The American Nations Part 13

34. _Kichitamak_ (80 great beaver) was king and remains at the sa.s.safras land or Pennsylvania.

37. _Wapahakey_ (81 white body) was king and went to the Sea Sh.o.r.e on Jersey _Sheyabi_.

38. _Elangomel_ (82 friendly to all) was king and much good was done.

39. _Pitenumen_ (83 mistaker) was king, and saw some one come from somewhere.

40. At this time from the east sea was coming a whiter _Wapsi_.(46)

_3d Song. Till the arrival of Colonies._

41. _Makelomush_ (84 much honored) was king and made all happy.

42. _Wulakeningus_ (85 well praised) was king and became a warrior of the south.

43. He must make war on the Cheroki Snakes _Otaliwako_, and on the Coweta Snakes _Akowetako_.

44. _Wapagamoshki_ (86 white otter) was king, ally of the _Lamatan_ or Hurons.

45. _Wapashum_ (87 white big horn) was king and visited the west land of Talega.

46. There he found the Illinois _Hiliniki_, the Shawanis _Shawoniki_, and the Conoys _Konowiki_.

47. _Nitispayat_ (88 friendly comer) was king, and he went to the big lakes.

48. And he visited all the beaver-children or Miamis, and all the friends or allies.(47)

49. _Pakimitzin_ (89 cranberry eater) was king, and made alliance with the Ottawas, _Tawa_.

50. _Lowaponskan_ (90 north walker) was king, and he visited the noisy place or Niagara _Ganshowenik_.

51. _Tashawinso_ (91 at leisure gatherer) was king, and visited the Sea sh.o.r.es.

52. Then the offspring, in three desiring, three to be, and they became the Turtle tribe, the Wolf tribe, and the Turkey tribe. _Unamini_, _Minsimini_, _Chikimini_.(48)

53. _Epallahchund_ (92 failer) was king, in the war with the _Mahongwi_, wherein he fails.(49)

54. _Langomuwi_ (93 friendly he) was king and the Mahongwi were frightened.

55. _w.a.n.gomend_ (94 saluted) was king yonder between.

56. The Cherokis _Otaliwi_ and _Wasio-towi_ (those of the Otali and Wasioto mts.) were his foes.(50)

57. _Wapachikis_ (95 white crab) was king and ally a friend of Jersey on the sh.o.r.es.

58. _Nenachihat_ (96 watcher) was king and looking at the sea.

59. At this time north and south the _Wapayachik_ came, the white or eastern moving souls.

60. They were friendly, and came in big bird-s.h.i.+ps, who are they?(51)

Thus end these poetical annals, so curious and so plain, when properly understood and translated. The following addition is merely a fragment on the subsequent period, translated by John Burns. I give it as received although I fear it is inaccurate in some respects, and a paraphrase rather than literal account. Yet by this addition, we obtain a kind of general history of at least one American tribe, and a complete original series of traditions, in their peculiar pristine style. Many others will be added hereafter, either from printed traditions, or historical songs and fragments.

_Fragment on the history of the Linapis from about 1600 till 1820._

1. Alas, alas! we know now who they are, these _Wapsinis_ (white people) who then came out of the sea, to rob us of our country. Starving wretches!

with smiles they came; but soon became snaking foes.

2. The _Wallamolum_ was written by _Lekhibit_ (the writer) to record our glory. Shall I write another to record our fall? No! our foes have taken care to do it; but I speak to thee what they know not or conceal.

3. We have had many other kings since that unhappy time. They were 3 till the friendly _Mikwon_ (Penn) came. _Mattanik.u.m_ (not horned, not strong),(52) when the _Winakoli_(53) came to _Winaki_. _Nahumen_ (racc.o.o.n) when the _Sinalwi_ (Dutch) came. And _Ikwahon_ (fond of women) when the _Yankwis_ (English) came, with Mikwon and his friends soon after.

4. They were all received and fed with corn; but no land was ever sold, we never sell any. They were all allowed to dwell with us, to build houses and plant corn, as our friends and allies. Because they were hungry, and thought children of _Gishaki_ (the sun land) and not snakes nor children of snakes.(54)

5. And they were traders, bringing fine new tools, and weapons, and cloth, and beads, for which we exchanged skins and sh.e.l.ls and corn. And we liked them, with their things, because we thought they were good, and made by the children of _Gishaki_.

6. But alas! they brought also fire guns and fire waters, which burned and killed. Also baubles and trinkets of no use; since we had better ones.

7. And after Mikwon, came the children of _Dolojo-Sakima_ (King George) who said, more land, more land we must have, and no limit could be put to their steps and increase.

8. But in the north were the children of _Lowi-Sakima_, (King Louis), who were our good friends, allies of our allies, foes of our foes: yet _Dolojo_ always wanted to war with them.

9. We had 3 kings after _Mikwon_ came. _Skalichi_ who was another _Tamenend_,(55) and _Sasunam Wikwikhon_ (our uncle the builder), and _Tatami_ (the beaver taker) who was killed by a _Yankwako_ (English snake), and we vowed revenge.

10. _Netatawis_ (first renewed being) became king of all the nations in the west, again at _Talligewink_ (Ohio or the Talega place) on the river Cayahaga, with our old allies the _Talamatans_: and he called on all of the east.

11. But _Tadeskung_ was chief in the east at _Mahoning_ and bribed by the _Yankwis_: there he was burnt in his house, and many of our people were ma.s.sacred at _Hickory_ (Lancaster) by the land robbers _Yankwis_.

12. Then we joined our friend _Lowi_ in war against the Yankwis; but they were strong, and they took _Lowanaki_ (north land, Canada) from Lowi, and came to us in _Talegawink_, when peace was made; and we called them big knives _Kichikani_.

13. Then _Alimi_ (white-eyes) and _Gelelenund_ (buck killer) were chiefs, and all the nations near us were allies under us as our grandchildren again.(56)

14. When the eastern fires were set up, and began to resist Dolojo, they said we should be another fire with them. But they killed our chiefs _Unamiwi_ (turtling) and our brothers on the Muskingum. Then _Hopokan_ (strong pipe) of the Wolf tribe was made king, and he made war on the _Kichikani Yankwis_, and become the ally of Dolojo who was then very strong.

15. But the eastern fires were stronger, they did not take _Lowanaki_ (Canada) but become free from _Dolojo_. We went to _Wapahani_ (white river) to be further from them; but they follow every where, and we made war on them, till they sent _Makhiakho_ (black snake, General Wayne) who made strong war.(57)

16. We made peace and settle limits. Our next king was _Hacking-Ponskan_ (hard walker) who was good and peaceful. He would not even join our brothers Shawanis and Ottawas, nor Dolojo in the next war.

17. Yet after the last peace, the _Kichikani-Yankwis_ came in crowds all around us, and they want also our lands of _Wapahani_. It was useless to resist, because they are getting stronger by increasing united fires.

18. _Kithtilkund_ and _Lapanibi_ (white water) were the chiefs of our two tribes, when we resolved to exchange our lands, and return at last beyond the _Masispek_ (muddy water, Mississippi) near to our old country.(58)

19. We shall be near our foes the _Wakon_ (G.o.d of snakes, the Ozages) but they are not worse than the _Yankwiakon_ (English snake), who want to possess the whole big island.(59)

20. Shall we be free and happy there? at the new _Wapahani_ (western white river). We want rest, and peace, and wisdom.

Such is one of the accounts of the transactions between this people and the English, United States &c; of which Loskiel, Holm and Hekewelder have furnished other fragments, and for which we have ample materials in the colonial history and late records. But this offers some new views and facts: which shall be partly compared and discussed in the notes; but more properly examined and united in accordance with other narratives, in the history of the North American nations and tribes. The 11 kings in about 220 years named in this fragment, indicate 107 altogether till 1820 and later.

That so many generations and names can be recollected, may appear doubtful to some; but when symbolic signs and paintings, with poetical songs, are added, the memory can well retain and perpetuate their connection. Even in Polynesia, where we are not told of symbols, but mere historical songs, they reach to the creation and flood; Ellis and Tierman tell us that the kings and priests of Tahiti, Ulieta or Raiaka, Hawahi, Mowi &c. could repeat the names of ancestors and kings for 100 generations. It would have been well if instead of giving us mere fragments of the songs and names, they had translated the whole, and thus furnished the connected annals of Polynesia.