A REAL ACCOUNT OF THE SETTLEMENT OF NORTH AMERICA AND THEIR
DISSENSIONS.
In the ancient days the Great Island appeared upon the big waters, the
earth brought forth trees, herbs, vegetables, &c. The creation of the
land animals; the Eagwehoewe people were too created and resided in the
north regions, and after a time some of the people become giants and
committed outrages upon the inhabitants, &c. After many years a body of
Eagwehoewe people encamped on the bank of a majestic stream, and was
named _Kanawage_, now St. Lawrence. After a long time a number of foreign
people sailed from a port unknown; but unfortunately before reached
their destination the winds drove them contrary; at length their ship
wrecked somewhere on the southern part of the Great Island, and many
of the crews perished; a few active persons were saved; they obtained
some implements, and each of them was covered with a leather bag, the
big hawks carried them on the summit of a mountain and remained there
but a short time the hawks seemed to threaten them, and were compelled
to leave the mountain. They immediately selected a place for residence
and built a small fortification in order to provide against the attacks
of furious beasts; if there should be any made. After many years the
foreign people became numerous, and extended their settlements; but
afterwards they were destroyed by the monsters that overrun the country.
About this time the Eagwehoewe people inhabited on the river Kanawage
or St. Lawrence; but they could not enjoy tranquility, as they were
invaded by the giants called Ronnongwetowanca, who came from the north
and inhabited considerably; but their mode of attack was slily, and
never dared to precipitate themselves upon the enemy without prospect
of success; especially they took advantage when the warriors were
absent from the town. After plundering the people’s houses and making
captives those who were found, and hastily retreat to their residence
in the north. An instance—a family of princes lived near the river St.
Lawrence, of whom, containing six brothers and a sister and their father,
was a noble chieftain, who fell at the contest of the enemy.—One time
the brothers went out a day’s hunt and leaving their sister alone in
the camp; unfortunately while they were gone the giant makes vigorous
attack and the woman soon became a prey to the invader. On the eve the
brothers returned and were much grieved that their sister was found
missing; they immediately made a search, but the night was getting too
late and the darkness prevented them. On the morning the eldest brother
determined to pursue the enemy until he could discover something about
their sister, and promised to return in seven days if nothing should
happen; accordingly the prince set out and pursued the traces of the
enemy; after journeyed three days he reached the giant’s residence about
sundown; at first sight he discovered his sister was gathering some
sticks for fuel near the house; but as he approached the sister retired;
the princess soon proved by her conduct that she had fell in love with
the giant, and that it was impossible to gain her confidence. The prince
was now brought to a point of view about the dread of the enemy; but
however he was willing to risk the dangers he was about to meet; he
remained until about dusk and then entered the house; happily he was
received with most favorable terms, and his fears were soon dissipated,
the giant offered his pipe as a tribute of respect, which the prince
accepted. After receiving the evening diet they talked a good while
without a least appearance of hostility; as the night was getting late
the prince was invited to bed; but the giant was now acting to deceive
the prince; he commenced to amuse him part of the night in singing
songs; the giant had determined to assassinate the visiter the first
opportunity as the prince was so fatigued that he was now fast asleep;
he killed him on the bed and the body was deposited in a cave near the
house where he had stored the carcases. The giant was much pleased of
his conquest over the prince he advised his wife to watch daily in order
to impose on another enemy. The seven days elapsed, as the brother did
not return the youngest brother, _Donhtonha_ was much excited about his
brother and resolved to pursue him; the Donhtonha was the most stoutest
and ferocious looking fellow, after armed himself commenced the journey,
and also arrived at the place and time as mentioned, and found his
sister; but before he had time to reconcile her she returned to the
house as she had formerly done, and informed the giant that some person
was coming: the Donhtonha entered the house with appearances of hostile
disposition, and enquired for his brother; this produced alarm; the giant
was promptly to pacify the prince; he replied that he had made peace with
the brother, who had gone to visit some people in the neighborhood, and
it was expected he would return every moment. Upon this assurance the
Donhtonha become some abated; the sister provided some food and he soon
enjoyed the domestic felicity; but alas, the giant was far from being
friendly and was only forming a plan to deceive the visiter. The evening
was late, the Donhtonha was out of patience waiting for his brother to
come home, and renewed his enquiries; the visitor was invited to bed;
the giant was in hopes to exterminate the visiter; he rose from his seat
and commenced his usual custom in singing. The Donhtonha perceived that
some evil design was performing against him and resolved to abandon the
bed for a while; he begged leave for a few moments and went out after
various considerations from being imposed; he procured some pieces of
wood which produced a faint light in the night and put it above his
eyelids and again went to bed; the giant was now deceived; while the
visiter was asleep his eyes appeared though he was awake continually.
As soon as day light the visiter hurried from the bed and was about to
make a search for the deceased brother, but the giant protested which
soon excited suspicions of the act; after a long debate the Donhtonha
attacked the giant; a severe conflict ensued, at last the giant was
killed; and burnt him in the ruins of his house; but his spirit fled to
heaven and changed into one of the eastern stars. During the engagement
his sister was grieved and fled to the wilderness, and lamented for her
deceased husband, and she died in despair, and her spirit also became one
of the northern stars. After the conquest the search was prosecuted, he
discovered the remains of his brother and weeps over it and burnt it to
ashes.
At a time another Ronnongwetowanea attacked a small town located on the
bank of Kanawage, (St. Lawrence.) This occurred in a season when the
people were out to hunt, and there was no person in the town except an
old chief and an attendant named Yatatonwatea: while they were enjoying
repose in their houses were suddenly attacked by the Ronnongwetowanea;
but the Yatatonwatea escaped, went out the back door and deserted the
aged chief to the fate; however the enemy spared no time, the chase was
soon prosecuted which caused the Yatatonwatea to retreat as fast as
possible; he attempted to make resistance in various places, but was
compelled to retire at the appearance of the enemy; in vain he endeavored
to gain retreat by traversing various creeks and hills; he undertook
a new method of giving little effect upon the progress of the enemy;
after running some distance he discovered which would promptly cherish
the imposition, he drove a flock of pigeons in the way to amuse them
until he could hide himself under the bank of the river, unfortunately
the flattering hope seemed to fail; after remaining there but a short
time before he saw the enemy was coming in full speed, and was soon
obliged to abandon the position and continue the flight; again he tried
to conceal himself among the rocks of the mountain, but in a mean time
the enemy advanced at the moment, of which he became dismayed, finding
that nothing could resist the impetuosity of the pursuer, but determined
not to surrender as long as he was capable to keep out of the reach;
he immediately took the path which leads to the hunting grounds in
search of some people; fortunately at a short distance met two warriors
and he was instantly supported and made vigorous resistance; after
terrible combat the Ronnongwetowanea was exterminated; during the time
the warriors conducted themselves as heroes, which gained the triumph,
notwithstanding one of them received a severe wound by the club. The
Yatatonwatea with alarm whoop hastened to the encampment and advised the
people of the substance and the dangers which the enemy might commit
upon the vacant towns. As soon as the people received the intelligence
immediately returned to their settlements, and a convention were held by
the chieftains in order to take some measures to defend their country. As
the Ronnongwetowanea tribe were not numerous and deemed it inexpedient
to raise a large force and therefore a few hundred warriors were sent to
subdue them; after decisive contests the warriors gained the victory; and
it was supposed that the Ronnongwetowanea tribe has ever since ceased
to exist. (This fate happened probably about two thousand five hundred
winters before Columbus discovered the America.) The depredations of the
enemy which so often exercised upon the inhabitants were now terminated;
and the country enjoyed without disturbance many winters. About this time
a mischievous person named Shotyerronsgwea, while visiting the people at
first distinguished himself of a good character and in mean time gained
the confidence of the people; by doing this he was fairly concealed from
being discovered of his real designs, and in a short time began to injure
the people; he assassinated two warriors secretly, and then violated six
virgins, &c., &c. And the next he ventured to break the harmony of the
nation and created dissensions among the people. At this the chiefs were
so offended that the Shotyeronsgwea was banished from the village; when
he received this treatment he deemed proper to desist from going back to
any of the towns; he immediately crossed the river St. Lawrence and moved
towards the midday sun, and he came to a town situated south of the great
lake (Ontario) and he was received with kindness; but his entertainment
could not appease his evil designs; though he appeared reconciled,
one night while at the dancing house he killed several warriors; this
offence he discovered should prove fatal to his person, and was
compelled to leave the town and went some other place to do mischief.
The Shotyeronagwea was the greatest mischievous person that ever existed
on the continent. He was considered an agent from bad spirit. About
this time Big Quisquiss (perhaps the Mammoth) invaded the settlements
south of Ontario lake; the furious animal push down the houses and made
a great disturbance; the people was compelled to flee from the terrible
monster; the warriors made opposition but failed; at length a certain
chief warrior collected the men from several towns—a severe engagement
took place, at last the monster retired, but the people could not remain
long without being disturbed; Big Elk invaded the towns; the animal was
furious and destroyed many persons; however the men were soon collected—a
severe contest ensued and the monster was killed.
About this time the northern nations formed a confederacy and seated a
great council fire on river St. Lawrence: the northern nations possessed
the bank of the great lakes; the countries in the north were plenty of
beavers, but the hunters were often opposed by the big snakes. The people
live on the south side of the Big Lakes make bread of roots and obtain a
kind of potatoes and beans found on the rich soil.
Perhaps about two thousand two hundred years before the Columbus
discovered the America, and northern nations appointed a prince, and
immediately repaired to the south and visited the great Emperor who
resided at the Golden City, a capital of the vast empire. After a
time the Emperor built many forts throughout his dominions and almost
penetrated the lake Erie; this produced an excitement, the people of
the north felt that they would soon be deprived of the country on the
south side of the Great Lakes they determined to defend their country
against any infringement of foreign people: long bloody wars ensued which
perhaps lasted about one hundred years: the people of the north were too
skillful in the use of bows and arrows and could endure hardships which
proved fatal to a foreign people; at last the northern nations gained the
conquest and all the towns and forts were totally destroyed and left them
in the heap of ruins.
About this time a great horned serpent appeared on lake Ontario, the
serpent produced diseases and many of the people died, but by the aid of
thunderbolts the monster was compelled to retire. A blazing star fell
into a fort situated on the St. Lawrence and destroyed the people; this
event was considered as a warning of their destruction. After a time a
war broke out among the northern nations which continued until they had
utterly destroyed each other, the island again become in possession of
fierce animals.