregational church in Bristol. Although she has not the means to give them a liberal education, she hopes that they will be usef\il workers in the Lord's vineyard. Mrs. Jones often thinks of her beloved Tuscaroras, and would gladly visit them if it were not for the expense of such a journe}'. Mrs. Jones has culled the material for the foregoing pages from numerous letters written to her father, from Tuscarora, and als(.) nuule extracts from her i)rivate journal, ke[)t whilst at Tuscarora, and she gives Llias Johnson leave to embody such [lortions of it in his iiistory of the Tuscaroras as shall best suit his purpose. She sends herewith Mr. Treat's reply to her ••i yi 152 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS request to be released from the work at Mt. Hope ; also a let- ter written by the Tuscarora chiefs, representing her departure from their people." "MRS. MARY J. F. JONES, February 22, 1878. Bristol, Wis." To Elias Johason, Tuscarora. -•♦♦- 1 4 Temperance Society. i ! ^mi 11 i About the year i8cx), a now religion was introduced among the Six Nations, who alleged to have received a revelation from the Great Spirit, with a commission to preach to them the new doctrine in which he was instructed. This revelation was received in circumstances so remarkable and the precepts which he sought to inculcate, contained in themselves such evidences of wisdom and beneficence, that he was universally received among them, not only as a wise and good n)an, but as one commissioned by the Great Spirit to be- come their religious teacher, by the name of Ga-nc-o-iii-yOy or " llandsomelake." This new religion, as it has ever since been called, with all the ancient and new doctrines, was also taught, strenuously, the doctrine of Temperance, which seemed to be the main and ultimate object of his mission, and upon which he chiefly used his influence and eloquence through the re- OF THE IROQUOIS, OK SIX NATIONS. 153 maindcr of his life. He went from village to village, among the several nations of the Iroquois, and continuing his visits from year to year, preaching the new doctrine with remarkable effect ; many abandoned their dissolute habits and became ijobcr and moral men. The wholesome doctrine of sobriety was not preached in vain, even among the Tuscaroras ; nevertheless, they did not embrace the ancient and the new faith, nor its ceremonies, but the preaching of this singular person. The influ- ence of his eloquence, with which he enforced the doctrine of temperance, had the effect of forming a temperance society, which was kept up a number of years, by holding meetings and by lectures given by the leading men of the nation, until the year 1830, when a regular temperance society was organiz- ed, which was based on a written constitution ; and in the year 1832 there was a general temperance society formed at the Cattaraugi s Reservation, embracing all the, then, difTerent Seneca Reservations ; and in the year 1833 the Tuscaroras re- organized so as to be connected with the Seneca temperance .society, organized at Cattaraugus. I found the following ar- ticles in the records of the Tuscarora temperance society, to-wit : " Temperance Society, formed among the Tuscaroras, Feb- ruary 19th, 1830, re-organized January 27th, 1833. " PREAMliLE. " Whereas, rresent and past occurrences clearly prove that intemperance is a great and destructive evil ; therefore. Resolv- ed, That we, the chiefs and warriors of the Tuscarora Nation, will do all in our power to arrest its progress, both in this vil- lage and elsewhere." T^xpcriencc has tau;^lil us thai ^(horts lo ail\nnce Ihi.s good muse arc not in vain, enco.uraged' by what we have already ef- fccUd, we have coniladed to re-organize our society, which sliall 1)1' named an\i ;.['. ivrtnc*.! as follows: — I 111 \' 'Kir ' \ % tU)) Mil !:■ t. . ! wi l?ii M' 154 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS " CONSTITUTION. "Article i. This society shall be denominated the Temper- ance Society auxiliary to the general Temperance Society formed at Cattaraugus, March ist, 1832, by our red brothers from five different Reservations. Article 2. It shall embrace individuals of both sexes of men, women and children. Article 3. We who sign our names to this constitution, solemnly pledge ourselves to abstain entirely from the use of intoxicating liquors, and persuade others in an affectionate, faithful manner to do the same, not suffering it to be used in our families, nor purchasing it for those in our employ. Article 4. It shall be the duty of those who were appointed a committee by the general Temperance Society to visit the members of this Society individually, and enquire whether they adhere to or strictly obey the articles of the constitution, and converse with others on the subject of temperance, so far as practicable, and make a report of their doings to the Society. Article 5. The officers of this Society shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. The duty of the President shall be as follows, viz: To open the meetings by calling the as'^cmbly to order ; to appoint the time for meet- ing; to settle questions in any discussions made in the Society; to appoint the speakers. The duty of the Secretary shall be to minute the proceedings of every meeting, and read the report at the close of every meeting, and to keep in record the names of the .nembers of the .Society. The Treasurer shall keep in charge the revenues of the contributions, and attend to the lights." Names of the first officers of this Society : President — N'cholas Cusick. Vice-Prcsider't— William Mt. Pleasant. Secretary and Treasurer — James' N. Cusick. Names of Chiefs at that time : William Chew. William Printup, ■•■'--^~,<*-' . .f....^,- OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 155 Mathew Jack, John Johnson, George Printup, Jonathan Printup, John Mt. Pleasant, John P'ox, Isaa Miller. This united Temperance Society held a yearly convention on the different Reservations, alternately, for a number of years, but the interest in the convention gradually declined, until the convention was entirely given up. Afterwards they somewhat remodeled the constitution to suit their circum- stances, and added the following article, viz : " In the temperance assemblies the following subjects are to be lectured on : Temperance, Industry, Education and Moral Reform." We have also a cornet band, which is connected with the temperance society, which enliven and cheer the meetings by the sweet strains of their music, and adds very much to the interest of each meeting. This band goes by the name of the " Tuscarora Temperance Cornet Band." It was organized in the year 1842, and has existed continually to the present time, in 1880. On the I ith day of November, 1844, there was a delegation sent here by the Tuscaroras, from Grand River, then Canada West, now Ontario, to connect themselves with our temper- ance society, which was granted them, and the following dele- gates were admitted, viz : William Green, a Sachem ; David Hill, Jacob Hill, Rev. Nicholas Smith and Thomas Thomas. This society was afterwards invited to hold a temperance meeting on the Tuscarora Reservation at Grand River, Ontario with the view of organizing a temperance society in conjunc- tion to ours. The meeting was held according to the time designated. The meetings were opened and conducted with much interest, but dissolved without the formation of a society. There was a disagreement concerning the constitution of the society, respecting the subjects of discussion in the meetings of the society. The Canada Indians wished to have the three let*'' m " ,y^ m ■ ■'■''1 *^1 w 1 '-i- i!i >r-|,- ifr i 1^ ! ,.L 1 1.! , ! 1 I' 1, ;:'l^«r- • 1} r f! A.^ ■■■•«i (' 156 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS other subjects, from that of temperance, to be strifken out, but the Tuscaroras of the States adhered to the forms of the constitution of their society, which includes Industry, Educa- tion and Moral Reform, as the subject of lecture of each meet- ing, which was adopted at an early period. In the autumn of 18C2, the cornet band and a number of the members of the society made a visit to Grand River, Ontario, among their Indian brethren, and when they arrived there the Sons of Temperance had a social i)arty, to wiiich we were very cordially invited to participate of the suniptous feast, which was already prepared, and were two daj's devoted to temperance meetings. The time was taken up b)- lectures on temperance and music by the two cornet bands, which played their music alternately, and added very much to the interest of the meetings. The speeches were interspersed with the rehearsals of the different traditions of the causes of the declension of the Indian nations, and regrettin<; the slow- ness of the progress of their civilization, and attribute to tc-mper- ance, to be the great cause of the reta u of their advancement in industry and civilization. They were invited several times by these, our Canada red brothers, to their Sons of Temperance conventions at Grand River, of which they faithful!}' attended, and they were also invited at one of their conventions held at Monseetown, near London, Ontario, on tiie reservation of the Oneidas ; our cor- net band and quite a number of the menibcrs of our socicl)- complied to the invitatron. The meetings were very interest- ing. There were many s[)eeches made on the subject of tem- perance, and on various topics for the advancement of the respective Indian nations. A speech was also made !))• the author of this book, which began as follows, to-wit : "My dear friends and relatives, I have been interested in the great and good cause of temperance for a number of )ears, and have attended many meetings and assemblies in the tem- perance cause, but this, our present gatherinjr, is to me, unus- ' .:"^>:f'".' /■♦.x;^''' OF 'I'lIK 1R()(JU()IS, OR SIX NATIONS. !=; 3/ r.;illy interesting; it brings iny mind back for more than a cen- tury, when the Tuscaroras v;cre broken down, as a nation, by the pale faces, and expelled from their long-cherished homes, and driven from the graves of our noble ancestors, into the wild and cold-hearted world : and when tlicy were without a friend and without a home, and no one to pity them, in tliis, their time (>i trou'blc. \'ou, tlie Oneidas, gave us the hand of friendshii) and brotherly love, and gave us peaceful homes within your wide extendetl domain, and whisi)ered in our ears the words of consolation ; when, and how. shall we ever forj^et or repay you for the unbomuled kindness that your fathers ex- ercisi.'d towards ours? We have ever given )-ou a place near- est our hearts, with all its affections, here we give you our hands and our hearts in the 'jreat and good cause of temper- ance, and we wish you i)rosi)erit)' in ever)' sense of the word both temporally and morally." This convention was denominated the Six N;i.tions Sons of 'rem[)erance Convention, although we, from the States were not men\bers of that onler. It seems that they deemed it not ilerogatory to their dignit}' that we should be present at llieir conventions, although ours is a common, open and free temp- erance society. We, also, invited them to h.old their convention on our res- ervation, which was a ceded to and held in the fall of 1865, and liiere were delegatv >f several ( )iKM\!as, from IMonseetown, ( )ntaiio, and of the Tuscaroras, from Grand Ki\er, ()ntari(), and ah;o a cornet band of the Onondagas, from Onond.iga Cas- tle, N. \ ., which fax'orctl us with the sweet str.iins of their music, alternatel}', with our coinet band. F.very morning the assembly wouh! meet at the school-house, Mt. Hope, at 10 o'chjck, A. M., ami there form in i)i'oces: ion and march to the council-house, about (Uie mile, to the place of meeting; the two cornet bands plaj-ed their music while the i)rocession was moving, and our temi)erance banners were lloating in the air, as if to saj', rail)' round the temperance banner. .1 ,j ■■\.\ I ::i^ ft' I5.S LECJKNDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS IJ^ !• I .: tl ■ li Our temperance banner was made in the year 1844, by our people, assisted by, then, our Missionery, Rev. G. Rockwood. It is illustrated by several animals illustrative of the several clans that are in the nation ; and also, six stars that are group- ed in the upper corner of the banner, next to the pole, indica- ative, as in the animals, of the several clans, that they, au[j[ht, also, group together and combine as in one, to work against the great monster, intemperance, which is also illustrated by a seven-headed serpent. 7\s this monster is formidable, so aught we abstain from all intoxicating liquors. There is also, a great eagle soaring in the air, in the act of grasping the great seven- headed serpent. This illustrates that in our endeavers in the capacity of a society, to defeat the great monster — intemper- ance—we have a helper, which is the Legislature of the State of New York and the United States, in enacting laws to the effect of staying the great tide of intemperance among the In- dians, in which we should take courage. There was another convention held here in 1S73, when there was quite a large delegation of the Oneidas, from Monsectown, Ontario, and also from Grand River, Ontario, among them was the Tuscarora cornet band of Grand River. The meetintrs were occupied by lectures on temperance and on other topics, which were thought to be the most needed for the advance- ment of the social and moral conditions of our red brethren. The Grand River cornet band, and ours, played, alternately, their angelic melodies, to cheer us in the great temperance cause. It was then the convention of the Sons of Temperance urged upon us to adopt their Order, but oiu* peojjle thought it not advisable to change the order of our society, as it has existed since the year 1830; the form maybe different, but the object is the same. We said we preferred to adhere to the old form of our society, open to all, and free to partake of the benefits of it ; we prayed them God's speed in their turning the great wheel of temperance, and we should lay hold on the same wheel and turn the same way. That same night the con- • » OK TIIK IkOQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. '59 vcntion closed. There was a great bonfire made in the street ; and then tliere was a general farewell, hand-shaking, and it closed with music from the bands in the dead of the night. The next convention was held at Grand River, Ontario, in October, 1S74, in the Six Nation council-house. There was quite a large representation of the Six Nations. Speeches were made on the subject of temperance by all the different nations, to-wit : Mr. Josiah Hill, Sachem, of Grand River, Tuscarora. Mr. David Hill, Mr. Levi Jonathan, " Mr. Clinch, Mr. James Jemison, Mr. Eligah, Seneca. Onondaga. Mohawk. " Cayuga, of Monseetown, Oneida. Mr. William Patterson, Sachem, of Lewiston, Tuscarora. Dea. Samuel Jacobs, " " Mr. William Chew, " " Mr. Elias Johnson, " " Th.c winter after the meetings above, a communication was received by the Secretary of our society, Dea. Samuel Jacobs, from the Tuscaroras of Grand River, Ontario, wishing him to forward to them a copy of the constitution of our temi)erance society, and stating that they wish to form a society based upon the same, which was deferred by Dea. Jacobs until the June following, when Dea. Jacobs, Wm. Patterson, Rev. Thomas Green anil Wm. Chew went to Grand River with the constitu- tion. After it was read in their meeting, the Canadian brothers adopted it and formed a society based on the same. It was then pr()[)(tsed and ailoptetl that a convention should be held in the Six Nations council-house, at Grand River, Ontario, in October, 1875. Accordingly the convention duly met and continuid three da}s. Our cornet band was present, with quite a number of the members of our society. The meetings were vciy pleasant and iiiteresting. The officers were as fol- lows, to-wit : [:l ■i"j;/ •> Um M im I 19' ,t ..-. ,,f ■i ! i6o m:gi:nds, traditions and laws i'rcsiLlcnt — Wni. Chew, of Lcwiston. Vic(.--rrcsidcnt — John Hill, of Grand River. Secretary — Josiah Kill, of Grand River. Before the convention closed it was decided tliat the next convention should be at the Tuscorora Reservation, I.evvis- ton. N. v., on the l/th day of October, 1876, and the ofhcers apiKiinted were as folKnvs, to-\\it : President — Josiali Hill, of (irantl River. Vice-President — iJea. Samnel Jacobs, of Levviston, N. Y. Secretary — Mlias Johnscjn, of Lewiston, N. Y. Just before the appointed time for the conventicjn to meet, there was a ccniimuiiication received b)- Mr. John Mt. Pleas- ant, our head chief, from A. .Sim Lorain, of Cattaraut^us Res- ervation, N. v., beinj; leader of the Seneca national cornet band, askin<; the privile<^^e of a1 tending; the contemplated convention with his l^and. The letter was read at one of the temperance meetings, and was not f)!d\' acceded to, but they were cordially invited to attend, and on the 17th day of (October, 187G, the day appointed frn- the convention, they were on hand. A. Sims Loi^an. with his natio.ial cornet band, of Cattaraugus, and Levi Jonathan, with his Tuscasora cornet band, of Grand River, and .Solomon Cusick, with his temper- ance cornet band, of Lewistcjn, N. Y , were present, which com- prise the three leading bands of music of an}- nations of In- dians. The programme was substantially as ftjllows: The meeting was called to order by tlie president, Josiah lliil, of Grand River. A hynm was sung' by the a.-^sendjl)', in the Indian langu.ige, words, " Oh, ft)r a thousand tongues to sing wy Ui'dccmer':i praise;" tune, Dundee. Pra}'e'r by I )ea. Samuel Jacobs, of 1 a \\ i:.l(iii, i\. V. The following were chosen as commiltees of ananiM im nt. to-wit ; Mr. Wm, Chew, 'if Lewiston, N. V. I si N. >, OF TllK IKOQJOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. ir.i Mr. Wm. Printup, of Lcwiston, N. Y. Mr. Joseph Henry, of Grand River, Ont. Mr. Gcorcjc lk\ivcr, of Grand River, Ont. Mr. Wm. Ncplicw, of Cattaraugus, N. Y. Mr. Wm. Printup made tlie congratulatory !;peecli of tlic meeting, througli an intreprcter, Joseph Henry. The speakers of the first session were as follows, to-wit : Mr. Levi Jonathan, of Grand River, Ont., on Temperance. l)ea. Samuel Jacobs, of Lcwiston, N.Y., on Moral Reform. Mr. Joseph Henry, of Grand River, Ont., on Industry. Mr. A. Sim Logan, of Cattaraugus, N. Y., on Education. The Tuscarora cornet band favored this session with music between the speeches. Adjourned at 2 o'clock P. M. and convened again at 5 oclock P. M. The assembly was called to order b^ che president. The following were the speakers, to-wit : Mr. Simon Carrier, of Grand River, Ont. Mr. Josiah Hill, of Grand River, Ont. Mr. WiUiam Anderson, of Grand River, Ont. Mr. Wm. Chew, of Lewiston, N. Y. Mr. John Mt. I'leasant, of Lewiston, N. Y. Mr. I'^lias Johnson, of Lewiston, N. Y. Mr. Wm. Nephew, of Cattaraugus, N. Y. Music was favored the second session b)' the Seneca national band, of Cattaraugus, N. Y. Adjourned at 8:30 o'clock P. M. to 10 o'clock A. M. to-mor- row, after singing the tune Greenville, words, " Savior, Visit Thy Plantation." Penediction by Rev. Tlionuis Green. Oct. 18. — The assembly was called to order by the Vice- President, Dea. Samuel Jacobs, of Lewiston, at ioo'clock A.M. Openetl by singing an Indian hymn. Prayer by Rev. Thomas Green, of Lewiston, N. Y. The following were the speakers, to-wit: {2u) lit !•'',(■ m :- hi i it- * If' i'T ■' if- ft. M 1 l^t 1 i, i. /*, 1 1 162 LEGL TRADITIONS AND LAWS Mr. Thomas Williams, of Grand River. Mr. George Beaver, " " " Mr. John C. Lay, " Cattaraugus. Adjourned at 1:30 o'clock P. M. to 4 P. M. The assembly was called to order at 4 o'clock P. M. by the President. The following were the speakers, to-wit : Mr. John John, of Grand River. Mr. Levi Jonathan, Dr. Bombry, " " President Josiah Hill, " Mr. Albert Cusick, of Onondaga Castle. Mr. Abram Hill, " " " Rev. Thomas Green, of Lewiston, N. Y. Mr. John Mt. Pleasant, Mr. William Patterson, Mr. Marvin Crows, of Cattaraugus, " This forenoon we were favored with music b)- our temper- ance cornet band between the speeches. lu the afteri.oon session we were favored with music by C. C. Lay's orchestra band, of Cattaraugus, N. Y. President Hill in the chair, business was resumed. Mr. John C. Lay moved that the next convention be held on the Cattaraugus Reservation, N. Y. This was followed by ^ a motion of Levi Jonathan, that the next convention be held at Grand River, Ontario, who claimed that they had adopted the constitution, while the Senccas had not. After some dis- cussion, A. Sim Logan said, " If you will give us a cojjy of your constitution, we will accept of it anil form a society based on the same." It was then put to vote aiul carried that the next conven- tion should be held at Cattaraugus, N. Y,, on the 25th day of .September, 1S77. The following officers were appointed, viz : Mr. l*"Jias Johnson, Tuscaror.i, of Lewiston, N. Y., President. OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 163 Mr. Josiah Hill, Tuscarora, of Grand River, Vice-President. Dr. Bombry, Cayuga, of Grand River, Secretary. On the evening of October 25th, as aforesaid, the conven- tion duly met, and was called to order by the President, E. Johnson ; opened by singing and prayer. Business was then resumed. The Secretary not being present, Prof. Chancy C. Jcmison, of Cattaraugus, was appointed to fill the vacancy. The committee of arrangements was as follows, viz : Mr. John Canada, Seneca, of Cattaraugus. Mr. A. Sim Logan, Seneca, of Cattaraugus. Mr. Job King, Seneca, of Cattaraugus. Mr. Levi Jonathan, Onondaga, of Grand River. Mr. James Jcmison, Cayuga, of Grand River. Mr. Josiah Hill, Tuscarora, of Grand River. Mr. John Mt. Pleasant, Tuscarora, of Lewiston. Mr. Wm. Chew, Tuscarora, of Lewiston. Mr. Daniel La P'ort, Onondaga, of Syracuse, N. Y. Mr. Abram Hill, Oneida, of Syracuse, N. Y. The convention c>-ntinued three days. Many speeches were made by the leading men of the several nations that were represented. The meetings were unusually interesting. Every speaker seemed to be moved to the utmost of their enthu- siasm. The congregations were large, and every face seemed to glow with the interest that was awakened in the great cause of temperance. The order and decorum that prevailed throughout all the meetings was becoming to any community. There were also four cornet bands which favored the assem- blie. witi music, in their proper times, which added very much to the interest of the convention. The bands were as fol- lows, to-wit : Mr. A. Sim Logan's national cornet band, of Cattarau- gus, N. Y. Mr. Chester C. Lay's silver cornet band, of the same place. Mr. Levi Jonathan's Tuscarora cornet band, of Grand River, Ontario. U f-'i f i 164 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS m". .m Rf Mr. Enos Johnson's temperance cornet band, of Tusca- rora, N. Y, On the morning of the last day of the convention before the services began, the four cornet bands consolidated in one, which made over fifty members, and played several tunes to- gether outside of the Presbyterian church, in which the coti vention was held, and made a rousing band of music. The fi. Jt article of the constitution, which reads thus : '' This society shall be denominated the Temjierance Society," was amended so as to read thus: "This society shall be denomi- nated the Six Nations Temperance Society o^ the United States and Canada." The assembly was then called to sign the temperance pledge of this society. There were upwards of two hundred that signed, most of whom resided on the reservation in which the convention was held ; but there were some from tlie Tona- wanda, Alleghany and Onondaga reservations, and also one Oneida, from Green Hay, Wis. The Onondagas and Tonawandas made appli' ition for a copy of the constitution to be sent to them, that they might form temperance societies on tlieir 'cspective reservations, which was granted them, and Mr. Jos Ax Hill was .ippointed to write the copy and send the same to t icm. The convention adjourned on the evening of the third da)-, to meet again the next year at Grand River. Ontario. OFFICERS. Mr. John Canada, Seneca, of Cattaraugus, President. Mr. Wm. Patterson, Tuscarora, of Lewiston, N. \'., Vice- President. Mr. Jpsiah Hill, Tuscarora, of Grand River, Secretar)-. Mr. John Mt. Pleasant, Tuscarora, of Lewiston, N. V., Treasurer. It will be seen by the above that the Tuscaroras have not / been altogether idle on the subject of temperance. The tempta- ;,ji.^.4.^,.,. ' t OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 165 tions of intemperance surrounding our reservation are great. We liope that the legislature will aid us in enacting more rigid laws, for the temptation is working even in cider, which seems to be more intoxicating now than in former times. Frioiidsliip of the Tuscaroras to the United States. The Tuscarora Indians have for more than a century been a finv fvicnd to the United States. In the Revclutionary war they took an active part for the declaration of independence ; man}" took part, but few were enrolled, consequently, but few that drew pension from the United States. 1^'or instance, Nicholas Cusick, a Tuscarora Indian ; where shall you look for another instance of friendship, greater than his, towards the distinguished Mar([uis de Lafayette, or for christian principle more firm and true than he evinced concerning his pension. In tlie war of the Revolution he was under command of La- fa)'ette. Alan)- years after i)eace was concluded, as he was l)assing through Washington, he accidentally heard the name of his old commander »si)oken of in the ofifice in which he stopped on business. The moment his ear caught the sound, his e>'es brightened, and full of earnestness he asked, " Is he yet alive?" " \'es," was the reply, " he is alive and looking well and hearty." With decided emphasis', he said, " I am glad to hear it." " Then you knew Lafayette, Mr. Cusick .?" " Oh, yes ;" he answered. " I knew him well, and many a time in bat- • (■ .; t ,: ! 1 ' I : < B-' ;i * W lit -'til 1 66 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS tic I threw myself between him and the bullets, /o7' I hvcd /limy On asking him if he had a commission, he said, " Yes ; General Washington gave me one, and he was Lieutenant." This suggested to his friends that he was entitled to a pension, and on looking over the records, the truth of what he said was confirmed, and he received one for several years. Afterwards, congress passed a law making it necessary that each recipient should swear that he .could not live without the pension. When the old warrior was called upon to do this, he said, " Now, here is my little log cabin, and it is my own ; here is my patch of ground, where I raise my corn and beans, and there is lake Oneida, where I can catch fish ; with these I can make out to live without the pension, and to say that I could not, would be to lie to the Great Spirit." This is the honor of the Tuscarora hero. How many among those of the white people who receive a pension would have done likewise, for conscience sake. Cusick could speak the Eng- lish language very well, but when he made an audible praj-er, or said grace at the table, he used his native Tuscarora lan- guage, " because," said he, " when I speak in English, I am of- ten at a loss for a word ; when, therefore, I speak to the Great Spirit, I do not like to be perplexed, or have my mind distract- ed to look after a word, when I use my own language, it is like my breath, I am composed." In this is exemplified that he fully understood the reverence which was due to the great Architect of the univer.se. Solomon Longboard, also a Tuscarora Sachem, took an ac- tive part in the Revolutionary war, with many others of his nation. In one of their scouting parties, he, with others, was taken captive by the British Indians and brought to fort Niag- ara, where they were kept for some time, and urged to take up arms and fight against the revolutionists. Finally, this cele- brated sachem, Longboard, held a secret council among the captives, and instructed them all to take arms and advance with the liritish Indians, and use their influence to lead them ■u OF THE IR()(2U()IS, OR SIX NATIONS. 167 to a i)lacc where they nii<,fht be captured, aiul they with the rest, which they successfully effected, and were re-captured by the Americans. Instead of gaining honor and laurels to his crown, he was to be sentenced to be shot as a traitor, but through the entreaties of the Tuscarora chiefs, and the influ- ence of the feasibility of their story that was made on the ex- ecutives, he Avas released, but never drew pension as did Mr. Cusick. The Tuscaroras again evinced their friendship for the Unit- ed States in the war of 1812, when they were asked to guard the Niagara river at Lewiston and down the river, against the British crossing it. Here again we hear of the Tuscarora sachem, Solomon Long- board, with about thirty-five Tuscarora volunteers, stationed at Lewiston on guard. I have recorded some of the names of these volunteers, which I was able to obtain from some of the old people that were j'et living in the year 1878, which are as follows, to-wit : The two sons of Solomon Longboard, Jacob Taylor, Joseph Cusick, John Cusick, David Cusick, John Black Nose and his brother, Samuel Thompson, John Obcdiah, Aaron Templeton. James Bempleton, John Mt. Pleasant, Harry Pat- terson, John Green, Isaac Allen, Capt. Williams, Gau-ya-rc-na- tea, Wm. Printup, better known as little Billy, Black Chief, John Printup, Isaac Green, Surgin Green, George Printu[). There were but few of these that drew pension, as it was alleg- ed that they were not enrolled upon the army roll. On the night of December 19th, 1813, the British army and JJritish Indians crossed the Niagara River near Calvin Hotchkis' i)Iace, about two miles below Lewiston. They iiDticed at fust there were lights going across the river during the night, anil at the dawn of day were despatceed, Jacob Ta\-lnr (better known as Colonel Jacobs), and another Indian to accompany him --both being Tuscaroras. On their return they reported that the liritish Indians had crossed the river in nreat nunilu'is. Tlu- nius was rirrulated in the village of m - ill ■• ■:t .M WA i I I i i!* ;■» ill > ■ ■; r.:^''^ 168 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS Lewistun and the neighboring country, that they might evac- uate their places and go cast, which they did, taking the Ridue road. The Tuscarora vokmtecrs took the rear of the train as they moved eastward, commanded by their Sachem, Solomon Longboard. The British Indians went on the pursuit. After they had gone about two miles from the village of Lewiston, where the Tuscarora Indians branched off on a road leading to their reservation, known as the Indian hill, or Mountain road. As they had advanced part way up the mountain they observed a Canada Indian on horseback, who headed off some of the train, and among the rest was als(j Hates Cooke, of Lewiston. One of his legs had, a little previous to that time, been ampu- tated, and the main Canada force were about half a mile in the rear on pursuit. The commander of the Tuscarora force ordered that the Indian heading off the train be shot, which was done by John Obediah. The Indian tumbled off the horse and fell to the ground, and then got up and ran down the little hill into the wood, where it is said he died from the wound he received. When the report of the gun was h(;ard by the Canadian force and they saw the effect it had on their comrade, they halted. Their commander, Mr. Longboard, (jf the Tuscaroras. which numbered at that time twenty-six, ivowx them selected three men and instructed them to get uj)on and t(j go along the top of the mountain and to blow a horn occasional!)', which they had in their possession, and to keep nearly op[)()site the Canada Indians. The object was to serve as a scare-crow, to make them believe that there was a force also on the moun- tain in the act of flankinir them. But the remainintr force (jf Mr. Longboard rushed down the mountain with their war whoops as if legion were coming down, and pursued the Canada Indians, while the train of white people had gone on in their night. The Canada Indians retreated about one mile and a lialf, near to where the main force were. Then one of I OF Tllli IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 169 their men halted and aimed his gun at one of our men, John Obediah, and the latter also aimed to his opponent, while Sam- uel Thompson got behind a large elm tree. In the meantime, John Obediah spoke to the stranger in all the different six languages of the Iroquois, but did not get an answer. These were the only two men in pursuit at this time, as the rest of them had halted some ways back. Finally the British Indian retreated backwards, keeping aim as he went, and all at once gave a spring and ran off. The three men that were on the mountain kept occasionally blowing the horn as they went, as the road is parallel with the mountain. By this time the train of white people had gone quite a good ways in their flight ; it is evident that the timely intervention of the Tuscarora Indians, saved great slaughter of men, women and children among the white people. The Tuscaroras then went back and kept in the rear of the white people in their flight. The British Indians perceiving that it was the Tuscarora Indians that killed one of their num- ber and repulsed them, made their way to their reservation, (the nation had already deserted their homes), and began to burn 'their houses indiscriminately, and also a meeting-house which was built by them, except eight dollars, a convenient chapel where the early christian Tuscaroras such as Sacaresa and Solomon Longboard, both sachems, with many others, de- lighted to worship the Almighty in the simplicity of their faith. And after they had finished their destruction they went down in pursuit of the fleeing train of white people on the ridge road ; by this time the Tuscaroras had stationed themselves at a log house, eight or ten miles from Lewiston, near Nathan Peterson's, which was used as an armory; when the Tuscaroras fust came, there were a few white men there breaking open the powder kegs in this log house, making it ready to set on fire but the chief, Mr. Longboard. remonstrated in having it burn', ed, ami \\ as interpreted to them by Colonel Jacobs, so tlu'v consented not to destroy the powder. (21) • ■i''' lA- J m I/O LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS !IV ■ ; ( .f m When the British Indians came in sight, Mr. Longboard in- structed his men to keep moving back and forth from the log house or armory, to a thicket in the rear of the house, for the purpose of making the enemy believe that there was a large force stationed there ; the enemy halted and finally went back, and thus the armory was saved. The manouvre of the Tusca- rora Indians in these two cases above, was done with but very little sacrifice on their part, but the beneficence was great ; but then, who cares anything about that, it was nothing but an In- dian affair anyhow ; this will probably be the thought of those who peruse my little pages. When the Tuscaroras evacuated their reservation they went to Oneida Castle and remained there during the war. In about the last part of June, 1814, there was a company of volunteers composed of about thirty Tuscaroras and a number of Oneida Indians, that started from Oneida Castle to Sackett's Harbor, to join themselves to an army that was commanded by General lirown ; on their way there, when they arrived at Tonawanda, cm officer came to them and asked where they were going ; they answered, " to Sackett's Harbor, to join General Brown's army." The ofificer said, " that is right ;" he then asked them if they lacked anything, and they said, " nothing more than being short of victuals, but we can get along with what game we can procure on the way." The officer then gave them one dollar each and told them to go and buy some bread. They then went on, and on the 3d or 4th of July they crossed the river from Sackett's Harbor, and on the 4th, they, with General Brown and his army approached an intrenchment of General Riall's, which was in a strong position, lirown told the Tuscaroras, that he with his army would attack the enemy direct, "but," siiid he, " you must go around and attack the enemy on their flank." It is acceded by all American nations, that the characteristic of the Indians in their war battles, is to fight in scouting and to attack by surprise ; consequently, it seems that General Ri- OF TUB IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 171 all instructed the British Indians, which numbered several hun- dred, that when he was attacked, they the Indians, should move and attack their enemy also on the flank ; it seems that they moved in the shape of a V with the two points foremost. On the 5th occurred the battle of Chippewa ; the contest was obstinate and bloody; the Tuscarora Indians in moving on the flank of Brown's army, they entered in the enemy's moving V of British Indians, and when they arrived at the fork, and not until then, did the Tuscaroras know where they were ; but, nevertheless, they all made the war-whoop, fired and made a desperate charge at one point and broke through the ranks of the enemy. Strange as it may seem, there was but one wounded and that slightly on the cheek, and not one killed ; it was a very close contest, we getting away with the loss of but a few guns and coats, for when the enemy took hold of their coats they would only pull off and run. It was then that the enemy's V closed in on the rear of the Tuscaroras and the bloody scene began ; the enemy fired against themselves, and net until they had completely destroyed themselves did they discover in what frenzy they were ; but at length the Ameri- cans were victorious. These same Tuscaroras were present at the memorable battle at Bridgewater, near Niagara P'alls, where a desperate engagement, it is said, ensued, commencing about sunset and lasting until midnight, where Generals Brown and Scott were wounded. In every instance when the United States were in trouble, the Tuscaroras were ever ready to sacrifice their blood upon the American altar, which they again fully evinced in the war of the rebellion, when twenty-three of the Tuscarora Indian warriors enlisted as volunteers in the United States army, some of whom died in the service of the country ; but some were spared by the good Providence, and were permitted yet to share the sweets of home ; some inherited diseases which they will probably carry down to their graves. In the year 1862 Cornelius C. Cusick, a grandson of Nicholas ■'U ■i! ■ 1: n'n li IP m 'ill rf5 m "J 1 ' , i ll - ; i « ' ■ a. ■ t ; 172 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS Cusick, the revolutionist, was commissioned to the office of Second Lieuipp.ant. There were four other Tuscaroras mus- tered in with him in the 3d N. Y. Vohmteers, I32d Reg't, Co. D, to-wit : Jeremiah Peters. John Peters, Hulett Jacobs, George Garlow, and there are others who enlisted afterwards at dif- ferent times during the war, to wit : Twelfth N. Y. Vol's, Cav., Co. M.— O/.ias Chew. John Pcm- pleton, Charles Pempleton, Nichodemus Thfnnpssii. Bat. K, 1st N. Y. Light Art.— Samuel Jk-arfoot (F.ly Pat- terson), \Vm. Joseph (Lewis Patterson), Alexander John (Davis Miller), Zhacariah Johnson (Elijah Johnson), \Vm. Anderson (Samuel Jack). Clinton Mt. Pleasant, 30th, transferred to 31st X. J. Vol's, Inv. colored brigade. Wilson Jacobs, ist N. Y., Vet. Cav., Co. M. Edward Spencer (Edward Anderson), Inv. sway, Co. A, 17th Corps. Alvis D. Hewett, 151st N. Y. Vol's. Thomas Cornelius, Co. K, 2d N. Y. Mounted Rilles. Charles Green, 120th N. Y. Vol's, Co. K. John Longboard, Samuel Mt. Pleasant. During the war, Cornelius C. Cusick was proinotnl to I*'irst Lieutenant, and at the close of the war he was promoted to Captain. He was some time afterwardfi commissioned into the regular army of the United St.ites as I-'irst Lieutenant. » 4!i< OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 173 i ,, Antique Rock Citadel of Kieniika ; OR, GAU-STRAU-YEA. •th There has been much said by different writers of aboriginal forts, and fort builders of western New York, in availing them- selves of steeps, gulfs, defiles, and other marked localities, in establishing works for security or defense. This trait is, how- ever, in no case more strikingly exemplified than in the curious antique work of Kienuka. The term " Kienuka," means the stronghold or fort ; but the original name of this fort is Gau- strau-yea, which means bark laid down ; this has a metjiphori- cal meaning, in the similitude of a freshly peeled slippery elm bark, the size of the fort and laid at the bottom as a flooring, so that if any person or persons go iti they must be circum- spect, and act according to the laws of the fort, or else the}' will slip and fall down to their own destruction. The citadel of Kienuka is situated about four miles cast- ward of the inlet of Niagara gorge at Lewiston, on a natural escarpment of the ridge on the Tuscarora reservation, known at present by the name of the Old Saw Mill. There 'is quite an interesting tradition connected with the antique fort Gau-strau-yea. At the formation of the confed- eracy of the Iroquois, there was a virgin selected from a nation which was called Squawkihaws (a remote branch of the Sene- ca nation), and was ordained a Queen or Peacemaker, who was stationed at this fort to execute her office of peace, her official name was Gc-keah-saw-sa. i m till 174 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS !;■ ! The fort was built by the Senecas aided by the Squavvki- haws, on an eminence on the north side of a steep of perpen- dicular rocks, which was about eight or ten feet down ; and on the east, south and west sides they dug a trench four or five feet deep, and in this trench were placed timbers which were put up perpendicularly and jointed as close as possible, they projected above the ground ten or twelve feet, inclosing a place of about twenty by fifty rods. The house for the Queen was in the center of this inclosure or fort, and adjacent houses were built in two rows, with a trail or path between them di- recting towards the Queen's house ; on each end and inside of the fort, which ran lengthwise east and west, was an entrance corresponding with the trail prepared leading to the house of the Queen. Then a suitable number of warriors were selected from the Squawkihaws' nation, the ablest bodied, the swiftest runners and the most expert in the arts of war, which were stationed at this fort (and made their dwelling in the adjacent houses), to keep it in order and execute its regulations and laws ; they were to be supported with subsistance and all other necessaries of life, and furnished with suitable implements of war by the Iroquois. In order more fully to understand the laws and regulations of the fort or place of peace, it must be observed that at this period there were contentions, strife and wars between all the different known nations of the continent ; nation against na- tion, like fishes of the waters, the larger ones eating the smaller. The warrior who can report in his rehearsal in the war-dance of having obtained the greatest number of scalps from the enemy, was the most honored and had the most lau- rels in his crown ; consequently, they were constantly forming companies for an expedition to some nation in quest of honor and the applause of their nation. At this time the confederacy of the Iroquois was formed, and this place of peace was ordain- ed for the purpose, it may be, to alleviate the distrer/ and com- motion of the nations of the forest. OF TUfi IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 75 The laws were that there shall be no nation or nations of the Iroquois make war against any nation or nations of the same league, under any circumstances; and the Iroquois must not make war with any alien nation without the consent of the Queen. This fort must ever be held sacred, as it is a place of peace, by never allowing the shedding of blood within the inclosure. All executions decreed by the Queen should be made outside, of the fort. And any person or persons, aside from the keepers of the fort, should, on entering, never go any faster than a walk. And the Queen must always have meals ready at every hour of the day and night — allegorically speaking, it is called a kettle of hominy hanging, for all fugitives and pursuers from any nation on the continent to partake. All fugtiives, irrespective of their nationalities, flee- ing for life, from their enemy, when once their feet touch the threshold of the fort, their life is safe ; then the Queen con- ducts him or them into one end of her house, which is length- wise east and west, with a door at each end and a partition in the center of the room by a curtain made of deer skin, and when the pursuer comes, she also conducts him or them to the other end of the room. She then gives to each of these parties, which are enemies to each other, sustenance to eat ; when this being done, she rolls away the curtain, so that each party can see the other ; when they have done eating they pass out and go home to their respective nations in peace. It is contrary to law after a fugitive arrives at this fort and has gone out, for the enemy to execute their death scheme without the consent of the Queen ; and if this be violated, then the Iroquois demand the trespasser from the nation to which he or they belong. If this is acceded to, 'tis well ; then the trespassers are executed, of which the penalty is death. But should the nation harbor the trespasser, then the nation must suffer the devastations of war at the hands of the Iroquois. I would here Sriy a few words in relation to the question ilr. f: Mi I7C l.KGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS ,;e war against us. They final!}' prevailed on her, so she concK i::ied ♦ '^ Senec.i nation to be exterminated. At this time ttierc wa^. one warrior nf the Senecas who had (22) m VkM-^: , '^ ■ I WJI 11 •;. I,! 'SfcT'fcg'-' ~.»^''. j^;;;Vtlvy:'>, 178 LEGENDS, TRADI'lIONS AND LAWS married into the Squawxihows' nation and lived^among them. When he heard that the Queen had given up the Seneca nation into the hands of the Squawkihows, to be exterminated, he resolved to go to a place called Tah-nyh-yea, among the Sene- cas — east side of Genesee river, on the Seneca river — where dwelled the head Sachem of the Seneca nation, by the name of Onea-gah-rc-tah-wa, and malte his report to that venerable Sachem, the decision of the Queen, which was final. To ac- complish this, without exciting the suspicion of hi? family and neighbors, he went under the pretense of going sway to hunt on the lake shore of Ontario, and would not be expected home in two or three days. Early one fine morning this warrior started on his high mission from his house, which was located near the fort (Gau-strau-yca). He went northerly and touched Lake Ontario, where he had a canoe for the purpose of hunt- ing and fishing, in which he embarked and rowed eastward to the mouth of the Oswego river, and up the river as far as the Seneca river; then up that river to the settlement of the Senecas. He there left his canoe and made for Tah-nyh-yea, and went directly to the Sachem, (Onea-gah-re-tah-wa's) wigw im in the dead of night, and called him out doors. He there related to the Sachem the decree of the Queen, concerning the Seneca nation and the massacre, and requested him to keep secret the way he had received the message. The warrior im- mediately returned home in the same way that he came. In the morning the venerable Sachem went out early and gave the war cry, which denoted that they were massacred, that war was inevitable, and for the warriors to rally and prepare for war. The nation soon gathered. He tlien related the message he had received during the night, and said he had heard that some of their warriors were massacred at the fort (Gau-strau-yea), and that the Queen had decreed their exter- mination at the hand of the Squawkihows. He then appoint- ed four warriors of the best runners to go and spy the fort and th»' setllenient if thcit was any indication <»f preparation for r^ ■;,''■;' OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 179 war, with instructions that with the very first indication of a preparation for war that they should at once dispatch one of their number home to make his report, and the others to go on and to observe the progress of the preparation and make their reports accordingly. The four gallant warriors now made their way to the settle- ment at Gau-strau-yea. When they arrived, they saw only the eldest people, from about upwards of sixty-five years of age, and the younger children, from about fourteen years of age and under. While they were traveling they saw two boys picking up sticks for firewood. One of them asked the smaller boy where his father was. The bright little fellow spoke promptly and said, "Gone to war." Before the older boy could divert his attention by touching him, the little fellow finished his answer. This they took to be news, and immedi- ately dispatched one o' their number home to make the report. When this one made his report to Onea-gah-re-tah-wa, he at once dispatched runners to the other nations of the league to inform them of what had happened to their father, the Seneca nation, and the desecration of their fort. The three that were left after the one was dispatched home, went on to a settle- ment of the same nation at Gill Creek, above Niagara Falls, where they found the people the same as at Gau-straw-yca. The elders and the youngers only were at horr.e. They also asked a boy there where his father was. He aswered : "At Kah-kwah-ka," which is south of Buffalo. These three spies took pains to get at Kah-kwah-ka in the night. When they got there they fouud a great multitude gathered, and engaged in the var dance. The spies went right among the multitude without being suspected, because their language was the same as the Squawkihows, and took part in the dances. They saw the warriors in their dance have a head of a bear, tossing it about and striking it with the war club, and at the same time exclaiming : "Wc will have the head of Onea-gah-re-tah-wa, (the Seneca Sachem) and strike it thus," at the same time i- •Si. ImM 1 80 •n' LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS hitting it with their club. And the war chief said that they would start in the morning and on the third day they would have the head of Onea-gah-re-tah-wa strung up on a pole. With that the spies dispatched home the second one to make his report of what they saw and heard, and this one retired from the crowd privately some little time before daybreak. The two still remained with the crowd, talking and chatting with them as if they were one of their nation. In the morning the grand march took their place in the war path towards their intended destruction. The ablest warriors took the front rank ; then rame the older ones ; after them the boys upwards of fourteen years of of age ; lastly came the able bodied females. Thus they marched until the next night, when they prepared ground for a dance, and went through the same performance as the night before. Now the third spy withdrew from the crowd just before daybreak to make his report and keep the Senecas posted in the advance of the enemy. On the second day the march was renewed, and [)ro- ceeded in the same order as on the first day. The next night was also spent as that of the last, in flattering themselves of the wonderful things that they were to accomplish. About two hours before daybreak the last spy also withdrew from the crowd and made for hc^e, to inform them how far off they were from the Seneca settlement. After the last one had made his report, Onea-gah-re-tah-wa arose from his seat, with that majestic movement which only would become him as th(; head Sachem of the Seneca nation, and said : " To you, first, my most beloved comrades, the Chiefs and Sachems of our noble nation, I would bring to your minds the past in a few words, and it may be for the last time." How often have we sat to- gether around the council fire of our nation. I congratulate you all in the good feeling that has always prevailed in our deliberations of various subjects in relation to the welfare and happiness of our nation, and more particularly our sisters and their offspring, and we have not been unmindful even of those 4 ,4V.r3 OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. I8l that are not yet born, for in them have we hoped of the exist- ence of our nation. Have not the nations of the Iroquois re- spected and even honored your counsels around the great council fire of the league, and now is destruction awaiting your dawn ? Hut if that is the will of tlve Great Spirit, by running we cannot flee from it. And to you, our sisters, have we not ever been mindful of you in our deliberations and ever wished you success ; and have we not, as it were, embraced you and your children in our arms to protect you ? We now commend you to the Great Spirit, who is our helper. And now to you, most noble warriors, in whom the council looks for the enforce- ment of their decrees. In bringing difficulties and contentions among yourselves, have we not brought back to you peace, by meting out to you justice ; and in your troubles have we not whispered in your ears words of consolation ? And we have ever placed you close to our hearts. In you is the power of the nation, and in you we look for safety. You have under- stood it that our nation has been given into the hands of our enemy by the Queen, and we are now in jeopardy. As I have said, we cannot, by running, flee from the decree of the Great Spirit, but if He is for us we shall prevail. He will give strength to our bow, direct our arrows, give might to our arms and direct our blows, and put to flight our enemy, and we shall conquor. He is able to give us peace in this our time of trouble, it we all but trust in Him. It is he that made us and He is able to preserve us from our enemies. Now m}- dear relatives in the different ties of blood, it is not meet that we should have our blood spilt within our domain, nor to have the dead bodies of our enemies strewed within our settlement. We must now march and meet our foe. We must not turn our heel to them; but if we are to be exterminated, let the last drop of Seneca blood be spilt upon the bosom of our mother earth, and let the sun in the heavens be the witness that we tlie in the defence of our wives, children and homes, which is pleasing in th.c sigh.t of the Great Spirit." Ill- s'"! I ,V'.L-V^' <.'Ui,atf'-..:'.,I'-1^,'.. ''.'M/^Lj.''lr II :H(fl 182 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS : iSii They now made their march, and after they had advaneed a number of miles they met the enemy. It was now sometime in the afternoon. A desperate battle ensued. The storm of the arrows headed with flint, and also the creased poisoned arrows was kept up until evening, when a peculiar war cry was given, which indicated rest, at which in an instant the storm of arrows ceased, when the Sachems of the two parties came near together and deliberated on the conditions of rest during the night, that each party should retreat a ways and rest with- out either molesting the other during the night, but in the morning they should come together and resume the battle. In the morning the battle was renewed, even with more vigor than the day before, until nearly noon, when the war cry of rest was again given. The fight was again suspended for the purpose of taking refreshments. At this time Onea-gah-re-tah-wa said to the Chiefs of the Squawkihows, " While we are resting let us have a recreation by having a wrestling between the two parties, and each one should have a war club in his belt, and the one that is de- feated should die at the hands of his victor with the war club." The Squawkihows accepted the challenge. Then the wrest- ling was continued to several contests, in which the Senecas were victorious. There were several of the very ablest war- riors of the Squawkihows killed in this simple contest of wrest- ling. They again resumed the battle. At this time the Senecas reserved quite a number of their smartest warriors, with each of them a bunch of bark prepared for the purpose of tying prisoners. They were in the rear and laid low . The battle was still more decperate. They finally came in hand-in-hand. Then they made use of their war clubs. At this time the Squawkihows summoned to their aid their reserved company, which they kept in the rear. The young women came on the flank of the Senecas' ranks, and beat them with clubs, which made the Senecas falter for a while. Finally they called on ^% OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 183 their reserved warriors, who made a desperate charge on the enemy and made them retreat. The Senecas began taking prisoners. They tied their hands behind them to trees. In this way they took a great many prisoners, particularly the females. The warriors rallied and fought as they retreated. After a while a company suddenly broke off from their ranks and ran away. In a moment they had disappeared in the forest. Those that remained rallied again and fought as they were retreating until evening, when all at once the whole com- pany wheeled right around, gave a spring, and off they went. The Senecas made their pursuit, every now and then taking a prisoner until dark, when they rested and camped for the night. The next morning they selected the best runners, the ablest bodied and the most skilled in the arts of war, who were sent out to exterminate the nation, to begin at the settlement of fort Gau-strau-yea, and so on south to the other settlements of the nation. When the Seneca invaders came at the fort (Gau-strau-yea), they found it was evacuated and all the settlement had fled. The trail they left behind pointed southward plainly. The invaders followed to the next settlement at Gill Creek, above Niagara Falls, which they found vacated.- They still followed on, bent on retaliation. They then came to the settlement of Kah-kwas, which they also found evacuated. They kept on the pursuit until they came to the settlement of the Eries, and also found it evacuated as the others. Still they kept on their pursuit, and when they came to the Alleghany river they saw pieces floating, which indicated the making of canoes. They immediately ascended the river. After they had gone some waj's they found where the enemies had been encamped, and saw indications where they had built several canoes. The fires indicated that they must have just embarked that nioniing and rowed down the river. They then went dow i the river some distance, and finally gave up the chase. The :,y.-'')r.'/'7'-i r:-' /• :;<■ 'h''-'. ■/> ■*:^ m\ t: I "i '^1 184 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS invaders returned to their settlement — the Seneca nation. A glorious victory crowned their severe trial and labor. A grand council was called of the Seneca nation for the just returned warriors to make their report of the glory they had won, and the complete overthrow of the eneni}-. After they had finished making their report a great feast was made, and after that they were again permitted to smoke the calumet of peace, and once more settle down as heretofore, as one of the bright stars of heaven, among the several nations of the Iroquois. At night they had a general dance, both young and old, irre- spective of sex, to celebrate the great victory they had won. The Squawkihows have never been heard of since, as a nation, to the present time. It is supposed that they must have gone in the far west and changed their name; but this is merely a supposition. Those that the Senecas took captives are still among the different settlements of the Seneca nation, more particularly among the Cattaraugus reservation. That is the way the Senecas came in possession of so large a dominion. They held their domain east of the Genesee river and also took possession of the dominion of the .Squawkihows. which run from Lake Ontario and along Niagara river and Lake Erie to the Pennsylvania line. The office of the Queen Ge-keah-sau-sa, of fort Gau-strau-yea, for several hundred years (it is said by the .Senecas about six- hundred years ago .she evacuated the fort), the Iroquois did not reordain, for the reason, as it is alleged by thcni, that the female is the weaker sex of humanity. Physical!)-, it must fol- low that they are weaker also mentally, as it is evinced by the treachery of the Queen in her easily being dectiyed in making her rash decision concerning the massacre in the fort, and also in the giving up of the Seneca nation in the hands of their enemy. They considered it not prudent to vest so much authority in the weaker sex. And as no one has been con- sidcr%3 capable or worthy of the high honor that Ge-keah-sau-wa once reigned, until about twrntv-five \-. .J . § ^ ■ ■ . % : m iSSi];' (1 194 LEGENDS, TRAf)ITIONS AND LAWS their parents to suffer in their old age. Be kind to them, and support them. The Great Spirit requires all children to love, revere and obey their parents. To do this is highly pleasing to Him. The happiness of parents is greatly increased by the affection and the attention of their children. To abandon a wife or children is a great wrong, and produces many evils. It is wrong for a father or mother-in-law to vex a son or daughter-in-law, but they should use them as if they were their own children. It often happens that parents hold angry disputes over their infant child. This is also a great sin. The infant hears and comprehends the angry words of its parents. It feels bad and lonely. It can see for itself no happiness in prospect. It concludes to return to its Maker. It wants a happy home, and dies. The parents then weep because their child has left them. You must put this evil practice from among you if you would live happy. 'The Great Spirit when He made the earth never intended that it should be made merchandise, but His will is that all His creatures should enjoy it equally. Your chiefs have vio- lated and betrayed their trust by selling lands. Nothing is now left of our once large possessions save a few small reser- vations. Chiefs and aged men, you, as men, have no lands to sell. You occupy and possess tract in trust for your children. You should hold that trust sacred, lest your children are driven from their homes by your unsafe conduct. Whoever sells land offends the Great Spirit, and must expect a great punish- ment after death." Johnson here suspended the naration of the discourse of Handsomelake's, and thus addressed the council : "Chiefs, keepers of the faith, warriors, women and children — " You all know that our religion teaches that the earl\' da}- is dedicated to the Great Spirit, and that the late da}- is granted to the spirits of the dead. It is now meridian, and J must close. Preserve in your minds that which has been said. Accept m}' thanks for your kind and patient attention. It is If ■"/tsf ,■> ''.'.■ miPiif mm wmmmmt wm ■*w OK THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 195 meet that I should also return my thanks to the Great Spirit that he has assisted me thus far in my feeble frame to instruct you. We ask you all to come up again to-morrow at early day, to hear what further may be said. I have done." The next morning, after the council had been opened in the usual manner, Johnson thus continued : " Relatives, uncover now your heads and listen. The day has thus far advanced, and again gathered around the council- fire I see around me the several nations of the long house. This gives me great joy. I see also seated around me my counselors (keepers of the faith), who have been regularly appointed, as is the custom of our religion. Greetings have been exchanged with each other. Thanks have been returned to Handsomelake. Thanks also have been returned to our Creator by the council now assembled. At this moment the Great Spirit is looking upon this assembly. He hears our words, knows our thoughts, and is always pleased to see us gathered together of good. The sun is now high, and soon it will reach the middle heavens. I must therefore make haste. Listen attentively, and consider well what you shall hear. I return thanks to our Creator, that He has spared your lives through the dangers of the darkness. I salute and return my thanks to the four Celestial Beings who have communicated what I am about to say to you. I return thanks to my grand- father (Handsomelake), from whom you first heard what I am about to speak. We all feel his loss. We miss him at our councils. I now occupy his place before you, but I am con- scious that I have not the power which he possessed. "Counselors, warriors, mother sand children — Listen to good instruction. Consider it well. Lay it up in your hearts, and forget it not. Our Creator when 1 fe made us designed that we should live by hunting. It sometimes happens that a man goes out for to hunt, leaving his wife with his friends. After a long absence he returns and finds that his wife has taken another husband. The Great Spirit .says this is a great sin, and must be put from among us. i jii '/', "U ■"' . U'^'i' , -:'^:: "'.'■i' ■Ms. ml If 196 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS 'Sj . V " The four messengers further said that it was wrong for a mother to punish a child with a rod. It is not right to punish much, and our Creator never intended that children should be punished with a whip or be used with much violence. In pun- ishing a refractory child water only is necessary, and it is suffi- cient. Plunge them under. This is not wrong. Whenever a child promises to do better the punishment must cease. It is wrong to continue it after promises of amendment are made. Thus they said. " It is right and proper always to look upon the dead. Let your face be brought near to theirs, and address them. Let the dead know that their absence is regretted by their friends, and that they grieve for their death. Let the dead know, too, hbw their surviving friends intend to live. Let them know whether they will so conduct themselves that they will meet them again in the future world. The dead will hear and remember. Thus they said. " Continue to listen while I proceed to relate what further they said. Our Creator made the earth. Upon it He placed man, and gave him certain rules of conduct. It pleased Him also to give them many kinds of amusement. He also ordered that the earth should produce all that is good for man. So long as he remains, it will not cease to yield. Upon the sur- face of the ground berries of various kinds are produced. It is the will of the Great Spirit that when they ripen we should return our thanks to Him, and have a public rejoicing for the continuance of these blessings. He made everything which we live upon, and requires us to be thankful at all times for the continuance of His favors. When our life (corn, &c.), has again appeared, it is the will of the Great Spirit that we assemble for a general thanksgiving. It is His will also that H is children be brought and to participate in the feather dance. Your feast must consist of the new production. It is proper at these times, should any present not have their names published, or any changes have been made, to announce them OF THE IPOQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. '97 for a )unish Id be ;ver a It is made. then. The festival must last four days. Thus they said. Upon the first day must be performed the feather dance. This ceremony must take place in the early day, and cease at the middle day. In the same manner, upon the second day, is to be performed the Thanksgiving dance. On the third, the Thanksgiving concert. Ah-do-weh is to be introduced. The fourth day is set apart for the peach-stone game. All these ceremonies instituted by our Creator must be commenced at early day, and cease at the middle day. At all these times we are required to return thanks to our Grandfather Heno (Thunder) and his assistants. To them is assigned the duty of watch- ing over the earth and all its produces for our good. The great Feather and Thanksgiving dances are the appropriate ceremonies of Thanksgiving to the Ruler and Maker of all things. The Thanksgiving concert belongs appropriately to our grandfathers. In it we return thanks to them. During the performance of this ceremony we arc required also to give them the smoke of tobacco. Again we must at this time re- turn thanks to our mother — the earth — for she is our relative. We must also return thanks to our life and its sister. All these things are required to be done by the light of the sun. It must not be protracted until the sun has hid its face and darkness surrounds all things. " Continue to listen. We have a change of season. We have a season of cold. This is the hunting season. It is also one in which the people can amuse themselves. Upon the fifth day of the new moon Nis-go-wuk-na (about February ist), we are required to commence the annual j.ubilee of thanksgiv- ing to our Creator. At this festival all can give evidence of their devotion to the will of the Great Spirit, by participating in all of its ceremonies. " Continue to listen. The four Messengers of the Great Spirit have always watched over us, and have ever seen what was transpiring among men. At r>ome times Handsomelake was tran.sported by them to the regions above. He looked 1 . u d: il ■ ,11; * . , ■5 > ^ M I ^:!{ .,,.;,( , ^*■' 81 m f 198 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS down upon the earth and saw an assembly. Out of it came a man. His garments were torn, tattered and filthy. His whole appearance indicated great misery and poverty. They asked him how this spectacle appeared to him. He replied that it was hard to look upon. They then told him that the man he saw was a drunkard ; that he had taken the firewater and it had reduced him to poverty. Again he looked and saw a woman, seated on the ground. She was constantly engaged in gathering up and secreting about her person her worldly effects. They said the woman you see is inhospitable. She is selfish to spare anything, and will never leave her worldly goods. She can never pass from earth to heaven. Tell this to your people. Again he looked, and saw a man carrying in each hand large pieces of meat. He went about the assembly to give each a piece. This man they said is blessed, for he is hospitable and kind. He looked again, and saw streams of blood. They said thus will the earth be if the firewater is not put from among you. Brother will kill brother, and friend kill friend. Again they told him to look towards the east. He obeyed as far as his vision reached. He saw the increasing smoke of numberless distilleries arising and shutting out the light of the sun. It was a horrible spectacle to witness. They told him that here was the place that manufactured the fire- water. Again he looked, and saw a costly house, made and furnished by the pale faces. It was a house of confinement where were fetters, ropes and whips. They said those who per- sisted in the use of firewater would fall into this. Our Creator commands us to put this destructive vice far from us. Again he looked and saw various assemblages. Sor of them were unwilling to listen to instruction. They were rioters, and took great pride in drinking the strong waters. He observed another group who were half inclined to hear, but the temptations of vice that surrounded them allured them back, and they also revelled in the fumes of the firewater. He saw another assem- blage who had met to hear instruction. This they said was ?^'-?. ,!!•■ OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 199 pleasinij^ to the Great Spirit. He loves those who will listen and obe}'. It has grieved Him that His children are now divided by separate interests, and are pursuing so many paths. It pleases Him to see His people live together in harmony and quiet. The firewater creates many dissensions and divisions among us. They said the use of it would cause many to die unnatural deaths. Many will be exposed to cold and freeze. Many will be burned, and others w ill be drowned while under the influence of the firewater. " I'riends and relations, all these things have often hap- pened. How many of our people have frozen to death ; how many have burned to death ; how many have been drowned while under the influence of the strong water. The punish- ment of those who use the firewater commences while t'' / arc yet on the earth. Many are now thrown into houses of con- finement uy the pale faces. I repeat to you the Ruler of us all requires us to unite and put this evil from among us. Some say the use of the firewater is not wrong, and that it is food. Let those who do not believe it is wrong make this experiment: Let all who use the firewater assemble and organize into a council, and those who do not into another council near them. A fll:* 200 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS own maker, nor the builders of your own fortuues ; all things are the gifts of the Great Spirit, and to Him must be returned thanks for their bestowal ; He alone must be acknowledged as the giver. It has pleased Him to make differences among men, but it h wrong for one man to exalt himself above another. Love each other, for you are all brothers and sisters of the same great family. The Great Spirit enjoins upon all to observe hospitality and kindness, especfally to the needy and helpless, for this is pleasing to Him. If a stranger wanders about your abode, speak to him with kind words ; be hospitable toward him ; welcome him to your home, and forget not always to mention the Greet Spirit. In the morning give thanks to the Great Spirit for the return of day and the light of the sun. At n'ght renew your thanks to Him that His ruling power has preserved you from harm during the day and that night has again come in which you may rest your wearied bodies. " The four messengers said further to Handsomelake, ' Tell your people, and particularly the keeper of the faith, to be strong-minded and adhere to the true faith. We fear the evil- minded will go among them with tempations. He may intro- duce the fiddle ; he may bring cards and leave them among you ; the use of these is a great sin. Let the people be on their guard and the keepers of the faith be watchful and vigilant that none of these evils may find tht;ir way among the people. Let the keepers of thr faith preserve the law of moral conduct in all its purity. When meetings are to be held for instruction and the people are preparing to go, the evil-minded is then busy. He goes from one to another whispering many tempta- tions, by which to keep them away. He will even follow per- sons into the door of the council and induce some at that time to bend their steps away; many resist until they have entered, and then leave. This habit once indulged in, obtains last hold and the evil propensity increases with age. This is a great sin, and should be at once abandoned. Thus they said.* *• Speak evil of no one ; if you can say no good of a person, j,-,'-V /.r ■PPP OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 20 1 then bo silent ; let all be mindful of this, for these are the words of our Creator. Let all strive to cultivate friendship with those who surround them. This is pleasing to the Great Spirit. "Counselors, warriors, wom'^n and children — I shall now rest. I thank you all for you kind and patient attention. I thank the Great Spirit that He has spared the lives of so mrny of us to witness this day. I request j^ou all to come up again to-morrow at early day. I-et us all hope that until we meet again the Creator and Ruler of us ali may be kind to us and oreserve our lives, na-ho." The council on the following day was opened with a few- short speeches by some of the chiefs or keepers of the faith, returning thanks for the privileges of the occasion, as usual at councils ; after which Johnson, resuming his discourse, spoke as follows : "Friends and relatives, uncover now you heads. Continue to listen to my reherirsal of the saying communicated to Hand- somelake by the four messengers of the Great Spirit. We have met again around the council fire. We have 'ollowed the ancient custom and greeted each other. This is right and highly pleasing to our Maker, lie now looks down upon this assemblage; He sees us all ; He is informed of the cause of our gathering, and it is pleasing to Him. Life is uncertain ; while we live let us love each other; let us sympathize always with the suffering and needy; let us also always rejoice with those who are glad. This is now the third day. and my time for speaking to you is drawing to a close. It will be a long time before we meet again ; man)- moons and seasons will have passed before the sacred council-brand be again uncovered ; be watchful, therefore, and remember faithfully what you maj'now hear. "In discoursing yesterdax' upon the duties of the keejjers of the faith, I omitted some important things. The Great Spirit created this' office ; He designed that its duties should never end. There are some who are selected and set apart by our (25) ' ■' '-X"j'.'y''' V.iri m 111! ' Hj!' mi n vyij. 202 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS 111 llil f \M' IJ'M •)V it:^ . -.;>->-' i'li- i f"';;* * » Maker to perform the duties of this ofifice ; it is therefore their duty to be faithful, and to be always watching. These duties they must ever perform during their iives. The faithful when they leave this earth will have a pleasant path to travel. The same ofifice exists in heaven, the home of our Creator. They will take the same place when they arrive there. There are dreadful penalties awiting those keepers of the faith who re- sign their office without a cause. Thus they said. "It was the original intention of our Maker that all our feasts of thanksgiving should be seasoned with the flesh of wild animals, but we are surrounded by tie pale faces, and in a short time the woods will all be remo\ ed ; then there will be no game for the Indians to use in their feasts. The four messengers said in consequence of this that we might use the flesh of domestic animals. This will not be wrong. The pale faces are pressing upon ever\' side. You must therefore live as they do. How far you can do so without sin I will now tell )ou. You may grow cattle and for yourselves a comfortable dwelling house. This is not sin, and it is all you can safely adopt of the customs of the pale faces, ^'ou cannot li\e as they do. Thus they said. "Continue to listen. It has [)leascd our Creator to set apart as our life the thn;e Sisters. I"'or this special favor let us ever be thankful. When we have gathered in our harvest let the people assemble ;ind hold a general thanksgixing for so great a good. In this way you will show }-our obedience to the will and pleasure of )()ur Creator. Thus they said. " Many of jou are ignorant of the spirit of nuxiicine. It watches over us constantly, and assists the neecK' whenever necessity refpiircs. The Great Spirit designed th.it some man should possess the gift and skill in medicine, but lb- is pained to si^e a inctlicine man ijiaking I'.vorbitant charges for attend- ing the sick. Ouv C're.itor made for ustobacc-er if m ■■•||: m ii: W'^ i m fir m \d -A, 264 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS •v^- period. After they have atoned for their sins they pass to heaven ; but when they have committed either of the great sins, (witchcraft, murder, or infantcide), they never pass to heaven, but are tormented forever. Having conducted Hand- somelake to this place, he saw a large dark-colored mansion, covered with soot, and beside it stood a lesser one. One of the four then held out his rod, and the top of the house moved up until they could look down upon all that was within. He saw many rooms. The first object which met his eyes was a haggard-looking man, his sunken eyes cast upon the ground, and his form half consumed by the torments he had undergone. This man was a drunkard. The evil-minded then appeared and called him by name. As the man obeyed his call, he dipped from a caldron a quantity of red-hot liquid and com- manded him to drink it, as it was an article he loved. The man did as he was commanded, and immediately from his mouth issued a stream of blaze. He cried in vain for help. The tormentor then requested him to sing and make himself merry as he had done while on earth, after drinking the firewater. Let drunkards take warning from this. Others were then sum- moned. There came before him two persons who appeared to be husband and wife. He told them to exercise the privilege they were so fond of while on earth. They immediately com- menced a quarrel of words. They raged at each other with such violence that their tongues and eyes ran out so far they could neither see nor speak. This, said they, is the punish- ment of quarrelsome and disputing husbands and wives. Let such also take warning, and live together in peace and harmony. Next he called up a woman who had been a witch, b'irst he plunged her into a caldron of boiling liquid. In her cries of distress she begged the evil-minded to give he- some cooler place. He then immersed her into one containing liquid at the point of freezing. Her cries were then that she was too cold. This woman, said the four messengers, shall always be tormented in this manner. He proceeded to mention the pun- r-' i^ Pipiiilii qpplliipip <.f;;'^-v;:; OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 205 ishment which awaits all those who cruelly ill-treat their wives. The evil-minded next called up a man who had been accus- lomed to beat his wife. Having led him up to a red-hot statue of a woman, he directed him to do that which he was fond of while upon earth. He obeyed, and struck the figure. The sparks flew in every direction, and by the contact his arm was consumed. Such is the punishment, they said, awaiting those who ill-treat their wives. From this take seasonable warning. He looked again .and saw a woman, whose arms and hands were nothing but bones. She had sold firewater to the Indians, and the flesh was eaten from her hands and arms. This, they said, would be the fate of rum-sellers. Again he looked, and in one apartment saw and recognized Ho-ne-ya-wus (farmer's brother), his former friend-. He was engaged in removing a heap of sand, grain by grain, and although he labored con- tinually, yet the heap was not diminished. This, they said, was the punishment of those who sold land. Adjacent to the house of torment was a field of corn filled with weeds. He saw a woman in the act of cutting them down, but as fast as this was done they grew up again. This, they said, was the punishment of lazy women. It would be proper and right, had we time, to tell more of this place of punishment, but my time is limited and must pass to other things. " The Creator made men dependent upon each other. He made them sociable beings ; therefore, when your neighbors visit you, set food before them. If it be your next door neigh- bor, you must give him to eat. He will partake and thank you. "Again they said, ' Vou must not steal.' Should you want for anything necessary, you have only to tell your wants and they will be supplied. This is right. Let none ever steal any- thing. Children are often tempted to take things home instruct their pa re I children in this rule. 1 ill ■), H w ' i J' I'. # A m/\ .'.(f, .If- ^1 ■ i:t ■ J It, V lift-. ' ■ Many of our people live to a very old age. Your Creator m mmm ^iPPiiiPiii '-^^-f^.:'::': 206 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS . \ .1 - ii,'*ii« says that your deportment toward them must be that of rever- ence and affection. They have seen and felt much of the miseries and pains of earth. Be always kind to them when old and helpless. Wash their hands and face and nurse them with care. This is the will of the Great Spirit. " It has been the custom am.ontj us to mourn for the dead one year. This custom is wron^y. As it causes the death of many children, it must be abandoned. Ten days mourn for the dead, and not longer. When one dies, it is right and proper to make an address over the body, telling how much you loved the deceased. Great respect for the dead must be observed among us. "At another time the four messengers said to Handsomelake that they would show him the 'destroyer of villages' (Wash- ington), of whom you have so often heard. Upon the road leading to heaven he could see a light, far away in the distance, moving to and fro. Its brightness far exceeded the brilliancy of the noonday sun. They told him the journey was as follows : First they came to a cold spring, which was a resting place ; from this point they proceeded into pleasant fairy grounds, which spread away in every direction; soon they reached heaven; the light was dazzling; berries of every description grew in vast abundance; the size and quality were such that a single berry was more than sufficient to appease the appetite ; a sweet fragrance perfumed the air; fruits of every kind met the eye. The inmates of this celestial abode spent their time in amusement and repose. No evil could enter there. None in heaven ever transgress again; families are reunited and dwell together in harmony; they jDossessed a bodily form, the senses and the remembrance of earthly life; but no white man ever enters heaven. Thus they said. He looked and saw an inclosure upon a plain, just without the entrance of heaven. Within it was a fort. Here he saw the 'destroyer ©f villages,' walking to and fro within the inclosure. His countenance in- dicated a great and good man. They said to Handsomelake, ^ ■;■* ^"IP n^^^mt '■">' "f L' ' ", * ' OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. J07 ' The man you see i.'- the only pale face that ever left the earth ; he was kind to you when on the settlerrient of the great diffi- culty between the Americans and the Great Crown (Great liiitain), you were abandoned to the mercy of your enemies. The Crown told the great American that as for his allies, the Indians, he might kill them if he liked. The great American judged that this would be cruel and unjust; he believed they were made by the Great Spirit, and were entitled to the enjo\-- ments of life ; he was kind to you and extended over you his protection ; for this reason he has been allowed to leave the earth. Hut he is never permitted to go into the presence of the Great Spirit. Although alone, he is j^erfectly happy. All faithful Indians pass by him as they go to heaven. They see him and recognize him, but pass on in silence. No words ever pass his lips. " Friends and relatixes, it was by the influence of this great man that we were spared as a people, and yet live. Had he not granted us his protection, where would we have been ? Perished — all perished. "Tliefour messengers further said to Ilandsomelake that they were fearful that unless the people repent and obey his commands, the forbearance and patience of the Creator would be exhausted ; that He would grow angry with them and cause their increase to ceaso. "Our Creator, made light and darkness; He made the sun to heat and shine over the world; He made the moon, also, to shine b)- night and to cool the world, if the sun make it too hot b>' day. The keeper of the clouds, by direction of the (ireat Spirit, will then cease to act. The keeper of the springs and running brooks will cease to rule them for the good of man. The sun will cease to fulfil its ofifice. Total darkness will tlien cover the earth. A great smoke will rise and spread (jver the face of the earth. Then will come out of it all mon.- stcrs and poisonous animals created by the evil-minded, and they, with the wicked upon the earth, will perish together. m ..m ,3- ■ ■e* 208 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS IH™ fS ' |M V. < ill' ' P fe' 11 1 ^4 ■ '.-s-' ■i:.' " But before this dreadful time shall come, the Great Spirit will take home to Himself all the good and faithful. They will lay themselves down to sleep, and from this sleep of death they will arise and go home to their Creator. Thus they said. " I have done. I close thus, that you may remember and understand the fate which awaits the earth, the unfaithful and the unbelieving. Our Creator looks down upon us. The four Beings from above see us. They witness with pleasure this assemblage, and rejoice at the object for which it is gathered. It is now forty-eight years since we first began to listen to the renewed will of our Creator. I have been unable, during the time alloted to me, to rehearse all the sayings of Ga-ne-o-di-yo (Handsomelake); I regret very much that you cannot hear them all. "Counselors, warriors, women and children, I have done, I thank you all for your attendance, and for your kind and patient attention. May the Great Spirit, who rules all things, watch over and protect you from every harm and danger while you travel the journey of life. May the Great Spirit bless all, and bestow upon you life, health, peace and prosperity ; and may you in turn appreciate His great goodness. This is all." OF THE IROQUOIS, OK SIX NATIONS. 209 SketcliCvS of an Iroquois Council, or Condolence. 5 i A ^ In jsMvinj; the description of the condolence, I have chosen the following writings of Mr. G. S. Riley, of Rochester, to-wit : A grand council of the confederate Iroquois was held Octo- ber I, 1845, ^t the Indian councilhouse, on the Tonawanda reservation, in the county of Genesee. Its proceedings occu- pied three days. It embraced representatives from all the six nations — the Mohawk, the Onondaga, the Seneca, the Oneida, the Cayuga, and the Tuscarora. It is the only one of the kind which has been held for a number of years, and is probably thfc last which will ever be assembled with a full representation of the confederate nations. The Indians from abroad arrived at the council-grounds, or the immediate vicinity, two days previous, and one of the most interesting spectacles of the occasion was the entry of the different nations upon the domain and hospitality of the Senecas, on whose grounds the council was to be held. The t'cprcscntation of the Mohawks, coming as they did from Can- ada, was necessarily small. The Onondagas, with acting Todo- tahhoh, of the confederacy, and his two counselors, made an t'xccediiic;ly creditable appearance. Nor was the arra)' of the Tuscaroras, in point of numbers, at least, deficient in attractive and improving features. We called upon and were presented to JMack Smith, the most in- fluential and authoritative of the Seneca sachems. He is about .sixty years old. is some\shat portly, is easy enough in his man- i' ml iv=.-v';-..-.V^i-i. ^v.,;l'. ippip mmfm ^p'^npiiiiiiiniipppiiPPif^ m IF: II il 2IO LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS ners, and is well disposed, and even kindly' towards all who convinced him that they have no sinister designs in coming among his people. Jemmy Johnson is the great high priest of the confederacy. Though now sixty-nine years old, he is yet an erect, fine-look- ing and energetic Indian, and is hospitable and intelligent. He is in possession of the medal presented by Washington to Red Jacket in 1792, which, among other things of interest, he showed us. It would be imcompatible with the present purpose to de- scribe all the interesting men who were assembled, among whom were Captain Frost, Messrs. Le Fort, Hill, John Jacket, Dr. Wilson and others. We spent much of the time during the week in conversation with the chiefs and most intelligent Indians of the different nations, and gleaned from them much information of the highest interest, in relation to the organiza- tion, government, laws, religion and customs of the people and characteristics of the great men of the old and once powerful confederacy. It is a singular fact, that the peculiar govern- ment and national characteristics of the Iroquois is a most in- teresting field of research and inquiry, which has never been very thoroughly, if at all, investigated, although the historic events which marked the proud career of the confederacy have been perseveringly sought and treasured up in the writings of Stone, Schoolcraft, Hosmer, Yates and others. Many of the Indians speak English readily, but with the aid and interpretations of Mr. Ely S. Parker, a young Seneca of no ordinary degree of attainment in both scholarship and general inteUgence, and who, with Le Fort, the Onondaga, is well versed in old Iroquois matters, we had no difficulty in convers- ing with any and all we chose to. About midday on Wednesday, October i, the council com- menced. The ceremonies with which it was opened and con- ducted were certainly unique — almost indescribable; and as its proceedings were m the Seneca tongue, they were in a great V^^i :jiVal:;«': ft-.' ■ OF THE IkOQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. ail measure unintelligible, and in fact, profoundly mysterious to the pale faces. One of the chief objects for which the council had been con- voked, was to fill two vacancies in the Sachems of the Senecas, which had been made by the death of the former incumbents; and preceding the installation of the candidates for the succes- sion there was a general and dolorous lament for the deceased Sachems, the utterance of which, together with the repetition of the laws of the confederacy, the installation of the new Sachems, the impeachment and disposition of three unfaithful Sachems, the elevation of others in their stead, and the per- formance of the various ceremonies attendant upon the e pro- ceedings, consumed the principal part of the afternoon. At the setting of the sun a bountiful repast, consisting of an innumerable number of rather formidable looking chunks of boiled fresh beef, and abundance of bread and succotash, was brought into the council house. The manner of s^/ing grace on this occasion was indeed peculiar. A kettle being brought, hot and smoking from the fire, and placed in the cen- ter of the council house, there proceeded from a single person, in a high shrill key, a prolonged and monotonous sound, re- sembling that of the syllable K/rt/r or jW/. This was immedi- ately followed by a responsive but protracted tone, the syllable ivhc or sivc, and this concluded grace. It was impossible not to be somewhat mirthfully affected at the first hearing of grace said in this novel manner. It is, however, pleasurable to re- flect that the Indians recognize the duty of rendering thanks to the Divine Being in some formal way for the bounties and enjoyments which He bestows; and, were an Indian to attend a public feast among his pace faced brethren, he would be affect- ed perhaps to a greater degree of marvel at witnessing a total neglect of this ceremony than we were at his singular way of performing it. After supper commenced the dances. All day Tuesday and on Wednesday, up to the time that the places of the deceased ■lii^ ppp 212 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS Jf -tj Sachems had been filled, everything like undue joyfulness hiul been restrained. This was required by the respect customarily due to the distinguished dead. But now the bereaved Sachems being again filled, all were to give utterance of gladness and joy. A short speech by Capt. I'rost, introductory to the en joyments of the evening, was rccei\ed with acclamatory appro- bation, and soon eighty or ninety of these sons and daughters of the forest — the old men and the young, the maidens and the matrons — were engaged in the dance. It was indeed a rare sight. Only two varieties of dancing were introduced the first even ing, the trotting dance and the fish dance. The figures of either are exceedingly simple, and but slightly different from each other. In the first named, the dancers all move round a circle in a single file, keeping time in a sort of trotting step to an Indian song of yo-ho-ha, or yo-ho-ha-ha-ho, as sung by the leader, or occasionally by all conjoii od. In the other, there is the same movement in single file round a circle, but every two persons, a man and a woman, or two men, face each other, the one moving forward, the other backward, and all keeping step to the music of the singers, who are now, however, aided by a a couple of tortoise or turtle shell rattlers, or an aboriginal drum. At regular intervals there is a sort of cadence in the music, during which a change of position by all the couples takes place, the one who had been moving backward taking the place of the one moving forward, when all again move onward, one-half of the whole, of course, being obliged to fol- low on by dancing backwards. One peculiarity in Indian dancing would probably strongly commend itself 'to that class among pale faced beau and belles denominated bashful; though, perhaps, it would not suit others as Well. The men, or a number of them, usually begin the dance alone, and the women, or each of them, select- ing the one with whom she would like to dance, presents her- .self at his side as he approaches and is immediately received 1 IfV,'-".' ^M te/- ; t^ E/';'; mm If^^ i^/mmifmifW'^ ... * :<'V'' , . 1 'A^ ■' • •■■'^' OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 13 r into the circle. Consequently, the young Indian beau knows nothing of the tact required to handsomely invite and gallantly lead a lady to the dance ; and the young Indian maiden, un- annoyed by obnoxious offers, at her own convenience, grace- fully presents her personage to the one she designs to favor, and thus quietly engages herself in the dance. And more- over, while an Indian beau is not necessarily obliged to ex- hibit any gallantry as towards a belle till she has herself mani- fested her own good pleasure in the matter ; so, therefore, the belle cannot indulge herself in vascilant flirtations with any considerable number of beaux without being at once detected. On Thursday the religious ceremonies commenced, and the council from the time it assembled, which was about 11 o'clock A. M., till 3 or 4 o'clock 1'. M., gave the most serious attention to the preaching of Jimmy Johnson, the great high priest, and the second in the succession under the new revelation. Though there are some evangelical believers among the In- dians, the greater portion of them cherish the religion of their fathers. This, as they say, has been somewhat changed by the new revelation, which the Great Spirit made to one of their prophets about forty-seven years ago, and which, as they also believe, was approved by Washington. The profound regard and veneration which the Indiaus have ever retained towards the name and memory of Washington is most interesting evidence of his universally appreciated worth, and. the fact that the red men regard him not merely as one of the best, but ."iS the very best man that ever has ex- isted, or that will ever exist, is beautifully illustrated in a sin- gular credence which they maintain even to this day, namely, that Washington is the only white man who has ever entered heaven and is the only one who will enter there till the end of the world. Among the .Senecas public religious exercises takes place but once a year. At these times Jimmy Johnson preaches hour after hour for three days, and then rests from any public dis i '' nil I' '■' hi ■■ ' m ril ¥ 214 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS t\ ti I "St 1 : charge of ecclesiastical offices the remaining three hundred and sixty-two days of the year. On this, an unusual occasion, he restricted himself to a few hours in each of the last two days of the council. We were told by young Parker, who took notes of his preaching, that his subject matter on Thursday abounded in good teachings, enforced by appropriate and happy illustrations and striking imager)\ After he had fin- ished the council took a short respite. Soon, however, a com- pany of warriors, ready and eager to engage in the celebrated corn dance, made their appearance. They were differently attired. While some were completely enveloped in a closely- fitting and gaudy-colored garb, others, though perhaps without intending it, had made wonderfully close approaches to an imi- tation of the costume said to have been so fashionable in many parts of the State of Georgia during the last hot summer, and which is also said to have consisted simply of a shirt collar and a pair of spurs. But, in truth, these warriors, with shoulders and limbs in a state of nudity, with faces bestreaked with paints, with jingling trinkets dangling to their kees, and with feathered war caps waving above them, presented a truly pic- tu"esque and romantic appearance. When the center of the council house had been cleared and the musicians with the shell rattlers had taken their places, the dance commenced, and for an hour and a half — perhaps two hours — it proceeded with surprising spirit and energy. Almost every posture of which the human frame is susceptible, without absolutely mak- ing the feet uppermost and the head for once to assu .e the place of the feet, was exhibited. Some of the attitudes of the dancers were really imposing, and the dance as a whole, could be got up and conducted only by Indians. The women, in the performance of the corn dance are quite by themselves, keep- ing time to the beat of the shells and gliding along sideways, without scarcely lifting their feet from the floor. It would probably be well if the Indian everywhere could be inclined to refrain at least from the more grotesque and ?* ?,> ' ^ ji'"' . k. \ V. ■■^^ \ff- '• 4 rf . '. % ''\- ■' ' "V ■ ''.''■'K f. *;'^i w- f'i . ^■^.' ^■•"S- '* k .Ri'' M i" "■ '41 L. r ' ■am •m .'.V-^ m ^\J! ■vH'-* ) witiiifmmmmmmm 'i OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. boisterous peculiarities of the dance. The influence of these cannot be productive of any good, and it is questionable whether it will be possible, so long as they are retained, to assimilate them to any greater degree of civilization, or to *m more refined methods of living and enjoyment than they now possess. The same may be said of certain characteristics of the still more Vandalic war dance. This, however, was not in- troduced at the council. A part of the proceedings of Friday, the last day of the council, bore resemblance to those of the preceding day. Jimmy Johnson resumed his preaching, at the close of which the corn dance was again performed, though with far more spirit and enthusiasm than at the first. Double the numbers that then appeared, all hardy and sinewy men, atttired in orig- inal and fantastic style, among whom was one of the chiefs of the confederacy, together with forty or fifty women of the different nations, now engaged, and for more than two hours persevered in the performance of the various complicated and fatigueing movement of this dance. The appearance of the dusty throng, with its increased numbers, and of course pro- portionably increased resources for the production of shrill whoops and noisy stamping, and for the exhibition of striking attitudes and rampant motions, was altogether strange, won- derful and seemingly superhuman. After the dance had ceased, another kind of sport — a well contested foot race — claimed attention. In the evening, after another supper in the council house, the more social dances — the troting, the fish, and one in which the women alone partic- ipated — were resumed. The fish dance seemed to be the favorite, and being invited to join in by one of the chiefs, we at once accepted the invitation, and followed in mirthful chase of pleasure with a hundred forest children. Occasionally the tlanccs are characteiized with ebulitions of merriment and flashes of real fun, but generally a singular sobriety and decorum are observed. Frequently, when gazing at a throng of sixty ' , >f ■ (T 'ir \ '■-■■' I ■^\ 1^ M vv ^r-T i '■ i- mmmmffjifimiifiiit'^^ 1. Itii 2l6 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS or perhaps one hundred dancers, we have been scarcely able to decide which was the most remarkable, the staid and im- pcrturable gravity of the old men and women, or the complete absence of levity and frolicsomeness in the young. The social dances of the evening, with occasional speeches from the sachems and chiefs, were the final and concluding ceremonies of this singular but interesting affair. Saturday morning witnessed the separation of the various nations and the departure of each to their respective homes. The writer would liked to have said a word or two or rela- tion to the present condition and prospects of the Indians, but the original design in regard to both the topics and brevity of this writing having been already greatly transcended, it must be deferred. The once powerful confederacy of the Six Nations, occupying in its palmy days the greater portion of New York State, now number only a little over 3,000. Even this remnant will soon be gone. In view of this, as well as of the known fact that the Indian race is everywhere gradually diminishing in numbers, the writer cannot close without invok- ing for this unfortunate people renewed kindliness, sympathy and benevolent attention. It is true, that with some few ex- ceptions, they possess habits and characteristics which render them difificult to approach ; but still, they arc only what the creator of us all has made them. And let it be remembered, it must bo a large measure of kindliness and benevolence that will repay the injustice and wrongs that have been inflicted upon them. t St ( m W''". OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 217 ATOTARHO. and •'-\ ':*^M:' Atotarho, who by tradition was an Onondaga, is the great embodiment of the Iroquois courage, wisdom and heroism, and he is invested with allegoric traits which exalt him to a kind of superhuman character. Unequalled in war and arts his fame spread abroad, and exalted the Onondaga nation in the highest scale. He was placed at the head of the confed- eracy, and his name was used after his death as an examplar of glory and honor. While like that of C.x'sar, it became per- petuated as the official title of the presiding Sachem of the confederacy. He was a man of energy and renown. And such was the estimation in which he was held in his life time, and the popular veneration for his character cfter death, that, as above denoted, his name became the distincfive title for the office, and is not yet extinct, although the tribes have no longer war to prosecute or foreign embassadors to reply to. ',x* :5 :'.i' Iroquois Laws of Descent. ■■■[*' At the establishment of the confederacy, fifty sachems were founded and a name assigned to each, by which they are still know n, and these names are kept as hereditary from the begin- ning to the present time. There were also fifty sub-sachems, or w ar chiefs that is, tu every sachem was given a war chief, (2/) ,'■'4, iv \ , 2l8 LEG'iNDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS ijs to stand behind him to do his biddings. These sachemships were, and are still confined to the five nations; the Tuscar is were admitted into the confederacy without enlarging the framework of the league, by allowing them their own sachems and sub-sachems, or war chiefs, as they inherited from their original nation of North Carolina. But how, it may be asked, is a government so purely popular, and so simple and essentially advisory in its character, to be reconciled with the laws of hereditary descent, fixed by the establishment of heraldic devices and bringing its proportion of weak and incompetent minds into office, and with the actual power it exercised and the fame it acquired. To answer this question, and to show how the aristocratic and democratic principles were made to harnoni/.e in the Iroquois govern- ment, it will be necessary to go back and examine the laws of descent among the tribes, together with the curious nnd intric- ate principles of the clans or tribal bonds. Nothing is more fully under the cognizance of observers of the manners and customs of the Indians, than the fact of the entire nation or tribe being, separated into distinct clans, each of them distinguished by the name and device of some (|uad- ruped, bird, or other object in the animal kingdom. This de- vice is called by the Tuscaroras Or-reak-sa, (clan). The Irocjuois have turned it to account by assuming it as the vcr}- basis of their political and tribal bond. A government wholly verbal m.-'it be conceded to have re- quired this proximity and nearness of access. The original five nations of the Iroquois \\erc, theoretically, separated into eight clans or original families of kindreds, who are distinguish- ed respective!)- by the clans of the wolf, bear, turtle, deer, beav- er, falcon, crane and the plover. I find that there is a little difference in the clans of the Tuscaroras, which are the bear, wolf, turtle, beaver, deer, eel and snipe. It is conlrary to the usage of the Indians that near kindred should intermarry, and the ancient rule interdictr> all intermarriage between persons of ,)j . I ,-'^ V '':^^ ■.' ". :-.:Ap ,»•.. m::. mm^^ ippiipiip OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 219 t^'v the ..amc clan. They must marry into a clan which is different from their own. A Bear or Wolf male cannot marry a Bear or Wolf female. By this custom the purity of blood is preserved, while the ties of relationship between the clan*; themselves is strengthened or enlarged. The line of descent is limited exclusively in the female's children. Owing to this arrangement, a chieftain's son cannot succeed him in ofifice, but in case of his death, the right of de- scent being in his mother, he would be succeeded, not by one of his male children, but by his brother ; or failing in this, then by the son of his sister, or by some direct, however re- mote, desccndent of a maternal line. It will be noticed that the children are not of the same clan as the-r father, but are the same as thei.- mother. Thus, he might be succeeded by his own grandson, by the son marrying in his father's clan, and not by his daughter. It is in this way that the chieftainship is continually kept in a family dynasties in the female line. While the law of descent is fully recogni..ed, the free will of the female to choose a husband from any of the clans, exclud- ing only her own, is made to govern and determine the distri- bution of political power, and to fix the political character of the tribe. Another peculiarity may be here stated. In choos- ing a candidate to fill a vacancy of the chieftainship, made either by death or misconduct, the power is lodged in the old- er women of the clan to choose the candidate, and then to be submitted for the recognition of the chiefs and sachems in council, for the whole nation. If approved, a day is appointed for the recognition also of the Six Nations, and he is formally installed into ofifice. Incapacity is alw.iys, however, without exception, recognized as a valid objection to the approval of the council. I 220 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS LEGENDARY. A On long winter evenings the Indian luinters gatherd around their fireside, to listen to the historical traditions, legends of war and hunting, and fairy tales which had been handed down through their fathers and father's fathers, with scarcely any va- riation for centuries, kindling the enthusiasm of the warrior and inspiring the little child someday to realize similar dreams, and hand his name down to posterity as the author of similar exploits. They have superstitious fears of relating fables in summer ; not until after snow comes will they relate of snakes, lest Ihey should creep into their beds, or of evil genii, lest they in some way be revenged. It is very difficult for a stranger to rightly understand the morals of their stories, though it is said by those who know them best, that to them the story was always an illustration of some mora' or principle. To strangers they offer all the rites of hospitality, but do not open their hearts. If you ask them they will tell you a story, but it will not be such a story as they tell when alone. They will fear your ridicule and suppress their humor and pathos ; so thoroughly have they learned to distrust pale faces, that when they know that he who is present is a friend, they will still shrink from admitting him within the secret portals of their heart. And when you have learned all that language can convey, there are still a thousand images, suggestions and associations recurring to the Indian, which can strike no chord in your heart. The myriad voices of nature are dumb to you, but to them they are full of life and power. "-M ■ £ I OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 221 Wr: NO. 1. — THK HUNTKk AND MEDICINE LEGEND. There once lived a man who was a great hunter. His gen- erosity was the theme of praise in all the country, for he not only supplied his own family with food, but distributed game among his friends and neighbors, and even called the birds and animals of the forest to partake of his abundance. For this reason he received the appellation of " Protector of Birds and Animals." He lived a hunter's life till war broke out between his own and some distant nation, and then he took the war path. He was as brave a warrior as he was a skillful hunter, and slew a great multitude of the enerny, till all were lying dead around him, except one, who was a mighty iiian of valor, and in an un- guarded moment the hunter received a blow from his toma- hawk on the head, which felled him to the earth ; his enemy then took his scalp and fled. Some of his own party saw what befell him, and supposing him dead left him on the field of battle ; but a fox who had wandered this way immediately recognized his benefactor. Sorrowful, indeed, was he to find him thus slain, and began to revolve in his mind some means of restoring him to life. '* Perhaps," said he, " some of my friends may know of a med- icine by which his wounds may be healed, and he may live again." So saying, he ran into the forest and uttered the " death lament," which was the signal for all the animals to congregate. From far and near they came, till hundreds and thousands of evcrj- kind had assembled around the body of the hunter, eagerly inquiring what had happened. The fox explained he had accidentally came that way and found their friend .stretcb'.jd lifeless upon the earth. The animals drew near and examined him more closely, to be sure that life was e.xtinct ; they rolled him over and over on the ground and were satisfied that he was dead, there was not a single sign of life. Then they held a grand council of which the bear was the I I; a- % -yy} , V LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS ti^^ (!'■ !^' I speaker. When all were ready to listen, he asked if any one present was acquainted with any medicine which would restore the dead man to life. With great alacrity each one examined his medicine box, but fjiuls nothing adapted to this purpose, lieing defeated in thei: noble object of restoring their friend, all join in a mournful howl — a requiem for the dead. This at- tracted a singing bird, the oriole, who came quietl}' to learn the cause of the assembling of the great concourse and their profound lamentation. The bear made known the calamity which had befallen them, and as the birds would feel them- selves equally afflicted, he requested the oriole to flyaway and invite all the feathered tribes to come to the council and see if their united wisdom cannot devise a remed\- that will restore their friend to life. Soon were assembled all the birds of the air, even the great eagle of the Iroquois, which was seldom induced to appear up- on the earth, hastens to pay her respects to the remains of the renowned and benevolent hunter. All being satisfied that he was really dead, the united council of birds and animals, which remained convened, decided that his scalp must be recovered, saying that any bird or animal who pleased might volunteer to go on this mission. The fox was the first to offer his services and departed full of hope that his zeal would be crowned with success. But after many days he returned, saying he could find no trace of man's footsteps, not a chick or child belonged to any settlement. The great love which they bore their friend prompted several others to go upon the same mission, and to the animals belonged the first right as they had first found him ; but at length the birds were anxious to show their devo- tion and the pigeon hawk begged leave to make the first flight, as he was more swift of wing than any other and could visit the whole world in the shortest space of time. They had scarcely missed him when he returned ; he said he had been over the entire earth and found it not. They did not consider his voyage satisfactory, as he had flown so swiftly that it was impossible for him to see anything distinctlj' b}' the way. !■ ippipiipiliilii! ffii^ OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 223 ■^ ^^''• Next the white heron proposed that he be sent, because of being so slow of wing he could see every object as he passed. On his aerial voyage he discovered a plain covered with the vines of the wild bean, laden with the delicious fiuit; it was too great a temptation for him to resist, and he descended to enjoy a feast. So gluttonously did he partake that he could not rise again from the earth, and the council after many days of anxious waiting, called for a substitute. Here the crow came forward and acknowledged his fitness for such, an of^ce, as he was also slow of wing and was accustomed to hov- er settlements and discern them afar off, he would not be sus- pected of any particular design should he linger near the one that contained the scalp. The warrior who possessed the coveted treasure knew the birds and animals were holding council on the field of battle to devise means to recover it, but when the crow drew near he was not alarmed. The smoke of the wigwams indicated a set- tlement, and as the crow sailed lazily through the air at a great height above the roofs of the cabins, he espied the scalp which he knew must be the one he sought, stretched out to dry. After various unsuccessful strategems, he was able to sei/e it, and flew away to exhibit his trophy to the council. Now, they attempted to fit it to his head, but, being dr)-, it was impossible ; so search was made to find something with which to moisten it, but in vain. Then slowly moved forward the great eagle, and bids them listen to his words. " My wings are never furled ; night and day, for }ears and hundreds of years, the dews of heaven have been collected up- on my back, as I sat in my nest above the clouds. Perhaps these waters ma>' have a v'"*Me no earthly fountain can pos- ^soss, we will see." Then she plucked a feather from her wing and dipped it in the dewey elixir, which was then applied to the shriveled scalp, and lo ! it became pliable and fresh as if just removed. Now it would fit, but there must be a healing pov/er to cause the flesh to unite, and again to awaken life. 'I. t 1 LF.GENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS i a m m All were anxious lo uw ioiricthing in the great work, there- fore all went forth to bring rare leaves, flowers, barks, the flesh of animals and the brain of birds, to form a healing mixture, When they returned it was prepared, and having been moist- ed with the dew, wa^ applied to the scalp, and instantly ad- hered to it and became firm. This caused the hunter to sit up; he looked around in astonishment upon his numerous friends, unable to divine the meaning of so strange an assemblage. Then they bade him stand upon his feet and told him how he was found dead upon the plain and how great was the lamen- tation of all those who had so long experienced his kindness, and the efforts they had made to restore him to life. They then gave him the compound which had been the means of restoring him to life, saying, " it was the gift of the Great Spir- it to man. He alone had directed them in the affairs of the council, had brought the eagle to furnish the heavenly moist- ure, and gave them wisdom in making the preparation, that they might furnish to man o medicine which should be effect- ual for everj' wound." When they had finished the animals departed to their for- est haunts, the eagle soared again to his eyrie, and the birds of the air flew away to their nests in the tall trees, all happy and rejoicing that they had accomplished this great good. The hunter returned to his home and spread abroad the news of the miracle and the knowledge of the wonderful medi- cine, which is used to this day among the Iroquois by those who are the favorites of the Great Spirit. NO. 2. An Indian hunter went forth to hunt, and as he wandered through the forest he heard a strain of beautiful music far off among the trees. He listened, but could not tell whence it came ; he knew it could not be by any human voice, or from any instrument he had ever heard. As'it came near it ceased. The next evening he went forth again, but he heard no music, and again, but in van. ■„ I l;; •■^■^ U fev ( OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 225 M. ■ *,^J'„. t ^■Yv' Then came the Great Spirit to him in a dream and told him to fast, wash himself till he was purified, then he might go forth and would hear again the music. So he purified himself and went again among the dark trees of the forest, and soon his ear caught the sweet strains, as he drew near they became more beautiful ; he listened till he learned them and could make the same sweet sound, then he knew that it was a plant with a tall green stem and long tapering leaves. He tvjok his knife and cut the stalk, but ere he had scarcely finished, it healed and was the same as before; he cut it again, and again it healed. Then he knew it would heal diseases, he took it home, dried it by the fire, pulverized it, and applied a few particles of it to a dangerous wound ; no sooner had it touched the wound than it was healed. Thus the Great Spirit taught the Indian the nature of medicinal plants, and directed him. where they were to be found, when and how used. MKUICINK LECJENDS. The two above are the legends concerning the principal medicines used among the Iroquois. The ancient manner of administering them, was to take a small wooden goblet and go to a running stream, dipping toward the way which the stream ran, fill the goblet and return, place it near the fire with some tobacco near it ; a prayer is offered while tobacco is thrown upon the fire, that the words may ascend upon the smoke. The medicine is placed on a piece of skin near the goblet, being very finely pulverized, is taken up with a wooden spoon and dusted upon the water in three spots, in the form of a trian- gle, thus — ^.*^. The medicine man then looks at it critically, if it spreads over the surface of the water and whirls about, it is a sign that the invalid will be healed ; if it sinks directly in the places where it was put, there is no hope, the sick person must die and the whole is thrown away. Once in six months there is a great feast made, at the hunt- ing season in fall and spring. On the night of the feast as soon (28) !,' H r 226 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS m ■ 5-' US it is dark, all who are present assemble in one room, where no light or fire is allowed to burn, and placing the medicine near the covered embers, the tobacco by its ssde, they com- mence singing, which proclaims that the crows arc coming to their feast, and also many other birds and various animals, the ' brains of whose species form part of their medicine. At the end of the song some one imitates the caw of a crow, the songs of the birds, the howls of the wolf, etc., as if the animals were present. Three times in the course of the night they offer a prayer, while throwing tobacco on the smothered flames, asking that the people may be protected from all harm, and if they re- ceive wounds that the medicine may be rffectual in healing them. At the commencement of the ceremonies the doors are lock- ed, and no one is allowed to enter or leave the house while they continue ; neither is any one allowed to sleep, as that would spoil the medicine. The feast begins just before the dawn of day The master of ceremonies first takes a deer's head, bite? iiH" a piece, imitates the cry of a crow and passes the head of ihe animal to another, who does the same, till all have tasted and imitated the peculiar note of some bird or animal. As soon as it begins to be light the presiding officer takes a duck's bill, and dipping it full of the medicine, gives it to each one present, who puts it in a bit of skin and wraps it in several coverings, keeps it carefully until the next semi-annual feast. The skin of a panther is preferred for the first envelope if it can be obtained. Those who take part in the ceremonies are medicine men. Chiefs are allowed to be present ; also, any who liave been cured of any disease by the medicine. Without the building the young people gallicr loi merri- ment, and the fragments of the feast arc given to them when it is finished. ^: .;■'... .. \ OF THE IR()(JU()I.S, OK SIX NATIONS. 227 When ihc medicine described in the second legend is used, the tune is sung which was heard at its discovery, both at the ceremonies of the feast and the time of administering it. They seem to think the ceremonies effectual in making the medicinal qualities of the compound imperishable. Each med- icine man has a large quantity which he keeps in a bag, and in order not to exhaust the whole, now and then, adds pulver- ized corn roots, squash vines, etc., and whenever it is adminis- tered several persons assemble and sing. Both kinds are con- sidered especially useful in healing wounds received in war. In reading the first legend there will be seen very humorous allusions to the habits of the pigeon, heron and crow, and there is a curious invention inspiring faith in the means used in heal- ing. I have seen many who afifirmcd that they had tested the wonderful powers of each. f - i 1, 1,- CIVILIZATION. ! Whatever ma)- be the theories on the subject of Indian civ- ilization, 1 think it must be evident that the present posi- tion of the Tuscarora nation on their reservation, is extremely favorable for the attainment of that object. They can no longer live by the chase. It is not now with them as it was with the In- dians on the Delaware, when William Penn said, " their pleas- ures feed them — hunting, fishing and fowling." Surrounded by the white settlements, placed in the vicinity of cities and towns, they are obliged to apply to agriculture and other modes of labor, for the means of subsistence. They are now building good houses, planting orchards of various kinds of 4 mm mmmm ---,-v*' 228 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS Ff i' M fruit, raising stock, etc.; they have horses and carriages. Ar- tificial wants — the veiy pillars of civilization — are increasing, upon them. These require exertion, call into action their men- tal faculties, force them to provide for coming exigencies, grad- ually tames down their wild nature, and prepares them for that subdued, but improved state, in which alone is to be found the high<,'st point of cultivation, as well as the highest enjoyment intended for man in this probationary world. If this experiment fails, we may, with melancholy, certainly look forward to a period when this futile branch of the human family shall be swept into oblivion, when the fine sounding names of the lofty mountains, the noble rivers, the splendid cataracts, the great mland seas and the silvery lakes will be the sole memorials of a race, that, only two or three centuries ago, covered the face of this vast continent. On the other hand, if this experiment should succeed, it 'vill open a door of hope for the preservation, or if we may use the term, physical salvation of this apparently doomed race. It may encourage the philanthrophist to stretch forth his hand for the protection of the yet remaining tribes beyond the Mis- sissippi ; and the child may already be born, v.ho will live to behold that vast wilderness thickly dotted over with Indian communities, with towns, villages, farms and manufacturing hamlets. They may live to see the hoe and the spade take the place of the bow and the tomahawk ; the lion and the lamb feeding together ; the sword beaten into a plowshare, and the spear into a pruning hook. y3-:f-^r"-''-^''-'^--. T"^ wm^ |en- id- liat [he OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS 229 DOMESTIC. ifv^ fX--'-- t i a .'/ ... In the first place, to women, in every well regulated society, siiould be committed the management of the families and the business connected with the household concerns, and they should be qualified tp exercise a salutary influence within their appropriate sphere. Secondly, as mothers the)- are responsible for the nursing and rcarmg of their children and for the proper sustenance of them in early life. They are also responsible for the habits of their children, including cleanliness and general propriety of behavior. A sensible, judicious mother can greatly control her children in these matters ; she can make them modest or impertinent, ingenuous or deceitful, fearful or intrepid. The germ of all these traits of character exist in childhood, ar.d a mother can repress or strengthen them. Thirdly, a mother is responsible for the principles her chil- dren may entertain in early life, and it is for her to say wheth- er they shall be imbued with sentiments of honesty, industry and moralit)', uv with those of a contrary character — fraud, idleness and dishonesty. She is, to a very considerable extent responsible for the tem- per and disposition of her children. Constitutionally he may be irritable or revengeful, but she may correct or repress these passions and in their places instil better ' "lings. Lastly, and above all, she is responsible for the religious ed- ucation of her children. The beginning of wisdom is a rever- U h 230 Iv p:i i: LEGENDS, TKADITIO^.^. AND LAWS NS to ence for our creator, and obedience ""^^ his requirings ; and this is within the power of every good mother to inculcate and cherish in the hearts of her children ; at the same time it is the most important duty she owes them, and their usefulness and character throughout life may depend upon her correct and faithful discharge of it. If these be the appropriate duties and obligations of a moth- er, will it not be vain to expect that the ind!,i ■ arrior will be qualified for that station, or that they will be in a condition to give a proper education to their children, or train them up in habits or principles that will render them intelligent ana good citizens, whilst they themselves are left in ignorance, and while, lk> ' instead of devoting their time and attention to his discharge of these high moral duties, they are held in a state of servile degradation and compelled to perform all the menial drudger- ies of life ? . ■ Women are created by Providence equal to men in every- thing except mere physical strength. Generally, they have much more discretion, and certainly are far more .(uous. They were designed to exercise a conservative influer ■ ' ] so- ciety and should be placed in a position which would cin »e them to fulfill this most important office ; for history coniirnis the deeply interesting fact, that no people ever yet were ele- vated to the rank of civilization, while their females were held in a servile condition, and we are also admonished by experi- ence, that no community can be virtuous and happy, which is not chastened by the controlling example of female delicacy and refinement. These views are submitted to the consideration .■. dignity, as the wives and rational companions of intelligent and educated husbands. In my communications, 1 have not felt it my duty to call your attention to any particular forms or observances in rela- . tion to your religious obligations. I believe that God is a spirit, and true worship to Him can only be performed in spirit and in truth. I also believe that however diversified the hu- man family may be in regard to the circumstances in which they may be placed, all stand equally before their creator, as objects of His care and personal regard ; in His great mercy He visits us with remorse and sadness, when we have wilfully done what we know to be wrong, and which, if persisted in, might lead us to destruction ; and it is He who fills our hearts with peace and consolation when we do that which we believe to be right. His goodness is not limited to. any people or place, nor is that adoration which is due to Him confined within tem- ples built with human hands, or restricted to any particular form ; He is everywhere present and in every place ; the in- cense of a pious, devoted heart, may acceptably be offered to Him in the rude homes of the red man. The plants t)f the earth are not more directly under the in- fluences of the natural light and warmth by which they are nourished, than is the immortal soul or spirit of man under the immediate care and sustaining support of the divine presence, which is always near and round about us ; for it is in Him we live, and move, and have our existence. Deeply impressed with the certainty of these truths, and ful- ly believing He will never fail to lead in the paths of safety and peace, those who sincerely look to Him for instruction and faithfully follow His counsel, I recommend you, with myself, carefully to attend to His manifestations of light and truth upon our minds, which will never deceive nor mslead, but, if obeyed, \\ isely conduct us through the dangers of this life, and finally will prepare us for a hrippj- admission into the realms of eternal rest. / f..*-.'i» i / mmmifgfflW "■^ 2^2 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS m ■ Osteological Remains. " In the town of Cambria, six miles west of Lockport, a Mr. Hammon, who was employed with his boy in hoeing corn, in 1824, observed some bones of a child, exhumed. No farther thought was bestowed upon the subject for a time, for the plain of the Ridge was supposed to have been the site of an Indian village, and this was supposed to be the remains of .some child who had been recently buried there. Eli Bruce, hearing of the circumstance, proposed to Mr. H. that they should repair to the spot, with suitable instruments, and en- deavor to find some relics. The soil was a light loam, which would be dry and preserve bones for centuries without decay. A search enabled them to come to a pit but a slight distance from the surface. The top of the pit was covered with small slabs of the Medina sandstone, and was twenty-four feet square, four and a half feet deep, planes agreeing with the four cardi- nal points. It was filled with human bones of both sexes and ages. They dug down at one extremity and found the same layers to extend to the bottom, which was the dry loam, and from their calculations, they deduced that at least four thous- and souls had peri.shed in one great massacre. In one skull two flint arrow-heads were found, and many had the appear- ance of having been fractured and cleft open by a sudden blow. They were piled in regular layers, but with no regard to size or sex. Pieces of pottery were picked up in the pit, and had also been plowed up in the field adjacent. Traces of a log council house were plainly discernable. P'or, in an oblong square, the soil was poor, as if it had been cultivated, till the > jt -" jy. ^P^HpupiW^^ .1 :w OF THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS. 233 whites broke it up, and where the logs of the house had de- cayed, was a strip of rich mould. A maple tree, over the pit, being cut down, two hundred and fifty concentric circles were counted, making the mound to be A. D. 1574. It has been supposed by the villagers that the bones were deposited there before the discovery of America, but the finding of some metal tools with a French stamp, placed the date within our period. One hundred and fifty persons a day visited this spot the first season, and carried off portions of the bones. They are now nearly all gone and the pit plowed over. Will any antiquarian inform us, if possible, why these bones were placed here ? To what tribe do they belong? When did such a massacre occur ?" The above is taken from the writings of Mr. Schoolscraft. On account of the questions above, I propose to give a tradi- tion, (which the Tuscaroras have preserved,) to give the anti- quarians and critics a question to solve. Was the great massa- cre above made in the circumstance of the tradition below, to wit : There was a settlement or Indian nation where appeared several white men under the cloak of missionaries, (the reason I use the term cloak is by the way it terminated), and preached to them the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the great love evinced by the Father in sending his only son to suffer and die on the cross to redeem the red children of nature, as well as the pale faces, from their degredation, shame and woe, to that of end- less felicity beyond the shores of time. And that they wished to erect a house of worship in their midst, in which they might do their oblation to the Great Spirit, and that if they embraced the gospel they would have annuities from the government, to all of which the simple people of the forest made their assent. They immediately went to work, dug for tne cellar, and erect- ed the building on abutments of wood, and alleged that they would finish the cellar afterwards. When the chapel was fin- ished the Indians began to worship in it. Now the time of the annuity arrived. The Indians were told to all congregate and C29) i ■I 234 LEGENDS, TRADITIONS AND LAWS m 4 '• ■' ii . get into the church, men, women and children, and all those who refused to enter, should be omitted in the distribution of the annuity. Consequently the building was entered by them and filled jammed full. But there were two suspecting Indians who kept a proper distance away, ambushed, to see the result. After it was thought all had entered, there was a company of soldiers with guns and burning faggots, surrounded the build- ing and set it on fire on all sides, after they had fastened the door. In this condition they all perished within the flames. I will not make any attempt to give a sketch or in any way write in words the horrors and heart-rendings cries and moans of the dying children of nature in the flames, through a dis- j^uise of sheep's clothing, but will leave it to the conjecture of the reader. After the flames had subsided, these two ludians repaired to the doomed spot, and found a heap of bones hob-nob, and they observed that some of the skulls and bones of the different parts of the body were fractured and broke open, supposed to have been done by the falling timbers of the burning house. It is said, " in one skull, two flint arrow-heads were found." How easy for the artifice of the white men that accomplished the massacre in the manner they did, to have sunk these two flint arrows into one of those skulls, to leave the conjecture in after times to have been done by an Indian war. Mr. C. P. Turner, with an honorable age of 72 years, in 1878, told me that he visited the deposit of these bones, the next day after they were uncovered, saw the skull with the two flint arrows in it, and saw the great deposit of bones in this mound, and also said the pile was in hap-hazard, and not " in regular layers," as stated above. He also saw bones which indicated being those of a child about 20 inches in height. The Tuscaroras who preserve this tradition are located in the vicinity in which this mound of bones were found. All histo- rians are very cautious to leave out or omit from the pages of their history, any circumstance in the nature of the above tra- dition. - > r-., ' ■ -Si If *,r m T