The Treaty Held with the Indians of the Six Nations at Philadelphia Part 1

The Treaty Held with the Indians of the Six Nations at Philadelphia, in July 1742.

by Various.

PREFACE.

_A Copy of the following_ Treaty, _printed at_ Philadelphia _in 1743, having fallen into my Hands, upon perusal, I judg'd its Contents deserved to be more generally known, than probably would have been from the few Copies which might be sent over._

_To make it more instructive and entertaining, I had once Thoughts of prefixing an Account of the_ Customs _and_ Manners _of these_ People, _such an one as I could collect either from the_ Printed Relations _concerning them, or from such_ Materials _as my_ Correspondence _or_ Acquaintance _would have afforded: But, the_ accurate Description _drawn up and published by the memorable_ WILLIAM PENN, _deterr'd me from attempting a short One; and an ingenious Gentleman of_ New-York _will probably soon oblige the World with a large and curious History of the_ Five Nations,[1] _exceeding any thing in my Power to perform._

[Footnote 1: The History of the _Five Nations_, from the earliest Acquaintance of the _Europeans_ with them, to the _Treaty_ of _Reswick_, by C. COLDEN, a _Ma.n.u.script_ ready for the Press, in the Hands of a worthy Gentleman in _London_.]

_But, that the_ Reader _might have some Idea of these_ People, _I thought it necessary to subjoin the following succinct_ Account _of the_ Principles _in this_ Confederacy, _their_ Tributaries, Dependents _and_ Allies: _And the more so, as it is neither extant in_ Print, _nor is this Part taken Notice of so fully in the_ Ma.n.u.script History _above-mentioned. It was communicated by a Gentleman of good Understanding and Probity; one who is very well skill'd in the_ Indian _Affairs,[2] adopted into one of their_ Tribes, _is of their_ Council, _and their constant_ Interpreter _at the_ Philadelphia Treaties, _to a Friend of his, who sent it to his_ Correspondent _here._

[Footnote 2: "It is customary among them to make a Complement of _Naturalization_ into the _Five Nations_; and considering how highly they value themselves above all others, it must be accounted no small one.--I had this _Complement_ from one of their old _Sachems_, which he did by giving me his _own Name_: He had been a notable Warriour; and he told me, that now I had a Right to a.s.sume to my self all the Acts of Valour he had performed." C. COLDEN'S _History of the_ Five Nations, _M.S._]

_They have generally been stiled the_ Five Nations _of_ Indians, _bordering upon_ Pensilvania _and_ New-York; _but, since the Arrival of the_ Tuscarora's _from_ Carolina, _they are called the_ Six Nations. _An Account of whom is as follows,_

1. _The_ Conymkos _or_ Mohawks; _the first Promoter of the_ Confederacy.[3] _He is stiled in the Council of all the Nations,_ Dicarihoagan, _i.e._ President _or_ Eldest.

[Footnote 3: The _Indian_ Idiom; they always stile a _whole Nation_ in the _singular Number_.]

2. _The_ Onayiuts _or_ Onoyders, _were the first that join'd in the_ Confederacy _with the_ Mohawks, _by putting themselves under their_ Protection. _He calls the_ Mohawk _his_ Father, _and in Return [Transcriber's Note: original has "Retnrn"] he is called a_ Son: _The_ Mohawk _used him for his_ Amba.s.sador _to the_ other _Nations: In Council he is stiled_ Niharontaquoa, _or the_ great Tree.[4]

[Footnote 4: A _Tree_ is their most frequent Emblem of _Peace_. To plant a Tree whose Top may reach to the Sun, and its Branches may extend over the whole Country, is a Phrase for a lasting Covenant of Peace.]

3. _The_ Onontago's _were the next that joined, and of their own Accord became_ Confederates; _they are therefore called by the_ Mohawks, Brothers; _and by the_ Onoyders, Fathers, _because they had not been forced into the Alliance as the_ Onoyders _were: He is called in Council_ Sagochsaanagechteront, _i.e. the_ Arms, _or_ Names-bearer.

4. _The_ Jenontowano's _or_ Sinikers _next joined in the_ Alliance _of their own Consent; they are stiled by the_ Mohawks _and_ Onontago's, Brothers, _and by the_ Onoyders, Fathers: _His t.i.tle in Council is_ Onughkaarydaawy, _whose Signification is not known, and_ Dyionenhookaraw, _i.e._ Open Doors for Friends and Enemies.

5. _The_ Caiukquo's, _the last of the_ Five-Nation _Alliance, being compelled thereto by the Rest, is_ Brother _to the_ Onoyders, _and_ Son _to the_ others; _is stiled in Council_ Ganunawantoowano, _or the_ great Pipe.[5]

[Footnote 5: The _great Pipe_, or _Calumet_ of the _Indians_, resembles the Olive-Branch of Antiquity, always a Badge of Peace.]

6. Tuscarora's _joined in the_ Alliance _about thirty Years ago, being compelled thereto by the_ English _of_ Carolina: _He is_ Brother _to the_ Onoyders _and_ Cayukquo's, _and_ Son _to the_ others; _has no t.i.tle in Council, but is frequently called a_ Fool.

_The_ Dependents _and_ Tributaries _of these Nations._

Mohickons, _who formerly lived on_ Hudson's _River, and in_ New-England; _they have been conquer'd by the_ Five Nations, _their_ Breech-Cloth _taken from them, and a_ Petticoat _put upon them. When they apply to their Conquerors, they humbly call themselves_ Women: _The_ Five Nations _call them by the same Name when they [Transcriber's Note: original has "thy"] speak severely to 'em: At other times they call them_ Cousins, _and are in Return called_ Uncles.

Delawares _are in the same Condition as the_ Mohickons, _were dealt with in like manner; and are Tributary in an_ Indian _Sense._[6]

[Footnote 6: "All the Nations round them have for many Years entirely submitted to them, (the _Five Nations_) and pay a Yearly Tribute in _Wampum_: They dare neither make War nor Peace without the Consent of the _Mohawks_. Two old Men commonly go about every Year or two to receive this Tribute; and I have had Opportunity to observe what Anxiety the poor _Indians_ were under, whilst the two old Men remained in that Part of the Country where I was. An old _Mohawk Sachem_, in a poor Blanket and a dirty Shirt, may be seen issuing his Orders with as absolute Authority as a _Roman_ Dictator, or King of _France_." C.

COLDEN'S History.]

Shawanese _are_ Brethren _to the_ Six Nations, _but are not in the_ Confederacy: _Their Coming from the_ Spanish _Dominions is remember'd by many now living. The_ Five Nations _gave them Lands on the West Branch of_ Susquehanna, _and therefore claim a Superiority over them, for which the_ Shawanese _mortally hate them. The greatest Part of 'em, a few Years ago, went to settle on the River_ Ohio, _which is a Branch of the_ Missisippi, _and heads with the West Branch of_ Susquehanna. _One Tribe of them is quite gone down to_ New Spain; _there are a few left still at_ Wyomink _on the North Branch of_ Susquehanna, _and others have a large Town on an Island in the West Branch, about 50 Miles above the_ Forks. _They are the most restless and mischievous of all the_ Indians.

Conestogo Indians _have been all destroyed by the_ Five Nations, _except a few whom the_ Onoyders _adopted: When these had forgot their Language, they were sent back to_ Conestogo, _where a few are now left, and speak the_ Onoyder's _Language._

Nantikooks _are in_ Alliance _with the_ Six Nations, _and not_ Tributary; _acknowledging themselves to be shelter'd by their Wings: They live within the Borders of_ Maryland, _a Few about_ Conestogo, _and some have settled this_ Spring _at the Mouth of the River_ Skohooniaty _or_ Jeniaty, _which is a Creek that falls into the_ Susquehanna _from the West beyond the Mountains._

Tutolo's _originally lived in_ Virginia, _there are but Few of them; they settled this_ Spring _at_ Shamokin, (_on the East Side of_ Susquehanna, _just below the_ Forks) _and are intirely devoted to the_ Six Nations.

The several Nations of _Indians_ with whom the _Six Nations_ or _Iroquois_ are in Alliance; according to the Information given CONRAD WEISER, Esq; in open Council at _Turpehawkin_, at their Return from the Treaty at _Philadelphia_ in _July_ 1742.

1. _A Nation of_ Indians _living on the West Side of the Lake_ Erie, _and along the Streights of_ Huron's _Lake. They are called by the_ Iroquois, Unighkellyiakon; _consisting of about_ Thirty Towns, _each of about 200 Fighting Men._

2. _The second Nation lives among the preceeding, called ---- consisting of_ Four Towns _of their own People, and 400 able Men in all._

3. _The third Nation called by the_ Iroquois, Tshisagech Roanu,[7]

_lives on the East Side of the_ Huron's _Lake; several of the Council have been there, and all agree they have_ Three large Towns _of 600, 800, and 1000 able Men._

[Footnote 7: _Roanu_ signifies _Nation_ or _People_, in the Language of the _Six Nations_.]

4. _The fourth, called_ Twightwis Roanu, Two large Towns, _and about 200 Men in all, live at the Heads of_ Huakiky _River, near the little Lakes._

5. Oskiakikas, _living on a Branch of_ Ohio, _that heads near the Lake_ Erie, Four large Towns, _of about 1000 Warriours._

6. Oyachtawnuh Roanu, _near_ Black-River, _consisting of_ Four Towns, _and 1000 Warriours._

7. Keghetawkegh Roanu, _upon the great River_ Missisippi, _above the Mouth of_ Ohio: Three Towns; _the Number of People uncertain._

8. Kerhawguegh Roanu, _several Savage Nations, as their Names signify_, (the People of the Wilderness) _live on the North Side of_ Huron's _Lake; they neither plant Corn, nor any thing else, but live altogether upon Flesh, Fish, Roots and Herbs; an infinite Number of People, of late become Allies to the_ Iroquois.

Thus far proceeds CONRAD WEISER'S Account.

_The_ Six Nations, _as was observed above, border upon the Provinces of_ Pensilvania _and_ New-York: _The Rest, which are mentioned as their_ Dependents _and_ Allies, _lie near the_ French _Settlements, some amidst, and some beyond them. The_ Wisdom _of the_ Chiefs _in this_ Confederacy _hath gained them no less_ Reputation _than their_ Courage; _which indeed has struck_ Terror _into the remotest_ Indian _Nations of North_ America, _and forc'd them to court the Friendship and Protection of such a formidable Power._

_The_ Moderation _and_ Equity _of the_ first _Proprietor of_ Pensilvania, _gained the absolute Confidence and Affection of this_ brave People: _They were convinced of his_ Tenderness _for them, and in Return they have erected him lasting Monuments in their grateful Hearts: They_ revere _this good Man's_ Memory, _and his Praises will only cease with the Nations themselves._

_The following Clauses from a Collection of_ Charters, &c.

_printed at_ Philadelphia 1740, _are, amongst many others, strong Proofs of the_ Proprietor's _equitable Regard to these People._

"That no Man, _says he_, shall by any ways or means, in Word or Deed, affront or wrong any _Indian_, but he shall incur the same Penalty of the Law, as if he had committed it against his _fellow Planter_: And if any _Indian_ shall abuse, in Word or Deed, any _Planter_ of this _Province_, that he shall not be his own Judge upon the _Indian_, but he shall make his Complaint to the _Governor_ of the _Province_, or his _Lieutenant_ or _Deputy_, or some inferior _Magistrate_ near him, who shall to the utmost of his Power, take Care with the KING of the said _Indian_, that all reasonable Satisfaction be made to the said injured _Planter_.

"That all Differences between the _Planters_ and the _Natives_, shall also be ended by _Twelve Men_, that is, by _Six Planters_ and _Six Natives_, that so we may live friendly together, as much as in us lieth, preventing all Occasions of Heart-burnings and Mischief."

_A Conduct regulated by such Principles of_ Love _and_ Justice, _could not fail to influence this discerning People, and bia.s.s them in Favour of the_ ENGLISH; _a Continuance of the like Conduct must attach them inviolably: And the present worthy_ Governor _and_ Council _seem so sensible of the Necessity of cultivating a good Understanding with the_ Six Nations, _as to be likely to omit no Opportunity of_ brightening the Chain, _or_ increasing the Fire of Friendship _with them._

_The Confidence which these Nations repose in their_ Interpreter, _is a Proof of his_ Industry, good Sense, _and_ Address: _Nothing could have happened more favourably to the_ English _Settlements, than that those delicate Affairs should be in the Hands of a Person equally just and a Friend to both._

_The_ FRENCH _are perpetually labouring to_ debauch _their Faith to the_ ENGLISH: _Their Emissaries, the Priests, an indefatigable, artful, insinuating Race, are constantly labouring to gain Admittance amongst them. They a.s.sume all Shapes, try every Spring; they magnify the Power and Grandeur of_ FRANCE; _they study to render the_ ENGLISH _diminutive and contemptible; they foment every little Occasion of Disgust, and leave no Stone unturned to prejudice us in their Esteem._

_Hitherto the Honour of the_ Six Nations, _and the experienced good Intentions and Probity of the_ ENGLISH, _have been a sufficient Barrier against all their Intrigues: But it cannot be imprudent to countermine the intended Mischief, by giving suitable Encouragement to proper Persons, to converse with the_ Indians, _and study their Genius. An open-hearted Generosity wins them effectually: The Temper of the_ ENGLISH _is happily suited to this; and the additional Qualifications of_ Integrity _and_ Prudence _must in Time pave the Way to an Ascendency in their Councils, and by this Means the Subtilty of the_ FRENCH _would be utterly defeated._

_One sees, in the following short Sketch of the Behaviour of the_ Indians, _strong Traces of_ good Sense, _a_ nice Address _in the Conduct of their Affairs, a_ n.o.ble Simplicity, _and that_ manly Fort.i.tude _which is the constant Companion of_ Integrity. _The Friendship of a Nation like this, tho' under the Appellation of_ Savages _or_ Barbarians, _is an Honour to the most civiliz'd People: I say nothing of the Advantage which is derived from them by Commerce: And the_ FRENCH _well know, by dear Experience, how terrible they are to their Enemies in War._