The Iroquois Trail, Or, Footprints of the Six Nations: In Customs, Traditions and History

Citation preview

^l^e Iroquoi^

T'rail,

~o«

FOOT= PRINTS OF THE-

SIX NATIONS, -IN

Customs, Traditions, and History, -BY-

W. M. BKiAUCHAMP, •

S. T. D.,

•..•' iN WHIN H ARK •INCXirrEr •" *

••.•••»• **•f

iIk'

blX N.MIONS.

S

reach;

I

!)!(•

1

winch

f

lortunately at a short (hstance

}

the

iea'ls to

stantly su|>))orted )nilial


\.

animal: he hastened to

fused at not being able to

kill

from the spot, but when a

fe»v i)aces

tilence which

tlie

was influenced by the creature, and suddenly died;

another warrior was

at sight

and directly

ligence. but also died at a short distance, to the

retir.'

he was taken with the pe^

camp: but

lied to carry

the inte

and the others returne

the pestilence soon prevailed

among

1

the wai

and many of them died in the same manner; a few (i them escaped by leaving the camp before th.e ])]ague a[)i)eare(;,

riors.

CUSICK aiid thus

ended the

SIX

S

exijechtion.

NAIIONS.

'i'he

2^

Ottauwahs cDiitinued

their

and attacked the hunters: the Senetas sent out a small drove the enemy otif, but their engagements party and fought hostiHties

—

many

Were'small and continued In the days of king

Cohnnbus

winters.

Ototarho VI. perhaps 650 years before the

dif'Covered the America, at the fort

or Tontawanta plains, a small party went out to

Kcadanyeekowa make incursion

Upon the enemy that may be found within the boundaries of the kingdom. 'I'hey penetrated the Ohio river and encamped on as they were out of provision, the warriors were the bank ;

anxious to

warriors were

game;

a

kill

tree. sup|)osing

a l)ear

in

in

a certain warrior discovered a hollow the tree, he immediately reported

hopes to obtain the bear

of them climbed and

jyut

creature; the warriors

made ready

there instantly

and leaped voured at the

it:

came out

a

fire in

in

it

— went

to the tree

;

the

:

one

order to drive out the

shoot, but were mistaken,

t(i

Lizard, and (piickly grasjjed

a furious

into the hollow of the tree an

the young ones de-

1

a grumbling noi^e ensued, the warriors were terrified

monstrous creature

cept one staid

at

a!id

were soon compelled Hed

the tree while others

the party was destroyed and the

last

:

to retire, ex-

he remained until

warrior was chased

;

the war-

way fortunately met the Holder of the Heavens who advised him to stop and offers the aid of material resistance which was accei)ted the war rior was instru( ted to make fire without delay and to get srmie rior

immediately

left

the free and ran on the

:

Sticks to use with

which to prevent

the body or I;eing efficatious.

ll.e

tl.e

Lizard's tlesh from uniting

protector changed into a lion

and laid in wait, in a meanwhi'e the monster came up. a severe engagement look place, the warrior hastened with a stick and began to hook the Lizard's tiesh. when bit off by his defendant and throws it into the fire, by nieans the monster was (juelled. 1 he warrior thanked for the ])ersonal ])reservation. lector vanished out of his sight. fort

I

and related the occurrence,

'I

'I'he i)ro-

he warrior returned to the

'i'lie

war raged

:

the Senecas

CUSICK

34

had sent out successes; at

S SIX

Ottauwahs and obtained various

parties against the hist

NATION'S.

the Ottauwahs sued for peace.

After a few

winters the Senecas gained their mutual intercourse with the Ot-

About

tauwahs and other neighboring nations.

time reigned

this

the king Ototariio \'II, wlio authorized by the Senate to send an expediti«)n to expkjre the ctjuntries towards the setting sun, he

sends a messenger to accpuiint the Ottauwahs of

his intention,

and wished tliem to form sucii arrangements and to favor their The king jwssage, which was comphed agreeable to his re(|uest. ap[)ointed two cajjtains to command the expedition, about fifteen men were selected from the five nations: after thty were e

1

,e.vislo.i.

enemy.

th^'

and

.About this time the 'I'wa

\a!ious skirmishes the

.Xt'tei'

the ('anger he

ab

lecas

S_'

th.'\' dele:-;ni!ie

rf):a

I'.ric'

amounted

Messissaugers began to wage a war against the

or

na',io!is:

t'orce

.About

ooo me.i.

.\

In the reign

kanliah

and the country.

it

the torts

in

ruii'i-. lo observe the

marclie

1

t!ie

m

towart's ihe river, an

the bushes under the mountain battle eisuel;

and Kauhanauka.

the \icinitv.

co!lecte;l at iort

:

)vemeiits of 1

hid

them

the i-nemv

one iiVA-a; repulse! aid

came flies

cusick's six nations.

28 from the

foe.

The army

returned lo the

commaiuler disputehed two nmners

fort

soon

;

on

to the forts

after ihc

tlic

(ienesec

army receiveil reinforcements: they made hark canoes and carrietl them l») thr river to procure assistance as

soon as possible

tlie

;

mouth of the Niagara river; the canoes were ready, the c>iii mander sent a ciiieftain and olfereil the enemy an inlermisi ion or |)arley, but the projuisal was not accepted; the army i;nme ately cro.'-sed the river and made vigorous attack: the enemy w.i-. li

routed and

lied

from

tlie

bank without making

le isiance, ic

treated towards the head of the hike; after burning the huts, the

army returned

to the fort

;

but the

lommolions were not

i[uelle'.I.

Senecas often lake ihe can( es and g j by water towards the lu'ad of Ontario lake, in ^caich of the eneu'v. arties of the

small

I

hue;

but they avoid from attack of ;vi|eiior

icve;al ergagi

ments were made on tl.e lake with Muall allies of the enemy after a while the commaiuler of tl.e fort Kauhanauka. wa>a:c!ei:i to attack the main body of the ei'.cmy h.e ^crids iiinr.en biy< id ;

|

:

the (lene^ee liver, and

(

btained two

again irosscd the Niagara liver and

th(,u; pit

and wanic

of the lake, but before reached the beacli

enemy; after commander soon

the

desperate contest

a ]

eiceived that

it

tl.e

iv.et

;

ll

e a n y l;e;iil

a stror.g foice

a:niy relrea'ed

imjic ssible

w;is

conqest. sued for peace and ofteretl lo

rs

teeiled towa:ds the

!ians living

on the

rection

how

were niakmg preparations to destroy the |)eople Oenesee river. The woman gave di-

east side of

to send the spies

;

the governor rose in the morn-

;

CUSICK

SIX NATIONS.

is

ing and sent out two fast runners to the fort certain the matter;

of the spies

the two spies

came

33

Kauhanauka,

where they met some boys hunting squirrels; the and received all necessary information re

fort,

made

in(iuiries

specting the Erian's Council at Kauquatkay, and went

The

fast as possible.

The

to as-

to an old cornfield south

business was so in haste that

any aid from the

home

as

(Governor Sorihowane. obtained the news.

He

allies.

it

was impossible

to procure

collected the warriors from

the

amounting to fifteen hundred besides the women and the old men. The governor separated the people neighl)oring

foits.

into three divisions;

first

the men. between thirty and

of age; second division, the

years of age

Governor

third

;

iiad

division,

commanded

fifty

men were from twenty to were women and old men.

years thirty

The

the leaders to be in good courage and

use all the means in their power to defeat the enemy. After parading the divisions they marched towards the Genesee River the army halted at the fort Kawnesats, situated on a small lake ;

The governor had sent runners to observe the The women and old men were to recook and ])rovide provisions for the i)eople. The

east of Genesee.

motions of the enemy.

main

at fort to

runners

came

(}enesee river

in ;

and announced

that the Erians

had crossed the

the divisions immediately proceeded and laid an

ambush on

l)oth

commence

the action at

side the path

;

the

first

division

was

in front to

the advance of the enemy.

With a stratagem a certain warrior was dressed with a bear skin, and was seated on the i)ath a little distance froni the front of the division, meanwhile the enemy came up and saw the bear sitting at ease enemy chase it. which brought them in tlie midst of the

the

once burst a most hideous yell, followed with a ratwar clubs. After a severe contest the first division was compelled to retreat, but the assistance of the second company division; at tling of

came

up.

from the rie

1

and

field,

the

battle

was renewed.

At

last

leaving six hundred warriors slain.

to cross the

Genesee

river; the

the Erians fled

The enemy hur-

Governor declined to chase

clsick's six NAIION'S.

34

About this time the King of the Five Nations had ordered the great war chief Shori bowane, (a Mohawk.) to march (Hrectly with an army of five thousantl warriors to aid the Governor of Canandaigua against the Erians. to attack the fort Kauquatkay, endeavor to extinguish the council fire of the enemy, which was becoming dangerous to the enemy, but returned to Canandai^ua.

the neighboring nations

shower of arrows was

Shorihowane was

and was buried

in

kille;l

unfortunately (hiring the siege a

l)ut

;

from

flying

and

tlie

the great war Chief

fort,

body conveyed back

his

to

Genesee

a solemn manner: but however, the siege con-

tinued for several days.

The Queen sued

immediately ceased from

hostilities,

possession of the country.

and

;

— the army

the Erians entire

The Skunantoh

most useful game of the Five Nations siderable distance in a day.

for ])eace left

Deer was the

or

the animal can run con-

The people have a small dog in when pursued by the dogs.

aid

to overtake, but very seldom stop

These creatures generally go

in

the river or lake

;

in this situ-

The

ation the dogs are compelled to leave the deer.

wolves are

also ])revente(l from catching these animals; the hunters

never seen a deer lying dead, except person find one of his relatives

it

some

in

was considered a bad sign

will

instances

that person

:

die in the course of a few moons.

deer get old they throw themselves into the river and other

way has been discovered

the hunter, in

it

was a bad sign

consequence he cannot

to hunt deer

kill

if

:

a deer runs

his wife

;

any deer.

oft'

have ;

a

if

some

When die.

the

An-

and barks

at

had committed adultery,

When

a person intends

he procures a me;(Ucine, and vomits once daily

for

some pine or cedar boughs and after removed from the fire,

twelve days, after which he procures

and

boils

them

in

a clay kettle,

he takes a blanket and covers himself over with

it

to sweat; the

woman with child The people some-

person that uses the medicine does not allow a or uncleanness to eat any of the venison.

times go out to hunt as the corn begnis to grow on the ears

they

make

a long brush fence and

;

remove the leaves on both

cusick's six nations.

35

sides of the fence, the deer will follow the path easily

the game.

kill

and watch

in the night at the

Another mode of killbasswood bark and proceed to

and obtain a canoe and go into the

night, provided with a light of slivers. falo,

were found

the person can

salt licks.

ing the deer; they take slivers of

the place

;

In the hot days of the summer, they go

in the territory

inhabit the spruce country

river or lake in the

The

and

deer, elk

buf-

The moose

of the Five Nations.

and the heads of the Mohawk

river;

country was never inhabited by any kind of people in the

this

winter season; the snow

fell so deep it was supposed that coun would always remain a wilderness.

try

About ter

;

the

time the Oneidas killed a very poisonous blue meat was very carefully i)reserved: some are used

this

hunt, and others to poison the arrows

when go out

to

war

of the witches obtained the meat to j)oison the people.

:

ot-

to

some In the

kintls of fishes. The i)eople moon to make sugar, plant corn, and animals. The seasons of the year they are

Mvor aul lakes are found various lui

1

particular time of the

hunt deer and other

directed by the seven stars of the heavens:

when

warriors travel

in

a great forest they are guided by a northern star;

or

moon

is

eclipse;! they believe that the

the people are a-isemble;l,

Hal

Spirit

moon were

from the orb.

Bad

Spirit

and make a loud noise

They

if

the sun

darkens

it

:

to scare the

believe that the clouds in the

and inhabited by people. The six family made resident near the mouth of Neuse river in North Carolina, and h.'cane three tribes, the Kautanohakau, Kauwetseka, and Tuscarora, and unite! into a league and were at war with the Nantiearth

Al)Out this time the Long House became numerous and powerful; each nation could muste as folloA's: the Mowhawks, 5,000 warriors; Oneidas. 3,500 warriors; Senecas. 6.000 warriors; Onondagas 4,000 warriors; Cayugas. 4500 warriors; total amount, 23,000 warriors. The cokes, and totally on the sea shores.

"

—

Mowhawkwas considere.l an oldest brother, and was appointed to keep a watch towards the sunrise, the Senecas were a])pointed to

CUSICKS SIX NATIONS.

36

The

keep a watch towards the sunsetting. ally, at

Senators met annu-

the fort Onondaga, to promote their national prosperity.

The Long House were been acknoA'lerlgel

in

their

and independent nations, and have made with them hy the

pA'ery independent nation

neighboring nations.

ment of

free

such treaties

casionally; they have a chief ruler,

maker, who

is

have a govern

committee meet ocnamed * Ankoyan'r, a peace-

o,vn; they have a national

invested with authority to administer the gm-ern-

Kach nation have a right to punish individuals of their own nation for offences, committed within their jurisdiction each nation are bound to oppose any hostile invasions of the enemy. ment.

:

Atotarho X, perhajis about 250 years before

In the reign

Columl)US discovered America.

The

Oyalquarkeror. Big Bear,

continue invade the country at Onondaga; a party went and encampe:! a day's journey distance from the village: they hunted

and killed a {^^fi was going home

One morning

deer.

a

woman

left

the

camp and

and to supply the men with proto pound visions: but before she reached halfway she was attacked by the monstrous Bear, and was soon devoured, as she did not return. (X)rn

The men were anxiously waiting, and were sus|)icious about her: man was sent to see if she was coming; he advanced where she was assaulted, and discovered the ])lace of her remams he a

;

soon

|)erceive;l their fate;

he immediately reported and the

men

immediately proceedetl to the place; and while examining her the men met a severe meantime the monster was kille;! they j)rocure some of the meat fof useful f)urj)oses. Atotarho- XI, perhaps about 150 years before Columbus disAbout this time the Tuscaroras sends messencovered America. Tlie gers and renewed their intercourse with the five nations. yet numerous and had towns» were twenty-four large Tuscaroras

remains the bear made a vigorous attack

engagement, but

in

the

:

:

1

* ilufco//ff «f'r,

i.

B Lord.

No one can

^ovt>rn8 the nation, hilt not allowed

preserve pt>ace

among

ills

jieople.

hold this oflBee except a Turtle tribe, he to wai, his duty is to stay home anri

togo out

CUSICK. S SIX

and

])rol)ably

\.\

1

IONS.

37

They

could muster six thousand warriors.

pos-

moun-

sessed the country lying between the sea shores and the

which divide the Atlantic states; but afterwards a contest

tains,

and the southern nations, the Oyatoh. Kwntariroraunuh, Caweda. The war lasted for many years; unfortunately it became so

ar,)se

distressed that the Tuscaroras' frontier settlements were reduced

considerably, but the Tuscaroras send expresses and received assistance from their brethren, the P'ive Nations, ried

on

pend

t'or

some time

;

at last the

tribes

nominate the Chief Warrior of the nation.

laws of the confederation provides the

a King,

Onondagas

to furnish

and the Mowhawks a great war chief of the Five Nations.

About doni.

car-

to sus-

their hostility.

The BLMr 'I'he

and war was

enemy was compelled

this

time an earthquake was

supposed a large comet

other signs were seen

in

from visiting the peo|)le pro])het.

fell

felt

some of

into

the heavens. in

throughout the king

The

the lakes

;

and

defender ceased

bodily form, but appeared

to the

In a dream he foretells the whites would cross the Big

Waters and bring some

and buy up the red [)eople's comply with the wishes of the whites, lest they should ruin themselves and displease their Maker; they would destroy the tree of j)eace and extinguish the (rreat Council Fire at Onondaga, which was so long preserved to lands; he advises

promote In the

liquors,

them not

to

their national sovereignty.

reign

Atotarho XII, perhaps about 50 years before

Columbus discovered America, the was |)ied

at

'.rehatirihokea. or

Mowhawks

war with Ranatsiiaganha, supposed Mohegans, who occu-

The Mowhawks

the opposite bank of the river Skaunataty or Hudson.

warfare was maintained by small expeditions;

would cross the

river

and attack the enemy

;

the

the canoes were

kept in the river continually to cover their retreat while the .VIohegans expaliated the war

:

;

but after a

the chief of the

Mow-

hawks received orders from the King, and invited the two confederate nations, the O.ieidas

and the Onondagas,

to unite against

cusick's six naiions.

^8 the

common enemy

.ilely

the

;

the hand of the coml)ine(l forces immedi-

crossed the river and revenged a

enemy were compelled

In the reign

|)art

of the country,

and

to sue for peace.

in the year 1492, Columbus disThe Keatahkiehroneah were fightingwith

Atotarho XIII.

vhich

makes the works strong and

Some steep in

forts in the eastern

hills,

part

tirm."

of

and with but one entrance.

New York

were made on Heavy timbers were set

the ground, with oak palisades on both sides, set crosswise to

each other.

Other timbers are joined between these cross-trees, and an observation tree was left in the middle of the fort. Instead of this supporting wall, a row of pickets was sometimes set in the ground, sujjjjorted by cross trees which merely rested on the ground.

In the

fort

of 16 15, described by

plain as a quadruple palisade of unusual character, there

have been two interlacing holes.

Some

Cham-

seem

to

sets of cross palisades, without |)ost-

earthworks are of the historic period, and some

early date. They were often made after a town had been settled for some time, which is shown by pottery which I have found in banks, and in the bottoms of post-holes.

stockades are of

at least among some still remain. make bows and arrows with very

Purely Iroquois stockades were usually angular, the western nations.

Page

14.

Plain traces of

The Indians

yet

1

NOTES ON CUSICK's SIX NATIONS. simple tools, and probably always did.

6

Arrows are straightened

by the hand, and commonly have an expanded and blunt head. In Iroquois forts the

arrow heads are mostly of a long

flint

angular form, and the later

The grooved

line.

flat

bowlders, in use from A. D. 1600 to 1630,

are supposed to have been

employed

in straightening

and other wooden implements.

ing arrows

tri-

copper arrows have the same out-

same

and round-

Several grooves

may

and they are very uniform in width and depth. Cusick takes no notice of the snow snake here. There are two patterns of this, the Seneca being much more angular than the Onondaga. At present the head is loaded with lead, and the whole appearance is very snaky when the long and

appear

the

in

slender stick

Page

is

thrown across the snow.

Earthenware

15.

and some of the

sites,

stone,

is

almost a characteristic of Iroquois

Mohawk and Onondaga vessels, from

A. D.

1600 to 1640, are of a peculiar type, having raised human faces or forms on the angles. These have not been found elsewhere, tliough the

the limbs, l)referred

first

I

One

idea has.

have known as a

bone or horn

to

feature of these raised rarity in

stone,

The

Canada.

and had no

flint

figures,

Iroquois

scrapers or

drills.

Page

15.

The

Stonish Giants suggest wandering parties of

mail-clad Euroj)eans. it is

Oot-neyah-hah.

The name 'J'he

is Oneida m Onondaga Onondagas say that a Stone who was once like other men.

given

;

present

Oiant lived near

Cardift",

N. Y.,

but he ate much,

became

a cannibal, and increased in size.

skin

devoured an Onondaga, and the

made

His

Eveiy day he came, caught and

turned into hard scales.

peojjle

were dismayed.

At

last

and induced the giant to run along the path. He was destroyed and they were left in peace. When the " Cardiff" Giant" was exhumed, the Indians were much excited, believing it was this stony man. Page 16. Serpents appear in many legends, but in one two threat mosquitoes obstruct communication between Onondaga they

a road through the

niarsl;.

with a covered

pit-fall,

NOTES ON CUSICK's SIX NATIONS.

02

and

Cayuga,

Page H.

but

are

finally

destroyed

by

Indians.

the

Onondaga

story of Hiawatha, told to J. V. Clark, Atotarho does not appear at all. In the one related

In the

i6.

to Horatio Hale, he

is

About

a consi)icuous figure.

A. D. 1700,

.\totarho seems to have been sometimes kno.vn as Aqueendero. ).

1

be

Cusick never mentions Hiawatha, and the stories of him may the bird which

dah-ga-ah that

it

In his " Frontenac," A. B. Street notes

and modern.

local

tliat

kille;l

Hiawatha's daughter was called Sah-

" was supposed by the

Hawenneyo

He

Seneca, and Hah-googhs in Onondaga.

in

Hahyohwonthah

to tell

adds

Iroquois to have been sent by that his mission

being ac-

complished, he must return to the happy hunting grounds." bird of the clou is

is

the

winter gull, called

larg;'

the Onondagas, and supposed by

lucky to shoot at nie.itions

it

them never

Clark thought

it.

merely as a strange

it

This

Hah-kooks by

to light.

It is

the white heron, and

which one

bird,

un-

Hale

Atotarho's

ot

warriors shot.

Page

Strictly

17.

wampum

until the

territory, shell

beads are either very

rare, or

no

entirely

lacking,

H. Morgan said they form, until they had maL.

water shell beads, of a spiral

rine shells from the Dutch, but

or

little

O.i early town sites, in their

while on the later they are abundant. use;l fresh

had

speaking the Iroquois

Dutch came.

none have been found.

Loskiel

came, employed much later.

states that short colore.l sticks were use.l until the whites

which

is

probable.

Sir Wliliam

Sticks were occasionally

Johnson wrote

to Arthur

information which you observe of

New

I

Lee, in 177

1,

"As

York, concerning the belt and fifteen bloody sticks sent

by the Mississages, the

like

is

very

common, and

useJ sticks as well to express the alliance of ber of individuals in a party.

These

the Indians

castles, as the

sticks are generally

6 inches in length, and very slender, and painted red ject

is

to the

formerly transmitted to the Gov.

war, but without any peculiarity as to shape.

are mostly black

wampum,

painted red

if

numabout

the sub-

Their belts

when they denote war;

NOTES ON CUSICK's SIX NATIONS.

63

they describe castles sometimes upon them as square figures of

wampum, and

white

of friendship

;

alHances

in

human

figures holding a chain

An axe

each figure represents a nation.

sometimes described, which

emblem

always an

is

also

is

of war."

Among the Onondagas the official title of the " Holder of the Wampum.'' is Hotchu-sta-no-na. White wampum had a better meaning than the black, but was of less value. Both kinds are used in all councils and feasts, but all is of modern manufacture. proper strings

'I'here are

for

each part of a ceremony,

person addressed, and for the

call

New

legal tender in the colony of

for

every

was long

a

York, and had a fixed value

in

of a council.

It

l.oskiel says, "For the murder of a man one hundred yards of wami)um, and for that of a woman two hundred yards must be |)aid by the murderer." Later writers

cases of manslaughter,

make

much

this

less,

but

double that of the man's Loskiel says,

••

is

it

in

curious that

make

life

is

value.

Before the Kuropeans

the Indians used to

the woman's

came

their strings

of

to

North .\merica

wampum

chiefly of

wood of equal size, stained with black or white. Few were made of muscles, which was esteemed very valuable and difficult to make for, not having proper tools, they spent small pieces of

;

much time

them, and yet their work had a clumsy ap

But the Europeans soon cohtmued to make strings of

pearance.

wampum,

in finishing

both neat and elegant, and

in

abundance.

bartered with the Indians for other goods, and found very advantageous. of the old

made

wooden

The

These they tiiis traffii

Indians immediately gave up the use

substitute for

«ampum, and procured

of muscles, which, though lallen

in i)rice,

tho?e

were always con

sidered valuable." It will thus be seen that j^hell wam])um was simply a new inatenal adapted to an old custom. In 1714 the Five Nations gave some sticks instead of wampum, but replaced

them

vvith belts tl;e

The two

invention of

following year.

wampum

is

often ascribed to Hiawatha.

stories he gathers white shells

In

from a lake, and goes to the

NOTES ON CUSICKS SiX NATIONS.

64

Mohawk

The story told me is a variant of this. He builds a fire near the Mohawk town, which waj> rejjorted to the chief, who sent young men out to see whetlier it was friend or foe. They crept near, and looked througii the bushes. Sitting by the fire they saw an old man stringing short eagle quills. He did not look up, and they went back and made their report. They were sent to invite the old man to a council, adorned with these.

castle

but he neither looked up nor answered, stringing the

The

"When

send nie a stnng bird,

your chief wants

like this."

The

quills

which soars very high and

me

at

as

u])

a string of

a council, he must

were those is

cjuills

when they spoke

time he raised his head, and held

thii

quills, s?yi' /,

pum

the chiefs words, and

''hey repeated

before.

the

o