The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1873-08-06
TRICES OF THE INDIANS-TNTER EST
ING REM4IyS ALONG TIE
DELIHIRE

Many years ago this country was peopled
with Indians. That idea is not original with
us, but it nevertheless comprises the principal
part of popular information on the subject.
With the exception of those who make in
quiiy concerning them, who gather their
habits and customs from the remains and
reiics which they i,nvo left behint,, few van
tell aught of their social history. To us of
the East they are entirely extinct as a race.
and having no written language their memory
is fast fadng away. In our accounts of the
early settlement of the country the Indians
are frequently mentioned but little more is
told of them than the names of the various
tribes. They are spoken of only in connec-
ton with the doings of the colonists and their
descendants. Wars we've waged with them
and treaties solemnized, but the Indians were
compelled to yield to the stronger race and to
move westward as the white man gained
footing. Full seven generations have passed
since they peopled this neighborhood in any
numbers, ald traces of them are now held in
the light of cufiosities. They lived of course
by hunting and fishing and the stone nipple. |
ments which they employed are all that re.
mains of them. All that stretch of country
lying between the Delaware and Susquehanna
rivers including the counties of Bucks, Mont
gomery, Northampton, Chester Lancaster
and many others, was possessed by the Della
ware Indians, a mighty and powerful tribe
called in their own language Lenni Lenape,"
who held and protected the land as their
hunting grounds and the two rivers as their
fisheries Running from the rapids of the
Delaware to the falls of the Susquehanna
was noted path, the great highway of the
nation and one used to great extent.
After the early spring fishing in the latter
river became exhausted they started for the
Delaware, which was farther north, and hence
some weeks later in point of season. The
two ends of this Indian road are not clearly
Marked and it seems probable that when
near the terminus at either end it branched
off to various places along the river. But in
the central part, particularly through Chester
county, near West Chester, it Is plainly dis
cernibe, and may be followed for miles in
both directions by those who are learned in
Indian matters. 1t is supposed to cross the
SchuylkIl at the falls ten miles below Norris
town. but after that its course is not distinct.
1t crosses the Brandywine not far from the
% Forks Z and from thence takes southerly
or soutll-westery direction. 1t is described
as having been broad, well-beatcn path,
followed slightly in the middle by the con-
slant tread and pressure of the feet of passing
travellers. It's greatest depression is in the
centre, corroborating the single file theory.
Camping grounds near springs of water, are
found along its line, and burial places are
said to exist at several points along the route.
There we're most likely several less important
paths through Bucks county, leading from
this down to the Delaware through the
valleys of the streams. The Indians have
been here in considerable numbers, as Is
shown by the many relics now in possession
of the people Of the yicinity. jNnnerous axe
heads fish spears, arrow heads, &C., are to be
seen in collection at the Water Gap, while
scattering specimens are to be found in almost
every farm house and hotel along the river.
Two years ago one of our reporters passed
along the bank of the river--bclow Point
Pleasapt ON the Pennsylvania side, noticing
and picking up two or three spear heads
Out of curiosity he made another>1isit some
time thereafter and found several more.
Last week, IN company with a gentleman
from West Chester, who has devoted mucl,
time and attention to the subject, he again
visited the spot It is situated almost oppo-
site the hotel at Lover Blacks Eddy, and