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ALTHOUGH there is much connected with the history, customs, religion, traditions, &c., of the Indians of North America, that is highly interesting, yet in this place we can do little more than give the names, and point out the localities of the principal tribes east of the Mississippi, as they were first known to Europeans.

The discovery of a similarity in the primitive words of different Indian languages, is the principle that has governed the division of the different tribes into families or nations. The principal divisions within the limits of the present United States, east of the Mississippi, were the Algonquin, the Iroquois, the Cherokee, and the Mobilian Tribes.

Of the ALGONQUIN TRIBES, the Elchemins and the Abenakes occupied most of the present State of Maine. They were firmly attached to the French during the early history of the country, and were almost constantly in a state of hostilities with the British colonies. The principal tribes of the Abenakes were the Penobscots, the Norridgewocks, and the Androscoggins. Next south of the Abenakes were the New England Indians, extending from Maine to the eastern boundary of Connecticut. Their principal tribes were the Massachusetts, Pawtuckets, Nipmucks, Pokanokets, and Narragansetts. After the termination of King Phillip's war, in 1675, most of these tribes joined the eastern Indians, or sought refuge in Canada, whence they continued to harass the frontiers of New England, until the final overthrow of the French, in 1760. The Mohegans embraced the Pequods, Manhattans, Wabingas, and other tribes, extending from Rhode Island to New Jersey. Next south and west of the Mohegans were the Lenni-Lennapes, consisting of two divisions, the Minsi and the Delawares, although both tribes are best known in history as the Delawares. They gradually removed west of the Alleghanies; they joined the French against the English during the French and Indian war; most of them took part with the British during the war of the Revolution, and they were at the head of the western confederacy of Indians which was dissolved by the victory of General Wayne in 1794. Only a few hundred of this once powerful tribe now remains, some in Canada, the rest west of the Mississippi.-On the eastern shore of Maryland were the Nanticokes, who removed west of the Alleghanies, and joined the British during the Revolution. The Susquehannocks, Mannahoacks, and Monacans, were tribes farther inland, on the head waters of the streams that enter Chesapeake Bay. Of their history little is known, and there are no remnants of their languages remaining. The Powhatan nation embraced a confederacy of more than twenty tribes, bordering on the southern shores of the Chesapeake. It is believed that not a single individual who speaks the Powhatan language now remains.-The Shawnees were a roving tribe, first found between the Ohio and Cumberland Rivers, whence they were driven by the Cherokees. They were among the most active allies of the French during the French and Indian war; they joined the British during the war of the Revolution; and part of the tribe, under Tecumseh, during the late war. They have since removed west of the Mississippi. The principal of the other western tribes belonging to the Algonquin family, were the Miamis, Illinois, Kickapoos, Sacs and Foxes, Menomonies, and Potowatomies, whose history is interesting, principally, as connected with the early settlements of the French in the western country.

The IROQUOIS TRIBES embraced the Hurons, north of Lakes Erie and Ontario; the Five Nations, in New York, and the Tuscaroras, of Carolina. The Hurons or Wyandots, when first known, were engaged in a deadly war with their kindred, the Five Nations, by whom they were finally driven from their country. Remnants of this tribe are now found in Canada, and west of the Mississippi. The Five Nations, found on the southern shore of Lake Ontario, embraced the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Senecas, and Cayugas. They were the most powerful of all the tribes east of the Mississippi, and were farther advanced in the few arts of Indian life than their Algonquin neighbors. They uniformly adhered to the British interests. In 1714 they were joined by the Tuscaroras, since which time the confederacy has been called the Six Nations. The CHEROKEE NATION occupied the eastern and southern portions of Tennessee and the highlands of Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. They fought against the English during most of the French and Indian war, and joined the British during the Revolution; bat, during the late war, assisted the Americans against the Creeks. In 1838, they removed west of the Mississippi. They are now the most civilized of all the In. dian tribes, and their population has increased during the last fifty years.

The MOBILIAN TRIBES embraced the Creeks, Choctas, Chickasas, and the Seminoles. The latter once belonged to the Creek tribe. The Creeks and the Chickasas adhered to the British during the Revolution. The Choctas have ever been a peaceable people, and although they have had successively, for neighbors, the French, the Spanish, and the English, they have never been at war with any of them.

PART II.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS AND COLONIAL

I Virginia under the first charter.—II. Virginia under the second charter.-III. Virginia under the third charter.-IV. Virginia from the dissolution of the London Company to the commencement of the French and Indian War.

1. VIRGINIA UNDER THE FIRST CHARTER.-1. 4The administration of the government of the Virginia col-colony ben

VIRGINIA, the most northern of the Southern States, and until 1845 the largest in the Union, often called the Ancient Dominion, from its early settlement, contains an Erea of near y 70,000 square miles. The state nas a great variety of surface and soil. From the coast to the head of tide water on the rivers, including a tract of generally more than 100 miles in width, the country is low, sandy, covered with pitch pine, and is unhealthy from August to October. Between the head of tide water and the

1607.

the cause of

dissensions

had been entrusted to a council of seven persons, ony whom the superior council in England had been permitted to name, with a president to be elected by the 1. What was council from their number. 'But the names and inthe early structions of the council having been placed, by the which arose, folly of the king, in a sealed box, with directions that and why it should not be opened until the emigrants had arrived imprisoned? in America, dissensions arose during the voyage; and John Smith, their best and ablest man, was put in con finement, upon the absurd accusation of an intention to murder the council, usurp the government, and make himself king of Virginia.

was Smith

1607.

said of

and how was

Smith treat arrival of

ed on the

the company?

2. What is 2. Soon after their arrival, the council chose EdWingfield, ward Wingfield president, an ambitious and unprincipled man, and finding that Smith had been appointed one of their number, they excluded him from their body, as, by their instructions, they had power to do, but released him from confinement. As Smith demanded a trial upon the charges brought against him. which were known to be absurdly false, his accusers thought best, after a partial hearing of the case, to withdraw the accusation; and he was soon restored to his station as a member of the council.

3. What is said of the

the emigrants?

3. Of the one hundred and five persons on the list character of of emigrants, destined to remain, there were no men with families, there were but twelve laborers, and very few mechanics. The rest were composed of gentlemen of fortune, and of persons of no occupation,mostly of idle and dissolute habits-who had been tempted to join the expedition through curiosity or the hope of gain;—a company but poorly calculated to 4. Their re- plant an agricultural state in a wilderness. The the natives English were kindly received by the natives in the immediate vicinity of Jamestown, who, when informed of the wish of the strangers to settle in the country, offered them as much land as they wanted.

ception by

L. Note p. 41. 1. Of Pow

4. Soon after their arrival, Newport, and Smith, hand, and twenty others, ascended the Jamesa river, and

subjects?

Blue Ridge, the soil is better, and the surface of the country becomes uneven and hilly. The interior of the State, traversed by successive ridges of the Alleghany, running N.E. and S.W. is a healthy region, and in the valleys are some of the best and most pleasent lands in the State. The country west of the mountains, owards the Ohio, i rough and wild, with occasional fertile tracts, but rich as a mineral region.

visited the native chieftain, or king, Powhatan, at his 1607. principal residence near the present site of Richmond.* His subjects murmured at the intrusion of the strangers into the country; but Powhatan, disguising his jealousy and his fear, manifested a friendly disposition.

curred after

ure of

5. About the middle of June Newport sailed for 1 What oc England; and the colonists, whose hopes had been the depart highly excited by the beauty and fertility of the coun- Newport? try, beginning to feel the want of suitable provisions, and being now left to their own resources, soon awoke to the reality of their situation. They were few in 2. What is number, and without habits of industry;-the Indians sufferings of began to manifest hostile intentions, and before autumn, the diseases of a damp and sultry climate had swept away fifty of their number, and among them, Bartholomew Gosnold, the projector of the settlement, and one of the ablest men in the council.

said of the

the colony?

conspiracy was the President detected?

4. What is said of Rat into whose the govern

cliffe, and

hands did

ment fall?

6. To increase their misery, their avaricious presi- 3. In vonat dent, Wingfield, was detected in a conspiracy to seize the public stores, abandon the colony, and escape in the company's bark to the West Indies. He was therefore deposed, and was succeeded by Ratcliffe; but the latter possessing little capacity for government, and being subsequently detected in an attempt to abandon the colony, the management of affairs, by common consent, fell into the hands of Smith, who alone seemed capable of diffusing light amidst the general gloom. 7. Under the management of Shith, the condition of the colony rapidly improved. He quelled the spirit of anarchy and rebellion, restored order, inspired the natives with awe, and collected supplies of provisions, by expeditions into the interior. As autumn approached, wild fowl and game became abundant; the Indians, more friendly, from their abundant harvests made voluntary offerings; and peace and plenty again revived the drooping spirits of the colony.

8. The active spirit of Smith next prompted him to explore the surrounding country. After ascendir g the Chickahominyt as far as he could advance in boats,

5. What manage

said of the

ment of Smith?

6. Under what circumstances was Smith

taken pris Indians?

oner by the

Richmond, the capital of Virginia, is on the north side of James river, 75 miles from its mouth. Immediately above the river are the falls, and directly opposite is the village of Manchester.

t The Chickuhoming river rises north west from Richmond, and, during most of its