Notes on the Iroquois : or, contributions to American history, antiquities, and general ethnology

Front matter

Saiony & Major I ,i I h .

117 l',dl,<St.Se«Yo.l

SOI-E-N-GA-RAH-TA, OR KING HENDRICK.

Preface

The aboriginal nation, whose statistics and history, past and present, are brought into discussion in this treatise, stand out prominently in the foreground of our own history. They have sustained themselves for more than three centuries, against the intruding and progressive races of Europe. During the period of the planting of the colonies, their sachems stood as independent embassadors, before the representatives of kings, and the general eloquence, diplomacy, and military exploits of the several cantons composing their confederacy, gave them a name and reputation coeval with Europe. No nation of the widely spread red race of America, has displayed so high and heroic a love of liberty, united with the true art of government, and personal energy and stamina of character, as the Iroquois. The races of the equinoctial latitudes,

IV PREFACE.

who obeyed respectively the sceptre of the Incas, and of the princes of Anahuac, have indeed enlisted a wider sympathy and risen to higher fame in the world's history, but it has been the fame earned by the labors and arts of subdued multitudes, and the sympathy consequent on overwhelming national misfortune ; this is the difference between the empires of Peru and Mexico, and the high-toned Iroquois republic ; but neither letters, Christianity, nor liberty, have cause to lament the fall of the two former empires. The policy and wisdom by which the Iroquois met and resisted the inroads of European power, and prevented the overturning of their institutions, furnishes the highest evidence of their superiority as an active, thinking race of men. They watched, as with eagle glance, encroachments upon their national rights. They kept their central council fire at Onondaga bright, and often met from all the canto'ns, from the east and west, to deliberate on their affairs; and when a war was resolved on against a trespassing or impinging foe, of their own race, they concentrated every effort to carry it on, and flew to the contest to root up, and tear out their name and place among men. No leading event, in fine, in the history of the colonies, has been

PREFACE. V

consummated without the power, in peace or war, of the Iroquois. They were present under the British standard, at the siege of Niagara, at the overthrow of Baron Deiskau, at Lake George, and at the fall of Montcalm at Quebec. The colonies of Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, felt the strong influence of the policy of their confederacy. In any political scheme of the colonies, the course of the Iroquois, in the question at issue, was ever one of the deepest moment, and he must be a careless reader of history, who does not perceive how vital an element they became in all the interior transactions, between A. D. 1600, at the general period of the settlement of the colonies, and the close of the war of American Independence.

The stirring events of their wars are mingled, more or less, with the history of each of the colonies, and impart to them much of their interest. To extract them and set them in order, as a branch of American history, would constitute a theme of no ordinary attraction.* But the task I had taken in hand did not contemplate a his-

* It is to be regretted, that Golden, who viewed the subject in this light, drops his excellent outlines, (so essential to all who wish to study the Iroquois history), with the antique date of the peace of Ryswick, A. D. 1697, a period, when, indeed, their republic had hardly culminated.

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tory. It seemed desirable that before the modem materials of the Iroquois history could be well employed, we should accumulate something tangible and certain of their general polity^wars, and actual statistics, and also something of the ancient period of their earlier traditions, and lore, which might help the inquirer to clear up the boundaries of historical mystery which shroud the Indian period, prior to 1492. This forms the true epoch of American ethnology.

It was a desideratum in American statistics, that a complete census, of one of the primary stocks, who had lived in our neighborhood all this time, and still preserve their nationality, should betaken. This task New York executed in 1845. It appeared desirable to the agent appointed to carry the act of the legislature into effect, that the opportunity should not be lost of making some notes of the kind here indicated ; and it is in this feature indeed, if any thing in the following notes, that they aspire to the character of research, though they be intended only to shadow forth outlines, to be filled up hereafter.

In reprinting the original notes, in order to supply a demand of the public for them, which is still unabated, the occasion has been taken to revise them, and to add other j)ortions of the

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original materials, which were suppressed in the publication, together with some further traditions, and biographical and historical notices and researches, which it is thought will tend to impart further interest and value to the work.

ERRATA.

Page 1, 6th line, contents of cliap , for congerity read longevity. " 14, 13th line from bottom, tor and read than. " 40, lath line from top, for end read era. ■' 48, 3rd Hue from top. for literary read literally.

Chapter I

Preliminary observations, ..... l Obstacles opposed to statistical inquiries among the

North American Indians, - - - - - 5

Progressive state of agriculture, ~ .... 9

Evils of the annuity system, 12

Grain and fruits raised - 14

Ancient and present state of the Iroquois population

compared, 22

General deductions on their longevity and effects of climate, -.-.----- 27 Proportion of deaf and dumb and blind, - - - 28 Remnants of the tribes of Algonquin lineage of southern

New York, 31

Abstract of census returns, ----- 32

Chapter II. Historical And Ethnological Inquiries

Sketch of the Iroquois group of aboriginal tribes, - 39

Ethnological suggestions, ...... 5Q

Indian cosmogony, - - - - - - - 61

Gleams of their ancient history, .... 64

1*

CONTENTS.

Chapter III. Origin And History Of The Iroquois As A Distinct People

Mohawks, 71

Oneidas and the Oneida Stone, - - . . 75

Cayugas, - - -92

Senecas and their origin, ------ 96

Tuscaroras and their flight from North Carolina, - 104 Necariages, - - - - - - - -113

St. Regis colony, - 114

Chapter IV. Epoch And Principles Of The Iroquois League

Objects of research, ...... 117

Era of the confederacy, 117

Principles of their government and the totemic bond, - 122

Ancient worship and system of astronomy, - - 137

Witchcraft, and its theory and practical evils, - • 139 Wife's right to property ; limited nature of marriage

Idea of vampyres ; traditions in reference to, - - 142

Chapter V

EARLY WARS AND POLITICAL RELATIONS OF THE IRO- QUOIS WITH THE OTHER NORTH AMERICAN TRIBES.

War with an ancient people called Alleghans, - - 147

Lenno Lenapees, or Delawares, . - - - 148

Mohegans, Munsees, Manhattans, Metoacs, - - 150

Ovvegungas, -- 154

Shawnees, 154

Eries, 155

CONTENTS.

XI

Susquehannocks, . - . - Massawomacs, . . - - Catabas, .....

Cherokees, their history and language, Quatoghies, or Hurons, ...

Wyandots, .....

Twightwies, or Miamies, ...

Mississagies, - . - - .

Chippewa or Odjibwa group,

Chapter VI. Archeology

Vestiges of an ancient French fort in Lenox, Ancient site of the Onondagas, Antiquities of Pompey, - - - - Ancient fortification of Osco, - - - Ancient elliptical work at Canandaigua, - Ancient entrenchments on Fort Hill, Ancient rock citadel of Kienuka, Ancient battle field on Buffalo creek,

188 192 196 198 207 213

Chapter VII. Ancient State Of Indian Art In North America

Architectural ruins, - 219

Remains, sculpture and inscriptions, .... 220

Effect of European fabrics, ..... 220

Arrow heads and axes, 221

Pottery, 222

Architecture, ----.... 224

Art of design, 225

Amulets, &c., 226

Clothing, &c., 229

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Chapter VIII. Relics Found In The Antique Graves And Tumuli Of Western New York

Nabikoaguna — medals, ---.-- 231

Medaeka — amulets, 235

Attajeguna — implements, &c., ----- 238

Opoaguna — pipes, ---... 239

Minacea — beads, 242

Peaga — wampums, ------ 424

Mudwamina — jingling dress ornaments, - - - 244

Otoaguna — ear jewels, - ----- 246

Ochalisa — nose jewels, ..-.-- 247

j^sa — shells, coins, ornaments, - - - - 248