dian faster this way than when I had those
with me who could speak English.
As we proceeded down the Canesadooharie
waters, our packs increased by the skins that
were daily killed, and became so very heavy
that we could not march more than eight or
ten miles per day. We came to Lake Erie
about six miles west of the mouth of Canesa-
dooharie. As the wind was very high the
evening we came to the lake, I was surprised
to hear the roaring of the water, and see the
SMITH AMONG THE DELAWARES 33
high waves that dashed against the shore,
hke the ocean. We encamped on a run near
the lake, and, as the wind fell that night, the
next morning the lake was only in a moder-
ate motion, and we marched on the sand
along the side of the water, frequently rest-
ing ourselves, as we were heavily laden. I
saw on the sand a number of large fish, that
had been left in flat or hollow places ; as the
wind fell and the waves abated they were left
without water, or only a small quantity ; and
nmnbers of bald and gray eagles, etc., were
along the shore devouring them.
Some time in the afternoon we came to a
large camp of Wyandots, at the mouth of
Canesadooharie, where Tontileaugo's wife
was. Here we were kindly received; they
gave us a kind of rough, brown potatoes,
which grew spontaneously, and were called
by the Cauglmewagas ohnenata. These po-
tatoes, peeled and dipped in raccoon's fat,
taste nearly like our sweet potatoes. They
also gave us what they call canaheanta.
34. CAPTIVES AMONG THE INDIANS
which is a kind of hominy, made of green
corn, dried, and beans, mixed together.
We continued oui' camp at the mouth of
Canesadooharie for some time, where we
killed some deer and a great many raccoons ;
the raccoons here were remarkably large and
fat. At length we all embarked in a large
birch-bark canoe. This vessel was about
four feet wide and three feet deep, and about
five-and-thirty feet long; and though it could
carry a heavy burden, it was so artfully and
curiously constructed that four men could
carry it several miles, or from one landing-
place to another, or from the waters of the
lake to the waters of the Ohio. We pro-
ceeded up Canesadooharie a few miles, and
went on shore to hunt ; but, to my great sur-
prise, they carried the vessel we all came in
up the bank, and inverted it, or turned the
bottom up, and converted it to a dwelling-
house, and kindled a fire before us to warm
ourselves by and cook. With our baggage
and ourselves in this house we were very
SMITH AMONG THE DELAWARES 35
much crowded, yet our little house turned
off the rain very well.
While we remained here I left my pouch
with my books in camp, wrapped up in my
blanket, and went out to hunt chestnuts.
On my return to camp my books were miss-
ing. I inquired after them, and asked the
Indians if they knew where they were ; they
told me that they supposed the puppies had
carried them off. I did not believe them,
but thought they were displeased at my
poring OA^er my books, and concluded that
they had destroyed them, or put them out of
my way.
After this I v/as again out after nuts, and
on my return beheld a new erection, com-
posed of two white-oak saplings, that were
forked about twelve feet high, and stood
about fifteen feet apart. They had cut
these saplings at the forks, and laid a strong
pole across, which appeared in the form of
a gallows; and the poles they had shaved
very smooth, and painted in places with ver-
36 CAPTIVES AMONG THE INDIANS
milion. I could not conceive the use of this
piece of work, and at length concluded it was
a gallows. I thought that I had displeased
them by reading my books, and that they
were about putting me to death. The next
morning I observed them bringing their
skins all to this place, and hanging them over
this pole, so as to preserve them from being
injured by the weather. This removed my
fears. They also buried their large canoe in
the ground, which is the way they took to
preserve this sort of a canoe in the winter
season.
As we had at this time no horse, every one
got a pack on his back, and we steered an
east course about twelve miles and en-
camped. The next morning we proceeded
on the same course about ten miles to a large
creek that empties into Lake Erie, betwixt
Canesadooharie and Cayahoga. Here they
made their winter cabin in the following
form: they cut logs about fifteen feet long,
and laid these logs upon each other, and
SMITH AMONG THE DELAWARES 37
drove posts in the ground at each end to
keep them together; the posts they tied to-
gether at the top with bark, and by this
means raised a wall fifteen feet long and
about four feet high, and in the same manner
they raised another wall opposite to this, at
about twelve feet distance; then they drove
forks in the ground in the centre of each end,
and laid a strong pole from end to end on
these forks ; and from these walls to the poles
they set up poles instead of rafters, and on
these they tied small poles in place of laths ;
and a cover was made of lynn-bark, which
which will run * even in the winter season.
It was some time in December when we
finished this winter-cabin; but when we had
got into this comparatively fine lodging an-
other difficulty arose — we had nothing to eat.
While I was travelling with Tontileaugo, as
was before mentioned, and had plenty of fat
venison, bear's meat, and raccoons, I then
thought it was hard living without bread or
* Peel.
38 CAPTIVES AMONG THE INDIANS
salt ; but now I began to conclude that, if I
had anything that would banish pinching
hunger, and keep soul and body together, I
would be content.
While the hunters were all out, exerting
themselves to the outmost of their ability,
the squaws and boys (in which class I was)
were scattered out in the bottoms, hunting
red haws, black haws, and hickory nuts. As
it was too late in the year we did not suc-
ceed in gathering haws, but we had tolerable
success in scratching up hickory-nuts from
under a light snow, and these we carried
with us lest the hunters should not succeed.
After our return the hunters came in, who
had killed only two small turkeys, which
were but little among eight hunters and
thirteen squaws, boys, and children; but
they were divided with the greatest equity
and justice; every one got their equal share.
The next day the hunters turned out
again, and killed one deer and three bears.
One of the bears was very large and remark-
SMITH AMONG THE DELAWARES 39
ably fat. The hunters carried in meat suffi-
cient to give us all a hearty supper and
breakfast. The squaws and all that could
carry turned out to bring in meat ; every one
had their share assigned them, and my load
was among the least; yet, not being accus-
tomed to carrying in this way, I got exceed-
ingly weary, and told them my load was too
heavy ; I must leave part of it and come for
it again. They made a halt, and only
laughed at me, and took part of my load,
and added it to a young squaw's, who had as
much before as I carried.
This kind of reproof had a greater ten-
dency to excite me to exert myself in carry-
ing without complaining than if they had
whipped me for laziness. After this the
hunters held a council, and concluded that
they must have horses to carry their loads;
and that they would go to war, even in this
inclement season, in order to bring in horses.
Tontileaugo wished to be one of those who
should go to war ; but the votes went against
40 CAPTIVES AMONG THE INDIANS
him, as he was one of our best hunters; it
was thought necessary to leave him at this
winter-camp to provide for the squaws and
children. It was agreed upon that Ton-
tileaugo and three others should stay and
hunt, and the other four go to war.
They then began to go through their com-
mon ceremony. They sung their war-songs,
danced their war-dances, etc. And when
they were equipped they went off singing
their marching-song and firing their guns.
Our camp appeared to be rejoicing; but I
was grieved to think that some innocent per-
sons would be murdered, not thinking of
danger.
After the departure of these warriors we
had hard times; and though we were not
altogether out of provisions, we were brought
to short allowance. At length Tontileaugo
had considerable success, and we had meat
brought into camp sufficient to last ten days.
Tontileaugo then took me with him in order
to encamp some distance from this winter-
SMITH AMONG THE DELAWARES 41
cabin, to try his luck there. We carried no
provisions with us; he said he would leave
what was there for the squaws and children,
and that we could shift for ourselves. We
steered about a south course up the waters
of this creek, and encamped about ten or
twelve miles from the winter-cabin. As it
was still cold weather, and a crust upon the
snow, which made a noise as we walked, and
alarmed the deer, we could kill nothing, and
consequently went to sleep without supper.
The only chance we had, im^der these circum-
stances, was to hunt bear-holes ; as the bears,
about Christmas, search out a winter lodg-
ing-place, where they lie about three or four
months without eating or drinking. This
may appear to some incredible, but it is well
known to be the case by those who live in the
remote western parts of North America.
The next morning early we proceeded on,
and when we found a tree scratched by the
bears climbing up, and the hole in the tree
sufficiently large for the reception of the
42 CAPTIVES AMONG THE INDIANS
bear, we then felled a sapling or small tree
against or near the hole, and it was my busi-
ness to climb up and drive out the bear,
while Tontileaugo stood ready with his gun
and bow. We went on in this manner until
evening without success. At length we
found a large elm scratched, and a hole in
it about forty feet up, but no tree nigh suit-
able to lodge against the hole. Tontileaugo
got a long pole and some diy rotten wood,
which he tied in bunches with bark; and as
there was a tree that grew near the elm, and
extended up near the hole, but leaned the
wrong way, so that we could not lodge it to
advantage, to remedy this inconvenience he
climbed up this tree and carried with him
his rotten wood, fire, and pole. The rotten
wood he tied to his belt, and to one end of
the pole he tied a hook and a piece of rotten
wood, which he set fire to, as it would retain
fire almost like punk, and reached this hook
from limb to limb as he went up. When he
got up with his pole he put dry wood on fire
SMITH AMONG THE DELAWARES 43
into the hole; after he put in the fire he
heard the bear snuff, and he came speedily
down, took his gun in his hand, and waited
until the bear would come out; but it was
some time before it appeared, and when it
did appear he attempted taking sight with
his rifle; but it being then too dark to see
the sights, he set it down by a tree, and in-
stantly bent his bow, took hold of an arrow,
and shot the bear a little behind the shoulder.
I was preparing also to shoot an arrow, but
he called to me to stop, there was no occa-
sion; and with that the bear fell to the
ground.
Being very hungry, we kindled a fire,
opened the bear, took out the liver, and
wrapped some of the caul-fat round, and
put it on a wooden spit, which we stuck in
the ground by the fii'e to roast; then we
skinned the bear, got on our kettle, and had
both roast and boiled, and also sauce to our
meat, which appeared to me to be delicate
fare. After I was fully satisfied I went to
44 CAPTIVES AMONG THE INDIANS
sleep; Tontileaugo awoke me, saying,
"Come, eat hearty, we have got meat plenty
now."
The next morning we cut down a lynn-
tree, peeled bark and made a snug little
shelter, facing the southeast, with a large
log betwixt us and the northwest ; we made
a good fire before us, and scaffolded up our
meat at one side. When we had finished our
camp we went out to hunt; searched two
trees for bears, but to no purpose. As the
snow thawed a little in the afternoon, Ton-
tileaugo killed a deer, which we carried with
us to camp.
Some time in February the four warriors
returned, who had taken two scalps and six
horses from the frontiers of Pennsylvania.
The hunters could then scatter out a con-
siderable distance from the winter-cabin and
encamp, kill meat, and bring it in upon
horses ; so that we commonly, after this, had
plenty of provision.
In this month we began to make sugar.
SMITH AMONG THE DELAWARES 45
As some of the elm-bark will strip at this
season, the squaws, after finding a tree that
would do, cut it down, and with a crooked
stick, broad and sharp at the end, took the
bark off the tree, and of this bark made ves-
sels, in a curious manner, that would hold
about two gallons each; they made above
one hundred of these kind of vessels. In
the sugar-tree they cut a notch, sloping
down, and at the end of the notch stuck in a
tomahawk ; in the place where they stuck the
tomahawk they drove a long chip, in order
to carry the water out from the tree, and
under this they set their vessel to receive it.
As sugar-trees were plenty and large here,
they seldom or never notched a tree that was
not two or three feet over. They also made
bark vessels for carrying the water that
would hold about four gallons each. They
had two brass kettles that held about fif-
teen gallons each, and other smaller ket-
tles in which they boiled the water. But as
they could not at times boil away the water
46 CAPTIVES AMONG THE INDIANS
as fast as it was collected, they made vessels
of bark that would hold about one hundred
gallons each for retaining the water; and
though the sugar-trees did not run every
day, they had always a sufficient quantity of
water to keep them boiling during the whole
sugar-season.
About the latter end of March we began
to prepare for moving into town in order to
plant corn. The squaws were then frying
the last of their bear's fat and making ves-
sels to hold it ; the vessels were made of deer-
skins, which were skinned by pulling the skin
off the neck without ripping. After they
had taken off the hair they gathered it in
small plaits round the neck, and, with a
string, drew it together like a purse; in the
centre a pin was put, below which they tied
a string, and while it was wet they blew it
up like a bladder, and let it remain in this
manner until it was dry, when it appeared
nearly in the shape of a sugar-loaf, but more
rounding at the lower end. One of these
SMITH AMONG THE DELAWARES 47
vessels would hold about four or five gallons.
In these vessels it was they carried their
bear's oil.
When all things were ready we moved
back to the falls of Canesadooharie. On our
arrival at the falls (as we had brought with
us on horseback about two hundred weight
of sugar, a large quantity of bear's oil, skins,
etc.) the canoe we had buried was not suffi-
cient to carry all ; therefore we were obliged
to make another one of elm-bark. While we
lay here a young Wyandot found my books.
On this they collected together. I was a lit-
tle way from the camp, and saw the collec-
tion, but did not know what it meant.
They called me by my Indian name, which
was Scoouwa, repeatedly. I ran to see
what was the matter; they showed me my
books, and said they were glad they had
been found, for they knew I was grieved
at the loss of them, and that they now re-
joiced with me because they were found.
As I could then speak some Indian, espe-
48 CAPTIVES AMONG THE INDIANS
cially Cauglinewaga (for both that and the
Wyandot tongue were spoken in this camp) ,
I told them that I thanked them for the
kindness they had always shown to me, and
also for finding my books. They asked if
the books were damaged. I told them not
much. They then showed how they lay,
which was in the best manner to turn off
the water. In a deer-skin pouch they lay
all winter. The print was not much in-
jured, though the binding was. This was
the first time that I felt my heart warm
towards the Indians. Though they had
been exceedingly kind to me, I still be-
fore detested them on account of the bar-
barity I beheld after Braddock's defeat.
Neither had I ever before pretended kind-
ness, or expressed myself in a friendly man-
ner; but I began now to excuse the Indians
on account of their want of information.
We staid at this camp about two weeks,
and killed a number of bears, raccoons, and
some beavers. We made a canoe of elm-
SMITH AMONG THE DELAWARES 49
bark, and Tontileaugo embarked in it. He
arrived at the falls that night; while I,
mounted on horseback, with a bear-skin sad-
dle and bark stirrups, proceeded by land to
the falls. I came there the next morning,
and we carried our canoe and loading past
the falls.
We again proceeded towards the lakes ; I
on horseback and Tontileaugo by water.
Here the land is generally good, but I found
some difficulty in getting round swamps and
ponds. When we came to the lake I pro-
ceeded along the strand and Tontileaugo
near the shore, sometimes paddling and
sometimes poling his canoe along.
After some time the wind arose, and he
went into the mouth of a small creek and en-
camped. Here we staid several days on
account of high wind, which raised the lake
in great billows. While we were here Ton-
tileaugo went out to hunt, and when he was
gone a Wyandot came to our camp. I gave
him a shoulder of venison which I had by the
50 CAPTIVES AMONG THE INDIANS
fire well roasted, and he received it gladly;
told me he was hungry, and thanked me for
my kindness. When Tontileaugo came
home I told him that a Wyandot had been
at camp, and that I gave him a shoulder of
roasted venison. He said that was very
well, "and I suppose you gave him also
sugar and bear's oil to eat with his venison."
I told him I did not, as the sugar and bear's
oil were down in the canoe, I did not go for
it. He replied, "You have behaved just
like a Dutchman.* Do you not Imow that
when strangers come to our camp we ought
always to give them the best that we have?"
I acknowledged that I was wrong. He said
that he could excuse this, as I was but
young; but I must learn to behave like a
warrior, and do great things, and never be
found in any such little actions.
The lake being again calm, we proceeded,
and arrived safe at Sunyendeand, which was
* The Dutch he called Skoharehaugo, which took its de-
rivation from a Dutch settlement called Skoharey.
SMITH AMONG THE DELAWARES 51
a Wyandot town that lay upon a small creek
which empties into the little lake below the
mouth of Sandusky.
The town was about eighty rood above the
mouth of the creek, on the south side of a
large plain, on which timber grew, and noth-
ing more but grass or nettles. In some
places there were large flats where nothing
but grass grew, about three feet high when
grown, and in other places nothing but net-
tles, very rank, where the soil is extremely
rich and loose; here they planted corn. In
this town there were also French traders,
who purchased our skins and fur, and we all
got new clothes, paint, tobacco, etc.
After I had got my new clothes, and my
head done off like a red-headed woodpecker,
I, in company with a number of young In-
dians, went down to the corn-field to see the
squaws at work. When we came there they
asked me to take a hoe, which I did, and
hoed for some time. The squaws applauded
me as a good hand at the business ; but when
52 CAPTIVES AMONG THE INDIANS
I returned to the town the old men, hearing
of what I had done, chid me, and said that
I was adopted in the place of a great man,
and must not hoe corn like a squaw. They
never had occasion to reprove me for any-
thing like this again; as I never was ex-
tremely fond of work, I readily complied
with their orders.
As the Indians, on their return from their
winter hunt, bring in with them large quan-
tities of bear's oil, sugar, dried venison, etc.,
at this time they have plenty, and do not
spare eating or giving; thus they make way
with their provision as quick as possible.
They have no such thing as regular meals,
breakfast, dinner, or supper ; but if any one,
even the town-folks, would go to the same
house several times in one day, he would be
invited to eat of the best; and with them it
is bad manners to refuse to eat when it is
offered. If they will not eat it is interpreted
as a symptom of displeasure, or that the per-
SMITH AMONG THE DELAWARES 53
sons refusing to eat were angry with those
who had invited them.
At this tinie hominy, plentifully mixed
with bear's oil and sugar, or dried venison,
bear's oil, and sugar, is what they offer to
every one who comes in any time of the day ;
and so they go on until their sugar, bear's oil,
and venison are all gone, and then they have
to eat hominy by itself, without bread, salt,
or anything else; yet still they invite every
one that comes in to eat while they have any-
thing to give. It is thought a shame not to
invite people to eat while they have any-
thing; but if they can in truth only say we
have got nothing to eat, this is accepted as
an honorable apology. All the hunters and
warriors continued in town about six weeks
after we came in; they spent this time in
painting, going from house to house, eating,
smoking, and playing at a game resembling
dice, or hustle-cap. They put a number of
plum-stones in a small bowl ; one side of each
54^ CAPTIVES AMONG THE INDIANS
stone is black, and the other white ; they then
shake or hustle the bowl, calling, "Hits, hits,
hits, honesey, honesey, rago, rag of which
signifies calling for white or black, or what
they wish to turn up; they then turn the
bowl, and count the whites and blacks.
Some were beating their kind of drum and
singing ; others were employed in playing on
a sort of flute made of hollow cane; and
others playing on the jew's-harp. Some
part of this time was also taken up in attend-
ing the council-house, where the chiefs, and
as many others as chose, attended; and at
night they were frequently employed in sing-
ing and dancing. Towards the last of this
time, which was in June, 1756, they were all
engaged in preparing to go to war against
the frontiers of Virginia. When they were
equipped they went through their cere-
monies, sung their war-songs, etc. They all
marched off, from fifteen to sixty years of
age; and some boys, only twelve years of
age, were equipped with their bows and
SMITH AMONG THE DELAWARES 55
arrows, and went to war; so that none were
left in town but squaws and children, except
myself, one very old man, and another, about
fifty years of age, who was lame.
The Indians were then in great hopes that
they would drive all the Virginians over the
lake, which is all the name they know for the
sea. When the warriors left this town we
had neither meat, sugar, or bear's oil left.
All that we had then to live on was corn
pounded into coarse meal or small hominy;
this they boiled in water, which appeared
like well-thickened soup, without salt or any-
thing else. For some time we had plenty of
this kind of hominy; at length we were
brought to very short allowance, and as the
warriors did not return as soon as they ex-
pected, we were soon in a starving condition,
and but one gun in the town, and very little
ammunition. The old lame Wyandot con-
cluded that he would go a-hunting in a canoe,
and take me with him, and try to kill deer in
the water, as it was then watering time.
56 CAPTIVES AMONG THE INDIANS
We went up Sandusky a few miles, then
turned up a creek and encamped. We had
Hghts prepared, as we were to hunt in the
night, and also a piece of bark and some
bushes set up in the canoe, in order to con-
ceal ourselves from the deer. A little boy
that was with us held the light; I worked
the canoe, and the old man, who had his gun
loaded with large shot, when we came near
the deer, fired, and in this manner killed
three deer in part of one night. We went
to our fire, ate heartily, and in the morning
returned to town in order to relieve the
hungry and distressed.
When we came to town the children were
crying bitterly on account of pinching
hunger. We delivered what we had taken,
and though it was but little among so many,
it was divided according to the strictest rules
of justice. We immediately set out for an-
other hunt, but before we returned a part of
the warriors had come in, and brought with
them on horseback a quantity of meat.
SMITH AMONG THE DELAWARES 57
These warriors had divided into different
parties, and all struck at different places in