_The State of Affairs in_ New-York _and_ Canada _at
the Time of the_ Revolution _in_ Great-Britain. 91
CHAP. II.
_A Treaty between the Agents of_ Massachusets-Bay,
New-Plymouth, _and_ Connecticut, _and the_ Sachems
_of the_ Five Nations _at_ Albany, _in the
Year_ 1689. 100
CHAP. III.
_An Account of a general Council of the_ Five Nations
_at_ Onondaga, _to consider of the Count_ De
Frontenac's _Message._ 105
CHAP. IV.
_The_ French _surprize_ Schenectady. _The_ Mohawks
_Speech of Condolance on that Occasion._ 113
CHAP. V.
_The_ Five Nations _continue the War with the_ French.
_The_ Mohawks _encline to Peace. Their Conferences
with the_ Governor _of_ New-York. 121
CHAP. VI.
_The_ English _attack_ Montreal _by Land, in Conjunction
with the_ Indians, _and_ Quebeck _by Sea._ 126
CHAP. VII.
_The_ French, _and the_ Five Nations, _continue the
War all Winter with various Success. The_ French
_burn a Captain of the_ Five Nations _alive._ 131
CHAP. VIII.
_The_ Five Nations _treat with Capt._ Ingoldsby. 137
CHAP. IX.
_The_ French _surprize, and take three_ Mohawk
_Castles._ 142
CHAP. X.
_The Treaties and Negotiations the_ Five Nations _had
with the_ English _and_ French _in the Years_ 1693,
_and_ 1694. 150
CHAP. XI.
_The War continued. The_ French _repossess themselves
of_ Cadarackui Fort; _and find means to break off
the Treaty between the_ Five Nations _and_ Dionondadies. 180
CHAP. XII.
_The Count_ De Frontenac _attacks_ Onondaga _in Person
with the whole Force of_ Canada. _The_ Five
Nations _continue the War with the_ French, _and
make Peace with the_ Dionondadies. 188
CHAP. XIII.
_The Conduct which the_ English _and_ French _observed
in regard to the_ Five Nations, _immediately after
the Peace of_ Ryswick. 196
_Treaties, Charters, publick Acts_ &c. _from_ pag. 204, _to the End._
[Illustration]
THE
I N T R O D U C T I O N,
BEING
_A short View of the Form of Government of the_ Five Nations, _and of
their Laws, Customs_, &c.
It is necessary to know something of the Form of Government of the
People, whose History one is about to know, and a few Words will be
sufficient to give the Reader a Conception of that of the _Five
Nations_, because it still remains under original Simplicity, and free
from those complicated Contrivances, which have become necessary to the
Nations, where Deceit and Cunning have increased as much as their
Knowledge and Wisdom.
The _Five Nations_ (as their Name denotes) consist of so many Tribes or
Nations, joined together by a League or Confederacy, like the _United
Provinces_, and without any Superiority of the one over the other. This
Union has continued so long, that the Christians know nothing of the
Original of it: The People in it are known by the _English_ under the
Names of _Mohawks, Oneydoes, Onondagas, Cayugas,_ and _Sennekas._
Each of these Nations is again divided into three Tribes or Families,
who distinguish themselves by three different Arms or Ensigns, the
_Tortoise_, the _Bear_, and the _Wolf_; and the _Sachems_, or old Men of
these Families, put this Ensign, or Mark of their Family, to every
publick Paper, when they sign it.
Each of these Nations is an absolute Republick by itself, and every
Castle in each Nation makes an independent Republick, and is govern'd in
all publick Affairs by its own _Sachems_ or old Men. The Authority of
these Rulers is gain'd by, and consists wholly in the Opinion the rest
of the Nation have of their Wisdom and Integrity. They never execute
their Resolutions by Force upon any of their People. Honour and Esteem
are their principal Rewards; as Shame, and being despised, their
Punishments. They have certain Customs, which they observe in their
publick Transactions with other Nations, and in their private Affairs
among themselves; which it is scandalous for any one among them not to
observe, and these always draw after them either publick or private
Resentment, whenever they are broke.
Their Leaders and Captains, in like Manner, obtain their Authority, by
the general Opinion of their Courage and Conduct, and lose it by a
failure in those Virtues.
Their great Men, both Sachems and Captains, are generally poorer than
the common People; for they affect to give away and distribute all the
Presents or Plunder they get in their Treaties or in War, so as to leave
nothing to themselves. There is not a Man in the Ministry of the _Five
Nations_, who has gain'd his Office, otherwise than by Merit; there is
not the least Salary, or any Sort of Profit, annexed to any Office, to
tempt the Covetous or Sordid; but, on the contrary, every unworthy
Action is unavoidably attended with the Forfeiture of their Commission;
for their Authority is only the Esteem of the People, and ceases the
Moment that Esteem is lost. Here we see the natural Origin of all Power
and Authority among a free People, and whatever artificial Power or
Sovereignty any Man may have acquired, by the Laws and Constitution of a
Country, his real Power will be ever much greater or less, in Proportion
to the Esteem the People have of him.
The _Five Nations_ think themselves by Nature superior to the rest of
Mankind, and call themselves _Ongue-honwe_; that is, Men surpassing all
others. This Opinion, which they take Care to cultivate into their
Children, gives them that Courage, which has been so terrible to all the
Nations of _North America_; and they have taken such Care to impress the
same Opinion of their People on all their Neighbours, that they, on all
Occasions, yield the most submissive Obedience to them. I have been told
by old Men in _New England_, who remembered the Time when the _Mohawks_
made War on their _Indians_, that as soon as a single _Mohawk_ was
discover'd in the Country, their _Indians_ raised a Cry from Hill to
Hill, _A Mohawk! A Mohawk!_ upon which they all fled like Sheep before
Wolves, without attempting to make the least Resistance, whatever Odds
were on their Side. The poor _New England Indians_ immediately ran to
the Christian Houses, and the _Mohawks_ often pursued them so closely,
that they entered along with them, and knocked their Brains out in the
Presence of the People of the House; but if the Family had Time to shut
the Door, they never attempted to force it, and on no Occasion did any
Injury to the Christians. All the Nations round them have, for many
Years, intirely submitted to them, and pay a yearly Tribute to them in
_Wampum_[2]; they dare neither make War nor Peace, without the Consent
of the _Mohawks_. Two old Men commonly go about every Year or two, to
receive this Tribute; and I have often had Opportunity to observe what
Anxiety the poor _Indians_ were under, while these two old Men remained
in that Part of the Country where I was. An old _Mohawk Sachem_, in a
poor Blanket and a dirty Shirt, may be seen issuing his Orders with as
arbitrary an Authority, as a _Roman_ Dictator. It is not for the Sake of
Tribute however, that they make War, but from the Notions of Glory,
which they have ever most strongly imprinted on their Minds; and the
farther they go to seek an Enemy, the greater Glory they think they
gain; there cannot, I think, be a greater or stronger Instance than
this, how much the Sentiments, impressed upon a People's Mind, conduce
to their Grandeur, or one that more verifies a Saying often to be met
with, though but too little minded, That it is in the Power of the
Rulers of a People to make them either Great or Little; for by
inculcating only the Notions of Honour and Virtue, or those of Luxury
and Riches, the People, in a little Time, will become such as their
Rulers desire. The _Five Nations_, in their Love of Liberty, and of
their Country, in their Bravery in Battle, and their Constancy in
enduring Torments, equal the Fortitude of the most renowned _Romans_. I
shall finish their general Character by what an Enemy, a _Frenchman_,
says of them, _Monsieur De la Poterie_, in his History of _North
America_.
"When we speak (says he) of the _Five Nations_ in _France_, they are
thought, by a common Mistake, to be mere Barbarians, always thirsting
after human Blood; but their true Character is very different. They are
indeed the fiercest and most formidable People in _North America_, and,
at the same Time, are as politick and judicious, as well can be
conceived; and this appears from the Management of all the Affairs which
they transact, not only with the _French_ and _English_, but likewise
with almost all the _Indian_ Nations of this vast Continent."
Their Matters of Consequence, which concern all the Nations, are
transacted in a general Meeting of the _Sachems_ of each Nation. These
Conventions are commonly held at _Onnondaga_, which is nearly the Center
of their Country; but they have fixed on _Albany_ for the Place of
treating with the _British Colonies_.
They strictly follow one Maxim, formerly used by the _Romans_ to
increase their Strength, that is, they encourage the People of other
Nations to incorporate with them; and when they have subdued any People,
after they have satiated their Revenge by some cruel Examples, they
adopt the rest of their Captives; who, if they behave well, become
equally esteemed with their own People; so that some of their Captives
have afterwards become their greatest _Sachems_ and _Captains_. The
_Tuskaroras_, after the War they had with the People of _Carolina_, fled
to the _Five Nations_, and are now incorporated with them; so that they
now properly indeed consist of six Nations, though they still retain the
old Name of the _Five Nations_ among the _English_. The _Cowetas_ also,
or _Creek-Indians_, are in the same Friendship with them.
The _Tuskaroras_, since they came under the Province of _New York_,
behave themselves well, and remain peaceable and quiet; and by this may
be seen the Advantage of using the _Indians_ well, and I believe, if
they were still better used (as there is Room enough to do it) they
would be proportionably more useful to us.
The Cruelty the _Indians_ use in their Wars, towards those that do not
or cannot resist, such as Women and Children, and to their Prisoners,
after they have them in their Power, is deservedly indeed held in
Abhorrence: But whoever reads the History of the so famed ancient
Heroes, will find them, I'm afraid, not much better in this Respect.
Does _Achilles_'s Behaviour to _Hector_'s dead Body, in _Homer_, appear
less savage? This Cruelty is also not peculiar to the _Five Nations_,
but equally practised by all other _Indians_. It is wonderful, how
Custom and Education are able to soften the most horrid Actions, even
among a polite and learned People; witness the _Carthaginians_ and
_Phoenicians_ burning their own Children alive in Sacrifice; and several
Passages in the _Jewish History_; and witness, in later Times, the
Christians burning one another alive, for God's Sake.
When any of the young Men of these Nations have a Mind to signalize
themselves, and to gain a Reputation among their Countrymen, by some
notable Enterprize against their Enemy, they at first communicate their
Design to two or three of their most intimate Friends; and if they come
into it, an Invitation is made, in their Names, to all the young Men of
the Castle, to feast on Dog's Flesh; but whether this be, because Dog's
Flesh is most agreeable to _Indian_ Palates, or whether it be as an
Emblem of Fidelity, for which the Dog is distinguished by all Nations,
that it is always used on this Occasion, I have not sufficient
Information to determine. When the Company is met, the Promoters of the
Enterprize set forth the Undertaking in the best Colours they can; they
boast of what they intend to do, and incite others to join, from the
Glory there is to be obtained; and all who eat of the Dog's Flesh,
thereby inlist themselves.
The Night before they set out, they make a grand Feast, to this all the
noted Warriors of the Nation are invited; and here they have their War
Dance, to the Beat of a Kind of a Kettle-drum. The Warriors are seated
in two Rows in the House, and each rises up in his Turn, and sings the
great Acts he has himself performed, and the Deeds of his Ancestors;
and this is always accompanied with a Kind of a Dance, or rather
Action, representing the Manner in which they were performed; and from
Time to Time, all present join in a Chorus, applauding every notable
Act. They exaggerate the Injuries they have at any Time received from
their Enemies, and extol the Glory which any of their Ancestors have
gained by their Bravery and Courage; so that they work up their spirits
to a high Degree of warlike Enthusiasm. I have sometimes persuaded some
of their young _Indians_ to act these Dances, for our Diversion, and to
shew us the Manner of them; and even, on these Occasions, they have
work'd themselves up to such a Pitch, that they have made all present
uneasy. Is it not probable, that such Designs as these have given the
first Rise to Tragedy?
They come to these Dances with their Faces painted in a frightful
Manner, as they always are when they go to War, to make themselves
terrible to their Enemies; and in this Manner the Night is spent. Next
Day they march out with much Formality, dressed in their finest Apparel,
and, in their March, observe a profound Silence. An Officer of the
regular Troops told me, that while he was Commandant of _Fort-Hunter_,
the _Mohawks_, on one of these Occasions, told him, that they expected
the usual military Honours as they passed the Garison. Accordingly he
drew out his Garison, the Men presented their Pieces as the _Indians_
passed, and the Drum beat a March; and with less Respect, the Officer
said, they would have been dissatisfied. The _Indians_ passed in a
single Row, one after another, with great Gravity and profound Silence;
and every one of them, as he passed the Officer, took his Gun from his
Shoulder, and fired into the Ground near the Officer's Foot: They
marched in this Manner three or four Miles from their Castle. The Women,
on these Occasions, always follow them with their old Clothes, and they
send back by them their Finery in which they marched from the Castle.
But before they go from this Place, where they exchange their Clothes,
they always peel a large Piece of the Bark from some great Tree; they
commonly chuse an Oak, as most lasting; upon the smooth Side of this
Wood they, with their red Paint, draw one or more Canoes, going from
Home, with the Number of Men in them padling, which go upon the
Expedition; and some Animal, as a Deer or Fox, an Emblem of the Nation
against which the Expedition is designed, is painted at the Head of the
Canoes; for they always travel in Canoes along the Rivers, which lead to
the Country against which the Expedition is designed, as far as they
can.
After the Expedition is over, they stop at the same Place in their
Return, and send to their Castle, to inform their Friends of their
Arrival; that they may be prepared to give them a solemn Reception,
suited to the Success they have had. In the mean Time, they represent on
the same, or some Tree near it, the Event of the Enterprize, and now the
Canoes are painted with their Heads turned towards the Castle; the
Number of the Enemy killed, is represented by Scalps painted black, and
the Number of Prisoners by as many Withs, (in their Painting not unlike
Pothooks) with which they usually pinion their Captives. These Trees are
the Annals, or rather Trophies of the _Five Nations_: I have seen many
of them; and by them, and their War Songs, they preserve the History of
their great Achievements. The solemn Reception of these Warriors, and
the Acclamations of Applause, which they receive at their Return, cannot
but have in the Hearers the same Effect, in raising an Emulation for
Glory, that a Triumph had on the old _Romans_.
After their Prisoners are secured, they never offer them the least
Male-treatment, but, on the contrary, will rather starve themselves,
than suffer them to want; and I have been always assured, that there is
not one Instance, of their offering the least Violence to the Chastity
of any Woman that was their Captive. But notwithstanding this, the poor
Prisoners afterwards undergo severe Punishments before they receive the
last Doom of Life or Death. The Warriors think it for their Glory, to
lead them through all the Villages of the Nations subject to them, which
lie near the Road; and these, to shew their Affection to the _Five
Nations_, and their Abhorrence of their Enemies, draw up in two Lines,
through which the poor Prisoners, stark naked, must run the Gauntlet;
and on this Occasion, it is always observed, the Women are much more
cruel than the Men. The Prisoners meet with the same sad Reception when
they reach their Journey's End; and after this, they are presented to
those that have lost any Relation in that or any former Enterprize. If
the Captives be accepted, there is an End to their Sorrow from that
Moment; they are dressed as fine as they can make them; they are
absolutely free (except to return to their own Country) and enjoy all
the Privileges the Person had, in whose Place they are accepted; but if
otherwise they die in Torments, to satiate the Revenge of those that
refuse them.
If a young Man or Boy be received in Place of a Husband that was killed,
all the Children of the Deceased call that Boy Father; so that one may
sometimes hear a Man of thirty say, that such a Boy of fifteen or twenty
is his Father.
Their Castles are generally a Square surrounded with Palisadoes, without
any Bastions or Out-works; for, since the general Peace, their Villages
lie all open.
Their only Instruments of War are Musquets, Hatchets, and long sharp
pointed Knives; these they always carry about with them: Their Hatchet,
in War-time, is stuck in their Girdle behind them; and besides what Use
they make of this Weapon in their Hand, they have a dexterous Way of
throwing it, which I have seen them often practise in their Exercise,
by throwing it into a Tree at a Distance: They have, in this, the Art of
directing and regulating the Motion, so that though the Hatchet turns
round as it flies, the Edge always sticks in the Tree, and near the
Place at which they aim it. The Use of Bows and Arrows are now intirely
laid aside, except among the Boys, who are still very dexterous in
killing Fowls and other Animals with them.
They use neither Drum nor Trumpet, nor any Kind of musical Instrument in
their Wars; their Throats serve them on all Occasions, where such are
necessary. Many of them have a surprising Faculty of raising their
Voice, not only in inarticulate Sounds, but likewise to make their Words
understood at a great Distance; and we find the same was practised by
_Homer_'s Heroes,
_Thrice to its Pitch his lofty Voice he rears,----
O Friend!_ Ulysses _Shouts invade my Ears._
The _Five Nations_ have such absolute Notions of Liberty, that they
allow of no Kind of Superiority of one over another, and banish all
Servitude from their Territories. They never make any Prisoner a Slave;
but it is customary among them to make a Compliment of Naturalization
into the _Five Nations_; and, considering how highly they value
themselves above all others, this must be no small Compliment. This is
not done by any general Act of the Nation, but every single Person has a
Right to do it, by a Kind of Adoption. The first Time I was among the
_Mohawks_, I had this Compliment from one of their old _Sachems_, which
he did, by giving me his own Name, _Cayenderongue_. He had been a
notable Warrior; and he told me, that now I had a Right to assume to
myself all the Acts of Valour he had performed, and that now my Name
would echo from Hill to Hill all over the _Five Nations_. As for my
Part, I thought no more of it at that Time, than as an Artifice to draw
a Belly full of strong Liquor from me, for himself and his Companions;
but when about ten or twelve Years afterwards, my Business led me again
among them, I directed the Interpreter to say something from me to the
_Sachems_; he was for some Time at a Loss to understand their Answer,
till he had asked me whether I had any Name among them: I then found
that I was really known to them by that Name, and that the old _Sachem_,
from the Time he had given me his Name, had assumed another to himself.
I was adopted, at that Time, into the Tribe of the _Bear_, and, for that
Reason, I often afterwards had the kind Compliment of _Brother Bear_.
The Hospitality of these _Indians_ is no less remarkable, than their
other Virtues; as soon as any Stranger comes, they are sure to offer him
Victuals. If there be several in Company, and come from a-far, one of
their best Houses is cleaned and given up for their Entertainment. Their
Complaisance, on these Occasions, goes even farther than Christian
Civility allows of, as they have no other Rule for it, than the
furnishing their Guest with every Thing they think will be agreeable to
him; for this Reason, some of their prettiest Girls are always ordered
to wash themselves, and dress in their best Apparel, in Order to be
presented to the Stranger, for his Choice; and the young Lady, who has
the Honour to be preferred on these Occasions, performs all the Duties
of a fond Wife, during the Stranger's Stay: But this last Piece of
Hospitality is now either laid aside by the _Mohawks_, or, at least,
they never offer it to any Christian. This Nation indeed has laid aside
many of its ancient Customs, and so likewise have the other Nations,
with whom we are best acquainted; and have adopted many of ours; so that
it is not easy now to distinguish their original and genuine Manners,
from those which they have lately acquired; and for this Reason it is,
that they now seldom offer Victuals to Persons of any Distinction,
because they know, that their Food and Cookery is not agreeable to our
delicate Palates. Their Men value themselves, in having all Kind of Food
in equal Esteem. A _Mohawk Sachem_ told me with a Kind of Pride, That a
Man eats every Thing without Distinction, _Bears, Cats, Dogs, Snakes,
Frogs_, &c. intimating, that it is Womanish, to have any Delicacy in the
Choice of Food.
I can however give two strong Instances of the Hospitality of the
_Mohawks_, which fell under my own Observation; and which shew, that
they have the very same Notion of Hospitality, which we find in the
ancient Poets. When I was last in the _Mohawks_ Country, the _Sachems_
told me, that they had an _Englishman_ among their People, a Servant who
had run from his Master in _New York_. I immediately told them, that
they must deliver him up. No, they answered, we never serve any Man so,
who puts himself under our Protection. On this I insisted on the Injury
they did thereby to his Master; and they allowed it might be an Injury,
and replied, though we never will deliver him up, we are willing to pay
the Value of the Servant to the Master. Another Man made his Escape from
the Goal of _Albany_, where he was in Prison on an Execution for Debt;
the _Mohawks_ received him, and, as they protected him against the
Sheriff and his Officers, they not only paid the Debt for him, but gave
him Land, over and above sufficient for a good Farm, whereon he lived
when I was last there. To this it may be added, all their extraordinary
Visits are accompanied with giving and receiving Presents of some Value;
as we learn likewise from _Homer_ was the Practice in old Times.
_Polygamy_ is not usual among them; and indeed, in any Nation, where all
are on a Par, as to Riches and Power, Plurality of Wives cannot well be
introduced. As all Kind of Slavery is banished from the Countries of the
_Five Nations_, so they keep themselves free also from the Bondage of
Wedlock; and when either of the Parties becomes disgusted, they separate
without Formality or Ignominy to either, unless it be occasioned by some
scandalous Offence in one of them. And in Case of Divorce, the Children,
according to the natural Course of all Animals, follow the Mother. The
Women here bring forth their Children with as much Ease as other
Animals, and without the Help of a Midwife, and, soon after their
Delivery, return to their usual Employment. They alone also perform all
the Drudgery about their Houses, they plant their Corn, and labour it,
in every Respect, till it is brought to the Table: They likewise cut all
their Fire-wood, and bring it Home on their Backs, and in their Marches
bear the Burdens. The Men disdain all Kind of Labour, and employ
themselves alone in Hunting, as the only proper Business for Soldiers.
At Times, when it is not proper to hunt, one finds the _old Men_ in
Companies, in Conversation; the young Men at their Exercises, shooting
at Marks, throwing the Hatchet, Wrestling, or Running, and the Women all
busy at Labour in the Fields.
On these Occasions, the State of _Lacedaemon_ ever occurs to my Mind,
which that of the _Five Nations_, in many Respects, resembles; their
Laws, or Customs, being, in both, form'd to render the Minds and Bodies
of the People fit for War.
Theft is very scandalous among them; and it is necessary it should be so
among all _Indians_, since they have no Locks, but those of their Minds,
to preserve their Goods.
There is one Vice which the _Indians_ have all fallen into, since their
Acquaintance with the _Christians_, and of which they could not be
guilty before that Time, that is, Drunkenness: It is strange, how all
the _Indian_ Nations, and almost every Person among them, Male and
Female, are infatuated with the Love of strong Drink; they know no
Bounds to their Desire, while they can swallow it down, and then indeed
the greatest Man among them scarcely deserves the Name of a Brute.
They never have been taught to conquer any Passion, but by some contrary
Passion; and the Traders, with whom they chiefly converse, are so far
from giving them any Abhorrence of this Vice, that they encourage it all
they can, not only for the Profit of the Liquor they sell, but that they
may have an Opportunity to impose upon them. And this, as they chiefly
drink Spirits, has destroyed greater Numbers, than all their Wars and
Diseases put together.
The People of the _Five Nations_ are much given to _Speech-making_, ever
the natural Consequence of a perfect Republican Government: Where no
single Person has a Power to compel, the Arts of Persuasion alone must
prevail. As their best Speakers distinguish themselves in their publick
Councils and Treaties with other Nations, and thereby gain the Esteem
and Applause of their Countrymen, (the only Superiority which any one of
them has over the others) it is probable they apply themselves to this
Art, by some Kind of Study and Exercise, in a great Measure. It is
impossible for me to judge how far they excel, as I am ignorant of their
Language; but the Speakers whom I have heard, had all a great Fluency of
Words, and much more Grace in their Manner, than any Man could expect,
among a People intirely ignorant of all the liberal Arts and Sciences.
I am inform'd, that they are very nice in the Turn of their Expressions,
and that few of themselves are so far Masters of their Language, as
never to offend the Ears of their _Indian_ Auditory, by an unpolite
Expression. They have, it seems, a certain _Urbanitas_, or _Atticism_,
in their Language, of which the common Ears are ever sensible, though
only their great Speakers attain to it. They are so much given to
Speech-making, that their common Complements, to any Person they
respect, at meeting and parting, are made in Harangues.
They have some Kind of Elegancy in varying and compounding their Words,
to which, not many of themselves attain, and this principally
distinguishes their best Speakers. I have endeavoured to get some
Account of this, as a Thing that might be acceptable to the Curious;
but, as I have not met with any one Person who understands their
Language, and also knows any Thing of Grammar, or of the learned
Languages, I have not been able to attain the least Satisfaction. Their
present Minister tells me, that their Verbs are varied, but in a Manner
so different from the _Greek_ or _Latin_, that he cannot discover by
what Rule it was done; and even suspects, that every Verb has a peculiar
Mode: They have but few radical Words, but they compound their Words
without End; by this their Language becomes sufficiently copious, and
leaves Room for a good Deal of Art to please a delicate Ear. Sometimes
one Word among them includes an entire Definition of the Thing; for
Example, they call _Wine Oneharadeseboengtseragberie_, as much as to
say, a _Liquor made of the Juice of the Grape_. The Words expressing
Things lately come to their Knowledge are all Compounds: They have no
Labeals in their Language, nor can they pronounce perfectly any Word
wherein there is a Labeal; and when one endeavours to teach them to
pronounce these Words, they tell one, they think it ridiculous that they
must shut their Lips to speak. Their Language abounds with Gutturals and
strong Aspirations, these make it very sonorous and bold; and their
Speeches abound with Metaphors, after the Manner of the Eastern Nations,
as will best appear by the Speeches that I have copied.
As to what _religious Notions_ they have, it is difficult to judge of
them; because the _Indians_, that speak any _English_, and live near us,
have learned many Things of us; and it is not easy to distinguish the
Notions they had originally among themselves, from those they have
learned of the _Christians_. It is certain they have no Kind of publick
Worship, and I am told that they have no radical Word to express _God_,
but use a compound Word, signifying the Preserver, Sustainer, or Master
of the Universe; neither could I ever learn what Sentiments they have of
a future Existence. Their funeral Rites seem to be formed upon a Notion
of some Kind of Existence after Death: They make a large round Hole, in
which the Body can be placed upright, or upon its Haunches, which after
the Body is placed in it, is covered with Timber, to support the Earth
which they lay over, and thereby keep the Body free from being pressed;
they then raise the Earth in a round Hill over it. They always dress the
Corps in all its Finery, and put Wampum and other Things into the Grave
with it; and the Relations suffer not Grass or any Weed to grow on the
Grave, and frequently visit it with Lamentations: But whether these
Things be done only as Marks of Respect to the Deceased, or from a
Notion of some Kind of Existence after Death, must be left to the
Judgment of the Reader.
They are very superstitious in observing Omens and Dreams; I have
observed them shew a superstitious Awe of the Owl, and be highly
displeased with some that mimicked the Cry of that Bird in the Night. An
Officer of the regular Troops has informed me also, that while he had
the Command of the Garrison at _Oswego_, a Boy of one of the far
Westward Nations died there; the Parents made a regular Pile of split
Wood, laid the Corps upon it, and burnt it; while the Pile was burning,
they stood gravely looking on, without any Lamentation, but when it was
burnt down, they gathered up the Bones with many Tears, put them into a
Box, and carried them away with them; and this Inclination, which all
ignorant People have to Superstition and amusing Ceremonies, gives the
Popish Priests a great Advantage in recommending their Religion, beyond
what the Regularity of the Protestant Doctrine allows of.
Queen _Anne_ sent over a Missionary to reside among the _Mohawks_, and
allowed him a sufficient Subsistence from the privy Purse; she sent
Furniture for a Chappel, and a valuable set of Plate for the Communion
Table; and (if I am not mistaken) the like Furniture and Plate for each
of the other Nations, though that of the _Mohawks_ was only applied to
the Use designed. The common Prayer, or at least a considerable Part of
it, was translated also into their Language and printed; some other
Pieces were likewise translated for the Minister's Use, _viz_. An
Exposition of the Creed, Decalogue, Lord's Prayer, and Church Catechism,
and a Discourse on the Sacraments. But as that Minister was never able
to attain any tolerable Knowledge of their Language, and was naturally a
heavy Man, he had but small Success; and his Allowance failing, by the
Queen's Death, he left them. These Nations had no Teacher, from that
Time, till within these few Years, that a young Gentleman, out of pious
Zeal, went voluntarily among the _Mohawks_. He was at first intirely
ignorant of their Language, and had no Interpreter, except one of the
_Indians_, who understood a little _English_, and had, in the late
Missionary's Time, learn'd to read and write in his own Language. He
learned from him how to pronounce the Words in the Translations, which
had been made for the late Missionary's Use. He set up a School, to
teach their Children to read and write their own Language; and they made
surprizing Proficiency, considering their Master did not understand
their Language. I happened to be in the _Mohawk_ Country, and saw
several of their Performances; I was present at their Worship, where
they went through some Part of the Common Prayer with great Decency. I
was likewise present, several Times, at their private Devotions, which
some of them performed duly, Morning and Evening. I had also many
Opportunities of observing the great Regard they had for this young Man;
so far, that the Fear of his leaving them made the greatest Restraint on
them, with which he threatened them, after they had been guilty of any
Offence. Soon after that Time, this Gentleman went to _England_,
received Orders, and was sent by the Society, Missionary to _Albany_,
with Liberty to spend some Part of his Time among the _Mohawks_.
I had lately a Letter from him, dated the seventh of _December_, 1641,
in which he writes as follows:
"Drunkenness was so common among them, that I doubt, whether
there was one grown Person of either Sex free from it; seldom a
Day passed, without some, and very often forty or fifty being
drunk at a Time. But I found they were very fond of keeping me
among them, and afraid I should leave them, which I made Use of
to good Purpose; daily threatning them with my Departure, in
Case they did not forsake that Vice, and frequently requiring a
particular Promise from them singly; by which Means (through
God's Blessing) there was a gradual Reformation; and I know not
that I have seen above ten or twelve Persons drunk among them
this Summer. The Women are almost all entirely reformed, and the
Men very much. They have intirely left off Divorces, and are
legally married. They are very constant and devout at church and
Family Devotions. They have not been known to exercise Cruelty
to Prisoners, and have, in a great Measure, left off going a
fighting, which I find the most difficult, of all Things, to
dissuade them from. They seem also persuaded of the Truths of
Christianity. The greatest Inconveniency I labour under, is the
Want of an Interpreter, which could I obtain, for two or three
Years, I should hope to be tolerably Master of their Language,
and be able to render it easier to my Successor."
This Gentleman's uncommon Zeal deserves, I think, this publick
Testimony, that it may be a Means of his receiving such Encouragement,
as may enable him to pursue the pious Purposes he has in View.
The _Mohawks_, were they civilized, may be useful to us many Ways, and,
on many Occasions, more than any of our own People can be; and this well
deserves to be considered.
There is one Custom their Men constantly observe, which I must not
forget to mention; That if they be sent with any Message, though it
demand the greatest Dispatch, or though they bring Intelligence of any
imminent Danger, they never tell it at their first Approach; but sit
down for a Minute or two, at least, in Silence, to recollect themselves,
before they speak, that they may not shew any Degree of Fear or
Surprize, by an indecent Expression. Every sudden Repartee, in a publick
Treaty, leaves with them an Impression of a light inconsiderate Mind;
but, in private Conversation, they use, and are delighted with brisk
witty Answers, as we can be. By this they shew the great Difference they
place between the Conversations of Man and Man, and of Nation and
Nation; and in this, and a thousand other Things, might well be an
Example to the _European_ Nations.
[Footnote 2: _Wampum_ is the Current Money among the _Indians:_ It is of
two Sorts, White and Purple; the White is worked out of the Inside of
the great Conques into the Form of a Bead, and perforated, to string on
Leather; the Purple is worked out of the Inside of the Muscle Shell;
they are wove as broad as one's Hand, and about two Feet long; these
they call Belts, and give and receive at their Treaties as the Seals of
Friendship; for lesser Matters a single String is given. Every Bead is
of a known Value, and a Belt of a less Number, is made to equal one of a
greater, by so many as is wanting fastened to the Belt by a String.]
THE
H I S T O R Y
OF THE
Five _INDIAN_ Nations,
DEPENDING
On the Province of _NEW-YORK_.
* * * * *