History of Montgomery & Fulton Counties by F. W. Beers & Co. Montgomery County, Ch1

THE HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

CHAPTER I.

THE FIVE NATIONS-THEIR TRADITIONS OF THEIR ORIGIN-IROQUOIS CUSTOMS-THEIR CONTACT WITH THE FRENCH.

The greater portion of what now constitutes the State of New York, when first visited by the Europeans, was found to be inhabited by five distinct and powerful tribes of Indians who had united and formed a confederacy. The tribes that composed this confederacy were the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas and Senecas, called by the English the Five Nations, and by the French, the Iroquois. They bore among themselves the title AQUINOSHIONI or KONOSHIONI, signifying Cabin-makers or People of the Long House, referring to their organization and territorial possessions, which extended from the banks of the Hudson to the shores of Lake Erie. Their government was, in many respects, republican, and the wisdom displayed in the management of their affairs distinguished them above all the other aborigines of the Continent. At what time the confederacy was formed is unknown, its origin being as much involved in the obscurities of tradition as any other remote event of Indian history. Some as the result of their investigations have fixed the period less than a century before the Europeans came into the country, while others have placed it more than two centuries earlier. The current tradition held by the Iroquois respecting their origin was that they sprang from the earth itself:

"In remote ages, they had been confined under a mountain near the Falls of the Osh-wa-kee or Oswego river, whence they were released by THARONHVJAGON, the Holder of the Heavens. Bidding them go forth to the east, he guided them to the valley of the Mohawk, and following its stream they reached the Hudson, which some of them descended to the sea. Retracing their steps toward the west they originated in their order and position the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, Senecas and Tuscaroras, six nations, but the Tuscaroras wandered away to the south and settled on the Cantano, or Neuse river, in North Carolina, reducing the number to five nations.

"Each of the tribes thus originated was independent of the others, and they warred with each other as well as with the surrounding tribes. Tharonhyjagon still remained with the tribes ; gave them seeds of various kinds, with the proper knowledge for planting them ; taught them how to kill and roast game ; made the forests free to all the tribes to hunt, and removed obstructions from the streams. After this he laid aside his divine character and resolved to live with the Onondagas, that he might exemplify the maxims he had taught. For this purpose he selected a handsome spot of ground on the southern banks of the lake called TEONTO, being the sheet of water now known as Cross lake. Here he built a cabin, and took a wife of the Onondagas, by whom he had an only daughter, whom he tenderly loved, and most kindly and carefully treated and instructed. The excellence of his character, and his great sagacity, and good counsels led the people to view him with veneration and they gave him the name of HI-A-WAT-HA, signifying a very wise man. From all quarters people came to him for advice, and in this manner all power came naturally into his hands, and he was regarded as the first chief in all the land. Under his teachings the Onondagas became the first among all the original clans. They were the wisest counselors, the best orators, the most expert hunters, and the bravest warriors. Hence the Onondagas were early noted among all the tribes for their pre-eminence.

" While Hiawatha was thus living in quiet among the people of the hills, the tribes were attacked by a furious and powerful enemy from the north of the great lakes. This enemy advanced into the country and laid waste the villages, and slaughtered men, women and children, until the people had no heart to oppose the invaders. In this emergency they fled to Hiawatha for advice, who counseled them to call together all the tribes from the east and from the west, saying ' Our safety is not alone in the club and dart, but in wise counsels.' He appointed a place on the banks of the Onondaga lake for the meeting, and thither the chiefs, warriors and head men forthwith assembled in large numbers, bringing with them their women and children. " The council had been waiting for three days, but as yet Hiawatha was absent. Messengers were dispatched to hasten his attendance, but they found him gloomy and depressed. He told them that evil lay in his path, and he felt that he should be called to make some great sacrifice ; nevertheless, he would attend the council. The talismanic white canoe in which he always made his voyages, and which the people had learned to reverence, was got out and Hiawatha and his daughter took their seats. Gliding silently down the deep waters of the Seneca, the canoe reached the outlet, and entered on the placid Onondaga. As the canoe of the venerated chief appeared he was welcomed with loud shouts, but while he was measuring his steps toward the council ground, a long and low sound was heard, and instantly all eyes were turned upward, where a compact mass of cloudy darkness appeared, which gathered size and velocity as it approached, and appeared to be directed inevitably to fall in the midst of the assembly. Every one fled but Hiawatha and his daughter, who calmly awaited the issue. The force of the descending body was like that of a sudden storm ; and hardly had Hiawatha paused, when an immense bird, with long distended wings, came down with a swoop and crushed the daughter to the earth. The very semblance of a human being was destroyed in the remains of the girl, and the head and neck of the bird were buried in the ground from the force of the fall.

"Hiawatha was inconsolable for several days; but at length took his place in the council, and the deliberations opened. The subject of the invasion was discussed by several of the ablest counselors, and various plans proposed to foil the enemy. Hiawatha listened to the debate, and at its conclusion, bade the warriors to depart until the next day, when he would unfold his plan, which he felt confident would ensure safety.

" The council again met; and with even more than ordinary attention the people listened to the words of their great chief. Hiawatha counseled them, that to oppose these hordes of northern tribes singly and alone would prove certain destruction ; that to oppose them successfully the tribes must unite in one common band of brothers ; must have one voice, one fire, one pipe, and one war club. In the confederacy which he proposed should be formed, the several tribes were assigned the position they were to thereafter occupy,and in conclusion he urged them to weigh well his words ; that if they should unite in the bond he had proposed, the Great Spirit would smile upon them, and they would be free, prosperous and happy; but if they rejected his counsel, they would be enslaved, ruined, and perhaps annihilated forever.

" The tribes received the address in solemn silence, and the council closed to deliberate on the plan recommended. Assembling the next day, the union of the tribes into one confederacy was discussed, and unanimously adopted. Pending this result, Hiawatha, warned by the death of his daughter that his mission was accomplished, prepared to make his final departure from earth. Before the council dispersed he recounted the services he had rendered to his people, and urged them to preserve the union they had formed, telling them that if they preserved it, and admitted no foreign element of power by the admission of other nations, they would always be free, numerous, and happy. ' If other nations are admitted to your councils, they will sow the seeds of jealousy and discord, and you will become few, feeble, and enslaved. Remember these words; they are the last you will hear from the lips of Hiawatha. The Great Master of breath calls me to go. I have waited patiently his summons, and am ready to go.' As his voice ceased, sweet sounds from the air burst on the ears of the multitude; and while all attention was engrossed in the celestial melody, Hiawatha was seen seated in his white canoe, in the mid-air, rising with every choral chant that burst out, till the clouds shut the sight, and the melody ceased."

This confederation, which was undoubtedly established for the purpose of common defence, was a very powerful and effective alliance. In the general council of the Confederacy the Senecas, who were much more numerous than the other nations, were represented by two delegates, and each of the others by one. The presiding officer at the council was always assigned to the Onondagas, and to the Mohawks the principal war-chief. Their power was in their union, which differed from that of other nations in its perpetuity, the latter frequently securing the same results by temporary alliances in case of war. The delegates spoke the popular will of the tribes they represented, and to determine their action they were not permitted to approve any measure which the tribe had not endorsed by a unanimous vote. Each nation was governed by its own chiefs, civil and military, who might declare war and conclude peace on their own account; claimed dominion over territory defined by general boundaries, and was perfectly independent of control by other members of the Confederacy, except when national or confederated action required the concurrence of all the tribes. When the united tribes in council made a decision, it was unanimous. The question then had to be referred to the warriors of each tribe, assembled in council, where a unanimous decision was also required; hence every resolve was clothed with the full popular will.

The matrons of the tribe in council could command a cessation of hostilities, and when they so determined, the chiefs and warriors returned from the war-path without compromising their character for bravery, For this purpose a male functionary, the messenger of the matrons, who was a good speaker, was designated to perform an office which was deemed unsuitable to the female. When the proposition for a cessation of war was resolved upon, the message was delivered to this officer, and he was bound to enforce it with all the powers of eloquence he possessed. The following description is given of their national council. "The council-house was built of bark. On each side six seats were placed, each containing six persons. No one was admitted besides the members of the Council, except a few who were particularly honored. If one arose to speak all the rest sat in profound silence, smoking their pipes. The speaker uttered his words in a singing tone, always rising a few notes at the close of each sentence. Whatever was pleasing to the Council was confirmed by all by the word nee, or yes. And at the end of each speech the whole company joined in applauding the speaker, by calling Ho! Ho! At noon two men entered, bearing upon a pole across their shoulders, a large kettle filled with meat, which was first presented to the guests. A large wooden ladle as broad and deep as a common bowl, hung with a hook to the side of the kettle, with which every one might at once help himself to as much as he could eat. The whole was (onducted in a very decent and quiet manner. Indeed, now and then, one would lie flat upon his back and rest himself, and sometimes they would stop, joke, and laugh heartily."

The Iroquois were divided into clans or families, distinguished by as many different sorts of arms or emblems, each being made to represent the clan or family to which it belonged. A sachem of one of these families when he signed an instrument of conveyance or public paper, put his emblem upon it, representing the animal by which his family was designated. The first was that of the tortoise, and was first because they pretended that when the earth was made it was placed on a great turtle, and when there was an earthquake it was the turtle that stirred. Other families were designated by such names as the wolf and the bear.

All their affairs were under the direction of their chiefs, who obtained their authority by the general opinion of their courage and conduct, and whenever they failed to appear to the Indians in a praiseworthy light, their dignity ceased. Though the son was respected on account of valuable services performed by his father, yet without personal merit he could not attain his rank. Whatever pertained to hereditary descent was confined to the female line, and the chieftainship fell upon the son of a chief's daughter, to the exclusion of his uncle ; but the chief's brother would succeed him instead of his own son in case there were no descendants through the female line. The language used by the Iroquois, both in their speeches and in ordinary conversation, was exceedingly figurative. Many of their chiefs were distinguished for their eloquence, and some of their speeches have scarcely been excelled by the greatest orators of enlightened nations. An early historian of New York, writing at the time when the Five Nations still constituted a powerful body, in regard to their manners and customs, says: " The manners of these savages are as simple as their government. Their houses are a few crotched stakes thrust into the ground, and overlaid with bark. A fire is kindled in the middle, and an aperture left at the top for the conveyance of the smoke. Whenever a considerable number of these huts are collected they have a castle, as it is called, consisting of a square without bastions, surrounded with palisades. They have no other fortification, and this is only designed as an asylum for their old men, wives and children, while the rest are gone out to war. While the women cultivate a little spot of ground for corn, the men employ themselves in hunting. The men frequently associate themselves for conversation, by which means they not only preserve the remembrance of their wars and treaties, but diffuse among their youth incitements to glory, as well as instructions in all the subtleties of war." Before they went out they had a feast on dog's flesh, and a great war dance, at which the warriors, who were frightfully painted with vermilion, rose up and sung their exploits, or those of their ancestors, and thereby kindled a military enthusiasm in the whole company. The day after the dance they would go out a few miles, in single file, observing a profound silence. The procession being ended, they stripped the bark from a large tree, and painted the design of their expedition on the naked trunk. The figure of a canoe, with the number of men in it, indicated the strength of their party; and by a deer, fox, or some other emblem, painted at its head, it was discovered against what nation they had gone. On their return, before they entered the village, two heralds advanced and set up a yell, which by its modulation intimated either good or bad news. If the news was good the village was notified of it, and an entertainment provided for the conquerors, one of whom on their approach bore the scalps which they had taken, stretched over a bow, and elevated upon a pole. The boldest man in the village came out to receive it and then ran at the top of his speed to where the rest were collected. If overtaken he was severely beaten, but if he outran the pursuers he was allowed to participate in the honor of the victors, who neither spoke nor received compliments until the feast was over. Then one of the victors was appointed to relate the whole adventure, while all the rest listened attentively till the close, when they all joined in a savage dance.