The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-02-27
From the Nantucket Enquirer

ct was originally peoplcd by s1vagCS, OF
whence its primitive human inhabitants
emigrated, are subjects lost in the gulf
of oblivion. IL is known, however,
that two several tribes or claus occupied
its Northern aad Southern sections, at
and after the due of its first settlement
by civilized beings and, as the very APP
peliations by which these tribes were
distinguished have disappcared with
the whole race, II will te sufficient for
the purpose Of this narrative, to desie-
nate them rs the hhauds and the 7aum-
khodS, The former held sovereign
sway and dominion over that portion oil
the Island, reaching from the South
Shore 20 the Great Point while the
latter claimed jurisdiction over the re-
mainder, including what is now calle9
Smiths point, and extending to the
Cliffs at the North Shore. Long, sinu-
Gus ponds, narrow glcns, and compact
forests, formed a sort of natural line OF
separation between the respective terri
tories, whose outskirts were bounded
only by the salt sea ocean,
There have been discovered from
time to time, since the extinction Of
those hordes, very satisfactory indications
that they were once numerous and war
pike. The ruins Of their encampments,
and the remains of their cemeteries may
still be traced in remote and deserted
spots ; where the curious wandorer may
find vast masses of broken shells, and
fragments Of rude pottery, half buried
IN the shifting sands, or bleaching on
the Suriace-with now and thcn an ar
iroW-hcad OF stone, or some dllapidated
instrument of mischief. In exploring
these decayed and melancholy marx, Il
a departed gonerttlon, tire contempla-
tive nina would fam muse on various
and solemn toplcs--rumiuafing ON the
Use and deelension of nalions--ponder-
lng on the Vlcissiiudes offorluue-mor-
aiizlng on the strange destiny OF NOR
tslS-and making multituIes Of Qthcrsad
and sober reflections all VII CHI, the
KIND reader IS humDly desired 10 do n
+ his leisure.
. The ordinary customs and domestic
' habits OF those %aborigincs, must nee $.
sarily have been very simple. The,
doubtless took their game by dint ofsucl
s~trdtagens as a sort Of instructive goniu,
$ suggesled-dressed it in the mos un.
c mary mode, by means which nature IL
h lone ailorde md deyoured ii will
y good appetites, unptogoked by a]rtiicIa
stimulants, and ~unspoilcd by ,tidipu
ceremonies. The kAauds subsisie.
, chiefly upon fish and wild fowl-th,
! woods with which thcirpfeclncts aboun.
ded furnished them with bark for line!
and nets; while the Taumkhods prefer.
J red oysters, crabs, claus, clappcrs, lob.
Is sters, pooquas, perIwinkles, muscles, ant
d other testaceous and crusiarrous resi-
d dents upon, and beneath the shores o
then principal bays, Matlekut ans
N~auntookket. Both tribes also c%ultiyl.
At ted patches of land here and thcie
~wbereupon they raised pompions, malza
and some other vegetables /; ii part o
winch they exported IA canoe to y u
shaun, whence lIley procured tobacco
! the various esculenls aboye enumerltcf
a were prepared for d~cgIufitiOn by a Gull.
: nary process unknown TO the eouImand.
" oil modern tncs-yca, by a mclhod
Which has YET escaped the graphic del
+ ncations of those all-se rchlnp gastronl.
e mlsts, DIR. Kitchener and NJ. Glasse.
n They cXcayated the ground 10 hc dcptl
oil about three or four feet, m kong .
| pointed holloy that mont ron#4Ip s,r,a