John Long's journal, 1768-1782Long, J. (John), Indian trader
History
John Long's journal, 1768-1782
Long, J. (John), Indian trader
Fur trade -- Canada; Indians of North America; Indians of North America -- Languages; Ojibwa language
A Mohawk, of the name of Scunnionsa, or The Elk, and a Chippeway Indian
of the name of Cark Cark, or the crow, having met at a council of war
near Crown Point, in the year 1757, were extolling their own merits, and
boasting of their superiority in taking scalps. The Mohawk contended
that he could take a larger scalp than the Chippeway warrior; {24} who
was very highly offended, and desired that the experiment might be made.
They parted, each pursuing a different route, after having first agreed
to meet at a certain place, on a particular day, when a council was to
be held. At the time appointed they returned, and appeared at the
council. The Mohawk laid down his scalp, which was the skin of the head
and neck of a man stuffed with fine moss, and sewed up with deers’
sinews, and the eyes fastened in. The chiefs expressed their
approbation, and pronounced him to be a great and brave warrior. The
Chippeway then rose, and looking earnestly at the Mohawk, desired the
interpreter to tell him that it was an old woman’s scalp, which is
considered as a term of great reproach, and called to one of his sons to
bring forward his scalp; when instantly he exhibited to their view the
complete skin of a man, stuffed with down feathers, and sewed very close
with deers’ sinews. The chiefs loaded him with praise, and unanimously
acknowledged his superiority. The Mohawk warrior, fired with resentment,
withdrew from the council meditating revenge; and as soon as he saw the
Chippeway come forth, he followed him, and watching a convenient
opportunity, dispatched him with his tomahawk, rejoicing that he had,
even in this dastardly manner, got rid of a victorious rival.
{25} _Some Account of the Character and Disposition of the_ CONNECEDAGA,
_or_ RONDAXE INDIANS; _with Remarks on the_ IROQUOIS _and_ CHEROKEE
_Nations_.
The Savages of this nation are of the Chippeway tribe, and speak a
mixture of the Iroquois and Chippeway tongues: they were driven from the
upper country at the time of the great Indian war, about the year 1720,
and settled on the Lake of the two Mountains. There are about two
hundred inhabitants, who are very industrious, and cultivate the land in
the manner of the Cahnuagas; they also breed cattle, and live in a
degree of civilization unknown to most of the Chippeway tribes. There is
also a town near Lake Erie, in the limits of the United States, which is
inhabited by about fifteen hundred of this nation, of whom the Reverend
Mr. Charles Beattie gives a very favourable account.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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