Part 6
At a subsequent interview, Cornplanter made a reply to Friends, in which he stated, “We understand the writing which you gave us very well, and our minds are now quite easy. Two of our young men will learn the smiths’ trade; one from the lower town, and one from the upper.”
Friends again opened the business respecting the schooling of their children, which had for sometime past been impeded by the system of Connediu. The chiefs were particularly desired to take this subject under consideration, and let Friends know when they were ready.
It was supposed that the quantity of corn raised this year by the natives, was nearly tenfold what it was when the settlement was first formed, and a few of the Indians made the first attempts to raise wheat; but those who did something at farming, occasionally went out a hunting; and many of the men still adhered to their ancient customs, and left the women of their families to cultivate with the hoe, what corn and vegetables were necessary for their sustenance.
As one of the young men, who had been there from the time of first opening the settlement, was about to return home with the committee, Cornplanter expressed the great regard he had for him; saying, “that, although he had been so long amongst them, not one of them was able to say a word against him, ever since he had been there--that his words and his conduct had been altogether good, and agreeable to them; and he hoped the Good Spirit would preserve him on his way home to his friends.”
The committee, also, on this visit, had an interview with the Indians of Cattaraugus. They arrived at a time when the Indians were performing their religious ceremonies--concerning which, the chief warrior, Waun-dun-guh-ta, made the following remark to Friends.
“Brothers, you have come at a time which has by us been set apart for performing worship to the Good Spirit, after our ancient customs. It is our way of worship, and, to us, solemn and serious, and not to be made light of, however different it may be from your mode. It is the manner our forefathers have taught us. We hope you will excuse us for not being so attentive to you as we should, had we not been thus engaged.”
They had now their saw-mill completed, and one of the Friends from Alleghany remained sometime with them, instructing some of the Indians in the sawing business.
The spring of 1802, furnished greater marks of improvement, than had heretofore been discovered among the natives. Eighteen or twenty thousand rails were split, and put up into fences by the Indians, and thirteen or fourteen new lots enclosed, most of which were cleared this spring. Several families who had not any when this settlement was first formed, had got six or seven head of cattle, and other useful animals. Whiskey was not knowingly suffered to be brought into the settlement; and if any were found out to have been intoxicated, when they were out in the white settlements, they were sharply reproved by the chiefs on their return, which had nearly the same effect among Indians, as committing a man to the workhouse among white people. The Indians opened a good road for about five miles up the river from Friends’ settlement, where before it was very difficult to travel, even on horseback. Several of them sowed spring wheat--and a gradual improvement was apparent during this season.
The benefits derived by the Senecas at Alleghany, from their attention to agriculture, encouraged other branches of the nation to apply for assistance. The chief of the Tonewanta village, about one hundred miles distant from Friends’ settlement at the Alleghany, in a pathetic speech, applied to Friends to assist them with saw-mill irons, farming utensils, &c. which request was granted, with the addition of a yoke of oxen, and chains.
The young man who went out as a blacksmith, returned home this fall; two of the Indians having acquired such knowledge of his business as to answer their necessities.
Although the improvements at this place were gradually progressing, obstructive causes at times occurred, difficult to combat. This induced Friends, among them, to believe that a change made in their situation, so as to render them more independent of the natives, might subject them to less difficulty in the further prosecution of the concern. The improvement heretofore made on their own land, for a time, had a good effect; but their ideas were weak, and for want of more sensibility in some of the intentions of Friends towards them, it had led to a dependence, which evidently impeded their progress in civilization. This dependence seemed to increase, as they saw the increase of produce from the land that Friends cultivated. Some of the Indians had increased their stock of cattle faster than the means of supporting them through a long and rigorous winter. When their hay and other fodder become reduced, they applied to Friends to give them some. These requests could not be complied with, to an extent proportioned to their necessity, without reducing Friends to alike state of want; and fearing, least in future winters, a renewal of similar requests, without the means of supplying them, might disturb that harmony which had hitherto subsisted between Friends and the Indians, it was thought adviseable by the committee to embrace an opportunity which now presented, of purchasing from a company of white people, an adjoining tract of land, in order to make such improvements thereon, as might accommodate a family or more, of such, who from time to time, might feel desirous to assist in the instruction of the Indians, and thus by making it a more permanent establishment, entirely independent of the natives, be enabled to extend more efficient aid to other branches of the Seneca nation.
In the spring of 1803, this proposal of a removal of Friends’ settlement was communicated to the Indians, and they generally coincided with it, provided the move should not be far up the river. They had several councils on the occasion, and communicated to Friends their views; and although their prophet, Connediu, had, in time back, been somewhat opposed to the views of Friends in changing the customs of the Indians, he was now entirely friendly, and strongly recommended industry and perseverance in the plans which Friends had recommended to them. The following paragraphs from one of his speeches on this occasion, may be worthy of notice.
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“My friends, Quakers, attend.--It is now a long time since you first came amongst us. It has even exceeded the time that was first proposed. I now speak the united voice of our chiefs and warriors to you, of our women also, and of all our people. Attend, therefore, to what I say. We wish you to make your minds perfectly easy--we are all pleased with your living amongst us, and not one of us wants you to leave our country. We find no fault with you in any respect, since you come amongst us; neither have we any thing to charge you with. You have lived peaceably and honestly with us, and have been preserved in health, and nothing has befallen you. This we think is proof, also, that the Great Spirit is pleased with you living here, and with what you have done for us.”
“Friends, Quakers--we now all agree to leave you at full liberty, either to remain where you now are, on our land, or to remove up the river and settle on land of your own, only that you settle near us, that you may extend further assistance and instruction. For although we have received much benefit from you, and some of our people have made considerable advancement in useful labour, yet we remain very deficient in many things, and numbers of us are yet poor.”
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As the important change proposed to be made in conducting the affairs at Alleghany, required serious consideration, four of the committee proceeded to that settlement, and on conferring with Friends there, were satisfied of the propriety of a removal from their present station, to one more independent of the Indians, and less subject to their control.
A tract of land adjoining the Indians’ reservation on Tunesassa creek, which empties into the river on the east side, about two miles above Genesinghuta, was agreed upon, and afterwards purchased, as the most eligible place for a settlement; inasmuch as it furnished an ample situation for water works, and much of the tract was covered with excellent pine timber. The tract included about seven hundred acres.
Friends had free and open conferences with the Indians on the subject of their removal, and various other matters; and satisfactory arrangements were made respecting the old settlement, the Indians insisting on Friends’ occupying the farm until they got suitable accommodations, and provender for their stock, at their new settlement.
In one of their conferences, Cornplanter observed:
“Brothers, when your friends first came amongst us, and for a long time after, the white people told us, ‘keep a good watch on those Quakers--they are a cunning, designing people; and under pretence of doing something for you, want to get hold upon you, to make an advantage of you some way or other;’ but of late, finding that all was straight, and no advantage was attempted to be taken, they have left off talking about it.
“Brothers, your young men do not talk much to us, but when they do they speak what is good, and have been very helpful in keeping us from using spirituous liquors.”
Here it may be proper to remark, that in the spring of 1798, an Indian lad of the Tuscarora nation, from near the falls of Niagara, had been taken to Philadelphia, and placed with a Friend in Chester county, to learn the blacksmiths’ business, where he continued till the last spring;--and having acquired a competent knowledge of his trade, and made considerable proficiency in school learning, the Friend with whom he had been instructed, felt such an interest in his welfare, that he accompanied him home to his Indian friends, staid several weeks with him, to see him set up in his business, and assisted him therein.
This Friend, on his return, had now been several weeks at Alleghany, affording the two Indian blacksmiths there, some further instruction in that art. They were very desirous he should tarry longer with them; and an old chief observed, “Friends had now sent on a blacksmith, the best they had ever seen--he knows how to make all things we want.”
Considerable improvement among the Indians at this time was observable, more particularly up the river. Several families had settled about two miles higher up, than where they formerly resided, and had cleared and fenced in about sixty acres of land. Seventeen new houses with shingled roofs, were observed neatly built, with square logs, most of them two stories high, with stone chimneys and glass windows. They had about one hundred head of cattle, thirty horses, and several hundred hogs. And the Indians had opened a road, about twenty miles along the river, and much of it through heavy timber; which was a great work for them.
The committee proceeded from thence to Cattaraugus, and noticed considerable improvement in that settlement. Several of them were building good houses. Their crops of corn were good, and their stock of cattle increased; and, generally speaking, they had declined the use of strong drink. They had divers requests to make to Friends, some of which were granted; especially one, for a set of smith tools and plough irons. While Friends were sitting with the chief warrior, he seemed in a pensive mood, and said he wished to ask them a question, but hesitated. They desired him to say on--It was, “_Do the Quakers keep any slaves?_”--He was answered in the negative. He said he was very glad to hear it; for if they did, he could not think so well of them as he now did--that he had been at the city of Washington last winter, on business of the nation, and found that many white people kept blacks in slavery, and used them no better than horses.
The committee on their way home had interviews with the Buffalo and Tonewanta Indians, and gave them such advice and encouragement as their situation required. It was satisfactory to observe, from the account of Red Jacket and others of their chiefs, that some improvement was taking place among those Indians.
Our friends at Alleghany built a temporary house at their new settlement this fall, to which they removed, which we shall hereafter call Tunesassa. The land being heavily timbered, much exertion and labour were necessary, to make their situation tolerably comfortable during the first winter.
In the spring of 1804, the Indians generally removed from the lower town, and settled higher up the river; several of them not far from Tunesassa. This removal subjected them to some inconveniences, the first year, but eventually proved much to their advantage; especially to those who were detached from their little towns.
As it was believed much benefit would result to the Indians from the erection of a grist mill on Friends’ farm, there being none nearer than about forty miles, measures were adopted to have grist and saw-mills erected this summer; and they were so far completed, as to be in operation the ensuing winter, when the Indians had considerable grinding done, and were much pleased to see the grain reduced to meal so much quicker than by pounding it in wooden mortars.
An Indian man, after having a grist of wheat of his own raising ground and bolted, said with animation, “I think this will make the Indians see day-light.”
In the course of this season, some dissentions took place among the Indians with regard to their chiefs. Several young men of considerable influence in the nation, and who were anxious to assume the reigns of government, became disaffected to Cornplanter, and taking measures to subvert his authority, artfully prevailed with the Indians to confer on themselves the dignified title of chiefs. This, among men whose rulers only hold their authority during the good will of the people, was not difficult to effect. In the mean time, Connediu, who had some time before been promoted to the highest title in the nation, continued (as he said) his imaginary interviews with the inhabitants of the spiritual world, so that his fame spread abroad, and visits were paid to him from distant tribes. He also travelled to distant parts himself, and promulgated his doctrines, (which happily were now become more innocent,) throughout the Seneca nation.
In the latter end of the winter and spring of 1805, the Indians experienced much damage to their infant settlements, by some unusual freshets in the Alleghany river. Nearly all their fences were swept away; but instead of being discouraged by their losses, they joined together very spiritedly, and soon repaired them; and in the end appeared to have been benefitted; for by this exertion, they gradually became more accustomed to labour--a thing, to them, of the greatest consequence.
As it was believed the time had now come when it would be right to take some measures to instruct the Indian women in the various branches of housewifery, and domestic economy, and as this could not be done without female aid, a suitable family were sought for, and a man and his wife offering for that service, as well as a single female, who had before been at the Oneida settlement, they proceeded to Tunesassa in the early part of summer; and the natives expressed much satisfaction on their arrival among them.
The arrival of the females was no less satisfactory to the Friends residing at Tunesassa--for as from the first settlement to this time, in addition to the various calls of the Indians, and their out-door labours, they had all their domestic and culinary services to perform,--except some little aid received at times, by hiring some of the Indian women.
Although many of the Indians had constructed comfortable houses, very few of their women took any pains to keep them clean and in neat order. They manufactured none of their own clothing, except the mockasins they wore on their feet. They had no knowledge of making soap, and of course their clothes could not be very clean--and very little improvement in domestic affairs had as yet taken place among the Indian families. In proportion, however, as the men became more accustomed to labour, it released the women from their former drudgery; and having now the opportunity of getting all their grain ground, which before they had to pound in wooden mortars, it would afford them more time to turn their attention to the business of the house, and the concerns more properly allotted to females, in all civilized societies.
To aid and assist them in accomplishing this, was the object of our female friends; and some of the Indian girls pretty soon began to show a willingness to be instructed in knitting and spinning. A house of employment was built at a little distance from Friends’ dwelling, and particularly allotted to their use; but for want of the necessary materials, not much could be done at these useful employments the first season. Our women Friends were, however, enabled to instruct many of them in the art of making soap, which enabled them to keep their clothes and persons more cleanly; and also by frequently visiting them in their families, had opportunities of instructing and encouraging them in habits more assimilated to civilized life. The Indian women, also, made frequent visits to them, and by observing their industry, economy, and superior mode of living, an inclination began soon to manifest itself, even among these uncultivated females of the wilderness, to imitate the more useful and rational economy of our women Friends.
In the course of this summer, Friends had got about thirty acres of land cleared on their farm--their spring crops were productive, and they sowed fourteen or fifteen acres with winter grain. The grist and saw-mills were kept in operation, and found to answer a valuable purpose.
In the spring of 1806, the Indians were much engaged in clearing land, splitting rails, and carrying on various improvements. One of the more sagacious observed to Friends, “Our Indians are getting to have more sense, very fast.”
They continued strongly opposed to the use of spirituous liquors, and seldom held a council without some animadversions on their baneful effects--and nothing excited more wonder among the surrounding white people, than to find them entirely refuse liquor when offered to them. The Indians said, that when the white people urged them to drink whiskey, they would ask for bread or provisions in its stead.
In the course of this summer, a company of Indians from Alleghany, with Connediu (whom they called their prophet,) at their head, paid a visit to several villages of their brethren, near the Genessee river, in order to dissuade them from the use of strong drink, and to encourage them in habits of industry.
In the Ninth month, this year, the settlement was again visited by three of the committee. The writer being one of the number, and having resided more than two years among them at the first opening of the settlement, was afforded a full opportunity of judging of the improvements the Indians had made. A council was held with the Indians at Cold Spring, which was a new town the Indians had built on the west side of the river, a few miles above Tunesassa. Various subjects were discussed in this council, relative to the Indians’ improvement, and much advice communicated relative to their moral conduct, and long replies again made by the Indians, which the limits prescribed for this narrative will not admit in detail. One thing, however, not heretofore noticed, was earnestly pressed upon them; to live in peace and harmony with their wives, and not to let trifling matters part them, as was sometimes their practice; but to consider them as companions for life: and also to live in peace and friendship one with another, which would enable them to make a greater progress in the good work Friends were endeavouring to promote among them.
Our Friends at Tunesassa had now got about fifty acres of land cleared, well enclosed, and in good order. They had built a large and commodious dwelling house and barn, which, together with the mills and improvements generally, gave it the appearance of a desirable settlement.
It was believed the Indians had built about one hundred new houses since the committee visited them three years before. Most of them were put up with hewn logs very neatly notched at the corners; many of them were covered with shingles, and some had pannel doors and glass windows. The carpenter work was chiefly done by the Indians. Scarcely a vestige remained of the cabins they occupied when Friends first settled among them. Their farms, which were of different dimensions, were enclosed with good fences, and much more detached from each other than formerly. A much greater proportion of corn was planted this season than had been known before, and generally looked well. Many of them had raised wheat and oats, and several had raised flax and buckwheat, besides potatoes and turnips in abundance. Their stock of cattle and horses was increased, and they had a good many working oxen, which they found very advantageous to them. Sheep were not yet introduced, owing to the danger of their being destroyed by wolves.
Upon the whole, it was evident their improvements rather exceeded, in divers respects, those made in some new settlements of white people on the frontiers, in the same length of time.
Several of the young women had this year learned to spin and knit a little; but although the improvement among the females was yet small, it was, nevertheless evident, a change in this respect had taken place for the better, since our women Friends came among them. Their persons and apparel, as well as their houses, appeared in more neat and cleanly order. And as Friends approached some of their habitations, a pleasing mark of neatness discovered itself among some of their women, who would immediately begin to sweep their houses, and appear somewhat disconcerted, if Friends entered their doors before they got their apartments in good order.
After spending near a week at Alleghany, the committee proceeded to Cattaraugus, and had a very satisfactory interview with the Seneca Indians at that place. Various matters were opened to them in a written communication, tending to incite them to industry, and to encourage them in a life of sobriety. A great reform had taken place among those Indians in this respect. The chief warrior in his reply said, “He believed the Great Spirit was better pleased with them when they took hold of the axe and the hoe and went to work, than when they were pursuing their former bad practices of drinking, &c.” “And he was very glad Friends had given them their speech upon paper, that they would not only advise their young people themselves, but would have that speech to apply to, to strengthen their minds.”
Although a considerable change had taken place for the better at this settlement within three years past, their stock of cattle and horses having considerably increased, (and instead of confining them as formerly in small enclosures round their villages, they had, since enclosing their cornfields, the advantage of pasturing them on the large plains,) yet they appeared very far behind their brethren at Alleghany, in agricultural improvements, as well as in buildings and cleanliness of living.
In the year 1807, no very important change took place among the Indians at Alleghany, except that divers of the young women and girls applied themselves to spinning in the course of the winter, under the direction of our women Friends, and succeeded so far as to have a piece of linen spun and wove into cloth, besides manufacturing a quantity of sewing thread with which many of the Indians were well pleased.