Notes on the Iroquois: or, Contributions to the Statistics, Aboriginal History, Antiquities and General Ethnology of Western New-YorkSchoolcraft, Henry Rowe
History
Notes on the Iroquois: or, Contributions to the Statistics, Aboriginal History, Antiquities and General Ethnology of Western New-York
Schoolcraft, Henry Rowe
Indians of North America -- New York (State); Iroquois Indians
The presentation of medals, I believe to have been a very common custom
among the missionaries and traders. Several have been found. A valuable
cross of pure gold, sold for $30, was found on the farm of Mr. David
Hinsdale, west part of Pompey. The significant “IHS” was upon it. Brass
crosses are frequently found, and so are medals of the same metal. One
recently found on the last named farm, about the size of a shilling
piece. The figure of a Roman Pontiff in a standing position, in his
hand a crosier, surrounded with this inscription, “_B. virg. sin. P.
origi. con_,” which I have ventured to write out, “_Beata virgo sine
peccato originali concepta_,” or as we might say in English, “the
blessed virgin conceived without original sin.” On the other side was
a representation of the brazen serpent, and two nearly naked figures,
looking intently upon it. This is by far the most perfect one I have
seen. The letters are as perfect as if struck but yesterday. It was
undoubtedly compressed between dies. It is oval in shape, and bored
that it might be suspended from the neck. A silver medal was found near
Eagle village, two miles east of this, about the size of a dollar, but
a little thinner, with a ring or loop at one edge to admit a cord by
which it might be suspended. On one side appears in relief, a somewhat
rude representation of a fortified town, with several tall steeples
rising above its buildings, and a citadel, from which the British flag
is flying. A river broken by an island or two, occupies the foreground,
and above, along the upper edge of the medal, is the name Montreal.
The initials D. C. F., probably those of the manufacturer, are stamped
below. On the opposite side, which was originally made blank, are
engraved the words Canecya, Onondagoes, which are doubtless the name
and tribe of the red ruler on whose dusky breast, this ornament was
displayed. A valuable token of friendship of some British governor of
New-York, or Canada, to an influential ally among the Six Nations.
There is no date on this, or any of the medals. But this must be at
least older than the revolution, and probably an hundred snows at
least, have fallen on the field where the plough disinterred it, since
the chief whose name it has preserved, was laid to rest with his
fathers.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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