The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-02-14

rank. They 6rss placed the corpse be-
side the grave. when the whole company
sat round and lamented over il. When
to the grave some Of his most
valuable and useful implements were do
posted with the deceased to assist him
on his supposed journey.
1t was usual Cor the relations to make |
offering to the Gods after tho burial, and
when Cannonnicus buried his son, he |
burn, his palace and all the goods in il
AZ an offering to their great god Cow
tansowwit.
OF THE INDIANS OF THE ISLAND. OF RHODE
ISLAND. 80
The Indians who inhabited the Island
Of Acquidnic, or Acquiday, now Rhode
leland, were subjects Of the Narragan-
sstt Sschems in the most extensive sense
Of the word. Their right. was the right
Of entire and unconditional conquest.
TffS leland wasconqucred some time be-
fore the settlement ofthe English at New
Plymcuth. The time of the conquest il
not precisely known, but the battle which
terminated the war and decided the fate
Of the Acquidians, is believed 70 have
been fought At s-place about three and
a quarter miles from the State House in
Newport. in tho town Of Middletown, in
the Swamp or low ground. near the
brook, or river, asit was formerly y'called,
q little to the eastward of the west road,
orsoad leading 70 Bristol Ferry. The ira
disionary sacount ofthis battle has been
handed down from q Physician who liv-
ed near the spot, more than one hundred
years since, whose name was Doctor
Garrett e. who must have had is from the
Indians themselves. OF from them through
the old people then living. whose recol-
lection would carry them back to the
first settlement of the Island. or nearly
90, BY the English. The Acquidian feet
first encountered the Narragansetts in a
sea fight, and were overcome, routed
and vanquished. At The before men,
toned place the Aquidisns collected the
remnant of their warriors and tribe COM
msnded by their Sachem in person. to
make the last struggle in defence oftheir
country and their lives. The Narragan-
setts surrounded their camp, attacked
them on allsidss and killsd their Eachem,
routed and slew their warriors, and doom
pleted their conquest. The survivors
then submitted themselves and lands to
the conquerors and became their .tribu-
taries and. depsndants. This tradition
has some cOuntenance from the fact that
numerous arrow heads have been plough
Cd up from time to time on and near the
battle ground and also haschets, gouges,
chisels and other tools made Of stone.
hard, firm and close grained. bearing An
edge capable ofcutting wood with Iera-
bic facility This stone, (from the best
samples which we hare seen,) resembles
hone ia appearance. and must have
been brought' from . grea. distance. a.
we know Of no such native production
Of the Atlantic States.
The Nasragansests sold the Island to
the English settlers BY their deed dated
March "a, 1883. The sent of Indian
power was never transferred to the Is
land, but still remained in tho Narragan-
sest counfrys and on thu, Island of. Co
nonniquot. Mr.. William Coddineton
when he came to look for place of set
Element found tribe Of Indiaus, on the
Island whose Sachsm was name Won.
ssmetoncmy. His wigwsms stood ON al
remarkable hill in the north part of the
township of Newport. Coddingson appli-
Cd 70 shs ssshsm 70 Purehass the Island,
whose answer was.that Cannonnicus and
Miantannamo we're the chief Sachems,
and he could not sell the land. This
Wonnumssonbmy was The resident Sa-
chem. or Governor, Of this Island under
the Nsrragansets Sachems. The place
fhis former residence was called by the
English afer his name, vulgarly sbrevia-