The Delawares
The Indian of the Western continent belongs to the "bow and arrow" family of men. To him the chase meant everything. When the advent of Europeans drove the deer from the forests and the beaver from the natural meadows, and the pursuit of hunting was no longer profitable, the red man pined and wasted away as though his life was robbed of everything that made existence desirable. The Indian could form no higher ideal of earthly happiness; and his most blissful conception of Paradise was that of a hunting-ground abounding in games, and where the streams and lakes swarmed with fish.
A characteristic of the American Indian is a dislike of restraint. A degree of personal independence incompatible with a state of society in which each individual's actions are modified from consideration for his neighbor, has ever caused the Indian to chafe under the restrictions imposed by civilization. The greatest chief among them had no delegated authority. His power to rule was founded on public opinion, and when that was against him, he was no more than a common savage; but when largely in his favor, his power was despotic. To be foremost in danger, and bravest in battle, were requisites necessary to sustain himself in authority.
Another propensity of the Indian is a passion for war. He followed the war-path because it gratified the most deeply seated principle of action in the savage breast, a thirst for revenge; and also because that was the only means by which he might hope to satisfy his ambition, and rise to a position of authority and influence in his tribe. With the aboriginal the forgiveness of an injury was reckoned a weakness, while revenge was considered among the nobler virtues. Tales of bloody, retributive vengeance were told about their council fires, by way of inciting the young warriors to deeds of similar daring.
The Indian believed in a Great Spirit, everywhere present. He believed also in the existence of subordinate spirits, both good and bad. He belonged to a singularly superstitious race, and put the most implicit faith in dreams and omens. When disease came among them, when the chase was unsuccessful, when their crops failed or they were defeated in war, they thought the Great Spirit was displeased with them; at such times they would perform religious ceremonies with great earnestness and solemnity, by way of propitiation of his wrath.
Among them the dance was universal; but it was not for purposes of pastime, as among civilized nations. It had a deeper signification. It was a solemn ceremony, and was an outward expression of their sentiments of religion and war.
It is the logic of events that the red man yields to the conquering foot of the Saxon. The weaker race has withered from the presence of the stronger. "By the majestic rivers and in the depths of the solitary woods, the feeble son of the 'bow and arrow' will be seen no more; the cypress and hemlock sing his requiem."
The Delawares related a legend to the effect that many centuries ago their ancestors dwelt far in the western wilds. Emigrating eastwardly, after many years, they arrived on the Namoesi Sipu (Mississippi), where they encountered the Mengwe (Iroquois), who had also come from a distant country. The spies of the Delawares reported that the country on the east of the river was inhabited by a powerful nation, dwelling in large towns erected upon the principal rivers.
This people were said to be tall and robust, warlike, and of gigantic mould. They bore the name of Alligewi (Alleghany); their towns were defended by regular fortifications, many vestiges of which are yet apparent. The Delawares, requesting to establish themselves on their territory, were refused; but obtained leave to pass the river that they might seek a habitation farther to the eastward. The Alligewi, alarmed at their numbers, violated their word and destroyed many of the Delaware's who had reached the eastern shore, and threatened a like fate to the remainder, should they attempt the passage. Roused at this act of treachery, the Delawares eagerly accepted a proposition from the Mengwe, who had hitherto been spectators of the occurrence, to unite with them for the conquest of the country.
A war of extermination was then commenced, which eventuated in the expulsion of the Alligewi, who fled from their ancient seats never to return. The devastated country was apportioned among the conquerors, the Mengwe choosing the neighborhood of the lakes, and the Delawares appropriating the territory further to the south.
For many years the conquerors lived together in much harmony. Some Delaware hunters, having penetrated far into the forest, discovered the great rivers, the Susquehanna and Delaware; and crossing the Skeyickby (New Jersey) country, came at last to the Mahicannittuck (Hudson River). Upon their return to their nation, they described the country they had visited as abounding in game, fish, fowl and fruits, but destitute of inhabitants. Summoning together their chiefs and principal men, after solemn and protracted deliberation it was concluded that this was the home destined for them by the Great Spirit; and thither the tribe went and took up their abode, making the Delaware river, to which they gave the name of Lenapewihittuck, the centre of their possessions.
The Mengwe, thus left to themselves hovered for a time on the borders of the great lakes with their canoes, in readiness to fly should the Alligewi return. Having grown bolder, and their numbers increasing, they stretched themselves along the St. Lawrence, and became near neighbors to the Delawares on the north.
In process of time the Mengwe and the Delawares became enemies. The latter said the Mengwe were treacherous and cruel, and pursued an insidious and destructive policy towards their more generous neighbors. Not daring to engage in open warfare with the more powerful Delawares, the Mengwe* resorted to artifice to involve them in a war with distant tribes. Each nation had a particular mark upon its war-clubs, which, placed beside a murdered victim, denoted the aggressor. The Mengwe killed a Cherokee warrior, and left with the dead body a war-club with the mark of the Delawares. The Cherokees, in revenge, fell upon the latter, and commenced what proved to be a long and bloody war.
The treachery of the Mengwe was at length discovered, and the Delawares turned upon their perfidious neighbors with the avowed purpose of extermination. They were the more induced to that nation, in the estimation of the Delawares, below the rank of human beings.
Hitherto the tribes of the Mengwe had acted each under its particular chief. Being so sorely pressed by the Delawares, they resolved to form a confederation, the better to control their forces in war, and regulate their affairs in peace. Thanwewago, a Mohawk chief, was the projector of this alliance. Under his auspices, five nations, the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas and Senecas, formed a species of republic, governed by the united councils of their aged sachems and chiefs. To these a sixth was afterwards added, the Tuscaroras of North Carolina.
The effect of this centralization of power early manifested itself. The Iroquois confederacy became a terror to their enemies, and extended their conquests over a large part of the territory lying between the Atlantic and the Mississippi. The Delawares were frequently at war with the Dutch, and , if tradition is to be believed, the Dutch and Iroquois conspired for their destruction. However that may be, the confederated tribes, having been taught the use of fire-arms by the whites, soon asserted a supremacy over the less fortunate Delaware Indians, and the latter were reduced to the condition of a conquered people.
According to a tradition among the Delawares, their forefathers were once fishing at a place where the Mahicannittuck widens into the sea, when they beheld a white object floating upon the water. Word was sent to the village, and the people came to view the wonder. Various conjectures were made as to what it could be. Some thought it was immense animal floating upon the water; others said it was a huge fish; others still believed it to be a large wigwam.
As the apparition moved steadily toward the land, the natives imagined they could discover signs of life in it. Their chiefs and wise men were summoned together; after mature deliberation they came to the conclusion that it was a very large wigwam. This decision created a profound sensation among those simple children of the forest. The Manitou, from whom they received the choicest gifts, and who so seldom made himself visible to his creatures, was about to land upon their shores, and be seen by them and converse with them.
The sacrifice was prepared, the best food provided, and a dance ordered to honor him, and appease his anger if his mood were wrathful. Fresh runners arrived who declared their strange visitant to be an immense floating wigwam, and that it was crowded with living creatures. Later still, other messengers reported the living things were human beings, with pale faces and strange garments, and one of their number was clad in magnificent apparel. The latter they decided was the Great Manitou himself.
In due time their wonderful visitors landed. Some of the natives were overcome with fear, and were about to run away and hide themselves in the woods; but the wise men and warriors of the tribe tried to prevent such an exhibition of cowardice, and counseled that they unite in giving a fitting reception to their marvellous guests.
A large circle of their principal men was formed, towards which the man in gold lace approached, accompanied by tow others of the pale faces. Salutations were given on both sides. The Indians could not conceal their wonder at the brilliant ornaments and white skin of the supposed Manitou; they were sorely puzzled when the found he did not understand the words of his children, and that he spoke in a language unintelligible to them.
While they were regarding him with a respectful gravity, a servant brought a large hack-hack (gourd), from which was poured a liquid which the Great Being drank, and then offered to one of the chiefs. The savage looked at it, then smelled it, and was not pleased with its pungent odor. It was then passed to the next chief, who followed the example of the first, and gave the vessel to the one next to him. In that manner it was transferred to each one in the circle, and it was about to be returned to the supposed Manitou, when a great and brave warrior conceived the act would be disrespectful to the Deity, and forthwith harangued the warriors on the impropriety of their conduct. He explained that while it would be meritorious to follow the example of the Manitou, to return what he had given them might displease him, and lead him to punish them. The speaker would, therefore, drink the contents of the cup himself, and though he perished, the sacrifice would save his nation from destruction. Having proclaimed his laudable intention, he bade his followers farewell, and drank the contents of the cup. Soon he began to exhibit signs of intoxication. While the natives were regarding him with interest, supposing him to be under the effects of the poison, he fell to the ground. His companions imagined he dead, but he was only dead drunk.
Presently the would-be martyr exhibited signs of life; and when he had sufficiently recovered from his fit of intoxication to speak, he told the assembled chiefs that the liquor had given him the most pleasing sensations that he had ever experienced. All of them had an anxiety to feel these sensations. More of the intoxicating beverage was solicited; the cup this time was not passed without being tasted; and a general debauch followed. The supposed Manitou was Henry Hudson; and this was the first visit of the white man to the country of the Delawares.
The territory embraced between the Hudson and the head-waters of the Delaware, now included in the counties of Orange, Ulster, and Sullivan, is a region of peculiar interest. Less than three centuries ago these valleys and hill swarmed with villages of the Leni-Lenape; and now not one representative of the aboriginal occupants of the soil remains among the scenes sacred to the memory of his fathers. The story of the causes that led to their extinction, and to peopling of their Muck-cos-quit-tais, or "corn planting grounds," by pale-faced usurpers, is a tale of thrilling interest, and is well worthy a niche in history.
The council set of the Leni-Lenape or Delawares was at Minisink, near the junction of the Neversink and Delaware rivers. Here the chiefs and principal men of the nation met to decide the questions relating to the welfare of their people; here they smoked the pipe of peace, of determined the question of carrying war into the territory of their enemies.
Near Cochecton was the Indian village where the clans met, in accordance with their ancient customs, to celebrate their green-corn dances, their dog-festivals, and indulge in their favorite pastime of La Crosse. On the banks of the Hudson was the famous Danskamer, or "Devil's Dance Chamber," where burned the religious fires of the natives, that were never suffered to go out, lest the wrath of the Great Spirit should be aroused from their negligence.
When the white strangers came from over the sea, these natives shared with them their hunting-grounds, and generously set apart, for their use, fields for planting. Esopus, and other early settlements of Ulster, lay along the old Indian trail connecting the Hudson with the head waters of the Delaware, while the ancient settlement of Peenpack grew and flourished in the heart of the Delaware country. Thus the savages, thrown into frequent communion with the whites, were initiated into some of the customs of their more civilized neighbors; while the latter not infrequently adopted some of the habits of their dusky friends.
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* The Mengwe, or Iroquois, sometimes ate the bodies of their prisoners. It is said, too, of the Algonquins, that they drank their enemies' blood.
The Mengwe, or Iroquois, sometimes ate the bodies of their prisoners. It is said, too, of the Algonquins, that they drank their enemies' blood. Table of Contents