Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-10-10


Thefollowing article has been sent TO US from
a correspondent now in the country. For the
correctness OF the description of the scenery of
tbe place mentioned in it, we can voueh; it
heinz one of the most romantic and beautiful
that we have ever met with. IN T. Adp'
MOHEGAN
To the course ola joerney | lately
made through some of the first settle
ments of New England, was ggatitied
co fiad so many of the Indian names of
rivers and mountains stillretained, and
chat it was so easy to identify so many
ofthe places IN whose history | had be-
fore taken much interest Indeed |
consider il quite necessary to the full
endowment OF a traveller, even In the
most populous parts of our country, to
recur occasionally TO the ancient state
of things. as he must now and then pass
considerable tracts with little Co crafty
a stranger. May are indeed disposed
20 pass over this subject as one below
their regard for the aborigines are
generally thought Of only as the ances-
Tors Of the vagabond Indians of the pre-
sent day, and the characters and deeds
of our forefathers have in great mea-
sure gone too far out of memory. Yet
who that knows any thing OF the sub
;ectc deny that what mas been recor-
dei of the traditions, the manners, GUS
toms. and character of the savages,
NAV furnish matter for curious specu-
lation. as we'll as many specimens OF
savage virtues, and that the lives of the
New England fathers are replete with
examples for their posterity, who can
reflect without emotion that it is but
lust two centuries since his country was
the country of the Narragansets, the
Mohegans and the Psquols, while now
there ia scarcely 9 man of these nations
70 be found on earth /? Or who can hear
of the capture of Sassacus, or the tale
of King Philips death--how he ventur-
ed and lost his life in taking farewell OF
Mount Hope-without considering
himself for a moment usurper OF the
rights and an intruder on the native
aoil of heroes?
Probably there is not spot IN New
Enoland. where some of the events of
our early histosy come more naturally
or more powerfully to mind, than the
ancient bnryiug ground of the Mohe-
San Sachems--situated on a plain IN
the township of Norwicha in Coonecti-
cut. The Mohegans, numerous AMI
warlike nation, wac possessed the SURF
rounding coGntry, we're distingui shed
Cor a firm and inviolate attachment TO
the colonies from the earliest timeS TO
the period when they lost, by q gradual
declension, all their power and impor~
lance. Their sachems. CT kings, who
we're all of the family of Uncas, never
made war or peace without the assent
of the whites, and were ever ready to
furnish them with warriors whenever
they took the field. Their aid proved
in many instances of much Importance;
for though they were often solicited by
the neighboring tribes 20 rob, murder,
aud even to exteFminate the English,
they were solicited in vain; and never
failed TO discountenance and make
known the plots which threatened the
safety of their allies. But their mum.
bees and their possessions diminished
as the whites Increased and the Mo-
hogan nation has in our days dwindled
90 ABOUT a hundred persons, who inha-
bit a tract of three thousand acres, Sc
cured to them many years since by the