The Tuscarora clans are the following:
The Turtle.
The Wolf.
The Bear.
The Beaver.
The Snipe, or Plover.
The Eel. This is not an Iroquois totem.
The Land Tortoise.
They have lost the Falcon, Deer and Crane, perhaps in their
disastrous wars of 1713. By this it appears they have lost one clan
entirely—probably in their defeat on the Taw river, in N. Carolina.
Two others of the clans are changed, namely, the Falcon and Deer, for
which they have substituted the Land Tortoise and Eel.
Descent is by the chief’s mother and her clan, her daughter or nearest
kin, to be settled in council. The adoption of chiefs was allowed,
where there was failure of descent.
Curious barrow, or mound, on Dr. Scovill’s place—to be examined. Two
others, near the old mill and orchard.
Old fort of KIENUKA, to be visited.
Get vocabulary of Tuscarora, to compare.
This tribe has gone through a severe ordeal, their history is full of
incident. The following list shews their number in North Carolina, and
all other Indians of that colony in 1708.
Tuscaroras, living in 15 towns, 1,200 men.
Waccons, in 2 towns, 120
Maramiskeets, 30
Bear Rivers, 50
Hatteras, 16
Neuse, in 2 towns, 15
Pamlico, 15
Meherrin, 50
Chowan, 15
Paspatank, 10
Poteskeets of Carrituk, 30
Nottoways, 30
Connamox, in 2 towns, 25
Jaupim, 2
——-
1,608
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Visited James Cusick, the brother of DAVID, the Indian
archæologist, preacher to the Tusks, pictures in the house, old deeds
from Carolina.
Sunday. Attended Mr. Rockwood’s meeting, admirable behavior of all,
dress well, good singing. W. Chew interprets.
Females, however, adhere to their ancient costume.
Women more pertinacious in their social habits and customs than men.
Tuscaroras raise much wheat, cattle, horses, quite in advance of the
other tribes in agriculture.
They own the fee simple of about 5,000 acres, besides their
reservation, which they purchased from the Holland Company.