It will help to understand the early history of New England, if we remember that the Indians of that section consisted at that time of five confederacies, or leagues, of different numbers and strength. The Pawtuckets lived mainly in southern New Hampshire; the Massachusetts around the bay of that name; the Pequots in eastern Connecticut; the Narragansetts to the east of the Pequots, Rhode Island and the other small islands in the neighborhood being within their territory, while the Pokanokets, more generally known as Wampanoags, embraced portions of Plymouth and Barnstable, and a good deal of the country between the Pawtucket tribes and the Massachusetts, with a part of present Bristol county, Rhode Island. The Wampanoags numbered nine tribes, each governed by its own sagamore, and all subject to Massasoit, the grand sachem, who generally lived near Mount Hope. Governor Carver died a few weeks after the signing of the treaty named, and was succeeded by William Bradford, who held the office for many years. To him, more than to any one person, is due the success of the first colonies planted in New England. The most striking tribute to the greatness of Massasoit lies in the fact that while it was a rule among his race that the foremost warriors attained their fame through personal courage and deeds, yet he was a man of peace. But he held the numerous tribes together without war, and ruled over a larger dominion and a more numerous people than Powhatan, Opecancanough, Pontiac or Tecumseh. True, the last two held full sway at certain times, but it was for purposes of war only. [Illustration: HIAWATHA, FOUNDER OF THE IROQUOIS LEAGUE. The Iroquois League was composed of the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca and Tuscarora nations, who founded in the New York wilderness a barbaric republic, with bonds of union that might serve in many respects as a model for civilized nations of to-day.] [Illustration: THE INDIANS LISTEN TO A MISSIONARY. The Indians often visited the colonists and listened to the traveling missionary, but only a few converts were made among the red men during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.]