David Cusick's Sketches of Ancient History of the Six Nations: Comprising First—A Tale of the Foundation of the Great Island, (Now North America), The Two Infants Born, and the Creation of the Universe. Second—A Real Account of the Early Settlers of north America, and Their Dissensions. Third—Origin of the Kingdom of the Five Nations, Which Was Called a Long House: the Wars, Fierce Animals, &c.Cusick, David
History
David Cusick's Sketches of Ancient History of the Six Nations: Comprising First—A Tale of the Foundation of the Great Island, (Now North America), The Two Infants Born, and the Creation of the Universe. Second—A Real Account of the Early Settlers of north America, and Their Dissensions. Third—Origin of the Kingdom of the Five Nations, Which Was Called a Long House: the Wars, Fierce Animals, &c.
In the reign the king Atotarho III. About this time the Oneidas had
extended their forts down the river Kaunsehwatauyea, or Susquehanna, a
fort situated on the river, there was a certain woman delivered a male
child uncommon size; when he was twelve years of age he was nearly as
large as grown person, and he would beat his playmates which would create
disputes, but the mother would correct him, and afterwards she prevailed,
he promised never to injure his people; when grown up he became a giant
and was a great hunter; the parent was stored with venison continually;
he was so strong that when returned from hunting he would have five
or six deers and bears strung round on his belt. The giant was named
Soh-nou-re-wah, i. e. Big Neck, (now Shawnees) which inhabited the banks
of the river and brought several suits of dress and the scalps of whom he
had killed. The Sah-wau-noo sends messengers to fort Keu-na-sen-wa-tau-yea
as to demonstrate the conduct of Soh-nau-ro-wah, but the business was
left upon the relatives Sau-rau-ra-wah, who persuaded him to reform his
behaviour for the future: he remained only two winters without making
disturbance; he went down the river and whenever he came to a town he
committed the same outrages upon the inhabitants, and plundered the
people’s clothes, skins, &c. Again the Sau-wa-noo sends a deputy and
reported their resentment, but determined to make hostile aggressions if
not satisfaction was made on their part. The Chief Ne-nau-re-tah-go sends
a belt of Wampum, and offered the terms of peace, which was accepted; but
the Sau-rau-roh-wah was not disposed to favor the treaty; he left the
fort and went down and located on the bank of Kau-nau-seh-wah-tau-yea
river, (said Susquehanna) and commenced to build a fort;[6] he was
frequently visited by his relatives; and after the fortification was
completed he resolved to continue the war against his enemies; he went
from time to time and attacked the people which inhabited on the river as
he had done before; he would lay in ambush near the path, and whenever
the people are passing he shoots them: he used a plump arrow, which
was so violent that it would break the body in two parts: as he became
mischievous to the people that the relatives were obliged to form a plan
to destroy him; but Sau-rauh-ro-wah was not easily to be quelled, it was
supposed that ten warriors were not sufficient to equal his strength. At
the fort Kou-na-seh-wa-ta-yea there went three warriors of his natives
which bring him favorite diet, a mess of huckle berries, &c.; the
Sau-nou-ro-wah was pleased of the visit and the food which was given; but
while he was eating it one of the warriors, with a club, concealed under
his cloak, instantly stepped on the bench where he was setting, and gave
a fatal blow on the monster’s head, he was so distracted that he run out
the fort and was intended to cross the river, he sunk in the mire which
was near the bank, the warriors prevailed and killed him on the spot: the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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