Pompey and its precincts were regarded by the Indians as the ground of
blood, and it brought up to their minds many dark reminiscences, as
they passed it. Some twenty years ago, there lived an aged Onondaga,
who said that many moons before his father’s days, there came a party
of white men from the east in search of silver. From the heights of
the Onondaga hills, they descried the white foam of Onondaga lake, and
this was all the semblance they ever found of silver. One of the men
died, and was buried on Pompey hill, and his grave was marked by a
stone.[109] The others built a fort on the noted ground, about a mile
east of Jamesville, where they cultivated the land; but at length the
Indians came in the night, and put them all to death. But there was a
fearful and bloody strife, in which the Indians fell like leaves before
the autumn wind. This spot is the field of blood.
[109] QUERY.—Is not this the inscription stone now deposited
in the Albany Academy?
_L. Birdseye._
AURORA: August. See Rev. Mr. Mattoon.
Vestiges of the Cayugas—villages—orchards—old forts. Get a
vocabulary of their language from Canada. Get diagram of forts.
Karistagea, or Steeltrap, thought to have been unfairly dealt with at
his death. Buried in the road.
Fish Carrier’s Reserve at the bridge. Four miles square.
Red Jacket born on the opposite banks of the lake at Canoga.
Historical reminiscences of Mr. Burnham. Letter stating the first
settlements on the Military Tract at Aurora.
Address before the G. O. I. Folly of keeping the society secret.
Horticultural meeting. Dr. Thompson. Mr. Thomas.
Anniversary of Academy. Salem Town.
Intelligence, moral tone, hospitality of the place.
Cars at Cayuga bridge.
Logan was the son of a Cayuga.
Did the Cayugas conquer the Tutelos of Virginia, and adopt the remnant?
Cayugas scattered among the Senecas, in Canada and west of the
Mississippi. How many left? What annuities.
* * * * *
GENEVA: Ancient site of the Senecas. Origin of the word
Seneca. Is it Indian or not Indian?
Examine old forts said to exist in this area. Are there
any vestiges of Indian occupancy at the “Old Castle”—at
Cashong—Painted-Post—Catherinestown—Appletown?
* * * * *
CANANDAIGUA: In visiting Fort-hill on the lake, see what
vestiges. Another site bearing this name, exists to the north of
Blossom’s. What antiquities? What traditions? Ask old residents.
Enquire of Senecas west.
* * * * *
ROCHESTER: Nothing left here of the footprints of the
race—all covered deep and high with brick and stone. Whole valley of
the Genesee worthy examination, in all its length and branches. Wants
the means of an antiquarian society to do this.
Truly the Iroquois have had visited upon them the fate with which they
visited others. They destroyed and scattered, and have, in turn, been
destroyed and scattered. But their crime was the least. They destroyed
as _heathens_, but _we_ as _Christians_. In any view, the antiquarian
interest is the same—the moral interest, the same.
The Iroquois had noble hearts. They sighed for fame. They took hold of
the tomahawk as the only mode of distinction. They brought up their
young men to the war dance. They carefully taught them the arts of war.
We have other avenues to distinction. Let us now direct their manly
energies to other channels. The hand that drew a bow, can be taught to
guide a plough. Civilization has a thousand attractions. The hunter
state had but one. The same skill once devoted to war would enable them
to shine in the arts of peace.
Why can not their bright men be made sachems of the pen, of the press,
of the pulpit, of the lyre?
* * * * *
BATAVIA, _July_.—There are still traces of a mound on
Knowlton’s farm, a mile from Batavia, up the Tonewanda. Bones and glass
beads, have been ploughed out of it. Other traces of former aboriginal
occupancy exist in the vicinity, a stone pestle, axes, &c. having been
found.
The Indian name of Batavia is Ge-ne-un-dah-sais-ka, meaning musquito.
This was the name by which they knew the late Mr. Ellicott.
* * * * *
The Tonewanda falls 40 feet at a single place, within the Indian
reservation. It heads on high ground about 40 miles above Batavia. On
the theory of the former elevation of lake Erie, Buffalo itself would
be the highest ground, between Batavia and the lake, in a direct line.
Attica, is perhaps more elevated in that direction.