Opening the text

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

Name: Notes on the Iroquois: or, Contributions to the Statistics, Aboriginal History, Antiquities and General Ethnology of Western New-York
Author: Schoolcraft, Henry Rowe

Schoolcraft, Henry Rowe

Indians of North America -- New York (State); Iroquois Indians

I have sent with this, such relics and Indian trinkets, as I could
prevail upon our people here to part with. They are less than I
expected to obtain. The gun lock, spear head, axe, piece of gun barrel,
and lead ball, are all of the size and patterns usually found. They are
from the farm of Mr. David Hinsdale, in the town of Pompey, west part.
All the gun barrels, or parts of them, are found flattened similar to
this. Not a perfect one has been found. The two parts of the axe, want
about two inches between the broken portions to make the “_bit_” of
the ordinary length. The stone axes, I thought might interest you. I
have no doubt they were used in flaying animals slain in the chase, as
well as in cleaving wood. I did intend to send you a beautiful gouge
of hornblende, but to my surprise, it is not to be found; the like are
frequently found here. It proves conclusively, that the natives were at
an early day acquainted with the virtues of the maple, and possessed
the art of making sugar. I have sent, as you will see, fragments of
pipes of many varieties. The patterns are as various as the articles
are numerous. The specimens of glass are different from any I have seen
from any other quarter. I think some of the beads may have been used in
rosarys, for the native proselytes. I have lately seen a fragment of
a bell, which, when whole, would have weighed probably 200 lbs., the
metal is very fine, and from appearance, this article must have been of
considerable value; time and exposure has not changed it in the least.
When found, some 20 years since, it was broken up and the pieces found,
enough to make it nearly entire.

I am aware, that I am corresponding with one far more experienced in
these matters, than myself, and therefore, forbear obtruding my views
and opinions further. If you have not a particular desire to place
these things in your own cabinet, they might perhaps, be profitably
disposed of, among the rare things of the New-York Historical Society.
Dispose of them as you think best, I am sorry I could not obtain more.

  I am, with sentiments of high regard,

  Your ob’t,

  J. V. H. CLARK.




(D.)

Letter from Mr. Cusick to Henry R. Schoolcraft.


  _August 4th_, 1845.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

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

I have sent with this, such relics and Indian trinkets, as I could
prevail upon our people here to part with. They are less than I
expected to obtain. The gun lock, spear head, axe, piece of gun barrel,
and lead ball, are all of the size and patterns usually found. They are
from the farm of Mr. David Hinsdale, in the town of Pompey, west part.
All the gun barrels, or parts of them, are found flattened similar to
this. Not a perfect one has been found. The two parts of the axe, want
about two inches between the broken portions to make the “_bit_” of
the ordinary length. The stone axes, I thought might interest you. I
have no doubt they were used in flaying animals slain in the chase, as
well as in cleaving wood. I did intend to send you a beautiful gouge
of hornblende, but to my surprise, it is not to be found; the like are
frequently found here. It proves conclusively, that the natives were at
an early day acquainted with the virtues of the maple, and possessed
the art of making sugar. I have sent, as you will see, fragments of
pipes of many varieties. The patterns are as various as the articles
are numerous. The specimens of glass are different from any I have seen
from any other quarter. I think some of the beads may have been used in
rosarys, for the native proselytes. I have lately seen a fragment of
a bell, which, when whole, would have weighed probably 200 lbs., the
metal is very fine, and from appearance, this article must have been of
considerable value; time and exposure has not changed it in the least.
When found, some 20 years since, it was broken up and the pieces found,
enough to make it nearly entire.

I am aware, that I am corresponding with one far more experienced in
these matters, than myself, and therefore, forbear obtruding my views
and opinions further. If you have not a particular desire to place
these things in your own cabinet, they might perhaps, be profitably
disposed of, among the rare things of the New-York Historical Society.
Dispose of them as you think best, I am sorry I could not obtain more.

  I am, with sentiments of high regard,

  Your ob’t,

  J. V. H. CLARK.




(D.)

Letter from Mr. Cusick to Henry R. Schoolcraft.


  _August 4th_, 1845.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Notes on the Iroquois: or, Contributions to the Statistics, Aboriginal History, Antiquities and General Ethnology of Western New-York

Notes on the Iroquois: or, Contributions to the Statistics, Aboriginal History, Antiquities and General Ethnology of Western New-York

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