Chapter I: Front Matter

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Produced by Iona Vaughan, Ross Cooling, mcbax and the Online Distributed Proofreading Canada Team at http://www.pgdpcanada.net

_N.B. The Tuscaroras are now reckon'd a sixth Nation, & live between the Onondagues & Oneidas; & the Necariages of Misilimakinac were received to be the seventh Nation at Albany, May 30.th 1723; at their own desire, 80 Men of that Nation being present besides Women & children. The chief Trade with the far Indians is at the Onondagues rivers mouth where they must all pass to go towards Canada._]

THE

H I S T O R Y

OF THE

FIVE Indian NATIONS

OF

_C A N A D A_,

Which are dependent

On the Province of NEW-YORK in AMERICA,

AND

Are the Barrier between the ENGLISH and FRENCH in that Part of the
World.

WITH

Accounts of their Religion, Manners, Customs, Laws, and Forms of Government; their several Battles and Treaties with the _European_ Nations; particular Relations of their several Wars with the other _Indians_; and a true Account of the present State of our Trade with them.

In which are shewn

The great Advantage of their Trade and Alliance to the _British_ Nation, and the Intrigues and Attempts of the French to engage them from us; a Subject nearly concerning all our _American_ Plantations, and highly meriting the Consideration of the _British_ Nation at this Juncture.

* * * * *

_By the Honourable_ C a d w a l l a d e r C o l d e n, _Esq_; _One of his Majesty's Counsel, and Surveyor-General of_ New-York.

* * * * *

To which are added,

Accounts of the several other Nations of _Indians_ in _North-America_, their Numbers, Strength, &c. and the Treaties which have been lately made with them. A Work highly entertaining to all, and particularly useful to the Persons who have any Trade or Concern in that Part of the World.

* * * * *

L O N D O N:

Printed for T. Osborne, in _Gray's-Inn_. MDCCXLVII.

TO THE HONOURABLE

G E N E R A L

_O G L E T H O R P E._

_SIR,_

The _Indian_ Affairs have ever appeared to your judgment of such Importance to the Welfare of our own People, that you have ever carefully applied your Thoughts to them; and that with such Success, that not only the present Generation will enjoy the Benefit of your Care, but our latest Posterity bless your Memory for that Happiness the Foundation of which was laid under your Care, provided that the People here, whose Duty and Interest is chiefly concerned, do on their own Parts second your Endeavours, towards securing the Peace, and advancing the Prosperity of their Country.

The following Account of the _Five Indian Nations_ will shew what dangerous Neighbours the _Indians_ have once been; what Pains a neighbouring Colony (whose Interest is opposite to ours) has taken to withdraw their Affections from us; and how much we ought to be on our Guard. If we only consider the Riches which our Enemies receive from the _Indian Trade_ (though we were under no Apprehensions from the _Indians_ themselves) it would be highly imprudent in us to suffer such People to grow Rich and Powerful, while it is in our Power to prevent it, with much less Charge and Trouble, than it is in theirs to accomplish their Designs.

These Considerations alone are sufficient to make the _Indian Affairs_ deserve the most serious Thoughts of every Governor in _America_. But I well know, besides; that your Excellency's views are not confined to the Interest of one Country only.

The _Five Nations_ are a poor and, generally called, barbarous People, bred under the darkest Ignorance; and yet a bright and noble Genius shines through these black Clouds. None of the greatest _Roman_ Heroes have discovered a greater Love to their Country, or a greater Contempt of Death, than these people called Barbarians have done, when Liberty came in Competition. Indeed, I think our _Indians_ have outdone the _Romans_ in this Particular; some of the greatest of those have we know murdered themselves to avoid Shame or Torments; but our _Indians_ have refused to die meanly, or with but little Pain, when they thought their Country's Honour would be at stake by it[1]; but have given their Bodies, willingly, to the most cruel Torments of their Enemies, to shew, as they said, that the _Five Nations_ consisted of Men, whose Courage and Resolution could not be shaken. They greatly sully, however, those noble virtues, by that cruel Passion, Revenge; this they think is not only lawful, but honourable, to exert without Mercy on their Country's Enemies, and for this only it is that they can deserve the Name of Barbarians.

But what, alas! Sir, have we Christians done to make them better? We have indeed Reason to be ashamed, that these Infidels, by our Conversation and Neighbourhood, are become worse than they were before they knew us. Instead of Virtues we have only taught them Vices, that they were intirely free from before that Time. The narrow Views of private Interest have occasioned this, and will occasion greater, even publick Mischiefs, if the Governors of the People do not, like true Patriots, exert themselves, and put a Stop to these growing Evils. If these Practices be winked at, instead of faithful Friends, that have manfully fought our Battles for us, the _Five Nations_ will become faithless Thieves and Robbers, and join with every Enemy that can give them any Hopes of Plunder.

If Care were taken to plant and cultivate in them that general Benevolence to Mankind, which is the true first Principle of Virtue, it would effectually eradicate those horrid Vices, occasioned by their unbounded Revenge; and then they would no longer deserve the Name of Barbarians, but would become a People, whose Friendship might add Honour to the _British_ Nation.

The _Greeks_ and _Romans_, Sir, once as much Barbarians as our _Indians_ now are, deified the Heroes that first taught them those Virtues, from whence the Grandeur of those renowned Nations wholly proceeded; a good Man, however, will feel more real Satisfaction and Pleasure, from the Sense of having any Way forwarded the Civilizing of a barbarous Nation, or of having multiplied the Number of good Men, than from the fondest Hopes of such extravagant Honours.

These Considerations, I believe, will induce you, Sir, to think a History of the _Five Nations_ not unworthy of your Patronage; and on these only it is that I presume to offer my best Endeavours in this, who am, with the greatest Respect,

_S I R,_

_Your most obedient,_

_and most humble Servant,_

Cadwallader Colden.

[Footnote 1: This will appear by several Instances in the Second Part of this History.]

THE

P R E F A C E

TO THE

F i r s t P a r t.

_Though every one that is in the least acquainted with the Affairs of_ North-America, _knows of what Consequence the_ Indians, _commonly known to the People of_ New-York _by the Name of the_ Five Nations, _are, both in Peace and War; I know of no Accounts of them, published in_ English, _but what are very imperfect, and indeed meer Translations of_ French _Authors, who themselves know little of the Truth. This seems to throw some Reflections on the Inhabitants of our Province, as if we wanted Curiosity to enquire into our own Affairs, and were willing to rest satisfied with the Accounts the_ French _give us of our own_ Indians, _notwithstanding that the_ French _in_ Canada _are always in a different Interest, and sometimes in open Hostility with us. This Consideration, I hope, will justify my attempting to write an History of the_ Five Nations _at this Time; and having had the Perusal of the Minutes of the Commissioners for_ Indian Affairs, _I have been enabled to collect many Materials for this History, which are not to be found any where else; and cannot but think, that a History of this Kind will be of great Use to all the_ British _Colonies in_ North-America, _since it may enable them to learn Experience at the Expence of others: And if I can contribute any Thing to so good a Purpose, I shall not think my Labour lost._

_It will be necessary for me here to say something in Excuse of two Things in the following Performance, which, I am afraid, will naturally be found Fault with in it. The first is, the filling up so great Part of the Work with the Adventures of small Parties, and sometimes with those of one single Man: And the second is, the inserting so many Speeches at length._

_As to the first, the History of_ Indians _would be very lame, without an Account of these private Adventures; for their warlike Expeditions are almost always carried on by surprising each other, and their whole Art of War consists in managing small Parties. The whole Country being one continued Forest, gives great Advantages to those skulking Parties, and has obliged the Christians to imitate the_ Indians _in this Method of making War among them. And some would, doubtless, be desirous to know the Manners and Customs of the_ Indians, _in their publick Treaties especially, who could not be satisfied without taking Notice of several minute Circumstances, and Things otherwise of no Consequence. We are fond of searching into remote Antiquity, to know the Manners of our earliest Progenitors; and, if I am not mistaken, the_ Indians _are living Images of them._

_My Design therefore in the second was, that thereby the Genius of the_ Indians _might appear. An Historian may paint Mens Actions in lively Colours, or in faint Shades, as he likes best, and in both Cases preserve a perfect Likeness; but it will be a difficult Task to shew the Wit, Judgment, Art, Simplicity, and Ignorance of the several Parties, managing a_ Treaty, _in other Words than their own. As to my Part, I thought myself incapable of doing it, without depriving the judicious Observer of the Opportunity of discovering much of the_ Indian Genius, _by my contracting or paraphrasing their Harangues, and without committing often gross Mistakes. For, on these Occasions, a skilful Manager often talks confusedly, and obscurely, with Design; which if an Historian should endeavour to amend, the Reader would receive the History in a false Light._

_The Reader will find a great Difference between some of the Speeches here given of those made at_ Albany, _and those taken from the_ French Authors. _Ours are genuine and truly related, as delivered by the sworn Interpreters, of whom Truth only is required; a rough Stile, with Truth, is preferable to Eloquence without it: This may be said in Justification of the_ Indian _Expression, though I must own, that I suspect our Interpreters may not have done Justice to the_ Indian _Eloquence. For the_ Indians _having but few Words, and few complex Ideas, use many Metaphors in their Discourse, which interpreted by an unskilful Tongue, may appear mean, and strike our Imagination faintly; but under the Pen of a skilful Representer, might strongly move our Passions by their lively Images. I have heard an old_ Indian Sachem _speak with much Vivacity and Elocution, so that the Speaker pleased and moved the Auditors with the Manner of delivering his Discourse; which however, as it afterwards came from the Interpreter, disappointed us in our Expectations. After the Speaker had employed a considerable Time in haranguing with much Elocution, the Interpreter often explained the whole by one single Sentence. I believe the Speaker, in that Time, embellished and adorned his Figures, that they might have their full Force on the Imagination, while the Interpreter contented himself with the Sense, in as few Words as it could be expressed._

_He that first writes the History of Things, which are not generally known, ought to avoid, as much as possible, to make the Evidence of the Truth depend intirely on his own Veracity and Judgment; and for this Reason I have related several Transactions in the Words of the Registers, when this is once done, he that shall write afterwards, need not act with so much Caution._

_The History of these_ Indians, _I promise myself, will give an agreeable Amusement to many; almost every one will find something in it suited to his own Palate; but every Line will not please every Man; on the contrary, one will naturally approve what another condemns, as one desires to know what another thinks not worth the Trouble of reading; for which Reason, I think, it is better to run the Risque of being sometimes tedious to certain Readers, than to omit any Thing that may be useful to the World._

_I have sometimes thought, that Histories wrote with all the Delicacy of a fine Romance, are like_ French _Dishes, more agreeable to the Palate than the Stomach, and less wholesome than more common and coarser Diet._

_An Historian's Views must be curious and extensive, and the History of different People and different Ages requires different Rules, and often different Abilities to write it; I hope therefore the Reader will, from those Considerations, receive this first Attempt of this kind, with more than usual Allowances._

_The Inhabitants of_ New-York _have been much more concerned in the Transactions, which followed the Year_ 1688, _than in those which preceded it. And as it requires uncommon Courage and Resolution to engage willingly in the Wars against a cruel and barbarous Enemy, I should be sorry to forget any that might deserve to be remembered by their Country, with Gratitude on that Occasion._

A

V O C A B U L A R Y

OF

_Some Words and Names used by the_ French _Authors, who treat of the_ Indian Affairs, _which are different from the Names of the same People or Places, used or understood by the_ English, _and may therefore be useful to those who intend to read the_ French _Accounts, or compare them with the Accounts now published._

* * * * *

_Names used by the_ _The same are called by the_ English,
French. _or by the_ Five Nations.

Abenaguies. Owenagungas, _or_ New-England
Indians, _and_
_are sometimes called the_ Eastern
Indians.

Algonkins. Adirondacks.

Amihouis. Dionondadies, _or_ Tuinondadeks,
_a Branch or Tribe of_
_the_ Quatoghies.

Aniez. Mohawks, _called likewise_ Maquas.

Bay des Puans. Enitajiche.

Chigagou. Caneraghik.

Corlaer, _or_ Corlard. Schenectady. _But the_ Five
Nations _commonly call the_
_Governor of_ New-York _by_
_this Name, and often the_
_People of the Province of_
New-York _in general._

Detroit. Teuchsagrondie.

Hurons. Quatoghie.

Hinois. Chictaghicks.

Iroquois. _The_ Five Nations.

Lac Huron. Caniatare, _or_ Quatoghe lake.

Loups. Scahkook Indians.

Manhattan. New-York City.

Mascoutecs. Odislastagheks.

Mourigan. Mahikander, _or_ River Indians,
_living on_ Hudson'_s River,_
_below_ Albany.

Miamies. Twightwies.

Missilimakinak. Teiodondoraghie.

Missisakies. Achsisaghecks.

Oneyouts. Oneydoes.

Ontario lac. Cadarackui Lake.

Orange. Albany.

Outagamies. Quacksies, _and_ Scunksiks.

Outawas. Utawawas, _or_ Dewagunhas.

Renards. Quaksies.

Sauiteurs. Estiaghicks.

Shaouonons. Satanas.

Tateras. Toderiks.

Terre rouge. Scunksik.

Tongorias. Erighecks.

Tsonontouans. Senekas.

THE

C O N T E N T S.

_The Introduction, being a short View of the
Form of Government of the_ Five Nations, _and
of their Laws and Customs._ pag. 1

PART I. CHAP. I.

_Of the Wars of the_ Five Nations, _with the_ Adirondacks
_and_ Quatoghies. 21

CHAP. II.

_The Wars and Treaties of Peace of the_ Indians
_of the_ Five Nations _with the_ French, _from_ 1665
_to_ 1683, _and their Affairs with_ New-York _in
that time._ 31

CHAP. III.

_Of the Transactions of the_ Indians _of the_ Five Nations
_with the neighbouring_ English _colonies._ 36

CHAP. IV.

_Mons._ De la Barre's _Expedition, and some remarkable
Transactions in_ 1684. 59

CHAP. V.

_The_ English _attempt to trade in the Lakes, and the_
French _attack the_ Senekas. 71

CHAP. VI.

_Colonel_ Dongan's _Advice to the_ Indians. Adario's
_Enterprize, and_ Montreal _sacked by the_ Five
Nations. 80