David Cusick

“ They advanced the Mississippi river; a duke of Twa-kan-ah had collected the people from several towns came out to meet them the people danced around them, singing, beating their little drums; after the ceremonies was performed the band of warriors was invited into the national house. The band crossed the Mississippi and continued their course towards the sunsetting; they reached an extensive meadow; they discovered a curious animal—a winged fish, it flew about the tree; this little active creature moved like a humming bird. ”

“ In the days of king Atotarho VI., perhaps 650 years before the Columbus discovered the America, at the fort Keadanyeekowa or Tontawanta plains, a small party went out to make incursion upon the enemy that may be found within the boundaries of the kingdom. They penetrated the Ohio river and encamped on the bank; as they were out of provision, the warriors were anxious to kill a game; a certain warrior discovered a hollow tree, supposing a bear in the tree, he immediately reported; the warriors were in hopes to obtain the bear—went to the tree ”

“ When the deer get old they throw themselves into the river and die. Another way has been discovered: if a deer runs off and barks at the hunter, it was a bad sign; his wife has committed adultery, in consequence he cannot kill any deer. When a person intends to hunt deer he procures a medicine, and vomits once daily for twelve days, after which he procures some pine or cedar boughs and boils them in a clay kettle, and after removed from the fire, he takes a blanket and covers himself over with it to sweat ”

“ About this time a powerful tribe of the wilderness, called Otne-yar-heh, i. e. Stonish Giants [4] overrun the country and the warriors were immediately collected from several towns and a severe combat took place, but the warriors were overpowered and the people fell at the mercy of the invaders, and the people were threatened with destruction, and the country was brought to subjection for many winters. As the people have been reduced so often they could not increase. The Stonish Giants were so ravenous that they devoured the people of almost every town in the country ”

“ In a dream he foretells the whites would cross the Big Waters and bring some liquors, and buy up the red people’s lands; he advises them not to comply with the wishes of the whites, lest they should ruin themselves and displease their Maker; they would destroy the tree of peace and extinguish the great Council Fire at Onondaga, which was so long preserved to promote their national sovereignty. ”

“ The Senators met annually, at the fort Onondaga, to promote their national prosperity.
The Long House were free and independent nations, and have been acknowledged in such treaties made with them by the neighboring nations.—Every [34] independent nation have a government of their own: they have a national committee meet occasionally: they have a Chief Ruler, named Aukoyaner [7] , a peace-maker who is invested with authority to administer the government. Each nation have a right to punish individuals of their own nation for offences, committed within their jurisdiction ”

“ Whenever the light extended to the dark world the monsters were displeased and immediately concealed themselves in the deep places, lest they should be discovered by some human beings. The good mind continued the works of creation, and he formed numerous creeks and rivers on the Great Island, and then created numerous species of animals of the smallest and greatest, to inhabit the forests, and fishes of all kinds to inhabit the waters. When he had made the universe he was in doubt respecting some being to possess the Great Island ”

“ The witches in the night would turn into foxes and wolves, and run very swift, attending with flashes of light. The witches sometimes turn into a turkey or big owl, and can fly very fast, and go from town to town, and blow hairs and worms into a person; if the witches are discovered by some person they turn into a stone or rotten log; in this situation they are entirely concealed; about fifty persons were indicted for being witches, and were burnt to death near the fort Onondaga, by order of the national committee. ”

“ The leader had commanded the people that if any one killed a game the meat should be left with the overseer for distribution, and that who disobeyed, the offender should be punished in a severest manner. The ambassy killed a bear, the meat was disposed to the rules. The leader daily butchered two persons to feed the people, which only increased their distress. The people were so feeble that they were unable to hunt any more, and many of them began to famish.—The ambassy again killed another game and bring it secretly to his camp, but it was soon detected and rumored among the people ”

“ The war lasted for many years; unfortunately it became so distressed that the Tuscarora’s frontier settlements were reduced considerably, but the Tuscaroras send expresses and received assistance from their brethren, the Five Nations, and war was carried on for some time: at last the enemy was compelled to suspend their hostility.
The Bear tribes nominate the Chief Warrior of the nation. The laws of the confederation provides the Onondagas to furnish a King, and the Mowhawks a great war chief of the Five Nations. ”

“ After a short time the people were invaded by the monster of the deep: the Lake Serpent traverses the country, which interrupted their intercourse. [22] The five families were compelled to make fortifications throughout their respective towns, in order to secure themselves from the devouring monsters.—The manner making the fort: at first they set fire against several trees as requires to make a fort, and the stone axes are used to rub off the coals, as to burn quicker; when the tree burns down they put fires to it about three paces apart and burns it down in half a day ”

“ In the reign the king Atotarho III. About this time the Oneidas had extended their forts down the river Kaunsehwatauyea, or Susquehanna, a fort situated on the river, there was a certain woman delivered a male child uncommon size; when he was twelve years of age he was nearly as large as grown person, and he would beat his playmates which would create disputes, but the mother would correct him, and afterwards she prevailed, he promised never to injure his people; when grown up he became a giant and was a great hunter ”

“ A fort generally has two gates; one for passage, and the other to obtain water. The people had implements which they used to make bow and arrows. The kettle is made of baked clay in which the meat is boiled; the awl and needles are made of hard bone; a pipe for smoking, is made of baked clay, or soft stone; a small turtle shell is used to peal the bark; a small dry stick is used to make a fire, by boring it against the seasoned wood. ”

“ The people sometimes go out to hunt as the corn begins to grow on the ears: they make a long brush fence and remove the leaves on both sides of the fence, the deer will follow the path; the person can easily kill the game. ”

“ After a time the turtle increased to a great Island and the infants were grown up, and one of them possessed with a gentle disposition, and named ENIGORIO, i. e. the good mind. The other youth possessed an insolence of character, and was named ENIGONHAHETGEA, i. e. the bad mind. The good mind was not contented to remain in a dark situation, and he was anxious to create a great light in the dark world; but the bad mind was desirous that the world should remain in a natural state. The good mind determines to prosecute his designs, and therefore commences the work of creation. ”

“ When the monsters were assembled, and they made consultation, one of them was appointed in haste to search the great deep, in order to procure some earth, if it could be obtained; accordingly the monster descends, which succeeds, and returns to the place. Another requisition was presented, who would be capable to secure the woman from the terrors of the great water, but none was able to comply except a large turtle came forward and made proposal to them to endure her lasting weight, which was accepted. ”

“ They have a certain time of worship; the false faces first commence the dances; they visit the houses to drive away sickness, &c. Each town or district are allowed to sacrifice a couple of white dogs: the dogs are painted and ornamented with strings of wampum: they throw the dogs into the fire, and some tobacco, and addresses the Maker. They pretend to furnish him a coat of skin and a pipe full of tobacco; after which, have dances for several days. The private feats are guided by the dreams. ”

“ They were astonished that the people had short tails like apes; a hole was made through their seats where they put their tails. The band continued their direction and came to another nation and too was kindly received, and their object was favorably accepted by the head men of the nation. During their stay, a certain warrior of the band courted a young woman, but the warrior died soon after the marriage. They observed that the people did not eat any meat but drink the soup. The band continued the journey, but before reached the Rocky Mountains, were arrested by a giant ”

“ This important event was soon made known among the five nations, and afterwards changed their mode of burying, by setting posture face to the east; but again they were troubled with the dead bodies, and were compelled to make some alterations in burying.
In each Nation contain set of generations or tribes, viz. Otter, Bear, Wolf, Beaver, Turtle. Each tribe has two chiefs to settle the disputes, &c. If a man commits murder, the nearest relation of the slain despatches the murderer with a war-club; the slain and the murderer are put into one grave. ”

“ The witches formed into a secret society; they met in the night and consult on various subject respecting their engagements; when a person becomes a member of their society, he is forbidden to reveal any of their proceedings. ”

“ The giant was much pleased of his conquest over the prince he advised his wife to watch daily in order to impose on another enemy. The seven days elapsed, as the brother did not return the youngest brother, Donhtonha was much excited about his brother and resolved to pursue him; the Donhtonha was the most stoutest and ferocious looking fellow, after armed himself commenced the journey, and also arrived at the place and time as mentioned, and found his sister ”

“ The adulterous women are punished by shaving their heads, and banished from the town. The thieves are punished by whipping severely. To recover debts, they generally apply to the chiefs; the payments are made up by the relatives of the debtor. ”

“ About this time it is supposed an agent from superior power solemnly visits the families, and he instructs them in various things respecting the infinity, matrimony, moral rules, worship, &c.; and he warns them that an evil spirit was in the world and would induce the people to commit trespasses against the rules he had given them; and he offers them favorable promises obedience to rules, the souls would enter the place of happiness ”

“ She dispatched two runners to assemble the people at Kauquatkay the Queen too sends an ambassy to form an alliance with the Naywaunaukauraunah, a savage tribe encamped on the lake Erie, to unite against the Five Nations. During the absence of the Queen from the fort Kauhanauka, a woman went privately and took a canoe and proceeded on the lake Ontario, towards Canandaigua, as fast as possible ”

“ The company continued to proceed towards the sunsetting under the direction of the Holder of the Heavens. The third family was directed to make their residence on a mountain named Onondaga, (now Onondaga) and the family was named Seuh-now-kah-tah, i. e. carrying the name, and their language was altered. The company continued their journey towards the sunsetting. The fourth family was directed to make their residence near a long lake named Go-yo-goh, i. e. a mountain rising from water, (now Cayuga) and the family was named Sho-nea-na-we-to-wah, i. e. ”