As knowledge of the traditions, manners, and national
traits of the Indians, composing, originally, the six distinct
and independent tribes of the Mohawks, Tuscarora, Onondagas,
Seneca, Oneidas, and Cayuga; tribes now merged in, and known as,
the Six Nations, possibly, does not extend beyond the immediate
district in which they have effected a lodgment, I have laid
upon myself the task of tracing their history from the date of
their settlement in the County of Brant, entering, at the same
time, upon such accessory treatment as would seem to be
naturally suggested or embraced by the plan I have set before
me. As the essay, therefore, proposes to deal, mainly, with the
contemporary history of the Indian, little will be said of his
accepted beliefs, at an earlier epoch, or of the then current
practices built upon, and enjoined by, his traditionary faith.
Frequent visits to the Indian's Reservation, on the south bank
of the Grand River, have put me in the way of acquiring oral
data, which shall sub-serve my intention; and I shall prosecute
my attempt with the greater hope of reaping a fair measure of
success, since I have fortified my position with gleanings
(bearing, however, solely on minor matters of fact) from some
few published records, which have to do with the history of the
Indian, generally, and have been the fruitful labor of authors
of repute and standing, native as well as white. Should the
issue of failure attend upon my effort, I shall be disposed to
ascribe it to some not obscure reason connected with literary
style and execution, rather than to the fact of there not having
been adequate material at hand for the purpose.
This site includes some historical materials that may imply negative stereotypes reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place. These items are presented as part of the historical record and should not be interpreted to mean that the WebMasters in any way endorse the stereotypes implied .
