when invaded. Hubbard, in his narrative of the Indian wars of
New England, informs us, that the Pequods and Narragansetts had
places of defence constructed — he calls them forts. Cotton Mather
in his magnalia, also 'speaks of them. The Pequoids, when sur-
prised by the forces of the United colonies under Captain Mason,

VOL. n. 29



226 HISTORY OF THE

had assembled to the number of six hundred, and were encamped
in an enclosure made of pickets and brush. In the voyages and
discoveries of Captain John Smith, we find that he visited several
places that were fortified in a similar manner. He speaks in parti-
cular about one near the coast of Chesapeake bay, and not far from
the mouth of the Susquehanna. Th^s he visited in 160G, and
about the time that the Agoneaseah opened a way to Chesapeake
hay. The inhabitants in the vicinity were collected in it, and had
just repulsed a band of the Masavvomeeks (Agoneaseah,) who had
attempted to stonu it. The Lenni Lenape had fortified enclosures.
In the Agoneasean^commonwealih, there were considerable numbers
of these enclosures. The English called them castles. There
were in 1690, three or four of these castles between Schenectady
and Icanderago. The French, not long afterwards, in a winter's
expedition, surprised them and captured three hundred IMohawks,
whom they carried to Canada. There was one at Icanderago,
(Fort Hunter,) which was taken by the French in 1665, and
destroyed. Similar works of defence were at Caughnewaga, Os-
wegatchie, Canajoharie, Nowadaga, Kow-o-go-con-nugh-ha-rie-
gugh-ha-rie, Oneida, Onondaga, Cay uga,^Genesee, and Tonnawanta.
In speaking of castles now, we say, the Indian castle, the Oneida
castle, the Onondaga castle, &;c.

The Aganuschioni, owing to their union, numbers, and bravery,
vanquished and conquered most of iheir neighbors. Nearly all the
tribes acknowledged their supremacy, and paid them an annual
tribute in skins, toys, and baubles. Few or no innovations were
made in the laws, or internal government. The subjugated, liad
their own rulers, and managed and attended to tiieir own concerns.
In general, they were deprived the right of making peace or war.
In cases of sudden invasion, they were, however, allowed to take
up arms to defend their persons, their wives, their children, and
possessions, and repel the invaders.

The Chihohocki, the Unami, the Munsies, the Wabingas, or
Mohickanders, and the Mohiccons, the tribes which constituted the
confederacy of the Lcnni Lenape, had the right of the soil in the
.countries where they lived. The Dutch, and after them the Eng-
lish purchased lands of them, and entered into compacts. The



STATE OF NEW-YOKK. 227

lands in the southeastern parts of the state, with some small excep-
tions, were purchased of the iMohiccons and Wabingas; .those
around Albany and on the i\Iohawkof the Mohawks. Each of the
members of the Aganuschionian confederacy owned a tract of coun-
try, which was held and occupied by all the individuals in common,
except a few small spots where houses were erected, and clearings
made. These were possessed and owned by the different indivi-
duals who occupied them.

After the conquests, the Aganuschioni sent out several war colo-
nies, who settled in the countries of the conquered. The Augh-
quaghas who resided at Oquago, and other places along Susque-
hanna river, were a colony of this description. The Mingoes on the
Ohio below Pittsburg were another. The Cohunnewagoes, near
Sandusky in Ohio, were a third. These served to overawe and
keep the vanquished in subjection. There were other colonies,
but from the scanty materials left us by the early settlers, it is diffi-
cult to designate their respective locations. In 1678, there were
several villages of the Agoneaseah near Cadaraqui (Kingston) in
Upper Canada, in the country of the Hurons.

Education. — This consisted in training the youth to hunting,
war, and oratory. To possess address and dexterity in hunting ;
to be patient, firm, and persevering, in hardships and sufferings ; to
have fierceness, inveteracy, and intrepidity in war; and to be able
to make a speech, seemed to be their chief desires. These they
cultivated with the utmost attention. In oratory they attained the
greatest eminence. Public speaking was much studied, and in
very high estimation. They were extremely fond of method and sim-
plicity, because the audience could easily understand and remem-
ber. Their speeches were short and laconic ; and the sense con-
veyed in strong and bold metaphors. Their words were few, but
their style was highly figurative, and very expressive and vigorous.
Their delivery was grave, animated, and decisive. The fierceness
of their countenances, the flowing mantle, naked arm, erect posture,
and elevated tone, conveyed to the spectator a lively image of the
orators of ancient Greece and Rome. In saying this much, we
cannot after all agree with certain speculative writers, who have
compared their eloquence with that of the best orators of Greece



228 MISTOKY OF THE

and Rome, and that of the moderns, because it would be admitting
that man without letters is equal^in knowledge to_ him tiiat possesses
them ; an admission which every day's experience contradicts. We
have read Indian speeches embellished by the learned, but we ne-
ver read one that would compare witli those of Demosthenes, Ci-
cero, Burke, Grattan, and Curran. We are aware it may be said
that Logan's is equal. We have no evidence that Logan delivered
the one attributed to him. Besides, if we had, it is limited to five
or six sentences, being a mess?.ge sent to the governor of Virginia,
and will not compare with the most ordinary speeches of Burke and
Curran. Any man of good sense, circumstanced as Logan was,
would have expressed himself in a similar manner. It was the
language of nature. His wife, his children, and relations, had been
inhumanly butchered by the whites, and without any cause, he al-
ways having been very friendly to theni.

The Agoneaseah had, and still have, a method of assisting their
memories, which is this : The chief who presides has a bundle of
sticks prepared for the purpose, and at the close of every principal
article delivered, gives a stick to another, charging him with the
remembrance of it. By this means the speaker, after a previous
harrangue, is prepared to repeat every part, and give it its proper
reply. Tjiey formerly pursued this custom in all their public trea-
ties. — See Smith's Hist, of N. Y.

Medicine. — The Agoneaseah had some acquaintance with medi-
cine. They had discovered the use and application of certain
roots and herbs abounding in their country. These they prepared
and administered, in certain cases, with skill and success. The
medical knowledge which they possessed, was the result of such
observations as experience and time had dictated to them. Every
thing appertaining to the art was kept a secret. Neither flattery,
threats, or money, could induce them to make a disclosure. They
had their regular physicians. These were merely quacks, and
very much like those found among civilized nations, only they pos-
sessed more s!;i!I. In certain instances they steamed their pa-
tients. They had buildings erected in all their considerable towns
for this purpose. These erections were small and close. Tlie
steam patient was taken to the steam house and put into it. Bowls



' STATE OS' NEW-YORK. 229

of water were placed about him, into which red hot stones were
thrown. A powerful sleam was raised. A sudden and profuse
perspiration was excited. Tl)e quack doctors during the steaming
and perspiration, and after these were over, made use of rattles,
drums, and incantations, or charms. The Lenni Lenape, accord-
ing to Colonel Smitli, had steam or sweat houses. The priests, or
magicians of this people, used to prepare themselves, on particular
occasions, for devotional exercises, by entering these dormitories
and taking profuse sweats. See Hist, of New Jersey, by Colonel
Smith. The sick were taken to these domicils.

The most common diseases among the Agoneaseah were con-
sumption, pleurisy, bilious and intermittent fevers, colds, and rheu-
inatism. Unacquainted with the manners, customs, and luxuries
of sedentary nations, they had few maladies.

In wounds and sores they often exhibited considerable skill.
They readily cured the bite of the rattlesnake, copper-head, and
adder. But after all their knowledge was very limited, and not
much greater than that of our old women.

In this article we may possibly give umbrage to our Indian doc-
tors, and their credulous jiatients, and those who have unbounded
faith in their skill ; but we declare this is not our intention. Be-
sides, every man is at full liberty to employ whom he pleases. In
every country there are impostures, and dupes. These may for a
time injure science, and one of the noblest of all professions ; but
sooner or later the former will be detected and discarded, and the
latter get their eyes open. Experience, according to the proverb,
is much better than bought wit.

Music. — Like other savage nations the Agoneaseah had their
bards, who rehearsed and sang the heroic deeds of their ancestors.
Their songs were solemn, grave, and martial, and usually connect-
ed with the serious and important affliirs of life. They had no
written music ; it was altogether oral. They had their war songs,
their songs of victory, love, and death. These, like their speeches,
were short, concise, striking, and energetic. Unrestrained enthu-
siasm is the prime characteristic of all the poetry of savages. The
poems of the Celtic, Gothic, and Scandinavian bards, abound in



230 HISTORY OF THE *

Striking objects, and natural fliglits of the imagination. Those of
Ossian, or those attributed to him, furnish examples.

The Agoneaseah had i)iM\e le?s advances in instrumental than
in vocal music. The only instruments in use among them were
drums, rattles, and pipes, or canes. The drum was not unlike a
deep platter covered. It consisted of wood, and the skin of some
animal. The skin was bound over the top with cords, which could
be tightened or slackened at pleasnre. Two drumsticks were
used in playing. The rattles were made of gourd shells, or of
wood. The pipe or cane was hollow, and consisted of wood. The
dissonant sounds of these rude instruments, added to their vocal
music, tended rather to terrify than to delight. In battles they used
drums, rattles, and pipes, to excite the warriors to engage more re-
solutely in combat.

Dancing. — Among the Agoneaseah, as well as among the other
American nations, dancing was a pleasing recreation, and a favo-
rite amusement. All their dances were descriptive, and exhibited
some action, or series of actions. The imitation was usually so
happily executed, that the spectator supposed it real. Their dan-
ces were generally carried on by the men ; and it was but seldom
that the women were allowed to join in them. All the steps, mo-
tions, gestures, and figures, vvere expressive, and significant of the
business or transaction it was intended to denote. If war was to be
proclaimed, the dance was exi)ressive of the resentment and rage
they bore to their enemies, and of the hostile manner in which they
intended to treat them. The war dance was very affecting and
emblematic. It was the exact representation or image of a cam-
paign. The performers entered with enthusiastic ardor. They
appeared as if departing from their country and entering that of the
enemv, surprising, and conquering their foes, seizing their prison-
ers, scalping the slain, and returning in triumph to their country.
And so rapid, precise, and dreadful was the representation, that the
uninformed spectator was struck with horror, and looked to see the
ground covered with mangled bodies. The peace dance was dif-
ferent. It was significant that the hatchet was buried, and that they
would live in friendship with their enemies.

The following are the names of their dances : The war dance ;



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 231

the peace dance ; the calumet dance ; the chiefs' dance ; the set
out dance ; the scalp dance ; the prisoner's dance; the dead dance;
the return dance ; the marriage dance ; the sacrifice dance ; the
spear dance ; the misfortune dance ; the sickness dance, &c.

Hospitahty. — Tlie Agoneaseah were kind, hheral, and humane,
to strangers. They gratuitously shared with them their coarse food,
shelter, and lodging. Their hospitality and friendship were sincere
and ardent. Hospitality prevailed among them to a very high de-
gree. It was like that among the ancients. They considered it
as a virtue, and as such cultivated and cherished it with the: utmost
assiduity. To have turned a stranger away would have been deem-
ed unkind, disrespectful, and inhuman, and would have brought in-
delible disgrace on him who did it. Nor was this noble virtue
limited to strangers ; they were affectionate, kind, generous, and
humane to one another. There were no paupers and beggars
among them. Hospitality and generosity were acts of the head,
not of parade and ostentation, as are but iwo frequently the case
with civilized nations. Hardships and adversity soften the hearts
of men. In humble life man is most benevolent, kind, and hos-
pitable. Property and prosperity elevate our minds, harden our
feelings, and estrange our sensibilities. The hospitality of the an-
cients grew out oftheir poverty and peculiar condition. The mo-
dern Arab, who would rob you in the desert, will share his last
morsel with the stranger who comes under his tent. Charlevoix,
the historian of New France, (Canada,) in speaking of the Indians,
says, " they rarely deviate from certain maxims and usages, found-
ed on good sense alone, which hold the place of laws. They man-
ifest much stability in the engagements they have entered upon."
Mr. Cushman, in a sermon which he delivered to the colonists of
Plymot.ih, observes, " the Indians have been kind, obliging, gene-
rous, humane, and hospitable, to us. When there were not six able
or well persons among us, they came daily by hundreds to see us,
with their sachems, and administeied to our wants. They never
offered us the least injury in word or deed." Governor Hutchin-
son remarks, "that the nativrs showed courtesy to the English at
their first arrival; were hospitable, and made such as would eat
their food welcome to it ; and readily instructed them in planting



232 HISTORT 0Â¥ THE

and cultivating corn. Some of the English who lost themselves in
the woods, they relieved and conducted home." The celebrated
William Penn, the founder of the commonweahh of Pennsylvania,
"speaks in the highest terms of their hospitality, kindness, and be-
nevolence." Colonel Smith, in his history of New Jersey, makes
similar remarks. Du Pratz, in speaking of the Indians of Florida,
and Louisiana, and the adjoining parts, informs us, that "no people
are more hospitahle and generous." Bartram lias observations of
the same import. Hospitality and generosity were virtues common
to all the hunting nations of North Americ;i.

Marriage, &.c. — The Agoneasean marriages liad little or no for-
mality, and consisted in little else than carrying off the bride by
stealth, or pretended violence. A plurality of wives was not allow-
ed. Every man had his own wife, whom he look and left at plea-
sure. Repudiation was incorporated into their laws, A man might
put away his wife whenever he became dissatisfied wiih her, or
whenever he saw one whom he liked better; and the woman put
away might marry whenever she chose. In these repudiations
there were no forms, ceremonies, or delays. The husband might
dissolve the matrimonial contract whenever he chose. In these
dissolutions the husband, upon signifying his pleasure, turned his
wife out of doors. Repudiation was a privilege on the part of the
men, not of the women. The women, it is said, were chaste.
"An adulterous woman at present among the Agoneaseah, is pun-
ished by shaving her head, and banishment from the town." — See
Cusick's Sketches of tlic Six Nations, published in 1827.

The condition of the women among the Agoneaseah, was the
same as it is among other savage nations. They imposed on them
the care of the children, working in the fields, and every kind of
drudgery. In their hunting excursions, and wanderings abroad,
the women had to carry the luggage. The degradation of the fe-
males was extreme. With the unlettered Agoneaseah marriage
was not a lender attachment, or a union of delicate and refined af-
fections; but ra'her an aniui:il inclination. Without tenderness,
without delicacy, and without refinement, the Agoneaseaii did not
look for pleasure in the beauiy, modesty, afleciion, attachment, and
conversation of his wife ; but to his brutal inclination, and to the



STATE OF NEW-YORK.. 233

•

menial services she was able to render. M. de la Salle tells us
that conjugal union among tiie Indians was founded upon animal in-
clination, not upon love. The women had to till the ground, ga-
ther fruits, and herbs, and do every kind of labor.

Idleness and Drunkenness. — When engaged in hunting and war,
the Agoneaseah were active, enterprising, and indefatigable ; but
when these were ended they weve inactive and indolent. With
them ever) thing, save hunting and war, was considered ignoble,
and beneath their attention, and fit and becoming only for women
and boys. Among them labor was esteemed disgraceful. Hence
they never engaged in manual labor, unless driven to it by the most
urgent necessity. To see the early Dutch settlers clear the land,
and cultivate it, excited them with wonder. They could not ima-
gine how men could degrade themselves so much.

Like all other savage nations, the Agoneaseah were prone to
drunkenness. Before they became acquainted with, and had in-
tercourse with our ancestors, they had discovered the method of
making an inebriating liquor from corn ; but the quantity which they
made was so inconsiderable, that general intemperance was alto-
gether unknown among them. Tlie Europeans upon their arrival
soon discovered their fondness for ardent liquor, and encouraged
them in using it. Liquor was distributed gratuitously to them at
all the treaties and public entertainments. The traders not only sold
but gave them liquor, whenever they found it promoted their inter-
est. Hence, intemperance soon became general among them. The
predominating vices at this day among the Agoneaseah, are iodo-
lence and intemperance. In justice, however, we must allow that
some of them are industrious, frugal, and temperate. Hitherto the
Agoneaseah have been treated by us as aliens and minors. The
laws of this state do not allow them to sell their lands, unless to the
state. The laws do not consider them an integral part of the state.
Little or nothing has been done to ameliorate their condition. It
is not, therefore, to be wondered that they have become more and
more debased, as we have encroached upon them. Place us in a
similar condition. Suppose us to be strangers and minors in our
our country, and not to be allowed to sell or buy lands, and see

what a change it would induce. Dejection and despair would be
VOL. II. 30



234 HISTORY -OF THE

ninnifest in every countenance. The sources of industry, activity,
and enterprise, would be dried up, and our degradation would soon
be complete. Man is only active and enterprising where scope is
given to his genius and inclination. The Agoneaseah, and other
nations of America, would have made aovances in civilization, had
they been treated as equals and brethren.

The Agoneaseah bad very little acquaintance with astronomy.
The year they divided into four seasons — Spring, Summer, Au-
tumn, and Winter. To these they gave appropriate names. Spring
they called Cong-que-ta, the putting out of the leaves; Summer,
Cun-ha-na, hot weather, the earing of corn ; Fall, Cun-na-naugh-
ga-na, the ripening of the corn, and the falling of the leaves ; and
Winter, Coogli-sil-haugh-ga, cold weather. Thirteen moons con-
stituted a year, or period of time in which the seasons returned.
The year they called Jugh-sha-lot. They bad not noted the equi-
noxes and solstices. They knew nothing about the eclipses of the
sun and moon. These they supposed were occasioned by the Bad
Spirit. The sun they called cau-raugh-qua, light of day ; and the
moon, chow-go-ras-cau-raugb-qua, light of night. Chow-go-ras,
in the Agoneasean language, signifies darkness. Heaven was called
Cau-roun-ky-aw-ga, that is, the firmament in which the sun, moon,
and stars have their courses. The earth they supposed was a plain,
surrounded by the ocean. They believed that the sun, moon, and
stars rose from the ocean, and set in it twice every twenty-four
hours. The earth, according to their ideas, was fixed immovably

in the middle of the universe.

.' . . / .

The Powbatans divided the year into five seasons. Winter, or

cold weather, they called Po-pa-now ; Spring, Cat-ta-pe-uck, the

leaving of the trees; Summer, Co-bat-ta-yough ; the earing of corn,

Ne-pin-ough ; the harvest, and falling of the leaves, Ta-qui-tock.

As to the seasons of the Powbatans, see the travels and voyages of

Captain John Smith, the founder of the state of Virginia.

David Cusick, in his Sketches of the Six Nations says, " the
people had particular times of the moon to make sugar, plant corn,
and iiunt deer, and other animals.

The state of society must be fur advanced before man can make
any considerable progress in astronomy. The Mexicans are almost



STATE OF NEW-VORK. 235

the oniy people in America who had reduced astronomy to a sys-
tem.

Religion. — With respect to religion the Agoneaseah may be said
to have been under the thickest gloom of ignorance. They had
no priests ; no altars ; no temples. They believed in two superior
beings, and that the world was under their domination. The one
they called the Good Being, and the other the Bad Being. If any
good happened to them, they attributed it to the former, and if any
evil, to the latter. If prosperous in hunting, fishing, and war, or
any other avocation, they assigned it to the first, or if otherwise to
the second. The Bad Being they feared and venerated most, be-
cause they supposed he might do harm to them. The Good Be-
ing they called Lough-en-ne-yugh, that is, tiie Great Spirit. They
believed in the immortality of the soul, and in a future state of re-
wards and punishments. They had their Elysium, their Styx, and
their Tartarus. They believed that different rewards and punish-
ments awaited men after deatli ; and that these were meted out ac-
cording to their conduct during life. The region of pure spirits
the Agoneaseah called Eskanane. This was their Elysium. The ^
only persons debarred a participation in its ineffable pleasures and
delights, were suicides, the liisobedient to the councils of the chiefs,
and such as put away their wives on account of pregnancy. Near
the confines of this delightsome place there is a dark, gloomy, fa-
thomless gulf, over which all the good pass with safety, under the
guidance of a faithful conductor; but whenever any of the bad ap-
proach this gulf, the conductor refuses them his aid. They then
attempt to cross upon a pole, which, before they reach the middle,
trembles and shakes, till by and l)y they fall into the abyss below,
where they are shrouded in utter darkness. — See Morse's Geog.
Vol. 1. In diis horrid gulf resides a great dog infected with the
itch, which makes him very restless and spiteful. From him they
catch this disease, which renders them very uneasy and miserable,
and occasions tb.em to wander to and fro in thick darkness. Some-
times they in their wanderings approach so near the happy fields of
Eskanane, shaded with delightful groves, and watered by crystal
streams, that they can hear the songs and dances of their former
companions. But this only serves to increase their torments, as



23G HISTORY OF THE

they can discern no light, nor discover a passage by which they can
gain admittance. This place is like the Tartarus of the ancient
Greeks. The IMoheakanneews, Hurons, &c. had nearly the same
ideas of superintending beings, and states of rewards and punish-
ments after death. All their ideas in relation to these matters were
very crude and confused, but such as we might naturally expect in
the infancy of society. The notions of the Greeks and Romans
were at first equally crude and confused. As they, however, ad-
vanced in civilization, arts, literature, and refinement, their notions
concerning superior beings, and a future state, became more re-