The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-28
From the Buffalo Commercial Advrfissy.
Indian Tradition.

Sometime since a venerable and into gent citi-
zen u Chautauque county told me that in 1913 be
had, IN company with Benjamin Eilicott and -
Taylor, at Cattaraugus, long talk with very
aged Seneca, one who was, or claimed 10 be about
century old, and drew from him certain tradi-
tons, which deem worthy of being recorded, and
therebre venture 10 give 10 the public wish that
every one who can. would do the like The anti
quarian public may rely upon the fact that the mat
ters am about 70 state we're actually narrated by
this old Indian 10 my informants, and this too as
matters Of national belief
lruIAr IscLosuREs.-Here and there are found
throughout the part Of the State and in the
western States, ring like mounds, inclosing level
spaces, often OF an acre or more. Our sntiquarisns
have, believe. generally regarded them rude
fortifcations. This old Seneca, being questioned
concerning their origin and purposes. said that
his mother had told him, that the Indians made
them for purposes OF amuscment-that they were
theatrcs-the level interior being for plays and
games, while the exterior mounds were intended
FOR the accommodation Of the old men, the squsws,
the children, and all who did participate In the
athletic exercises, for which the centre was de-
signed.
When asked how they were made, he said that
the earth thrown up with hard earth shovels,
(probably he meant fiint;) that the Indians
where on the Ohio bad large mandatory OF
spear heads, points, shovels and pottery, and
our Indians went there TO buy them
THE CREATros or MAN.-Tbe Great Spirit took
clay from n bank-such clay as you make pipes
of-and worked IL, and moulded Il into a shape.
and stood il up; and then he walked round H. and
was pleased with IL. and he thought IL would be
well to put life into il, and he breathed in it's face,
and IL was alive, and he was pleased with it--snd
that tho white man.
Then the Great Spirit took some red clay out OF
another bsnk-such clay ms yoo white men make
bricks of-and he moulded Il into form, and
breathed life into it, and (here the old Indian drew
himself up proudly he was very much pleased with
it--and that was the Indian.
Then he thought he would see what could be
made out Of the mud. So he took some black mud
out Of the swamp and moulded IL, but IL was very
hard TO make il stick together, for il stank, and he
il up and looked at IL, and he did not like IL.
But he brcathed upon H. and IL had life and began
to move, and IL was ugly that the Great Spirit
angry, and drew back his fist 70 strike IL, and
IL was frightened that its hair twisted all up
gether and the Great Spirit struck IT, and the blow
fattened its nose and face, and IL tumbled back
ward over a stick, 80 high (between one and two
fcct) from the ground, and bent its legs. But the
Great Spirit was sorry, and let IL live-end ths
was the black man.
Eso.-The Great Spirit has an agent that comes
on the earth call him Emo. We do not see
him, but he shows his power among NE frequently,
by tearing down tho trees. Sometimes he will
take tree and break il all TO pieces. 70 show how
strong and terrible he is. This agents hair 10 red.
We know IL, because after he has been through the
woods, tearing down the trees, we have iound bis
hair upon the bushes, and il was red. Therefore
| the Senecas like people with red hsir. lhey are
Eno's children. When take prisoner white peo-
pie with red hair we do not kill them, but we edop
them, and make them marry among u, 20 that tbs
Senecss may be Eno's descendants.
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