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THE

I

HISTORY

OF THE

Five INDIAN Nations Depending on the Province of NEW-YORK.

PART I.

From the first Knowledge the Chriftians had of the Five Nations, to the Time of the Happy Revolution in Great Britain.

CHAP. I.

The Wars of the Five Nations with the Adirondacks and Quatoghies.

TH

He firft Account we have of the Indians, who call themselves Rodinunchfiouni," now commonly known by the

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Name

Name of the Five Nations, (and by the French call'd Les Iroquois) was from the French, who fettled Canada under Mr. Champlain, their first Governor, in the year 1603. fix years before the Dutch fettled New-York. When the French first arrived, they found the Adirondacks (by the French called Algonkins) at War with the Five Nations, which, they tell us, was occafioned in the following manner.

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(a) The Adirondacks formerly lived about one hundred Leagues above Trois Rivieres, where now the Utawawas live; at that time. they imploy'd themselves wholly in Hunting, and the Five Nations made Planting of Corn their whole business, by which means they became useful to one another, and lived in Friendship together, the Five Nations exchanging with the Adirondacks Corn for Venifon. The Adirondacks valued themselves, and their manner of living, as more Noble than that of the Five Nations, and despised them for that reafon.

At last the Game began to be scarce with the Adirondacks, they therefore defired that fome of the young Men of the Five Nations might joyn with them, and affift them in their Hunting, which the Five Nations the more wil

(a) Hiftoire de L' Amerique feptenrionale par Mr. de Bacqueville de la Potherie, Vol. 1. Lettre 11."

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lingly agreed to, in hopes that thereby their People might acquire skill in Hunting.

It has been a conftant Custom among all the Nations of Indians, to divide themselves into fmall Companies while they Hunt, and to divide likewife the Country among their feveral Parties, each having a space of 3 or four Miles Square alloted them, in which none of the others must pretend to Hunt; and if any Nation should encroach upon the Limits of another, in their hunting, they certainly draw a War upon themselves.

At this time the Adirondacks were obliged to spread themselves far, because of the scarcity of the Game, and each Party took fome of the Five Nations along with them, who being lefs expert than the Adirondacks, perform'd most of the Drudgery in their March. One of the Parties, which confifted of fix Adirondacks, and as many of the Five Nations, marched further than any of the reft, in hopes of the better Sport: They had, for a long time bad luck, fo as to be obliged to live upon the Bark of Trees, and fome Roots, which those of the Five Nations fcraped out of the ground, from under the Snow. This extremity obliged the Adirondacks to part from those of the Five Nations, each making a feperate Company; and after they had agreed on a Day to return to a Cabbin where both of them left their

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The

their Baggage, each took his Quarter to hunt in: The Adirondacks were unlucky, and return'd first to the Cabbin, where not finding those of the Five Nations, they did not doubt of their being dead of Hunger; but these young Men of the Five Nations were become dextrous with their Bows, and very cuning in approaching and furprizing their Game, which was chiefly owing to their being more patient and able to bear Fatigues and Hardships than the Adirondacks were, accordingly they foon arrived loaded with the flesh of Wild Cows. Adirondacks could not believe that they were capable of fuch an Expedition, without being affifted by fome of their Nation. However, the Adirondacks received them with pleasant Countenances, and congratulated them on their Succefs. Thofe of the Five Nations made the other a Present of the best of their Venison: They eat together with much Civility, on both fides: But the Adirondacks becoming Jealous of this Succefs, confpired together, and in the Night time murdered all the fix Men of the Five Nations, while they flept. Next Morning the Adirondacks follow'd their Foot-steps, by which they had return'd to the Cabbin, and found the place where they had hunted, and much Venifon which they had killed, which the Adirondacks dryed, and carried home along with them.

The

The reft of the Five Nations enquired after their Companions; The Adirondacks answered very cooly, that they parted foon after they had left home, and they knew not what was become of them. But the People of the Five Nations being impatient to know something certain of their Companions, sent out several Parties in queft of them: They followed the Foot-fteps of thofe Hunters, and found the fix Dead Bodies, which the wild Beafts had dug up; and upon examination found they had been Murdered. They made many Complaints to the Chiefs of the Adirondacks, of the Inhumanity of this Murder, who contented themselves with blaming the Murderers, and ordering them to make fome fmall Presents to the Relations of the murdered Perfons, without being apprehenfive of the Refentment of the Five Nations; for they look'd upon them as men not capable of taking any Revenge.

Those of the Five Nations fmother'd their Anger, and not being willing to trust themselves any longer with the Adirondacks, they returned home to their own People, who then lived near Montreal" onthe BanksofSt. Lawrence River. They gave an account of this Affaffination to their Nation, who upon hearing it conceiv'd a vaft Indignation against the Adirondacks, who being advised of the fecret movements of the Five Nations, Refolv'd to oblige them to fubmit

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