{"collection":"myth-cosmogony","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_57237/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_57237","id":"gutenberg_57237","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/57237","summary":null,"tags":["Category: History - Other","Category: Mythology, Legends & Folklore","Iroquois Indians -- Folklore","Iroquois Indians -- History","Iroquois mythology"],"text":"E-text prepared by Mary Glenn Krause and the Online Distributed\nProofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made\navailable by Internet Archive (https://archive.org)\n\n\n\nNote: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this\n      file which includes the original illustrations.\n      See 57237-h.htm or 57237-h.zip:\n      (https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/57237/pg57237-images.html)\n      or\n      (https://www.gutenberg.org/files/57237/57237-h.zip)\n\n\n      Images of the original pages are available through\n      Internet Archive. See\n      https://archive.org/details/davidcusickssket00cusi\n\n\nTranscriber\u2019s note:\n\n      Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).\n\n      The author\u2019s style is that of a non-native speaker of English,\n      and in places is grammatically unusual, mixing tenses and\n      using odd sentence structure. Only printer\u2019s errors have been\n      changed; a full list is given at the end.\n\n\n\n\n\n                    DAVID CUSICK\u2019S\n                      SKETCHES OF\n                    ANCIENT HISTORY\n                        OF THE\n                     SIX NATIONS,\n\n                      COMPRISING\n\n         FIRST\u2014A TALE OF THE FOUNDATION OF THE\n                     GREAT ISLAND,\n                 (NOW NORTH AMERICA.)\n                 THE TWO INFANTS BORN,\n                        AND THE\n               CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE.\n\n SECOND\u2014A REAL ACCOUNT OF THE EARLY SETTLERS OF NORTH\n            AMERICA, AND THEIR DISSENSIONS.\n\nTHIRD\u2014ORIGIN OF THE KINGDOM OF THE FIVE NATIONS, WHICH\n                      WAS CALLED\n                     A LONG HOUSE:\n             THE WARS, FIERCE ANIMALS, &c.\n\n                   LOCKPORT, N. Y.:\n     TURNER & McCOLLUM, PRINTERS, DEMOCRAT OFFICE.\n                         1848.\n\n\n\n\nPREFACE.\n\n\nI have been long waiting in hopes that some of my people, who have\nreceived an English education, would have undertaken the work as to\ngive a sketch of the Ancient History of the Six Nations; but found no\none seemed to concur in the matter, after some hesitation I determined\nto commence the work; but found the history involved with fables;\nand besides, examining myself, finding so small educated that it was\nimpossible for me to compose the work without much difficulty. After\nvarious reasons I abandoned the idea: I however, took up a resolution to\ncontinue the work, which I have taken much pains procuring the materials,\nand translating it into English language. I have endeavored to throw\nsome light on the history of the original population of the country,\nwhich I believe never have been recorded. I hope this little work will be\nacceptable to the public.\n\n                                                         DAVID CUSICK.\n\nTUSCARORA VILLAGE, June 10th, 1825.\n\n\n\n\n[Illustration: _ATOTARHO, A FAMOUS WAR CHIEF, RESIDED AT ONONDAGA._]\n\n[Illustration: _A WAR DANCE._]\n\n[Illustration: _STONISH GIANTS._]\n\n[Illustration: _THE FLYING HEAD PUT TO FLIGHT BY A WOMAN PARCHING\nACORNS._]\n\n\n\n\nPART I.\n\nA TALE OF THE FOUNDATION OF THE GREAT ISLAND, NOW NORTH\nAMERICA;\u2014THE TWO INFANTS BORN, AND THE CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE.\n\n\nAmong the ancients there were two worlds in existence. The lower world\nwas in a great darkness;\u2014the possession of the great monster; but the\nupper world was inhabited by mankind; and there was a woman conceived and\nwould have the twin born. When her travail drew near, and her situation\nseemed to produce a great distress on her mind, and she was induced by\nsome of her relations to lay herself on a mattress which was prepared,\nso as to gain refreshments to her wearied body; but while she was asleep\nthe very place sunk down towards the dark world. The monsters of the\ngreat water were alarmed at her appearance of descending to the lower\nworld; in consequence all the species of the creatures were immediately\ncollected into where it was expected she would fall. When the monsters\nwere assembled, and they made consultation, one of them was appointed\nin haste to search the great deep, in order to procure some earth, if\nit could be obtained; accordingly the monster descends, which succeeds,\nand returns to the place. Another requisition was presented, who would\nbe capable to secure the woman from the terrors of the great water, but\nnone was able to comply except a large turtle came forward and made\nproposal to them to endure her lasting weight, which was accepted. The\nwoman was yet descending from a great distance. The turtle executes upon\nthe spot, and a small quantity of earth was varnished on the back part\nof the turtle. The woman alights on the seat prepared, and she receives\na satisfaction. While holding her, the turtle increased every moment\nand became a considerable island of earth, and apparently covered with\nsmall bushes. The woman remained in a state of unlimited darkness, and\nshe was overtaken by her travail to which she was subject. While she was\nin the limits of distress one of the infants in her womb was moved by\nan evil opinion and he was determined to pass out under the side of the\nparent\u2019s arm, and the other infant in vain endeavoured to prevent his\ndesign. The woman was in a painful condition during the time of their\ndisputes, and the infants entered the dark world by compulsion, and\ntheir parent expired in a few moments. They had the power of sustenance\nwithout a muse, and remained in the dark regions. After a time the turtle\nincreased to a great Island and the infants were grown up, and one of\nthem possessed with a gentle disposition, and named ENIGORIO, i. e. the\ngood mind. The other youth possessed an insolence of character, and was\nnamed ENIGONHAHETGEA, i. e. the bad mind. The good mind was not contented\nto remain in a dark situation, and he was anxious to create a great\nlight in the dark world; but the bad mind was desirous that the world\nshould remain in a natural state. The good mind determines to prosecute\nhis designs, and therefore commences the work of creation. At first he\ntook the parent\u2019s head, (the deceased) of which he created an orb, and\nestablished it in the centre of the firmament, and it became of a very\nsuperior nature to bestow light to the new world, (now the sun) and\nagain he took the remnant of the body and formed another orb, which was\ninferior to the light (now moon.) In the orb a cloud of legs appeared\nto prove it was the body of the good mind, (parent.) The former was to\ngive light to the day and the latter to the night; and he also created\nnumerous spots of light, (now stars:) these were to regulate the days,\nnights, seasons, years, &c. Whenever the light extended to the dark world\nthe monsters were displeased and immediately concealed themselves in the\ndeep places, lest they should be discovered by some human beings. The\ngood mind continued the works of creation, and he formed numerous creeks\nand rivers on the Great Island, and then created numerous species of\nanimals of the smallest and greatest, to inhabit the forests, and fishes\nof all kinds to inhabit the waters. When he had made the universe he\nwas in doubt respecting some being to possess the Great Island; and he\nformed two images of the dust of the ground in his own likeness, male\nand female, and by his breathing into their nostrils he gave them the\nliving souls, and named them EA-GWE-HOWE, i. e. a real people; and he\ngave the Great Island all the animals of game for their maintenance; and\nhe appointed thunder to water the earth by frequent rains, agreeable\nto the nature of the system; after this the Island became fruitful and\nvegetation afforded the animals subsistence. The bad mind, while his\nbrother was making the universe, went throughout the Island and made\nnumerous high mountains and falls of water, and great steeps, and also\ncreates various reptiles which would be injurious to mankind; but the\ngood mind restored the Island to its former condition. The bad mind\nproceeded further in his motives and he made two images of clay in the\nform of mankind; but while he was giving them existence they became apes;\nand when he had not the power to create mankind he was envious against\nhis brother; and again he made two of clay. The good mind discovered his\nbrother\u2019s contrivances, and aided in giving them living souls,[1] (it is\nsaid these had the most knowledge of good and evil.) The good mind now\naccomplishes the works of creation, notwithstanding the imaginations of\nthe bad mind were continually evil; and he attempted to enclose all the\nanimals of game in the earth, so as to deprive them from mankind; but the\ngood mind released them from confinement, (the animals were dispersed,\nand traces of them were made on the rocks near the cave where it was\nclosed.) The good mind experiences that his brother was at variance\nwith the works of creation, and feels not disposed to favor any of his\nproceedings, but gives admonitions of his future state. Afterwards the\ngood mind requested his brother to accompany him, as he was proposed\nto inspect the game, &c., but when a short distance from their nominal\nresidence, the bad mind became so unmanly that he could not conduct his\nbrother any more. The bad mind offered a challenge to his brother and\nresolved that who gains the victory should govern the universe; and\nappointed a day to meet the contest. The good mind was willing to submit\nto the offer, and he enters the reconciliation with his brother; which he\nfalsely mentions that by whipping with flags would destroy his temporal\nlife; and he earnestly solicits his brother also to notice the instrument\nof death, which he manifestly relates by the use of deer horns; beating\nhis body he would expire. On the day appointed the engagement commenced,\nwhich lasted for two days: after pulling up the trees and mountains as\nthe track of a terrible whirlwind, at last the good mind gained the\nvictory by using the horns, as mentioned the instrument of death, which\nhe succeeded in deceiving his brother and he crushed him in the earth;\nand the last words uttered from the bad mind were, that he would have\nequal power over the souls of mankind after death; and he sinks down to\neternal doom, and became the Evil Spirit. After this tumult the good mind\nrepaired to the battle ground, and then visited the people and retires\nfrom the earth.\n\n\n\n\nPART II.\n\nA REAL ACCOUNT OF THE SETTLEMENT OF NORTH AMERICA AND THEIR\nDISSENSIONS.\n\n\nIn the ancient days the Great Island appeared upon the big waters, the\nearth brought forth trees, herbs, vegetables, &c. The creation of the\nland animals; the Eagwehoewe people were too created and resided in the\nnorth regions, and after a time some of the people become giants and\ncommitted outrages upon the inhabitants, &c. After many years a body of\nEagwehoewe people encamped on the bank of a majestic stream, and was\nnamed _Kanawage_, now St. Lawrence. After a long time a number of foreign\npeople sailed from a port unknown; but unfortunately before reached\ntheir destination the winds drove them contrary; at length their ship\nwrecked somewhere on the southern part of the Great Island, and many\nof the crews perished; a few active persons were saved; they obtained\nsome implements, and each of them was covered with a leather bag, the\nbig hawks carried them on the summit of a mountain and remained there\nbut a short time the hawks seemed to threaten them, and were compelled\nto leave the mountain. They immediately selected a place for residence\nand built a small fortification in order to provide against the attacks\nof furious beasts; if there should be any made. After many years the\nforeign people became numerous, and extended their settlements; but\nafterwards they were destroyed by the monsters that overrun the country.\nAbout this time the Eagwehoewe people inhabited on the river Kanawage\nor St. Lawrence; but they could not enjoy tranquility, as they were\ninvaded by the giants called Ronnongwetowanca, who came from the north\nand inhabited considerably; but their mode of attack was slily, and\nnever dared to precipitate themselves upon the enemy without prospect\nof success; especially they took advantage when the warriors were\nabsent from the town. After plundering the people\u2019s houses and making\ncaptives those who were found, and hastily retreat to their residence\nin the north. An instance\u2014a family of princes lived near the river St.\nLawrence, of whom, containing six brothers and a sister and their father,\nwas a noble chieftain, who fell at the contest of the enemy.\u2014One time\nthe brothers went out a day\u2019s hunt and leaving their sister alone in\nthe camp; unfortunately while they were gone the giant makes vigorous\nattack and the woman soon became a prey to the invader. On the eve the\nbrothers returned and were much grieved that their sister was found\nmissing; they immediately made a search, but the night was getting too\nlate and the darkness prevented them. On the morning the eldest brother\ndetermined to pursue the enemy until he could discover something about\ntheir sister, and promised to return in seven days if nothing should\nhappen; accordingly the prince set out and pursued the traces of the\nenemy; after journeyed three days he reached the giant\u2019s residence about\nsundown; at first sight he discovered his sister was gathering some\nsticks for fuel near the house; but as he approached the sister retired;\nthe princess soon proved by her conduct that she had fell in love with\nthe giant, and that it was impossible to gain her confidence. The prince\nwas now brought to a point of view about the dread of the enemy; but\nhowever he was willing to risk the dangers he was about to meet; he\nremained until about dusk and then entered the house; happily he was\nreceived with most favorable terms, and his fears were soon dissipated,\nthe giant offered his pipe as a tribute of respect, which the prince\naccepted. After receiving the evening diet they talked a good while\nwithout a least appearance of hostility; as the night was getting late\nthe prince was invited to bed; but the giant was now acting to deceive\nthe prince; he commenced to amuse him part of the night in singing\nsongs; the giant had determined to assassinate the visiter the first\nopportunity as the prince was so fatigued that he was now fast asleep;\nhe killed him on the bed and the body was deposited in a cave near the\nhouse where he had stored the carcases. The giant was much pleased of\nhis conquest over the prince he advised his wife to watch daily in order\nto impose on another enemy. The seven days elapsed, as the brother did\nnot return the youngest brother, _Donhtonha_ was much excited about his\nbrother and resolved to pursue him; the Donhtonha was the most stoutest\nand ferocious looking fellow, after armed himself commenced the journey,\nand also arrived at the place and time as mentioned, and found his\nsister; but before he had time to reconcile her she returned to the\nhouse as she had formerly done, and informed the giant that some person\nwas coming: the Donhtonha entered the house with appearances of hostile\ndisposition, and enquired for his brother; this produced alarm; the giant\nwas promptly to pacify the prince; he replied that he had made peace with\nthe brother, who had gone to visit some people in the neighborhood, and\nit was expected he would return every moment. Upon this assurance the\nDonhtonha become some abated; the sister provided some food and he soon\nenjoyed the domestic felicity; but alas, the giant was far from being\nfriendly and was only forming a plan to deceive the visiter. The evening\nwas late, the Donhtonha was out of patience waiting for his brother to\ncome home, and renewed his enquiries; the visitor was invited to bed;\nthe giant was in hopes to exterminate the visiter; he rose from his seat\nand commenced his usual custom in singing. The Donhtonha perceived that\nsome evil design was performing against him and resolved to abandon the\nbed for a while; he begged leave for a few moments and went out after\nvarious considerations from being imposed; he procured some pieces of\nwood which produced a faint light in the night and put it above his\neyelids and again went to bed; the giant was now deceived; while the\nvisiter was asleep his eyes appeared though he was awake continually.\nAs soon as day light the visiter hurried from the bed and was about to\nmake a search for the deceased brother, but the giant protested which\nsoon excited suspicions of the act; after a long debate the Donhtonha\nattacked the giant; a severe conflict ensued, at last the giant was\nkilled; and burnt him in the ruins of his house; but his spirit fled to\nheaven and changed into one of the eastern stars. During the engagement\nhis sister was grieved and fled to the wilderness, and lamented for her\ndeceased husband, and she died in despair, and her spirit also became one\nof the northern stars. After the conquest the search was prosecuted, he\ndiscovered the remains of his brother and weeps over it and burnt it to\nashes.\n\nAt a time another Ronnongwetowanea attacked a small town located on the\nbank of Kanawage, (St. Lawrence.) This occurred in a season when the\npeople were out to hunt, and there was no person in the town except an\nold chief and an attendant named Yatatonwatea: while they were enjoying\nrepose in their houses were suddenly attacked by the Ronnongwetowanea;\nbut the Yatatonwatea escaped, went out the back door and deserted the\naged chief to the fate; however the enemy spared no time, the chase was\nsoon prosecuted which caused the Yatatonwatea to retreat as fast as\npossible; he attempted to make resistance in various places, but was\ncompelled to retire at the appearance of the enemy; in vain he endeavored\nto gain retreat by traversing various creeks and hills; he undertook\na new method of giving little effect upon the progress of the enemy;\nafter running some distance he discovered which would promptly cherish\nthe imposition, he drove a flock of pigeons in the way to amuse them\nuntil he could hide himself under the bank of the river, unfortunately\nthe flattering hope seemed to fail; after remaining there but a short\ntime before he saw the enemy was coming in full speed, and was soon\nobliged to abandon the position and continue the flight; again he tried\nto conceal himself among the rocks of the mountain, but in a mean time\nthe enemy advanced at the moment, of which he became dismayed, finding\nthat nothing could resist the impetuosity of the pursuer, but determined\nnot to surrender as long as he was capable to keep out of the reach;\nhe immediately took the path which leads to the hunting grounds in\nsearch of some people; fortunately at a short distance met two warriors\nand he was instantly supported and made vigorous resistance; after\nterrible combat the Ronnongwetowanea was exterminated; during the time\nthe warriors conducted themselves as heroes, which gained the triumph,\nnotwithstanding one of them received a severe wound by the club. The\nYatatonwatea with alarm whoop hastened to the encampment and advised the\npeople of the substance and the dangers which the enemy might commit\nupon the vacant towns. As soon as the people received the intelligence\nimmediately returned to their settlements, and a convention were held by\nthe chieftains in order to take some measures to defend their country. As\nthe Ronnongwetowanea tribe were not numerous and deemed it inexpedient\nto raise a large force and therefore a few hundred warriors were sent to\nsubdue them; after decisive contests the warriors gained the victory; and\nit was supposed that the Ronnongwetowanea tribe has ever since ceased\nto exist. (This fate happened probably about two thousand five hundred\nwinters before Columbus discovered the America.) The depredations of the\nenemy which so often exercised upon the inhabitants were now terminated;\nand the country enjoyed without disturbance many winters. About this time\na mischievous person named Shotyerronsgwea, while visiting the people at\nfirst distinguished himself of a good character and in mean time gained\nthe confidence of the people; by doing this he was fairly concealed from\nbeing discovered of his real designs, and in a short time began to injure\nthe people; he assassinated two warriors secretly, and then violated six\nvirgins, &c., &c. And the next he ventured to break the harmony of the\nnation and created dissensions among the people. At this the chiefs were\nso offended that the Shotyeronsgwea was banished from the village; when\nhe received this treatment he deemed proper to desist from going back to\nany of the towns; he immediately crossed the river St. Lawrence and moved\ntowards the midday sun, and he came to a town situated south of the great\nlake (Ontario) and he was received with kindness; but his entertainment\ncould not appease his evil designs; though he appeared reconciled,\none night while at the dancing house he killed several warriors; this\noffence he discovered should prove fatal to his person, and was\ncompelled to leave the town and went some other place to do mischief.\nThe Shotyeronagwea was the greatest mischievous person that ever existed\non the continent. He was considered an agent from bad spirit. About\nthis time Big Quisquiss (perhaps the Mammoth) invaded the settlements\nsouth of Ontario lake; the furious animal push down the houses and made\na great disturbance; the people was compelled to flee from the terrible\nmonster; the warriors made opposition but failed; at length a certain\nchief warrior collected the men from several towns\u2014a severe engagement\ntook place, at last the monster retired, but the people could not remain\nlong without being disturbed; Big Elk invaded the towns; the animal was\nfurious and destroyed many persons; however the men were soon collected\u2014a\nsevere contest ensued and the monster was killed.\n\nAbout this time the northern nations formed a confederacy and seated a\ngreat council fire on river St. Lawrence: the northern nations possessed\nthe bank of the great lakes; the countries in the north were plenty of\nbeavers, but the hunters were often opposed by the big snakes. The people\nlive on the south side of the Big Lakes make bread of roots and obtain a\nkind of potatoes and beans found on the rich soil.\n\nPerhaps about two thousand two hundred years before the Columbus\ndiscovered the America, and northern nations appointed a prince, and\nimmediately repaired to the south and visited the great Emperor who\nresided at the Golden City, a capital of the vast empire. After a\ntime the Emperor built many forts throughout his dominions and almost\npenetrated the lake Erie; this produced an excitement, the people of\nthe north felt that they would soon be deprived of the country on the\nsouth side of the Great Lakes they determined to defend their country\nagainst any infringement of foreign people: long bloody wars ensued which\nperhaps lasted about one hundred years: the people of the north were too\nskillful in the use of bows and arrows and could endure hardships which\nproved fatal to a foreign people; at last the northern nations gained the\nconquest and all the towns and forts were totally destroyed and left them\nin the heap of ruins.\n\nAbout this time a great horned serpent appeared on lake Ontario, the\nserpent produced diseases and many of the people died, but by the aid of\nthunderbolts the monster was compelled to retire. A blazing star fell\ninto a fort situated on the St. Lawrence and destroyed the people; this\nevent was considered as a warning of their destruction. After a time a\nwar broke out among the northern nations which continued until they had\nutterly destroyed each other, the island again become in possession of\nfierce animals.\n\n\n\n\nPART III.\n\nORIGIN OF THE KINGDOM OF THE FIVE NATIONS, WHICH WAS CALLED A\nLONG HOUSE;\u2014THE WARS, FIERCE ANIMALS, &c.\n\n\nBy some inducement a body of people was concealed in the mountain at the\nfalls named Kuskehsawkich, (now Oswego.) When the people were released\nfrom the mountain they were visited by TARENYAWAGON, i. e. the Holder\nof the Heavens, who had power to change himself into various shapes: he\nordered the people to proceed towards the sunrise as he guided them and\ncome to a river and named Yenonanatche, i. e. going round a mountain,\n(now Mohawk) and went down the bank of the river and come to where\nit discharges into a great river running towards the midday sun; and\nShaw-nay-taw-ty, i. e. beyond the Pineries, (now Hudson,) and went down\nthe bank of the river and touched bank of a great water. The company\nmade encampment at the place and remained there a few days. The people\nwere yet in one language; some of the people went to the banks of great\nwater towards the midday sun; but the main company returned as they\ncame, on the bank of the river, under the direction of the holder of\nthe Heavens. Of this company there was a particular body which called\nthemselves one household; of these were six families and they entered\ninto a resolution to preserve the chain of alliance which should not be\nextinguished in any manner. The company advanced some distance up the\nriver of Shaw-na-taw-ty, (Hudson) the Holder of the Heavens directs the\nfirst family to make their residence near the bank of the river, and the\nfamily was named Te-haw-re-ho-geh, i. e. a Speech divided, (now Mohawk)\nand their language was soon altered; the company then turned and went\ntowards the sunsetting and travelled about two days and a half, and come\nto a creek[2] which was named Kaw-na-taw-te-ruh, i. e. Pineries. The\nsecond family was directed to make their residence near the creek, and\nthe family was named Ne-haw-re-tah-go, i. e. Big Tree, now Oneidas, and\nlikewise their language was altered. The company continued to proceed\ntowards the sunsetting under the direction of the Holder of the Heavens.\nThe third family was directed to make their residence on a mountain named\nOnondaga, (now Onondaga) and the family was named Seuh-now-kah-tah,\ni. e. carrying the name, and their language was altered. The company\ncontinued their journey towards the sunsetting. The fourth family was\ndirected to make their residence near a long lake named Go-yo-goh, i.\ne. a mountain rising from water, (now Cayuga) and the family was named\nSho-nea-na-we-to-wah, i. e. a great pipe, their language was altered.\nThe company continued to proceed towards the sunsetting. The fifth\nfamily was directed to make their residence near a high mountain, or\nrather nole, situated south of the Canandaigua lake, which was named\nJenneatowake and the family was named Te-how-nea-nyo-hent, i. e.\nPossessing a Door, now Seneca, and their language was altered. The sixth\nfamily went with the company that journeyed towards the sunsetting, and\ntouched the bank of a great lake, and named Kau-ha-gwa-rah-ka, i. e. A\nCap, now Erie, and then went towards between the midday and sunsetting,\nand travelled considerable distance and came to a large river which was\nnamed Ouau-we-yo-ka, i. e. a principal stream, now Mississippi; the\npeople discovered a grape vine lying across the river by which a part\nof the people went over,[3] but while they were engaged, the vine broke\nand were divided, they became, enemies to those who went over the river;\nin consequence they were obliged to dispense the journey. The Holder\nof the Heavens instruct them in the art of bows and arrows in the time\nof game and danger. Associates are dispersed, and each family went to\nsearch for residences according to their conveniences of game. The sixth\nfamily went towards the sunrise and touched the bank of the great water.\nThe family was directed to make their residence near Cau-ta-noh, i.\ne. Pine in water, situated near the mouth of Nuse river, now in North\nCarolina, and the family was named Kau-ta-noh, now Tuscarora and their\nlanguage was also altered; but the six families did not go so far as\nto lose the understanding of each other\u2019s language. The Holder of the\nHeavens returns to the five families and forms the mode of confederacy,\nwhich was named Ggo-nea-seab-neh, i. e. A Long House, to which are\n1st.\u2014Tea-kaw-reh-ho-geh; 2d\u2014New-haw-teh-tah-go; 3d\u2014Seuh-nau-ka-ta;\n4th\u2014Sho-nea-na-we-to-wan; 5th\u2014Te-hoo-nea-nyo-hent. About this time it is\nsupposed an agent from superior power solemnly visits the families, and\nhe instructs them in various things respecting the infinity, matrimony,\nmoral rules, worship, &c.; and he warns them that an evil spirit was\nin the world and would induce the people to commit trespasses against\nthe rules he had given them; and he offers them favorable promises\nobedience to rules, the souls would enter the place of happiness; but to\nthe disobedient their souls would be sent to a state of misery. And he\ngives the seeds for corn, beans, squashes, potatoes and tobacco, with\ndirections how to cultivate them; and he gives them the dogs to aid in\npursuing the game; and he repeats the administration of the game; and\nthat the great country was given for their people\u2019s maintenance. When he\nended the interview of consolation he leaves.\n\nAbout one hundred winters since the people left the mountain,\u2014the\nfive families were increased, and made some villages in the country.\nThe Holder of the Heavens was absent from the country, which was\ndestitute of the visits of the Governor of the Universe. The reason\nproduced the occasion that they were invaded by the monsters called\nKo-nea-rau-neh-neh, i. e. Flying Heads, which devoured several people\nof the country. The Flying Heads made invasions in the night; but the\npeople were attentive to escape by leaving their huts and concealing\nthemselves in other huts prepared for that purpose. An instance:\u2014there\nwas an old woman which resided at Onondaga; she was left alone in the\nhut at evening, while others deserted. She was setting near the fire\nparching some acorns when the monstrous Head made its appearance at\nthe door: while viewing the woman it was amazed that she eat the coals\nof fire, by which the monsters were put to flight, and ever since the\nheads disappeared and were supposed concealed in the earth. After a\nshort time the people were invaded by the monster of the deep: the Lake\nSerpent traverses the country, which interrupted their intercourse. The\nfive families were compelled to make fortifications throughout their\nrespective towns, in order to secure themselves from the devouring\nmonsters.\u2014The manner making the fort: at first they set fire against\nseveral trees as requires to make a fort, and the stone axes are used\nto rub off the coals, as to burn quicker; when the tree burns down they\nput fires to it about three paces apart and burns it down in half a day;\nthe logs are collected to a place where they set up round according to\nthe bigness of the fort, and the earth is heaped on both sides. A fort\ngenerally has two gates; one for passage, and the other to obtain water.\nThe people had implements which they used to make bow and arrows. The\nkettle is made of baked clay in which the meat is boiled; the awl and\nneedles are made of hard bone; a pipe for smoking, is made of baked clay,\nor soft stone; a small turtle shell is used to peal the bark; a small dry\nstick is used to make a fire, by boring it against the seasoned wood.\n\nPerhaps about 1250 years before Columbus discovered the America, about\ntwo hundred and fifty winters since the people left the mountain, the\nfive families became numerous and extended their settlements, as the\ncountry had been exposed to the invasion of the monsters that the people\ncould not enjoy but a short space of time without being molested. About\nthis time a powerful tribe of the wilderness, called Otne-yar-heh,\ni. e. Stonish Giants[4] overrun the country and the warriors were\nimmediately collected from several towns and a severe combat took place,\nbut the warriors were overpowered and the people fell at the mercy of\nthe invaders, and the people were threatened with destruction, and the\ncountry was brought to subjection for many winters. As the people have\nbeen reduced so often they could not increase. The Stonish Giants were\nso ravenous that they devoured the people of almost every town in the\ncountry; but happily the Holder of the Heavens again visits the people\nand he observes that the people were in distressed condition on the\naccount of the enemy. With a stratagem he proceeds to banish their\ninvaders, and he changes himself into a Giant, and combines the Stonish\nGiants, he introduces them to take the lead to destroy the people of the\ncountry: but a day\u2019s march they did not reach the fort Onondaga, where\nthey intended to invade, and he ordered them to lay in a deep hollow[5]\nduring the night and they would make attack on the following morning. At\na dawn of the day, the Holder of the Heavens ascended upon the heights\nand he overwhelms them by a mass of rocks, and only one escaped to\nannounce the dreadful fate; and since of the event the Stonish Giants\nleft the country and seeks an asylum in the regions of the north.\u2014The\nfamilies were now preserved from extinction. The Lake Serpent discovers\nthe powerful operations of the Holder of the Heavens, instantly retreats\ninto the deep places of the lakes. After the banishment of the monster\nof the deep made its appearance in the country; a snake with the shape\nof human head opposed the passage between the Onondaga and Go-yo-gouh,\nnow Cayuga, which prevented their intercourse, as the snake had seated\nnear the principle path leads through the settlements of the Five\nFamilies. The people were troubled of their condition, and finally\nthey determined to make resistance. They selected the best warriors at\nOnondaga, and after they were organized and prepared proceeded to the\nplace; after a severe conflict the snake was killed; the lake serpent was\noften seen by the people, but the thunder bolt destroyed the serpent or\ncompelled them to retire into the deep. About this time they were various\nnations inhabited the southern countries, these nations descended from\nthe families that were dispersed after the vine broke on Onauweyoka,\n[Mississippi.] The Holder of the Heavens visited the Five Families and\ninstructed them in the arts of war, and favors them to gain the country\nbeyond their limits, after which he disappeared.\n\nPerhaps 1000 years before Columbus discovered the America. About this\ntime the Five Families become independent nations, and they formed a\nCouncil fire in each nation, &c. Unfortunately a war broke out among\nthe Five Nations: during the unhappy differences the Atotarho was the\nmost hostile chief, resided at the fort Onondaga; his head and body\nwas ornamented with black snakes;\u2014his dishes and spoons were made of\nskulls of the enemy; after a while he requested the people to change his\ndress, the people immediately drove away the snakes\u2014a mass of wampam\nwere collected and the chief was soon dressed in a large belt of wampam;\nhe became a law giver, and renewed the chain of alliance of the Five\nNations and framed their internal government, which took five years in\naccomplishing it. At Onondaga a tree of peace was planted reached the\nclouds of Heaven; under the shade of this tree the Senators are invited\nto sit and deliberate, and smoke the pipe of peace as ratification of\ntheir proceedings; a great council fire was kindled under the majestic\ntree, having four branches, one pointed to the south, west, east, north:\nthe neighboring nations were amazed at the powerful confederates; the\nOnondaga was considered a heart of the country; numerous belts and\nstrings of wampam were left with the famous chief as record of alliance,\n&c., after he had accomplished the noble work he was immediately named\nAtotarho, King of the Five Nations; and was governed by the senate,\nchosen by the people annually; the successor of the kings to follow the\nwoman\u2019s line. About this time the Te-hoo-nea-nyo-hent, or Senecas was\nat war with the Squawkihows, a powerful tribe passed the banks of the\nGenesee river; after various engagements the Senecas sent an army to\nscourge the enemy, but were repulsed with a severe loss; the melancholy\nintelligence was soon conveyed to Onondaga and informed the king of\ntheir defeat; a powerful army of the allies were soon directed against\nthe Squawkihows; after a long siege the principal fort was surrendered\nwithout discretion, and the chief was taken prisoner, put to death, the\nwar terminated, however a remnant of the Squawkihows were allowed to\nremain in the country and became vassals to the five nations after the\nconquest. The government ordered the Senecas to settle the country and to\nbuild forts on the Genesee river as to keep Squawkihows in subjection,\nfor fearing in time they might create a rebellion. The Senecas now\npossessed along the bank of the Great Lake, now Ontario, to the creek\ncalled Kenaukarent, now Oak Orchard, the bank of the river Onyakarra, now\nNiagara, possessed by Twakanhah, [Mississaugers.]\n\nIn the days the king Atotarho II. about this time the Oyalkquoher, or big\nbear invaded the territory of the five nations, the hunters were often\nattacked by these monsters. At the village of Ohiokea, situated west of\nOneida creek, a small party went out to hunt and encamped near the lake\nSkonyatales; one morning while they were in the camp a noise broke out in\nthe lake; a man was sent immediately to see the tumult; he saw a great\nbear on the bank rolling down stones and logs; the monster appeared to\nbe in a great rage: a lion came out of the lake and suddenly fell upon\nthe bear, a severe contest ensued, in the mean time the bear was beaten\nand was compelled to leave the bank, the next day the men went in search\nof the bear, they found the bear; one of the fore legs was so heavy that\ntwo men could not lift but a hands high, they procured some of the meat\nfor useful purposes in the time of war. About this time a great musqueto\ninvaded the fort Onondaga; the musqueto was mischievous to the people it\nflew about the fort with a long stinger, and sucked the blood a number\nof lives; the warriors made several oppositions to expel the monster,\nbut failed; the country was invaded until the Holder of the Heavens\nwas pleased to visit the people; while he was visiting the king at the\nfort Onondaga, the musqueto made appearance as usual and flew about the\nfort, the Holder of the Heavens attacked the monster, it flew so rapidly\nthat he could hardly keep in sight of it, but after a few days\u2019 chase\nthe monster began to fail: he chased on the borders of the great lakes\ntowards the sunsetting, and round the great country: at last he overtook\nthe monster and kill it near the salt lake Onondaga, and the blood became\nsmall musquetos.\n\nIn the reign the king Atotarho III. About this time the Oneidas had\nextended their forts down the river Kaunsehwatauyea, or Susquehanna, a\nfort situated on the river, there was a certain woman delivered a male\nchild uncommon size; when he was twelve years of age he was nearly as\nlarge as grown person, and he would beat his playmates which would create\ndisputes, but the mother would correct him, and afterwards she prevailed,\nhe promised never to injure his people; when grown up he became a giant\nand was a great hunter; the parent was stored with venison continually;\nhe was so strong that when returned from hunting he would have five\nor six deers and bears strung round on his belt. The giant was named\nSoh-nou-re-wah, i. e. Big Neck, (now Shawnees) which inhabited the banks\nof the river and brought several suits of dress and the scalps of whom he\nhad killed. The Sah-wau-noo sends messengers to fort Keu-na-sen-wa-tau-yea\nas to demonstrate the conduct of Soh-nau-ro-wah, but the business was\nleft upon the relatives Sau-rau-ra-wah, who persuaded him to reform his\nbehaviour for the future: he remained only two winters without making\ndisturbance; he went down the river and whenever he came to a town he\ncommitted the same outrages upon the inhabitants, and plundered the\npeople\u2019s clothes, skins, &c. Again the Sau-wa-noo sends a deputy and\nreported their resentment, but determined to make hostile aggressions if\nnot satisfaction was made on their part. The Chief Ne-nau-re-tah-go sends\na belt of Wampum, and offered the terms of peace, which was accepted; but\nthe Sau-rau-roh-wah was not disposed to favor the treaty; he left the\nfort and went down and located on the bank of Kau-nau-seh-wah-tau-yea\nriver, (said Susquehanna) and commenced to build a fort;[6] he was\nfrequently visited by his relatives; and after the fortification was\ncompleted he resolved to continue the war against his enemies; he went\nfrom time to time and attacked the people which inhabited on the river as\nhe had done before; he would lay in ambush near the path, and whenever\nthe people are passing he shoots them: he used a plump arrow, which\nwas so violent that it would break the body in two parts: as he became\nmischievous to the people that the relatives were obliged to form a plan\nto destroy him; but Sau-rauh-ro-wah was not easily to be quelled, it was\nsupposed that ten warriors were not sufficient to equal his strength. At\nthe fort Kou-na-seh-wa-ta-yea there went three warriors of his natives\nwhich bring him favorite diet, a mess of huckle berries, &c.; the\nSau-nou-ro-wah was pleased of the visit and the food which was given; but\nwhile he was eating it one of the warriors, with a club, concealed under\nhis cloak, instantly stepped on the bench where he was setting, and gave\na fatal blow on the monster\u2019s head, he was so distracted that he run out\nthe fort and was intended to cross the river, he sunk in the mire which\nwas near the bank, the warriors prevailed and killed him on the spot: the\nwarriors spoiled his house and obtained a large quantity of skins, &c.;\nand the fort was ruined ever since.\n\nPerhaps about 800 years before the Columbus discovered the America. About\nthis time the Twakanhahors, (now Mississaugers) ceded the colonies lying\nbetween the Kea-nau-hau-sent (Oak-Orchard,) and the river Onyakarta,\n(Niagara) to the five Nations.\n\nAbout this time lived the king Atotarho IIII. There was a woman and\nson resided near the fort, which was situated near a nole, which was\nnamed Jenneatowaka, the original seat of the Council fire of the\nTe-hoo-nea-nyo-hent (Senecas;) the boy one day while amusing in the bush\nhe caught a small serpent called Kaistowanea, with two heads, and brings\nit to his apartment; the serpent was first placed in a small bark box to\ntame, which was fed with bird\u2019s flesh, &c. After ten winters the serpent\nbecame considerable large and rested on the beams within the hut, and\nthe warrior was obliged to hunt deers and bears to feed the monster; but\nafter awhile the serpent was able to maintain itself on various game; it\nleft the hut and resided on the top of a nole; the serpent frequently\nvisited the lake, and after thirty years it was prodigious size, which in\na short time inspired with an evil mind against the people, and in the\nnight the warrior experienced the serpent was brooding some mischief,\nand was about to destroy the people of the fort; when the warrior was\nacquainted of the danger he was dismayed and soon moved to other fort; at\ndaylight the serpent descended from the heights with the most tremendous\nnoise of the trees, which were trampled down in such a force that the\ntrees were unrooted, and the serpent immediately surrounded the gate;\nthe people were taken improvidentially and brought to confusion; finding\nthemselves circled by the monstrous serpent, some of them endeavored to\npass out at the gate, and others attempted to climb over the serpent,\nbut were unable; the people remained in this situation for several\ndays; the warriors had made oppositions to dispel the monster, but were\nfruitless, and the people were distressed of their confinement, and found\nno other method than to rush to pass out at the gate, but the people were\ndevoured, except a young warrior and sister, which detained, and were\nonly left exposed to the monster, and were restrained without hopes of\ngetting released; at length the warrior received advice from a dream,\nand he adorned his arms with the hairs of his sister, which he succeeded\nby shooting at the heart, and the serpent was mortally wounded, which\nhastened to retire from the fort and retreated to the lake in order to\ngain relief; the serpent dashed on the face of the water furiously in\nthe time of agony; at last it vomited the substance which it had eaten\nand then sunk to the deep and expired. The people of the fort did not\nreceive any assistance from their neighboring forts as the serpent was\ntoo powerful to be resisted. After the fort was demolished the Council\nfire was removed to other fort called Thau-gwe-took, which was situated\nwest of now, Geneva Lake, erected bulwarks on Mountain Ridge, west of\nGenesee River.\n\nAbout this time reigned the King Atotarho V. At the fort\nKe-dau-yer-ko-wau, (now Tonewanta plains) a party went to hunt and were\nattacked by the Ottauwahs, which created differences between the two\nnations as they entered on no terms but to commence hostilities; the\nTo-hoo-nyo-hent sends a band of warriors to attack some of the hunters\nas to retaliate the vengeance upon their enemies. The warriors advanced\nabove the lake named Geattahgweah (now Chatauque) and made encampment\nand agreed to hunt two days, after which to proceed towards the enemies\u2019\ncountry; the warriors went in various directions; a certain warrior\npassed a small brook, he discovered a strange animal resembling a dog,\nbut could not discover the head; the creature was a greyish color, and\nwas laying asleep exposed to the rays of the sun; and also discovered a\nden, supposed the place of his residence; the warrior returned to the\ncamp at evening and related the kind of animal, and informed them, as he\nimagined was a very poisonous animal, and he was afraid to approach it\nagain, but one of the jokers laughed at him and he was called a cowardly\nfellow; the joker determined to go himself and kill the creature without\ntrouble, but wished some of the warriors to be spectators in the time of\nthe engagement; accordingly the warrior went, accompanied by a number of\nwarriors; he was directed to the spot and discovered the animal. After\nbeating it short time with his club, he seized the animal and tied it\nwith a tumline; but while he was lifting it the creature immediately\nmoved to the den. With all his might, he held the tumline, but he could\nnot stop it, he was compelled to let go the tumline when the creature\nwent beyond his reach; the warrior was confused at not being able to kill\nthe animal; he hastened to retire from the spot, but when a few paces\nhe was taken with the pestilence which was influenced by the creature,\nand suddenly died; another warrior was at sight and directly fled to\ncarry the intelligence, but also died at a short distance, and the\nothers returned to the camp; but the pestilence soon prevailed among the\nwarriors, and many of them died in the same manner; a few of them escaped\nby leaving the camp before the plaigue appeared, and thus ended the\nexpedition. The Ottauwahs continued their hostilities and attacked the\nhunters; the Senecas sent out a small party and fought\u2014drove the enemy\noff, but their engagements were small and continued many winters.\n\nIn the days of king Atotarho VI., perhaps 650 years before the Columbus\ndiscovered the America, at the fort Keadanyeekowa or Tontawanta plains, a\nsmall party went out to make incursion upon the enemy that may be found\nwithin the boundaries of the kingdom. They penetrated the Ohio river\nand encamped on the bank; as they were out of provision, the warriors\nwere anxious to kill a game; a certain warrior discovered a hollow tree,\nsupposing a bear in the tree, he immediately reported; the warriors were\nin hopes to obtain the bear\u2014went to the tree; one of them climbed and\nput a fire in it in order to drive out the creature; the warriors made\nready to shoot, but were mistaken, there instantly came out a furious\nLizard, and quickly grasped and leaped into the hollow of the tree and\nthe young ones devoured it; a grumbling noise ensued, the warriors were\nterrified at the monstrous creature and were soon compelled to retire,\nexcept one staid at the tree while others fled; he remained until\nthe party was destroyed and the last warrior was chased; the warrior\nimmediately left the tree and ran on the way fortunately met the holder\nof the Heavens who advised him to stop and offers the aid of making\nresistance which was accepted; the warrior was instructed to make fire\nwithout delay and to get some sticks to use with which to prevent the\nLizard flesh from uniting the body as being efficatious, the protector\nchanged into a lion and laid in wait, in a meanwhile the monster came\nup, a severe engagement took place, the warrior hastened with a stick\nand began to hook the Lizard\u2019s flesh, when bit off by his defendant and\nthrows it into the fire, by means the monster was quelled. The warrior\nthanked for the personal preservation. The protector vanished out of\nhis sight. The warrior returned to the fort and related the occurrence.\nThe war raged: the Senecas had sent out parties against the Ottauwahs\nand obtained various successes; at last the Ottauwahs sued for peace.\nAfter a few winters the Senecas gained their mutual intercourse with the\nOttauwahs and other neighboring nations. About this time reigned the\nking Atotarho VII. who authorised by the Senate to send an expedition to\nexplore the countries towards the setting sun, he sends a messengers to\nacquaint the Ottauwahs of his intention, and wished them to form such\narrangements and to favor their passage, which was complied agreeable to\nhis request. The king appointed two captains to command the expedition,\nabout fifteen men were selected from the five nations; after they were\nequiped and prepared, commenced the journey and arrived at Sandusky;\nthe King of Ottauwah sent two warriors to accompany the expedition; on\ntheir way held several conferences with the nations and all seemed to\nfavor their passage. They advanced the Mississippi river; a duke of\nTwa-kan-ah had collected the people from several towns came out to meet\nthem the people danced around them, singing, beating their little drums;\nafter the ceremonies was performed the band of warriors was invited\ninto the national house. The band crossed the Mississippi and continued\ntheir course towards the sunsetting; they reached an extensive meadow;\nthey discovered a curious animal\u2014a winged fish, it flew about the tree;\nthis little active creature moved like a humming bird. They continued\nthe journey and come at the village of the Dog Tail Nation, the band\nwas accommodated, amused with dances, and was conducted to the chief\u2019s\nhouse. They were astonished that the people had short tails like apes; a\nhole was made through their seats where they put their tails. The band\ncontinued their direction and came to another nation and too was kindly\nreceived, and their object was favorably accepted by the head men of the\nnation. During their stay, a certain warrior of the band courted a young\nwoman, but the warrior died soon after the marriage. They observed that\nthe people did not eat any meat but drink the soup. The band continued\nthe journey, but before reached the Rocky Mountains, were arrested by a\ngiant; the band was compelled to return; after a long journey came back\nto the seat and informed the king all the particulars about the journey.\nAfter a time the five nations was desirous to preserve the peace and\nfriendship with the western nations; ambassador was sent to the Lentahkeh\nnation, who inhabited the country east of Ohio River (now in Kentucky);\nanother ambassy was sent, who went and lived among the Ottauwahs for\nseveral years; he married a woman and afterwards obtained two children;\nhe was invited to join a company going out a winter\u2019s hunt. They\njourneyed some distance, and reached their hunting grounds; but the men\nwere so unlucky that they could kill but a few game; after a few days the\npeople were destitute of provisions; the leader of the company commanded\nthe overseer to select two fat persons and to kill them without delay,\nwhich was soon executed; the flesh of these victims was distributed\namong the people. The leader had commanded the people that if any one\nkilled a game the meat should be left with the overseer for distribution,\nand that who disobeyed, the offender should be punished in a severest\nmanner. The ambassy killed a bear, the meat was disposed to the rules.\nThe leader daily butchered two persons to feed the people, which only\nincreased their distress. The people were so feeble that they were unable\nto hunt any more, and many of them began to famish.\u2014The ambassy again\nkilled another game and bring it secretly to his camp, but it was soon\ndetected and rumored among the people; at this offence, the ambassy was\nordered to appear before their tribunal; some men were angry at him\nand sought to destroy him, but the leader deemed it unjust, it would\nviolate the treaty they had entered with the five nations; but however,\nto satisfy the people, the leader consented to use other method to\ndestroy him; he commanded to strip him and to seize his clothes and the\ninstruments; after which to extinguish their fires, and then to remove\ntheir camps a half day\u2019s journey distance; the offender would certainly\nfreeze without remedy; but the ambassy was ingenious, finding that he\nwould be surprised, instantly takes a suit of dress and bow and arrows,\nand hides them under the hemlock boughs which were spread in the camp.\nIn a meanwhile the opponents entered the camp, the ambassy was stripped\nwithout discriminate, as they had determined to destroy him. The wife was\ncompelled to leave him, or else she would share the same fate.\n\nThe company retired; he dressed himself immediately and proceeded and was\nin hopes to reach a fort situated near the Lake Erie; but was so fatigued\nthat he could not travel very fast; about sunset he happened to approach\non an age of a dark forest; he selected a spot where he encamped, but\nas he had no kind of food to eat and was quite dejected after making\nexertions to render himself comfortable, but failed, the weather being\nunfavorable, as it was cold and cloudy, however he was seldom taken by\nsurprise; having a good understanding about astronomical calculations,\nascertained that the storm was at hand; after kindled a fire laid himself\ndown to linger out a miserable existence which he was doomed to suffer.\nEarly in the morning he heard some noise as something was coming, which\nat once attracted his attention; he was afraid; as presumed that some of\nhis enemy had overtook him; fortunately a young man came up and sat down;\nthe visitor showed a friendly disposition, after a short conversation the\nambassy related his distressed condition; the visitor offered to relieve\nhim as soon as possible, which was received with sanguine expectations;\nthe ambassy was advised that a snow would fall so deep that he would\nbe in want of a pair of snow shoes, the visitor offered the pattern\nand showed him how to make the shoes. The ambassy was directed where\nto find the game; and did as he was bidden. On the night the young man\nmade another visit and advised the ambassy where to catch bears; after\nthe conversation the visitor disappeared. He succeeded and caught seven\nbears; after he had prepared some meat and the bears\u2019 oil, immediately\nwent to the encampment in search of his wife and children, found them\nalmost perished; as first gave them each a spoonful of oil and were soon\nrelieved; he directed them to his camp. The ambassy was relieved from\ndistress whilst his enemy was lingering in despair; he examined the camp\nand was astonished to find that the people were utterly famished; the\npeople became so weak and faint that they were not able to make fire;\nthose who held out had eat the human flesh as long as they could they\nthemselves, and were lying among the dead, the company was now exposed to\ndestruction, as the people had put themselves to disgrace; the ambassy\nhad refused to invite any of them except his wife\u2019s relatives; the\ndisasters were so worn out did not reach the camp until next morning.\nAfter a few days by his exertions, the men\u2019s strength was revived, and\nwere capable to hunt. After they had come back to the town the ambassy\nwas so shamefully abused by the people, he was compelled to leave his\nwife and the country. About this time the Ottawahs became numerous and\npowerful nation, occupied an extensive country lying between the Lake\nErie and the Ohio river, and was supposed their national force amounted\nabout 4000 men.\n\nIn the reign of King Atotarho VIII., perhaps 4000 years before the\nColumbus discovered America. About this time the Twakanhah or\nMessissaugers began to wage a war against the five nations; the Senecas\non the frontier were most engaged in the warfare. After various\nskirmishes the enemy was so excited that they determined to destroy the\nfort Kauhanauka, (now in Tuscarora near Lewiston,) but the commander of\nthe fort was aware of the danger, he sent messengers to the forts in\nthe vicinity, and about eight hundred warriors were collected at fort\nKauhanauka. The commander had sent runners to observe the movements of\nthe enemy. The army marched towards the river, and hid themselves among\nthe bushes under the mountain; the enemy came up; a bloody battle ensued;\nthe enemy was repulsed and flies from the foe. The army retired to the\nfort; soon after the commander despatched two runners to the forts on\nthe Genesee river to procure assistance as soon as possible; the army\nreceived reinforcements; they made bark canoes and carried them to the\nmouth of the Niagara river; the canoes were ready, the commander sent\na chieftain and offered the enemy an intermission or parley, but the\nproposal was not accepted; the army immediately crossed the river and\nmade vigorous attack: the enemy was routed and fled from the bank without\nmaking resistance, retreated towards the head of the lake; after burning\nthe huts, the army returned to the fort; but the commotions were not\nquelled; small parties of the Senecas often take the canoes and go by\nwater towards the head of Ontario lake, in search of the enemy, but they\navoid from attack of superior force; several engagements were made on\nthe lake with small parties of the enemy; after a while the commander of\nthe fort Kauhanauka, was ardent to attack the main body of the enemy;\nhe sends runners beyond the Genesee river, and obtained two thousand\nwarriors: the army again crossed the Niagara river and proceeded towards\nthe head of the lake, but before reached the beach met a strong force of\nthe enemy; after a desperate contest the army retreated; the commander\nsoon perceived that it was impossible to gain the conquest, sued for\npeace and offered to restore the prisoners which he took from them which\nwas concluded. About this time the Stonish Giants were diminished, but\nvery few found in the north regions; the Giants understood the language\nof the five nations, but they were a most savage tribe, and often\nattacked the hunters, but that set of hordes were extirpated. At the\nOnondaga, two men went out to hunt beaver, and crossed the river St.\nLawrence, and went far in the north, and discover a number of beaver\ndams, and killed many beavers. One day a man went alone in search of the\nbeaver, but unfortunately he was taken prisoner by the Stonish Giant;\nthe man was compelled to run a race with the Giant, a considerable\ndistance; after midday the man gained and almost went out of sight, but\nthe giant whooped, by which the man was so affected that he fainted and\nfell down. The giant took advantage of him and soon passed him; the man\nwas dismayed and turned his course, and sought to escape and endeavored\nto hide himself: he climbed a small tree and bent it to another tree,\nand leaped from tree to tree, until he reached a large basswood stump\nwhich had sprouted several branches, and seated himself in the midst\nof it and watched the pursuer: in a few moments the giant came up and\nexamined the stump for some time; at length the giant exhibited a curious\ninstrument which he called a pointer, and possessed a power of the\nnature; it directed him where to find game; the giant could not live\nwithout it. The man observed the motion of the hand, and as it was about\nto point to him, he jumped from the stump and seized it by the fingers,\nand instantly possessed the valuable instrument; the giant was defeated\nand immediately entreated for the pointer, and offered to mention the\nmedical roots as a mark of friendship, which was accepted; the pointer\nwas restored to the owner, after which the giant retired; the man came\nhome and began to doctor, and cured many diseases; he was skilled in\nthe business and drew hair and worms from persons whom the witches had\nblown into their bodies. It was supposed that the Skaunvatohatihawk, or\nNanticokes in the south first founded the witchcraft. Great pains were\ntaken to procure the snakes and roots which the stuff was made of to\npoison the people. The witches formed into a secret society; they met in\nthe night and consult on various subject respecting their engagements;\nwhen a person becomes a member of their society, he is forbidden to\nreveal any of their proceedings. The witches in the night would turn into\nfoxes and wolves, and run very swift, attending with flashes of light.\nThe witches sometimes turn into a turkey or big owl, and can fly very\nfast, and go from town to town, and blow hairs and worms into a person;\nif the witches are discovered by some person they turn into a stone or\nrotten log; in this situation they are entirely concealed; about fifty\npersons were indicted for being witches, and were burnt to death near\nthe fort Onondaga, by order of the national committee. About this time\na strange thing happened near the village of Kaunehsuntahkeh, situated\neast of Oneida creek: a man and his wife and another person returned\nfrom hunting, but before they reached the village the night was getting\nlate; they went into a house to stay over the night; the house where the\ndead bodies were deposited; they kindled a fire and went to sleep, but\nwhen the fire was out, the room became dark, the man heard something was\ngnawing: the man kindled the fire, he discovered the person was dead\neaten by a ghost; he was so frightened that he trembled; he immediately\ntold his wife to quit the room as soon as possible; he remained a few\nmoments and also left the house and followed his wife and overtook her,\nbut she became faint and could not run fast; they saw a light coming and\nsupposed the ghost was chasing; fortunately they gained the village.\nThe next day the people went and burnt the dead bodies. This important\nevent was soon made known among the five nations, and afterwards changed\ntheir mode of burying, by setting posture face to the east; but again\nthey were troubled with the dead bodies, and were compelled to make some\nalterations in burying.\n\nIn each Nation contain set of generations or tribes, viz. _Otter_,\n_Bear_, _Wolf_, _Beaver_, _Turtle_. Each tribe has two chiefs to settle\nthe disputes, &c. If a man commits murder, the nearest relation of the\nslain despatches the murderer with a war-club; the slain and the murderer\nare put into one grave. Sometimes their relation of the offender present\na belt of white wampum, to make the atonement. The adulterous women are\npunished by shaving their heads, and banished from the town. The thieves\nare punished by whipping severely. To recover debts, they generally apply\nto the chiefs; the payments are made up by the relatives of the debtor.\nThey have a certain time of worship; the false faces first commence the\ndances; they visit the houses to drive away sickness, &c. Each town or\ndistrict are allowed to sacrifice a couple of white dogs: the dogs are\npainted and ornamented with strings of wampum: they throw the dogs into\nthe fire, and some tobacco, and addresses the Maker. They pretend to\nfurnish him a coat of skin and a pipe full of tobacco; after which, have\ndances for several days. The private feats are guided by the dreams. The\nsixth family, Esaurora, or Tuscaroras, was visited by a person, and went\nto see their amusements, but he was abused by some of the ball-players.\nHe punished the offender by throwing him into a tree; he suddenly\ndisappeared, but the person came again and released the fellow from the\ntree. The visitor appeared very old man; he appeared among the people\nfor a while; he taught them many things; how to respect their deceased\nfriends, and to love their relations, &c., he informed the people that\nthe whites beyond the great water had killed their Maker, but he rose\nagain; and he warns them that the whites would in some future day take\npossession of the Big Island and it was impossible to prevent it; the red\nchildren would melt away like snow before the heat. The aged became sick,\nand he told them to get different kinds of roots, to cure the diseases;\nand also showed them the manner of mourning, &c. The aged man died among\nthem, and they buried him; but soon after some person went to the grave\nand found he had risen, and never heard of him since.\n\nIn the reign the King Atotarho IX., perhaps 350 years before the Columbus\ndiscovered the America. About this time the Kanneastokaroneah or Erians\nsprung from the Senecas, and became numerous and powerful nation,\noccupying the country lying between the Genesee and Niagara Rivers. It\nwas supposed that the national sovereignty was confirmed by the Senate\nof the Five Nations. A Queen, named Yagowanea, resided at the fort\nKauhanauka, (said Tuscarora.) She had an influence among the people,\nand extended her authority over twelve forts of the country. A treaty\nof peace was concluded between her and the Twakanhah, (Messissaugers.)\nAfter a time dissentions broke out between the Five Nations and the\nMessissaugers, and soon commenced hostilities; but the war was regulated\nunder her control. The Queen lived outside the fort in a long house,\nwhich was called a Peace House. She entertained the two parties who\nwere at war with each other: indeed, she was called the mother of the\nNations. Each nation sent her a belt of wampum as a mark of respect,\nbut where the Five Nations were engaged in the warfare she admitted two\nCanandaigua warriors into her house; and just as they began to smoke\nthe pipe of peace a small party of the Messissaugers too came into the\nhouse. She betrayed her vistors\u2014she advised the Messissaugers to kill the\nwarriors, which was soon executed; the Messissaugers soon retired. The\nQueen was informed that the two warriors of Canandaigua had been over\nthe river and killed a young prince of the Messissaugers: this offence\nwas too great to pass without condemning the murderers; the reason she\ngave them up. She immediately went and consulted the chieftain of the\nband, stationed at Kanhaitauneekay, east of Onondaga village, Buffalo\nreservation, and from thence repaired to fort Kauquatkay, situated on\nthe Lake Erie, the residence of the Kaunaquavouhar, a chief commander\nof the Erian forces. She dispatched two runners to assemble the people\nat Kauquatkay the Queen too sends an ambassy to form an alliance with\nthe Naywaunaukauraunah, a savage tribe encamped on the lake Erie, to\nunite against the Five Nations. During the absence of the Queen from the\nfort Kauhanauka, a woman went privately and took a canoe and proceeded\non the lake Ontario, towards Canandaigua, as fast as possible; she left\nthe canoe at some place and went through the woods, and came late in\nthe evening at Canandaigua, a fortified town, and immediately informed\nthe Governor, Shorihowane, that the Erians were making preparations to\ndestroy the people living on the east side of Genesee river. The woman\ngave direction how to send the spies: the governor rose in the morning\nand sent out two fast runners to the fort Kauhanauka, to ascertain the\nmatter; the two spies came to an old cornfield south of the fort, where\nthey met some boys hunting squirrels; the spies made inquiries and\nreceived all necessary information respecting the Erians\u2019 Council at\nKauquatkay, and went home as fast as possible. The Governor Shorihowane,\nobtained the news. The business was so in haste that it was impossible\nto procure any aid from the allies. He collected the warriors from the\nneighboring forts, amounting to fifteen hundred besides the women and the\nold men. The governor separated the people into three divisions; first\nthe men, between thirty and fifty years of age; second division, the men\nwere from twenty to thirty years of age; third division, were women and\nold men.\u2014The Governor had commanded the leaders to be in good courage and\nuse all the means in their power to defeat the enemy. After parading the\ndivisions they marched towards the Genesee River; the army halted at the\nfort Kawnesats, situated on a small lake east of Genesee. The governor\nhad sent runners to observe the motions of the enemy. The women and old\nmen were to remain at fort to cook and provide provisions for the people.\nThe runners came in and announced that the Erians had crossed the Genesee\nriver; the divisions immediately proceeded and laid an ambush on both\nside the path; the first division was in front to commence the action at\nthe advance of the enemy. With a stratagem a certain warrior was dressed\nwith a bear skin, and was seated on the path a little distance from the\nfront of the division, meanwhile the enemy came up and saw the bear\nsitting at ease; the enemy chase it, which brought them in the midst of\nthe division; at once burst a most hideous yell, followed with a rattling\nof war clubs. After a severe contest the first division was compelled\nto retreat, but the assistance of the second company came up and the\nbattle was renewed. At last the Erians fled from the field, leaving six\nhundred warriors slain. The enemy hurried to cross the Genesee river;\nthe Governor declined to chase the enemy, but returned to Canandaigua.\nAbout this time the King of the Five Nations had ordered the great war\nchief Shoribowane, (a Mohawk,) to march directly with an army of five\nthousand warriors to aid the Governor of Canandaigua against the Erians,\nto attack the fort Kauquatkay, endeavor to extinguish the council fire\nof the enemy, which was becoming dangerous to the neighboring nations;\nbut unfortunately during the seige a shower of arrows was flying from\nthe fort, the great war Chief Shorihowane was killed and his body\nconveyed back to Genesee and was buried in a solemn manner; but however,\nthe seige continued for several days. The Queen sued for peace,\u2014the\narmy immediately ceased from hostilities, and left the Erians entire\npossession of the country. The Skumantoh or Deer was the most useful\ngame of the Five Nations; the animal can run considerable distance in a\nday. The people have a small dog in aid to overtake, but very seldom stop\nwhen pursued by the dogs.\n\nThese creatures generally go in the river or lake; in this situation\nthe dogs are compelled to leave the deer. The wolves are also prevented\nfrom catching these animals; the hunters have never seen a deer lying\ndead, except in some instances; if a person find one it was considered\na bad sign; that person some of his relatives will die in the course of\na few moons. When the deer get old they throw themselves into the river\nand die. Another way has been discovered: if a deer runs off and barks\nat the hunter, it was a bad sign; his wife has committed adultery, in\nconsequence he cannot kill any deer. When a person intends to hunt deer\nhe procures a medicine, and vomits once daily for twelve days, after\nwhich he procures some pine or cedar boughs and boils them in a clay\nkettle, and after removed from the fire, he takes a blanket and covers\nhimself over with it to sweat; the person that uses the medicine does\nnot allow a woman with child or uncleanness to eat any of the venison.\nThe people sometimes go out to hunt as the corn begins to grow on the\nears: they make a long brush fence and remove the leaves on both sides\nof the fence, the deer will follow the path; the person can easily kill\nthe game. In the hot days of the summer, they go and watch in the night\nat the salt licks. Another mode of killing the deer; they take slivers of\nbasswood bark and proceed to the place and obtain a canoe and go into the\nriver or lake in the night, provided with a light of slivers.\u2014The bear,\nelk and buffalo, were found in the territory of the Five Nations.\u2014The\nmoose inhabit the spruce country and the heads of the Mohawk river; this\ncountry was never inhabited by any kind of people in the winter season;\nthe snow fell so deep it was supposed that country would always remain a\nwilderness.\n\nAbout this time the Oneidas killed a very poisonous blue otter; the meat\nwas very carefully preserved; some are used to hunt, and others to poison\nthe arrows when go out to war; some of the witches obtained the meat to\npoison the people. In the river and lakes are found various kinds of\nfishes. The people had particular time of the moon to make sugar, plant\ncorn, and hunt deer and other animals. The seasons of the year they are\ndirected by the seven stars of the heavens: when warriors travel in a\ngreat forest they are guided by a northern star; if the sun or moon is\neclipsed they believe that the Bad Spirit darkens it: the people are\nassembled, and make a loud noise to scare the Bad Spirit from the orb.\nThey believe that the clouds in the moon were earth and inhabited by\npeople. The six family made resident near the mouth of Neuse river, in\nNorth Carolina, and became three tribes, the Kautanohakau, Kauwetseka,\nand Tuscarora, and united into a league and were at war with the\nNanticokes, and totally on the sea shores. About this time the Long House\nbecame numerous and powerful; each nation could muster as follows:\u2014the\nMowhawks, 5000 warriors; Oneidas, 3500 warriors; Senecas, 6000 warriors;\nOnondagas, 4000 warriors; Cayugas, 4500 warriors; total amount, 23,000\nwarriors. The Mowhawk was considered an oldest brother, and was appointed\nto keep a watch towards the sunrise, the Senecas were appointed to keep\na watch towards the sunsetting. The Senators met annually, at the fort\nOnondaga, to promote their national prosperity.\n\nThe Long House were free and independent nations, and have been\nacknowledged in such treaties made with them by the neighboring\nnations.\u2014Every independent nation have a government of their own: they\nhave a national committee meet occasionally: they have a Chief Ruler,\nnamed _Aukoyaner_[7], a peace-maker who is invested with authority to\nadminister the government. Each nation have a right to punish individuals\nof their own nation for offences, committed within their jurisdiction;\neach nation are bound to oppose any hostile invasions of the enemy.\n\nIn the reign Atotarho X., perhaps about 250 years before Columbus\ndiscovered America. The Oyalquarkeror, Big Bear, continue invade the\ncountry at Onondaga; a party went and encamped a day\u2019s journey distance\nfrom the village; they hunted and killed a few deer. One morning a woman\nleft the camp and was going home to pound corn and to supply the men\nwith provisions; but before she reached half way she was attacked by\nthe monstrous Bear, and was soon devoured, as she did not return. The\nmen were anxiously waiting, and were suspicious about her; a man was\nsent to see if she was coming; he advanced where she was assaulted, and\ndiscovered the place of her remains; he soon perceived their fate; he\nimmediately reported and the men immediately proceeded to the place; and\nwhile examining her remains the bear made a vigorous attack; the men met\na severe engagement, but in the meantime the monster was killed: they\nprocured some of the meat for useful purposes.\n\nAtotarho XI., perhaps about 150 years before Columbus discovered America.\nAbout this time the Tuscaroras sends messengers and renewed their\nintercourse with the five nations. The Tuscaroras were yet numerous and\nhad twenty-four large towns, and probably could muster six thousand\nwarriors. They possessed the country lying between the sea shores and the\nmountains, which divide the Atlantic states; but afterwards a contest\narose and the southern nations, the Oyatoh, Kwntariroraunuh, Caweda. The\nwar lasted for many years; unfortunately it became so distressed that\nthe Tuscarora\u2019s frontier settlements were reduced considerably, but the\nTuscaroras send expresses and received assistance from their brethren,\nthe Five Nations, and war was carried on for some time: at last the enemy\nwas compelled to suspend their hostility.\n\nThe Bear tribes nominate the Chief Warrior of the nation. The laws of the\nconfederation provides the Onondagas to furnish a King, and the Mowhawks\na great war chief of the Five Nations.\n\nAbout this time an earthquake was felt throughout the kingdom, supposed a\nlarge comet fell into some of the lakes; and other signs were seen in the\nheavens. The defender ceased from visiting the people in bodily form, but\nappeared to the prophet. In a dream he foretells the whites would cross\nthe Big Waters and bring some liquors, and buy up the red people\u2019s lands;\nhe advises them not to comply with the wishes of the whites, lest they\nshould ruin themselves and displease their Maker; they would destroy the\ntree of peace and extinguish the great Council Fire at Onondaga, which\nwas so long preserved to promote their national sovereignty.\n\nIn the reign Atotarho XII., perhaps about 50 years before Columbus\ndiscovered America, the Tehatirihokea, or Mowhawks was at war with\nRanatshaganha, supposed Mohegans, who occupied the opposite bank of\nthe river Skaunataty or Hudson. The warfare was maintained by small\nexpeditions: the Mowhawks would cross the river and attack the enemy: the\ncanoes were kept in the river continually to cover their retreat; but\nafter a while the Mohegans expaliated the war: the chief of the Mowhawks\nreceived orders from the King, and invited the two confederate nations,\nthe Oneidas and the Onondagas, to unite against the common enemy; the\nband of the combined forces immediately crossed the river and revenged a\npart of the country, and the enemy were compelled to sue for peace.\n\nIn the reign Atotarho XIII., in the year 1492, Columbus discovered the\nAmerica. The Keatahkiehroneah, were fighting with the neighboring tribes\nand were injurious to the frontier settlements. The five nations sends\nThoyenogea with an army of five thousand warriors and defeated the\nKeatahkiehroneah and drove them west of the Ohio River; and they lay\nwaste the enemies\u2019 country, and attacked other tribes &c. About this time\nthe Erians declared a war against the Five Nations; a long bloody war\nensued; at last the Erians were driven from the country, and supposed\nwere incorporated with some of the southern nations: after which the\nkingdom enjoyed without disturbance for many years.\n\nThe Mowhawk was considered the oldest language of the confederacy:\n\n_Mowhawk._\n\n1. WUS-KOT,\n2. TACK-NY,\n3. AU-SUH,\n4. KAU-VALY,\n5. WISK,\n6. YUA-YAK,\n7. GIA-TOCK,\n8. SOT-TAI-GON,\n9. TEW-DO,\n10. OYA-LY,\n\n_Tuscarora._\n\n1. VNTCHEE,\n2. NAKE-TEE,\n3. AU-SH,\n4. HUN-TOCK,\n5. WHISK,\n6. O-YAK,\n7. GIA-NOCK,\n8. NAKE-RUH,\n9. NI-RUH,\n10. WOTS-HUH.\n\n[Illustration: END.]\n\n\n\n\nFOOTNOTES\n\n\n[1] It appears by the fictitious accounts, that the said beings became\ncivilized people and made their residence in the southern parts of the\nIsland; but afterwards they were destroyed by the barbarous nations, and\ntheir fortifications were ruined unto this day.\n\n[2] The creek now branches off the Susquehannah River at the head\ngenerally called Col. Allen\u2019s lake, ten miles south of the Oneida Castle.\n\n[3] By some this may seem an incredible story. Why more so than that the\nIsraelite should cross the Red Sea on dry land.\n\n[4] It appears by the tradition of the Shawnees, that the Stonish\nGiants descend from a certain family that journeyed on the east side of\nMississippi River, went towards the north-west after they were separated,\non account of the vine broke. The family was left to seek its habitation,\nand the rules of humanity were forgotten, and afterwards eat raw flesh\nof the animals. At length they practiced rolling themselves on the sand\nby means their bodies were covered with hard skin these people became\ngiants and were dreadful invaders of the country. It is said that Sir\nWilliam Johnson, the Superintendant of the Six Nations, had a picture of\nthe giant. Probably the English have recorded in the Historian respecting\nNorth America.\n\n[5] The hollow it is said not far from Onondaga. Some says the Giants\nretreated by way Mountain Ridge and crossed below the Niagara Falls.\n\n[6] The fort was situated on the south bank of the Susquehanna river. In\n1800 I went over the ground myself and viewed the mound.\n\n[7] _Aukoyaner_, i. e. Lord. No one can hold this office except a Turtle\ntribe; he governs the nation, but not allowed to go out to war, his duty\nis to stay home and preserve peace among his people.\n\n\n\n\n   *      *      *      *      *      *\n\n\n\n\nTranscriber\u2019s note:\n\nMinor amendments to punctuation are not noted.\n\nLikely period spelling has not been changed.\n\nSometimes there are multiple variants of proper nouns (e.g.\nShotyerronsgwea, Shotyeronsgwea, Shotyeronagwea). These are left as\nprinted rather than trying to standardise.\n\nThe following probable printer\u2019s errors were corrected.\n\nPage\n14 \u201csubsistance\u201d changed to \u201csubsistence\u201d (vegetation afforded\n   the animals subsistence)\n\n14 \u201cmoninal\u201d changed to \u201cnominal\u201d (their nominal residence)\n\n16 \u201cKanawaga\u201d changed to \u201cKanawage\u201d (the river Kanawage or St. Lawrence)\n\n17 \u201cocurred\u201d changed to \u201coccurred\u201d (This occurred in a season)\n\n17 \u201ca sleep\u201d changed to \u201casleep\u201d (he was now fast asleep)\n\n17 \u201cspirti\u201d changed to \u201cspirit\u201d (his spirit fled to heaven)\n\n18 \u201cthe\u201d changed to \u201cthem\u201d (to amuse them until)\n\n19 \u201ccontiment\u201d changed to \u201ccontinent\u201d (ever existed on the continent)\n\n20 \u201cimducement\u201d changed to \u201cinducement\u201d (By some inducement)\n\n20 \u201ccompaay\u201d changed to \u201ccompany\u201d (Of this company there was)\n\n20 \u201cextered\u201d changed to \u201centered\u201d (they entered into a resolution)\n\n20 \u201cwas was\u201d changed to \u201cwas\u201d (the family was named)\n\n21 \u201cloose\u201d changed to \u201close\u201d (did not go so far as to lose)\n\n21 \u201ctresspasses\u201d changed to \u201ctrespasses\u201d (to commit trespasses against)\n\n22 \u201cassylum\u201d changed to \u201casylum\u201d (seeks an asylum)\n\n23 \u201cset\u201d changed to \u201csit\u201d (to sit and deliberate)\n\n23 \u201cOdnonaga\u201d changed to \u201cOnondaga\u201d (was soon conveyed to Onondaga)\n\n23 \u201cSquaukihaws\u201d changed to \u201cSquawkihows\u201d (to keep Squawkihows in\n   subjection)\n\n23 \u201cMisissaugers\u201d changed to \u201cMississaugers\u201d (Twakanhah,\n  [Mississaugers.]); though also more commonly in this text spelt\n   Messissaugers...\n\n26 \u201cIV\u201d changed to \u201cV\u201d (the King Atotarho V.)\n\n26 \u201cpoisinous\u201d changed to \u201cpoisonous\u201d (a very poisonous animal)\n\n26 \u201cOtotarho\u201d changed to \u201cAtotarho\u201d (In the days of king Atotarho VI.)\n\n27 \u201cOttouwahs\u201d changed to \u201cOttauwahs\u201d (the Ottauwahs sued for peace)\n\n27 \u201cOtotarho\u201d changed to \u201cAtotarho\u201d (reigned the king Atotarho VII.)\n\n27 \u201cOttauhwahs\u201d changed to \u201cOttauwahs\u201d (lived among the Ottauwahs)\n\n28 \u201cunfavoable\u201d changed to \u201cunfavorable\u201d (the weather being unfavorable)\n\n29 \u201csooon\u201d changed to \u201csoon\u201d (assistance as soon as possible)\n\n29 \u201centripated\u201d changed to \u201cextirpated\u201d (hordes were extirpated)\n\n29 \u201cprisonor\u201d changed to \u201cprisoner\u201d (taken prisoner by the Stonish Giant)\n\n30 \u201cgnhwing\u201d changed to \u201cgnawing\u201d (the man heard something was gnawing)\n\n31 \u201csovereignity\u201d changed to \u201csovereignty\u201d (the national sovereignty)\n\n31 \u201cattonement\u201d changed to \u201catonement\u201d (to make the atonement)\n\n32 \u201cKanquatkay\u201d changed to \u201cKauquatkay\u201d (people at Kauquatkay)\n\n33 \u201ctreatise\u201d changed to \u201ctreaties\u201d (in such treaties made)\n\n34 \u201cdisdovered\u201d changed to \u201cdiscovered\u201d (about 250 years before Columbus\n   discovered America)\n\n34 \u201cbreteren\u201d changed to \u201cbrethren\u201d (assistance from their brethren)\n\n34 \u201cCelumbus\u201d changed to \u201cColumbus\u201d (about 50 years before Columbus\n   discovered America)\n\n35 \u201cconfedenacy\u201d changed to \u201cconfederacy\u201d (the oldest language of\n   the confederacy)","title":"David Cusick's Sketches of Ancient History of the Six Nations: Comprising First\u2014A Tale of the Foundation of the Great Island, (Now North America), The Two Infants Born, and the Creation of the Universe. Second\u2014A Real Account of the Early Settlers of north America, and Their Dissensions. Third\u2014Origin of the Kingdom of the Five Nations, Which Was Called a Long House: the Wars, Fierce Animals, &c.","tradition":"myth-cosmogony","translated_text":null,"word_count":14287}