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XIV.

A Short VIEW

OF THE

Form of Government

I

FIVE

OF THE

NATIONS.

Tis neceffary to know fomething of the Form of Government of the People whofe History one reads. A few words will serve to give the Reader a general Notion of that of the Five Nations, because it still remains under Original Simplicity, free from those complicated Contrivances which have become neceffary to thofe Nations where Deceit and Cunning have increafed as much as their Knowledge and Wisdom.

The Five Nations (as their Name denotes) confift of so many Tribes or Nations joyn'd together by a League or Confederacy, like the United Provinces, without any Superiority of any one over the other. This Union has continued fo long that the Chriftians know nothing of the Original of it.

They are known to the English under the

Names

Names of Mohawks, Oneydoes, Onnondagas, Cayugas and Sennekas; but it is probable that this Union at first confifted only of three Nations, viz. the Mohawks, Onnondagas and Sennekas, and that the Oneydoes and Cayugas were afterwards adopted or received into this League; for the Oneydoes acknowledge the Mohawks to be their Fathers, as the Cayugas do the Sennekas to be theirs."

Each of the Nations are diftinguished into 3 Tribes or Families, who diftinguish themselves by three different forts of Arms or Enfigns, viz. the Tortoife, the Bear & the Wolfe. The Sachems of these Families, when they fign any Publick Papers, put the Mark or Enfign of their Family to it.'

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Each Nation is an abfolute Republick by its felf, govern'd in all Publick Affairs of War and Peace by the Sachems or Old Men, whose Authority and Power is gain'd by and confifts wholly in the Opinion the rest of the Nation have of their Wisdom and Integrity." They never execute their Refolutions by Compulfion or Force upon any of their People. Honour and Efteem are their Principal Rewards, as Shame & being Defpifed are their Punishments. They have certain Cuftoms which they obferve in their Publick Affairs with other Nations, and in their Private Affairs among themselves, which it is fcandalous for any one not to observe,

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and

and draw after them publick or private Resentment when they are broke.

Their Generals and Captains obtain their Authority likewise by the general Opinion of their Courage and Conduct, and loose it by a Failure in thofe Vertues.'

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Their Great Men, both Sachems and Captains, are generally poorer than the common People, for they affect to give away and diftribute all the Prefents or Plunder they get in their Treaties or War, fo as to leave nothing to themselves. If they should once be fufpected of Selfishness, they would grow mean in the opinion of their Country-men, and would confequently loofe their Authority.

Their Affairs of Great Confequence, which concern all the Nations, are Tranfacted in a General Meeting of the Sachems of every Nation. These Conventions are generally held at Onnondaga, which is nearly in the Center of all the Five Nations." But they have fixed upon Albany to be the Place for their Solemn Treaties with the English Colonies.

The Tuscaroras, fince the War they had with the People of Carolina, fled to the Five Nations, and are now incorporated with them, so that they now properly confift of Six Nations (tho' they still retain the old Name among the English.)" The Tuscaroras, fince they came under the Government of New-York, behave them

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Government of the 5 Nations. XVII felves well, and remain peaceable and quiet By which may be seen the advantage of ufing the Indians well; and, I believe, if they were ftill better used, (as there is room enough to do it) the Indians would be proportionably more Useful to us.

As I am fond to think, that the present state of the Indian Nations exactly fhows the most Ancient and Original Condition of almost every Nation; fo I believe, here we may with more certainty see the Original Form of all Government, than in the most curious Speculations of the Learned; and that the Patriarchal, and other Schemes in Politicks are no better than Hypothefes in Philofophy, and as prejudicial to real Knowledge.

Í shall only add the Character which Monf. De la Poterie gives of the Five Nations in his Hiftory of North-America, viz.

"When one talks (Jays be) of the Five "Nations in France, they are thought, by a

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common Mistake, to be meer Barbarians, "always thirsting after Human Blood; but "their true Character is very different: They

are the Fierceft and moft Formidable People in "North America, and at the fame time as Po"litick and Judicious as well can be conceiv'd. "This appears from their Management of the "Affairs which they Tranfact, not only with "the French and English, but likewise with "almost all the Indian Nations of this vaft "Continent.

Errata.

Pag. 3. line 18. for of the read of these.. P. 13.

1. 9. f. Naoious r. Nations. P. 17. 1. 19. for Nipereriniens r. Nepiceriniens, 1. 25. dele towards the. P. 24. l. 13. dele But. 1. P. 28. 1. 13. for accomparied r. accompanied. P. 36. l. 11. f. was r. were. P. 74. 1. ult. f. Dedonondadik r. Deonondadik. P. 80. l. 16. f. did not, we should r. do not, we fhall. P. 94. 1. ult. f. Peterie r. Poterie. P. 111. 1. 28. f. Prevent, Mr. r. prevent this, Mr. P. 115. 1. 23. f. when r. then. There are fome

other fmall Errors, which do not affect the Senfe, and the Reader may easily correct.

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ADVERTISEMENT.

Here is now Published a M A P of the great Lakes, Rivers and Indian Countries mentioned in the enfuing History. Printed and Sold by William Bradford in New-York.

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