16

CH. II.

ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS.

of the world; but all agree, that for such a government to be sustained many years, the principles of truth and righteousness, taught in the Holy Scriptures must be practised. The rulers must govern in the fear of God, and the people obey the laws.

CHAPTER II.

The Aborigines.

1. BEFORE the territory of which our history treats, was inhabited by the ancestors of its present inhabiThe red tants, it was occupied by another and a different race. The red men were here, when the European settlers came; and either as friends or as enemies, for a time they dwelt contiguous to each other, and their history is blended.

men.

The first occu

2. The aborigines, or natives of the country, were by the Europeans, called Indians. As found by the earliest settlers, they may be considered under three pants. general divisions. First, the DELAWARES or ALGONQUINS; second, the IROQUOIS, and third, the MOBILIANS.

divisions

3. The Delawares, or Algonquins, were formerly called the Lenni Lenape, and the Iroquois the Mengwe. Three They have a tradition that, in ancient times, each came, grand though in somewhat different directions, from far distant western regions. Happening to meet as they apTradi- proached the Mississippi, they united, and made war tions of upon the Allegewi, a more civilized people, who inhaware and bited the great valley of the Mississippi, and dwelt in Iroquois cities. The Allegewi were defeated and fled down the river. Perhaps the Mobilian tribes were their de

the Dela

10. What is necessary to its being permanently sustained? CHAPTER II.-2. What term is used to distinguish the race found in this country by our ancestors? What three general divisions of them ?-3. Give an account of the tradition of the two former, respecting the direction from which they anciently came. Where did they unite? What more civilized nation did they find? What happened to this nation?

scendants. Perhaps portions of them went still fur- cн. п. ther south, and were the builders of those cities, the ruins of which, have lately been found in Central America.

er the

seat of

wares.

4. The Lenape and Mengwe, says the tradition, soon divided. The former crossed the Alleghany mountains, Del. Riv explored, and took possession of the sea coast, fixing principal their chief place of council, or seat of government, on the Delaware river. This river received from a Euro- the Delapean nobleman the name, which it communicated to the Indian confederacy. As this confederacy increased in numbers, various tribes went off from the parent stock. But they still looked up to the Delawares, and gave them, long after, the reverential title of "grandfather."

ans-thir

ty tribes.

5. Of these branches of the Delaware or Algonquin Powhat race, the first who figure in the early history of our nation, were the POWHATANS, a confederacy of thirty tribes; so called from their great sachem, Powhatan. His principal residence was on James river, near the site of Richmond. His authority extended throughout the lowlands, and to the falls of the rivers.

eight

6. Farther west, and extending to the mountains, Manaho were two confederacies, with whom the Powhatans ackswere at war: the Manahoacks, consisting of eight tribes. tribes on the north, and the Monacans of five, stretching southerly into Carolina. Afterwards the latter Monachanged their name, to that of Tuscaroras, removed tribes. northerly, and joined the Iroquois. The Yamasees were in South Carolina.

7. The Algonquins of New England next find place

3. What conjectures may be formed respecting their descendants ? -4. According to the tradition what course did the Lenape take? Where fix their place of council? When they became numerous what became of the various tribes of their descendants? What were their sentiments and language towards the Delawares? Trace out the course of the Delawares on Map I.-5. Which of them are first brought into notice? What the number of tribes? Their principal seat? How far did their limits extend?-6. Give an account of the Manahoacs? Of the Monacans? Tell from Map I, which is the most northerly, the Manahoacs or Monocans. Where were the Catawbas? The Yamasees?

cans-five

18

NEW ENGLAND INDIANS.

CH. II. in our history. The first known, were the Pokanokets or Wanpanoags, which produced the two most remarkable savage chiefs of New England, the good Massasoit, The first and his valiant son, King Philip. Their residence was tribe at Montaup or Mount Hope, near Bristol, in Rhode known to Island.

N. E.

English.

8. The government of the sachem extended over the southern part of Massachusetts, and the eastern of Rhode Island. A number of tribes of different names were his subjects; among others the Nausets of Cape Cod. In 1614, Capt. Hunt, an English ship-master, 1614. who accompanied Capt. Smith in exploring the coast, usage of wickedly seized and carried off twenty-seven of these the na- unoffending natives, and sold them in Europe as slaves. the En- One of them, named Tisquantum, found his way to glish. England, where he learned the English language, was kindly treated, and sent back to his country. He was afterwards of great service to the first English settlers, as interpreter.

tives by

Indians

Merri

9. The PAWTUCKETS made their principal seat upon of the the Merrimack, near its mouth, and extended themmack. selves south, until they met the territories of the Massachusetts. The MASSACHUSETTS were scattered about the bay, which bears their name. Their territories extended to the Pawtuckets on the north, and the Pokanokets on the south. The authority of their chief sachem was acknowledged by several minor tribes, of Mas- some of whom resided as far west as Deerfield. chusett principal person of this confederacy, as found by the English, was the squaw sachem, or "Massachusetts Queen." Her residence was beautifully located on a hill at Milton, eight miles south of Boston.

Bay.

The

10. The NARRAGANSETTS held their chief seat and the residence of their grand sachem on the island of

7. Learn from the Map what are the principal tribes of New England, and more particularly from the book, the location of the Pokanokets. What noted chiefs were there of this tribe? -8. What wicked act did an English captain do? To what Indians? Did any one taken away return? -9. What can you say of the Pawtuckets? Of the Massachusetts? Their principal person? Her residence ?

FATAL EPIDEMIC.

19

CH. II.

Canonicut, in the bay which still bears their name.—Westerly they extended to within four or five miles of the Paucatuck river, where their territories met those of the Pequods. On the east they joined the Pokanokets. Their grand chief, Canonicus, was, when the Indians English arrived, an aged man; and he had associated of Nar with him in his government, his nephew, Miantonomoh. Bay. The commodious and pleasant location of the Narragansetts, appears in their case, to have abated the natural ferocity of the savage character.

ragansett

ern Con

necticut

11. The more barbarous PEQUODS occupied the eastern portion of Connecticut, their lands meeting those of the Narragansetts. The residence of their great sachem, Sassacus, was on the heights of Groton, near the river then called the Pequod, since, the Thames. Of east The Mohegans, under Uncas, whose seat was where Norwich now stands, were subject to the haughty chief of the Pequods; but they bore his yoke with impatience, and when he made war upon the whites, Uncas took part against him. The Indians of northern New England had the general appellation of Taranteens or Abenakis.

12. The New England tribes had, a short time previous to the settlement of the English, suffered a plague Plague of unexampled mortality. It was probably the yellow among fever; for we are told that its victims, both before and the abo rigines. after death, "were of the color of a yellow garment." Not less than nine-tenths of the inhabitants seem, in some parts of the country, to have been destroyed. Thus Divine Providence prepared the way for another and more civilized race.

13. The IROQUOIs, Mengwe or Mingoes, were found by the earliest settlers in Canada, inhabiting the shores of the St. Lawrence. At first they appear to have been

10. Give an account of the location of the Narragansetts ?Their grand chief? His associate? The effects of their position on their character?-11. Describe the position of the Pequods. Their sachem's name and place of residence. That of the Mohegan sachem.-12. What remarkable visitation of Providence occurred among the natives a short time before the English came ? How great a proportion were destroyed?-13. How were the Iroquois found by the discoverers of Canada?

20

IROQUOIS AND MOBILIANS.

CH. II. less warlike, than the Hurons or Wyandots, by whom they were attacked. The Iroquois were driven by them, from the banks of the St. Lawrence; and dividing The into five tribes, the Senecas, Cayugas, Onondagas, Nations Oneidas and Mohawks, they spread themselves by deern Newees, east of Lake Erie, and south of Ontario, along York. the romantic waters of northern New York, to which

Five

in west

they have left their bold and harmonious names. The place of their grand general council, or congress of chiefs, was at Onondaga.

14. Here they made a stand, and became the most fearless, subtle, and powerful of savages. They conquered the Hurons, fought the Delawares, and put in Become fear all the surrounding tribes. Finally, in the conpowerful tests between France and England, they were courted

very

Powerful

by both parties as allies, and dreaded by both as foes. Of the FIVE NATIONS, the Mohawks were the most warlike. Their chief seat was at Johnstown, on the beautiful river, which still bears their name.

15. Of the Mobilians, the most extensive and powerful confederacies were the CREEKS, situated mostly Southern in Georgia; the CHEROKEES in the mountainous region confede- north and west; and the CHOCTAWS and CHICKASAWS, nearer to the Mississippi.

racies.

16. The NATCHEZ have excited much interest on account of the difference of their language from that of the surrounding tribes. Natchez, on the Mississippi, marks their location. The SHAWANESE, the native tribe of Tecumseh, once resided on the banks of the Suwaney river in Florida. From thence they migrated northward, first to Pennsylvania, and afterwards to Ohio.

13. To what place did they change their location? What were the names of each of the Five Nations? Where was their general council held?-14. What character did they now assume? What nations contend with? By what nations was their alliance courted? Which tribe was the most warlike ?Where was its principal seat? Learn from the map the location of the Mobilian tribes. 15. Which were the most extensive "and powerful? Which are the most northerly? Which are partly in Georgia? 16. Which near the Mississippi? Where are the Shawanese? Which tribe has a language by itself?