diff --git a/QI/settings.py b/QI/settings.py
index b1c60f2..847058f 100644
--- a/QI/settings.py
+++ b/QI/settings.py
@@ -19,11 +19,7 @@
STATIC_URL = '/static/'
-STATIC_ROOT = '/srv/QI/static_media/'
-
-STATICFILES_DIRS = (
- os.path.join(BASE_DIR, 'static/'),
-)
+STATIC_ROOT = os.path.join(BASE_DIR, 'static')
# Quick-start development settings - unsuitable for production
# See https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/1.8/howto/deployment/checklist/
diff --git a/sample.txt b/sample.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/static_media/.gitignore b/static/.gitignore
similarity index 100%
rename from static_media/.gitignore
rename to static/.gitignore
diff --git a/static/AutoModels/.gitignore b/static/AutoModels/.gitignore
deleted file mode 100644
index 8174f51..0000000
--- a/static/AutoModels/.gitignore
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-*.xml
-*.html
diff --git a/static/AutoModels/SW_GH1804.xml b/static/AutoModels/SW_GH1804.xml
index 0db4cd2..73f01c0 100644
--- a/static/AutoModels/SW_GH1804.xml
+++ b/static/AutoModels/SW_GH1804.xml
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@
Many of my friends having been solicitous Brothers, you will see, from what we have Brothers, you will see, from what we have This day travelled 31 miles, and lodged This day travelled 31 miles, and lodged A snow has been falling for some hours upon There is much in a journey over these moun- Travelled thirty miles upon the This day we travelled thirty six It may be remarked that the land in the This day's journey has been very disagreeable From the My dear Brothers, Quakers, listen to what Brothers, will you please to help me to fill Neighbors, will you please to give, if it is Neighbors, will you please to give, if it is This is all I have to say at present. Brother Quakers, I have a few more words Brothers, I want that you should all know Brothers, I want you to know I have got A considerable quantity of provisions were These Friends were informed by The sugar trees afford sugar in plenty to those Again proceeding on our journey, we passed It is worthy of remark, that near This day, in passing along, my mind has been This day we crossed in a boat the great This day we crossed in a boat the great Along the east shore of the river great de- This day being First-day, we rested This day we travelled thirty miles and We ferried the beautiful Rode thirty-two miles, and at night This town as well as the neighboring country, In the course of this day's journey we have On our way we turned aside from our road Proceeded upon our journey fifteen The bank which is cast up for the fortification The land through which we have passed to- These were not trees singled out as the only Rode seventeen miles, and reached the This day rode fifteen miles, and reached Our progress has been impeded for This day rode twenty-three miles, and Our attention was attracted to-day by the ap- Again proceeded upon our journey, and This day after riding fifteen miles, we During our detention here this afternoon, we This day rode fourteen miles, and on Rode twenty-two miles through a flat Very early this morning we again pro- This day we crossed the Pursued our path and travelled twenty- This will be handed you by After delivering this letter we proceeded to This morning the commanding officer, The grave of the This day is the first day of the The Being invited to dine to-day with About mid-day the Brothers and Friends.- You observe that Here a pause The Brothers and Friends: My friend, the Brothers: We know that you have come a Brothers: Your brethren the Indians do Brothers and Friends: When we left our Brothers and Friends: When we left our Here a short conversation took place between The Brothers, it would have been very desirable After this the Brothers: We hope the words that you After this we took each other by the hand In the evening we again had the company of
for the privilege of a perusal of
the minutes I
preserved in the course of my late visit to the
Western
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@
liquor, and, we believe, will request our
Father
to let the traders bring them liquor, and if he
does,
your Red Brethren are all lost forever.
-
though we hope the Great Spirit will
change the
minds of our people, and tell them it will be
better for them to cultivate the earth than to
drink whiskey.
letter, being solidly considered, the
Committee
are united in judgment, that visit to them at
this
time would be the most likely means of ob-
-
+
in, and enable Friends to ascertain what would
be the best course
to pursue to be useful to them.
The following Friends are therefore
nominated
to that service, and requested to proceed in the
@@ -238,7 +238,8 @@
proceeded on our journey; taking
with us
ciety, who has concluded to
accompany us, for
the purpose of residing with the Indians, in order
- to instruct them in agriculture; reached
27 miles. The weather cold, with some
snow.
Nothing remarkable occurred, except that, in
crossing a miry
glade, my horse fell and threw
me; neither of us received a hurt.
@@ -273,7 +274,7 @@
the
mountain, was full in view. From the top of
this commanding
eminence, we were the specta-
tors of a beautiful natural scene. A cloud,
small
in its appearance, passing nearly upon a level
with our
- elevation, cast its shadow upon the
in extent. The
precise shape of the cloud, with
all its indentations, was visible in the
shadow;
the indentations bearing the same enlarged pro-
portions, with
@@ -304,8 +305,9 @@
night's quarters.
ing indifferent entertainment.
the remains of a former snow ten
inches in
depth. Our journey to-day has been very en-
tertaining,
- notwithstanding the severity of the
on climbing up and descending precipices.
tains to puzzle, as well as
amuse, the naturalist.
Many extraordinary natural curiosities have
@@ -360,7 +362,7 @@
and
reindeer, with now and then a human being
clothed in skins and
furs, and with weather a
little colder, we might, perhaps, have been
led
to suppose ourselves in Lapland. A few settle-
ments are made in
- this tract, which are mostly
upon these mountains-several were seen by us.
We also
observed seats erected in the branches
of the trees by the hunters, twenty
feet in height,
being concealed stations for the purpose of shoot-
ing
@@ -368,7 +370,8 @@
pigeons in vast
numbers.
ghany
Mountains
Ordinary. We have
to-day passed through land
heavily timbered, tolerably level, and said to
@@ -388,7 +391,7 @@
Ridge, (from
its sharp elevation,) the
+ origin
that many years ago, a white man and a negro
who were hunting together,
accidentally fell in
with an Indian upon this ridge who was armed;
both the negro and the Indian betook them-
selves to trees, presented their
@@ -413,15 +416,16 @@
well
paid at
Packer, having under his direction half a dozen
loaded horses. These animals on meeting travel-
lers, do not turn aside from
- the beaten path. We
our way through the snow on their account.
miles, passed through the villages
and
house
- of our friend,
+ of our friend,
neighborhood of
the
a place called the
@@ -446,7 +450,7 @@
neighborhood of the
level and the timber
heavy, which indicates the
goodness of the soil. A considerable body
- of
of his death.
and cold, owing to a continued
fall of snow.
We greatly regretted that the clouds prevented
a view of
@@ -472,18 +476,18 @@
>Redstone.
rested at
as well as to
- ourselves. In the course of this
ing
the
- State of
tract of country called the
informed us that the Indian Chief,
+ ourselves. In the course of this
ing
the State of
tract of country called the
informed us that the Indian
+ Chief,
of the
hie
I now say to you. You
always called us Indians
your brothers, and now, dear white
brothers, I
am in distress, and all my young men who are
with
@@ -510,7 +515,7 @@
my kettles and my
horses' troughs, for I am afraid
my horses will not be able to
carry me home
again.
my horses are not able
to come after it
from
to say to you.
what distress I am in.
help from some of my near
@@ -542,7 +548,7 @@
furnished by the Friends to these
- Indians, for
hie
and man, making no difference for distinction
in rank.
@@ -569,7 +575,7 @@
does not afford
stone coal and sugar trees. The coal is, I think,
fully equal in quality to the best Liverpool coal,
and is generally used
for fuel in the place of
wood; it being much easier and cheaper to pro-
-
withstanding
+
withstanding
that article is in great plenty here.
who are sufficiently
industrious to make it. Many
families, we are told, make from five hundred
@@ -596,7 +602,8 @@
mouth of the
therefore,
no other alternative than to prosecute
a long and doubtless fatiguing
- journey by land.
This morning, whilst we were preparing to pro-
quarters, for
+ journey by land.
This morning, whilst we were preparing to pro-
quarters, for
the purpose of accompanying us;
one of them a blacksmith, and a member of
our
Society, the other a carpenter, and a steady young
man. They are
under the pay of government,
and have engaged to reside in the
@@ -607,12 +614,13 @@
through
hela River
rode about twenty-six miles to
inland town. Our ride to-day has been through
a very hilly country,
- tolerably rich, though badly
watered. It is said that one of the first
- survey-
ors of this tract of country, when questioned re-
specting its
- general appearance, replied,
like a large
- meadow filled with stacks of hay.
A comparison very apropos.
rode about twenty-six miles to
inland town. Our ride to-day has been
+ through
a very hilly country, tolerably rich, though badly
watered. It
+ is said that one of the first survey-
ors of this tract of country, when
+ questioned re-
specting its general appearance, replied,
like a large meadow filled with stacks of
+ hay.
A comparison very apropos.
on the
fortification,
@@ -620,7 +628,7 @@
within the
intrenchment; and nearly opposite to the forti-
fication are
two fish pots extending quite across
the river; they are made of stone,
weighing gene-
rally from thirty to forty pounds. It is said that
the
- Indians who resided near the spot at the time
a traditional knowledge of the making of
these
fish pots, nor of the erection of the fortification.
involved in much serious
@@ -648,7 +656,8 @@
twenty-five to
thirty feet in diameter. These flat appearances
extend
quite around the circumference of the
hills, and seem to vie with art for
regularity.
+
of awe. The slow and majestic movement of so
vast a body of running water,
added to the re-
collection of the blood which had been spilt re-
lative
to its shores, enforced the sensation. With
what obstinacy the poor Indians
@@ -669,7 +678,7 @@
by art to the height
of eight feet.
struction was made a few years
ago by a species
of caterpillar which infested the trees. They
fed
- upon the leaves, and thus killed trees of
miles along the river, and reached about seven
or eight miles from the shore.
ourselves and horses, and were glad to
have an
opportunity of attending a meeting of Friends,
called
ing is lately established here by
-
terly Meeting
this
- meeting, and most of them were new settlers.
The greater number had moved
- from
Carolina
or cabin, situated upon a beautiful hill, covered
- with lofty timber. The difficulties and incon-
veniences of a new
- settlement, are rendered the
more easy and tolerable, where, as in the
- instance
of these Friends, a number of families, by agree-
ment, form a
- settlement in the same neighbor-
hood. In the afternoon several of them
- visited
us at our lodgings, and expressed sympathy with
us in our
- undertaking.
ing is lately
+ established here by
terly
+ Meeting
this meeting, and most
+ of them were new settlers.
The greater number had moved from
Carolina
or cabin, situated upon a beautiful hill, covered
with lofty
+ timber. The difficulties and incon-
veniences of a new settlement, are
+ rendered the
more easy and tolerable, where, as in the instance
of
+ these Friends, a number of families, by agree-
ment, form a settlement in
+ the same neighbor-
hood. In the afternoon several of them visited
us at
+ our lodgings, and expressed sympathy with
us in our undertaking.
are yet but few settlements made
on this tract.
The first settlers in this new country erect small
log
cabins, which they cover with split timber
called puncheons; these they pin
- to the rafters
in any part of the house. Their floors are hewn
out of the
timber, and pinned to the sleepers
with wooden pins. They clear their land
by
killing the timber, which is done by girdling the
trees, that is by
@@ -725,7 +732,7 @@
considerable bodies of excellent land, parti-
cularly of bottoms. Some of
them were of far
greater extent than any we have heretofore met
with,
being heavily timbered and very rich.
Scarcely a settlement has yet been
- made in this
marked, that in riding the last fifty miles, we
have scarcely seen
one of any of the descriptions
of the feathered tribes, except owls. Birds
love
to resort to the haunts of men.
@@ -755,14 +762,15 @@
>Muskingum, our road
led us upon a hill of about 200 feet
elevation,
upon which we rode for a distance of seven
miles; both upon
our right and left hand, were
chains of hills about ten miles from us,
- in
+ in
that upon which we travelled. The appearance
of these hills revived the
recollection of the
mounds or burial places were to-day
observed
by us.
lodged at a small hut called
Trimble's.
@@ -777,7 +785,8 @@
wheat field.
were permitted to lodge under a roof
called
Gray's. We passed through
town lately laid out, and situated on the
@@ -786,7 +795,7 @@
may jump from one of its banks to the
other at
is being rapidly settled by
- Germans. During
country, as well as the superior excellency of the
land, excited
our admiration. Now and then a
prairie or natural meadow containing from
fifty
to two hundred acres, apparently a perfect level,
having neither
@@ -808,7 +817,7 @@
wheat
per acre. They plant corn at the distance of
two and a half to
three feet apart, having six to
eight stalks in a hill.
seen deer and turkeys in
- abundance, and for
pigeons.
the
to view an ancient fortification.
- This fortifica-
and is shaped
thus.
vicinity, and within the town of
is another
fortification of which the diameter is
about 450 feet. Near this is the
- largest mound
thirty feet in height, and is a globular figure of
great
regularity. Three miles below the town
of
miles and lodged at Platter's tavern. On
- our
way we passed many mounds. Several of them
way we passed many mounds. Several of them
in the town of
also arrested by the
appearance of a bank thrown
up at some distance from the road; on riding
@@ -904,7 +914,7 @@
-
is now fully four feet in
height, and thirty-three
in width, at the base covered with lofty
@@ -928,7 +938,7 @@
considerable depth. These are no doubt places
out of which the earth was in
part taken for
making this work of labor.
day, is a continuation of a
- country, very level
the soil, the same in appearance
as that de-
scribed yesterday, nothing seeming to indicate
its superior
richness, unless it be the size of its
timber. The heaviest and most
@@ -943,19 +953,20 @@
ten feet in
diameter; one of the sycamores we measured
which was eight
feet in diameter, continued its
thickness forty-five feet without a limb,
its top
very branching and large. While we were admir-
ing it,
-
+
that this tree, could it be split into cord-wood
after the common manner,
would measure forty
cords. At first we questioned the statement,
but
upon making a calculation, became con-
vinced that his estimate was within
bounds.
monuments; we turned not aside
to search for
them, but measured such as fell under our own
observation
- in passing over our road. It is more
tract larger than any we saw. Few settlements
are yet made here.
residence of our friend
many hunting camps but no Indians. Several
families
of Friends have settled in this remote
quarter of the Western Territory.
- They have
expect to be followed by others. They tell us
that an indulged
meeting is held in one of their
houses.
Constitution. We are told that
on account of
this avowal, they met with the most pointed and
zealous
opposition; the people declaring gene-
rally, that one of the inducements
- which led
them to emigrate to the State, was the Constitu-
and that any
+ which led
them to emigrate to the State, was the Constitu-
and that any
alteration therein would be an in-
supportable grievance.
waters of the
several days past, two of our horses
belonging
to our company having faltered. This day we
concluded to
rest them by continuing at the
house of
dustry.
lodged at
rain. We crossed the
ridge which divides the
waters of the
pearance of the stone, not only
- in the beds of
and in the valleys. They are limestone, and are
composed
altogether of marine shells. The stone
when broken discovers the size and
shape of the
shells very perfectly.
after riding eight miles reached
we lodged. This town is
- newly laid out, situ-
posite to the junction of
river
reached
pointed in finding
no feed for our horses. We
also received the information that there was
- no
probability of our obtaining provision for them
probability of our obtaining provision for them
a
part of our company to a house we had passed
about four miles, in quest of
corn. They obtained
four bushels, and hired a man and horse to travel
@@ -1147,7 +1162,7 @@
my horse in
fording the
very wet.
observed a flock of birds
- alighting from the trees,
Our landlord informed us they were parrots, and
that they
were common upon the
and to
gratify our curiosity he shot one. It was
about the size of a dove, and its
@@ -1173,9 +1188,10 @@
our feet to the
fire; we have in no instance taken cold.
our way passed a larger prairie than
the one we
saw yesterday, which is called the Upper
Plains
@@ -1201,7 +1217,7 @@
from day to
day many curious, and to us unitelligible In-
dian
hieroglyphics cut upon the trees. We have
also been entertained in
examining these figures,
sometimes cut, at other times painted on the
-
elks,
+
elks,
the horns of the elk, the figures of buffaloes,
bears, wolves, deer,
raccoons, and various other
wild beasts, and birds of different species;
turtles
and reptile creatures; also the representation of
men, women
@@ -1213,7 +1229,8 @@
one unchaste representation.
country, heavily timbered; at night we
encamped
in the woods, made a large fire, fared sumptu-
ously upon wild
pigeons, wrapped ourselves in
our blankets and slept soundly. Our
@@ -1225,7 +1242,7 @@
not yet seen a
bear, though they are very plenty throughout
the region
we have passed over. This is owing
to a remarkable fact in the history of
this crea-
ture. They betake themselves to dens in the
holes of trees,
- at an early period of the winter,
During this
interval they never leave their holes,
and as they lay up no store for the
winter sup-
ply, it is certain they live without eating. The
Indians
@@ -1248,7 +1265,7 @@
at a short dis-
tance from us, a whooping in the woods. We
had reason
to believe from the shrill and uncom-
mon whoop, that it was the voice of an
Indian,
and having understood that it was a custom
among them when
- about to approach a camp, to
the ceremony also by a whoop. In a few mo-
ments two
Indian men upon a horse, followed by
two women and a girl upon another
horse, rode
up to our camp. Their countenances were smil-
ing and
@@ -1266,7 +1283,8 @@
us for some minutes they
left us.
ceeded, and this day rode thirty miles,
a laborious,
fatiguing journey to ourselves and horses. Our
path
leading through a flat country we find the
travelling miry and deep. Our
@@ -1275,7 +1293,7 @@
For several
nights past we have turned them loose to graze.
These poor
creatures feed around our camps and
appear afraid to leave us.
+ its
said to be a very deep river. An old Indian
and his squaw reside here, and
he undertook to
ferry us across in a canoe. Our horses swam
the river,
and got over well. The old Indian,
whose name is
way to
too much whisky.
canoe with him when he
+ key="pdenn1">Philip Dennis was in the
canoe with him when he
accidentely fell over-
board; we were greatly alarmed for his safety,
knowing that he was intoxicated, but after dis-
appearing for a few seconds,
he rose to the sur-
face of the water, and soon convinced us that he
- could swim.
and got him again into the boat. The old man
laughed very
heartily at the accident, saying to
us in broken English,
in de canoe yet.
the white people pay dollar, I make dem packers
pay me de
rest. In
several Indians who were asleep. He says they
are Indians who
- have come a great distance and
we have rode through a heavy rain. The rain
continuing with the approach of night, we made
a large fire, and erected a
shelter in imitation of
the Indian hunting camps, covering it with our
@@ -1316,7 +1334,7 @@
where wild fowl raise their young.
three miles through a very fertile,
heavily tim-
bered and beautiful country, being a little more
inclined
to hills. The ride to-day has been a
pleasing one, in part doubtless from
@@ -1327,7 +1345,7 @@
were saluted by a sentinel with the word
We obeyed the command. A sergeant was de-
spatched from
the commanding officer, who en-
quired of us on his behalf,
sired him to
inform the commandant that we
were strangers, and that we had an
introductory
letter directed to him which would explain our
@@ -1338,8 +1356,9 @@
the
following letter from the Secretary of War.
Messrs.
T. Hopkins
the house of a Canadian trader,
who we had pre-
viously been informed would furnish us with
@@ -1398,11 +1417,11 @@
the invi-
tation.
accompanied by
Wells
to the
- Secretary of War, waited upon us. They
invited us with marks of earnestness, each
one,
to make his house our home. We thanked them
for their kindness,
and accepted the invitation
of the Factor,
fully the fort. This fortification
which was
built by
and is situated opposite to the junction of
- the
the place from which those
waters take the name
of the Miami of the Lake,*
Turtle
the
died very suddenly on his return from that jour-
ney. His death was
greatly lamented by the
Indians, and for a long time after his burial
@@ -1464,7 +1483,8 @@
value being not less than three hundred dollars.
week, and the inhabitants of
to pay no respect to it. The
soldiers are on
duty, and the Canadians who are settled here
are
@@ -1483,7 +1503,7 @@
language, he said to him pointing
to me,
didly replied to our inquiry after his health as
follows:
dians, we went to his
house accordingly, having
the company of our very worthy and kind
land-
lord.
-
yond description;
+
yond description;
took us by the hand with cor-
diality, and expressed himself in terms of
great
gladness at meeting with us. He inquired very
particularly after
his friends and acquaintance of
not find
his horse in time. After this, other
conversation took place of a general
nature. The
interpreter informs us that his complaint is the
-
interpreter)
+
interpreter)
had told him that his complaint be-
longed to great folks and gentlemen.
said the
- gentlemen.
the
+ gentlemen.*
the
a gentleman in character, appearance, and
manners.
His estimate of himself therefore was not too high.
For
@@ -1564,7 +1586,7 @@
that a formal conference should
then take place between us. This
proposition
meeting their assent, we opened the conference
by desiring
the interpreter to inform them that
we had received their talk sent to us
- last fall,
+ last fall,
which we had sent to them last year, had come
to them safely, and that we
had carefully ob-
served all that was contained in that talk. That
we
were deputed by their brothers and friends of
and
that you will receive
them, or any of them that
may be enabled to perform the journey as
your
brothers, in whom we have confidence, and that
you will
@@ -1632,14 +1654,15 @@
a pause of several
minutes we addressed them through an interpre-
ter
as follows:
the letter which has just
been read, makes men-
tion of four of us appointed to visit you.
One
of these was an infirm man who thought he
could not endure
the fatigue of so long a jour-
ney, and therefore did not come. The
other
did not omit to come for the want of love to his
red
brethren; family circumstances rendered it
inconvenient for him to
- leave home. You see,
that two of us mentioned in the letter, should
reach the country of our red brethren. Brothers,
we thought it
right in the first place to send for
you, and to show you the
@@ -1666,7 +1689,7 @@
at present.
Turtle
say.
as
follows:-
tle
Turtle
sons, who
are present, rejoice to have this oppor-
tunity of seeing you, and
@@ -1694,7 +1718,7 @@
long distance to see the
situation of your red
brethren. We have no doubt that you have
things to say which are of great importance to
-
to many.
to many.
business not as the white
people do. We con-
vene our chiefs, and things of importance
are
considered by them. But, brothers, you have
come to see
@@ -1719,13 +1743,14 @@
add. And being
answered in the negative, we addressed them
again in
substance as follows:
expected that we should ge to the
country of
our red brethren at a time when their young
men,
their women and children would be busy.
But brothers, a part of the
service*
turist,
turist,
Indians in time to
plant corn. T.
sign to render to you,
required that we should
come early, and makes it also necessary
@@ -1746,14 +1771,15 @@
could easily convene a considerable number of
their indolent people, who
were too lazy to hunt
or make sugar, but such they did not wish us to
see. Their industrious young men and women
-
short a time.
short a time.
the chiefs, and afterwards they
proposed seven
day's hence as the time; desiring that to-morrow
might
not be counted, as it would take them a
day to return home. To this we
consented.
to us if you could have
met us at the time of our
counsel. We have very often told our
people
of the Quakers. They listen to us, but are at a
loss to
@@ -1764,7 +1790,8 @@
may say to us at the time we
have appointed to
meet will be upon paper. From that paper we
can at some future time have your words de-
livered to our people.
@@ -1777,7 +1804,7 @@
look for-
ward to the day appointed.
and very cordially bade farewell.
We then re-
turned to our lodgings.
the chiefs, they having been
invited by our
landlord to take supper with us.
We also observed large numbers of Indian graves.
These
are now discernible only by the sunken
cavities in the surface of the
earth. In the
course of our route we have seen many Indian
graves of
- more recent date. They bury their
earth; and over the grave they either place a
heap
of stones or a pen of logs. If the de-
ceased has been a person of
distinction, they
plant posts at the head and foot which they
@@ -1819,7 +1846,8 @@
Spent the day with
Wells
river
the Indians under the command of the
@@ -1831,7 +1859,7 @@
scalping knife. Many of them
had fallen on the east bank of the river,
and
also within the river. The Indians being sta-
tioned behind trees
on the west side shot them
in their attempt to get across.
We were shown the tree behind which the
We were shown the tree behind which the
it behind which
second defeat, the United States troops having
been routed the
@@ -1862,7 +1890,7 @@
Visited
him
up the
our
way we passed several sugar camps, at which
were Indian women and children
- who were em-
+ who were em-
and covered with the bark of the Buck Eye
wood. Their troughs for catching
the sugar
water as it is called, are made of the bark of the
red elm,
they are made thin, and the ends tied
together. We were shown the places
@@ -1886,7 +1914,7 @@
attack
upon
his men, and put his whole army to flight.
- killed in the battle, and that about twenty died
the following anecdote:
A considerable altercation arose amongst the
Indians on the review ground,
relative to a
Commander-in-Chief. Some were in favor of
@@ -1915,7 +1943,7 @@
to
the
-
able for the Indian trade are also
transported
back again by the same route.
After spending some time in viewing the re-
mains of several old Indian
@@ -1946,8 +1974,9 @@
next
morning.
At 10 o'clock this morning we At 10 o'clock this morning we We took our seats on the opposite side of the Being all thus seated- I speak literally, when This proposal was deemed proper, and the After a short pause, we addressed them as Brothers and Friends: We know that the
observed, is
interpreter for the Indians. We
were accompanied by our friend
circular order, seat after seat,- and lastly, the
women,-
who occupied seats separate from the
men, being placed near the centre of
the room.
house and in front of the
Indians.
I say my heart palpitated- I
@@ -1997,13 +2026,14 @@
letter was accordingly read.
follows:
most of our Red Brethren are,
at present, at
their hunting and sugar camps, and did not
ex-
pect to see a large number at so short a notice.
We have,
therefore, agreeably to your request,
put upon paper the things we
have to say, and
hope you will not fail to have them communi-
-
more
+
more
generally assembled.
between us and the Indians, interpreted our
com-
munication:
Brothers: Our hearts are filled with thank-
fulness to the Great
Spirit, that He has
brought us safely to the country of our
Red
Brethren, and protected us through the journey.
We also
@@ -2048,7 +2079,7 @@
of
opportunity
of becoming acquainted with the
some other chiefs. They were glad of that op-
portunity of
having a talk with them, and of
enquiring after the situation of
their Red
Brethren.
Brothers: In coming into the country of our
Red Brethren, we have
come with our eyes open.
And although we are affected with sorrow,
- in
believing that many of the Red Brethren suffer
believing that many of the Red Brethren suffer
clothing, yet our
hearts have been made glad, in
seeing that it has pleased the Great
Spirit to
give you a rich and valuable country. Because
we
@@ -2112,7 +2143,7 @@
yourselves, your
women and children, where you may be
shelter-
ed from the rain, from the frost, and from the
snow,
and where you may enjoy in plenty the
rewards of your labors.
Brothers: In laying these things before
you, we have no other motive
than a desire of
heart for the improvement, the benefit and
the
welfare of our Red Brethren- and therefore it
is that we
@@ -2136,7 +2167,7 @@
time was when our fore-
fathers rejoiced at finding a wild plumb
tree, or
at killing a little game, and that they wandered
up
and down, living on the uncertain supplies
of fishing and hunting.
- But, brothers, for your
ing their attention to the cultivation of the
earth, instead of the plumb tree, they soon had
orchards of many
kinds of good fruits- instead
of wild game, they soon had large
@@ -2156,11 +2187,11 @@
Brothers, we have spoken plainly; we de-
sire to speak plainly. We
will now tell you
that we have not come merely to talk to you.
We have come prepared to render you a little
assistance. Our
- beloved brother,
+ beloved brother,
who is now present, has come along with us.
His desire is to
cultivate for you a field of corn;
also, to show you how to raise
some of the other
productions of the earth. He knows how to
- use
ments of husbandry.
Brothers, we here ask you, are you still de-
sirous to be instructed
by us, in the cultivation
of your lands? If you say you are, our
@@ -2182,7 +2213,7 @@
are sure,
brothers, that as you take hold of such tools as
are
in the hands of the white people, you will
find them to be to you
like having additional
hands. You will also find that by using
- them,
without them, cannot be performed.
Brothers, there is one thing more which we
wish to add. The white
people, in order to get
their land cultivated, find it necessary
@@ -2205,19 +2236,20 @@
weave, that your lives
would be easier and happier than at
present,
and that your numbers will increase, and not
continue
to diminish. As we observed,
brothers, your land is good. It is far
- better
than the land the white people near the great
land will produce
+ better
than the land the white people near the great
land will produce
double the quantity of any
kind of grain, or of flax, or of hemp,
with the
same labor necessary near the great water.
Brothers and Friends: We shall now end
what we have to say, with
informing you that
all the corn, and other productions of the
- earth,
which
which
red brethren to accept of, as a token of
our
friendship. And it is our desire that the chiefs
of
are now present, added to our
brothers, the
Medals
such a distribution
+
such a distribution
thereof as they may think
proper. *
pause took place, during which we
informed
them that we had no more to add at present,
but wished them
to speak freely. After which
a conversation, occupying several minutes
- took
place between the chiefs, and some of their
place between the chiefs, and some of their
guage was to us unintelligible. They
then rose
upon their feet, and shook hands with us with
great
solemnity, and returned to their
seats.
In a few moments the
delivered the following speech, which one of us*
writer. T.
wrote in short hand, from the mouth of the
- In-
terpreter.
Brothers, it appears to me to be necessary
that I should give you an
immediate answer, as
you are about to return to your families
from
whence you came.
Brothers, we take you now by the hand, and
through you we take the
people who sent you
here by the hand, and assure you we are
@@ -2281,7 +2314,7 @@
brother chiefs, have been en-
deavoring to turn the minds of our
people to-
wards the cultivation of the earth, but I am
sorry
to say we have not yet been able to effect
any thing.
Brothers, there are so few of our chiefs now
present, it would not
be proper for us to under-
take to give a pointed answer to your
talk. We
expect that in a few moons there will be many
of our
@@ -2305,7 +2338,7 @@
been
very particular in pointing out to us what will
be for
our good. You have also been very par-
ticular in pointing out to us
the duties of our
women, and you have told us that in adopting
-
and
+
and
not diminish. In all this I perfectly agree
with you. And I hope
the other chiefs will
also agree with you.
Brothers, we are pleased to hear you say
you are going to leave one
@@ -2321,13 +2354,14 @@
Brothers, assure your people who sent you
here, tell your old chiefs
that we are obliged to
them for their friendly offers to assist us
in
changing our present mode of living; tell them
that it is a
- work which cannot be done immediate-
it will take place gradually.
Here the speaker sat down for a short time,
and then rose again, saying,
Brothers, my heart is so overjoyed and
warmed with what you have
said, that I find I
had forgot to mention one of the most
important
things.
They then informed us that they would con-
sult and fix upon some one to go
with us. The
business of the council being then at an end, we
in turn
rose from our seats, and shook hands
with them, which concluded the
- formalities of
the opportunity. After entering into a little
them farewell, as we
+ formalities of
the opportunity. After entering into a little
them farewell, as we
expected we should not see
them again. They then took us separately by
the hand, and with marks of great affection and
friendship bade us
farewell, and we returned to
our quarters.
Being a fine pleasant morn-
ing we set out for the place on the
signed by the Indians to
were accompanied by
were accompanied by
sanonga, (or Clear Sky,)
of
the
pilot
us, who (by the bye) says he shall be the
first young man to take hold of
-
plough.
After riding eight miles, we came to the place
called the
water of the
ceeded six miles along the margin of the
river
to its junction with the
The bed of the
- After riding five miles further, we came to a
face of which is covered with small flint
stones,
and which we are told extends for several miles.
On examining
these flints, we found them of
excellent quality.
As night approached,
knife, left us, and in about fifteen minutes re-
turned with a
remarkably fine turkey. This he
prepared and roasted for us in a very nice
@@ -2453,8 +2490,8 @@
Early this morning we arose, and
breakfasted on the remains of the turkey
- cooked
last evening, after which we fixed upon the place
last evening, after which we fixed upon the place
situation for his wigwam, which is about one
hundred feet from the
banks of the
opposite to a
fine spring of excellent water issuing
out of the bank of the river.
There are no Indians between this and I may here observe that the About 8 o'clock in the morning we set out
Wayne
away
away.
at the
tant. Whilst here we have seen four peroques
loaded with peltry,
@@ -2480,7 +2517,7 @@
an abundance of large turtles, called soft shelled
turtles, the outer coat
being a hard skin, rather
than a shell. They are esteemed excellent
- food.
It affords a great variety of fine fish, and
It affords a great variety of fine fish, and
sorted to by geese and swans.
for
in the afternoon,
@@ -2501,14 +2538,15 @@
day in making preparations, and in
writing to our families.
This morning we bade both a joyful
and sorrowful farewell to
the two young men who
+ key="pdenn1">Philip Dennis, and
the two young men who
accompanied us out.
We also took leave of those generally with whom
we
had formed an acquaintance, first breakfast-
ing with
ness to us has been so
often repeated, that his
name will deservedly claim a place in our
- re-
membrance. He has fitted out a perogue for us
membrance. He has fitted out a perogue for us
soldier from the fort; and, joined by
son
apparent
@@ -2536,7 +2574,7 @@
key="jjohn2">John Johnson,
Wells
the conversation turned upon fish, and the
- then
very humorously proposed to
which was to join in
building a stone dam at the
junction of the two rivers, to prevent the
@@ -2559,7 +2597,7 @@
child was lashed by cloth bandages,
and so tight that it could not move
hand or foot.
The board was placed against a tree, almost
per-
pendicularly, and the infant asleep- of course in
a standing
- position. The child was painted very
and ornaments of the same metal in its
ears.
The Indians are very fond of their children, and
put about them
very costly silver ornaments.
Proceeded very pleasantly
down the river about fifty miles, and at
night
encamped under our tent. In the evening a
severe thunder gust
came on, with heavy rain,
which continued for several hours after
@@ -2583,11 +2622,12 @@
dread response.
Proceeded about thirty-five miles, and at
night encamped under our tent. We
have been
entertained to-day with a diversified scene. The
river
covered with wild fowl, fish jumping up
around us, and turkies flying.
We stopped a short time to view the remains
of
ral Wayne
@@ -2611,7 +2651,7 @@
with
the traders for goods. Most of the wigwams we
have seen to-day
are covered with rushes sewed
together, which are procured from the shores of
will turn any fall of rain. An Indian house is
will turn any fall of rain. An Indian house is
and a horizontal piece
from one fork to the
other. Upon this piece rest long pieces of bark,
with the other end upon the earth at a conveni-
ent distance, thus
@@ -2625,7 +2665,8 @@
>Simon Girty.
Proceeded about thirty-three miles. In
the earlier part of the day we passed
several
creeks and small streams, and at length reached
what is called
the head of the
here
@@ -2639,7 +2680,7 @@
generally elevated but a few feet above the
surface of the water. It is
needless to say that
we went swiftly down, when I add, that it is a
trip occupying but one hour and a half.
The bed of the river is a solid limestone rock,
The bed of the river is a solid limestone rock,
the
house of a Canadian trader, who treated us
with great respect, and, though
a tavern-keeper,
would receive no pay from us for our supper,
@@ -2664,7 +2705,7 @@
feet in height above the
surface of the water, and the same in
diameter.
The top has the regular appearance of the roof
of a house,
and the body of the rock is circular.
Its appearance is additionally
- handsome from
covered with cedar.
Fish are now passing up the
numbers from the lakes, in so much that the water
smells
@@ -2675,7 +2716,8 @@
are a fish from three to five feet in
length.
This morning we proceeded with diffi- Many Indian villages and wigwams are seated
culty ten miles; owing to high winds,
and a rain
coming on, prudence seemed to dictate that we
should put
into a harbor, which we did at the
mouth of
on both shores of the river, and
many Canadian
traders are to be found residing amongst them.
They have
generally intermarried with the In-
dians, and adopted their manners. Some
- of the
of
+ of the
of
small round logs, and are roofed with bark.
Near the mouth of
valley of which we
took a particular view. Here
the Indians placed their wives and children
@@ -2706,7 +2748,8 @@
in
great abundance.
This morning notwithstanding the very
unfavorable appearance of the weather,
it being
rainy and wind high, we again proceeded.
At the end of three
miles we reached the mouth
of the river, where we entered a beautiful
@@ -2718,7 +2761,7 @@
point of land, between
order to enter the lake, but the situation being
bleak and the wind
- high, occasioned a heavy
most advisable, however reluctantly, to put to
shore and
encamp.
The shore of that part of the bay which we
have passed, as also of the lake
@@ -2727,7 +2770,8 @@
numbers of wild
fowl.
The last night has been very stormy and
rainy. Our tent, though a good, one
did not
shelter us altogether from the rain. The high
swells in the
course of the night, breaking over
our peroque, filled and sunk her, which
@@ -2748,7 +2792,7 @@
unsuccessful attempt to get
round the
a harbor and wait
for a calm. Shortly after we
had put into harbor a fish approached the
- shore
of
+ shore
of
our men advanced toward it very cautiously,
and with an oar, gave it a blow
upon the tail,
which so disabled it that he caught it. We
found it to
be a muscanonje, measuring four feet
two inches in length and
@@ -2769,7 +2813,7 @@
which will carry several per-
sons across their rivers. We have also seen
many
of their rafts. These are made for crossing
rivers at those
seasons of the year when it is not
easy to strip the bark from the trees.
- In all the
river bottoms the buckeye wood is to be found.
river bottoms the buckeye wood is to be found.
of its lightness when dried,
it being a wood nearly
as light as cork. The Indians tie together
small
logs of the buckeye wood, to form a square of
about five or six
@@ -2791,7 +2835,8 @@
did not ex-
ceed two feet, occasioned us to be so greatly de-
ceived in
the distance. On arriving we found
that, instead of a village, it was a
settlement of
French farmers situated along the
and presenting a very beautiful scene. The
in
+ Raisin,
and presenting a very beautiful scene. The
in
parallelograms. The buildings are good, and
the gardens and orchards
handsome. We un-
derstand that about two miles higher up the river
there is another settlement composed of about
forty families, and upon
@@ -2811,13 +2856,14 @@
to
retrace our steps to the boat.
A strong west wind, attended with heavy
rain last night and this day, have
prevented our
men from getting to us. It is a fact well-known
here,
that northwest and west winds are as certain
to produce cloudy weather as
easterly winds with
us. This is doubtless owing to the humidity of
the
vast western lakes. The same winds are
severely cold in winter, no doubt
- from the im-
lakes.
The white settlements, on both the American This will be handed you by
and British shores of the
together, that
the farms resemble villages.
Nearly opposite
ture and other improvements essential to the
happiness
of the red people. They are men of
science, information and
- property, and are en-
men. You will please to afford them every
aid,
and should they wish to cross the lake from
troit
This morning
Jewett
we accompanied him to the garrison, and
were introduced to the commanding officer,
@@ -2942,7 +2990,7 @@
Ernest, also dined with us.
This day we dined with
compliance with an invitation which he gave us
yesterday. He treated us
@@ -2969,14 +3017,14 @@
from
a plain representation of the devil, come to take
him off.
and (said the
This day we dined with
factor of the United States in the Indian Depart-
ment. At his table we met
our friend
Jewett
Henry
Henry
The pear trees also are very large and hand-
some; but their cherry and peach
trees do not
thrive well, the climate being too cold for them.
We this day dined with
Wilkinson
the State of
eating and drinking as the
@@ -3031,9 +3080,10 @@
This morning, wind and weather appear-
ing to permit, we were informed that
at 9 o'clock
the vessel would sail. We accordingly bade
farewell to our
- acquaintance, and went on board
the United States brig called the John Adams,
commanded by
commanded by
o'clock sail was hoisted, and
- we proceeded to
ing
on, and the wind being
unfavorable, we
anchored near the British shore, and opposite to
the
town of
This morning at 6 o'clock we again
hoisted sail; wind and weather clear and
pleasant.
We are now, 9 o'clock at night, under sail.
About 10 o'clock last night, a light favor-
able breeze sprung up, which
encouraged us to
proceed. The vessel has been all night and du-
ring
the day under sail. At 8 o'clock in the
evening we dropped anchor, within
@@ -3101,7 +3153,7 @@
It is a pleasing reflection, that we are so near
to the end of our passage
over the lake; and we
are gladdened with the hope, that we shall
shortly
prosecute the remainder of our journey over
terra firma, where
- we shall not be subject to
from the dangers of storms.
very beautiful body of water, 300 miles in
length and generally from 50 to 60 in width.
Much of the distance we have
@@ -3128,7 +3180,7 @@
Granger, an agent of the United States,
in the Indian
Department. We had conversa-
tion with him at considerable length on
Indian
affairs. He tells us that many individuals
amongst the Indians
- of his district, (who are of
agriculture.
About mid-day we returned in a small boat to
our vessel. After dining on
board, we went on
shore at
We reached a Canadian town called
to breakfast, after which we walked to the
which every step seemed to increase curiosity
and surprise.
Our attention was soon arrested
by a cloud which hangs perpetually over the
our second stand was almost as baseless. We
however supposed that the danger was not equal
to our apprehensions, as the
names of great num-
bers of visitors were cut in these rocks, near
- their
ticular description of the
has been done by persons who have visited
them,
for the especial purpose of gratifying the curious.
After we had
@@ -3210,7 +3262,7 @@
is of
a superior quality. We saw amongst them
Jacket
tinguished Chiefs. Many of
- these Indians wor-
strings, several descriptions of Lake shells. Here
we met
with
The
lina
- then
them a small tract of country, which they now
think wants
enlarging. It is a fact, that the
United States to the
@@ -3232,7 +3284,8 @@
money.
This morning we set out from
in a
farm wagon drawn by two horses, and tra-
velled 32 miles through a rough and
inferior
country.
Proceeded 23 miles and reached
via
had a muddy, disagreeable road,
through a coun-
try too flat to be desirable. The land is pretty
rich,
- and very heavily timbered. We have been
crossed a handsome stream called the
tae
tance above us 120 rattle snakes lay dead. These
snakes
@@ -3273,7 +3326,8 @@
gen-
erally tolerable, but stony. We to-day also saw
the same
appearances of marine shells as yesterday.
About mid-day we reached the
town of
daigua
20 miles in length, and from one to two
Ontario
astonishingly handsome for a new country, par-
ticularly through a
settlement called
At
@@ -3311,7 +3365,7 @@
This morning we again proceeded, and
at night lodged at a small village
called
town
river.
The Bottoms along this river are called the
They were settled
@@ -3338,7 +3392,7 @@
to the
end of those high chains of hills mention-
ed yesterday, where the country
made quite a
level appearance; so that we were puzzled to
conjecture
- what became of the earth which had
seem to declare once washed their summits. I
may add, in humble confession, that in the course
of our long journey, I
have had frequent occasions
to acknowledge, in a view of those
@@ -3357,7 +3411,7 @@
Having concluded to go by water from
we set sail, and at six o'clock in the evening
of
the
hundred and sixty miles.
We were absent on this visit three months
and four days, and travelled about
two thousand
miles.
Whilst engaged in taking a copy of the pre-
ceding journal, I have been
induced to examine
the manuscripts left by the late
cerning the Indians, as they were in former
years; and had
therefore prepared a preface to
this work, compiled from the writings of
-
son
son
lowing is taken:
When the first effectual settlement was
made in
the country from the sea
coast to the mountains,
and from the
three different stocks, each of which
multiplying
in a long course of time, had separated into so
- many little societies. This practice results from
themselves to any
laws, any coercive power, or
any shadow of government. Their only
con-straintstrasts are their
@@ -3458,13 +3513,13 @@
racy south of
the
8000 square miles, 30 tribes, and 2400 hundred
warriors.
60
+ key="csmith">Captain Smith tells us that within
60
miles of
whom 1500 were warriors. From this we find
the proportion
of their warriors to their whole
inhabitants was as 3 to 10.
The
confederacy then would
cosist of about 8,000
inhabitants, which was one for every
- square
present population in the same territory, and the
hundreth
of that of the British Islands. The
numbers of some of them are
stated as they
were in the year
westward of all these tribes, beyond the
moun-
tains, and extending to the great lakes on the
nahoacs
of the tribes known at present by the name
of the
probably connected
with the
-
languages were so different that the interven-
tion
of interpreters was necessary between them,
yet we also learn that
the
merly
inhabiting the
original stock with the
original stock with the
they partook also of the
Their dialects
might, by long separation, have
become so unlike as to be
unintelligible to each
other. We know, that in
tions
tions
racy, and made them the
nations of Indians in North America,
lived in
the hunter's state, and depended for subsistence
on
hunting, fishing, and the spontaneous fruits
of the earth, and a
kind of grain, which was
planted and gathered by the women, and is
- now
known by the name of Indian corn. Long po-
were also found
+ now
known by the name of Indian corn. Long po-
were also found
in use among them. They had
no flocks, herds, or tamed animals of
any kind.
Their government a kind of patriarchal confede-
racy.
Every town or family has a chief, who is
distinguished by a
@@ -3546,7 +3602,7 @@
every town, there is a council house, where
the chiefs and men of
the town assemble when
occasion requires, and consult what is
proper to
be done. Every tribe has a fixed place for the
chief
- of the towns to meet and consult on the
there is what they call the central
council house,
or council fire, where the chiefs of the
several
tribes, with the principal warriors, convene to
@@ -3577,7 +3633,7 @@
nations
of Indians distinguish their countries one from
another, by natural boundaries, such as ranges
of mountains or
streams of water. But as the
heads of rivers frequently interlock
- or approach
claim the country watered by it, they often
en-
croached on each other, and this was a constant
source of
war between the different nations.
After this defeat, so unlooked for by the
United States,
tached to the
country which had been his birth-
place, and in common with all his
brethren
considered it belonged to the Indians by right
of possession
- from the Great Spirit, who, they
moon and stars, had placed the red man on this
continent, and bestowed it upon him and his
children. He knew also, that
the whole region
around was made dear to them by every cher-
ished
@@ -3825,8 +3883,8 @@
civil-
ized life; and as the supply of wild animals must
soon be
exhausted, would suffer many privations
in consequence of the change. As
such were
his feelings, can any thoughtful person be as-
tonished at
- his resolutions?
Convinced at last, that no alternative awaited
him, he consented to sign the
compact, remark-
ing to the officers present, as he affixed his
sig-
nature,
@@ -3847,7 +3905,8 @@
Yearly Meetings, in the autumn of
to take
the subject under care.
In
journments, from the
month
ject; and many
observations were made on the
kindness of their ancestors to the
white people,
in the early settlement of this country,
- exciting
a deep consideration and enquiry, whether under
good
+ exciting
a deep consideration and enquiry, whether under
good
will to men, (which our holy profession re-
quires,) anything
remains for us to do to pro-
mote their welfare, their religious
instruction,
knowledge of agriculture, and the useful
@@ -3888,7 +3948,7 @@
indi-
viduals concerned, on which occasions the necessary
funds were supplied by the
-
+
contributions into the hands of the following
Friends, who are
appointed to receive and
apply the same, in such manner as will
best
answer the benevolent designs of this meeting,
carefully
@@ -3957,7 +4017,8 @@
of
same month
meetings in his
+ when="1794-05-17">17th of Fifth month, 1794, all
meetings in his
visit to these parts.
Any communication to the
produced certificates to the
ing
Fifth month, 1796
The meeting was opened by the expression of
- a
ber
+ a
ber
of the Society of Friends would be willing
to give sanction to the
benevolent experiment
recommended by the
ment which was united with by all
@@ -4022,7 +4083,7 @@
views of our
religious Society, on behalf of the Indians. They
had,
also, conferred with the Secretary of State,
who had manifested a desire to
co-operate with
the Friends, in promoting the interests of the
- In-
dians. They had addressed a circular letter
dians. They had addressed a circular letter
tions
attaining a more comfortable, quiet, and peacea-
ble mode
@@ -4053,7 +4114,7 @@
mittee on Indian Concerns
had authority to call a
meeting of their Sub-
Committee of fifteen Friends, on
occasions.
Wright
respectable standing among the Society of
respectable standing among the Society of
has informed me,
that a delegation of five pru-
dent, judicious men, of religious
character, have
been deputed by their brethren of that Society
@@ -4167,7 +4228,7 @@
The delegation proceeded to the Indian coun-
try, but found the chiefs, the
hunters and war-
riors of the tribes with whom they desired to
confer,
much dispersed over the country, engaged
in their various pursuits, and
- consequently were
collectively; under this disappointment they
made their report to
the
Affairs
During the next
the
@@ -4199,7 +4260,7 @@
ap-
pointed Clerk of the
ness presenting, adjourned.
At a meeting of the
at
mediately after
@@ -4233,7 +4294,7 @@
In the course of this journey, after having
visited a number of
Indian hunting camps and
several of their towns, we had a large
- oppor-
exposed to the inclemency of the seasons, with
a very
precarious and frequently a scanty sup-
ply of food and clothing.
From the knowledge
we have obtained of the extensive and
@@ -4262,7 +4323,7 @@
wares
any
business of consequence is laid before their
people.
This reply of the Indians, was presented to
This reply of the Indians, was presented to
Report of the
and was published in the newspapers of the day.
A reply was also written and forwarded to
the
Meeting
hand you a copy also.
We should have been pleased with the re-
ception of the original
speech of the
Chiefs and
the belt of wampum they speak of,
with a copy of that from the
@@ -4452,7 +4513,7 @@
The deputation left their homes on the
5th
mo. 1799
horses to carry a tent,
provisions for the jour-
ney which would be necessary after leaving the
@@ -4481,7 +4542,8 @@
Crane,) the
head chief, and others of the nation who
hap-
pened to be at the village.
On conferring with them they found that a While we were at
mistake in translating their
- language had led to
a misunderstanding respecting the time of hold-
understood began
+ language had led to
a misunderstanding respecting the time of hold-
understood began
every year at the full moon,
in the 6th month; they were, therefore,
too
early in their visit, and with the impossibility
of collecting the
other Indians who would not
be likely to assemble until the council,
@@ -4509,7 +4571,7 @@
fected under the sorrowful consideration of the
baneful
effect of spirituous liquors on them, being
abundantly supplied
with it in almost every vil-
lage by Canadian traders residing among
@@ -4537,7 +4599,7 @@
In the manuscript journal of
the interview between
the Friends and the
The manuscripts in my possession furnish no
The manuscripts in my possession furnish no
mittee
@@ -4603,7 +4665,7 @@
nothing had been re-
ceived from the Indians since the last meeting,
and no business was transacted.
The next meeting of the
special one, and held at
the 5th month, 1802
newspapers, I give the
following extract from one
of them:
The editors having obtained a genuine copy
of the proceedings of the
by the
ciety
@@ -4638,7 +4701,7 @@
passed through this city on their way to the
Federal Government,
feel no small degree of
pleasure in having it in their power to
@@ -4666,10 +4729,12 @@
exercises commenced by the
following short, but expressive address from
tion, the
convened; he was not at the time a member of
thropic
+ their friends, were
convened; he was not at the time a member of
thropic
movements.
Brothers and Friends: I am desirous in the
early part of this
opportunity, that you may be
informed, that the people called
Quakers con-
sider all mankind as their brothers: that they
@@ -4695,7 +4760,7 @@
Meetings of
more
between their Society and the Indians, from
their
first settlement in America; and recollect-
ing that the Western country
was fast filling up
with white people, and that game would
@@ -4719,11 +4784,12 @@
proposals then made to the In-
dians; but a belt of wampum and a speech
had
been sent them from a council held at
and an invitation to attend their General
- Coun-
cil. After he had concluded, another member
cil. After he had concluded, another member
dressed the chiefs as follows:
Brothers and Friends: We were glad when
we heard that some of our
Red brethren were
coming to this city, and felt our minds
drawn
to take them by the hand, and have an oppor-
tunity of
@@ -4748,7 +4814,7 @@
do for you whatever may be in our
power.
After a short pause, the
if the Friends had any thing more to say, and
being told that
we were all willing to listen to
him, he rose up and said:
Friends and Brothers,-We find you are now
Friends and Brothers,-We find you are now
hope the Great Spirit will
assist you, together
with the Great Chief of the White People,
to
whom we are about to apply for help.
Brothers and Friends,-I now assure you, that
you hear the voice of
@@ -4816,14 +4883,13 @@
The
sure they had received from the words of the
to hear the same good words from the
of Baltimore
of
- which were
to hear
+ the same good words from the
of
+ Baltimore
of
which were
and did all I could to keep them from
wearing
out; I was pleased with them; they now need
repair; we
have nobody among us that can mend
them, and they are now useless to
@@ -4834,7 +4900,7 @@
>Baltimore to meet the
Indian tribes at their
next Great Council, held
annually at
receive their annuities from
- the United States;
them should be conveyed to them through their
interpreter,
Wayne
Friends and Broth-
ers, the talks that you have now delivered to
us shall be carefully collected, wrapped up and
put in our
hearts,-we will not forget them.
On our return home, we will have
- them com-
+ them com-
the
up that river until it
strikes the lakes, thence
round by
He then expressed his regret that the move-
ments of the Friends towards the
- Indians had
ding to their having received no satisfactory re-
ply from the
concluded with observing,
fear of giving them offence, he proceeded to ac-
knowledge
what he had witnessed in his visit to
the
the way of their improvement than
anything
else, and appealed to them thus:
the same mind with us who are your friends, and
have your good
@@ -4928,7 +4995,8 @@
of his broth-
ers, the Quakers, had any further communica-
tion to make,
and being desired to proceed, rose
up and said:
Brothers and Friends, I am
happy to find it has pleased the Great
Spirit,
that we should again meet in the same house in
which
we held our council yesterday. I am
happy to find that it is the
@@ -4943,13 +5011,15 @@
Great
Spirit considers all mankind.
He afterwards
remarked, that the Indians had long been aware
He afterwards
remarked, that the Indians had long been aware
country, but could obtain no redness; that since
the
introduction of spirituous liquors among
them, their numbers were greatly
diminished,
and taking advantage of the request which had
been made,
that they should express themselves
freely, added:
I will now take the liberty to
mention, that most of the evils
existing among
the Red people, have been caught from the white
people; not only that liquor which destroys us
daily, but many
@@ -4969,7 +5039,7 @@
liquor among
us. This subject, brothers, composes a part of
what we intend to make known to the Great
Council of our White
brethren. On our arrival
there, we shall endeavor to explain to our
- Great
have arisen in our country, from the introduc-
tion of
this liquor by the white traders.
Brothers and Friends: In addition to what
I have observed of this
@@ -4992,7 +5062,7 @@
wants
another, and then a third, and fourth, till his
senses
have left him. After this, reason comes
back to him; when he gets
up and finds where
he is, and asks for his peltry, the answer is,
- you
have drunk them. Where is my gun? It is
have drunk them. Where is my gun? It is
Where is my shirt? You have sold
it for
whiskey! Now, brothers, figure to yourselves
what a
condition this man must be in;
he has a family at home, a wife and
@@ -5019,7 +5089,8 @@
follows.-
have
communicated at this time, has been
clearly understood, and we are glad
- to find we
see things in the same light that you see them.
the
+ to find we
see things in the same light that you see them.
the
difficulties you have stated, claim our sym-
pathy and solid
consideration, and we shall, I
trust, take the subject up, and if way
should
open for us to move forward, in aiding you in
your
@@ -5049,7 +5120,7 @@
service assigned
them, and the result of their enquiries and
ob-
servations, as reported to the
was, that the quantity of spirituous liquors
- with
frontier settlers, must counteract the effect of
every
measure, however wise and salutary,
which can be devised to improve
their situa-
tion.
These Friends soon after repaired to the seat
of government, presented their
memorial to
Congress, and were gratified by the passage of
the law,
which they so much desired. Whilst
in
the President of the United
States
such measures from time to time, as
to him may
seem expedient, to prevent or restrain the vend-
ing or
@@ -5120,7 +5191,7 @@
re-
mote residence of some of the members, met once a
year.
and informed them of the
conferences which had been held with the
Indian
chiefs; the chiefs of those nations whom
visit. Their report presented the speeches of
the
chiefs, the memorial of the
Congress, a copy of the law passed by Congress,
and an account of their
@@ -5143,13 +5214,14 @@
ings
We of the
pointed by
with an idea of the importance of our
appoint-
ment, and with a full persuasion, that the situa-
tion
of our business requires speedy attention,
as the obstructions that
- have heretofore prevented
the Western Indians the benefits some years
ago contemplated by the
now removed, and considering the distant situa-
tion of
@@ -5195,7 +5267,7 @@
for
in which they
related that in consequence of
information received from the Western
Indians,
and the prohibition by the President of the
United States of
- the sale of spirituous liquors
pressed with the belief that the time for an
earnest
commencement of the benevolent inten-
tions of the
mittee
To this report a postscript was added, that in
To this report a postscript was added, that in
members of the
however, not given,) and a
distant situation and
other causes preventing the attendance of many,
@@ -5294,7 +5366,7 @@
key="sands">Sandy Spring.
-
Immediately after their organization
Thomas
cott
years afterwards on the
in the 66th year
of his age.
+
the Indians in agriculture, faithfully performed
+ instructing
the Indians in agriculture, faithfully performed
the Friends told them
so
much disposed to be industrious as we could
desire.
tation
+
tation
of them fully verified in his experience.
After he had, with some
assistance from the In-
dians, enclosed his plantation with a rude
fence,
only one, or at the most two of the red men
evinced any
@@ -5344,7 +5417,7 @@
neighboring chiefs for a winter
supply for the necessitous members of the
tribes
for whom he had labored, and returned to his
home at
+
a respectable member of the Society of Friends,
and died on his farm in
Portions of these different sums of money were The With his large and muscular proportions, ac- The wife of the We were told that they spent a part of the The next day after this ramble, the The negotiation failed. The Indians insisted PREAMBLE: that the treaty if to end a de- ART. 6. Indians may expel settlers from their ART. 7. Indians may hunt on lands ceded to ART. 8. Trade to be conducted by licensed ART. 9. Neither party to retaliate injuries, " + data[0]["fields"].title + " " + data[0]["fields"].person_id + " " + data[0]["fields"].date + " " + data[0]["fields"].type_of_Manuscript + " " + data[0]["fields"].call_no + "
faithfully applied, with
those collected from
their own members, in giving encouragement
to the
@@ -5409,7 +5482,7 @@
Indians.
from their allegiance to the United States, and
were
the cause of much bloodshed on the Cana-
dian frontier. Already the
spirit of disaffection
had taken hold of his mind; he refused to
- wear
any article of clothing manufactured by the
any article of clothing manufactured by the
his expressions of
hatred toward the whole race,
who, he maintained, had violently
wrested from
them all their most valuable possessions. Nor
did
@@ -5473,7 +5546,7 @@
key="gelli1">George
Ellicott assured him he could
promise him a
welcome and kind treatment at his house, he
still declined. The
nacy, ill-humor and laziness, and told him he
was too
large a man to give so poor a display of
Indian politeness, and
that he would return to
his home in the same state of ignorance in
@@ -5499,7 +5572,7 @@
which
the Indians drew a comparison between savage
and
civilized life, and in favor of civilization.
The
desirous of promoting the improvement of his
people.
The
wife, and the
companied by the
disfigurements of the paint,
he was only saved from the appearance
- of a bar-
expressive of the utmost good humor.
some woman, of a modest and downcast expres-
sion. She did
@@ -5552,7 +5625,8 @@
dignity of ap-
pearance-a dignity which resulted from the
character of his mind. He was of medium
stature, with a complexion
of the palest copper
shade, and did not wear paint. His hair
- was
a full suit, and without any admixture of grey,
Wayne
at this time have been fifty-seven
years old.
His dress was completed by a long, red, military
@@ -5575,7 +5649,7 @@
Friends who had en-
tertained them, and returned to their
hotel.
They found
by the fireside, but soon understood they
- had
just returned from a walk, having passed the
just returned from a walk, having passed the
of the
day seated upon the
@@ -5606,7 +5680,7 @@
tamies
all the objects of interest in the neighborhood.
They
had begun to be aware of the importance
of mechanical operations,
and spoke with as
much approbation as an Indian ever speaks of
@@ -5634,7 +5708,7 @@
asked advice of the Friend who met him at the
hotel, and was
encouraged to make a faithful
statement of wrongs done to the
ton
most generally, written
the
the army of the United States, northwest
of the
er for the United States, and the Sachems, Chiefs
and
@@ -5697,7 +5771,7 @@
Friends had, with the
approbation of the President
of the United States, decided to send some
of
their respectable members in order to contribute
their
- influence to induce the hostile Indians to
the Commissioners that any Friends
attended.
upon the removal of the white
@@ -5722,10 +5796,11 @@
>Greeneville, and they re-
ceive additional annuities under
other treaties.
Indeed all the tribes who were parties to the
treaty
of
to trace in them the specific amounts granted by
that treaty.
structive war, settle all
controversies, and restore
harmony, &c.
lands.
the U.S., [until
settled.]
traders.
but offenders to be
punished by their own gov-
ernment, and Indians are to give notice
@@ -5792,7 +5867,7 @@
U.S., Aid to
able man];Metadata
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This work is the property of the Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore - College. It may be copied freely by individuals for personal use, research, - and teaching (including distribution to classes) as long as this statement - of availability is included in the text. It may be linked to freely in - Internet editions of all kinds, including for—profit works.
-Publishers, libraries, and other information providers interested in - providing this text in a commercial or non—profit product or from an - information server must contact Swarthmore College for licensing and cost - information.
-Scholars interested in changing or adding to these texts by, for example, - creating a new edition of the text (electronically or in print) with - substantive editorial changes, may do so with the permission of Swarthmore - College. This is the case whether the new publication will be made available - at a cost or free of charge.
-56 pp. (1 volume)
-The James Cooper manuscript is housed at Friends Historical Library, on the - campus of Swarthmore College. In the fall semester of 2010, Swarthmore students - enrolled in English 50A (“Reading Red, White, and In-Between in Early American - Literature”) transcribed Cooper’s manuscript as part of a larger project to make - the library’s rich store of Quaker Indian mission writings more accessible. The - project was designed by Christopher Densmore, Curator of Friends Historical - Library, and Keat Murray, Visiting Assistant Professor of English. Student - transcribers included: Ashley Acle (3-10), Nilo Bermeo (11-18), Youda Cao - (19-26), Christine DeNizio (27-42), Anna Sagaser (43-50), and Brent Stanfield - (51-58). Transcriptions were compiled and edited in the present form by - Professor Murray.
-The transcribers and editor attempted to render James Cooper’s orthography and - grammar as they appear on the page of his journal, even when Cooper’s own - spelling and usage are inconsistent. Additionally, many questions remain about - spelling the names of Cooper’s Quaker acquaintances, individual Native Americans - who populate his journal, and Indian villages and towns. The transcribers and - editor attempted to remain faithful to Cooper’s Anglicized spellings in all - cases.
-The author of the original journal, James Cooper, does not include page numbers - on his manuscript; the page numbers have been interpolated by the transcribers - to correspond with the manuscript sheets.
-
-
-
& from general Government 700
-
-
way & 4 the other, & have
- annually from the State of New-
York 1250 Dollars besides a Gratuity in
- Cloathing from the general Government
Square they receive from the general government 500 dollars in
- goods
and 23000 Dollars from State of New-York for their land a late
- purchase
of which they have a share, about half of the tribe remaining
- on the
-
Number of the
set
out from home for the Indian Country. Cross'd
the river to
-
6 miles when our company
Sansom
- Simmons
Friends to
- see us start, the day wet and roads very
muddy got to
9 miles Riding
- Here Log
morning wet road
by
way to
- Paxton
23 miles Riding these crossed, and in riding
- about
13 more through what is called the
a wet stony unfertile appearance we came to &
- lodged on Mount Prospect at
near
by
taking a rong road went had to ride 5 miles to no
- purpose
though thereby had a sight of very different prospects
and
- among others a prospect of
-
40 miles came to
-
-
Hearty welcome.
riding the Road a little intricate
our friend kindly sent his Son about six
- miles
with us to put us in our Road and in riding about
12 miles
- passed
of
and Glass of wine for ourselves with a kind
woman the
- wife of a now
Hethorn
of N. York rode above thirty miles
- mostly in
a
on each side
- put us at
publick house
- near
50
- miles it was computed we rode this Day
and 5th of the week rode to New
- Winser
that we seemingly got on the
- Roofs
before by the timeby we see
- -- them this morning Rode about
20 miles here we Dined with
-
three years ago
- removed from Pensylvania his
mill appears to be calculated for much
- business
is within a few
side,
- after
- 12 miles riding reach'd
in law of
antient friend in the 77th year of his life the force
of his
- Mentalfaculties appears to be without
-
attended our yearly
- meeting last year, our horses
and selves being prety much wearied the
- horses by the rug
gedness of the Road there appearingnot having
- been accus
tomed to stony roads & not having a meeting before
- us
that We could attend with convenience it was concluded
best to lie
- by Seventh day & be at the meeting in this place
we is call'd
-
attended the meeting on first Day which was but small
our stage
- was halfway from N. York to
from each first day afternoon
Hullack inform'd me
- proportion one ounce to a quart of Spirits is an extraordinary
medicine
- that he has been very subject to sick headach &
by taking a portion on
- thereof was believed & in other complaint
very useful.
& second of the Week our
selves Refreshed (except J.R. he
- much better than Yesterday)
& horses, Refresh'd left our hospitable
- friend, Houg E.
& his son James &
- families whose kindness we shall keep
in mind the antient friend bearing
- the Company Five miles on
our way then parted with him respectfully rode
- through
22 miles to
the
- ferry before we came to the town then from Esopus
24 miles further to the
- ferry opposite
-
the
- Creek the very
a hospitable neighbour neighbor & wife
- kindly took us under his
Roof and our into his Pasture for the night
this morning walked
a few rods from our lodgings to a view of a phenomenon
- on the
premises of our last night’s
- which was the earth sunk on a body of between two & three
- Acres to near sixty feet perpendicular to measure the
-
Day last seen by several people on the opposite side of the
- Creek
it was to be sure a strange sight to see how jostled & jumbled
- a
situation the sudden stroke of a few minutes left in it so vastly uneven
- very
wide cracks opening so wide as it was with difficulty
- we
could pass to view it. These was at the time a flock of sheep
- grazing thereon and in there surprise huddled together after
taking a view
- to our satisfaction and admiration returnd
to our quarters got a breakfast
- . Crossed the
to the
- Village of the same name where our host inform'd
us 6 years ago there were
- but 7 dwellings houses now we
suppose there to be between 40 & 50 &
- 20 stores several vessels on
the Village
22 miles & Din'd
kind friend of the same name
- heretofore namedafter which
we set out for Albany the stream
- of our Northern course when
we got late in the evening put up our horses at
- a Tavern after
which our friend the only whose
family is the
- only one that has a right among friends, got us
quarters these appearing a
- necessity of our dividing, there are but a
few other members & a few
- more friendly People & professors
but no meeting nearer than Sixteen
- miles, the friends wife express
to me the concern it was to her that they
- were so situated the Custom
of the place was such as to give her concern on
- their children’s
account that her daughter they hadseveral times
- had invitations to go
to their public amusements, that the refusal seems
- strange
to the
16 miles, though we
- believed it to be 20
left Albany and rode
14 miles to
nearly as
- large as Albany
River
-
cross'd the Schanactady
- River most of the way this morning
- could
see the water the Road goes wentunder the hill so on
- the
other side the same a bottom land appearance very fertile of about an
- hun
-dred of a consideable of considerable Highth covered with
- sizewith scrubs
- &
pine as high as the forks of the
- twenty miles from the town we Lodg'd at, we Din'd near the
little Village
- called
good black soil thickly setted to the place we
- rode
25 miles afternoon rode along the sidebank of the
- River
10 miles to the
-
pleasanter than the mornings the bankshills still
- continuing
very high the Bottoms some wider as we rode a long
on the
- tops discovered it to be very fertile bearing
wheat, oats, Peas, Oats &
- Peas sowed together &
very good Grass –
this
Morning started without Breakfast or Oats for our Horses cross'd
- the ferry the Road still continuing between on the Bottom
- between the High Hill of & the River now on the South side
- of
the River its bottom wider
- & better Improv'd
its soil appears to be wonderfully fertile resembling
- our
Bank Meadows with this difference they having the expence
of Tide
- banks these none the ferry keeper inform us he had
yesterday cross'd
- between 60 & 70 People keeping Tavern
& Stores is the Choissest
- employment of the setters we had
- on the Road, we this morning we
- breakfasted
10 miles on our Road where we were told that
lay eighteen miles south of the
- river where we then were
-
twenty
- miles many new settlements, it appearing fertile where
not Clear'd Coated
- with the Sugar Maple, Beech and with what the
people call Black Beech
- with we call it Black Ash of which
they chiefly fence in
- many places much of the white pines.
The Sugar Maple was easily know from
- the many scars that had
been made from time to time to run the sap, some
- were as
large as two feet Diameter we reach'd the
18 miles which one find to be an
- ancient setted place
setted by the Germans Emigrating from Albany
- nearly
Eighty years ago after Dinner cross'd over the River
on to the
- East side rode through a large body of these
flats and but after
- some Riding fell got into a
Leavel Rich
- Bottom Timber'd with Hemlock chiefly
rode several miles therein
- Until we came to the River bottom
as again described wonderfully
- fertile deep & Ritch Cloth'd
with Timber, cross'd the
- River on a bridge to
Schyler
fruitful appearance, we rode this afternoon a
- mostly in about
25 miles & most of the way in a new setted
- country setted within
- a dozen Years since the war. The Houses new land new and
- settlements
so near that it resembles a town most of the way, many
- Stately well built Houses built of wood, Stone appear scarce here
- this morning
this morning had an opportunity
with
to be in the Village
- who appeared to be a free openhearted
sincere friend to us & our
- Concern gave us all the information
he was capable of with respect to our
- move & his own
Judgment of what might be useful afternoon we left the
- place & in
in 14 Miles riding reached Captain Hendricks
-
Smith
-
- it being the sun being set by the time we got hereby we
- sent a note of our
being here to
the road being
- very bad which has been the case all the
way from
bottom for a Road the
- Timber very thick of different kinds
- there largest Kind is what they call Basswood the bark of
which
- the Indians roof their houses, our Indian landlord
& wife appears
- frugal people & somewhat of an Industrious
appearance having
- nineteen two yoke of oxen
several cows, his stock of
- Horn kind we were told was
nineteen, twenty hogs little and big. He this morning
- which is
informed us he had lost by Deathsome
distemper particularly
- attendant to his place within
five years Eleven Horses the eleventh died
- this morning
he now lives in a house having two rooms on a floor and
- has the materials for Building a frame house to be covered with shingles over
- a
sellar the workman to begin the work tomorrow he has
eight Children
- the youngest in the arms the Wife speaks
English he but very little, this
- morning
with one or two
- others came to meet & accompany us
to his house where we Breakfasted he after
- which his freedom
&
time we sat
- down with in his
duty to
was ask'd with respect to our siting down in our
- orderly
manner to worship the good spirit for which he freely
- consented to Likewise he with his wife and family
and several others that
- came in sat with us in a very
Solid commendable manner, the wife appears
-
employ'd in Catichizing
- her Children in the afternoon
she was Asked whether she was in the practice
- of so doing
on first days she reply'd she was regularly & that
- twice in the day which practice of inculcating the good he requested that
principals of
- Religion in Children in the afternoon
on first days is a requested
-
the Chiefs of his nation might
- have an opportunity of
communicating some things they had on their minds
- which
they did in the evening, several of their Chiefs assembling,
-
began with a relation of
- the origin of their present settlement
there unhappy uneasiness in their
- little tribe from such as said
were disposed to live without a
- necessary subordination that to Rules &
was necessary to
- govern all Bodies of People notwithstanding their body was
small yet they
- had found it necessary to have Rules to govern
them then he Rehears'd part
- of them which appeared well calculated
to preserve harmony & Concord
- among them, but some of them
still remaining unwilling to sign them such
- they deprive
of certain privaledges untill they sign, that
- theywhich they
at any time may do & then have equal priviledges
- with the rest
of their brethren
We met them in general counsel their Missionary
-
having had an invitation this morning by a few lines to
- breakfast
with him & Daughters which we
- accepted, after we were
seated.
- Hendrick in behalf of his people opened the Counsel by
saying they were
- glad to see us, and were now ready to hear what
we had to say, then we
- proceeded to open our business and after which we endeavouring to impress
- them
and our
-
with a sense of the necessity their present state required of exerting
- themselves
-
Cattle,
- Sheep, & Hogs, that they might subsist by what their
- farms land would produce were they to apply themselves to an
- industrious care & frugality and not indulge themselves with the
- delight of hunting the wild game, for it had very much
- fail'dlessened already and would continue to
-
themdeclinegrow scarcer and scarcer decrease, and with
- respect that the sooner they
to that grievous evil they were so much addicted to of
- getting
in Liquortook to this
- betook themselves
to this way of
- life the better, and likewise the great need there was for them to
desist
- from that evil systemgrievous practice they are so accustomed
to
- that is of getting in the excessive love of liquor, that it was one
- of their vices that not
only displeased the Great Spirit, but had &
- would still whilst they
continued in the practice be a hindrance to their
- Reformation
in a life of civilization & a comfortable, plentiful living
- which we
much desired to see them enjoy, after we had made an end of
-
- together a little time, then
to see us & hear our words which they
- would as it were swallow
down & give us an answer then they had
- considered them. One
antient grave man whose name was
said he was very glad to see us & in a
- broken uninteligent manner
expressed himself, by which we a Religious which
- was Man
- attended with after which meeting we went
- to
eat dinner
- after which some time after took a walk to see his wheat
- field about a mile off his house through the woods soil very
good appearing
- chiefly a mold rather inclining to too much wet
for winter
- grain, which in my opinion is generally the case in
this Country, perhaps
- after it becomes clear'd and exposed to the sun
it may very much change,
- his field of wheat was of the summer
kind and about four acres, very Rank
- and Strong, their land
has abundance of timber I think it has the
- preference in that
respect of any I ever saw or at least untill I came
- very near their teritory,
the extent of their lands (that is
- the
-
six miles square, Indian reprobating the very Idea of selling
land
- to their brothers the Indians, and when the Stockbridge
Indians
- had a mind to move tofrom their settlement of Old Stockbridge
in
- atwhile
the abode took
Refuge at
- Schanectady, they proposed to contract with them for
a settlement among
- them, they refused selling their Lands to them
but gave it them as before
- mentioned, they then their Acts
of benevolence in this
- way has extended to other tribes of their brethren, as
the
collectedly and seated in the same manner, which
- in their settlement
is distinguished by the
are settled in the same manner,
- they have not any granted them by covenant this makes them uneasy
is about
- the middle of their lands one way, resembling a Village
near a considerable
- Stream of water on which they have
erected their Saw mill, at the Tale of
- the Saw mill they have p
propose erecting their a
- Grist mill, the saw mill has been
sometime disabledand yet
- remains in an unfit situation to
do any service for them, the Dam having a
- breach thereinin it
they appear to be concerned about it and had
- proposed this day
tomorrow to mend the breach, the missionary
- inform'd us
there was two of their men had learnt to saw very well &
- by
the appearance of the boards that was cut at the mill it
- appear'd
they understood the business very well, their houses
- are built
with round logs as high as the Square, & roof'd principally
- with the
Bass tree Bark which with a little frames makes a tight
roof
- and will last for several years, but since they have their
saw mill at
- worktheir Ideas as to houses seems to be a little
exalted that
- they are preparing for Squar'd log houses of Shingle Roofs
-
Wheat last year & had
This morning Rainy we did not send to the
after breakfast then sent them word to meet
- us at two o’clock, in the
afternoon it clear'd away and walked to their
- Village about four miles from
the
with a few lines from their chief
- wishing us to come and see them, we accor
dingly did their settlement
- between the
with one of their
- Chiefs
tribe there on that settlement of was twelve families that
- past they originally
were setled to the Southward, and that
- we think its likely they were the original
proprietors of the Hopewell
- lands, concerning which our yearly meetings
for many years were exercised
- with, we left them for the present & went on
to the
lately built, its a frame weatherboarded & shingled they
- having
a sawmill and it going which was built by Government
- which by Government the Dam broke the Dam broke at the time the
-
Grist mill
- which we understood to be built
- this summer
- time is begun, After opening Counsel the lateness of the day,
- unfit
ness of the Interpreter for Rendered it necessary both for
- them
& us to postpone our Communications until another day
which
- was agree'd to & fifth day next at 10 oClock when
their old Interpreter
-
-
roras
them but find they consider themselves
- Dependants therefore unhapppy
This morning we with several of the Inhabitants of the town
accomplished a
- piece of Indian fence in a very short time for
a fresh pasture for our
- horses, between 9 and 10 began to Rain but
set off some afoot others on
- Horseback to the Oneidas according
to appointment after some
- time they generally met, after some
time they delivered us
- some introductory speeches, then the nature
of our business
- was oppened of all of which they seemingly
could not
- understand and in particular that we should bring
them plows without oxen
- to Draw the Ploughs, but after
some further explanations they seem'd
- better reconsited, and
- said after some time spent in their counsel in communicating
-
it then they made
- their Reply’s and that thank'd us that we took
such a long
- journey from our homes that we were welcome
in their country and that we
- might settle where it suited us
signifying some that their young
- men were disposed to be instructed
in the farming business & Machanick
- Arts, after some further
enquiry respecting their concerns parted with in
- the Evening
returned to our home
found that our Horses had got out of their Pasture in afternoon
- an Indian man went after them got upon their track &
found them about
- six miles from our Quarters making
towards the south in an entire strange
- Road, at the Treaty
with the
and Chiefs of the
for us to
- fix meeting them at their Town next day after tomorrowseventh
- day
which was accordingly done, at Ten oClock
To day we were invited to a Treaty of the
the design to reclaim a few
- disorderly persons that had for some have had a pleasure in
- opposing every measure & all their
time
Rules which the majority have
- thought right to adopt for the
well governing their Civil & Temporal
- concerns, their Friends
the
a beneficial effect, they
- likewise did attend & two of our number
went, who informed us when they
- return'd, that their business
appear'd to be unto the concerned a matter of
- importance and
treated an important matter, accordingly, that
- some of their
business in the manner of their transacting of it appear'd to
- be with the uncommon interesting sobriety, but to
- them
that were but spectators very Humorous, then the
-
they compar'd it a
- steel dish and spoon which was strong firm
& Usefull this was in reply
- to the refractory party when
-
if we
- should give you Land it would be like a wooden Dish
& spoon it would
- not be Usefull, but would we think
break & split to pieces then it
- could not be Usefull to you
we think in your present temper of mind land
- would
not be Usefull to you that you would presently sell
- it
differ about something & disagree and so split,
- & Break to
pieces like the wooden Dish and Spoon then you
- would sell
the land & it would then be like the wooden Dish and
- Spoon
be no ways Usefull
This morning set of for the
eleven oClock in Riding
- about nine miles, the road most
of the way Excessively bad like the Road
- almost all the way
from any each of the Indian settlements, present
ly after we came
- to their town they met together generally
both Men and Women where we had
- not the same difficulty as
heretofore but spoke without an Interpreter,
- but few of them
understanding any other than our own
- language, We had a
full open opportunity, which was a appear'd
- to be well received
by most of them two of their Chiefs & Peacemakers
-
Fowler
meeting
- their satisfaction in seeing & hearing us, that had
come so far to see
- them, several of them appear to be Religious
sober orderly People, having a
- watchful care great desire
& watchful care over these
- people often impressing their minds
with by the great the
- need of guarding
against Immorallity of all kinds & in an
- esspecial
manner that great evil that’s so Insodental to their
people,
- & had evidintaally been hurtfull in thier little
community and if not
- unitedly guarded against would
be their ruin that is the love of strong
- Liquor
They as the
that’s seeking every opportunity to undermine their
- Government, the most mischievous among them is
Wampa
- law made by the Legislative of New-York last year
he exercised great
- Authority among them, untill he
came under bonds for his good behavior,
- since that
his disturbance of the Peace consists in endeavoring
to
- influence the minds of the people against the Law
but they seem generally
- to favour it & quietly submit
thereto believing thereby they shall have
- their Rights
secur'd, and may enjoy Peace & Tranquillity, this Old
- man manifested thewhat spirit he was of, to Us Strangers
the day
- we met them in Counsel
they having
before informed Us they had no Minister that preach'd
for
- hire and were desirous we should set with them in
our manner of worship,
- nothing appearing in our
minds to object, we accordingly near the time
- which
was Ten o’clock their time of meeting, they having
an afternoon
- meeting. we went and set down with and had a satisfactory
- meeting with them in
them
the afternoon, some of our company feeling an
- inclination
of setting with them in their afternoon, accordingly three
- went
Part of our Company went to
Taylorthings farming utensils, the other three spent the
day in
- going to see the families at their houses, they
Receiv'd our visit very
- kindly, there’s about fifty six families
in this settlement, their lands
- consists of about ten thousand
Acres lacking a few, all surveyed and
- divided into lots of
-
Lott, each except some few who were have been the first setters
- who they have agreed should have more, they have gathered
from
- several of the Eastern States, and continue to gather
- that & when they come those lots that are not already
- Occupied are as suits the
- new
comer he fixes himself upon, this Spring or last Winter
several
- families have come mov'd here, these lots remain
are
- to be remain unoccupied until such times as be fill'd up setted
- by
such as may come from time to time. From this circumstance
of their
- coming from different parts gave the name of
the place was nam'd
-
they now enjoy without their Labour
- having Labour'd
their having bestowing any labour for,
- Before the Legislatur last
fall interfear'd they had least their lands to
- the White
People who in a few years, had built houses clear'd land
and
- were seated thereon, many of them had a prospect, from their
expressions,
- of keeping their foothold & with great reluctance mov'd
off by the time
- appointed in the Law made for regulating
these Indians affairs, In short
- notwithstanding they appear
very Poor at this time with respect to their
- having a sufficiency
of Household goods and Stock of Creatures &
- farming utentials
from the many Corroborating circumstances, they may
- become
very good living if not a Wealthy people, their lands extraordinary
- good, having now
several Lotts of Grass some containing 3, 4 & 10 &
- 12 acres
- of Englishof Timothy, & some Clover mixed with the Timothy
- equal very little inferior to any at
- any place. They have an
yearly income from the State of New York
- of 860 pounds
and better, an Interest for the whole sum
- valuedthe State purchased upon the
lands sold by
- them to governmentthe State, they having already receiv'd
- their some Cattle & are direct to purchase a considerable number
-
for their
- lands in a few years the greatest block in their
having a plentifull
- & a comfortable living is
This morning we left our friends the
& came to Stockbridge to our old home
-
-
she had
- recovered from a disorder in theher Blood which which
- had grievous afflicted her for I think four years which is call'd
the
-
many things, was told that by taking the Blood or Red Root
and
- puting it Spirits might it was likely help her, that had
been known to cure
- several under that desperate disorder
which she accordingly did which had
- affected a cure on her
the disorder by her relation appeared to have raged
- in a very desperate
degree.
We in the afternoon met our these friends that left us on the 20th:
to go
- to
of
as the most material preparatory
- business to the application
of those goods seems nearly gone through, this
- visit to the
settlement is to look
- about to find a suitable spot to fix our
young men & their farm, we
- believing it might be best to
settle there as they appear to be much less
- cultivated than the
after
- some time spent looking about the settlement, we went to
see the Sawmill
- which lies about half a mile from the main
body of their town
- Houses, it appears to be a very good seat for
mills the dam remains
- broke unrepaired a few hands a day a Couple of days might repair the Dam, but
- don't
- find
they seem as tho they had no Interest in it, the foundation
- for
a Grist mill is laid & is to be built by government, from
- thence
we went except one of us to view a place about 4 miles off to see
- whether it
would suit for our farm which, we found to be a flat
- Grass
of several hundred Acres mostly covered with
- a good
- & above all places that I ever saw this exceeded for
- Strawberrys
here four of us Staid all night, next morning on the 23rd
- again went to the
the the place again we agreed upon the
- placea lot we believed would
answer the our purpose,
- then return'd to our home
- Hendricks
the
- two Commissioners from Boston, (
ministers) who at the request or direction of their
- Brethren
of Scotland had in the forenoon held a Counsel with the
-
with them. They had
- 24 questions in writing as how many Pagans,
how many Indians of the nation,
- whether they increased or deceased
and the rest I do not recollect, What
- gave rise to the
Visit was it seems the Oneidas had made
- complaint in writing
to the Society that their
preach but once in a
- while, that he had an £100
a year they thought he ought to serve them
- faithfully
they came to see whether the complaint was well Grounded or not
- Some of our company had an opportunity with them
- who said they appeared very friendly to our concern &
told
- Us or one of them he wish'd us success in our under
taking that he thought
- we had got upon the right
bottom to make a fair proof of what can be
- done
to change their habits of Life, likewise they requested
if we had
- no objection they might have a Copy of our
Minute from the Committee they
- should send one to
their Brethren in Scotland, we furnished gave
- them
one, their Names
held our little weekday Meeting in our Landlord’s
Barn, in the after noon
- committed stated our proposi
tions in writing which respect
- to what we want
the they and Ourselves things
might be upon Certainties next
- morning
of our company went
- called a Counsel of theSeveral of their
Chiefs Read them and
-
which seem'd to be agreeable to them, they
- requested
to have them until Second day the day appointed to
again
- meet them in Counsel they had them accordingly
-
Sick and Aged, who Received with with marks of great
- friendship Acknowledging
- it a sure mark of our great friendship to them the Poor
- Indians when we had left our homes & had Rode so far
to see
- them, As a mark of their friendship Gratitude one Instance
- verifies, one of the persons Women, a widow who had before
- invited
us to see her sick sister had sent a present of half a
very
- good lamb this morning, She has Seven Children the
youngest about two years
- old & her sick Sister who had been
so for near Two years, there is her
- family she appears to
live as Comfortably as any of her neighbors, She told
- us she
had ten sheep, & that she had the wool spun, & was
- afterward
inform'd by their Minister she last year made fourteen
yards
- of Cloth, when we were willing to pay her for the Lamb
we had Receiv'd from
- her but wish'd she might kill no more
for Us, that we wanted them the
- Indians to get a great
many more Sheep so that they might make their
- own
Cloathing, she said she did not propose killing any more
-
she must for
- us who had come so far to see them, neither
did not want any pay for it, At
- several different times
the Woman has afforded sufficient tokens of
- friendship their gratitude
by their bowls of strawberries
- brought us—
It being first day held our little meeting in our Landlord’s
House none but
- our selves present –
-
of their Nation the
our
that it was
- from an Antient Covenant between them, that
the Delawares in their general
- Counsels, had a very strong
Voice which sunk deep in their hearts, and that
- they were
apt to give advice to the other Nations,
There’s one circumstance that might have been in a more
proper place
- perhaps, that is with respect to the
People, by profession they are
but are in
- the practice of holding meeting on first day twice
in
- the forenoon and afternoon, when some of them either
Men or
- Women speak as they feel an inclination, as they hold
it right
- for Women to Speak, the day we were with them
- Fowlersupplication
prayer, From our feelings we doubted their
- foundation being
upon that which was not Immovable, so we
- perceiv'd
in the interval for whilst the Commissioners who were here upon
- the
Complaint, they sent one of
- their number
a young man One
- of their Peacemakers to propose to them
- their request them to acquaint their Brethren of the
- home fraternity that they were without a Minister that
they
- would Interceed and use their endeavors to provide and
a
- Preacher, by this piece of conduct we may readily call in question their
- foundation of standing firm & Secure, in the faith that they
-
to furnish them with a
- Preacher.
Made ready for the
whilst at Breakfast a few lines was brought to us
from a Chief
- of the
- Quakers must not go to the Oneidas to counsel but
that the Oneidas would
- come to them at
that he was
- desired so to do by them, so we waited with
considerable degree of patience
- having experienced
it an article very necessary in transacting
- business
with these People as they seldom appear in a hurry
and in an
- especial manner their Counsels, but this day
almost exhausted all our store
- for the day ended & we
heard no tidings from them —
somewhat wet or else we had
- concluded to have all
went but after some time concluded to send to
- know
the reason of their disappointing Us, was
accordingly sent and
- after some time return'd with
a salmon Fish in his bag, and an answer to Us
- that
they had gone to
of their annual pay from Government & that it
was
- not likely we
the
- day after tomorrow, which afresh discovers our
necessity of multiplying our
- patience on this
-
Brothers, Before you cover your council-fire, We beg your at
tention
- to the Voice of your Brethren the different Tribes living
Oneida
- Country – speaks to you in remembrance of the friend
ship you have
- manifested toward them in all their Treaties
We ourselves have held
- Counsels at different times to
contemplate the welfare of our
- nations, because we cannot
but groan to see our situation – It is
- also melancholy to
reflect on the ways of our forefathers
Brothers you are sometimes sorry to see the deplorable situ
ation of
- your Indian Brethren, for which you have
given us many good
- Counsels though we feel ourselves willing
to follow your Counsel,
- though we feel ourselves willing to follow your Counsel,
- but it has made no effect as yet
our situation is still miserable –
- Our ancestors were
Conquered immediately after you came over this
- Island
– By the strong heroe who does still reign among
Indian
- Tribes with tyranny, -- who has rob'd us every
thing that was
- precious on our eyes– But we not men
tion everything particular how
- this Tyrant has used
us – For your eyes have been open to behold
- our dismal
Situation – By the power of our enemy our eyes have
- been blinded. – Our Young men seems become willing
Slaves to this
- Despotic Heroe – so that we displeased the
great Spirit
- Good spirit, and could not become Civilized
People – in looking
- back we see nothing but desolation
of our mighty men – In looking
- forward we see the
desolation of our tribes – Our Chiefs has used their
-
seen no
- success they seems discouraged and hang down
their heads. ~
Brothers – In remembrance of your kind promises We write
our cries
- to you for help – Perhaps you are ready
to think what man that must
- be that has abused
so much of our Brethren – never was such Heroe
- or Tyrant
heard that ever meddled with Indians
– but in
- literally he is your only begotten son
– & his name you call
- Rum – And the names of his
Officers are Brandy - Wine & Gin –
And we know you have power to controul him
– And as we desire to
- live in peace & to become Civilized
nations – We earnestly
- entreat you to use your
power & Wisdom to prevent all people
- whether White
or Black who may cause rum and other Spiritous
- liquors throughout your State to come into the hands of
our Tribes
- except when sickness required our Chiefs may keep little for that
- purpose – For your compliance with this our request
– We will ever
- acknowledge your friendship
made ready, went to
intending to hastening the Opportunity, but got disappointed
- this
time likewise, they had return'd from
tion was wrong with respect to the
- occasion of their going, it
being on account of their being inform the
- Surveyors that
was employ'd by government were about to Survey more
of
- their land than in their Treaty they had agreed for
that necessity required
- their speedy attention thereto
however our earnestness for transacting of
- business, did
not move them from their usual Deliberation, for when
we
- informed them that we were desirous of meeting them
to day they seemed to
- make an essay thereto, by sending
a runner to bring them to Counsel, but
- after some time
we were informed there could be no Counsel today that
- they had in Companies gone to their Corn field to hoe their
Corn, that
- tomorrow they would meet us, this is the fourth
day we have waited their
- motion without doing any business
or advancing one step forward, after
- taking a Dinner
with them of Venison & Pigeon returned, to our welcome
- home
-
looked for friend
at
that he set out from Philadelphia on the 9th
- arriv'd at
New-York the 17th at Albany stay'd there two days
- and
on the 21st arrived at Albany both nearly one day land carriage
- from thence to Schenectady 22nd about 11 o’clock left that place
and about
- the same time in the day of the 29th arrived at
freight & wagon load fromfrom the
- one to other of the
last named places, is 11 Dollars Boat carrying four
- load Wagon Load the takes three hands to work the
- Boat distance from Schnedctada to Schyler ninety miles
is there’s an
- addition to the expense of 16 Shilings or 4/0
Wagon load or
-
In some time after Breakfast set off for the Counsel at
-
time they mentioned by the Interpreter
that they had considered our propositions and then
- stated the Objections, which appeared to us somewhat
reasonable, they
- mentioning a place for our farm
less injurious to them, upon viewing the
- place con
cluded to fix our farm there,
- we inform'd them then they appeared well pleas'd
with our conclusions &
- the Counsel concluded for
the present, we then rented a house of one of
- their
Chiefs (whose mother we spoke with, her Children
informed us was
- 100 years Old) for 20 Dollars Cash
down & the same
have occasion for it with conditions of finishing it
- after which return'd to our quarters at
This morning early three of us set of to look
after our goods to use means
- to get them to our new
settlement likewise to buy a yoke of oxen, a cart
- &
some other things to accommodate our new farm &
toward
- Housekeeping, we breakfasted at
- my old hom with my old Landlady
then we parted
the goods he had under his
- care at
- they left and the other friend & myself went in Quest
-
with a yoke which we
- bought for 90 dollars, took them
to
had a bowl of
- catnip tea prepard, drink'd it and went
to bed, Rested pretty well in
- the .
The seventh day of the week, did not rise very
early in the morning, after
- rising & washed attending
attended to the business for which
- I had come out
upon and about nine o’clock, my esteem'd friend
-
with two other Friends, the Name of the One
-
- Almy
Schoharry County Dunlough township about 28 miles
- from
Coopers town 14 miles from Cherry Valley after my I had done
- with the publick
concerns on which I had went come out upon,
- went with the afore
said friends set out for
-
where our sd
- friend
to
- visit them, at
was Burnt down, and a child of about 6 years
old burnt in it, it
- is supposed she it was set it
on fire by by the Child consumed in the
- flames. About four O’clock came to
in a room
and put up our horses in
- the pasture of
Crosly
of the other friends went to J. Tupics my Old
-
where we lodg'd, next this
- morning being the
-
-
& first of the Week, having last evening inform'd
some of People that
- our friend propos'd having a Meeting
with them desiring them to give notice
- thereof, at the usual
time of 10 OClock we went to th after some
- time our friend
spoke in his usual plain manner with life, in the
- after
noon went to their afternoon meeting, after a little time
of
- silence some there appeared in some that they thought a disposition to be doing something that they might
- there
be
- employ'd externally as though the Almighty could not know
how the heart was
- engag'd except the Tongue express'd it
our friend again express'd as at the
- former willing his
desire for them that they might feel after
- that that
worship which was inward and spiritual, and not
- so much
after a formal & Outward One, when the meeting
- ended
After taking our leave of them in a friendly manner
some of them
- acknowledging that it was a mark of
much love to come to see them from
- who were so far.
We all AndRode to our quarters at
-
noon,
- and Wet withal, likewise my own situation being
such that I should have
- been willing to have staid all Night
just before the close of the afternoon
- meeting felt Chilly
had
- last, which was for the first, which was, taken it was
- afore there appear'd
a necessity for our returning this evening.
-
our Company &
- C Hendrick having information from my
Companions on sixth day to
to our Friends, that
- our friend
-
came to the meeting, and J.P. inform'd Us They had
-
morning at 9
- OClock, we about such set came to our Old
quarters
York friends.
met the
Read them our propositions, of what we had thought of
- doing
for them, which were that we concluded to assist them in
- Building them a Grist Mill so that we would pay of the sd
expences
- exclusive of what work they themselves did in
getting the Timber and all
- other things they could do within
themselves, three
-
came forward to build their Mill, as in Their treaty it
was
- agreed they should be done at Publick cost, then when they should refund all our money back to Us
ever
- it to
again -- That
- they should have our Smiths Tools,
that we would would give 100
- Dollars to their Schoolmaster
for Teaching one Year provided
- they to make up the rest
provided he produces a testimony Signed by two of
- their
Chiefs that the School had been regularly kept for the
time,--
- That we That to encourage their improvement in husbandry
we
- had thought of propose giveing them a Bounty for every 12 Yds.
- of
Cloth or linnen manufactured of Wooll or Flax rais'd by
any
- Individual & manufactured by such an individuals Wife
in his or her own
- house for every such 12 Yds one Dollar
for every 50 Busls. of
- Wheat, 2 Dollars, for every 100 Busls
of Indian Corn 2 Dollars, and for
- every 3 Ton of hay
cut & put into Stack or Barn by any Individual
- rais'd by
him or her in one year off of ther off of their farm 2
- Dollars, provided
he or she produce a Certificate signed by two of their
- Chiefs to the
Truth
-
they were advis'd to watchfulness & care over
- themselves
that they did not let their inclination to strong Liquor
be
- their ruin, but those who were so weak as to gaddicted
to be
- allways upon their guard and never use it at all, that
they
- would should be industrious & not love to be running
- about
but to stay at home & mind their own business that they
- thereby with a divine blessing would have plenty to live on
- the Great Spirit would no doubt be pleas'd with such a
- life
as this & that if they did but mind that inward something
in
- their own breasts that made them feel Quiet and Peaceable
for well doing,
- and on the contrary for getting drunk and other Evil things
which
- displeased the Great Spirit they felt sorrow &
Disquiet in their
- hearts. Then after sitting a short time
- the his
- people spoke to this effect
that they were glad of to hear our
- words that
they would endeavor to mind them, That they
- were
glad of the our offer to them that they believed
- we were
there true Friends. But that he remembered that we
said that
- after trying them for a while and there appeared
no improvement among them
- that then we should be discouraged
from giving them any more
- assistance, which he
hoped might not be the case* But if they should
- make
improvement they wanted to know if their Brothers
and friends
- the Quakers would then continue to help
them or no. They
- were answered we were in hopes
that if they were but industrious and sober
- and minded our
counsel & our friends instruction that stayed with them
-
- the Counsel pretty soon broke up after this this appear'd to
be
- but an artfull Query to draw from Friends a promise
altho it might be but a
- slender one yet they would hold
them bound to their engagements
- thereby as tho there were or had
been the strongest
- covenants, so the Counsel ended. In the
afternoon our friend
to a pretty good
- degree of satisfaction, having before at the
Counsel mentioned it & the
- appointed time—
This morning took a puke of our Indian Doctress’s
preparing which pretty
- soon work'd me, that & other things
seem'd to help me for this being my
- fit day it ended & felt
nothing of it, the rest of the day was by some
- of us employ'd
in preparing letters to forward to our friends, & others
- on
concerns to our business.
This day held the last Counsel with the
got there between 9 & 10, time enough to receive the
- Friend
with part of our goods, after dinner rec'd the rest in a broken
- Waggon goods none damaged. Between 2 & 3 the Counsel met
there
- appearing at first as tho we should be frustrated one
of our having
- return'd from visiting the Interpreter
- Read
ging, a young man was apply'd to who came with
-
by importunity by some of our company
- he was one of
of their People a very Comely Genteel modest person
who
- it was said could Interpret very well, but had
not been accustomed to it,
- therefore modestly refused after some time the
Old Interpreter came altho
- he appeared a little in
-
incapable and after
- a little time appeared it with
repeating & Imprinting the former
- agreement
between Us and them relative to our farm &
things
- relative, to the carrying it on, which was now
drawn and signed by Us, with
- a request that if they
agree'd to them that their Chiefs would do so too,
- which
they accordingly did, We endeavor'd to impress
- their
Chiefs with the need there was for them to be kind to
our Young
- Men who stay'd with them for their good
and to watch over their young men
- andthat they should
not be abusive to them when they were in
- Liquor.
If they should what a grief it would be to their parents to
- hear
of any such things towards their sons, after we
- expressing what we felt on the Occasion the
Counsel
- concluded & we all returned to our old
quarters to Lodge for the last
- night.
This morning after breakfast, took our leave of our
- take their bid us farewell, had a solid opportunity
- with
leave of
them & parted not without considerable marks of respect
- from most more particularly from the women (who had all along
- discovered it by their strawberries & other
for our
- sustenance,) went to our friends station, in order where we came between 9 & 10 O’clock
to take our
- farewell of
at our usual
- time we all sat down in our little meeting
capacity to feel after, a little
- refreshment which some of
were favored with I believe, then took dinner at
-
-
drawn towards having a sitting infarewell opportunity
- with this people, there appear'd more of them
Women than
- we had seen together at one time before, it
might be to bid us farewell
- perhaps, notwithstanding
we seem'd to have cleared out with them Yesterday,
- tho not
very satisfactorily, we thought well of his
- proposition, they
were inform'd of it, and were willing, then we
- carried
seats for ourselves a little distance from the House &
sat
- down in the sun,
day was
- perfectly sober, they presently spread themselves
round about us on the
- ground, some sitting, others lying,
they in general sat quiet and still,
- during the time
were together we most of Us had to acknowledge much
- more to our satisfaction than yesterday’s at the close day, they
expressing
- their satisfaction with the opportunity partic
ly the women. Then return'd
- to our friends Home & got
our Horses ready for starting, when
- ready took a farewell
of our young friends with
- much affection, it being a time of not without
- Seriously reflecting
reflection upon these
- lonely situation but they were then we
mountedat on their
Station and Situation.
We left
faces toward the western country with full expectations
- of
seeing strange faces and meeting with new exercises. Road
- this afternoon
12 miles and lodg'd at Jacob
Shop tho it’s under the character of a Tavern, he is
- settled
on the
- Eighth, This morning started before sunrise rode
6 ½ between 6 and 7
- miles to and Breakfasted with
- Philips
ly
- unproved some
- The Eighth this morning started before sunrise rode
between 6 & 7
- Miles to
- Philips
ly
- improv'd some
-
- Here being
six of these farmers setted together, having been brought
- up
with the Dutch, have an experimental knowledge of
farming business,
- but from our observation, their Original
disposition & habit remains
- even with them, for our
landlords wife was an even for their himself
habits he
being possessed of considerable share
- of their national
- Indhabits of indolence, he having a white man
a Tenant, who
- gives him one half that’s rais'd, which
appears chief of their
- subsistence.
The Eight started before sunrise rode to breakfast
6 ½ miles
- with at an inn,
and when we had breakfasted mounted mounted &
- rid
11 miles to Major
our horses & got some victuals ourselves, this
- morning
ride altho thro a new setted country yet very considerably
-
Timothy in
- a exceedingly luxuriant there appearing to
be no
- little no great difference in the Height of the Wheat in the
- adjoining
Lott & it, so that where we Breakfasted the man had
- considerable of his ground under such like Grass
and said he believed
- they it would yield him three Tons
to the Acre-- After we
- had eaten at Danfords went
- to with the
3 miles from unfavorable Circumstance
- attending this
interview, there being but few at Home having gone to
- the Lake to fish & hunt, there it appearing best to take
- this opportunity altho with but two of their Chief & a few others who
- we thought might communicate what little we had
thought of doing for them
- to the Rest, the Interpreter
seem'd so Interested for the Indians welfare
- made
no' doubt but that it would be done; they appearing
not satisfied
- because these we did not offer them enough
or as much as they
- wish'd, for he had imbib'd an
that we proposed to
- bring them Oxen & from that
notion neglected Laying out their own money
- for Oxen when
received but a few months back, the Interpreters name
- on account
account of them for their welfare seemingly
- with
a great deal of sincerity, appearing to be a man of inte
grity, he
- Inform'd they were so improvident as to
Sell their Blankets which they
- received of Government Annually
for Rum before they would get home, this
- was the
-
than to sell
- their Cloathing just as winter approaches and
that their money they
- received appeared a greater
injury than Service, that it was more
- frequently as
is the saying Eaten up before they received it than
- otherwise
that they have to redeem their Guns of the White
people when
- received they receive their money. After our opportunity
- with
them return'd and staid all Night at
This morning the Eighth Ninth I got a mile on our
way by
- Sunrise, Breakfasted at
- 15 miles, after which we rode to
12 miles who lives about two miles from the
ferry
- Road over the Lake
-
-
after which went near the settlement of the
5 miles to
for about nine mile we rode on the
-
reservatio sold to
- Government last year, Surveyors
employ'd now in dividing it into
- Plantations Lotts
the rest of the way, except near
- Geerhearts on the
Military Lands, very little improv'd
- but, mostly in the hands of
very little improv'd
Land
- Jobers who purchased them of the
-
public Securities were
- purchased of them even at a
very inconsiderable price - We were inform'd
- that
there were but of very few of the Original who
- retain'd their
Lands. We found the
two & an half Miles from
- the place we now are were at, at
our request,
- & to the Wigwam of a young couple the man an
his wife of the
They who said they spoke pretty good
- English, his having the
language so well was the reason of his being among
- them
as an Interpreter for them having their Language
- likewise. We mentioned to him our business
them together in a few hours, but he inform'd us they
were gone
- a Hunting & could not come be got together before
tomorrow
- about ten O’clock, which would disconcerted our plan
very much
- intending to have moved forward toward after the Op when our business was gone
through with them, there
- were a few of them at home
- however therefore had them summoned together, but
- there
when together there number being so inconsiderable
- that
it could not be satisfactory nor best to go into the business
- with them at this time, & tomorrow being first day we could
not fully
- approve of Meeting them on business then, least
the people round about
- might take occasion to vilify Us.
Under these several considerations
- concluded to stay in the
place & meetfor them to meet Us
- about sunrise Second
- Left them they were to send for the rest
that we
- might see them all together, then Left them and
returned to our Pilot’s
- to his house where we proposed to him
& wife if they
- were free, of staying till we had the proposed our
opportunity
- with the Indians they seemed free - When we
found we were like to stay in
- the neighborhood tomorrow
our friend
having a
- meeting with them in the afternoon & let them
know it desiring that
- they would acquaint all
their People thereof, When we returned several of
- the neighbors
were there, acquainted them of our meeting tomorrow
- morning at our Quarters, our Landlords & Wife’s liberty having
been
- previously gotten, they having liv'd at
in
- Pennsylvania untill about seven years ago then
Pack'd up their alls having
- & three Children one Daughter married who with their family
ever seeing the place till they came, the Indians
gave them
- the liberty of setting on their land at
that time it was There’s last
- fall it where he now lives
- but last fall it was purchased with it it’s in that
part
- purchased by Government last fall, but he is to
keep his title
- improvements by paying the
- when sold~
and first of the week, at the time
appointed several of the neighbors came,
- & set down
with us in silence under the shade of a Tree to a good
- degree of satisfaction. One of the neighboring women
informed us she had
- been brought up in the Neighborhood
- was
- a
had been a member of our Society that his Parents
were now
- members, they had liv'd in this neighbor
place about four years,
- that he was now gone to
the Westward and had not yet returned. Her heart
- seem'd much
affected, & seem'd under concern because she knew not
- where
her lot would be cast, expressing her satisfaction if there
was
- but a meeting near her, at parting
house, if we could but, expressing her the satisfaction it
- would
be to her. We near the time appointed went to attend
the
- appointed meeting with the Indians, when we got
there sat down with the
- company of our Landlord & a few
others that was at the meeting at his
- house in the morning, which
ended without the Company of any of our Indian
- Brethen friends oh not an individual attended. Even the
- interpreter abseanted himself which we thought more singular
- manifested
- there a singular indifference toward Us as he had, had a
- Colledge
- sitting together we went to our quarters~
Showery morning which was acceptable
- it now having had the appearance of a Drowth, there having
fell
- but little Rain since we came into the Indian
Country. got Breakfast and
- setted with our landlord for
the time of our Quartering with him, who
- seem'd much
more moderate in his Charges than most of the places
- were where we partook of their provision, he & Wife
- making Us heartily treating us with Civility & Respect
- finishing with the best they had & that very good, she
having received
- her instruction education near Philadelphia
is not to be so much
- marveled at. After which we Bid our
-
place
- appointed, they having not as yet come neither were
many more expected than
- these were on Seventh day when
we left them, after some time there sachem
-
one Chief & one Warrior, with four of their
- women which made
up the Counsel, they inform'd us that whatever proposition
- we
made them should be delivered to the rest, so that they were
- willing
to receive what we had to say, We found them pretty much in
- the same situation with the treated them made
them nearly the same offers, which they
- said they were glad to
hear from Us and should in the fall send some of
- their Boys to
us to school. Besides Educating and learning several of
- their
lads trades, we told both these and the
have some axes & hoes sent them
- in the Spring, their situations
are very similar as to subsistence having
- their whole dependence
on Wild game and fish both are very plenty, these
- last have
the advantage of the others there so being so near the
- Lake
their huts standing near the brink, at any time they
go out may
- in a short time take a dozen or two of very
large fat eels, much fatter in
- the opinion of such of the
Company as had been acquainted with this kind of
- fish
than they had ever seen before, as well as much larger;
- they
take them with the spear, and so they do the Pike which
which is
- also of a superior size, between 3 & 4 feet in
length, to weigh
- near 20 weight. We now left them
2 ½ miles from our
- Quarters, to their to
-
7 Miles more to the ferry rode near the lake, land of a very
- different kind
from the county in general having a Barren appearance, the
- timber almost
altogether white oak, the Timber short trees low,
- and not as
we got to the ferry and in the turn we took to
- the Indian
-
twenty
- seven and an half Miles when if we had kept
the common road we should not
- have rode no more than
Twenty. ThereforeAt this ferry the keeper
-
Harrisburg in
- Pennsylvania, we found a very convenient boat in which
the ferryman said he
- had carried thirty head of Cattle
at a time. There was seven of Us in
- Company with Horses
who all got into the wind being fair we were just
- twenty
Minutes by my watch from the time we started from
one shore
- untill we got out on the opposite one the distance
by measurement we were
- inform'd had been taken when
the waters were frozen one & a quarter
- miles & some
perch. Now on this shore we met with another
- Pennsylvan
ian of the name of
the family of the Richardsons who were at the
- Valley forge have
been settled here six years. This ferry appears to be a
- place
of much business as its the alone passage by land to the Western
- country, the lake forty miles in length & in some places
four in
- Breadth. Here we Bated our horses on hay &
got dinner, having in our
- company the Post who
rides from
to keep his Company notwithstanding it rain'd, having
began
- since our getting over the ferry, he proposing reach
ing should was in
- distance
fourteen miles; therefore mounted our horses in the rain and
- as we rode the rain increased so that it may be said we
had indeed a very
- Rainy Ride all the way till we got
to port. This land between the two lakes
- call'd the Military Tract unsettled except a
very few new beginnings, of a
- good fertile appearance Timbered
not unlike our best land the
- land in our Country of the best
Quallity
-
- maple, ash, not so lofty as it hath been in many other parts
- we have of this county we rode thro, at
night. This place it seems takes its
- name from a town in
Switzerland which it resembles, standing at the north
- West
corner of the Lake which is said to be forty
miles long, two
- miles short of the
communication from Albany into this country
- from
Albany up the
banks of the lake several well looking Buildings of
-
Houses and Stores put up & more going up there it’s
- believ'd
that it will be a place of considerable trade here we saw
a
- Vessel upon the Stocks it was said to be a Shallop, to be kept
employ'd in
- trading on this Lake there being a town at the
upper end of it which they
- call
this morning rainy. Did not start untill we
had our Breakfast then the rain
- abated, prepared for
moving by this time it cleared away, the post still
- our guide. We had a pretty comfortable
ride much more so than we expected
- from the representation
we received of this part of the Road, whenever it
- became the
subject of conversation being represented as Intolerable
- the dry weather having been much in our favor in this
respect as in many
- others, this morning’s ride to
which is said to be tho we Rode a new road which
- is suppos'd to be much more than
16 miles, This lake is said to be 24 Miles
- in
length. We don’t find this off from This town situated as
- Geneva lying
near the brink of the Water but
on rising ground from the Lake nearly half a mile in the
- town several showey Houses,
-
for a
- considerable distance back, by which the buildings
the Houses
- stand; there’s now 25 frame besides several log houses Erected, here
stands
- their Courthouse. This is called Ontario County.
having put up at a public
- house & got Dinner, went to
-
West were dispos'd to receive friends offers. We find him
not
- to live in Opulence not even equal to what we had
expected, but he has
- a appears a sober discreet well behaved
person & informed Us
- that Indians generally favor'd our
Offers;
after after a short opportunity, concluded we
- would
leave this business for a few days and recruit our selves
among
- our friends at
- now had now come to the end of his Journey, (having now
come to
- us again
the Lake about
- three miles back had found one of those
friends he came to this
- Country to see his name
-
having for our pilot
-
The place where we
- propos'd going to in about five miles on the
way parted,
-
other three of Us kept with our Pilot & in five miles
- more
got to his father’s after Riding from Canadarkway
10 miles &
- nearly as bad road as we have found in this Country.
After breakfast, the friend
-
with Us
- to
where we was kindly received by himself & wife as we
- were
-
at the friends where we staid last Night
Here we find five families of our wandering friends
seated on in what
- was seven years
ago a Wilderness, four hundred miles from their native
- homes & their kindred, in Boston or
- Massachusetts state, on land of a
superior kind, having now, fields of
- Indian Corn, Wheat,
Grass, Buildings where they seem to enjoy a plenty
- of
the things of Life in a plain Homespun manner; their
land seems
- wonderfully adapted to Indian Corn & Grass. They take
a piece of their
- lofty timbered land in the winter &
spring, along Cut the
- Timber off by the first of the Fifth Month
when they with the Hoe
- only without any other Operration
put the corn in about
- three feet each way, the Customary
- of the Corn way of planting in distance of planting their Corn, this
- seems to be the
main part of the Labour for a Crop, then cut up some
- few
weeds that comes up among the Corn, rarely doing any
more to it,
- not even hilling itself, till the Crop comes
to perfection; this practice
- was performed to a field of
nearly ten acres of
fall last was cloth'd with living
- timber now is in
a beautiful field of Corn planted after the
- twentyeth
of the fifth Month, their corn yealds them from twenty
to
- forty bushels to the Acre by their information. In this
settlement is many
- more families professers with friends from the
same place and places
- adjacent. This Country is divided
in Countys, the Counties in to townships
- of six miles
Townships in to lots of 320 Acres
- each numbered so many lots seven
years ago last fall the purchase of this
- Township was
for 1152 pounds, now one of these lots will sell
-
increase
- of this Country.
- Fourteenth our friend
Comstocks
at or near the time they met
- & had a favor'd opportunity at
the close intimated he had desired
- them who were or had
disown'd or stood so, with those who are members,
- which was
our friend his a mind, of having
a meeting at the place we were at
-
information thereof
- given to friends and Neighbors, who met
(and our friend had an open
- time among opportunity with them, at the
- close of the after which he mentioned a desire of
- an he had
some few of having an opportunity with those who were
- mem
bers in company with together with such as stood
- disown'd.
They accordingly collected into a together when
- he their
state & situation seem'd to be opened pretty
- clearly, setting
before them the great danger, without living near to that
- divine
principal within them of their becoming a Reproach to the
Name
- they made profession of, the condition of their Children
- up around
- them by the way would go of into Irregularities and Immoralities
- and thereby suffer great loss, and for want of this Hedge which
has such a
- tendency of Keeping sweet and Clean, there would be a
falling into one
- thing after another to the great grief of such
among them as beheld the
- great beauty there was in holiness
endeavoring to impress their minds with
- the absolute necessity of
feeling deeply by after help, & that their
- they might have their eyes might
be
content short of a
- reconciliation with their friends again that
which would much
- contribute to their welfare, with their
-
Gospel, in a Pious
- Godly Life, by this they might become
bright shining lights in this place,
- and be as Salt
having a good savor among the People. It appear'd a
- time of deep thoughtfulness to many minds, that and
cannot but
- believe there are a considerable number who
are under concern on account of
- their dangerous situation
who are well concern'd friends. After noon
- return'd to
-
with them at
after some further information from him respecting our
- Business
further West, returned to the Tavern where we yesterday
put
- up
There seems a doubt in some of our minds whether there’s
necessity of going
- further west or returning homewards, not
having received
- answers to the Queries, to the different tribes
last spring that they
- have that they are desirous we should
assist them in the way
- propos'd in the Queries, except
- who with a few others who incline to his counsel is we are
- inform'd requests
Friends’ assistance, this
- circumstance turning up as we
so that we postpone the resulting
- untill some future
time bearing the subject weighing it in our
- minds
until, we may be nearly ready for a move forward, in
- there being need of two or three days detention in this place
on several
- accounts~
this day chiefly taken up in getting our Horses
shoes examined & shod
- for which we had to pay fourteen
shilling for shoeing a Horse
- toward at
-
-
two
had every little
- interruption from Crowds of Company which
on some accounts made the place
- agreeable, but the reason
why it was so made an dispos'd Us to
- seek a new one, their
poor provision & inattention (which we were
- witnesses
unto) as from information was the Occasion of our happening
- with respect to the little company at this place, however
our
made our stay here one Nightmare.
took breakfast with at with our landladys,
- which was on very bad made Coffee and Toast without Butter
or
- Cheese having neither, after which prepar'd for a move for new Quarters.
- Settled the Bill and for this Breakfast paid 2/0, then mounted
our horses
- & rode to
- and we went on our way to
kindly received by him &
- Wife, being glad as they said
when they met with any from near
- Philadelphia
the Woman a member of all their Children which
is seven,
- the Man disowned for some transaction in the
difficultys during the
- Commotions when friends
in this Land respecting
- War when many more were set and still stands as he now does
Since my being among these people in their settlement
have felt an exercise
- on my mind on their Truths
as well as their account; many of
- their Wif Wives
and more of their Children having an actual
- Right
in society they all
here they be
- without any outward Helps, nothing more
likely than for them to fall into
- Irregularities of one
kind or another, till they bring Reproach on
- themselves
- Still, under all such Immoralities let it be ever so Heinous
- to
in the Eyes of all Sober people of whatever
- denomination
yet still they are members, and are distinguished from
- other denominations of the place by Quakers, to the very
great reproach of
- the Holy profession of the Truth which
we hold forth to the World that I do
- verily believe it’s a
matter which does deeply concern Society least they
- become
a Blemish and Spot in the Church, and instead of
becoming
- Lights to the people of the place where they are planted in will
- be as Blocks & hindrences in the way of such who are
of enquiring minds
- after the way to Truth & Peace
as I make no doubt there be such in this
- place, as well
as in most others, That they may be helped with a little
- with a little help is the very great desire of my mind.
There we
- staid all Night, with with
our friend
-
we had a satisfactory meeting this morning, most of
neighboring people came
- and sat Commendably still and quiet
several came from the Town, as our said
- friend came through town
his company
seem'd to admire that
- it had not been held in town some of
whom were the principal people of the
- place, offering the
Court House if he would appoint a meeting in the
- afternoon
which they seem'd desirous of. Our friend seem'd to incline
- so to do & accordingly notice was given & four o’clock the time
- appointed to meet. Near the the time several of our friends
went
- in company with our said friends to the meeting
who said it was to their
- satisfaction, a considerable number
of the people attending of
- the town attending. There’s not any
meeting of any denomination near this
- place.
Eighteenth, This
- Started from Lodg'd
- at
last Night Canadadarkway with our faces
set Homeward, breakfasted
- at our friend
Englethen from thence
20 miles to the Head of the Lake
- where we Dined
at Thence to
6 miles but thinking we might reach some
- further rode
3 miles and staid at
Night where our
- horses fair'd poorly if we had but
staid at the other stage three miles
- short, horses
might faired pretty well.
well Light prepar'd and
- mounted rode to
20 miles,
- here is several cross'd the
three times on which this
- settlement is, whatever
inducement of the founder of this town is a
- secret to us, why it should be on so extreme
unfertile a Soil, equal to the
- meanness of our
Gloucester Pine Land for several miles distance
- to be sure yet there’s a narrow strip of middling good
Bottom
- near the Brook on each side, but in our
opinion no ways to compare with the
- greater
part of the Bottom land in general here’s
several
- good well looking Frame Houses, our Stage
-
- Breakfast & Dinner in the same Meal between
eleven & twelve, again
- mounted, in about one Mile
distance stopp'd at
- to the
- Place
friend who a few years ago was in good esteem, he acts
- in
the capacity of surveyor and sits in the seat as second
judge of
- the
House at near the
- brink of a small Lake, appearing to us
very singular, were told its half a
- mile from one shore
to the Opposite one, nearly bound, that in some
- parts
had been fathomed to the depth of 40 Fathom without
reaching
- bottom, no visible streams in nor out
of it multitudes of fish of various
- kinds some to be seen
in deep water of a large kind; lands round about
- Laid
out 12 Acre lots as tho navagible water stream a short
- distance from this William son in about Building
his House to
- reside live in, its cause of admiration to see
the Choice of
- this Wise Rich Man, who having such
an extent of excellent Land, yet make
- choice of so extreme
poor soil to seat himself on ,
- this in the
the county town, from hence we went to the
18 miles, went two miles East of
- this place to a little town
to lodg this afternoons ride most of the way on
- a Soil
producing little else but Pitch Pine of very small size
Cross a
- very high hill, the keeper of the Inn’s name
-
kept,
- Past rides to here had very good accommodation for
selves
- & Horses
started pretty early and Cross'd the
at the
we saw a large flock of Ducks, they forc'd up the
- stream
-
much to pass them after
- which stopt in full view near
the water edge they still remaining in the
- water
14 miles we rode this morning to Breakfast at the
-
land
- which is called the Hazel Bottom covered with
little else, cros'd the
-
15
- miles cross'd the stream
at settled moved
- here
from the Jerseys, he having been a native of
- Greenwich,
Cumberland County in Jersey, Not having rode very
far
- Twenty second this day got in early, took supper early
&
- went to bed, that we might be prepar'd for an early
start in the morning
- having a very disagreeable tedious
Journey in view tomorrow agreeable to
- the representation
from all who knew anything about it we having
- prevailed upon our this nights landlord to go with us and be pilot partly from
- importunity, partly on inclination
and considerably upon our prosess of
- rewarding him
having the main part of his families subsistence
- there being Eleven of them, and
- Travellers subsistence, except meat to bring thro
this Wilderness on
- Horseback, the Moon a little
after its full, at twelve o’clock
-
one mounted our horses &
- set out
the Landlord our Pilot, the first
part of our journey prety good which
- suited our
the heavy Drowsy disposition we were in half
- past five in the afternoon came to
by the
-
more, Bated three times in
- this days ride the subsistence
and our Horses had this rout
- through we procured at
the Widows Lindsley, yesterday, second
- time Bated
at
started in the morning at a very suitable stage in
- point of distance
but in every other way miserable, having neither
- food
for Man nor Horse, of an Infamous character & of such a
- nature that Travellers dreads the making a night stage
of this place having
- reports on both sides that he’s both
a murderer & Robber. By the time
- we got to
sonsboth
- our selves and Horses were thoroughly fatigued
not having seen any other
- house but the sd house
until we came within about three miles of our
- Quarters, it’s call'd the Wilderness for twenty miles
of the way
- mountainous part very stony, other parts
very Miry on
- greater part of the way has
an appearance nearly alike much of the
- Land
we have pass'd through in the Neighboring
Country would do well
- to be settled upon settle on. The
Top of this Mountain pretty
- levil until we came
near the decent, where we have when we
- descend very fast for between some more than a
Mile, while at
- the Top & in the decent saw Vapor
Vapors rising and became
- Clouds
below the Tops of the Mountains.
Did not rise very early, examining our
Horses found mine the back swollen,
- so that it would
not be safe to Ride it, therefore concluded to clothe
- her only with the saddle & other appurtenances & I
too take it a
- foot to our friends at
was
- about twenty miles, we thought it right now
to part
- went concluded to go with our friend
-
before we seperated made him a rewarded
him
- with better than four Dollars, then we con
cluded we were great
- gainers, without him we
should have been in continual Anxiety about
- the way both as to the best as well as the right
likewise the distance,
- between One & Two came to
-
House. I having walk'd cheaf chief of the way the other
- two
spelling me by turns came this morning
20 miles, this morning
- crossed the
Waters several
- times, once crossed the
- Waters a little above where the two waters unite.
We here on the south side of the Wilderness find
there harvest for the most
- part gathered, with all
a wet harvest, whilst on the North
- Harvest
- not no Grain Harvested season very dry
Here we heard of singular circumstance of
- Person
-
-
of the Loyalsock about twenty
- above the fork
when his horse rear'd fell back upon his Rider
near a
- Ripple Shortly was carried into a
deep hole where an eddy
- drew him
under, and among Trash of Timber lying under
Water,
- notwithstanding the earliest search made
by the person where he lodg'd
- having but just
before at the brink of the water parted and return
ing
- home from the water. in his own country He appears to be a Person
of
- considerable note, also of large very exten
sive property,
- having here, having Wife &
family at Germantown or in
- that neighborhood.
Also another feeling account of
an Englishman a Friend who
last
- Winter thought in time of snow on the ground
would take his Gun & go
- out to try if he could
not kill a Deer not intending as he said of
- staying longer than three or four hours, took
three Dogs, his Company,
- pretty soon found him
self bewildered, when he wandered for four days
- & three Nights in which time wore his shoes out
then his Stockings.
- kill'd one of the dogs in his
Extreme Necessity roasted some and eat of
- it
wandering until had no more ability left
- laid prepared himself for Death, when
his
- neighbors who were in search of him
found him
after Dinner rode to
- 20 miles or nearly where we divided two of us put up
at
with
Chester County above two years ago ---
went to
15 miles where we din'd said friend follows the
- Tanning
Business is the son of John Loydd a Public friend
from thence
- we rode to
Where we
- lodg'd this house thirty by twenty five
two story high without a single
- pane of Glass
or any provision to put any in this afternoon rode
13
- miles
started without breakfast rode
17 miles to
Breakfasted after which went to
-
11 miles and Bated
- from thence to
13 mils
- to & Lodged
lay by on account of to recruit our
Horses & Selves.
started rode through
9 miles, from thence to the
17
- miles to Dinner from thence to
16 miles
started road to Philadelphia
in 25 miles, & after noon reach'd home
-
12 miles
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-Native Americans and Quakers
-The transcribers and editor attempted to render the author’s orthography and - grammar as they appear on the page of his journal, even when the author’s own - spelling and usage are inconsistent. Additionally, many questions remain about - spelling the names of his Quaker acquaintances, individual Native Americans who - populate his journal, and Indian villages and towns. The transcribers and editor - attempted to remain faithful to the author’s Anglicized spellings in all cases. -
-Many of my friends having been solicitous
for the privilege of a perusal of
- the minutes I
preserved in the course of my late visit to the
Western
- Indians, I have been induced to devote
a small portion of leisure time to
- the purpose of
attempting such an arrangement of them, as
would
- convey, intelligibly, both the route we
took, and the various circumstances
- attending
upon our journey.
The judicious reader will doubtless make
proper allowances for the
- difficulty there is in
composing an entertaining diary over that of a
- history, where circumstances are not necessarily
confined to day and
- time.
As a suitable introduction to my Journal, I
deem it proper to insert the
- following letter. It
will serve to show the intercourse which had
- previously taken place between the
- Committee
some of the
- Indian chiefs of the Western tribes.
-We
have received you speech from the hand of our
friend,
-
husbandry, that you were so kind to send to his
care,-all
- in good order.
Brothers, it is our wish that the Great Spirit
will enable you to
- render to your Red Brethren
that service which you appear to be so
- desirous
of doing them, and which their women and
children are
- so much in need of.
Brothers, we will try to use the articles you
have sent us, and if
- we should want more, we
will let you know it.
Brothers, we are sorry to say that the minds
of our people are not
- so much inclined towards
the cultivation of the earth as we could
- wish
them.
Brothers, our Father, the President of the
United States, has
- prevented our traders from
selling liquor to our people, which is
- the best
thing he could do for his Red Children.
Brothers, our people appear dissatisfied, be-
cause our traders do
- not, as usual, bring them
liquor, and, we believe, will request our
- Father
to let the traders bring them liquor, and if he
does,
- your Red Brethren are all lost forever.
Brothers, you will see, from what we have
though we hope the Great Spirit will
- change the
minds of our people, and tell them it will be
- better for them to cultivate the earth than to
drink whiskey.
Brothers, we hope the Great Spirit will per-
mit some of you to come
- and see us,- when you
will be able to know whether you can do
- any-
thing for us or not.
Brothers, we delivered you the sentiments of
our hearts, when we
- spoke to you at
and shall say nothing
- more to you at present.
We now take you by the hand, and thank
- you
for the articles you were so kind to send us.
This letter having claimed the solid consider-
ation of the
meeting
- held in the city of
of 2d month, 1804
and minute was, at that time, the result of their
- deliberations:
The subject of a visit to the Indians, agreea-
bly to the desire they
- express in the foregoing
letter, being solidly considered, the
- Committee
are united in judgment, that visit to them at
this
- time would be the most likely means of ob-
-
- in, and enable Friends to ascertain what would
be the best course
- to pursue to be useful to them.
The following Friends are therefore
- nominated
to that service, and requested to proceed in the
- visit as soon as convenient, to wit:
- Ellicott,
-
They are also authorized to take one or more
suitable persons with
- them to reside amongst the
Indians, to instruct them in agriculture
- and
other useful knowledge, if there should appear
to be a
- prospect of such an establishment being
beneficial to them.
My name having been entered upon the minute,
and thus placed upon this very
- interesting appoint-
ment, was to me a subject of much thoughtful-
ness
- and exercise; and believing finally that the
peace of my own mind was
- concerned in a pas-
sive submission to the judgment of my friends,
I
- accordingly made provision for the journey,
and on the
home; first
- witnessing those sensations due to
human nature, in an affectionate
- farewell to my
family connexions and friends; rode to
Mills
from whence we
- proceeded on our journey; taking
with us
ciety, who has concluded to
- accompany us, for
the purpose of residing with the Indians, in order
- to instruct them in agriculture; reached
27 miles. The weather cold, with some
- snow.
Nothing remarkable occurred, except that, in
crossing a miry
- glade, my horse fell and threw
me; neither of us received a hurt.
Bade farewell to my relatives
and connexions at
land's
- Ferry
day. The high wind
- preventing us from cross-
ing the
-
found good accommodations, and were kindly
entertained.
Crossed the
ing,
- passed over the
- the village of
through the gap of the
Ridge
- river
house of our friend,
tance of 29 miles. This
- day's journey has been
highly entertaining; mountain rising above
- mountain, and farm above farm, till we reached
the summit of the
a most extensive and
- beautiful prospect of the
country, both on the east and west side of
- the
mountain, was full in view. From the top of
this commanding
- eminence, we were the specta-
tors of a beautiful natural scene. A cloud,
- small
in its appearance, passing nearly upon a level
with our
- elevation, cast its shadow upon the
in extent. The
- precise shape of the cloud, with
all its indentations, was visible in the
- shadow;
the indentations bearing the same enlarged pro-
portions, with
- the shadow, to the cloud.
An extraordinary deceptibility in human
vision is evident, in a view of the
-
river
river, in the
- estimation of some of our company,
did not appear to be further from us
- than the
distance of half a mile and it proved to be not
nearer than
- three or four miles.
Passed across the
a
- body of excellent limestone land. This valley
is several hundred miles in
- length, and general-
ly from 20 to 25 miles in width, lying between
the
-
Many parts of it retain to this day the
- name of
barrens, though now heavily timbered, being at
the time the
- land was taken up, covered with
scrubby bushes. On our way we crossed a
- small
river called the
day of the week, we attended the
of Friends
the day, and lodged at night, at the house of our
friend,
Mountain
our horses faltered this morning, having been
too well fed at last
- night's quarters.
This day travelled 31 miles, and lodged
ing indifferent entertainment.
-
and
-
river
several long and
- narrow valleys, which were well
timbered and rich; we have also passed
- large
tracts of mountainous, uncultivated, and doubt-
less never to be
- cultivated land. It is said deer
are very plenty in the tract through which
- we
have passed to-day, but none were discovered by
us. Upon some of
- the mountains, and also in
the valleys, we observed a few tolerably
- well-
looking farms; we have also noticed several
small sugar camps in
- the course of this day's
journey.
Continued our journey,-forded the
-
mac
-
Mountain
- Branch Mountain
-
-
ghany Mountains
A snow has been falling for some hours upon
the remains of a former snow ten
- inches in
depth. Our journey to-day has been very en-
tertaining,
- notwithstanding the severity of the
on climbing up and descending precipices.
There is much in a journey over these moun-
tains to puzzle, as well as
- amuse, the naturalist.
Many extraordinary natural curiosities have
- fallen under our observation, in the diversified
appearance of mountains,
- rocks and valleys. We
have passed to-day the most ponderous, craggy
- and
over-jutting rocks we have heretofore met with,
many of which were
- elevated several hundred
feet above our heads, and seemed to threaten
- us
with impending danger; which was not a little
magnified, in our
- apprehensions, from observing
cast bodies of rock, which had evidently
- tum-
bled from their lofty summits into the valleys.
Had we been
- disposed to indulge fancy, we
might have figured to ourselves, in a view
- of
these rude mountains of rocks, many of those
descriptions met with
- in Roman, Greek or
Egyptian history, of amphitheatres, obelisks,
- pyramids, &c. &c; whilst many others exhibit-
ed such regular, wavy
- appearences, interspersed
alternately with oaks and pines, and soil of
- various hues, as seemed to challenge the painter
with his diversified
- shades of coloring. And could
we have observed here goats, white bears
- and
reindeer, with now and then a human being
clothed in skins and
- furs, and with weather a
little colder, we might, perhaps, have been
- led
to suppose ourselves in Lapland. A few settle-
ments are made in
- this tract, which are mostly
upon these mountains-several were seen by us.
We also
- observed seats erected in the branches
of the trees by the hunters, twenty
- feet in height,
being concealed stations for the purpose of shoot-
ing
- deer at the Salt Licks. We have also seen
several flocks of turkeys and
- pigeons in vast
numbers.
Travelled thirty miles upon the
ghany
- Mountains
Ordinary. We have
- to-day passed through land
heavily timbered, tolerably level, and said to
- be
rich and clear of stone; of this, the snow pre-
vented us from
- judging. We also crossed over that
part of the
eastern and western
- waters of our continent-
the streams all bearing a right hand
- direction:
Near this part of the mountain, our road led us
through the
- most beautiful and lofty forest of
spruce and pine I ever saw. This forest
- is call-
ed the Shades. The trees are generally from
108 to 180 feet in
- height, with a body not
more than 12 inches in diameter at the surface
- of the earth.
We also forded one of the branches of the
-
The principal ridges which we
- passed are called
by the mountaineers the
its sharp elevation,) the
-
- that many years ago, a white man and a negro
who were hunting together,
- accidentally fell in
with an Indian upon this ridge who was armed;
- both the negro and the Indian betook them-
selves to trees, presented their
- guns at each
other, and fired at the same moment, and both
fell dead.
- Thier images are cut upon the trees
behind which they fell, as a memento of
- the
circumstance. The ridge has ever since been
called the
Deer and turkies are numerous upon these
mountains. The hunters have in many
- places
erected seats, as heretofore described, for the pur-
pose of
- shooting deer.
Over the greater part of our journey to-day
we have found snow two feet in
- depth. A tolera-
ble track is however beaten for us by a descrip-
tion
- of pedlars, who pass by the name of Packers.
These people carry on a
- considerable trade be-
tween the
in
in the western
- part of that State.
They take with them upon horses, bags of
flax, which article they purchase
- at
a low price; this they
- dispose of at an advance,
and in return carry salt, for which they are
- well
paid at
Packer, having under his direction half a dozen
- loaded horses. These animals on meeting travel-
lers, do not turn aside from
- the beaten path. We
our way through the snow on their account.
This day we travelled thirty six
miles, passed through the villages
-
and
house
- of our friend,
- neighborhood of
the
a place called the
-
-
an entrenchment, cast up by
ton
- from a defeat given to a small force under his
command, (near the junction
- of the
and
superior body
- of French and Indians. We also
passed over the spot where
buried. His army of 1200
- chosen men was de-
feated near
attack by the Indians. We are told
- that the
-
sixty-four out of eighty-five of his officers; of
those who
- escaped was
- Aid-de-Camp to
feated army brought off their dead commander
and buried him in the
- road, in order to elude
the search of the Indians for his dead body.
It may be remarked that the land in the
neighborhood of the
level and the timber
- heavy, which indicates the
goodness of the soil. A considerable body
- of
of his death.
This day's journey has been very disagreeable
and cold, owing to a continued
- fall of snow.
We greatly regretted that the clouds prevented
a view of
- the
- of
ghany Mountains
into the country below. From this commanding
eminence
- the prospect, we are told, is beautiful
beyond description.
Our disappointment, however, was in some
measure recompensed by finding
- ourselves, when
upon the top of this hill, not only above the
clouds,
- but also so elevated in a cloud as to find
the particles of snow resembling
- fog; a proof
that large spits of snow, as they are called, ac
quire
- their size by an accumulation of particles
on their way from the clouds to
- the earth. I may
here mention, that the difficulties and fatigues
of
- our journey thus far have been rendered light
by the agreeable company of
- my brother-in-law,
-
Janney
and the latter in the
-
are
- complying with an appointment by our late
Yearly Meeting, in a visit to a
-
ing at
From the
rested at
as well as to
- ourselves. In the course of this
ing
the State of
tract of country called the
informed us that the Indian
- Chief,
-
of the
ing
- 1799
year. See
- Appendix.
-
hundred hunters, mostly of the
were hunting bears upon a branch of the
Beaver
miles of their settlement, and
- that a fall of snow
three feet in depth had placed them in a
- suffer-
ing condition, they not making provision at their
camp for such
- an event. In this situation the
Friends received the following letter from
-
hie
My dear Brothers, Quakers, listen to what
I now say to you. You
- always called us Indians
your brothers, and now, dear white
- brothers, I
am in distress, and all my young men who are
with
- me.
Brothers, will you please to help me to fill
my kettles and my
- horses' troughs, for I am afraid
my horses will not be able to
- carry me home
again.
Neighbors, will you please to give, if it is
my horses are not able
- to come after it
This is all I have to say at present.
-About the time of the reception of this letter,
some Friends, who resided
- nearest to their hunt-
ing camp, furnished them with a small supply
of
- provisions, which occasioned a second letter
from
Brother Quakers, I have a few more words
to say to you.
Brothers, I want that you should all know
what distress I am in.
Brothers, I want you to know I have got
help from some of my near
- neighbors.
Brothers, I would be glad to know what you
will do for me, if it is
- but a little.
Brothers, if you cannot come soon, it will
do bye and bye, for my
- belly is now full.
Brothers, I hope you have not forgot our
great fathers; when they
- first met, it was in
friendship; we are of the same race.
My Brothers, Quakers, I hope our friendship
will last as long as the
- world stands. All I have
to say to you now is, that I shall stay
- here until
two more moons are gone.
A considerable quantity of provisions were
furnished by the Friends to these
- Indians, for
hie
and man, making no difference for distinction
in rank.
These Friends were informed by
- several years ago he had sent a talk to the
dian Committee at
belt of wampum,
- worth fifty dollars, and had
long been waiting for an answer, but had
- not
yet received one.
In consequence of this information, a confer-
ence was held at
members of the
-
- convened there. The result was a request made
to four Friends of the
- neighborhood adjacent to
the Indian camp, to visit
that his talk was not received by
- the
Committee
came to their hands. Also, if he had any thing
now to
- say, he must write again to the
- Committee
During our stay at
portunity of seeing and admiring the richness
of the land between
- the foot of the
Mountains
people here
- seem to live in ease and plenty, and
there is scarcely a plantation that
- does not afford
stone coal and sugar trees. The coal is, I think,
- fully equal in quality to the best Liverpool coal,
and is generally used
- for fuel in the place of
wood; it being much easier and cheaper to pro-
-
withstanding
- that article is in great plenty here.
The sugar trees afford sugar in plenty to those
who are sufficiently
- industrious to make it. Many
families, we are told, make from five hundred
- to
a thousand pounds, and others make from eight-
een to twenty-five
- hundred weight, every spring.
The trees do not appear to be injured by
- draw-
ing off the sap. Molasses of excellent quality
is also made from
- this tree, and also small beer,
equal to any thing of the kind we met with
- at
this place, produced from the sap.
Shall I say, a proof of the instability of the
human mind, under the most
- bountiful supply of
temporal blessings, is to be drawn from the
- pre-
sent disposition of the inhabitants of
Blest with a country rich and fruitful, and
- posses-
sing other great natural advantages, there is
nevertheless a
- general feeling of discontent. The
new country beyond the
sale, has set the
- general mind afloat. We saw
people who were well settled, and who some
- years ago, too, had passed the meridian of life,
strongly affected with the
- prevailing mania.
The river
risen,
- we are greatly disappointed in our wish
and intention to take boat at
-
mouth of the
-
therefore,
- no other alternative than to prosecute
a long and doubtless fatiguing
- journey by land.
This morning, whilst we were preparing to pro-
quarters, for
- the purpose of accompanying us;
one of them a blacksmith, and a member of
- our
Society, the other a carpenter, and a steady young
man. They are
- under the pay of government,
and have engaged to reside in the
- neighborhood
of
and instruction of the Indians. Previous to
- our
leaving home, we had reason to expect that we
should be overtaken
- by these young men, and
were glad to have our expectations realized.
Again proceeding on our journey, we passed
through
hela River
rode about twenty-six miles to
inland town. Our ride to-day has been
- through
a very hilly country, tolerably rich, though badly
watered. It
- is said that one of the first survey-
ors of this tract of country, when
- questioned re-
specting its general appearance, replied,
like a large meadow filled with stacks of
- hay.
A comparison very apropos.
It is worthy of remark, that near
on the
fortification,
- including several acres of ground.
Mussel shells are yet very abnndant
- within the
intrenchment; and nearly opposite to the forti-
fication are
- two fish pots extending quite across
the river; they are made of stone,
- weighing gene-
rally from thirty to forty pounds. It is said that
the
- Indians who resided near the spot at the time
a traditional knowledge of the making of
- these
fish pots, nor of the erection of the fortification.
This day, in passing along, my mind has been
involved in much serious
- reflection on the im-
portance of our mission. And I trust I have in
no
- small degree felt the responsibility we are
under, not to men only, but to
- the Great Author
of all good, with an ardency not to be expressed,
- that we may indeed discharge the trust reposed
in us, and perform the duty
- required of us with
propriety.
Travelled thirty-four miles, and after
night were glad to reach the house of
- our friend
way we passed through the
- small villages of
lorstown
try
- through which we have travelled is generally
fertile and is mostly settled.
- In the course of
this day's ride, it is observable that limestone is
- to be found on the tops of the highest hills, but
is rarely found in the
- bottoms.
It may now be noted that the hills between
the
rally of a very singular description, having two
or three
- circular elevations, the surface of each
elevation flat for the space of
- twenty-five to
thirty feet in diameter. These flat appearances
extend
- quite around the circumference of the
hills, and seem to vie with art for
- regularity.
This day we crossed in a boat the great
- of awe. The slow and majestic movement of so
vast a body of running water,
- added to the re-
collection of the blood which had been spilt re-
lative
- to its shores, enforced the sensation. With
what obstinacy the poor Indians
- resisted the de-
signs of the white men in making settlements
west of
- this river! Having been driven further
and further westward, relinquished
- claim to tract
after tract, they here made a stand, fixed in a
- re-
solve, hitherto ye may come, but no farther!
This river shall be
- the boundary between us!
It shall limit your encroachment! The
- resist-
ance they made, and the blood which was split,
sufficiently
- prove the reluctance with which they
gave up the contest. The bottom upon
- the west
side of the river where we crossed, which was at
the junction
- of
- wide. In this bottom we observed a mound of
earth cast up to the height of
- fifteen feet, its
diameter at the base forty-five feet, and said to
be
- a burial place, but whether made by the In-
dians or not is not ascertained.
- It is said that
two miles below this is a square fortification
- containing several acres of ground, enclosed by
a bank of earth thrown up
- by art to the height
of eight feet.
Along the east shore of the river great de-
struction was made a few years
- ago by a species
of caterpillar which infested the trees. They
fed
- upon the leaves, and thus killed trees of
miles along the river, and reached about seven
- or eight miles from the shore.
This day being First-day, we rested
ourselves and horses, and were glad to
- have an
opportunity of attending a meeting of Friends,
called
ing is lately
- established here by
terly
- Meeting
this meeting, and most
- of them were new settlers.
The greater number had moved from
Carolina
or cabin, situated upon a beautiful hill, covered
with lofty
- timber. The difficulties and incon-
veniences of a new settlement, are
- rendered the
more easy and tolerable, where, as in the instance
of
- these Friends, a number of families, by agree-
ment, form a settlement in
- the same neighbor-
hood. In the afternoon several of them visited
us at
- our lodgings, and expressed sympathy with
us in our undertaking.
Proceeded on our journey; travelled
thirty-one miles and reached
of the day has been rainy,
- and the riding very
disagreeable. We have passed through a body
of
- land heavily timbered and very rich. There
are yet but few settlements made
- on this tract.
The first settlers in this new country erect small
log
- cabins, which they cover with split timber
called puncheons; these they pin
- to the rafters
in any part of the house. Their floors are hewn
out of the
- timber, and pinned to the sleepers
with wooden pins. They clear their land
- by
killing the timber, which is done by girdling the
trees, that is by
- cutting the bark around the
trees to the wood. They then proceed to
- the
cultivation of the soil, which produces them abun-
dant crops.
It is a common practice with them to sow
small grain upon the original
- surface, which is
harrowed in, and such is the looseness and
- light-
ness of the soil, there seems but little necessity
for the
- plough in raising the first crop of grain.
Our road led us across a water of the
- called
a river called
slow, silent progress to the
This day we travelled twenty-five miles
and reached
a very disagreeable day's
- ride. A continued fall
of rain, hail, and snow, and the road very miry
- and fatiguing to our horses. The land through
which we have passed not
- quite so good gene-
rally as that noted yesterday. We, however,
saw
- considerable bodies of excellent land, parti-
cularly of bottoms. Some of
- them were of far
greater extent than any we have heretofore met
with,
- being heavily timbered and very rich.
Scarcely a settlement has yet been
- made in this
marked, that in riding the last fifty miles, we
have scarcely seen
- one of any of the descriptions
of the feathered tribes, except owls. Birds
- love
to resort to the haunts of men.
Squirrels appear to be very numerous, and
are mostly of a deep black color.
- In the notes
made on crossing the
omitted to observe that the squirrels we
- saw
there were mostly red, and less in size than the
grey squirrels of
-
active
- squirrel I ever saw, and are called by the
mountaineers the Chipparee
- Squirrel.
We this day crossed several of the branches of
its name from Will, a
- famous Indian, who former-
ly had a town upon its banks called
Travelled twenty-five miles, crossing in
our way the main branch of
-
water called
-
ville
a town lately laid
- out on the
opposite to
- the junction of
- situation is very level and handsome, and will
doubtless command the trade
- of this new coun-
try. As we approached the
led us upon a hill of about 200 feet
- elevation,
upon which we rode for a distance of seven
miles; both upon
- our right and left hand, were
chains of hills about ten miles from us,
- in
- that upon which we travelled. The appearance
of these hills revived the
- recollection of the
mounds or burial places were to-day
- observed
by us.
This day we travelled thirty miles and
lodged at a small hut called
- Trimble's.
We ferried the beautiful
-
through a tolerable tract of land, till we reached
a creek called
-
creek to
- the end of this day's journey, a distance
of twenty miles, we rode through
- land which we
think preferable to any tract we have yet passed,
being
- more level, the timber heavier and the soil
very rich; many Germans are
- making settlements
here. Several mounds fell under our observa-
tion
- to-day; we also saw many deer; seventeen
of these were together in one
- wheat field.
Rode thirty-two miles, and at night
were permitted to lodge under a roof
- called
Gray's. We passed through
town lately laid out, and situated on the
- great
maps. Its size greatly disappointed me; an ac-
tive man
- may jump from one of its banks to the
other at
This town as well as the neighboring country,
is being rapidly settled by
- Germans. During
country, as well as the superior excellency of the
land, excited
- our admiration. Now and then a
prairie or natural meadow containing from
- fifty
to two hundred acres, apparently a perfect level,
having neither
- tree, shrub, stump, or stone, and
the soil the deepest black I ever saw in
- any com-
position of earths, attracted our notice. These
were
- surrounded by higher ground, covered with
lofty timber, extending to the
- next prairie, and
thus on till we reached a tract called the
Plains
by a view of the most beautiful scenery we had
yet met with.
- This tract is perfectly level; it is
situated upon the
length, and
- generally three miles in width, hav-
ing neither tree, stone or shrub, and
- composed
of the black earth above described; it is in part
under
- cultivation. About the centre of the
prairie is a circular mound of large
- diameter,
and about forty feet in height, cast up by art.
It is
- covered with lofty timber. The people
who cultivate these plains find them
- to produce
from eighty to one hundred bushels of Indian
corn, and from
- forty to fifty bushels of Indian
corn, and from forty to fifty bushels of
- wheat
per acre. They plant corn at the distance of
two and a half to
- three feet apart, having six to
eight stalks in a hill.
In the course of this day's journey we have
seen deer and turkeys in
- abundance, and for
pigeons.
Travelled fifteen miles and arrived at
the town of
tertained at Tiffin's
- tavern. The governor of
the State of
heard of our arrival, paid us a visit in the
- even-
ing and supped with us. We were pleased with
his friendly
- affability. In the course of this
day's short ride, our road led through a
- continua-
tion of the finest lands.
It is remarkable that there are uniformly
three gradations of elevation,
- from the banks of
the
one mile in extent, very level and covered
- with
black walnut, buck eye, blue ash, honey locust,
and sugar trees.
- Then upon another elevation
of about fifteen feet, a second bottom, which
- ex-
tends from one to two miles, covered with the
same descriptions of
- timber, though heavier, and
the trees standing nearer together. Then
- an-
other elevation about the same height, which ex-
tends for many
- miles, being a little inclined to
hills; the timber composed of a great
- variety.
People are settling fast upon this tract, and
several mills
- are already erected upon a creek
belonging to the
the
On our way we turned aside from our road
to view an ancient fortification.
- This fortifica-
and is shaped
- thus.
The bank of earth thrown up around the for-
tification is about six feet
- high, surrounded by
a ditch upon the outside, now four feet in width,
- and as many in depth. The bank is covered
with lofty timber, as is also the
- ground within
the intrenchment. There are several mounds
such as have
- heretofore been described in the
vicinity, and within the town of
-
is another
- fortification of which the diameter is
about 450 feet. Near this is the
- largest mound
thirty feet in height, and is a globular figure of
great
- regularity. Three miles below the town
of
Creek
of the following figure:
The banks of this ancient work are about six
feet in height. The eight small
- circles opposite
the openings or gates are mounds of considerable
- size.
I had omitted to mention, that on the east
bank of the
we measured to-day a sycamore tree which
- was
sixteen feet in diameter. The tree is hollow,
and measures
- thirteen feet across the hollow.
New settlers have frequently encamped in
- this
tree with their families, whilst they were making
choice of land
- to settle upon.
Proceeded upon our journey fifteen
miles and lodged at Platter's tavern. On
- our
way we passed many mounds. Several of them
in the town of
also arrested by the
- appearance of a bank thrown
up at some distance from the road; on riding
- to
it we found it to be a very extensive fortifica-
tion. It is
- situated upon a level plain near
-
river
osity, I shall be minute in my description and
- give the following figure.
The bank which is cast up for the fortification
is now fully four feet in
- height, and thirty-three
in width, at the base covered with lofty
- timber.
The figure marked (A) is a very regular oval
mound 500 feet in diameter,
- from one extremity
to another the longest way, and 300 feet in
- diameter the other way; perpendicular height is
about thirty feet. This
- mound is paved over
with stone, and has upon it trees of large size,
- as
well as the remains of decaying trees, which
after acquiring their
- full growth have fallen.
The two circles marked (B) are very perfect
- globular figures. They are one hundred feet in
diameter, and about thrity
- feet perpendicular
height.
The remaining eight small circles represent
mounds which are from eighty to
- one hundred feet
in diameter, and from twenty-five to thirty feet
- perpendicular height, being also globular figures,
and all covered with
- lofty timber. The semi-
circle (C) is a bank of earth thrown up to the
- height of about three feet, its diameter about
one hundred and fifty
- feet.
Near the outer banks of this extraordinary
fortification are many large
- holes in the earth,
at least one hundred feet in diameter, and of
- considerable depth. These are no doubt places
out of which the earth was in
- part taken for
making this work of labor.
The land through which we have passed to-
day, is a continuation of a
- country, very level
the soil, the same in appearance
- as that de-
scribed yesterday, nothing seeming to indicate
its superior
- richness, unless it be the size of its
timber. The heaviest and most
- towering trees
we have seen, we met with to-day. Our progress
was
- impeded by our curiosity to take the girth
of many trees; we measured white
- oaks
which were from seven to eight feet in diameter;
walnuts, six to
- seven feet four inches; elms, six
to six feet eight inches; ash, five feet,
- and
honey locusts four feet in diameter; the girths
taken eight feet
- above the surface of the earth.
These trees carried their thickness to an
- amazing
height.
We also measured a few sycamore trees, and
most of them were from eight to
- ten feet in
diameter; one of the sycamores we measured
which was eight
- feet in diameter, continued its
thickness forty-five feet without a limb,
- its top
very branching and large. While we were admir-
ing it,
-
- that this tree, could it be split into cord-wood
after the common manner,
- would measure forty
cords. At first we questioned the statement,
but
- upon making a calculation, became con-
vinced that his estimate was within
- bounds.
These were not trees singled out as the only
monuments; we turned not aside
- to search for
them, but measured such as fell under our own
observation
- in passing over our road. It is more
tract larger than any we saw. Few settlements
- are yet made here.
Rode seventeen miles, and reached the
residence of our friend
-
Creek
Creek
the bottoms of
in appearance as remarked
- yesterday. In the
course of our ride, we saw many hundreds of
poplars
- which were the more observable, as we
have scarcely noticed a poplar since
- we crossed
the
eight feet six inches in diameter, many of them
- continuing their thickness for fifty feet in height,
and very handsome and
- sound. On the bot-
toms we saw deer in abundance; they were
so gentle
- as to allow us to pass by them
quite within gun shot. They appeared to
- be
busy in cropping the young grass. We have
also observed several
- mounds and fortifications
near the falls to
adjacent of which the banks are
- about three and
a half feet high.
Upon this
- dams, and beavers are still caught here by the
Indians. For several days
- past we have seen
many hunting camps but no Indians. Several
families
- of Friends have settled in this remote
quarter of the Western Territory.
- They have
expect to be followed by others. They tell us
that an indulged
- meeting is held in one of their
houses.
There is much to induce Friends of the South-
ern States, to remove to this
- new country; for,
added to the consideration of the superior quality
- of the land, and the cheap and easy terms upon
which it is to be purchased,
- there is an invalu-
able regulation in the Constitution of
hibiting the introduction of slaves.
- The Con-
stitution has also provided that no person with-
in the State
- shall voluntarily relinquish his right
to freedom. Its framers have even
- gone further;
they declare that they have made these regula-
tions to
- be binding both upon them and upon
their posterity.
This truly valuable country is forbidden ground
to the
have
- approached as near to its borders as they
have dared, by settling along the
- east shore of
the
persons in the State of
as candidates to the late State
- Legislature, de-
claring their determination to use their influence
in
- obtaining an alteration in this part of the
Constitution. We are told that
- on account of
this avowal, they met with the most pointed and
zealous
- opposition; the people declaring gene-
rally, that one of the inducements
- which led
them to emigrate to the State, was the Constitu-
and that any
- alteration therein would be an in-
supportable grievance.
This day rode fifteen miles, and reached
-
waters of the
country through which we have passed is up-
land and lies level.
- The timber is heavy and
much interspersed with blue ash, hackberry,
- walnut and sugar trees. There is scarcely a set-
tlement yet made here.
Our progress has been impeded for
several days past, two of our horses
- belonging
to our company having faltered. This day we
concluded to
- rest them by continuing at the
house of
at seventy-four years of
- age, his wife equally
so, and seventy-two years of age. The old man
- appears to make me welcome at his house, say-
ing he knew my father, having
- early in life been
his neighbor, and has made many inquiries after
the
- families of the people who were his old ac-
quaintance. He says he has six
- children, all of
whom have married to his satisfaction, and that
they
- lately removed with him from
- and are settled around him, each of them upon
five hundred acres of land
- which he has given
them. He says that it affords him great
- conso-
lation now in the decline of life, to reflect that
his
- acquisitions are the fruits of his honest in-
dustry.
This day rode twenty-three miles, and
lodged at
rain. We crossed the
- ridge which divides the
waters of the
- Miami river
branches of the
- latter, as also a considerable
creek called the
On one of the bottoms of the creek we noticed a
- fortification. The bank cast up around was about
four feet high. We also
- observed within a few
rods several mounds. It is truly a beautiful
- country through which we have passed to-day;
the land is level, covered
- with lofty timber, and
the soil very rich, scarcely a settlement yet
- made.
Continued our journey, and after riding
fourteen miles, reached the house of
-
Linton
river
- place we rested ourselves and horses, acquired
information respecting our
- future route, and
equipped ourselves for the increasing difficulties
- of the wilderness.
The settlement made here is composed cheifly
of Friends; about thirty
- families reside in this
neighborhood. A Monthly Meeting is held
here
- called
about
- thirty families more belong who are scat-
tered over an extensive tract of
- country.
Our attention was attracted to-day by the ap-
pearance of the stone, not only
- in the beds of
and in the valleys. They are limestone, and are
composed
- altogether of marine shells. The stone
when broken discovers the size and
- shape of the
shells very perfectly.
These shells are of the same description with
those I have formerly obtained
- from the banks
of the
State of
no shell-fish of this description are at present
- to
be found in any of the waters of our Continent.
The country west of the
- which we have passed is a limestone country,
the very pebbles and even sand
- in many places
are limestone.
Heretofore I have omitted to mention that in
the neighborhood of
selves with the
- earths and stones, which were
dug out of the ground in sinking wells.
- There
are several layers or strata of limestone, gravel,
and sand,
- within a few feet of the surface of the
earth. Some of the stones contain
- the above
description of marine shells, and in breaking
some of the
- large gravel we found appearances
of the same shells. The stones as well as
- the
gravel have evident marks of their having been
washed with water,
- their shape inclining greatly
to rotundity.
Again proceeded upon our journey, and
after riding eight miles reached
-
we lodged. This town is
- newly laid out, situ-
posite to the junction of
- river
hundred and sixty feet in width. We have
passed to day
- the Ridge which divides the waters
of the
several of the streams belonging to the
Miami
two,
- through which we have passed to-day,
is of the most beautiful and desirable
- de-
scription. The land lies in waves of great regu-
larity, is crossed
- with heavy towering timber,
and the soil inexhaustibly rich. At
were two block houses, which were erected
- by
the white men, as places of retreat and defence
against an attack
- by the Indians.
Rode twenty-one miles, and reached a
small village called
-
exhibit a beautiful appearance, though the tim
ber is not generally
- so heavy as noted yesterday.
We passed several extensive and rich
- prairies,
and forded
The river derives its name from its swift current.
We
- also crossed several streams belonging to the
-
This day after riding fifteen miles, we
reached
pointed in finding
- no feed for our horses. We
also received the information that there was
- no
probability of our obtaining provision for them
a
- part of our company to a house we had passed
about four miles, in quest of
- corn. They obtained
four bushels, and hired a man and horse to travel
- with us and bring the corn along. For many
days past our horses have
- suffered for want of
hay, and being fed altogether upon corn they
have
- lost their appetites.
The face of the country in the course of this
day's short journey is a
- continuation of beautiful
land; being level, and finely timbered. We
- passed through a handsome prairie containing
several hundred acres called
- the Lower
Plain
two considerable streams of the
Thus far in our route we have been favored
with respect to the waters, no
- rain having fallen
lately to raise the creeks and rivers to a height
- sufficient to detain us. In fording some of the
streams we have thought
- that even six inches
greater depth would take our horses off their
- feet.
There is considerable danger in fording many of
the streams we
- have passed, from the uneveness
of the stony bottoms of the rivers. The
- beds of
the rivers are mostly limestone, and being worn
smooth by the
- washing of the water, horses are apt
to fall. This was to-day the case with
- my horse in
fording the
very wet.
During our detention here this afternoon, we
observed a flock of birds
- alighting from the trees,
Our landlord informed us they were parrots, and
that they
- were common upon the
and to
- gratify our curiosity he shot one. It was
about the size of a dove, and its
- plumage resem-
bled the green parrot of South America, the
head red,
- and the wings tipped with the same
color, the tail long and the bill and
- tongue of
the same description as the chattering parrot.
As they
- alighted from the trees, they made a
hoarse noise resembling the chattering
- of the
common parrot.
There is also a woodcock here resembling the
red headed woodcock of
-
its head is
- black and its bill ivory.
At this place
- fortification when on his march against the In-
dians, a part of which is
- now standing. Our
landlord occupies one of the houses which was
at
- that time built and enclosed within the stock-
ade. From the late period in
- the day at which
our supply of corn arrived for the horses, we
have
- concluded to remain at our quarters; the
landlord tells us we shall be
- welcome to sleep
upon his floor, and has promised to make us a
good
- fire to sleep by.
This is a kind of lodgment to which we have
become well accustomed, having
- heretofore in
our journey often had to wrap ourselves in our
blankets
- and to lie upon floors, always observing
the necessary precaution of laying
- our feet to the
fire; we have in no instance taken cold.
This day rode fourteen miles, and on
our way passed a larger prairie than
- the one we
saw yesterday, which is called the Upper
Plains
- heavily timbered, but its very level situation
renders it not desirable.
- Through this tract we
have found a very deep and miry road, and
have
- regretted the neccesity of a slow movement.
Our hired man has to lead his
- horse, the bag of
corn being too heavy for the horse to bear his
- weight also. We reached a place called Lora-
mier's store, where we found a
- shelter and
lodged, having through the latter part of the
day rode
- through rain. On our way we twice
crossed a considerable water of the
-
-
At this place there is a very large fortification
made by
And here it is that the line of division
- between
the white people and the Indians passes agree-
ably to the
- treaty of peace*
and
for many days in passing
- along, we have ob-
served hunting camps erected by the Indians,
but no
- Indians in them.
It is probable they are at present at or near
their towns. We have observed
- from day to
day many curious, and to us unitelligible In-
dian
- hieroglyphics cut upon the trees. We have
also been entertained in
- examining these figures,
sometimes cut, at other times painted on the
-
elks,
- the horns of the elk, the figures of buffaloes,
bears, wolves, deer,
- raccoons, and various other
wild beasts, and birds of different species;
- turtles
and reptile creatures; also the representation of
men, women
- and children, boys with bows and
arrows shooting game, and men with
- their
guns aiming at game, or in the act of pursuing
it, &c.
- &c.
As a testimony in favor of the virtue and
modesty of these men of the woods,
- I note, that
we have not yet observed amongst this variety
of figures,
- one unchaste representation.
Rode twenty-two miles through a flat
country, heavily timbered; at night we
- encamped
in the woods, made a large fire, fared sumptu-
ously upon wild
- pigeons, wrapped ourselves in
our blankets and slept soundly. Our
- pigeons
were shot by one of our company who carries a
gun. There are
- at this time vast numbers of
this fowl scattered over the woods. They
- breed
here undisturbedly. Squirrels are also very
numerous. We now and
- then see a few deer.
They are not plenty here. Wolves, opossums,
- reaccoons, and some other descriptions of wild
game are abundant. We have
- not yet seen a
bear, though they are very plenty throughout
the region
- we have passed over. This is owing
to a remarkable fact in the history of
- this crea-
ture. They betake themselves to dens in the
holes of trees,
- at an early period of the winter,
During this
- interval they never leave their holes,
and as they lay up no store for the
- winter sup-
ply, it is certain they live without eating. The
Indians
- say they live by sucking their paws.
The means by which their lives are
- supported
in their recluse situation, I shall not undertake
to
- determine. I shall however observe that when
taken from their dens they are
- always very fat.
We have met with much of their meat, and can
assert
- that we have seen the thickness of four
inches of fat between the skin and
- the lean which
covers the ribs. During the winter the Indians
find the
- bears by searching for their dens in the
trees, which they know by the
- marks made by
the claws of the bear in climbing.
We have now reached the waters of the lakes,
having to day forded one of the
- forks of the
Mary's river
miles along a road one hundred feet wide, cut
by
-
visions from the
river
and shrubs.
Shortly after we had made our fire, and with
the approach of night we heard
- at a short dis-
tance from us, a whooping in the woods. We
had reason
- to believe from the shrill and uncom-
mon whoop, that it was the voice of an
- Indian,
and having understood that it was a custom
among them when
- about to approach a camp, to
the ceremony also by a whoop. In a few mo-
ments two
- Indian men upon a horse, followed by
two women and a girl upon another
- horse, rode
up to our camp. Their countenances were smil-
ing and
- indicative of friendship. As we reached
them our hands, they shook them
- saying,
Saga,
- niches,
the
- salutation,
could not speak
- English, but putting their hands
to their breasts expressed,
wares,
-
paratus with them, and pointing several times
to the south, we
- concluded they wished to make
us understand that their camp was in that
- direc-
tion, and that they were on their way to it.
After looking upon
- us for some minutes they
left us.
Very early this morning we again pro-
ceeded, and this day rode thirty miles,
- a laborious,
fatiguing journey to ourselves and horses. Our
path
- leading through a flat country we find the
travelling miry and deep. Our
- horses are to be
pitied, the stock of corn we procured for them
is
- exhausted, and the only food they can
now get is the grass in the woods.
- For several
nights past we have turned them loose to graze.
These poor
- creatures feed around our camps and
appear afraid to leave us.
This day we crossed the
- said to be a very deep river. An old Indian
and his squaw reside here, and
- he undertook to
ferry us across in a canoe. Our horses swam
the river,
- and got over well. The old Indian,
whose name is
swam also. This accident was
- owing to the mis-
conduct of some of the packers, who, on their
way to
-
too much whisky.
canoe with him when he
- accidentely fell over-
board; we were greatly alarmed for his safety,
- knowing that he was intoxicated, but after dis-
appearing for a few seconds,
- he rose to the sur-
face of the water, and soon convinced us that he
- could swim.
and got him again into the boat. The old man
laughed very
- heartily at the accident, saying to
us in broken English,
in de canoe yet.
formed
the Indian country for the benefit of the
- red
people, and the old man finding also that our
company were all
- prosecuting their travels for
benevolent purposes, exercised his gratitude
- by
telling us
- nobody keep canoe here but
the white people pay dollar, I make dem packers
pay me de
- rest.
several Indians who were asleep. He says they
are Indians who
- have come a great distance and
we have rode through a heavy rain. The rain
- continuing with the approach of night, we made
a large fire, and erected a
- shelter in imitation of
the Indian hunting camps, covering it with our
- blankets. Under this we slept, and were but
little incommoded,
- notwithstanding the rain
continued during the greater part of the
- night.
I must not omit to mention that we to-day
passed through a very level plain
- containing
many thousand acres. This plain is almost with-
out trees.
- The soil nearly hid by weeds and
grass of last year's growth; the
- luxuriance of
which plainly demonstrates its extraordinary fer-
tility.
- In this plain we observed a small pond
or lake in which were wild geese and
- ducks in
abundance. We are informed that this is one
of the places
- where wild fowl raise their young.
Pursued our path and travelled twenty-
three miles through a very fertile,
- heavily tim-
bered and beautiful country, being a little more
inclined
- to hills. The ride to-day has been a
pleasing one, in part doubtless from
- the reflec-
tion that the day would probably close a long,
tedious and
- arduous journey. We at last reached
having reached it within about thirty rods, we
- were saluted by a sentinel with the word
We obeyed the command. A sergeant was de-
spatched from
- the commanding officer, who en-
quired of us on his behalf,
sired him to
- inform the commandant that we
were strangers, and that we had an
- introductory
letter directed to him which would explain our
- business.
The officer shortly returned to us with an in-
vitation to advance; we
- accordingly proceeded,
and were met very politely by the commanding
- officer,
following letter from the Secretary of War.
This will be handed you by
Messrs.
T. Hopkins
ciety of Friends in
-
dians in the western country for the laudable
- purpose of affording them assistance in the intro-
duction of the
- arts of civilization.
They are men of high respectability, are ac-
tuated by the best
- motives, and are entitled to
all the civilities in your power to
- bestow. You
will please to afford them all necessary aid, and
- treat them with such marks of respectful atten-
tion as are due to
- citizens whose disinterested
services deserve the plaudits of every
- good man.
After delivering this letter we proceeded to
the house of a Canadian trader,
- who we had pre-
viously been informed would furnish us with
- accommodations.
In the evening the Commandant followed us
to our quarters, discovering marks
- of great re-
spect and attention, and appears to be a gentle-
man. He
- has urgently pressed us to dine with
him to-morrow, and we have accepted
- the invi-
tation.
This morning the commanding officer,
accompanied by
- Wells
to the
- Secretary of War, waited upon us. They
invited us with marks of earnestness, each
- one,
to make his house our home. We thanked them
for their kindness,
- and accepted the invitation
of the Factor,
panied to his house.
In an interview with these three persons we
communicated to them more fully
- the object of
our visit, and consulted with them respecting
the best
- mode to pursue, in order to effect our
purpose. It was deemed advisable
- that an ex-
press be sent to the
- Medals
-
place, situated upon
of
forming them of
- our arrival at
that we
- wished to see each of them there at an
early period. This charge
took upon himself, and we
- have no doubt he will
comply with his engagement.
We fulfilled our promise in dining to-day with
were all accompanied to
- his house by
Johnson
with a freedom and gentility becoming a well
- bred man. After dinner he showed us more
fully the fort. This fortification
- which was
built by
and is situated opposite to the junction of
- the
the place from which those
- waters take the name
of the Miami of the Lake,*
to
view of these rivers, as also of an extent of
about four
- miles square of cleared land. Much
of this land has been cleared by the
- army of the
United States, and much of it was formerly done
by the
-
- town here. It is said that in the year
- Indian town then at this place contained upwards
of one thousand warriors.
- The garrison kept
here at present contains about forty officers and
- soldiers It being a time of profound peace with
the Indians, government
- have withdrawn the
large force formerly kept at this station.
The spot where
dered famous in Indian history. It was here
that the Indians gave
- the army of
mar
of his men fell. Their bones lie scattered
- upon
the surface of the earth, and we are told that
the route by which
- the army made an escape
can be readily traced for the distance of five
- or
six miles by the bones of those slain by the In-
dians.
The grave of the
Turtle
the
died very suddenly on his return from that jour-
ney. His death was
- greatly lamented by the
Indians, and for a long time after his burial
- his
grave was visited by them, and many singular
ceremonies performed
- over it. They buried with
him his rifle, his hunting apparatus, his
- best
clothing, all his ornaments, trinkets, &c. &c.,
their
- value being not less than three hundred dollars.
This day is the first day of the
week, and the inhabitants of
to pay no respect to it. The
- soldiers are on
duty, and the Canadians who are settled here
are
- busied with their several occupations. After
breakfast we paid a visit to
-
after spending
- several hours with returned
to our quarters. In the afternoon we
- observed
three Indians advancing toward our lodgings,
and soon
- discovered that one of them was the
had not heard of our
- arrival till he reached
Wayne
tained was that some Quakers had come.
- Busi-
ness had brought him to the fort. They were
invited into our
- room, when the chief instantly
recognized us both. He appeared glad to
- see
us, and shook hands with both of us very hearti
ly. A person being
- present who understood the
to me,
The
didly replied to our inquiry after his health as
follows:
to
- made him drink whiskey. That after he had
accomplished his business
- there, he set out for
his home, and got upon his horse whilst the
- whiskey was in his head. That he had not rode
far before he fell from
- his horse, and was very
much hurt by the fall, and that ever since
- that
time he had not been well.
After some further mutual inquiries, relative
to the welfare of red and
- white acquaintance, we
we informed him through an interpreter that we
- had come to see our red brethren, that we had
messages for both the
-
and were
- glad that it had so happened that we
had come. That we hoped the
would come to-morrow, and that we
- wished to
see them together, having something to say to
them. He
- appeared pleased with this informa-
tion, and expressed that he had made a
- camp
not far off, where he would wait for the arrival
of the
versation
- he withdrew, bidding us farewell.
Being invited to dine to-day with
dians, we went to his
- house accordingly, having
the company of our very worthy and kind
- land-
lord.
About mid-day the
-
yond description;
- took us by the hand with cor-
diality, and expressed himself in terms of
- great
gladness at meeting with us. He inquired very
particularly after
- his friends and acquaintance of
had come,
- and the difficulties we had encoun-
tered on our journey through the
- wilderness.
Having answered his questions, he replied in
turn to our
- inquiries as follows: That since he
saw us it had pleased the Great Spirit
- to take
away two of his brothers and a nephew. That
his nephew was the
-
was with him
- in
his
- return from that visit, and within a few miles
of home, of which
- circumstances he had desired
to himself, he was but half well, having
- been
very sick last fall and expected to die. That
his white brothers
- at
his illness,
- sent a doctor to him who gave him
physic and made him better. That he had
- now
seen fifty-three winters, and two of his brothers
being dead, made
- him think of death, and that
his time would soon come.
He also told us that he had left a brother at
his town who would have
- accompanied him,
being desirous to come with him, but could
not find
- his horse in time. After this, other
conversation took place of a general
- nature. The
interpreter informs us that his complaint is the
-
interpreter)
- had told him that his complaint be-
longed to great folks and gentlemen.
-
said the
- gentlemen.
the
-
a gentleman in character, appearance, and
- manners.
His estimate of himself therefore was not too high.
For
- his speech before the
more
see appendix. T.
About 2 o'clock we dined. At the head of the
table sat the interpreter's
- wife, who is a modest,
well-looking Indian woman, and the daughter
of
- a distinguished chief. She had prepared for
us a large well roasted wild
- turkey, and also a
wild turkey boiled, and for these she had pro-
vided
- a large supply of cranberry sauce. The
much sociability we
- all partook of an excellent
dinner.
In the afternoon the
his sons, visited us at
and the opportunity being a suitable one, we
proposed to them
- that a formal conference should
then take place between us. This
- proposition
meeting their assent, we opened the conference
by desiring
- the interpreter to inform them that
we had received their talk sent to us
- last fall,
- which we had sent to them last year, had come
to them safely, and that we
- had carefully ob-
served all that was contained in that talk. That
we
- were deputed by their brothers and friends of
accordingly
- come, and had with us a letter di-
rected to them, which we thought ought in
- the
first place to be read, and after that we might
have something to
- say to them. A short pause
having taken place, they expressed a desire
- that
the letter should be read, which was accordingly
done, and
- interpreted to them as follows:
Brothers and Friends- We have received
your talk, communicated by
- our friend
Wells
husbandry sent last spring for
- your use. In
that speech, as well as when you were in
more
for some of us to go out to see yoou, that we
- might be better capable of judging what could
be done further for
- the benefit of our red breth-
ren.
Brothers and Friends,-In compliance with
your request we have named
- our beloved friends
and
that you will receive
- them, or any of them that
may be enabled to perform the journey as
- your
brothers, in whom we have confidence, and that
you will
- receive any communications from them
as being from us, who are
- desirous of assisting
you in what may add to your comfort, and
- that
of your women and children.
At the contents of this letter they expressed
their satisfaction, and after
- a pause of several
minutes we addressed them through an interpre-
ter
- as follows:
Brothers and Friends.- You observe that
the letter which has just
- been read, makes men-
tion of four of us appointed to visit you.
- One
of these was an infirm man who thought he
could not endure
- the fatigue of so long a jour-
ney, and therefore did not come. The
- other
did not omit to come for the want of love to his
red
- brethren; family circumstances rendered it
inconvenient for him to
- leave home. You see,
that two of us mentioned in the letter, should
- reach the country of our red brethren. Brothers,
we thought it
- right in the first place to send for
you, and to show you the
- letter which has just
been read. We are glad that you are now
- come,
and that we have this opportunity of taking you
by the
- hand.
Brothers, we believe that we have some things
to say to you which
- are of great importance to
our red brothers, to their old men, to
- their young
men, to their women, and to their children.
Brothers, we may now mention that we have
not come merely to talk,
- but we hope we have
come prepared to do a little for the welfare
- of
our red brethren.
Brothers, in looking over our business, we
have thought that we
- should be glad to have an
opportunity of seeing our red brethren
- together,
and are willing to propose for your consideration,
- that you should now fix upon some place, and
agree upon some time
- to meet us again, and that
our brothers invite their old men, their
- young
men, their women and their children to meet us,
when we
- shall have something to say which it
may not be necessary now to
- say.
Brothers and Friends,- Should you think
that the proposal which we
- have now made is
proper, and conclude to meet us in the manner
- we have pointed out, we expect we shall have
but little more to say
- at present.
Here a pause
Turtle
say.
After a further pause and some conversation
between the two chiefs, they
- rose from their
seats, and perceiving that they were advancing
toward
- us, we also arose from our seats. On meet-
ing them, they took us by the
- hand, and with
countenances indicative of great gravity, shook
hands
- with us and returned to their seats.
The
as
- follows:-
Brothers and Friends: My friend, the
tle
- Turtle
sons, who
- are present, rejoice to have this oppor-
tunity of seeing you, and
- of taking you by the
hand.
My Brothers: We are glad to be informed,
that you received our talk
- sent to you last fall,
and to find that you are now come to the
- country
of your red brethren.
My Brothers and Friends: We rejoice that
the Great Spirit has
- conducted you safely to our
country, and figure to ourselves that
- in you we
see the rest of our brothers and friends of
more
take them by the hand.
Brothers: We know that you have come a
long distance to see the
- situation of your red
brethren. We have no doubt that you have
- things to say which are of great importance to
-
to many.
Brothers: Your brethren the Indians do
business not as the white
- people do. We con-
vene our chiefs, and things of importance
- are
considered by them. But, brothers, you have
come to see
- the situation of your red brethren.
It is our wish that you should
- see it. You shall
not be disappointed. The proposal you have
- made to us we think right, and have concluded
that this place
- (
to be fixed upon for the purpose you wish. We
are
- pleased to find that you have a desire that
our young men should be
- present to hear what
you have to say, and as it is your wish to see
- our
women and children, we desire that you may
have an
- opportunity of seeing them.
Brothers and Friends: Our young men are
out hunting, and our women
- and children are
now at work at their sugar camps. The time is
- not far off when they will all return to our
towns, when it is
- usual to meet together. We
hope, brothers, that you will not be in
- a hurry,
but will allow us time to collect our people
- to-
gether.
Here a pause took place, when we inquired if
they had any thing further to
- add. And being
answered in the negative, we addressed them
again in
- substance as follows:
Brothers and Friends: When we left our
expected that we should ge to the
- country of
our red brethren at a time when their young
men,
- their women and children would be busy.
But brothers, a part of the
- service*
turist,
Indians in time to
- plant corn. T.
sign to render to you,
- required that we should
come early, and makes it also necessary
- that we
should now be in a hurry.
Brothers: We will also add that when we
were chosen by our friends
- at home to pay a
visit to our red brethren, our women and
- chil-
dren consented that we should leave them, but
charged us
- that we should not stay away from
them longer than circumstances
- really required.
A long time has already past since we left
- them,
we therefore hope, brothers, that in three or four
days
- it will be in your power to get together
some of your people. Those
- that are far from
home we do not wish that you should send for.
The
sons we had given were good. The
next remarked that at the time proposed, they
- could easily convene a considerable number of
their indolent people, who
- were too lazy to hunt
or make sugar, but such they did not wish us to
- see. Their industrious young men and women
-
short a time.
Here a short conversation took place between
the chiefs, and afterwards they
- proposed seven
day's hence as the time; desiring that to-morrow
might
- not be counted, as it would take them a
day to return home. To this we
- consented.
The
Brothers, it would have been very desirable
to us if you could have
- met us at the time of our
counsel. We have very often told our
- people
of the Quakers. They listen to us, but are at a
loss to
- know what sort of people the Quakers
are. If you could stay,
- brothers, they would
have an opportunity of seeing the Quakers,
- and
of hearing words from your own mouths.
After this the
Brothers: We hope the words that you
may say to us at the time we
- have appointed to
meet will be upon paper. From that paper we
- can at some future time have your words de-
livered to our people.
- This, brothers, will in some
measure answer the end.
During a pause which occupied several
minutes we asked them if we understood
- each
other. The
have nothing further to do now than to
- look for-
ward to the day appointed.
After this we took each other by the hand
and very cordially bade farewell.
- We then re-
turned to our lodgings.
In the evening we again had the company of
the chiefs, they having been
- invited by our
landlord to take supper with us.
This day rainy, and spent chiefly at
Besides the garrison stationed here, there is a
large store of goods
- established by the United
States, for the purpose of suppplying the
- Indians.
The store is kept by our landlord. Several
Canadian traders
- also reside here, who exchange
goods with the Indians; some of them have
- re-
sided here for more than thirty years. The In-
dians are daily
- arriving with their peltry, some
of them exchange them for goods, others
- re-
quire money. The women bring sugar, which
is generally neatly
- packed in a square box made
of bark, containing about fifty pounds. It
- is
made from the sugar tree. This art has long
been known to the
- Indians. They make and
use large quantities of sugar. We have seen
- very white and clear looking sugar of their manu-
facture.
Rode about two miles up the
- river
houses, also the
- fields on which they cultivated
corn, where the corn hills are still
- discernible.
We also observed large numbers of Indian graves.
These
- are now discernible only by the sunken
cavities in the surface of the
- earth. In the
course of our route we have seen many Indian
graves of
- more recent date. They bury their
earth; and over the grave they either place a
heap
- of stones or a pen of logs. If the de-
ceased has been a person of
- distinction, they
plant posts at the head and foot which they
- orna-
ment very curiously.
In a review of the many circumstantial evi-
dences which have fallen under
- our observation
of the former population of this western world,
I am
- ready to adopt the expressions of pious
author:
Where is the dust that hath not been alive!
The spade, the
- plough, disturb our ancestors;
From human mould we reap our daily
- bread.
-
Spent the day with
Wells
river
the Indians under the command of the
-
Turtle
under
men. We also followed for a considerable dis-
tance
- the route which the soldiers took in their
retreat, and saw many of their
- bones. Amongst
these were skulls which had marks of the
tomahawk and
- scalping knife. Many of them
had fallen on the east bank of the river,
- and
also within the river. The Indians being sta-
tioned behind trees
- on the west side shot them
in their attempt to get across.
We were shown the tree behind which the
it behind which
second defeat, the United States troops having
been routed the
- day before on
Spent the day in the neighborhood of
-
-
dians from different tribes arrived, bringing
with them skins and
- furs. These are mostly
brought by the women upon their backs, the
men
- thinking it sufficient to carry their guns
and hunting equipments.
We saw this evening a white woman, who,
when a small girl, had been taken
- captive, and
has ever since lived amongst the
tribe
terpreter) that she has no knowledge of the
part of the country
- from which she was taken,
nor of her family. That she remembers her
- name
was Dolly, which is the only distinct recollec-
tion she retains
- of herself previous to her cap-
tivity. This woman is dressed in Indian
- habit,
is painted after the Indian order, and has so
effectually
- adopted Indian manners, that a nice
observer would not discover from
- external ob-
servation her origin, except from the color of
her eyes,
- which are grey.
Visited
him
- up the
our
- way we passed several sugar camps, at which
were Indian women and children
- who were em-
- and covered with the bark of the Buck Eye
wood. Their troughs for catching
- the sugar
water as it is called, are made of the bark of the
red elm,
- they are made thin, and the ends tied
together. We were shown the places
- where
stood the houses of several distinguished char-
acters amongst
- the Indians.
took us
- to the ground, where the
- reviewed his men, and gave them their orders
before going against the army
- of
Clair
men;
number, and were
- about fifty miles distant at
the time. The
into bands or messes, to each mess
- twenty men.
It was the business of four of this number alter-
nately to
- hunt for provisions. At 12 o'clock
each day it was the duty of the hunters
- to re-
turn to the army with what they had killed. By
this regulation,
- his warriors were well supplied
with provisions, during the seven day's in
- which
they were advancing from this place to the field
of battle. It
- is well known that at day break
the Indians commenced an unexpected
- attack
upon
his men, and put his whole army to flight.
- killed in the battle, and that about twenty died
the following anecdote:
A considerable altercation arose amongst the
Indians on the review ground,
- relative to a
Commander-in-Chief. Some were in favor of
-
-
-
decided the controversy
- by yielding to the
Turtle
active man, and that he preferred him to
- him-
self. This reconciled the parties, and the
Turtle
We also rode to view a prairie which extends
from the
branch of the
to the other is not more than
- four miles, and
the highest ground is not more than five feet
above
- the water in either river. The Indians
say that in high freshets they have
- passed from
one water to the other in their canoes. A canal
might
- easily be cut here, and at a small expense,
by which the waters of the
- lakes and the waters
of the
would be
- connected. An abundance of furs
and skins taken on the waters of the
-
the
boats by the
- Canadians and the Indians, and
thence taken across a portage of eight miles
- to
the
-
able for the Indian trade are also
- transported
back again by the same route.
After spending some time in viewing the re-
mains of several old Indian
- towns, graves, hiero-
glyphics, &c. &c. &c., we returned to
-
Wells
ing returned to our lodgings.
Paid a visit to the carpenter and black-
smith who accompanied us as before
- mentioned.
They are both at work. The blacksmith is re-
pairing Indian
- guns, and the carpenter is at
work upon a council house which the
- govern-
ment has ordered to be built for the Indians at
their request.
- The house is to be built of hewn
logs, fifty feet in length, and
- twenty-five in width.
We also amused ourselves in attending to the
- manner of packing furs and skins. Our friend
Jonathan has several Canadians
- now employed
in that business. They are packed by a ma-
chine
- constructed for the purpose, by which the
work is performed expeditiously.
- The packs
are made in squares of about two and a half feet,
and
- contain from thirty-five to forty deer skins,
or about two hundred raccoon
- skins.
On the evening of this day, we received
a message from the
that the Indians
- had arrived, and that they
would be ready to meet us at 10 o'clock the
- next
morning.
At 10 o'clock this morning we
observed, is
- interpreter for the Indians. We
were accompanied by our friend
were met by the following chiefs:
great distinction in the
nation, and brother to the
chief of the
They were attended by a considerable num-
ber of their principal young men,
- and by several
women.
The
- informed us on taking leave, that circumstances
required him to return to
- his town, and that the
distance would be too great for him to return
- in
time to meet us, his infirmities occasioning him
to travel slowly,
- but that he would send his
brother, who would report to him faithfully
- all
the proceedings of the council.
After we had taken each other by the hand,
the chiefs took their seats by
- the side of each
other. Their principal people next seated them-
selves
- according to the rank or distinction which
they held. After them, their
- young men in
circular order, seat after seat,- and lastly, the
women,-
- who occupied seats separate from the
men, being placed near the centre of
- the room.
We took our seats on the opposite side of the
house and in front of the
- Indians.
Being all thus seated- I speak literally, when
I say my heart palpitated- I
- felt the importance
and dignity of our mission; I wished our heads
- were wiser, and feared for the result of so in-
teresting an
- opportunity.
After a few minutes had passed, the
- Turtle
had informed
- us of the difficulty there was in
convening the Indians at so early a
- period in
the season, and that those of their people then
present with
- him were all who were likely to
attend to listen to what we had to say.
We then proposed that the letter from our
friends and brothers at home, read
- to the
Medals
first meeting,
- should be again read for the in-
formation of our Indian brethren now
- attend-
ing.
This proposal was deemed proper, and the
letter was accordingly read.
After a short pause, we addressed them as
follows:
Brothers and Friends: We know that the
most of our Red Brethren are,
- at present, at
their hunting and sugar camps, and did not
- ex-
pect to see a large number at so short a notice.
We have,
- therefore, agreeably to your request,
put upon paper the things we
- have to say, and
hope you will not fail to have them communi-
-
more
- generally assembled.
One of us, then standing up, read to them the
following address: The
- interpreter, also standing
between us and the Indians, interpreted our
- com-
munication:
Brothers and Friends: When we were to-
gether, eight days ago, with
- the
and the
-
them, which has just been read. That letter,
you observe,
- says that we were appointed by
the people called
you, and to take you by
- the hand on their be-
half, desiring that you would receive any
- com-
munications from us, as coming immediately
from them.
Brothers: After that letter was read, our
hearts were filled with so
- much love for our Red
Brethren, that, on looking over and
- considering
the business upon which we had come, we felt
a
- desire to see as many together as could be
convened- and this day
- was that agreed upon
for us to meet you.
Brothers: We believed that the things we
had to say were of great
- importance to our Red
Brethren, and therefore it was that we
- request-
ed to see you together, that you all might have
an
- opportunity of hearing what we have to say.
Brothers: Our hearts are filled with thank-
fulness to the Great
- Spirit, that He has
brought us safely to the country of our
- Red
Brethren, and protected us through the journey.
We also
- rejoice that He has given us this oppor-
tunity of seeing you, and
- of taking you by the
hand.
Brothers: It is now a little more than two
years since your Brothers
- of
opportunity
- of becoming acquainted with the
some other chiefs. They were glad of that op-
portunity of
- having a talk with them, and of
enquiring after the situation of
- their Red
Brethren.
Brothers: We had for some time entertain-
ed apprehensions, that the
- many changes which
were taking place in circumstances, must
- greatly
change the situation of our Red Brethren, and
that the
- time was fast approaching, in which it
would be necessary for them
- to alter their mode
of living.
Brothers: After our talk with the chiefs
whom we have just
- mentioned, we were fully con-
vinced that the time was come, in
- which our Red
Brethren ought to begin to cultivate their
- lands;
that they ought to raise corn and other grain,
also
- horses, cows, sheep, hogs, and other animals.
We then proposed to
- afford them some assist-
ance. They appeared to be glad of the
- proposal,
disposed to turn heir attention to the cultiva-
tion of
- the earth. They also expressed a desire
to be assisted by their
- Brothers of
Brothers: Having been encouraged by the
opportunity which we then
- had, we sent to the
care of the Agent for Indian Affairs some
- ploughs,
harness for horses, axes, hoes, and other imple-
ments
- of husbandry, which were made for the
use of our Red Brethren, and
- desired that they
might be distributed amongst them as tokens
- of
our friendship.
Brothers: We received last fall, through
the hands of the Agent for
- Indian Affairs, a
talk from the
and others, informing us that they had
- received
the implements of husbandry, and requested
that their
- Brothers of
some of their people into the country of their
Red
- Brethren for the purpose of seing their
situation, and showing them
- how to make use of
the tools, saying they did not know how to
- begin.
Brothers: It is for these purposes that we
have now come; and we
- again repeat, that we
rejoice we have the opportunity of seeing
- you,
and of taking you by the hand.
Brothers: In coming into the country of our
Red Brethren, we have
- come with our eyes open.
And although we are affected with sorrow,
- in
believing that many of the Red Brethren suffer
clothing, yet our
- hearts have been made glad, in
seeing that it has pleased the Great
- Spirit to
give you a rich and valuable country. Because
we
- know that it is out of the earth that food
and clothing come. We
- are sure, brothers, that
with but little labor and attention, you
- may raise
much more corn and other grain than will be
- necessary for yourselves, your women and chil-
dren, and may also,
- with great ease, raise many
more horses, cows, sheep, hogs and
- other valuable
animals, than will be necessary for your own
- use.
We are also confident, that if you will pursue
our method
- in the cultivation of your land, you
will live in much greater ease
- and plenty,
and
with much less fatigue and toil, than
- attend
hunting, for a subsistence.
Brothers: We are fully convinced, that if
you will adopt our mode of
- cultivating the earth,
and of raising useful animals, you will find
- it to
be a mode of living, not only far more plentiful
and
- much less fatiguing, but also much more
certain, and which will
- expose your bodies less
to the inclemencies of the weather than is
- now
attendant upon hunting. It will lead you,
brothers, to
- have fixed homes. You will build
comfortable dwelling-houses for
- yourselves, your
women and children, where you may be
- shelter-
ed from the rain, from the frost, and from the
snow,
- and where you may enjoy in plenty the
rewards of your labors.
Brothers: In laying these things before
you, we have no other motive
- than a desire of
heart for the improvement, the benefit and
- the
welfare of our Red Brethren- and therefore it
is that we
- speak with freedom, and we hope,
that what we have to say, will go
- in at one ear,
and not come out the other, but that it will be
- remembered by our Red Brethren. For we
know, brothers, that we
- shall not be ashamed of
what we say, when, in time to come, you
- com-
pare the things we are saying to you with your
experience
- in practising them.
Brothers: We will here mention, that the
time was, when the
- forefathers of your brothers,
the white people, lived beyond the
- great water,
in the same manner that our Red Brethren now
- live. The winters can yet be counted when
they went almost naked,
- when they procured their
living by fishing, and by the bow and
- arrow in
hunting- and when they lived in houses no bet-
ter
- than yours. They were encouraged by some
who came from the
- sun-rising, and lived amongst
them, to change their mode of living.
- They
did change- they cultivated the earth, and we
are sure
- the change was a happy one.
Brothers and Friends: We are not ashamed
to acknowledge that the
- time was when our fore-
fathers rejoiced at finding a wild plumb
- tree, or
at killing a little game, and that they wandered
up
- and down, living on the uncertain supplies
of fishing and hunting.
- But, brothers, for your
ing their attention to the cultivation of the
- earth, instead of the plumb tree, they soon had
orchards of many
- kinds of good fruits- instead
of wild game, they soon had large
- numbers of
cattle, horses, sheep, hogs, and other valuable
- animals,- and in many places, instead of their
forests, they had
- large fields of corn and other
grain, as also many other valuable
- productions
of the earth.
Brothers: We hope your eyes will be open
to see clearly, the things
- which are best for you,
and that you will desire to pursue them.
- We
believe, brothers, that it is in the heart of your
father,
- the President of the United States, to
assist his red children in
- the cultivation of the
earth, and to render them services which
- will be
greatly for their benefit and welfare. We hope
that
- your exertions to change your present mode
of living will be so
- plain to him, that he will
see them. This will encourage him to
- continue
to aid you, in your endeavors.
Brothers, we have spoken plainly; we de-
sire to speak plainly. We
- will now tell you
that we have not come merely to talk to you.
- We have come prepared to render you a little
assistance. Our
- beloved brother,
- who is now present, has come along with us.
His desire is to
- cultivate for you a field of corn;
also, to show you how to raise
- some of the other
productions of the earth. He knows how to
- use
ments of husbandry.
Brothers, we here ask you, are you still de-
sirous to be instructed
- by us, in the cultivation
of your lands? If you say you are, our
- brother,
whom we have just mentioned, will continue
with you
- during the summer. We shall leave
it to you to show him the spot
- where to begin
to work.
Brothers, he has left a farm, he has left a
wife, and five small
- children, who are very dear
to him; he has come from a sincere
- desire to be
useful to our red brothers. His motives are
pure,
- he will ask no reward from you, for his
services, his greatest
- reward will be in the satis-
faction he will feel in finding you
- inclined to
take hold of the same tools which he takes hold
- of, to receive from him instruction in the culti-
vation of your
- lands, and to pursue the example
he will set you.
Brothers, we hope you will make the situa-
tion of our brother as
- comfortable as circum-
stances will admit. We hope, also, that
- many
of your young men will be willing to be taught
by him, to
- use the plough, the hoe, and other
implements of husbandry. For we
- are sure,
brothers, that as you take hold of such tools as
are
- in the hands of the white people, you will
find them to be to you
- like having additional
hands. You will also find that by using
- them,
without them, cannot be performed.
Brothers, there is one thing more which we
wish to add. The white
- people, in order to get
their land cultivated, find it necessary
- that their
young men should be employed in it, and not
their
- women. Women are less than men. They
are not as strong as men. They
- are not as able
to endure fatigue as men. It is the business
- of
our women to be employed in our houses, to
keep them clean,
- to sew, to knit, spin, and
weave, to dress food for themselves and
- families,
to make clothes for the men and the rest of their
- families, to keep the clothes of their families
clean, and to take
- care of their children.
Brothers, we desire not to mention too many
things to you, but we
- must add a little further.
We are fully convinced that if you will
- turn your
attention to the cultivation of the earth, to
- rais-
ing the different kinds of grain, to erecting mills
for
- grinding grain, to building comfortable dwell-
ing houses for your
- families, to raising useful
animals- amongst others, sheep, for the
- advan-
tage of the wool, in making clothing- to raising
flax
- and hemp for your linen; and your young
women learn to spin and
- weave, that your lives
would be easier and happier than at
- present,
and that your numbers will increase, and not
continue
- to diminish. As we observed,
brothers, your land is good. It is far
- better
than the land the white people near the great
land will produce
- double the quantity of any
kind of grain, or of flax, or of hemp,
- with the
same labor necessary near the great water.
Brothers and Friends: We shall now end
what we have to say, with
- informing you that
all the corn, and other productions of the
- earth,
which
red brethren to accept of, as a token of
- our
friendship. And it is our desire that the chiefs
of
-
are now present, added to our
- brothers, the
Medals
such a distribution
- thereof as they may think
proper. *
-
appeared in the newspapers of the
- period, and was
much commended for its earnest and
- enlightened
simplicity. T.
The Indians observed great gravity and de-
corum, during the time of our
- addressing them,
and seemed to reiterate the sentiments delivered
by
- repeated shouts.
At the close of our communication, a short
pause took place, during which we
- informed
them that we had no more to add at present,
but wished them
- to speak freely. After which
a conversation, occupying several minutes
- took
place between the chiefs, and some of their
guage was to us unintelligible. They
- then rose
upon their feet, and shook hands with us with
great
- solemnity, and returned to their
seats.
In a few moments the
delivered the following speech, which one of us*
writer. T.
wrote in short hand, from the
- mouth of the In-
terpreter.
Brothers, it appears to me to be necessary
that I should give you an
- immediate answer, as
you are about to return to your families
- from
whence you came.
My Brothers and Friends, we are all pleased
to see you here, and to
- take our brothers, the
Quakers, through you by the hand. We
- re-
joice that the Great Spirit has appointed that
we should
- this day meet. For we believe, that
this meeting will be of the
- utmost consequence
to your red brethren.
Brothers, what you have said, we have care-
fully gathered up, we
- have placed it in our hearts,
in order that it may be communicated
- to our
posterity. We are convinced that what you
have said is
- for the good of your red brethren.
We are also convinced that our
- chiefs and war-
riors, our women and children will be all of our
-
what you have said.
Brothers, we take you now by the hand, and
through you we take the
- people who sent you
here by the hand, and assure you we are
- pleased
that the Great Spirit has let us see each other,
and
- converse together upon the subjects which
you have communicated to
- us.
Brothers, you see there is not a large num-
ber of us here. What you
- have said to us will
not remain with those who are here alone.
- It
will be communicated to all your red brethren
in this
- country. And I again repeat, that I am
convinced they will be glad
- to hear what you
have said to us, to our women and children.
Brothers, when we saw you with the rest of
our brothers in
-
ago, I expect you recollect perfectly the conver-
sation
- between us at that time and place. I,
there with my brother chiefs,
- told you that we
were glad to find you so much disposed to
- assist
us, our women and children. We told you that
your good
- wished should be made known to all
your red brethren in this
- country, which has
been done.
Brothers, ever since that time, I, as well as
some others of my
- brother chiefs, have been en-
deavoring to turn the minds of our
- people to-
wards the cultivation of the earth, but I am
sorry
- to say we have not yet been able to effect
any thing.
Brothers, there are so few of our chiefs now
present, it would not
- be proper for us to under-
take to give a pointed answer to your
- talk. We
expect that in a few moons there will be many
of our
- people together. At that time it will be
proper that we should
- return an answer to all
the subjects you now mention to us.
Brothers, the things you have said to us re-
quire the greatest
- attention. It appears to me
to be really necessary to deliberate
- upon them.
In order to do so, we must beg to leave the paper
- upon which they are written, that we may com-
municate them to our
- chiefs when they assemble.
Brothers, all the words which you have said
to-day were certainly
- calculated for our good.
You have enumerated to us the different
- kinds
of grain and animals we ought to raise for our
comfort.
- You have told us that if we all adopt
the plan you have proposed,
- we should want for
nothing. This, brothers, myself and many of
- our
people believe is true, and we hope we shall
finally be
- able to convince our young men that
this is the plan we ought to
- adopt to get our
living.
Brothers, you have come a long distance to
render service to us. We
- hope that you will
meet with the success you wish, you have
- been
very particular in pointing out to us what will
be for
- our good. You have also been very par-
ticular in pointing out to us
- the duties of our
women, and you have told us that in adopting
-
and
- not diminish. In all this I perfectly agree
with you. And I hope
- the other chiefs will
also agree with you.
Brothers, we are pleased to hear you say
you are going to leave one
- of your brothers with
us, to show us in what manner you cultivate
- the
earth. We shall endeavor, brothers, to make
his situation
- amongst us as agreeable to him as
will be possible for us.
Brothers, we are convinced that the plan
you propose will be highly
- advantageous to your
red brethren. We are also convinced that
- you
have observed very justly that we shall not then
be liable
- to sickness. We are certain that we
shall then be able to make a
- more comfortable
living with less labor than at present. And I
- hope that this will be the opinion of us all.
Brothers, assure your people who sent you
here, tell your old chiefs
- that we are obliged to
them for their friendly offers to assist us
- in
changing our present mode of living; tell them
that it is a
- work which cannot be done immediate-
it will take place gradually.
Here the speaker sat down for a short time,
and then rose again, saying,
Brothers, my heart is so overjoyed and
warmed with what you have
- said, that I find I
had forgot to mention one of the most
- important
things.
Brothers, at the time we first met at this
place, the
idea
- of your business. We expected you had
come to do for us the things
- you had proposed
to us when in
other upon the answer
- necessary to return to
you in every respect, and I now find that
- our
idea was right.
Brothers, the sentiments which I have de-
livered to you were his
- sentiments. You have
now told us, that your brother has a mind
- to
live amongst us to show us how to cultivate the
earth, and
- have desired us to show him the spot
where to begin. We agreed
- then, that he should
be at neither of our villages, lest our
- younger
brothers should be jealous of our taking him to
- ourselves. We have determined to place him
on the
- follow him,-where our young men I hope will
flock to him, and where
- he will be able to in-
struct them as he wished. This is all I have
- to
say. I could all day repeat the sentiments I
have already
- expressed; also how much I have
but that is not necessary. I am
- sorry, brothers,
that the chiefs of our country are not all
- present,
that they might all hear what you have said, and
have
- an opportunity of talking to you.
At the close of this speech we were informed
that nothing would be added by
- the Indians to
the communication made by the
We then told them that the words spoken by
the
-
home to our brothers and friends who had sent
us. We also
- informed them that notwithstanding
we were now desirous to return to our
- homes as
soon as possible, yet we wished to see the place
which they
- designed to be the station of our
brother,
would show it to us. We
- further added, that
this did not arise from any jealousy in our
minds
- that the place fixed upon was not suitable.
On the contrary, we had no
- doubt that they had
judged wisely; but that the love and respect
which
- we bore to our brother, led us to desire to
bear him company to the place,
- and also to ren-
der him every assistance in our power before we
left
- him.
They then informed us that they would con-
sult and fix upon some one to go
- with us. The
business of the council being then at an end, we
in turn
- rose from our seats, and shook hands
with them, which concluded the
- formalities of
the opportunity. After entering into a little
them farewell, as we
- expected we should not see
them again. They then took us separately by
- the hand, and with marks of great affection and
friendship bade us
- farewell, and we returned to
our quarters.
Being a fine pleasant morn-
ing we set out for the place on the
signed by the Indians to
were accompanied by
sanonga, (or Clear Sky,)
of
- the
pilot
- us, who (by the bye) says he shall be the
first young man to take hold of
-
plough.
After riding eight miles, we came to the place
called the
water of the
of the river, leaving it to
- our left. At the end
of four miles, crossed
gable water of the
through the woods, and at the end of
- thirteen
miles further again came to
place called the
from a large rock in the bed
- of the river in the
shape of a saddle. From the
ceeded six miles along the margin of the
- river
to its junction with the
The bed of the
- After riding five miles further, we came to a
face of which is covered with small flint
- stones,
and which we are told extends for several miles.
On examining
- these flints, we found them of
excellent quality.
Here the Indians supply themselves with flints
for their guns and for other
- purposes, and here
formerly they procured their darts. It has
- cer-
tainly been a place abundantly resorted to from
time immemorial.
- This is evident from the sur-
face of the ground being dug in holes of two
- and
three feet in depth, over nearly the whole tract.
This flinty vein
- is called by the Indians
Flint
origin which is very incredible. From
- this we
proceeded, and after riding two miles, reached
the place
- proposed by the Indians.
This place is thirty-two miles rather south of
west from
-
name it obtained from the circumstance of
-
- bottomed boats here, for the purpose of tran-
sporting some of the baggage
- of the American
troops down the river. It was formerly the seat
of an
- Indian town of the
- pleased to find there are about twenty-five acres
of land clear. The
-
tiful
- appearance, and is about sixty yards wide.
A little above is an island in
- the river, on one
side of which the water runs with a strong cur-
the land in this
- neighborhood for a considerable
distance, and found it high and of
- superior
quality, being covered with sugar trees of enor-
mous size,
- black walnut, white walnut, hack-
berry, blue ash, oak buckeye trees,
- &c., all very
large. The land appears to be equal in quality
to
- any we have seen, not excepting the bottoms
of the
mile below, a handsome creek falls into the river
from the
- north, which we traced for a consider-
able distance, and are convinced it
- affords a good
mill seat. This creek bearing no name, we called
it
-
As night approached,
knife, left us, and in about fifteen minutes re-
turned with a
- remarkably fine turkey. This he
prepared and roasted for us in a very nice
- and
expeditious manner, on which we fared sumptu-
ously. At 9 o'clock
- we wrapped ourselves in
our blankets, and laid down to sleep before
- the
fire, having no shelter. The night was frosty;
we, however, slept
- tolerably and took no cold.
In the night the otters were very noisy along
the river, the deer also
- approached our fire and
made a whistling noise; the wolves howled, and
- at the dawn of day turkies gobbled in all direct-
tions.
Early this morning we arose, and
breakfasted on the remains of the turkey
- cooked
last evening, after which we fixed upon the place
situation for his wigwam, which is about one
hundred feet from the
- banks of the
opposite to a
- fine spring of excellent water issuing
out of the bank of the river.
We are told by several persons well acquainted
with the country, that from
- hence to
cennes
dred
- miles by land, and three hundred and fifty
by water, the land on both sides
- of the river
embracing a very extensive width, is not inferior
to the
- description given of this location in yes-
terday's notes.
At
-
on the
limestone continues for two hundred miles down
the
- river.
There are no Indians between this and
- Wayne
away
at the
tant. Whilst here we have seen four peroques
loaded with peltry,
- manned by Canadians and In-
dians, on their way up the river to be
- tran-
sported to
I may here observe that the
- an abundance of large turtles, called soft shelled
turtles, the outer coat
- being a hard skin, rather
than a shell. They are esteemed excellent
- food.
It affords a great variety of fine fish, and
sorted to by geese and swans.
About 8 o'clock in the morning we set out
for
in the afternoon,
- and after dining with
Wells
I may here observe that some days ago
we came to a conclusion to return home
- by the
way of the lakes; to this we have been induced
from a hope that
- we shall be subjected to fewer
difficulties and much less fatigue than to
- retrace
the way by which we came; and I may also
add, that we have
- been encouraged to this by
the advice of our kind friends heretofore
- named,
who have with much apparent cheefulness
offered to prepare a
- way for us; and this morn-
ing being informed by our worthy friend,
-
tain Whipple
would be in readiness against to-morrow, we
spent the
- day in making preparations, and in
writing to our families.
This morning we bade both a joyful
and sorrowful farewell to
the two young men who
- accompanied us out.
We also took leave of those generally with whom
we
- had formed an acquaintance, first breakfast-
ing with
ness to us has been so
- often repeated, that his
name will deservedly claim a place in our
- re-
membrance. He has fitted out a perogue for us
soldier from the fort; and, joined by
-
son
apparent
- superabundant supply both for eating
and drinking.
About 8 o'clock we embarked for
ceeded about thirty miles down the
lakes, and in the evening encamped under a
- tent
near the margin of the river. With respect to
the appearance of
- the country, the same old
phrase must be continued; land of
- excellent
We several times went ashore to view
quality.
the
- river bottoms, they were extensive and ap-
peared to be first rate land. The
- timber, buck
eye, ash, elm, sugar tree, oak, hickory, black
and white
- walnut, &c. We saw ducks in abun-
dance, and
in great numbers. This river
- affords a variety
of fine fish, and mostly of descriptions very
- dif-
ferent from those found in our salt waters. Of
these the following
- are some of the names;
black, yellow, and white bass, covers,
- pickerel,
suckers, herrings, muscanago, gar, pike, catfish,
- sheeps-head, carp, and sturgeon. These are all
caught with the hook except
- the two last.
The sturgeon are now on their way from the
lake to the head waters of the
-
-
Turtle
- Wells
the conversation turned upon fish, and the
- then
very humorously proposed to
which was to join in
- building a stone dam at the
junction of the two rivers, to prevent the
- sturgeon
from getting back again to the lake, and then said
he
We observed to-day (
- and sugar camps, and went on shore to visit two
of the latter. The camps
- were well supplied
with jerk venison, dried raccoon, sturgeon,
- &c.;
one man only was at the camp, and he was em-
ployed with his
- knife in making a paddle for his
canoe. A squaw was knitting a bag, and
- an-
other was preparing the bark of the buckeye for
thread, strings,
- &c., by beating it with a piece
of wood. We saw amongst them several
- fat and
healthy looking children, who were playful and
did not appear
- to be afraid of us. The children
presented us with a quarter of fresh
- venison, for
which we returned them some salt meat and bis-
cuit, with
- which they were pleased. Here we
saw a child about six months old fixed to
- a board
in the genuine Indian fashion. The board was
straight, about
- fifteen inches in width, and two
and a half feet in length, having at its
- head a
circular handle, and at the foot a small ledge
To this the
- child was lashed by cloth bandages,
and so tight that it could not move
- hand or foot.
The board was placed against a tree, almost
- per-
pendicularly, and the infant asleep- of course in
a standing
- position. The child was painted very
and ornaments of the same metal in its
- ears.
The Indians are very fond of their children, and
put about them
- very costly silver ornaments.
I have seen Indian children dressed in a calico
frock which was stuck with
- silver broaches from
neck to heel, besides ornaments on the wrists,
in
- the ear, and about the neck and head.
Proceeded very pleasantly
down the river about fifty miles, and at
- night
encamped under our tent. In the evening a
severe thunder gust
- came on, with heavy rain,
which continued for several hours after
- night,
but having a good tent we did not get much
wetted. In the
- course of the day we saw wild
fowl in abundance, also passed by several
- Indian
hunting and sugar camps. Our Corporal is very
fond of saluting
- the camps with an imitation of
an Indian whoop, which they are sure to
- answer
by a similar not. This whoop very nearly re-
sembles the shrill
- yelp of a dog. The land ap-
pears to be of an excellent quality, and deer
- and
turkies are very numerous. Here also
- The prowling wolf howls hideous all night long,
And owls vociferate the
- dread response.
Proceeded about thirty-five miles, and at
night encamped under our tent. We
- have been
entertained to-day with a diversified scene. The
river
- covered with wild fowl, fish jumping up
around us, and turkies flying.
We stopped a short time to view the remains
of
ral Wayne
- the Indians. The situation is very beautiful and
commanding, at the
- junction of the river
Au Glaize
make a large
- body of water, the width being
about two hundred yards. A Canadian
- trader
only resides here. We also went on shore several
times to visit
- Indian towns and camps. Great
numbers of Indians are settled upon the
- banks
of the Miami; they are chiefly of the
and
at receiving visitors. Their children were
- very
antic, and seemed to leap for joy on seeing us
land; doubtless
- from a hope of receiving some
presents. The hunters are returning to
- their
towns, and many of their wigwams are stocked
with peltry, dried
- raccoon, and jerk venison.
They are on their way to the foot of the
- rapids.
The women are mostly employed in knitting
bags and belts and
- in making moccasins. A
considerable number of Indians are on the river
- in bark canoes loaded with peltry. They are on
the way to the foot of the
- rapids and other places
for the purpose of exchanging their peltry
- with
the traders for goods. Most of the wigwams we
have seen to-day
- are covered with rushes sewed
together, which are procured from the shores of
-
will turn any fall of rain. An Indian house is
and a horizontal piece
- from one fork to the
other. Upon this piece rest long pieces of bark,
- with the other end upon the earth at a conveni-
ent distance, thus
- sheltering them from the
weather. Sometimes they make circular
- wig-
wams, by putting small saplings into the ground
in circular order,
- then bringing the other ends
to a point, they tie them together. These
- they
either cover with bark or with the rush mats
before
- described.
To-day we passed a place called
noted for the former residence of
Proceeded about thirty-three miles. In
the earlier part of the day we passed
- several
creeks and small streams, and at length reached
what is called
- the head of the
here
- about four hundred yards wide. The noise
of the falls informed us of our
- approach, long be-
lieve that our peroque was manned by careful
hands,
- we resolutely entered the
scended with great velocity down the fall for the
distance of
- eighteen miles to the foot of the
-
fall, the land falling with the same regularity,
and
- generally elevated but a few feet above the
surface of the water. It is
- needless to say that
we went swiftly down, when I add, that it is a
- trip occupying but one hour and a half.
The bed of the river is a solid limestone rock,
the
- house of a Canadian trader, who treated us
with great respect, and, though
- a tavern-keeper,
would receive no pay from us for our supper,
- lodgings, or breakfast. A considerable encamp-
ment of Indians, who had come
- to trade with
him was near his house. They were very merry
for a great
- part of the night, keeping up a con-
tinued sound of their favorite
- instruments of
music, amongst them the drum and fife. The
former is
- made of part of the body of a hollow
tree, with the ends covered with deer
- skin, upon
which they beat with sticks, the latter they
make of reed
- into which they bore holes some-
what in imitation of a fife. The foot of the
-
tory, as having been a place of frequent ren-
dezvous by the
- Indians, previous to their defeat
by
many of the white men who
- were taken prisoners
by them. To this place
here he met and defeated the Indian
- army.
About eight miles above the foot of the
and near the centre of the river, in a very rapid
- situation, is a noted rock called by the Cana-
dians,
rock is about thirty
- feet in height above the
surface of the water, and the same in
- diameter.
The top has the regular appearance of the roof
of a house,
- and the body of the rock is circular.
Its appearance is additionally
- handsome from
covered with cedar.
Fish are now passing up the
numbers from the lakes, in so much that the water
smells
- strongly of them. They are taken very
abundantly by the Canadians and
- Indians. The
fisherman without seeing them strikes his barbed
spear to
- the rocks, which often passes through
several at a time, and frequently of
- different
kinds. The muscanonje are taken here in great
numbers; they
- are a fish from three to five feet in
length.
This morning we proceeded with diffi-
culty ten miles; owing to high winds,
- and a rain
coming on, prudence seemed to dictate that we
should put
- into a harbor, which we did at the
mouth of
garrison lately established
- by the United States.
Introductory letters were given us at
Wayne
which we delivered. He
- treated us with respect,
and with him we spent the remainder of the
- day
and lodged. On our way we stopped to view an
old fort, called
-
by
- the British at the time
Indians.
Many Indian villages and wigwams are seated
on both shores of the river, and
- many Canadian
traders are to be found residing amongst them.
They have
- generally intermarried with the In-
dians, and adopted their manners. Some
- of the
of
- small round logs, and are roofed with bark.
Near the mouth of
valley of which we
- took a particular view. Here
the Indians placed their wives and children
- at
the time they agreed to make battle with
ral Wayne
The river increases in width from the foot of
the
half a mile wide
- opposite
present has
- the appearance of tide water; a
strong east wind having brought a heavy
- swell
from the lake, which has in a short time raised
the river more
- than three feet in perpendicular
height. We saw to-day geese and swans
- in
great abundance.
This morning notwithstanding the very
unfavorable appearance of the weather,
- it being
rainy and wind high, we again proceeded.
At the end of three
- miles we reached the mouth
of the river, where we entered a beautiful
- circu-
lar bay, about six miles in diameter, called
bay
along the margin of the bay, for about ten miles
to a point
- called
treme
- point of land, between
-
order to enter the lake, but the situation being
bleak and the wind
- high, occasioned a heavy
most advisable, however reluctantly, to put to
shore and
- encamp.
The shore of that part of the bay which we
have passed, as also of the lake
- now in view, is
elevated but a little above the surface of the
water.
- The country is level and appears rich.
The bay is resorted to by vast
- numbers of wild
fowl.
The last night has been very stormy and
rainy. Our tent, though a good, one
- did not
shelter us altogether from the rain. The high
swells in the
- course of the night, breaking over
our peroque, filled and sunk her, which
- has oc-
casioned our men much labor and difficulty. And
during this day
- the storm continuing, we have
been obliged to remain under our tent.
About midnight the clouds dispersing,
wind becoming calm, and the moon
- shining very
refulgently, we were encouraged again to embark,
- notwithstanding a considerable agitation of the
lake from the storm, and
- were successful enough
to turn
without difficulty to
-
of the
-
distance of about twelve miles, when the wind
rising we made an
- unsuccessful attempt to get
round the
a harbor and wait
- for a calm. Shortly after we
had put into harbor a fish approached the
- shore
of
- our men advanced toward it very cautiously,
and with an oar, gave it a blow
- upon the tail,
which so disabled it that he caught it. We
found it to
- be a muscanonje, measuring four feet
two inches in length and
- proportionally thick.
The muscanonje is from head to tail very
- beau-
tifully spotted, and is I think not inferior to any
fish I ever
- tasted.
For several days past we have been not a little
mortified at being confined
- to a harbor, whilst
the Indians are passing us very frequently in
- their bark canoes. It is astonishing to see these
canoes riding large
- swells without danger. It is
certain that they will ride waves whose
- height
exceeds their length.
Many of the bark canoes of the Indians have
fallen under our observation.
- They are gene-
rally made of the bark of the birch tree, and
shaped
- differently. We have seen bark canoes
loaded with two thousand five hundred
- weight,
which were so light that two men could carry
them on their
- shoulders with great ease. The
construction of the smaller description of
- these
boats is so simple, that in an hour they will
have a canoe made
- which will carry several per-
sons across their rivers. We have also seen
- many
of their rafts. These are made for crossing
rivers at those
- seasons of the year when it is not
easy to strip the bark from the trees.
- In all the
river bottoms the buckeye wood is to be found.
of its lightness when dried,
- it being a wood nearly
as light as cork. The Indians tie together
- small
logs of the buckeye wood, to form a square of
about five or six
- feet, this they cross by pieces
of any other description of wood, confining
- piece
to piece by bark strings, splits of hoop ash, &c.
Upon a
- raft of this description, three or four
persons will cross their rivers
- even though the
currenthe against them.
We had not been long in harbor, before our
anxiety to proceed exceeded our
- patience, and
observing in view at an apparent distance of one
and a
- half to two miles from us, about fifty
houses resembling a village, we
- concluded to
abandon our peroque, walk to the settlement,
and then
- endeavor to procure horses to take us
to
At 11 o'clock this morning we set out for this
purpose, followed by our men
- with our baggage
on their backs, and after walking over a wet
prairie,
- through mud and water, half a leg and
more in depth, for the distance of
- nearly six
miles, we reached the place. Viewing this set-
tlement from
- the lake, and over a tract so level
that the elevation between it and us
- did not ex-
ceed two feet, occasioned us to be so greatly de-
ceived in
- the distance. On arriving we found
that, instead of a village, it was a
- settlement of
French farmers situated along the
and presenting a very beautiful scene. The
in
- parallelograms. The buildings are good, and
the gardens and orchards
- handsome. We un-
derstand that about two miles higher up the river
- there is another settlement composed of about
forty families, and upon
-
miles
- distant, a third settlement containing about
thirty families. These people
- are Roman Ca-
tholics. We were soon informed that the dis-
tance from
- here to
by
- land, and that the road passed through so flat
and wet a country, for the
- greater part of the
way, that at this season of the year, it was
- almost
impossible to travel it on horseback, and were
advised to wait
- on the wind for a passage by water.
We, therefore, concluded to take
- lodgings at
the house of
entertain us, and dispatched our men to the boat,
- with instructions to come up the
us, as soon as wind and weather permitted; being
so wearied and
- overcome with our "Jack-o-Lan-
tern" excursion, that we could not consent
- to
retrace our steps to the boat.
A strong west wind, attended with heavy
rain last night and this day, have
- prevented our
men from getting to us. It is a fact well-known
here,
- that northwest and west winds are as certain
to produce cloudy weather as
- easterly winds with
us. This is doubtless owing to the humidity of
the
- vast western lakes. The same winds are
severely cold in winter, no doubt
- from the im-
lakes.
This morning our men arrived about 8
o'clock, with the peroque, the wind
- having abated
and weather fair. We again embarked, and
on our way down
- the
with the
- great numbers of wild geese, which
were at play in the ponds near the
- margin of the
river. They feed here so undisturbedly, that
though we
- were within gun shot of them, they
took but little notice of us. We again
- entered
the
best of its smooth surface. They proceeded with
great
- industry, and at night we reached a
dot
- town
of about thirty miles. Here we concluded to
lodge at
- the house of
- interpreter for those of the
are settled on this side of the lake. He is
married to an Indian
- woman who speaks good
English, and is very conversible. She gave us
- for supper bacon, bear's meat, and eggs fried,
also a dish of tea.
-
-
Its mouth is two miles in width, and the water
passes out of it
- into the lake with a strong cur-
rent. Its channel is wide, generally ten
- fathoms
in depth, and in many places much deeper. The
name
more appropos,
- it being but an outlet from the
waters of the western lakes to
This morning our curiosity led us to
take a view of
about one hundred houses,
- which are generally
built of small round logs, and roofed with elm
- bark. These Indians cultivate a considerable
quantity of corn, and their
- fields are enclosed
with rails of their own splitting. We saw a
sample
- of the wheat which they had raised the
last season, which looked well. They
- have gar-
dens and a considerable number of fruit trees.
They have a
- small number of cattle, and raise a
large number of hogs. The interpreter
- says they
are greatly disposed to civilization, and have re-
quested of
- the United States to furnish them
this year with cattle, instead of goods
- or money
for their annuity.
After taking breakfast, we again embarked
and proceeded up the
another Indian town
- called
village
of the settlement. The village contains
- about
twenty houses, and bears the same civilized ap-
pearance as
-
After passing the
Range
called
we beheld the horrible spectacle of two men
hanging
- in gibbets.
The white settlements, on both the American
and British shores of the
-
together, that
- the farms resemble villages.
Nearly opposite
reached about 5 o'clock in the afternoon, and
proceeded to the
- boarding house of the
Harrison
having come eighteen miles. In the evening,
-
us; they told us they had heard of the arrival of
some strangers,
- and expected we were from the
interior of the United States; that for a
- long
time they had received no account from the seat
of government,
- and were anxious to hear the
news. Having an open letter from the
- Secre-
tary of War, directed to
the commanding officer at
the opportunity to present
- it. The letter was as
follows:
-
This will be handed you by
-
kins
- members of the
Their object is
- to visit some of the western In-
dians, for the laudable purpose of
- encouraging
and aiding them in the introduction of
- agricul-
ture and other improvements essential to the
happiness
- of the red people. They are men of
science, information and
- property, and are en-
men. You will please to afford them every
- aid,
and should they wish to cross the lake from
troit
to sail
- for that place, accommodations should be
afforded them free of
- expense, and letters of in-
troduction given them to
and has invited us to dine with him to-morrow,
to which we
- have consented.
This morning
Jewett
we accompanied him to the garrison, and
- were introduced to the commanding officer,
-
clever old man. He informed us that a public
vessel would sail for
-
the
- ensuing month, and recommended us very
strongly to take passage in her, in
- preference to
any other vessel, she being in good order, and
under the
- management of mariners well ac-
quainted with the lake. This vessel is under
- his
superintendence.
Agreeably to engagement, we dined to-day with
of
This day we dined with
- compliance with an invitation which he gave us
yesterday. He treated us
- with great respect and
attention, and appeared to be pleased with our
- company.
nativity, he has considerable knowledge of our
Society. In the
- course of conversation he in-
quired after
and himself were in the same military company
during
- the Revolutionary war; he had not heard
of his death.
The following circumstance, as related by him,
making at the time
- considerable impression upon
me, I have thought proper to record it. He
- told
us that several officers with
were lodging together; that one night
alarmed them all with loud screams to such a
- de-
gree that on first awaking he supposed the enemy
had fallen upon
- their army with bayonets.
was on
- his feet, and appeared to be awake. They
spoke to him repeatedly, and
- endeavored to ap-
proach him, but every advance they made in-
creased
- his alarm. Finally he recovered himself
and became composed, and for
- several days after-
wards, instead of satisfying their inquiries,
- ap-
peared to be sunk in distress and gloom. He
afterwards told them he
- considered his alarm as
a warning to him, and that his fright arose
- from
a plain representation of the devil, come to take
him off.
-
- and (said the
This day we dined with
- factor of the United States in the Indian Depart-
ment. At his table we met
- our friend
Jewett
Henry
This day we dined with
Bates
Friends, and discovers great partiality
- for our
company. He is a young man of superior under-
standing, and is
- much esteemed in
feel and
- fear for the situation of this young
man. It is not in human nature to
- support good
principles unblemished, when left alone to stem
the
- torrent of fashionable and fascinating vices.
This day we rode nine miles up the
This lake is thirty miles in length, and twenty
- miles in width. We had a beautiful prospect of
it, from a commanding
- situation. I ought to
have mentioned that bordering the river, the
- whole distance from
is handsomely improved. The houses are so
near each other that
- the margin of the river
looks like a village. These farms are grants
- made by the French government nearly a cen-
tury ago. They uniformly lie in
- parallelograms
containing about one hundred acres. Added to
tolerable
- dwelling houses are the handsomest
apple orchards I ever saw. The
- extraordinary
of climate or soil, or both.
The pear trees also are very large and hand-
some; but their cherry and peach
- trees do not
thrive well, the climate being too cold for them.
In this little excursion we were accompanied
by
ply with an
- invitation we had received to dine
with
others, dined with us.
We this day dined with
Wilkinson
the State of
eating and drinking as the
- people of
pear to be, it
- would be no marvel if we should
forget our homes, and think ourselves well
- enough
entertained where we are; but whilst we have
been under an
- apparent necessity of yielding to
the invitations we have received during
- (shall I
say?) our imprisonment here, we know we have
been very
- anxious for the time to arrive, in which
we may embark homewards, and hope
- that to-
morrow morning the vessel for which we have
been waiting will
- sail.
This morning, wind and weather appear-
ing to permit, we were informed that
- at 9 o'clock
the vessel would sail. We accordingly bade
farewell to our
- acquaintance, and went on board
the United States brig called the
commanded by
o'clock sail was hoisted, and
- we proceeded to
ing
on, and the wind being
- unfavorable, we
anchored near the British shore, and opposite to
the
- town of
Weighed anchor. Winds light and op-
posite; anchored again about 8 o'clock in
- the
evening, near an island called the
About 4 o'clock this morning again
weighed anchor, and a calm coming on
- about 10
o'clock, we anchored again near
Island
of
- the day. In the afternoon some of us amused
ourselves with fishing. The
- small boat was
rowed by several hands around the island, whilst
we
- cast our lines, about thirty feet in length, hav-
ing hooks baited with the
- skin of pork and
covered in part with the skin of pork and
covered in
- part with a piece of red cloth. In a
short time we caught upwards of five
- dozen
black bass, justly esteemed an excellent fish, and
weighing from
- four to six pounds. The lake
water is so clear, that fish can be seen
- from
twelve to fifteen feet below the surface. Many
of the fish we
- caught, we saw advancing to our
hooks.
At 4 o'clock this morning again hoisted
sail. Weather windy, attended with
- rain. We
had not proceeded far before a head wind opposed
our sailing,
- and we cast anchor at an island
called
noon a heavy rain and
- thunder gust coming on,
it was deemed safest to return back a few
- leagues
ing the night.
This morning at 6 o'clock we again
hoisted sail; wind and weather clear and
- pleasant.
We are now, 9 o'clock at night, under sail.
Have been under sail last night and this
day until evening, when we cast
- anchor opposite
to
our passengers.
During last night lay at
this morning put on shore the passengers bound
for that place,
- after which, the wind heading us,
we lay at anchor the rest of the day.
-
is a town on the
- American side of the lake, con-
taining about forty houses, several of which
- are
stores. A small garrison of the United States is
stationed
- here.
About 10 o'clock last night, a light favor-
able breeze sprung up, which
- encouraged us to
proceed. The vessel has been all night and du-
ring
- the day under sail. At 8 o'clock in the
evening we dropped anchor, within
- four miles of
channel leading into the harbor, is rocky and
dangerous,
- and deems it imprudent to attempt
an entrance at night.
It is a pleasing reflection, that we are so near
to the end of our passage
- over the lake; and we
are gladdened with the hope, that we shall
- shortly
prosecute the remainder of our journey over
terra firma, where
- we shall not be subject to
from the dangers of storms.
very beautiful body of water, 300 miles in
- length and generally from 50 to 60 in width.
Much of the distance we have
- sailed has been out
of sight of land. The water of the lake appears
to
- be of a beautiful deep green color, but when
taken up in a glass vessel, is
- to be admired for
its transparency. I think it is, without exception,
- the sweetest water I ever drank.
At 4 o'clock this morning our anchor
was again hoisted, and in about half an
- hour we
were safely moored at
fort on the Canadian shore of the lake, garrison-
ed by
- the British. Immediately on our arrival,
we set out on foot for
town situated at
- the junction of
with
-
the outlet of the lake, commonly called
river
tain a conveyance across the country to the near-
est line of public
- stages. We were successful in
an application to one of the inhabitants,
- who
agreed to furnish us with a light wagon, to be
in readiness two
- day's hence. Here we met with
in the Indian
- Department. We had conversa-
tion with him at considerable length on
- Indian
affairs. He tells us that many individuals
amongst the Indians
- of his district, (who are of
agriculture.
About mid-day we returned in a small boat to
our vessel. After dining on
- board, we went on
shore at
and
-
us at 4 o'clock to-morrow morning, to view the
-
extended our walk for a considerable distance
along the shore of
-
of a
- solid body of limestone, beautifully marbled.
This morning we sat out for the
of
- Niagara
-
tance of 18 miles, which afforded
- us a view
both of the river, and of the adjacent improve-
ments. The
- land is generally under cultivation,
and is tolerably improved. The soil
- appears
rather cold and stiff; but some of the meadows
are nearly
- equal to the best I ever saw; some of
the farms belong to members of our
- society, and
we are told that there is a meeting of Friends
not far
- distant from the Falls. Considerable
emigrations are making from the United
- States,
to this as well as other parts of Upper
owing to the very advantageous terms upon
- which the British Government dispose of the
land, being scarcely removed
- from a gift.
We reached a Canadian town called
to breakfast, after which we walked to the
which every step seemed to increase curiosity
and surprise.
- Our attention was soon arrested
by a cloud which hangs perpetually over the
-
dashing of the waters.
As we advanced to the
- and rocks shook, or seemed to shake, under our
feet, whilst the roar of the
- waters so overpowered
every other sound that, notwithstanding we were
- tete-a-tete, it was necessary to raise the voice to
a very loud key in
- order to be heard. Mean-
while the cloud above mentioned issued
- contin-
ually in what we sometimes hear called a Scotch
mist.
There is a common saying, Those who know
This
- was our case on re-
no danger, fear none.
turning to the extremity of an overjutting rock,
- called
in order to gratify our curiosity, in a peep down
the
- precipice which is more than 150 feet per-
pendicular. In passing afterwards
- a short dis-
tance below this rock, we were alarmed with the
discovery,
- that the place on which we had stood
was but a thin shell, the
mined the rock for many feet.
- Proceeding a
little lower down the
our second stand was almost as baseless. We
- however supposed that the danger was not equal
to our apprehensions, as the
- names of great num-
bers of visitors were cut in these rocks, near
- their
ticular description of the
has been done by persons who have visited
- them,
for the especial purpose of gratifying the curious.
After we had
- gratified our curiosity in a view of
them we returned to
night were rowed in a
- small boat to
in order to
- be in readiness for setting out home-
ward in the morning.
The person who has engaged to take us
on our journey this morning has
- disappointed us.
The circumstance is a trial, as we have become
very
- anxious to reach our homes. Being at lei-
sure we accompanied the Indian
- agent in a ride,
four miles above
lage of the
- Nations
They are making considerable progress in
agriculture, live in tolerable log
- houses, and have
a number of cattle, horses and hogs. We saw
many of
- them at work; they were preparing the
ground for the plough by rolling
- logs, taking up
stumps, &c.
We also saw among them a large plough at
work, drawn by three yoke of oxen,
- and attended
by three Indians. They all appeared to be very
merry, and
- to be pleased with our visit. The
land upon which these Indians are settled
- is of
a superior quality. We saw amongst them
Jacket
tinguished Chiefs. Many of
- these Indians wor-
strings, several descriptions of Lake shells. Here
we met
- with
-
of being assisted by the agent in vesting fifteen
thousand
- dollars in the purchase of land from the
clined hunting, and are
- becoming agriculturists.
The
lina
- then
them a small tract of country, which they now
think wants
- enlarging. It is a fact, that the
United States to the
- amount of more than one
hundred thousand dollars, from which they draw
- regular dividends. This is money which they
received some years ago from
- our Government
for the sale of their lands.
The Chiefs and principal people took the advice
of
their
- money.
This morning we set out from
in a
- farm wagon drawn by two horses, and tra-
velled 32 miles through a rough and
- inferior
country.
Proceeded 23 miles and reached
via
had a muddy, disagreeable road,
- through a coun-
try too flat to be desirable. The land is pretty
rich,
- and very heavily timbered. We have been
crossed a handsome stream called the
tae
tance above us 120 rattle snakes lay dead. These
snakes
- were killed by some fishermen with their
spears, the warm weather having
- brought them
out of their dens. People are making settle-
ments here
- very rapidly.
Travelled 33 miles, and lodged at
ner's
- Tavern
erable. The New
- England people are making
many handsome settlements here. They have
- built fine farm houses, planted handsome or-
chards, and emigration is
- increasing. The stone
is mostly limestone. We passed for several miles
- over a tract covered with limestone, which con-
tained a great variety of
- curious marine shells.
The country affords many fine springs; one
- which we passed contains water sufficient to turn
a mill. We also passed
- through a large Indian
town, near the
that river, where its width is
- about 100 feet.
At 6 o'clock this morning we again
proceeded; passed near
-
-
erally tolerable, but stony. We to-day also saw
the same
- appearances of marine shells as yesterday.
About mid-day we reached the
- town of
daigua
20 miles in length, and from one to two
Ontario
- astonishingly handsome for a new country, par-
ticularly through a
- settlement called
At
-
for the public stage, a circumstance additionally
gratifying to
- us from the hope that we shall now
proceed homewards with expedition. At 2
- o'clock
set out in the stage, and reached the town of
new
- town situated upon
- water forty miles in length, and from three to
three and a half miles in
- width.
Travelled about fifty miles and lodged
at the village of
reached a handsome
- wooden bridge one mile in
length, over
Travelled fifty miles to the handsome
town of
Passed near
settlement of Indians of the
-
town consists of
- about seven hundred Indians.
They have good houses, a meeting house,
- barns
and orchards. Their land is under cultivation,
is level, and
- appears to be of good quality. We
saw many of them in their fields
- preparing for
corn. These Indians have been greatly aided in
- agriculture, by the
This morning we again proceeded, and
at night lodged at a small village
- called
town
river.
The Bottoms along this river are called the
They were settled
- many years ago by the Germans.
We stopped to view the Falls in the river,
- where
the navigation is made easy by locks; a very
romantic place,
- there being limestone rock of
enormous size, both in the water and upon
- the
hills. In proceeding along the bottoms of this
river there are
- many marks which indicate that
at some period of time there was a vast body
- of
water covering these Flats. The
erally from half a mile to a mile in width; their
margins are a
- continuation of hills on each side,
which are from two to three hundred feet
- in
height; the surface of the hills show stones of
great size, which
- are washed into all shapes;
added to this, the hills discover evident
- appear-
ances of those indentures common to river shores.
Again prosecuted our journey, passing
along the
ectady
- evening reached the town of
-
miles. I cannot but observe here, that in pro-
ceeding along the
-
to the
- end of those high chains of hills mention-
ed yesterday, where the country
- made quite a
level appearance; so that we were puzzled to
conjecture
- what became of the earth which had
seem to declare once washed their summits. I
- may add, in humble confession, that in the course
of our long journey, I
- have had frequent occasions
to acknowledge, in a view of those
- extraordinary
and inexplicable natural curiosities, which have
fallen
- under our observation, the truth of that
excellent sentiment of a religious
- poet, Nature is wrapt up,
-
In tenfold night, from
- reason's keenest eye.
Between
try is the poorest I ever saw. The surface
- is a
body of sand, producing scarcely a tree. Surely
one of
-
-
tract, Here half starved spiders feed on half starved
- flies.
Having concluded to go by water from
we set sail, and at six o'clock in the evening
- of
the
hundred and sixty miles.
At 8 o'clock this morning, we took
public stage, and passing through the
- city of
the
me
- to add I was gladdened with the favor of being
permitted safely to return
- to my home, and
dear wife and infant children all well.
We were absent on this visit three months
and four days, and travelled about
- two thousand
miles.
Whilst engaged in taking a copy of the pre-
ceding journal, I have been
- induced to examine
the manuscripts left by the late
of
bassy of the author of the
- narrative, to discover
if I could find amongst them any matter
- concern-
ing the Indians, and of the care manifested by
the
their
- behalf. In the course of this investigation
a variety of material on the
- subjects mentioned
has presented, from which I have gleaned some
- fragments, which, as they promise to be inter-
esting to the readers of the
- present day, are
herewith presented.
The first extracts are from the unpublished
account of a journey to
-
performed by some of the members of the
dian Committee
and written by
to have considered
- that any narrative of the
kind should be preceded by information
- con-
cerning the Indians, as they were in former
years; and had
- therefore prepared a preface to
this work, compiled from the writings of
-
son
lowing is taken:
When the first effectual settlement was
made in
the country from the sea
- coast to the mountains,
and from the
waters of
of
- forty different tribes of Indians. Of these,
the
cans
the falls of the rivers and the mountains were
divided
- into two confederacies; the tribes in-
habiting the head waters of
- the
-
hoars, and those on the upper part of
river
their friends were in amity with the
and their friends, and waged joint and
- perpetual
war against the
the
spoke languages so radically different,
- that in-
terpreters were necessary when they transacted
- business. Hence we may conjecture that this
was not the case
- between all the tribes, and prob-
ably that each spoke the language
- of the nation
to which it was attached, which is known to
have
- been the case in many particular instances.
Very possibly there may
- have been anciently
three different stocks, each of which
- multiplying
in a long course of time, had separated into so
- many little societies. This practice results from
themselves to any
- laws, any coercive power, or
any shadow of government. Their only
- con-straintstrasts are their
- manners, and that moral sense of
right and wrong which, like the
- sense of tasting
and feeling in every man, makes a part of his
- nature. An offence against these is punished
by contempt, by
- exclusion from society, or, where
the case is serious, as that of
- murder, by the in-
dividuals whom it concerns. Imperfect as this
- spe-
cies of coercion may seem, crimes are very rare
amongst
- them, in so much that were it made a ques-
tion whether no law, as
- among the native Ameri-
cans, or too much law, as among the
- civilized Euro-
peans, submits men to the greatest evil; one
- who
has seen both conditions of existence would pro-
nounce it
- to be the last, and that the sheep are
happier of themselves, than
- under the care of
wolves. It will be said that great societies
- can-
not exist without the aid of government. The
savages
- therefore break themselves into small
ones. The territories of the
-
racy south of
- the
- 8000 square miles, 30 tribes, and 2400 hundred
warriors.
60
- miles of
whom 1500 were warriors. From this we find
the proportion
- of their warriors to their whole
inhabitants was as 3 to 10.
- The
confederacy then would
- cosist of about 8,000
inhabitants, which was one for every
- square
present population in the same territory, and the
hundreth
- of that of the British Islands. The
numbers of some of them are
- stated as they
were in the year
made by the Assembly to enumerate them.
- Probably the enumeration is imperfect, and in
some measure
- conjectural, and that a further
search into the records would
- furnish many more
particulars. What would be the melancholy
- sequel of their hsitory, may, however, be
augured from the census
- of
discover that the
- tribes therein mentioned and
enumerated, were, in the space of 62
- years re-
duced to about one-third of their former number.
- Spirituous liquors, the small pox, war, and an
abridgment of
- territory, to a people who lived
principally on the spontaneous
- productions of
nature, had committed great havoc among them.
- That the lands of this country (
taken from them by conquest, is
- not so general
a truth as is supposed. We find in our
- histo-
ries and records, repeated proofs of purchase
which
- cover a considerable part of the lower
country, and many more would
- doubtless be
found on further search. The upper country,
we
- know, has been acquired altogether by pur-
chases made in the most
- unexceptionable form,
westward of all these tribes, beyond the
- moun-
tains, and extending to the great lakes on the
-
nahoacs
- of the tribes known at present by the name
of the
covered of the subsequent history of these tribes
- severally. The
-
of each of the tribes
- of the
tahonys
-
history. The
known latterly by the name of
probably connected
- with the
-
languages were so different that the interven-
tion
- of interpreters was necessary between them,
yet we also learn that
- the
merly
- inhabiting the
original stock with the
they partook also of the
Their dialects
- might, by long separation, have
become so unlike as to be
- unintelligible to each
other. We know, that in
tions
racy, and made them the
nations of Indians in North America,
- lived in
the hunter's state, and depended for subsistence
on
- hunting, fishing, and the spontaneous fruits
of the earth, and a
- kind of grain, which was
planted and gathered by the women, and is
- now
known by the name of Indian corn. Long po-
were also found
- in use among them. They had
no flocks, herds, or tamed animals of
- any kind.
Their government a kind of patriarchal confede-
racy.
- Every town or family has a chief, who is
distinguished by a
- particular title, and whom we
commonly call
or families that compose the tribes have a
- chief
who presides over it, and the several tribes com-
posing
- a nation have a chief who presides over
the whole nation. Those
- chiefs are generally
men advanced in age, and distinguished for
- their
prudence and abilities in council; the matters
which
- merely regard a town or family, are settled
by the chief and
- principal men of the town,
those which regard a tribe, such as the
- appoint-
ment of head warriors or captains, and settling
- differences between tribes and families, are reg-
ulated at a
- meeting of the chiefs from the differ-
ent towns; and those which
- regard the whole
nation, such as making war, concluding peace,
- or
forming alliances with the neighboring nations.
are
- deliberated and determined in a national
council, composed of the
- chiefs of the tribes, at-
tended by their head warriors, and a
- number of
chiefs from the towns, who are his counsellors.
In
- every town, there is a council house, where
the chiefs and men of
- the town assemble when
occasion requires, and consult what is
- proper to
be done. Every tribe has a fixed place for the
chief
- of the towns to meet and consult on the
there is what they call the central
- council house,
or council fire, where the chiefs of the
- several
tribes, with the principal warriors, convene to
- consult and determine on their national affairs.
When any matter is
- proposed in the national
council, it is common for the chiefs of
- the seve-
ral tribes to consult thereon apart with their
- counsellors, and when they have agreed, to deliver
the opinion of
- the tribe at the national council.
And as their government seems to
- rest wholly
on persuasion, they endeavor by mutual
- conces-
sions to obtain unanimity. Such is the govern-
ment that
- still exists among the Indian nations
bordering on the United
- States. To the north-
ward of these, there was another powerful
- nation,
which occupied the country from the head of
the
-
mountain
- river
which lies between the Highlands and the
- ocean.
All the State of
sylvania
-
falling into the
-
-
of Indians distinguish their countries one from
- another, by natural boundaries, such as ranges
of mountains or
- streams of water. But as the
heads of rivers frequently interlock
- or approach
claim the country watered by it, they often
- en-
croached on each other, and this was a constant
source of
- war between the different nations.
The nation occupying the tract of country
last described, called
- themselves
among us
- they are better known as
this nation consisted of five tribes, who all
- spoke
one language; first, the
on the west side of the river,
- now called
ware
- who put into it on his passage from
but which was called by the Indians,
- Chicho-
hocki. Second, the
country called
the sea.
- Third, the
upper streams of the
tinny mountains
-
and
cipal seat of their residence, was formerly called
- Mahattan.)
and
and
a
- continuance of the
the sound. The nation had a close alliance
with the
-
hanna
the
who
- lived to the north of them, between the
-
Ontario
are called
- by the French writers, Iroquois, by
the English,
the
- southward, with whom they were at war,
-
greatest fury, when
in
trated down the
it. The
- three, who are called the Elder, to wit: the
-
the east, and the
and two, who are called the
- younger tribes,
namely, the
tribes spoke one language, and were thus united
in a
- close confederacy, and occupied that tract
of country from the last
- end of
-
highlands to the
-
-
against the
and doubtful, they, in the course of it, not
- only
exerted their whole force, but put in practice
every
- measure which prudence or policy could
devise to bring it to a
- successful issue. For
this purpose they bent their course down the
-
way, and having penetrated as far as the
- mouth
a nation, known by the name of the
-
- on the territory of
alliance with them; they also formed an alliance
with
- the
- war with the
At the same time the
furious war down the
hiccons
to purchase a temporary and precarious peace,
by each
- acknowledging them to be their supe-
riors, and paying an annual
- tribute.
The
and hard pressed, and having lost many of their
- warriors, were compelled at last to sue for peace,
which was
- granted them on the condition that
they should put themselves under
- the protection
of the
corn, hunting for the subsistence of
- their fami-
lies, and no longer have the power of making
- war.
This is what the Indians call making them
women. Under this
- condition the
when
-
settlement of
In
-
lands on both
- sides of the river. The Indians
living on the
with
-
of peaceable and friendly behaviour, they were
- permitted to settle about the head of
in
in 1701, ratified the
- grant of the
- Indians made the preceding year of
Penn
a confirmation of grants made by former
- Indians
of the lands from
and from the
deed the Sachems declared
- that they had seen
and heard read divers prior deeds which had
- been given to
In the year
- York
- grains or beads, and three black ones shall pass
for a penny or
- stiver; this proclamation was
published at
Island
wampum was a passing medium of the country
at that
- time.
A treaty was entered into at the mouth of
the
the
-
which the United States do allot
- them lands
with their territory to live and hunt upon.
- Be-
ginning at the south line of the lands allotted
to the
-
where the main
- of the
to the forks of that
- river below the old fort
taken by the French in
to the
to the
-
people or citizens of the United States shall
settle or
- disturb the
ment and possessions; and the
relinquish to the United States all
- title they
ever had to lands, east, west, and south, of the
- east, west, and south of lines before described.
Signed by
-
- Parsons
- number of Indians and whites. The Indian
witnesses were of the
-
nations;
of the
The first movement made by the Society of
Friends of
benefit of the Indians,
- after the conclusion of
the Revolutionary was, was commenced about
one
- year subsequent to the treaty of
whereby a peace had been concluded between
the United States and the
- hostile tribes, north-
west of the
Indians had proved themselves to
- be the for-
midable enemies of the white emigrants who
settled near
- them, and of the armies of the
United States, sent out to compel them to
- sub-
mit to the occupation of a territory which they
continued to
- regard as their own property. Hav-
and in the use of European firearms, by serving
- under the French commanders in former wars,
they adhered to any pacific
- agreements no longer
than their fears or their interests restrained
- them; and rested in the determination never to
abandon their lands
- northwest of the
They had
- defeated
loss of
- the greater part of his army, on the banks
of the
pedition sent against them shortly after, under
the command of
-
pletely
- routed. In this engagement the
- Turtle
pages,
- was the commander-in-chief of the Indian
forces, and displayed feelings of
- humanity to-
wards his retreating foes, of which few exam-
ples have
- been furnished in the history of Indian
warfare, and which reflects honor
- on his cha-
racter.
On beholding the white soldiers fleeing before
the exasperated Indians, and
- at every moment
cut down by the weight of their tomahawks, his
heart
- revolted at the sight, and ascending an
eminence, he gave the singular signal cry, which com-
manded his men
- to cease from further pursuit
and return to their camps; he also sent out
- mes-
sengers to inform them, wherever scattered,
that
part many lives were
- spared.
After this defeat, so unlooked for by the
United States,
ceeded
upon
- the location where that officer had been
defeated, in the
immediately built
-
he brought
- the Indians to a decisive engage-
ment in the vicinity, in which they were
- over-
thrown with great slaughter. This humiliation
lessened their high
- estimate of their own strength
and disposed them to peace, and a treaty
- was
concluded between them and
who acted as a commissioner of the United
- States, at
northwest of the
so long the object
- of contention, and accepting
a reservation in the neighborhood of the
- Lakes,
came under the protection of the United States,
upon terms at
- that time considered mutually
satisfactory and beneficial.
The
just idea of the importance of the lands about
to be ceded to our
- government, remained for a
long time inflexible, resolved upon
- procuring
more favorable conditions. He was deeply at-
tached to the
- country which had been his birth-
place, and in common with all his
- brethren
considered it belonged to the Indians by right
of possession
- from the Great Spirit, who, they
moon and stars, had placed the red man on this
- continent, and bestowed it upon him and his
children. He knew also, that
- the whole region
around was made dear to them by every cher-
ished
- remembrance; their recollections of the
happy abode of the red people
- therein for many
generations before the coming of the white men
to
- settle amongst them; as connected also with
the sports and pastimes of
- their youth, and with
the enjoyments of their more manly pursuits in
- maturer years, and moreover as containing the
graves and other monuments of
- their fathers.
These recollections were all quickened and in-
creased
- in importance by the knowledge that, in
relinquishing the possession of
- this fine territory,
they yielded up forests filled with herds of
- deer,
and other game which, by the addition of the
fruits of their
- grounds, rich and fertile almost
without precedent, gave them, even with
- their
rude mode of tillage, an ample supply for their
simple wants. He
- seemed also to be filled with
apprehension, lest when settled within the
- con-
fined boundaries, which were to be theirs by the
conditions of the
- treaty, that his countrymen
would be too slow in adopting the habits of
- civil-
ized life; and as the supply of wild animals must
soon be
- exhausted, would suffer many privations
in consequence of the change. As
- such were
his feelings, can any thoughtful person be as-
tonished at
- his resolutions?
Convinced at last, that no alternative awaited
him, he consented to sign the
- compact, remark-
ing to the officers present, as he affixed his
- sig-
nature,
- agreement; I will be the last to break it.
remained true to
- his affirmation.
The following extracts are selected from a
brief account of the
more Yearly Meeting
Wayne
in
The
-
their
- attention almost simultaneously to an effort
for the improvement of the
- Indians, and a com-
mittee was accordingly appointed in each of
these
- Yearly Meetings, in the autumn of
to take
- the subject under care.
In
journments, from the
month
-
ant clerk, the exercise
- with regard to the In-
dians commenced by a weighty concern
- being
opened, concerning the difficulties and distress
to
- which the Indian natives of this land are sub-
ject; and many
- observations were made on the
kindness of their ancestors to the
- white people,
in the early settlement of this country,
- exciting
a deep consideration and enquiry, whether under
good
- will to men, (which our holy profession re-
quires,) anything
- remains for us to do to pro-
mote their welfare, their religious
- instruction,
knowledge of agriculture, and the useful
- me-
chanic arts. A solemnity and uniting calm
prevailing over
- the meeting, the further consid-
eration of the subject was referred
- to another
meeting, when the condition of the distressed
- Indian natives being again revived, the senti-
ments of many
- brethren expressed, and a pre-
vailing sympathy felt, it appears to
- be the united
sense of this meeting, that it be recommended
to
- our Quarterly and Monthly Meetings to take
this concern into
- serious consideration, and open
subscriptions among our members for
- their relief
and the encouragement of school education,
- hus-
bandry, and the mechanic arts, amongst that
people. As it
- appears their situation demands
immediate attention, we hope a
- spirit of liber-
ality will be manifested;*
its members was promptly met. But the sums of
money,
- thus collected, do not appear to have been
often used to defray
- the travelling expenses of the
Friends appointed by the
-
the tribes North-west of the
accepted such commissions
- prepared their own out-
fit and defrayed their own charges,
- except in one,
two, or at the most, three instances, where such
- an
expenditure would have been oppresive to the
- indi-
viduals concerned, on which occasions the necessary
- funds were supplied by the
-
- contributions into the hands of the following
Friends, who are
- appointed to receive and
apply the same, in such manner as will
- best
answer the benevolent designs of this meeting,
carefully
- guarding against giving offence to gov-
ernment, viz:-
The Friends above named composed the first
-
dian Affairs
nessed by
-
-
Fourth
- month, 1794
year's Meeting, held
- at
same month
-
-
meetings in his
- visit to these parts.
produced certificates to the
the same time, both from the
-
ing held at
gland
endorsed by the
at HCarmarthan
Also certificates from the
Ministers and Elders, held in
-
-
- The company and labors of love of these
Friends from
to have been satisfactory
- to
Meeting
contain
- minutes, almost precisely similar to those
given above, of the
- appointment of the
mittee
Britain
their exercises for the advancement of truth
- and righteousness, and sympathized in all their
concerns.
The first important meeting of the
- Committee
ing
Fifth month, 1796
The meeting was opened by the expression of
- a
ber
- of the Society of Friends would be willing
to give sanction to the
- benevolent experiment
recommended by the
ment which was united with by all
- present.
These good resolutions were much strengthened
and encouraged
- by a letter they then opened
and read, from the
phia
Phillips
mentions the appointment of the
mittee for Indian Affairs
set forth
terly and
- Monthly Meetings, and, also, Particular
Meetings, on the sufferings of
- Indians, and
had sent them, with the minutes from
hia
speeches and letters from
- Indian Chiefs; all
tending to spread useful information, and draw
- the attention of our members to the situation
of these distressed
- people;
also visited the President of the
- United States,
-
phia
religious Society, on behalf of the Indians. They
had,
- also, conferred with the Secretary of State,
who had manifested a desire to
- co-operate with
the Friends, in promoting the interests of the
- In-
dians. They had addressed a circular letter
tions
attaining a more comfortable, quiet, and peacea-
ble mode
- of life,
that the distresses and
- difficulties the Indians
labor under may, in a great degree, be
- attributed
to their propensity to the use of spirituous
liquors,
- introduced among them by traders and
evil-minded persons, and suggested a
- plan by
which the trade in liquors might be checked in
part, if not
- fully. They conclude:-
our attention to this concern, anything
- shall
arise that may be deemed useful and proper to
communicate,
- we mean to impart the same, de-
siring like care may rest with you, that
- what
may occur useful herein may be intimated to
your loving
- friends.
Addressed to
mittee of the
the Indian
- Concern,
Signed by
-Any communication to the
mittee on Indian Concerns
had authority to call a
- meeting of their Sub-
Committee of fifteen Friends, on
- occasions.
The committee remained two days in session
at
purposes, addressed a
- reply to their Friends,
-
through
Brown
Dillon
-
nations northwest of the
parts of them as they shall find
- freedom; appro-
bation of the government being first
- obtained.
They also addressed a letter to the Indians to
whom
- they were about to send a mission, in
which they informed them that the
- Quakers,
at their general religious council in
phia
Nations
our religious council held last fall in
were also concerned for your
- welfare who reside
in the West.
with you and get acquainted
- with your nations.
For this purpose we have sent our beloved
- bro-
thers,
Wright
shake hands with you in your tent, and to ask
if you wish to be
- instructed how to raise corn
and to get meat at home without hunting, and
- to weave blankets and clothes for yourselves,
your wives, and your
- children; and also to en-
quire whether you wish to have your
- children
taught to read and write, and to do such other
things as
- will make you live comfortably under
the shade of the great tree of
- peace. We wish you
to speak to us freely with the mouths of your
- na-
tions, and if it is agreeable to you we will talk to
you again.
- Farewell.
Council of the people
- called Quakers, the
of 5th month,
- 1796
-
-
Previous to the departure of this delegation to
the Indian settlements, they
- were furnished
with permission for the purpose
United
- States government, expressed in two let-
ters from the Secretary of
- State, and addressed
to
being as follows.
respectable standing among the Society of
has informed me,
- that a delegation of five pru-
dent, judicious men, of religious
- character, have
been deputed by their brethren of that Society
- in
of the
their situation and disposition, and
- thence to
judge of the practicability of introducing among
- them the simplest and most useful arts of civil
life. The result of
- their inquiries and observa-
tions they are to report on their
- return to the
Society.
The approbation of the President has been
asked and obtained. The
- object of this letter
is to communicate the same to you, and
- request
of you to afford the delegation all the protection
and
- countenance to which their respectable char-
acters and
- philanthropic views entitle them.
Most of the attempts at
- civilizing the Indians,
which I have heard of, have been
- preposterous.
We have aimed at teaching them religion and
the
- sciences, before we have taught them the
simple and essential
- labors of civil life.
The delegation proceeded to the Indian coun-
try, but found the chiefs, the
- hunters and war-
riors of the tribes with whom they desired to
confer,
- much dispersed over the country, engaged
in their various pursuits, and
- consequently were
collectively; under this disappointment they
made their report to
- the
Affairs
During the next
the
-
they made to that body, in which they alluded
to the inability
- of their late mission to obtain an
interview with the tribes whose
- improvement
and preservation they desired,)
of
- the intention of Friends was intimated to the
Indians in a suitable
- manner, and they were re-
quested to fix a time and place of meeting,
- a
satisfactory conference might be obtained; as
the disposition of
- such of them as they had had
an opportunity of conversing with appeared
- fa-
vorable.
The report was dated
and
- signed by
-
On the
mittee on Indian Affairs
that the
to that
Cadwallader
M'Grew
At the next meeting
pointed Clerk of the
ness presenting, adjourned.
At a meeting of the
at
mediately after
- the conclusion of the
for Sufferings
very serious consideration of the
- important
charge entrusted to them impressed the minds
of the Friends
- in attendance, and
- expressed a willingness, if provided with suita-
ble company to
- undertake a journey to the N.
West of the
nishing the
tion
- respecting the situation and disposition of
the Indians.
proposalm and
- he was left at liberty to make the
journey.
The
- on the
a most interesting account from
and the companions of his journey,-
wallader
the Indian country, dated
- the
month, 1797
following extract was copied:*
-
order to test the
- correctness of the abridgment now
published, the incidents, dates and
- names were found
to be exactly similar.
In the course of this journey, after having
visited a number of
- Indian hunting camps and
several of their towns, we had a large
- oppor-
exposed to the inclemency of the seasons, with
a very
- precarious and frequently a scanty sup-
ply of food and clothing.
- From the knowledge
we have obtained of the extensive and
- valuable
country they have lately given up to the United
- States, and of the narrow strip of land yet re-
served for their own
- use, between the line of
the American garrisons and from
mouth of the
pressed with
- a belief that the
nese
they alter
- their present mode of living, be re-
duced, in a few years, from the
- scarcity of game,
to a state of extreme want and distress.
At the upper end of
- held a council with two of the principal chiefs
of the
former
- warriors and young men, when
Zane
by the Friends of
He also interpreted the
- reply of one of the
Chiefs, which was brief but friendly.
They found that
- principal nation; that everything of importance
must be transacted in
- their council; they can
transact business by themselves, but the
-
wares
any
- business of consequence is laid before their
people.
This reply of the Indians, was presented to
- Report of the
and was published in the newspapers of the day.
Afterwards, at a meeting of the
mittee
1798
welder
senting the distressed condition of the Indians
under his care,
- in consequence of their having
been driven from their settlement on the
-
kingum river
now returning thereto in want of provisions and
necessary
- implements of husbandry; whereupon
Wright
circumstances of those Indians, with liberty, if
- they shall believe it necessary, to afford them
some assistance by
- furnishing them with such
articles as they may be in immediate want
- of.
This delegation reported to the
tee
- Fourth month, 1799
ing date,
and signed by
- Wright
as far as
-
miles from
Heckewelder
had procured the Indians under his charge
- a
supply of provisions for the winter before his
departure, and that
- the principal Indians of the
hunting camps (no date given), they turned
their
- attention to eight of ten families of other
Indians of the
sirous of being
- instructed in farming, but were
without agricultural implements, and were
- also
in want of provisions; these they would have
visited, in order to
- meet their
who had invited them to an interview,
- but were
prevented from doing so by the situation of the
-
of ice passing down it. They, however, left a
supply for their
- relief with
lived near
-
smith to make them some farming utensils.
they had heard and seen on their journey,
- be-
lieved it would be right for the
mittee
Council of the Indians to be held the next
spring.
The
on the
cial meeting; when a letter from
and a speech from the principal chief of the
dot nation
This chief, in his speech,
- which was delivered at
-
on the
the Friends that they once
- met the Indians at
a certain place
them; that they had no place of security for
their
- speeches, as their white brethren had, and
that their belts of wampum
- were their only re-
cords;
books and papers, you will there find written all
- that passed between your forefathers and ours.
He speaks further
- of a
to us by your forefathers, with
- a piece of parch-
ment affixed thereto; when you see the belt of
- wampum and read the writing on the parch-
ment, you no doubt will then
- perfectly know us,
and will consider us as brethren united by a
- chain
of friendship which can never be broken whilst
memory
- lasts.
he understood some of them
- wished to pay his
people a visit, and adds,
to hear that you still hold us in remembrance.
The letter of
after
- to be maintained between the
of
-
scripts I have
- overlooked furnish no account of fur-
ther correspondence between them,
- until some years
after the date of this letter of
-
was dated
states that
-
quest of their
settle amongst them, and a speech from the
- proceeded no further than to furnish the
- ami's
other articles,
- but had no prospect of making
an early settlement amongst them.
Wistar
-
was
by two or three Friends) at their
- village,
supposes
your
from us none have been sent as yet amongst
the
- nations west of the
cludes with the following caution to the
more
very
- generally take as promises what may be
suggested to them for their
- consideration, as
probable to take place, if they unite with it;
- we have of late been very guarded in our com-
munications with them, as
- the more we become
acquainted with the Indian character the
- greater
necessity we perceive for it.
On considering the speech of the
- cheif, the
cerns
pointment by the addition of
-
with
than Heald
to visit
- those Indians in order to cultivate their
friendship, and, if way should
- open, to offer
them assistance.
A reply was also written and forwarded to
the
Meeting
The correspondence has,
on our part, been suspended till the
- account
should be received from the Western Indians,
which is
- now communicated by you; they pro-
bably conceiving that Friends,
- wherever situ-
ated, act as one body united. As the
of
them at times, from the first settlement of the
country,
- and as they, in their present address,
have alluded to former
- transactions, it seems
the more necessary for us to apply to you
- for
information on that head. We have been aware
of our own
- inability at present to do any great
matters, and have endeavored
- to guard against
raising their expectations. A speech was some
- time ago communicated to some of the chiefs
of the
with a view to inform
- them that we were de-
sirous of turning their minds to some of
- the
most simple arts of civil life; and we wished
to know of
- them whether it would be agreeable
to them to make such a movement.
- They in-
formed us that they would lay the subject be-
fore
- their council and return an answer. A
copy of the speech was left
- with them addressed
to the chiefs of the
-
hand you a copy also.
We should have been pleased with the re-
ception of the original
- speech of the
Chiefs and
- the belt of wampum they speak of,
with a copy of that from the
-
-
pointed to attend at
the great Indian Council,
- of which you will
please inform the Superintendent,*
not then been removed to the City of
The Superintendent resided in
-
municate such further information on the sub-
ject as you
- may conceive to be necessary. We
also suggest the propriety and
- usefulness of
your appointing a few Friends to unite in the
- visit, since the prudent conducting of the mat-
ter may be of great
- importance.
As you are better acquainted than we are
with the mode of conducting
- business with the
Indians, if you think a belt of wampum will
- be
necessary on our part, you will please to pro-
cure one for
- us suitable for the purpose, to be
forwarded with the original
- speech and belt
received by you, and we will remit the amount
- so soon as you advise us thereof.
The deputation left their homes on the
5th
- mo. 1799
horses to carry a tent,
- provisions for the jour-
ney which would be necessary after leaving the
- settlements of Friends of
ents to the Indians. It may be as well to men-
tion at this point,
- as the subject has not been al-
luded to before in this Appendix, that of
- all the
missions we have referred to as sent out by the
-
the Friends engaged in them
- travelled on horse-
back, and experienced privations which in this
day
- of railroads and telegraphs cannot be appre-
ciated. Valuable gifts for
- their Red brethren,
their wives, and children, were never omitted on
- these occasions.
At the next meeting of the
tee
-
been appointed to visit the Indians made their
report, viz:
-
sat out on a visit to the Indians,
- the
month last
month
of
- the
- friendly reception from
head chief, and others of the nation who
- hap-
pened to be at the village.
On conferring with them they found that a
mistake in translating their
- language had led to
a misunderstanding respecting the time of hold-
understood began
- every year at the full moon,
in the 6th month; they were, therefore,
- too
early in their visit, and with the impossibility
of collecting the
- other Indians who would not
be likely to assemble until the council,
- they
concluded to hold a conference with
the other chiefs then at
and had a free conference with
- them on the sub-
ject of their visit. Their communication was
kindly
- received, and an answer delivered on
four strings of wampum, expressive of
- their
gratitude for the care and friendship of the
Quakers;*
the improvement of his people, and lived to
- be the
oldest Indian in the West. He had signed a treaty
between
- the United States and the Indians as early
as
part in
- the revolt which soon after took place, and
in the battles subsequently
- fought, he appears to
have been the first to persuade the Indians to
- make
a virtue of neccesity, to
- yield to the superior power of the white men. He
was cruelly executed
- by the order of
- met, they would communicate to it the concern
the Friends now felt for
- their improvement, and
inform us by a written speech of their
- conclu-
sion thereon.
They conclude their report by remarking:
-While we were at
fected under the sorrowful consideration of the
baneful
- effect of spirituous liquors on them, being
abundantly supplied
- with it in almost every vil-
lage by Canadian traders residing among
- them;
and we are confirmed in the opinion, that unless
the
- traders can be restrained from furnishing
them with this
- destructive article, in exchange
for their skins and furs, they
- will not easily be
persuaded to turn their minds towards
- agricul-
ture and the useful arts. At the same time, we
have no
- doubt that these unprincipled men will
make use of the great
- influence they have over
the Indians to keep them in their present
- mode
of living, as most conducive to their own in-
terests.
- Notwithstanding this cause of dis-
couragement, the great affection
- which the In-
dians have always manifested for our Society,
- induces us to desire that Friends may endeavor
to keep under the
- weight of the concern, and
be prepared to proceed in the benevolent
- work
before them, whenever the way may open for
service among
- them.
In the manuscript journal of
the interview between
- the Friends and the
After
course, which was delivered by paragraphs
through an
- interpreter,
principal chief, took into his hand four strings
of
- wampum, and began his speech. As he
proceeded, he continually kept
- the strings of
wampum moving, and spoke in a methodical
way,
- and with the force and manner of an orator.
I make no doubt, if the
- interpreter had been
able to do justice to the sentiments
- expressed,
we should have pronounced a verdict highly in
favor
- of the eloquence of this son of the forest.
After he had finished his speech, he desired
his wife (who occupied
- an apartment above the
council room, so situated that she could
- hear
what passed), to hand down to him the papers,
which he
- had; which she did. We read them,
and found among them
long paper
- containing much good advice from the
Secretary of War.
When the Indians hold a council, they have
some of their principal
- women placed in a little
room, either adjourning or overhead, where
- they
can hear perfectly all that passes. This they
treasure up
- in their minds, and as they are apt
to have retentive memories,
- their traditions are
faithfully preserved.
The manuscripts in my possession furnish no
mittee
-
- given of a meeting, at which a committee was
appointed to draft a letter to
-
ingehelas
-
ter and speech which had been received from
them, which did not
- contain a full reply to the
proposition made to the Indians in
committee supposed their communication
- had
not been faithfully translated, and again inquired
of their Red
- brethren:
Are you willing to
have your children instructed at home, on
- your
own lands, how to raise plenty of corn, to make
clothes,
- and to build houses; to keep your old
men, your women and children
- warm when the
weather is cold; and that you may not suffer
- from want when the game gets scarce in your
country?
At their next meeting the
of
-
from
ceived from the Indians since the last meeting,
- and no business was transacted.
The next meeting of the
- special one, and held at
the 5th month, 1802
in consequence of a part of the
ing had a conference with a number of
- Indian
chiefs in
way to
and were waited on at their lodgings, the
Fountain Inn,
- Light Street, by the members of
the
Mills
portance to their Red brethren, viz: the
- introduc-
tion into their tribes of some of the arts of civil-
ized
- life, and to remonstrate against the use of
spirituous liquors. The
-
sented to the
- General Indian Committee the
whole account of their conference, and
- the
memorial they had presented to Congress
against the introduction
- of spirituous liquors
into the Indian settlements. As the account of
- the conference was published in several of the
newspapers, I give the
- following extract from one
of them:
The editors having obtained a genuine copy
of the proceedings of the
-
by the
-
ciety
- of Friends
Indian Chiefs
- from the banks of the
-
-
-
- passed through this city on their way to the
Federal Government,
- feel no small degree of
pleasure in having it in their power to
- gratify
an inquisitive public with the interesting
- con-
tents.
Besides the members of the Society of Friends,
many respectable persons of
- different religious
persuasions were present, and the communica-
tions
- were taken down with accuracy by
T.
- Hopkins
a stenographer of great ability.
-
amongst the Indians North-west of the
was the interpreter. He was a native of
tucky
-
- afterwards been adopted by one of the chiefs,
and continued to reside
- amongst them. On this
occasion he had attained his thirty-fifth year,
- and being possessed of good talents, not only
spoke the language of the
- Tribes represented by
the
Indians
- present, but also the English language
with fluency, and wrote well.
On the first interview of the committee with
the Chiefs, which was on the
-
month, 1801
following short, but expressive address from
-
tion, the
convened; he was not at the time a member of
thropic
- movements.
Brothers and Friends: I am desirous in the
early part of this
- opportunity, that you may be
informed, that the people called
- Quakers con-
sider all mankind as their brothers: that they
- believe the Great Spirit and Father of all man-
kind created all men
- of one blood; and that it
is the will of Him who also created the
- sun,
the moon, and the stars, and causes them to give
us
- light,-the Great Spirit and common Father
of all mankind,-that we
- should not do one another
hurt, but that we should do one another
- all the
good we can; and it is on this ground, and this
- principle, that we believe it right to take you by
the hand.
Then after a short time spent in silence, an-
other member of the Society of
- Friends,
M'Kim
lieved it required of them to
- love all men,
without reference to location or complexion;
that
- they were convinced it was not in their
power to perform their
- religious duties to the
Great Creator of all things without his
- assistance,
and therefore felt it their duty, when entering
upon
- such important business as that in which
they were about to engage, to
- sit down in
stillness and wait upon Him.
thing
- more on this subject, and a reference to
the
more
between their Society and the Indians, from
their
- first settlement in America; and recollect-
ing that the Western country
- was fast filling up
with white people, and that game would
- ne-
cessarily become scarce, they feared the Indians
would be
- brought into a state of suffering.
That, in consequence of the long
- wars that had
subsisted between them and some of the white
people,
- the Friends for a long time had not had
an opportunity of taking them
- by the hand.
That so soon as an opportunity had presented,
after a
- peace was effected, a concern had arisen
in their council, and several
- Friends were ap-
pointed to go out into the wilderness and have a
- talk with them.
Friend who sat at his
- right hand,
who had been one
- of the mission to the Plains
of
ment in this concern.
a very concise relation of the
- journey, and the
conference with the
has been before alluded to, and of
- which a
narrative was published some years since by
-
deputation that the Friends had received no re-
sponse to the
- proposals then made to the In-
dians; but a belt of wampum and a speech
- had
been sent them from a council held at
and an invitation to attend their General
- Coun-
cil. After he had concluded, another member
dressed the chiefs as follows:
Brothers and Friends: We were glad when
we heard that some of our
- Red brethren were
coming to this city, and felt our minds
- drawn
to take them by the hand, and have an oppor-
tunity of
- knowing them. As we have not been
made acquainted with their
- circumstances, we
have not been able to judge whether any
- thing
we have had to propose to do for them would be
accepted?
- Whether they are really under the
necessity of applying to some
- other mode of
living to obtain a livelihood, and whether game
- in
their country is yet plenty? We have thought,
brothers,
- that if it should not yet be the case,
that game is scarce, at the
- present time, it will
probably be the case in some future time;
- and,
therefore, we have thought it would be best for
our Red
- brethren to give some attention to the
cultivation of the soil.
- This is one of the subjects
which has claimed our attention; and as
- we feel
in our hearts that we love the Indians and desire
- their welfare, we wish to turn their attention to the
subject; we
- also believe, brothers, that we
derive a very great advantage from
- reading
books which contain instruction, we wish that
our
- brethren, the Indians, should partake of the
same means of
- instruction with ourselves. We
wish you to let us know with candor,
- whether
you desire these things, and if you do so, that
we may
- do for you whatever may be in our
power.
After a short pause, the
if the Friends had any thing more to say, and
being told that
- we were all willing to listen to
him, he rose up and said:
thanks to the
- Great Spirit above, that has put it
in our power to speak to each
- other. My
brother chiefs and myself are glad that our
Friends and
- brothers, the Quakers, have such
great compassion for their Red
- brethren.
then spoke of the belief of the Indians,
one Great Creator of all the men upon the
earth,
- and who were made when the earth, the
sun, moon, and stars were also
- made, to be useful
to them and give them light.
to the desire of the Friends to benefit the In-
dians, and
- their need of that assistance, he
added:
path by the Great and Good Spirit. We
have
- been led astray by inferior spirits: we
now hope that we may come upon
- your track,
and follow it.
destructive wars that have raged in the country
of our
- Red brethren, since your fathers first
came amongst them, have caused
- their numbers
to be greatly diminished. Those that have come
among
- us, have very much cheated and imposed
upon us. They found us simple
- and ignorant,
and have taken great care to keep every thing
from
- us, in order to profit by our ignorance.
Friends and Brothers,-We find you are now
hope the Great Spirit will
- assist you, together
with the Great Chief of the White People,
- to
whom we are about to apply for help.
Brothers and Friends,- At the Treaty of
-
we received some presents by the hand of the
- Great War Chief of the Americans (
- Wayne
the
- Quakers. After this Treaty I was invited
by the Great War Chief of
- the Americans to
visit them. It is now four years since I
- visit-
ed them in
cil was held in that city. I had there an
- oppor-
tunity to see our brothers the Quakers, and re-
ceived
- from their mouths some of their talks:
all these talks I wrapped up
- in my heart, and
when I returned home to my brothers I told
- them all those good things which you had told
us you were desirous
- to do for us.
Brothers and Friends,-I am happy to say
that these my Red Brothers
- now present with
me are Chiefs, who in their own country are
- equally great with myself; they were rejoiced to
hear your words
- delivered to them through me
four years ago; and they are equally
- glad with
myself to hear from the mouths of our brothers
the
- Quakers the same good words again. If we
understand you right, you
- wish to add comfort
to our women and children by teaching us
- and
that the Great Spirit has put it into your hearts,
and am
- sorry that your efforts have not yet been
successful.
Brothers and Friends,-I now assure you, that
you hear the voice of
- the
-
shaw
ans, and if you wish to do any thing for any of
these
- nations we will at all times be ready to
render any assistance in
- our power.
The
sure they had received from the words of the
to hear
- the same good words from the
of
- Baltimore
of
which were
and did all I could to keep them from
- wearing
out; I was pleased with them; they now need
repair; we
- have nobody among us that can mend
them, and they are now useless to
- me.
then referred to a visit they had made to
delphia
together with the Quakers there, had concluded
by
- inviting the
Indian tribes at their
- next Great Council, held
annually at
receive their annuities from
- the United States;
them should be conveyed to them through their
interpreter,
-
Wayne
After taking his seat, this chief appeared to
have reflected that he had not
- answered fully
the questions proposed to them, and rising again,
- said:
of your
- brothers, the Indians, to engage in the
cultivation of our lands, and
- although the game
is not yet so scarce but that we can get enough
- to eat, we know it is becoming scarce, and that
we must begin to take
- hold of such tools as we
see are in the hands of the white
- people.
wards he alluded in forcible language to the
- con-
fidence which the Red men had in the Friends,
and that they knew
- they desired no compensa-
tion for their services to them, and added,
thers, we are a jealously disposed
- people-almost
every white man that comes among us endeavors
to
- cheat us; this has occasioned jealousy among
us. But your talks,
- brothers, are different, and
we believe you.
The
- which he reiterated much that the
had spoken, and continued:
Friends and Broth-
ers, the talks that you have now delivered to
- us shall be carefully collected, wrapped up and
put in our
- hearts,-we will not forget them.
On our return home, we will have
- them com-
- the
up that river until it
- strikes the lakes, thence
round by
back again to
- the same place. What we say to
you does not come from one, but from
- many,
and what you have now said to us, you speak it to
but a
- few, but it shall be communicated to many.
Brothers and Friends, I observed to our
friends, the
ago, what I say
- now to you, that we wish our
brothers, the Quakers, to render us
- those services
they have proposed. We promise that nothing
- shall be wanting on our part to give aid to so
desirable a thing in
- our country. Our situation
at present will not admit of carrying
- such a
plan so fully into execution as we could desire,
but I
- hope you may not be prevented from ma-
king trial. If we had such
- tools as you make
use of, and which add so much to your
- comfort-
for we have been lost in wonder at what we have
seen
- among you,-if we had these instruments,
we should, I hope, be
- willing to use them.
From the great things, and astonishing
wonders, which we have seen
- among you, and
finding they all come out of the earth, it
- makes
me anxious to try if I cannot get some for my-
self.
He then expressed his regret that the move-
ments of the Friends towards the
- Indians had
ding to their having received no satisfactory re-
ply from the
-
concluded with observing,
deal, brothers, in having a good interpreter,
- and
beginning at the right end of the business.
[The Indian
- Committee who had had the inter-
view with
chiefs at
that their
- speech to the Indians was not clearly
translated, of which a hint had been
- given, and
hence the remarks of the
Here the interview with the Indians closed.
-After reflecting on the subject of their con-
ference with the Indian Chiefs,
- the members of
the
not made use of that opportunity to express
- their opinion on the subject of the use of spirit-
uous liquors. Another
- meeting of the
mittee
and the chiefs were invited to attend. They
- met
again at the dwelling of
brief representation of the reason for
- another
interview given by a friend,
dressed the chiefs in a forcible
- communication,
which was full of feeling; after assuring them
that the
- love he felt for the Indians, and his
interest in their welfare, had taken
- away all
fear of giving them offence, he proceeded to ac-
knowledge
- what he had witnessed in his visit to
the
the way of their improvement than
- anything
else, and appealed to them thus:
the same mind with us who are your friends, and
have your good
- at heart; that it would be right
for us to take the subject into our
- serious con-
sideration, to endeavor to discover whether
there may
- not be some steps taken that would
put a check upon this pernicious
- thing?
After calling upon the chiefs to express them-
selves freely in regard to the
- concern, the
ers, the Quakers, had any further communica-
tion to make,
- and being desired to proceed, rose
up and said:
Brothers and Friends, I am
happy to find it has pleased the Great
- Spirit,
that we should again meet in the same house in
which
- we held our council yesterday. I am
happy to find that it is the
- will of the Great
and Good Spirit that we should discover that
- there was something omitted yesterday, that
was highly necessary
- for your red brethren.
Friends and brothers, I am glad to find that
it has pleased the
- Great Spirit to put a wish in
your hearts on the subject you have
- mentioned;
a subject of the greatest importance to us.
What
- you have said relative to our being one
flesh and blood is true.
- Your brothers, the In-
dians, believe that it is in this light the
- Great
Spirit considers all mankind.
He afterwards
remarked, that the Indians had long been aware
country, but could obtain no redness; that since
the
- introduction of spirituous liquors among
them, their numbers were greatly
- diminished,
and taking advantage of the request which had
been made,
- that they should express themselves
freely, added:
I will now take the liberty to
mention, that most of the evils
- existing among
the Red people, have been caught from the white
- people; not only that liquor which destroys us
daily, but many
- diseases that our forefathers were
ignorant of, before they saw
- you.
Brothers and Friends:-I am glad you have
seen this business as we
- do, and rejoice to find
that you agree in opinion with us, and
- express
an anxiety to be, if possible, of service to us,
to
- remove this great evil out of our country; an
evil that has had so
- much ruin in it,-that has
destroyed so many of our lives, that it
- causes our
young men to say,
- with the white people.
introduce
- into our country, is more to be feared
than the gun or the
- tomahawk; there are more
of us dead since the treaty of
we lost by the years
- of war before, and it is all
owing to the introduction of this
- liquor among
us. This subject, brothers, composes a part of
- what we intend to make known to the Great
Council of our White
- brethren. On our arrival
there, we shall endeavor to explain to our
- Great
have arisen in our country, from the introduc-
tion of
- this liquor by the white traders.
Brothers and Friends: In addition to what
I have observed of this
- great evil in the
country of your red brethren, I will say
- further,
that it has made us poor. It is this liquor that
- causes our young men to go without clothes, and
our women and
- children to go without anything
to eat, and sorry I am to mention
- now to you,
brothers, the evil is increasing every day, as the
- white settlers come nearer to us, and bring those
kettles they boil
- that stuff in they call whiskey,
of which our young men are so
- extremely fond.
Brothers, when our young men have been out
- hunting, and are returning home loaded with
skins and furs, on
- their way, if it happened that
they come along where some of this
- whiskey is
deposited, the White man who sells it, tells them
- to take a little drink; some of them will say
no, I do not want it;
- they go on until they
come to another house, where they find more
- of
the same kind of drink; it is there again offered,
they
- refuse, and again the third time; but
finally the fourth or fifth
- time, one accepts of it
and takes a drink, and getting one, he
- wants
another, and then a third, and fourth, till his
senses
- have left him. After this, reason comes
back to him; when he gets
- up and finds where
he is, and asks for his peltry, the answer is,
- you
have drunk them. Where is my gun? It is
Where is my shirt? You have sold
- it for
whiskey! Now, brothers, figure to yourselves
what a
- condition this man must be in;
he has a family at home, a wife and
- children,
who stand in need of the profits of his hunting,
- what must their wants be, when he himself is
also without a shirt.
-
After expressing his
hope that the Great Spirit would aid the
Friends
- in their efforts to assist the Indians, and
that they would use any
- influence they possessed
with the great council of the United States
- on
their behalf, and again alluding to the baneful
effects of
- spirituous liquors, and the bad advice
of wicked men who wished to keep
- them in ig-
norance, he finished by declaring that he desired
all that
- he had said should be made public,
provided the Friends had no objection
- thereto.
The
Brothers and Friends: I have nothing to say on
the
- subject we have now been talking over. My
friend, the
answer
- to those things you have mentioned to
us; we are but one people, and
- have but one
voice. We hope, brothers, that your friendship
and
- ours may never be broken.
- follows.-
have
- communicated at this time, has been
clearly understood, and we are glad
- to find we
see things in the same light that you see them.
the
- difficulties you have stated, claim our sym-
pathy and solid
- consideration, and we shall, I
trust, take the subject up, and if way
- should
open for us to move forward, in aiding you in
your
- application to the General Government, we
shall be willing, either on
- this occasion, or any
other, to render you any service in our
- power.
The conference then broke up, and the
Committee
gress of the United States, the following me-
morial.
The memorial of the
for
- Indian affairs
Friends held in
sents:
That a concern to introduce amongst some
of the Indian tribes
- north-west of the
the
- most simple and useful arts of civil life,
being several years
- since laid before our
Meeting
body, to visit them, to examine their situation,
and
- endeavor to ascertain in what manner so
desirable a purpose could
- be effected. A part
of that
approbation of
- the President of the United
States, proceeded to perform the
- service assigned
them, and the result of their enquiries and
- ob-
servations, as reported to the
was, that the quantity of spirituous liquors
- with
frontier settlers, must counteract the effect of
every
- measure, however wise and salutary,
which can be devised to improve
- their situa-
tion.
The truth of this assertion is abundantly
confirmed by a speech made
- before us, by a
- herewith transmit a copy for your consideration.)
and we also
- acknowledge our belief, that the
evil is of such magnitude, that
- unless it can be
altogether removed or greatly restrained, no
- national hope of success in the proposed under-
taking can be
- entertained. We are therefore
induced to solicit the attention of
- the National
Legislature to this interesting and important
- subject; a subject which we consider involves,
not only their
- future welfare, but even their very
existence as a people.
These Friends soon after repaired to the seat
of government, presented their
- memorial to
Congress, and were gratified by the passage of
the law,
- which they so much desired. Whilst
in
the President of the United
- States
such measures from time to time, as
- to him may
seem expedient, to prevent or restrain the vend-
ing or
- distributing of spirituous liquors, among
all or any of the Indian
- tribes.
On the subject of civilization the law states
-
the
- friendly Indian tribes, and to secure the con-
tinuance of their
- friendship, it shall be lawful
for the President of the United States
- to cause
them to be furnished with useful domestic ani-
mals, and
- implements of husbandry, and with
goods or money as he shall judge
- proper, and to
appoint such persons from time to time, as
- tem-
porary agents to reside amongst the Indians, as
he shall think
- fit; provided that the whole
amount of such presents and allowance to
- such
agents shall not exceed fifteen thousand dollars
per
- annum.
The
general meeting of the Committee on Indian
concerns, which was held
- in
10th month, 1802
The general
- meeting of the
-
mote residence of some of the members, met once a
year.
conferences which had been held with the
- Indian
chiefs; the chiefs of those nations whom
visit. Their report presented the speeches of
the
- chiefs, the memorial of the
- Congress, a copy of the law passed by Congress,
and an account of their
- interview with the Sec-
retary of War, with the information received
- from him. The War department at this period
of the government of the United
- States had the
care of Indian affairs, and the Secretary informed
the
- Friends that, agreeably to the request of the
Indians, the government had
- established a tra-
ding house at
want of several persons of our
- Society; black-
smiths, carpenters, and superintendents, men
that could
- make and mend ploughs, looms, farm-
ing utensils, &c., and wished to
- employ such
as were of exemplary conduct, and concerned for
the
- promotion of the work in prospect; to such
the United States offered a
- liberal compensa-
tion.
At the next meeting which was held in
timore
tee on Indian
- Concerns
following application to the
-
ings
We of the
pointed by
with an idea of the importance of our
- appoint-
ment, and with a full persuasion, that the situa-
tion
- of our business requires speedy attention,
as the obstructions that
- have heretofore prevented
the Western Indians the benefits some years
- ago contemplated by the
now removed, and considering the distant situa-
tion of
- many of our members from each other,
and the difficulty and even
- impracticability of ob-
taining a general meeting; we have been
- in-
duced to believe it right to submit the subject
to the
- consideration of the
for their cordial sympathy and advice, and
- if
they may believe it right, for their co-opera-
tion also.
- Signed by
The
- into sympathy with the members of the
- Committee
they were
- encouraged to appoint a Committee to
procure agricultural, and other useful
- implements,
and have them conveyed in seasonable time to
-
The
in
drew up a report
- for
in which they
- related that in consequence of
information received from the Western
- Indians,
and the prohibition by the President of the
United States of
- the sale of spirituous liquors
pressed with the belief that the time for an
earnest
- commencement of the benevolent inten-
tions of the
had accordingly
- purchased for the use of those
Indians
kinds
from whence they were
- to be immediately con-
veyed to
from the Society of
- Friends of
Meeting
- to be disposed of by them, to such of their peo-
ple as they knew were
- desirous of using them.
They also reported that they had had
- some cor-
respondence with
agent at
the arrival of the agricultural implements at
their
- destination.
to
- their enquiries on behalf of the Indians, and in-
formed them as his
- opinion, that
sion of liquors in that
- country is the best thing
that has ever been done for the Indians, by
- the
United States; that within a year, not one In-
dian had been
- killed; whilst there had never
been a year before since the treaty of
-
ville
killed, and some years as many as thirty.
The report was signed on behalf of the
mittee
-
To this report a postscript was added, that in
members of the
however, not given,) and a
- distant situation and
other causes preventing the attendance of many,
-
- discontinuance of the present
appointment of another.
Their report was read, and their request for a
new
- Meeting
day of 10th month
clusive, 1803
- members of the
month, 1803
informed them of the
- appointment of the follow-
ing Friends to constitute a
Affairs
their appointment,
interesting concern as they may be enabled
- to
render,
Immediately after their organization
- Thomas
cott
E. Thomas
Secretary to the
and ability,
- from the date of his appointment to
the time of his decrease, which took
- place the
day of 9th month, 1861
been Treasurer of
- the
the period of
- its origin in the year
this
- reappointment he continued faithfully to
perform the trust confided to him,
- until his de-
cease in
At the next meeting of the
dian
- affairs
letter was received from the
the
which resulted in the
- appointment of a delega-
tion to visit them, of whom
and
vice.
The Friends who accomplished this journey
together have now for many years
- been num-
bered with the dead.
this life the
years, and
years afterwards on the
-
in the 66th year
- of his age.
-
the Indians in agriculture, faithfully performed
-
the Friends told them
so
- much disposed to be industrious as we could
desire.
tation
- of them fully verified in his experience.
After he had, with some
- assistance from the In-
dians, enclosed his plantation with a rude
- fence,
only one, or at the most two of the red men
evinced any
- disposition to labor. They would
take a seat either on the fence, or in the
- trees,
near the premises, and watch him with apparent
interest in his
- daily engagement of ploughing
and hoeing, but without offering to lend a
- help-
ing hand. He found the land very fertile, and
raised a large crop
- of corn and other products,
which, after gathering into a storehouse he
- built
for the purpose in the autumn, he left in charge
of some of the
- neighboring chiefs for a winter
supply for the necessitous members of the
- tribes
for whom he had labored, and returned to his
home at
- a respectable member of the Society of Friends,
and died on his farm in
-
-
The promise made at the commencement of
the foregoing brief history of the
-
mittee
appointment in
-
- this Appendix have been already exceeded; but
the very interesting
- character of the concern in-
duces me (before producing a copy of the
- Trea-
ty of
condition of the Indian Tribes ought to be pre-
sented
- to the reader) to add the following ac-
count.
From the last meeting of the committee, as
above related, in
the war with
Indians
- continued to increase in importance, and
their friends were frequently
- flattered with the
hope of a successful and permanent settlement of
- the Tribes, to whom the United States under
certain conditions had
- guaranteed their lands, in
the neighborhood of the Lakes.
- Philanthropists,
not only in our country, but, also, of the
more
- enlightened European nations, continued
to accord to the efforts of the
- Friends of this
country the meed of their approbation, and from
- members of the Society of Friends in
- Britain
delphia
money, paid to
- them in two instalments of several
thousand dollars each, to be applied to
- the im-
provement of the condition of the Indians, which
greatly
- increased their opportunities of useful-
ness; to these donations was
- afterwards added
a bequest from a friend of
contribution to the cause of humanity.
Portions of these different sums of money were
faithfully applied, with
- those collected from
their own members, in giving encouragement
to the
- civilization of the Indians; in the pro-
motion of a good system of
- agriculture; in sup-
porting schools; in building small mills for
- grinding Indian corn, and in endeavoring to
discountenance the hard
- servitude of their
women.
On the establishment of the
of
a part of that of
mittee
divided the money remaining on hand, with the
-
be applied in accordance with the instructions
received for its
- expenditure; but the unsettle-
ment produced in the neighborhood of the
- Cana-
dian frontier, by the war with the British na-
tion, produced its
- effect on the friendly tribes,
and, after much consultation among
- themselves,
and repeated visits of Chiefs to
they concluded to cede all the lands to
- which
they had any title, in
and remove further west. This was in
-
the
- ceded lands, subject to the laws of the State
or country.
The
spent two days at
mas week of
United States Agent for
preter. They had
- been to
ness,
- had had an interview with the
mittee
through the
- State of
their arrival, and gave them an invitation to
dine the
- next day, at his house, which was not
far distant from the hotel
- where they lodged.
The delegation was composed of the
- following
persons:-The
Chiefs of the
-
and
-
accompanied by his wife. All accepted the in-
invitation
- but
both for himself and his wife. He was of a very
- warlike disposition, and the brother of
and
from their allegiance to the United States, and
were
- the cause of much bloodshed on the Cana-
dian frontier. Already the
- spirit of disaffection
had taken hold of his mind; he refused to
- wear
any article of clothing manufactured by the
his expressions of
- hatred toward the whole race,
who, he maintained, had violently
- wrested from
them all their most valuable possessions. Nor
did
- he hesitate to express his determination,
with aid of his two
- powerful brothers, to regain
all the lands which had originally
- belonged to
them, after putting to death all those who now
- occupied them.
In order to give him favorable impressions of
the power of the
- Federal government, and re-
lieve his mind of the idea of taking up
- arms
against it, the other members of the delega-
tion, all
- friendly Indians except himself and
the
journey,
- hoping he would discover, as he passed
along, so many evidences of
- the strength of the
people he professed to despise, as to be
- induced
to prefer peace to war, on any terms. No favor-
able
- change, however, had been the result. He
had refused every civility
- tendered him while in
in his apartments, while all the
- rest of his com-
panions partook of every enjoyment offered
- them.
He had refused to meet the
in
so,)
- and remained in the same mood on his arri-
val at
Ellicott
welcome and kind treatment at his house, he
- still declined. The
nacy, ill-humor and laziness, and told him he
was too
- large a man to give so poor a display of
Indian politeness, and
- that he would return to
his home in the same state of ignorance in
- which
he had left it; but all to no purpose. He bore
the
- raillery with apparent good humor, but re-
mained unmoved.
stature, and in
- the prime of manly vigor. His
dress was entirely made up of the
- skins of wild
animals, which had been killed by his own
- hands.
Having heard so much of the
I determined to be present when he and
- the
other Chiefs were introduced at the house, where
they were
- to be entertained as guests. He was
the first to enter the parlor,
- and bowed grace-
fully as he was introduced to the family, and
- made a short address, in which he acknowledged
the pleasure it
- afforded him thus to meet the
wife and children of a friend to whom
- he felt
obliged, and of whom he entertained the highest
- opinion.
The interpreter then introduced the rest of
the party, who shook
- hands, and took their seats.
Afterwards a pleasant conversation
- took place
between the
some of the residents of the village, in
- which
the Indians drew a comparison between savage
and
- civilized life, and in favor of civilization.
The
desirous of promoting the improvement of his
people.
- The
wife, and the
silence.
The dress and mantle of the
close resemblance to those worn by
and were of similar material. He was
- esteemed
the greatest hunter of the
occasionally visited the
pursuit of game, and
- on his last excursion to
that distant range, had killed a grizzly
- bear of
immense weight and size, whose skin, dressed
with the
- claws and teeth attached, he wore on
this occasion, thrown over his
- shoulders. His
face was painted; the cheeks and forehead
- black, and across one of his cheeks was a heavy
dash of vermillion,
- which looked like a deep and
gaping flesh wound. His hair, which
- was thick
and coarse, was cut about six inches long in
front,
- and hung about his face, but was its full
length behind, and tied
- in several places with
bands of buckskin, and powdered with red
- paint;
and he wore on the top of his head, a small
coronet of
- eagle's feathers, Attached to an
embroidered belt hung his tobacco
- pouch, made
of the entire skin of a beaver, and by its side
- his tomahawk and scalping knife.
With his large and muscular proportions, ac-
companied by the
- disfigurements of the paint,
he was only saved from the appearance
- of a bar-
expressive of the utmost good humor.
The wife of the
some woman, of a modest and downcast expres-
sion. She did
- not seem to entertain the preju-
dices against civilized
- manufactures, which ex-
isted in her husband's mind, and wore a
- blue
cloth habit, though made in Indian style; a hat,
covered
- with braided ribbon, feathers of different
sorts, and tinsel
- ornaments. Her moccasins were
beautifully embroidered with moose
- hair, inter-
spersed with plaited rows of porcupine's quills;
- her necklace was made of several rows of beads
of many colors, and
- her ear ornaments, which
were drooping, and hung nearly down to
- her
shoulders, were also of beads; and she wore,
wrapped
- around her person, a fine Makinaw
blanket.
The
and
in a costume usually worn by our own citizens
of the
- time: coats of blue cloth, gilt buttons,
pantaloons of the same
- color, and buff waistcoats;
but they all wore leggings, moccasins,
- and large
gold rings in their ears. The
ceeded all his brother Chiefs in
- dignity of ap-
pearance-a dignity which resulted from the
- character of his mind. He was of medium
stature, with a complexion
- of the palest copper
shade, and did not wear paint. His hair
- was
a full suit, and without any admixture of grey,
Wayne
at this time have been fifty-seven
- years old.
His dress was completed by a long, red, military
- sash around the waist, and his hat (a chapeau
bras) was ornamented
- by a red feather. Imme-
diately on entering the house, he took off
- his
hat, and carried it under his arm during the
rest of the
- visit. His appearance and manners,
which were graceful and
- agreeable, in an un-
common degree, were admired by all who
- made
his acquaintance.
When seated at table they seemed to enjoy the
repast which was set
- before them. A large
dish of hominy- a national dish with the
- In-
dians- had with a variety of other dishes been
served up,
- especially in reference to their tastes,
and was acceptable to
- them. The
on taking his
- seat, immediately pointed it out to
his wife, who sat at his side,
- and spoke for the
first time since his entrance, to request to
- be
helped bountifully to the hominy, having seen
nothing he
- liked so well since he had left the woods.
The visit ended very agreeably; the deputa-
tion shook hands with the
- Friends who had en-
tertained them, and returned to their
- hotel.
They found
by the fireside, but soon understood they
- had
just returned from a walk, having passed the
of the
We were told that they spent a part of the
day seated upon the
- rocks, contemplating the
scenery before them; they were afterwards
- at-
tracted to a point where hickory nuts and per-
simmons were
- abundant, and the Chief was seen
climbing the trees, and gathering
- the persim-
mons and nuts, and throwing them down to his
wife,
- who seemed fond of them. Thus, they had
passed the day, and looked
- refreshed thereby.
Both
journey, were
- careful to present themselves, on
all occasions, where there was a
- chance of their
being seen, painted and adorned in their most
- approved style. Thus, while in
and
ment, as
- he did not go out,
spend two or three hours daily, in the duties of
the
- toilet, painting his face, dressing his hair,
and arranging his
- appearance, by a small mirror,
held up before him by his wife, who
- stood near him
for the purpose, pronouncing occasionally on
- the
effect produced, and giving instructions. Similar
- attentions were conferred by the wife of the
-
rank, and rather older than
was less elaborate, and occupied
- less time.
The next day after this ramble, the
tamies
-
all the objects of interest in the neighborhood.
They
- had begun to be aware of the importance
of mechanical operations,
- and spoke with as
much approbation as an Indian ever speaks of
- things which he admires, of the ingenuity ex-
hibited in the flour
- and paper mills. The next
day all the deputation left for their
- homes in the
west.
About a week subsequent to their departure,
a member of the
by the
- hotel at
public stage arrive with a party of Indians and
their
- interpreter, and was much surprised to find
among them the
The
interpreter,
- had left his party at
- and had joined the present deputation in order
to present the
- grievances of his nation to the atten-
tion of the President of the
- United States. For
several years their annuities, both as
- regarding
goods and money, had been badly paid, and during
his
- recent visit to
had uniformly objected to
- allude to the subject,
under various pretexts. The
there was something wrong
- somewhere, and was
determined to seek redness. The interpreter
- asked advice of the Friend who met him at the
hotel, and was
- encouraged to make a faithful
statement of wrongs done to the
-
ton
to a large amount, and was discharged from the
- agency at
live in
against the United
- States, very contrary to the
desires of the
had remained
- deaf to all the arguments of
- cumseh
- States, and faithful in his friendship to his
friends the
- Quakers.
-
he had defrauded in his agency, and was put to
- death with great barbarity. The
had died a short time before, of an attack of
- the
gout in the chest.
The following matters of interest in the his-
tory of the Indians, together
- with the copy of
the Treaty of
nished from the records
- of
gentleman of that
- city.
The treaty of
-
most generally, written
the
the army of the United States, northwest
- of the
er for the United States, and the Sachems, Chiefs
and
- warriors of twelve tribes of Indians. The
treaty was mainly the result of a
- victory ob-
tained by
battle fought the previous year, near the
mee
- Lake
- for nearly twenty years had been carried on be-
tween the Indians, northwest
- of the
the white settlers in
-
ginia
by the government to procure peace. Partial
treaties were entered
- into, which had no
effect in restraining the great body of the tribes,
- and several military expeditions, which had been
sent into their country to
- subdue them, met with
disasters, and by their failure only
- strengthened
the Indians. In
ers, with ample powers, were sent to negotiate a
treaty,
- and were intrusted to offer much better
terms than were afterwards granted
- the Indians
by the treaty of
given them it was stated,
-
Friends had, with the
- approbation of the President
of the United States, decided to send some
- of
their respectable members in order to contribute
their
- influence to induce the hostile Indians to
the Commissioners that any Friends
- attended.
The negotiation failed. The Indians insisted
upon the removal of the white
- settlements and
Forts from the country northwest of the
which the Commissioners refused to accede
- to,
maintaining the claims of the United States to
certain portions of
- the country under treaties
from other tribes who were believed
- competent
to make title to it.
By the treaty of
ded to the United States a tract of country com-
prising about
- twenty five thousand square miles,
or sixteen million acres, some of which
- however
was included in previous grants from other tribes.
They also
- ceded sixteen smaller tracts as sites
for Forts, trading stations, &c.
- They received
in consideration of the cession, twenty thousand
dollars
- in goods, and permanent annuities amount-
ing to eleven thousand dollars;
- $9,500 in goods
delivered, the cost of delivery and distribution
being
- $1,500. The annuities, at 5 percent re-
presents a capital of $220,000; thus
- the entire
payment would be $240,000 for 16,000,000
acres of land, or
- one cent and a half per acre.
The annuities of several of the tribes com-
menced at once, and are still
- paid regularly
under the treaty of
ceive additional annuities under
- other treaties.
Indeed all the tribes who were parties to the
treaty
- of
to trace in them the specific amounts granted by
that treaty.
PREAMBLE: that the treaty if to end a de-
structive war, settle all
- controversies, and restore
harmony, &c.
ART. 1. Peace re-established.
- ART. 2. Prisoners on both sides to be re-
stored.
ART. 3. Indians cede all lands east of a line
running from the mouth
- of the
ularlym to
- the
- the
tracts. And free passage to the whites through
- certain routes through their country.
ART. 4. The U.S relinquish all land west of
the boundary, except
- 150,000 acres granted
ral
- Clarke
settlement on the
and give $20,000 in goods and
- annuities, amount-
ing to $9,500.
ART. 5. Indians to be protected in the occupa-
tion of their lands as
- reserved to them; but to
sell only to the U. States.
ART. 6. Indians may expel settlers from their
lands.
ART. 7. Indians may hunt on lands ceded to
the U.S., [until
- settled.]
ART. 8. Trade to be conducted by licensed
traders.
ART. 9. Neither party to retaliate injuries,
but offenders to be
- punished by their own gov-
ernment, and Indians are to give notice
- of hos-
tile designs.
ART. 10; All other treaties within the
of this treaty cancelled.
The following tribes were parties to the treaty
of
of each tribe shows the number of chiefs repre-
senting
- it, and proves that at the date of the
treaty, the Indians were a
- numerous people, viz:
For the United States,
sole Commissioner.
The witnesses were:
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