THE OHIO VALLEY-GREAT LAKES ETHNOHISTORY
ARCHIVES: THE MIAMI COLLECTION
It is noted that the following work from the Miami Archives should be read and
considered within the historical context in which it was composed and printed.
The opinions expressed and the language used do not reflect the opinions or
standards of the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology, but are, rather,
indicative of thought in that historical moment during which the document was
published.
Notes on the Iroquois and
Delaware Indians
Weiser, Conrad, "Communication
from Conrad Weiser
to Christopher Saur, 1746-1749" in: Pennsylvania
Magazine of History and Biography,
1877 and
1878, vol. 1, pp. 163-167; 319-323;
vol. 2, pp. 407-410.
when two sober wise men fight, then death follows, for they seldom yield until but one remains.
When friends come to them in their dwellings, they receive them very cordially. When deputies or ambassadors from their allies (those whom they are friendly to) come to them, they give them the best they can get; for this end all the young men are ready, so that when one of their leading men tells them, they go out and hunt, and bring everything they can obtain to the house where the envoys are, even if their own families suffer want.
Concerning their Warriors. We cannot say with certainty concerning their number and the number of their warriors, for they are very much scattered about the streams which flow into the Mississippi, and around the Lakes or Seas of Canada and among the French.
The Maquiasche are considered to have about 100 warriors at home.
The Oneider perhaps as many.
The Tuscarrora have about 150.
The Onontager not many over 200.
The Cayjucker about 500.
The Sinicker about 700 at home, or not far from home.
The Six Nations live about 400 miles from Lancaster; if we could go there in a straight line, it would be much nearer; but we cannot travel directly there on account of lofty mountains.
The Onontager lie the farthest to the north, about 450 miles from Lancaster, as the road goes.
The Sinicker are the nearest to us.
The Maquaische are the nearest to Albania, and live the farthest east of the Six Nations. It is about 200 miles from Albania to the Sinicker, who live principally towards the west.
The Onontager live in the middle, and have the Sinicker and Cayjucker to the west or southwest.
The Tuscarrora, Oneider, and Maquaische live to the east of them.
(To be continued.)
NOTES ON THE IROQUOIS AND DELAWARE INDIANS.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM CONRAD WEISER TO
CHRISTOPHER SAUR,
1746-1749.
COMPILED BY ABRAHAM CASSELL.
TRANSLATED BY MISS HELEN BELL.
(Concluded from vol. 1, page 323.)
Concerning their Allies and Friends, we have heard from a trustworthy Indian, who has travelled a great deal, that of them there are as follows:-
|
(1st) The Zis-a-gech-Roonu, who live in three great cities on the eastern side of Huron's Lake, have of warriors about |
|
2400 |
|
|
(2nd) The Unich-Kalliagon have of warriors |
|
3000 |
|
|
These live on the west side of Lake Erie, and onward to the strait of Huron's Lake. |
|
|
|
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(3rd) The Runada-Wadeeny are the next mentioned neighbors. Their warriors are about |
|
400 |
|
|
(4th) The Oyjachdanich-Roonu live near the Black River, and have of warriors about |
|
1000 |
|
|
(5th) The Towwichtowich-Roonu, on the Thunackgi River have |
|
300 |
|
|
(6th) The Gechdagech-Roonu, on the great River Mississippi |
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500 |
|
|
(7th) The Ofkuniagis, on an arm of the Ohio towards the west |
|
1000 |
|
|
(8th) The Karbaguch-Roonu (in German wild people) dwell and are to the north of Huron's Lake; they do not sow, but journey from one place to another; their number is uncertain. It is said they are more numerous than all the rest in alliance with the Iroquois. |
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|
|
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(9th) The Schawans, on the River Ohio, have of warriors |
|
200 |
|
|
(10th) The Dellewar, in Pennsylvania and Ohio |
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200 |
|
|
(11th) The Mohickander, which are scattered along Hudson River and in New England, not fewer than |
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300 |
|
|
Thus in all such as bear arms in war there are |
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_____ |
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