The Lenape Stone; or, The Indian and the MammothMercer, Henry C.
History
The Lenape Stone; or, The Indian and the Mammoth
Mercer, Henry C.
Delaware Indians; Mammoths; Picture-writing, Indian
One of the first figures that catches our eye on looking at the
carvings is the unmistakable outline of a fish, (_a_), just beneath
the waving lines; (_b_) representing water at the left of the stone.
The tradition goes on to say that at this river the Delawares "fell in
with the Mengwe (Iroquois, or five nations), who had likewise emigrated
from a distant country, and had struck upon this river somewhat higher
up. Their object was the same with that of the Delawares; they were
proceeding on to the eastward until they should find a country that
pleased them. The spies which the Lenape had sent forward for the
purpose of reconnoitring, had long before their arrival discovered that
the country east of the Mississippi was inhabited by a very powerful
nation, who had many large towns built on the great rivers flowing
through their land. Those people (as I was told) called themselves
Talligeu or Talligewi. Colonel John Gibson, however, a gentleman
who has a thorough knowledge of the Indians, and speaks several of
their languages, is of opinion that they were not called Talligewi,
but Alligewi, and it would seem that he is right, from the traces of
their name, which still remain in the country, the Allegheny river and
mountains having indubitably been named after them. The Delawares still
call the former Alligéwi Sipu, the River of the Alligewi."
"Many wonderful things are told of this famous people. They are said
to have been remarkably tall and stout, and there is a tradition that
there were giants among them, people of a much larger size than the
tallest of the Lenape. It is related that they had built to themselves
regular fortifications or intrenchments, from whence they would sally
out, but were generally repulsed.[H] * * * When the Lenape arrived on
the banks of the Mississippi, they sent a message to the Alligewi to
request permission to settle themselves in their neighborhood. This was
refused them, but they obtained leave to pass through the country and
seek a settlement farther to the eastward."
This agreement, that the Lenape should cross in peace, might have been
symbolized in the Muzzinabiks (rock writings) and historical song
records of any tribe, by the figure of the pipe (_c_) on the left of
the stone, just above the water, and opposite the fish.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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