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Transcriber’s note:
Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).
The author’s style is that of a non-native speaker of English,
and in places is grammatically unusual, mixing tenses and
using odd sentence structure. Only printer’s errors have been
changed; a full list is given at the end.
DAVID CUSICK’S
SKETCHES OF
ANCIENT HISTORY
OF THE
SIX NATIONS,
COMPRISING
FIRST—A TALE OF THE FOUNDATION OF THE
GREAT ISLAND,
(NOW NORTH AMERICA.)
THE TWO INFANTS BORN,
AND THE
CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE.
SECOND—A REAL ACCOUNT OF THE EARLY SETTLERS OF NORTH
AMERICA, AND THEIR DISSENSIONS.
THIRD—ORIGIN OF THE KINGDOM OF THE FIVE NATIONS, WHICH
WAS CALLED
A LONG HOUSE:
THE WARS, FIERCE ANIMALS, &c.
LOCKPORT, N. Y.:
TURNER & McCOLLUM, PRINTERS, DEMOCRAT OFFICE.
1848.
PREFACE.
I have been long waiting in hopes that some of my people, who have
received an English education, would have undertaken the work as to
give a sketch of the Ancient History of the Six Nations; but found no
one seemed to concur in the matter, after some hesitation I determined
to commence the work; but found the history involved with fables;
and besides, examining myself, finding so small educated that it was
impossible for me to compose the work without much difficulty. After
various reasons I abandoned the idea: I however, took up a resolution to
continue the work, which I have taken much pains procuring the materials,
and translating it into English language. I have endeavored to throw
some light on the history of the original population of the country,
which I believe never have been recorded. I hope this little work will be
acceptable to the public.
DAVID CUSICK.
TUSCARORA VILLAGE, June 10th, 1825.
[Illustration: _ATOTARHO, A FAMOUS WAR CHIEF, RESIDED AT ONONDAGA._]
[Illustration: _A WAR DANCE._]
[Illustration: _STONISH GIANTS._]
[Illustration: _THE FLYING HEAD PUT TO FLIGHT BY A WOMAN PARCHING
ACORNS._]
PART I.
A TALE OF THE FOUNDATION OF THE GREAT ISLAND, NOW NORTH
AMERICA;—THE TWO INFANTS BORN, AND THE CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE.
Among the ancients there were two worlds in existence. The lower world
was in a great darkness;—the possession of the great monster; but the
upper world was inhabited by mankind; and there was a woman conceived and
would have the twin born. When her travail drew near, and her situation
seemed to produce a great distress on her mind, and she was induced by
some of her relations to lay herself on a mattress which was prepared,
so as to gain refreshments to her wearied body; but while she was asleep
the very place sunk down towards the dark world. The monsters of the
great water were alarmed at her appearance of descending to the lower
world; in consequence all the species of the creatures were immediately
collected into where it was expected she would fall. When the monsters
were assembled, and they made consultation, one of them was appointed
in haste to search the great deep, in order to procure some earth, if
it could be obtained; accordingly the monster descends, which succeeds,
and returns to the place. Another requisition was presented, who would
be capable to secure the woman from the terrors of the great water, but
none was able to comply except a large turtle came forward and made
proposal to them to endure her lasting weight, which was accepted. The
woman was yet descending from a great distance. The turtle executes upon
the spot, and a small quantity of earth was varnished on the back part
of the turtle. The woman alights on the seat prepared, and she receives
a satisfaction. While holding her, the turtle increased every moment
and became a considerable island of earth, and apparently covered with
small bushes. The woman remained in a state of unlimited darkness, and
she was overtaken by her travail to which she was subject. While she was
in the limits of distress one of the infants in her womb was moved by
an evil opinion and he was determined to pass out under the side of the
parent’s arm, and the other infant in vain endeavoured to prevent his
design. The woman was in a painful condition during the time of their
disputes, and the infants entered the dark world by compulsion, and
their parent expired in a few moments. They had the power of sustenance
without a muse, and remained in the dark regions. After a time the turtle
increased to a great Island and the infants were grown up, and one of
them possessed with a gentle disposition, and named ENIGORIO, i. e. the
good mind. The other youth possessed an insolence of character, and was
named ENIGONHAHETGEA, i. e. the bad mind. The good mind was not contented
to remain in a dark situation, and he was anxious to create a great
light in the dark world; but the bad mind was desirous that the world
should remain in a natural state. The good mind determines to prosecute
his designs, and therefore commences the work of creation. At first he
took the parent’s head, (the deceased) of which he created an orb, and
established it in the centre of the firmament, and it became of a very
superior nature to bestow light to the new world, (now the sun) and
again he took the remnant of the body and formed another orb, which was
inferior to the light (now moon.) In the orb a cloud of legs appeared
to prove it was the body of the good mind, (parent.) The former was to
give light to the day and the latter to the night; and he also created
numerous spots of light, (now stars:) these were to regulate the days,
nights, seasons, years, &c. Whenever the light extended to the dark world
the monsters were displeased and immediately concealed themselves in the
deep places, lest they should be discovered by some human beings. The
good mind continued the works of creation, and he formed numerous creeks
and rivers on the Great Island, and then created numerous species of
animals of the smallest and greatest, to inhabit the forests, and fishes
of all kinds to inhabit the waters. When he had made the universe he
was in doubt respecting some being to possess the Great Island; and he
formed two images of the dust of the ground in his own likeness, male
and female, and by his breathing into their nostrils he gave them the
living souls, and named them EA-GWE-HOWE, i. e. a real people; and he
gave the Great Island all the animals of game for their maintenance; and
he appointed thunder to water the earth by frequent rains, agreeable
to the nature of the system; after this the Island became fruitful and
vegetation afforded the animals subsistence. The bad mind, while his
brother was making the universe, went throughout the Island and made
numerous high mountains and falls of water, and great steeps, and also
creates various reptiles which would be injurious to mankind; but the
good mind restored the Island to its former condition. The bad mind
proceeded further in his motives and he made two images of clay in the
form of mankind; but while he was giving them existence they became apes;
and when he had not the power to create mankind he was envious against
his brother; and again he made two of clay. The good mind discovered his
brother’s contrivances, and aided in giving them living souls,[1] (it is
said these had the most knowledge of good and evil.) The good mind now
accomplishes the works of creation, notwithstanding the imaginations of
the bad mind were continually evil; and he attempted to enclose all the
animals of game in the earth, so as to deprive them from mankind; but the
good mind released them from confinement, (the animals were dispersed,
and traces of them were made on the rocks near the cave where it was
closed.) The good mind experiences that his brother was at variance
with the works of creation, and feels not disposed to favor any of his
proceedings, but gives admonitions of his future state. Afterwards the
good mind requested his brother to accompany him, as he was proposed
to inspect the game, &c., but when a short distance from their nominal
residence, the bad mind became so unmanly that he could not conduct his
brother any more. The bad mind offered a challenge to his brother and
resolved that who gains the victory should govern the universe; and
appointed a day to meet the contest. The good mind was willing to submit
to the offer, and he enters the reconciliation with his brother; which he
falsely mentions that by whipping with flags would destroy his temporal
life; and he earnestly solicits his brother also to notice the instrument
of death, which he manifestly relates by the use of deer horns; beating
his body he would expire. On the day appointed the engagement commenced,
which lasted for two days: after pulling up the trees and mountains as
the track of a terrible whirlwind, at last the good mind gained the
victory by using the horns, as mentioned the instrument of death, which
he succeeded in deceiving his brother and he crushed him in the earth;
and the last words uttered from the bad mind were, that he would have
equal power over the souls of mankind after death; and he sinks down to
eternal doom, and became the Evil Spirit. After this tumult the good mind
repaired to the battle ground, and then visited the people and retires
from the earth.