|
|
The Delaware took possession of the ancient seat of power,
Tuscarawas, and used it as their capital, conjointly with such
Seneca as remained in the valley. Afterward the Delaware capital was
removed down to Gekelemnkpechuk, near the present New Comerstown,
and from there to Goshockgunk.
The chiefs, Beaver, White Eyes, Pipe, Custaloga, Netawatwes, and
others, had their hamlets, or "country seats," stationed along the
river and its branches, within a day's call of the ancient capital;
they nevertheless were frequenters thereat, and with Shingask, alias
Bockingahelas, as chief ruler at the capital, they there concerted
war and peace measures, so far as the same affected the three tribes
designated Turtle, Turkey, and Wolf tribes, as well. as the
subordinated warriors of other tribes owing fealty to the Delaware.
Each chief, having a town, had also his hunting and fishing grounds,
and to which he and his retainers repaired in the game and fishing
seasons to enjoy life free from care. They also had their annual
hunts, when all the clans joined and ranged in common, in pursuit of
pleasure, concentrating at a given place or stream, and dividing the
product according to rank and station, and it is worthy of
remembrance that before the white man came into the valley, these
barons and lords of the American forest, were but little behind the
Scottish, Irish, and English gentry of coincident time in Europe,
iii all the essentials of dignity, self-respect, and honor, as they
understood the terms.
Heckewelder was at the "Tuscarawas capital," in 1762, and has
preserved their manners and customs, of which a portion are here
given.
Indian
Food and Cookery - 1762
Heckewelder says at that time their principal food consisted of
game, fish, corn, potatoes, beans, pumpkins, cucumbers, squashes,
melons, cabbages, and turnips, roots of plants, fruits, nuts, and
berries.
They, take but two meals a day. The hunters or fishermen never go
out in the middle of the day, except it be cloudy. Their custom is
to go out on an empty stomach as a stimulant to exertion in shooting
game or catching fish.
They make a pottage of corn, dry pumpkins, beans, and chestnuts, and
fresh or dried meats, pounded, all sweetened with maple sugar or
molasses, and well boiled. They also make a good dish of pounded
corn. and chestnuts, shellbarks and hickory nut kernels, boiled,
covering the pots with large pumpkin, cabbage, or other leaves.
They make excellent preserves from cranberries and crab apples, with
maple sugar.
Their bread is of two kinds; one made of green, and the other of dry
corn. If dry, it is sifted after pounding, kneaded, shaped into
cakes six inches in diameter, one inch thick, and baked on clean dry
ashes, of dry oak barks. If green, it is mashed, put in broad green
corn blades, filled in with a ladle, well wrapped up and baked in
ashes.
They make warrior's bread by parching corn, sifting it, pounding
into flour, and mixing sugar. A table-spoonful with cold or boiling
water is a meal, as it swells in the stomach, and if more than two
spoonsful is taken, it is dangerous. Its lightness enables the
warrior to go on long journeys and carry his bread with him. Their
meat is eaten boiled in pots, or roasted on wooden spits or coals.
Indian Dress
and Ornaments at the Capital
The Indians make beaver and raccoon-skin blankets. Also frocks,
shirts, petticoats, leggings, and shoes of deer, bear and other
skins. If cold, the. fur is placed next to the body; if warm,
outside.
With the large rib bones of the elk and buffalo they shave the hair
off such skins as they dressed, which was done as clean as with a
knife. They also made blankets of feathers of the turkey and goose,
which the women arranged interwoven together with thread or twine
made from the rind of the wild hemp and nettles.
The dress of the men consists of blankets, plain or ruffled shirts,
leggings and moccasins (moxens). The women make petticoats of cloth,
red, blue, or black, when it can be had of traders; they adorn with
ribbons, beads, silver broaches, arm spangles, round buckles, little
thimble-like bells around the ankles to make a noise and attract
attention. They paint with vermillion, but not so as to offend their
husbands; the loose women and prostitutes paint their faces deeply
scarlet.
The men paint their thighs, legs, breasts, and faces, and to appear
well, spend some times a whole day in decorating themselves for a
night frolic. They pluck out their beards and hair on the head
(except a tuft, on the crown) with tweezers made of muscle shells,
or brass wire. The Indians would all be bearded like white men were
it not for their pulling out custom.
This site includes some historical
materials that may imply negative stereotypes reflecting the culture or language
of a particular period or place. These items are presented as part of the
historical record and should not be interpreted to mean that the WebMasters in
any way endorse the stereotypes implied.
Ohio Annals; Dayton, Ohio, 1876
Traditions
of the Seneca
 |
