By some inducement a body of people was concealed in the mountain at
the falls named Kuskehsawkich, (now Oswego.) When the people were
released from the mountain they were visited by TARENYAWAGON, i. e. the
Holder of the Heavens, who had power to change himself into various
shapes: he ordered the people to proceed towards the sunrise as he
guided them and came to a river and named Yenonanatche, i. e. going
round a mountain, (now Mohawk) and went down the bank of the river and
came to where it discharges into a great river running towards the
midday sun; and named Shaw-nay-taw-ty, i. e. beyond the Pineries, (now
Hudson,) and went down the bank of the river and touched the bank of
a great water. The company made encampment at the place and remained
there a few days. The people were yet in one language; some of the
people went on the banks of the great water towards the midday sun; but
the main company returned as they came, on the bank of the river, under
the direction of the Holder of the Heavens. Of this company there was
a particular body which called themselves one household; of these were
six families and they entered into a resolution to preserve the chain
of alliance which should not be extinguished in any manner.
The company advanced some distance up the river of Shaw-na-taw-ty,
(Hudson) the Holder of the Heavens directs the first family to make
their residence near the bank of the river, and the family was named
Te-haw-re-ho-geh, i. e. a Speech divided, (now Mohawk) and their
language was soon altered; the company then turned and went towards
the sunsetting and travelled about two days and a half, and come to
a creek[111] which was named Kaw-na-taw-te-ruh, i. e. Pineries. The
second family was directed to make their residence near the creek, and
the family was named Ne-haw-re-tah-go, i. e. Big Tree, now Oneidas,
and likewise their language was altered. The company continued to
proceed towards the sunsetting under the direction of the Holder of
the Heavens. The third family was directed to make their residence on
a mountain named Onondaga, (now Onondaga) and the family was named
Seuh-now-kah-tah, i. e. carrying the name, and their language was
altered. The company continued their journey towards the sunsetting.
The fourth family was directed to make their residence near a long
lake named Go-yo-goh, i. e. a mountain rising from water, (now
Cayuga) and the family was named Sho-nea-na-we-to-wah, i. e. a great
pipe, their language was altered. The company continued to proceed
towards the sunsetting. The fifth family was directed to make their
residence near a high mountain, or rather nole, situated south of the
Canandaigua lake, which was named Jenneatowake and the family was
named Te-how-nea-nyo-hent, i. e. Possessing a Door, now Seneca, and
their language was altered. The sixth family went with the company
that journeyed towards the sunsetting, and touched the bank of a great
lake, and named Kau-ha-gwa-rah-ka, i. e. A Cap, now Erie, and then went
towards between the midday and sunsetting, and travelled considerable
distance and came to a large river which was named Ouau-we-yo-ka,
i. e. a principal stream, now Mississippi; the people discovered a
grape vine lying across the river by which a part of the people went
over, but while they were engaged, the vine broke and were divided,
they became enemies to those that went over the river; in consequence
they were obliged to disperse the journey. The Holder of the Heavens
instructs them in the art of bows and arrows in the time of game and
danger. Associates were dispersed and each family went to search for
residences according to their conveniences of game. The sixth family
went towards the sunrise and touched the bank of the great water. The
family was directed to make their residence near Cau-ta-noh, i. e.
Pine in water, situated near the mouth of Neuse River, now in North
Carolina, and the family was named Kau-ta-noh, now Tuscarora and their
language was also altered; but the six families did not go so far as
to lose the understanding of each other’s language. The Holder of the
Heavens returns to the five families and forms the mode of confederacy,
which was named Ggo-nea-seab-neh, i. e. A Long House, to which are,
1st.—Tea-kaw-reh-ho-geh, 2d—New-haw-teh-tah-go; 3d.—Seuh-nau-ka-ta;
4th—Sho-nea-na-we-to-wah; 5th.—Te-hoo-nea-nyo-hent.
[111] The creek now branches of the Susquehanna River at the head
generally called Col. Allen’s lake, ten miles south of the Oneida
Castle.
(E.)
Letter from S. A. Goodwin to Henry R. Schoolcraft.
_Auburn, Oct. 17_, 1845.
MY DEAR SIR—I received yours of the 2d inst. in due course of
post, and now send you, at the first practicable moment, a diagram and
sketch of the “Old Fort.” My engagements have been such as to prevent
my going out to Geneva, and making a trip to the old fortification
alluded to. As to the other one here referred to by McAuley, it is just
back of my house, and as soon as I have time to make an examination
I will drop you a line respecting it. I go to Rochester, to attend
supreme court, to-morrow. I shall try, on my return, to stop at Geneva
and get a sketch of that one.
Very truly your friend,