Neutral Indian
Tribe
Neutrals. So called by the
French because they remained neutral during the later wars between the
Iroquois and Huron. Also called:
Hatiwanta-runh, by Tuscarora, meaning "Their speech is awry"; in form it
is close to the names applied by the other Iroquois tribes and more often
quoted as Attiwandaronk.
Connections The
Neutrals belonged to the Iroquoian linguistic Stock; their position within
this is uncertain.
Location. In the southern
part of the province of Ontario, the westernmost part of New York, in
northeastern Ohio, and in southeastern Michigan. (See also
Indiana,
Michigan,
Ohio, and Canada.)
Subdivisions
It seems impossible to separate
these from the names of the villages, except perhaps in the cases of the
Aondironon (in Ontario bordering Huron territory), and the Ongniaahra (see
below).
Villages
There were 28, but only the names
of the following have been preserved:
Kandoucho, in Ontario near the Huron
country, i. e., in the northern part of Neutral territory.
Khioetoa, apparently a short distance east of Sandwich, Ontario.
Ongniaahra, probably on the site of Youngstown, N.Y.
Ounontisaston, not far from Niagara River.
Teotongniaton, in Ontario.
History. Shortly after the
destruction of the Huron, the Neutrals became involved in hostilities with
the Iroquois and were themselves destroyed in 1650-51, most of them
evidently being incorporated with their conquerors, though an independent
body is mentioned as wintering near Detroit in 1653.
Population. The Neutrals
were estimated by Mooney (1928) to number 10,000 in 1600; in 1653 the
independent remnant included 800. They were probably incorporated finally
with the Iroquois and Wyandot.
Connection in which they have
become noted. The chief claim of the Neutrals to permanent fame is the
fact that the name of one of their subdivisions, the Ongniaahra, became
fixed, in the form Niagara, to the world-famous cataract between New York
and Ontario.
Wenrohronon. Probably
meaning "The people or tribe of the place of floating scum," from the
famous oil spring of the town of Cuba, Allegany County.
Connections. The
Wenrohronon belonged to the Iroquoian linguistic stock. Their closest
affiliations were probably with the Neutral Nation, which part of them
finally joined, and with the Erie, who bounded them on the west.
Location. Probably
originally, as indicated in the explanation of their name, about the oil
spring at Cuba, N. Y. (See also Pennsylvania.)
History. The Wenrohronon
maintained themselves for a long time in the above territory, thanks to an
alliance with the Neutral Nation, but when the protection of the latter
was withdrawn, they left their country in 1639 and took refuge among the
Hurons and the main body of the Neutrals, whose fate they shared.
Population. Before their
decline Hewitt (in Hodge, 1910) estimates the Wenrohronon at between 1,200
and 2,000. Those who sought refuge with the Hurons in 1639 numbered more
than 600.
Connection in which they have
become noted. The Wenrohronon are noted merely on account of their
association with the oil spring above mentioned.
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