LETTER III.

Union, pride and policy of the Confederate Nations-Subjugated tribes, removed to Wyoming-Grand Council in Philadelphia-Canassatego-Count Zinzendorf visits Wyoming -Remarkable incident-Moravians-Mission from Wyoming to Gnadenhutten.

HAVING presented a general view of the Six Nations, we now proceed to speak more particularly of them as connected with the Delaware, Shawanese, and other Indians, the principal inhabitants, not only of Wyoming, but of Pennsylvania.

So many years, perhaps ages, had elapsed since their independence was lost, that time and misfortune had obliterated the record of their greatness, or their fall. Several centuries previous to 1600, had probably seen them in their degraded state. Formerly they claimed to have been powerful in numbers, valiant warriors, and great conquerors; possibly not an idle boast, but every fact in their history, after their acquaintance with the Europeans, shows at once their subserviency and terror, when they heard the voice of their imperious masters.

On the appearance of the English, the expansion of their settlements, and the development of their power, hope seems to have entered the minds of the Lenape, that from the new people they might derive protection, or what would be dearer still, to an Indian heart, the means of revenge.-Hence their welcome to the whites,-hence their lingering around the new settlements, hence their reluctance to retire when ordered, into the interior.

The 'Christian Library,' detailing the Moravian Missions in North America, says, [1750] speaking of the Delawares,-" They had not only a kind of tax imposed upon them, to show their dependence upon the Iroquois; but the following very singular message was sent them:- The Great Head, that is, the Council in Onondago, speak the truth, and lie not :-they rejoice that some of the believing

Indians had removed to Wayomick; but now they lift up the remaining Mohickans and Delawares, and set them down in Wayomick, for there a fire is kindled for them, and there they may plant and think on God: but if they will not hear, the Great Head will come and clean their ears with a red-hot iron." To this lordly threat we shall again recur.

The Historian adds-" It was soon discovered, that this proposal did not originate in the Great Council at Onondago, but with the Oneida tribe, and the warlike Mohicans and Delawares." Let the reader examine all the authorities, and he will be satisfied-that neither of the Six Nations took any important step, without consultation and the consent of the Great Head, or Council, at Onondago. Perfect union—and harmonious Councils were the foundation of their power; as secrecy in regard to their intentions, and vigour in carrying them into effect, were characteristic of their policy. By leave obtained, the Moravian Missionaries passed freely through the settlements of the Six Nations, associating unreservedly with chiefs and people, immediately preceding hostilities that commenced the French war; yet not a word escaped from any lip-not a whisper came to the ear of any one of them, not a suspicion even was awakened in the minds of those intelligent, quick discerning white

men.

Similar to our own Federal Government, the Six Nations, like the several states, attended each to whatever strictly related to its own local concerns; but in every matter affecting war, peace, their external relations, or general interests, the Great Head, or united chiefs, assembled at the Council fire, at Onondago, was supreme. The government also possessed the most marked characteristics of the feudal system. Lands, for residence, or hunting grounds, were apportioned out by the chief power-taxes and tribute were collected, and military service demanded. Hence the warlike Mohicans, Delawares, Shawanese, and others spoken of, it is evident, were the soldiers of the Iroquois, bound to implicit obedience. If at any time they seemed to act independently, it was to effect some sinister political purpose of their profound and most sagacious masters. A Shawanese, a tributary-a dependent, was sent upon the arrogant and ungracious errand to the Christian Indians near Bethlehem. Those to whom it was delivered, comprehended it well, for general consternation spread through Gnadenhutten." A Shawanese carried the message. It might become politic, on the part of the Iroquois, to disavow it.

But the Delawares had their kings. Tedeuscung, we are told, was elected king of the Delawares! Most true. It would be a gross error to suppose the Six Nations who had conquered, and held in vassalage so extensive an empire, were a rude rabble of ignorant Indians. Letters and the arts of civilized life they had not; nor had Attila or Ghengis Khan, but they were profoundly versed in all the wiles of diplomacy, the subtlest stratagems of war, and all the arts of Savage Government, which they made subservient to the gratification of an ambition as lofty and insatiable as that of the greatest conquerors, civilized or barbarian, we read of in story. Napoleon was not more proud to be king of kings, emperor supreme over, nominally, independent kingdoms; but mark the sequel, when we come to speak of Tedeuscung's fate.

The Iroquois had, too, like Rome, their pro-consuls, to preside over distant Provinces. Thus we find Shikellimus whom Loskiel designates "first magistrate and head chief of all the Iroquois Indians living on the banks of the Susquehanna," had his residence at Conestoga. In 1742, with other chiefs, and warriors of the Six Nations, he attended a great Council in Philadelphia. At a subsequent period he was stationed at Shamokin :-"to transact," says Heckewelder, "in the capacity of agent, the business between the Six Nations, and the Government of Pennsylvania."

After the removal to the lakes of the Oneida and Seneca Indians, who occupied Wyoming at the commencement of the last century, the valley was appropriated to the residence of such tribes, or parts of tribes, as claimed protection of the Six Nations, or portions of their refractory subjects, whom they desired to place more immediately under their inspection. A tribe of Nanticokes, formerly inhabitants of Maryland, was divided, part placed at Chenango,-Choconut, and Owego-and a portion was settled on the east side of the river, in the lower part of the Wyoming valley. The Shawanese*

* Gov. Cass thus speaks of the Shawanese. "Their history is involved in much obscurity. Their language is Algonquin, and closely allied to the Kickapoo, and other dialects spoken by tribes who have lived for ages north of the Ohio. But they are known to have recently emigrated from the South, where they were surrounded by a family of tribes, Creeks, Cherokees, Choctaws, &c., with whose language their own had no affinity. Their traditions assign to them a foreign origin, and a wild story has come down to them of a solemn procession, in the midst of the ocean, and of a miraculous passage through the great deep. That they were closely connected with the Kickapoos, the actual identity of language furnishes irrefragable proof, and the incidents of the separation yet live in the oral history of each tribe. We are strongly inclined to believe, that not long before the arrival of the French upon these great lakes, the Kickapoos and Shawanese composed the tribe known as the Erie; living on

tribe was also divided, a portion having their residence on the Sioto, and a large number were permitted, or directed, to erect their wig-. wams on the extensive and luxuriant flats on the west side of the Susquehanna, now Plymouth, but more popularly designated Shawney. The Delawares at this time occupied the country below the blue mountains, between the Susquehanna and Delaware, from whom purchases of land had been made by the Governors of Pennsylvania, but from which the occupants refused to remove. Learning that the Six Nations claimed to be the owners of the country, they were conciliated by proper means, and a grand Council was held in the summer of 1742, in the city of Philadelphia, to adjust all matters in dispute. More than two hundred chiefs and warroirs of the Six Nations attended, who were met by all the chief Sachems of the Delaware tribe. A general Council was opened in presence of the officers of the Colonial Government, and a large concourse of citizens, in the great hall of the Council house.

The Governor, by means of an interpreter, opened the Conference on the part of the Proprietaries in a long talk, which set forth, that the proprietaries of Pennsylvania had purchased the lands in the forks of Delaware several years before, of the Delaware tribes who then possessed them. That they had afterwards received information that the same lands were claimed by the Six Nations, and a purchase was also made of them-that in both these purchases the proprietaries had paid the stipulated price; but the Delaware Indians had nevertheless refused to give up possession; and as the Six Nations claimed authority over their country, it had been thought proper to hold a Council of all parties, that justice might be done. The chiefs of the Six Nations were then informed, that as they had on all occasions required the Government of Pennsylvania to remove any whites that settled upon their lands, so now the Government of

the eastern shore of the lake, to which they have given their name. It is said that this tribe was exterminated by the victorious Iroquois. But it is more probable, that a series of disasters divided them into two parties, one of which, under the name of Kickapoos, sought refuge from their enemies in the immense prairies between the Illinois and Mississippi; and the other, under the name of Shawanese, fled into the Cherokee country, and thence farther south. Father Segard, in 1632, called the Eries the "nation du chat," or the racoon, on account of the magnitude of these animals in their country; and that is the soubriquet, which, to this day, is applied by the Canadians to the Shawanese."

The reader will thank, rather than censure us, for this note, long as it is; because the Shawanese, not only were long residents at Wyoming, but gave an enduring name to one of its richest and most delightful locations.

* Clan Chattan ?

Pennsylvania expected that the Six Nations would cause these Indians to remove from the lands which it had purchased. The deeds from the Indians, and drafts of the disputed lands were then produced, and the whole submitted to the consideration of the Council. After some deliberation among the different chiefs, Canassatego, a venerable chieftain, arose in the name of all the deputies, and informed the Governor, "That they saw the Delawares had been an unruly people, and were altogether in the wrong, and that they had concluded to remove them." And addressing himself to the Delawares, in a violent manner, he said: "You deserve to be taken by the hair of your heads, and shaken till you recover your senses, and become sober. We have seen a deed signed by nine of your chiefs above fifty years ago, for this very land. But how came you to take upon yourselves to sell lands at all? We conquered you-we made women of you; you know you are women, and can no more sell lands than women. Nor is it fit you should have the power of selling lands, since you would abuse it. You have been furnished with clothes, meat, and drink, by the goods paid you for it, and now you want it again like children as you are. But what makes you sell lands in the dark? Did you ever tell us that you had sold this land? Did we ever receive any part, even the value of a pipe shank for it? You have told us a blind story that you sent a messenger to us, to inform us of the sale, but he never came amongst us, nor have we ever heard anything about it. But we find you are none of our blood, you act a dishonest part, not only in this, but in other matters. to slanderous reports about your brethren. charge you to remove instantly; we dont about it. You are women; take the advice of a wise man, and remove instantly. You may return to the other side of the Delaware where you came from, but we do not know whether, considering how you have demeaned yourselves, you will be permitted to live there, or whether you have not swallowed that land down your throats as well as the lands on this side. We therefore assign you two places to go to, either to Wyoming, or Shamokin. You may go to either of these places, and then we shall have you more under our eye, and shall see how you behave. Dont deliberate, but remove away, and take this belt of wampum."

Your ears are ever open For all these reasons, we give you liberty to think

He then commanded them to leave the Council, as he had business to do with the English.

This, it will be admitted, is the language, not of equals, but of masters, to the most abject of slaves. A Roman General would