_A Copy of the following_ Treaty, _printed at_ Philadelphia _in 1743,
having fallen into my Hands, upon perusal, I judg'd its Contents
deserved to be more generally known, than probably would have been from
the few Copies which might be sent over._
_To make it more instructive and entertaining, I had once Thoughts of
prefixing an Account of the_ Customs _and_ Manners _of these_ People,
_such an one as I could collect either from the_ Printed Relations
_concerning them, or from such_ Materials _as my_ Correspondence _or_
Acquaintance _would have afforded: But, the_ accurate Description _drawn
up and published by the memorable_ WILLIAM PENN, _deterr'd me from
attempting a short One; and an ingenious Gentleman of_ New-York _will
probably soon oblige the World with a large and curious History of the_
Five Nations,[1] _exceeding any thing in my Power to perform._
[Footnote 1: The History of the _Five Nations_, from the earliest
Acquaintance of the _Europeans_ with them, to the _Treaty_ of _Reswick_,
by C. COLDEN, a _Manuscript_ ready for the Press, in the Hands of a
worthy Gentleman in _London_.]
_But, that the_ Reader _might have some Idea of these_ People, _I
thought it necessary to subjoin the following succinct_ Account _of the_
Principles _in this_ Confederacy, _their_ Tributaries, Dependents _and_
Allies: _And the more so, as it is neither extant in_ Print, _nor is
this Part taken Notice of so fully in the_ Manuscript History
_above-mentioned. It was communicated by a Gentleman of good
Understanding and Probity; one who is very well skill'd in the_ Indian
_Affairs,[2] adopted into one of their_ Tribes, _is of their_ Council,
_and their constant_ Interpreter _at the_ Philadelphia Treaties, _to a
Friend of his, who sent it to his_ Correspondent _here._
[Footnote 2: "It is customary among them to make a Complement of
_Naturalization_ into the _Five Nations_; and considering how highly
they value themselves above all others, it must be accounted no small
one.--I had this _Complement_ from one of their old _Sachems_, which he
did by giving me his _own Name_: He had been a notable Warriour; and he
told me, that now I had a Right to assume to my self all the Acts of
Valour he had performed." C. COLDEN'S _History of the_ Five Nations,
_M.S._]
_They have generally been stiled the_ Five Nations _of_ Indians,
_bordering upon_ Pensilvania _and_ New-York; _but, since the Arrival of
the_ Tuscarora's _from_ Carolina, _they are called the_ Six Nations. _An
Account of whom is as follows,_
1. _The_ Conymkos _or_ Mohawks; _the first Promoter of the_
Confederacy.[3] _He is stiled in the Council of all the Nations,_
Dicarihoagan, _i.e._ President _or_ Eldest.
[Footnote 3: The _Indian_ Idiom; they always stile a _whole Nation_ in
the _singular Number_.]
2. _The_ Onayiuts _or_ Onoyders, _were the first that join'd in the_
Confederacy _with the_ Mohawks, _by putting themselves under their_
Protection. _He calls the_ Mohawk _his_ Father, _and in Return
[Transcriber's Note: original has "Retnrn"] he is called a_ Son: _The_
Mohawk _used him for his_ Ambassador _to the_ other _Nations: In Council
he is stiled_ Niharontaquoa, _or the_ great Tree.[4]
[Footnote 4: A _Tree_ is their most frequent Emblem of _Peace_. To plant
a Tree whose Top may reach to the Sun, and its Branches may extend over
the whole Country, is a Phrase for a lasting Covenant of Peace.]
3. _The_ Onontago's _were the next that joined, and of their own Accord
became_ Confederates; _they are therefore called by the_ Mohawks,
Brothers; _and by the_ Onoyders, Fathers, _because they had not been
forced into the Alliance as the_ Onoyders _were: He is called in
Council_ Sagochsaanagechteront, _i.e. the_ Arms, _or_ Names-bearer.
4. _The_ Jenontowano's _or_ Sinikers _next joined in the_ Alliance _of
their own Consent; they are stiled by the_ Mohawks _and_ Onontago's,
Brothers, _and by the_ Onoyders, Fathers: _His Title in Council is_
Onughkaarydaawy, _whose Signification is not known, and_
Dyionenhookaraw, _i.e._ Open Doors for Friends and Enemies.
5. _The_ Caiukquo's, _the last of the_ Five-Nation _Alliance, being
compelled thereto by the Rest, is_ Brother _to the_ Onoyders, _and_ Son
_to the_ others; _is stiled in Council_ Ganunawantoowano, _or the_ great
Pipe.[5]
[Footnote 5: The _great Pipe_, or _Calumet_ of the _Indians_, resembles
the Olive-Branch of Antiquity, always a Badge of Peace.]
6. Tuscarora's _joined in the_ Alliance _about thirty Years ago, being
compelled thereto by the_ English _of_ Carolina: _He is_ Brother _to
the_ Onoyders _and_ Cayukquo's, _and_ Son _to the_ others; _has no Title
in Council, but is frequently called a_ Fool.
_The_ Dependents _and_ Tributaries _of these Nations._
Mohickons, _who formerly lived on_ Hudson's _River, and in_ New-England;
_they have been conquer'd by the_ Five Nations, _their_ Breech-Cloth
_taken from them, and a_ Petticoat _put upon them. When they apply to
their Conquerors, they humbly call themselves_ Women: _The_ Five Nations
_call them by the same Name when they [Transcriber's Note: original has
"thy"] speak severely to 'em: At other times they call them_ Cousins,
_and are in Return called_ Uncles.
Delawares _are in the same Condition as the_ Mohickons, _were dealt with
in like manner; and are Tributary in an_ Indian _Sense._[6]
[Footnote 6: "All the Nations round them have for many Years entirely
submitted to them, (the _Five Nations_) and pay a Yearly Tribute in
_Wampum_: 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 had Opportunity to observe what Anxiety
the poor _Indians_ were under, whilst the 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
absolute Authority as a _Roman_ Dictator, or King of _France_." C.
COLDEN'S History.]
Shawanese _are_ Brethren _to the_ Six Nations, _but are not in the_
Confederacy: _Their Coming from the_ Spanish _Dominions is remember'd by
many now living. The_ Five Nations _gave them Lands on the West Branch
of_ Susquehanna, _and therefore claim a Superiority over them, for which
the_ Shawanese _mortally hate them. The greatest Part of 'em, a few
Years ago, went to settle on the River_ Ohio, _which is a Branch of the_
Missisippi, _and heads with the West Branch of_ Susquehanna. _One Tribe
of them is quite gone down to_ New Spain; _there are a few left still
at_ Wyomink _on the North Branch of_ Susquehanna, _and others have a
large Town on an Island in the West Branch, about 50 Miles above the_
Forks. _They are the most restless and mischievous of all the_ Indians.
Conestogo Indians _have been all destroyed by the_ Five Nations, _except
a few whom the_ Onoyders _adopted: When these had forgot their Language,
they were sent back to_ Conestogo, _where a few are now left, and speak
the_ Onoyder's _Language._
Nantikooks _are in_ Alliance _with the_ Six Nations, _and not_
Tributary; _acknowledging themselves to be shelter'd by their Wings:
They live within the Borders of_ Maryland, _a Few about_ Conestogo, _and
some have settled this_ Spring _at the Mouth of the River_ Skohooniaty
_or_ Jeniaty, _which is a Creek that falls into the_ Susquehanna _from
the West beyond the Mountains._
Tutolo's _originally lived in_ Virginia, _there are but Few of them;
they settled this_ Spring _at_ Shamokin, (_on the East Side of_
Susquehanna, _just below the_ Forks) _and are intirely devoted to the_
Six Nations.
The several Nations of _Indians_ with whom the _Six Nations_
or _Iroquois_ are in Alliance; according to the Information
given CONRAD WEISER, Esq; in open Council at _Turpehawkin_, at
their Return from the Treaty at _Philadelphia_ in _July_ 1742.
1. _A Nation of_ Indians _living on the West Side of the Lake_ Erie,
_and along the Streights of_ Huron's _Lake. They are called by the_
Iroquois, Unighkellyiakon; _consisting of about_ Thirty Towns, _each of
about 200 Fighting Men._
2. _The second Nation lives among the preceeding, called ---- consisting
of_ Four Towns _of their own People, and 400 able Men in all._
3. _The third Nation called by the_ Iroquois, Tshisagech Roanu,[7]
_lives on the East Side of the_ Huron's _Lake; several of the Council
have been there, and all agree they have_ Three large Towns _of 600,
800, and 1000 able Men._
[Footnote 7: _Roanu_ signifies _Nation_ or _People_, in the Language of
the _Six Nations_.]
4. _The fourth, called_ Twightwis Roanu, Two large Towns, _and about 200
Men in all, live at the Heads of_ Huakiky _River, near the little
Lakes._
5. Oskiakikas, _living on a Branch of_ Ohio, _that heads near the Lake_
Erie, Four large Towns, _of about 1000 Warriours._
6. Oyachtawnuh Roanu, _near_ Black-River, _consisting of_ Four Towns,
_and 1000 Warriours._
7. Keghetawkegh Roanu, _upon the great River_ Missisippi, _above the
Mouth of_ Ohio: Three Towns; _the Number of People uncertain._
8. Kerhawguegh Roanu, _several Savage Nations, as their Names signify_,
(the People of the Wilderness) _live on the North Side of_ Huron's
_Lake; they neither plant Corn, nor any thing else, but live altogether
upon Flesh, Fish, Roots and Herbs; an infinite Number of People, of late
become Allies to the_ Iroquois.
Thus far proceeds CONRAD WEISER'S Account.
_The_ Six Nations, _as was observed above, border upon the Provinces of_
Pensilvania _and_ New-York: _The Rest, which are mentioned as their_
Dependents _and_ Allies, _lie near the_ French _Settlements, some
amidst, and some beyond them. The_ Wisdom _of the_ Chiefs _in this_
Confederacy _hath gained them no less_ Reputation _than their_ Courage;
_which indeed has struck_ Terror _into the remotest_ Indian _Nations of
North_ America, _and forc'd them to court the Friendship and Protection
of such a formidable Power._
_The_ Moderation _and_ Equity _of the_ first _Proprietor of_
Pensilvania, _gained the absolute Confidence and Affection of this_
brave People: _They were convinced of his_ Tenderness _for them, and in
Return they have erected him lasting Monuments in their grateful Hearts:
They_ revere _this good Man's_ Memory, _and his Praises will only cease
with the Nations themselves._
_The following Clauses from a Collection of_ Charters, &c.
_printed at_ Philadelphia 1740, _are, amongst many others,
strong Proofs of the_ Proprietor's _equitable Regard to these
People._
"That no Man, _says he_, shall by any ways or means, in Word or Deed,
affront or wrong any _Indian_, but he shall incur the same Penalty of
the Law, as if he had committed it against his _fellow Planter_: And if
any _Indian_ shall abuse, in Word or Deed, any _Planter_ of this
_Province_, that he shall not be his own Judge upon the _Indian_, but he
shall make his Complaint to the _Governor_ of the _Province_, or his
_Lieutenant_ or _Deputy_, or some inferior _Magistrate_ near him, who
shall to the utmost of his Power, take Care with the KING of the said
_Indian_, that all reasonable Satisfaction be made to the said injured
_Planter_.
"That all Differences between the _Planters_ and the _Natives_, shall
also be ended by _Twelve Men_, that is, by _Six Planters_ and _Six
Natives_, that so we may live friendly together, as much as in us lieth,
preventing all Occasions of Heart-burnings and Mischief."
_A Conduct regulated by such Principles of_ Love _and_ Justice, _could
not fail to influence this discerning People, and biass them in Favour
of the_ ENGLISH; _a Continuance of the like Conduct must attach them
inviolably: And the present worthy_ Governor _and_ Council _seem so
sensible of the Necessity of cultivating a good Understanding with the_
Six Nations, _as to be likely to omit no Opportunity of_ brightening the
Chain, _or_ increasing the Fire of Friendship _with them._
_The Confidence which these Nations repose in their_ Interpreter, _is a
Proof of his_ Industry, good Sense, _and_ Address: _Nothing could have
happened more favourably to the_ English _Settlements, than that those
delicate Affairs should be in the Hands of a Person equally just and a
Friend to both._
_The_ FRENCH _are perpetually labouring to_ debauch _their Faith to the_
ENGLISH: _Their Emissaries, the Priests, an indefatigable, artful,
insinuating Race, are constantly labouring to gain Admittance amongst
them. They assume all Shapes, try every Spring; they magnify the Power
and Grandeur of_ FRANCE; _they study to render the_ ENGLISH _diminutive
and contemptible; they foment every little Occasion of Disgust, and
leave no Stone unturned to prejudice us in their Esteem._
_Hitherto the Honour of the_ Six Nations, _and the experienced good
Intentions and Probity of the_ ENGLISH, _have been a sufficient Barrier
against all their Intrigues: But it cannot be imprudent to countermine
the intended Mischief, by giving suitable Encouragement to proper
Persons, to converse with the_ Indians, _and study their Genius. An
open-hearted Generosity wins them effectually: The Temper of the_
ENGLISH _is happily suited to this; and the additional Qualifications
of_ Integrity _and_ Prudence _must in Time pave the Way to an Ascendency
in their Councils, and by this Means the Subtilty of the_ FRENCH _would
be utterly defeated._
_One sees, in the following short Sketch of the Behaviour of the_
Indians, _strong Traces of_ good Sense, _a_ nice Address _in the Conduct
of their Affairs, a_ noble Simplicity, _and that_ manly Fortitude _which
is the constant Companion of_ Integrity. _The Friendship of a Nation
like this, tho' under the Appellation of_ Savages _or_ Barbarians, _is
an Honour to the most civiliz'd People: I say nothing of the Advantage
which is derived from them by Commerce: And the_ FRENCH _well know, by
dear Experience, how terrible they are to their Enemies in War._
"When we speak of the _Five Nations_ in FRANCE, (_says an_ Author[8] _of
that Country_) they are thought, by common Mistake, to be meer
_Barbarians_, always thirsting after human Blood: But their true
Character is very different. They are the fiercest and most formidable
People in _North America_; at the same Time as _politick_ and
_judicious_, as well can be imagined: This appears from the Management
of the Affairs which they transact, not only with the FRENCH and
ENGLISH, but likewise with almost all the _Indians_ of this vast
Continent."
[Footnote 8: DE LA POTERIE'S _History of_ North America, _in_ Dr.
COLDEN'S _History_, &c.]