_New-York, January 7th, 1846._
SIR:—I have now the honor to submit a supplementary report,
embracing minutes and remarks on the aboriginal history, antiquities
and general ethnology of Western New-York, made in accordance with an
expression permitting the collection of such materials in your general
instructions of the 26th of June last.
To these details I have prefixed some general considerations on the
early period of the Iroquois history, the affinities of the several
tribes, and the era and principles of their confederation; the
antiquarian remains and general archæology of the western countries;
the ancient state of Indian art; some traits of their traditions and
religion; and a few connected topics which, it is hoped, will tend to
render the report more acceptable and valuable.
I regret, indeed, that time has not permitted me to enter more fully on
some of the topics introduced, and that of others, I have been obliged
to cut them short or omit them altogether, including the subject of
their languages, geographical terminology, and personal names, the
latter of which is a very curious inquiry of itself. I confess it would
have fallen in with my inclinations, as well as my conceptions of
the true nature and extent of the inquiries confided to me, to have
extended them to other parts of the State, and given a more complete
view of our ethnology, had it been practicable to do so before the
meeting of the Legislature.
I cannot, however, close this note without expressing the hope that the
Legislature will authorize you to take further measures for completing
the work. There are a large number of the class of antique, circular
and elliptical works scattered over the western and southwestern part
of the State, of an age anterior to the discovery, which it would be
important to examine and describe. These chiefly lie west of Cayuga,
and upon the sources of the Susquehanna. Interspersed amid this system
of common ring-forts of the west there are some of a still earlier
period, which exhibit squares and parallelograms, yet without any
defensive work in the nature of bastions.
The area of early French occupancy, or attempt at colonization, within
the State, extends east and west between the waters of the Cayuga and
Oneida lakes, as general boundaries, having the county of Onondaga
as its chief and central point. This area will comprehend the most
striking part of the numerous remains of implements of art, and
other antiquities of European origin, which have heretofore excited
attention. How far these evidences extend north is not known. But
any examination of either the aboriginal or foreign remains would be
incomplete which did not extend also along the line of the St. Lawrence
and the waters of Lake Champlain.
The valley of the Hudson, and the southern part of the State generally,
although it has not been explored with this view, is known to have some
antiquarian features worthy examination. And were there none others
than the artificial shell mounds and beds on the sea coast and the
fossil bones of the valley, so remarkable in themselves, these would
alone be entitled to the highest interest in studying the ancient
history of the races of man in this area.
Geological action subsequent to the period of the habitation of the
globe, has not been examined with this view, but is believed to be
important in denoting eras of former occupancy; it is known that
various parts of the State have yielded, at considerable depths below
the surface, many curious evidences of artificial remains, along with
relics of the animal and vegetable kingdoms.
There is an apparent extension of the system of works which
characterize the fort and mound period of the Ohio valley, reaching
from the Alleghany waters in Chautauque and Cattaraugus, along the
southern shore of Lake Erie, indefinitely eastward, which it would be
interesting to trace.
One of the most reliable proofs of eras and races of men is found in
the remains of art.
There are some striking coincidences in this respect between the
antiquities of New-York and the Mississippi valley, which denote
precisely the same state of arts and the same eras of occupancy.
Such are the Minace Alleghanic which occurs alike in the Grave Creek
mound and the simple places of sepulture in Onondaga, the Nabikoaguna
Antique, which has been found at Upper Sandusky and at Onondaga; and
the Medaëka Missouri, from the valley of the Sciota, in Ohio, and the
Kasonda in New-York.
Accurate descriptions of the whole class of our antiquarian remains
could not, if thoroughly executed, but throw much light on, and
introduce precision in, periods of remote history in this State, and
indeed the continent, which are now either involved in obscurity, or
constitute themes of mere conjecture.