Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-10-08
OUR ABORIGINAL PREDECESSORS.
The Indians Who Once Lived on the Site Of
Washington City.

Inc EnttlAuS VINO UAce Lived on the Site OF
washington City.
CURIOUS FACTS FROM ANCIENT RECORDS ABorr
THE MASSAwoMEKEs AND OTHER wARLrKE
TRIBES WHO ONCE INHABITED THIS SECTION
OF THE COUNTRY.
In the interesting article upon the ''History
OF the Potomac" published in The STAR of
Saturday, July 10th. mention was made by the
writer of a noted and once powerful tribe of In
dams, who once lived upon the shores of this
river and were called the Massawomekes. The
history of this tribe has always been enveloped
m some mytery. no account as to what became
of it having ever been accepted as authentic.
Prof A. l.. GHss. about a year since, delivered
lecture upon this subject before the AnthropO-
logical Society at the Smithsonian Institution.
in which he related some interesting facts. His
subject was
"wHO WERE THE MAsSAwOMEKEs?
An inquiry into the identity of certain In
dams met by Captain John Smith at the head of
the Chesapeake bay in zoos, with an account of
certain members of the Huron Iroquois family.
Obterated at an early date and overlooked by
historians" He said there were four subdivis-
ions of this question: 1. What facts related by
Smith and his companions concerning the Mas
sawomekes? 2. To what aboriginal family ma
ton and tribe have our historical writers re-
ferred them? 8. Is this identification correct
If not. what is their true identity? f. What was
the true location and situation of the several
nations and tribes Of the Huron IroQuois family
during the first half century of European settle
ment, or prior to the changes incident on the
INTRODUCTION OF firearms among the IrOquOiS?
THE SETTLEMENT AT JAMESTOWN,
he said, was made in 1907, one hundred and
fifteen years after the discovery of America.
Although some attempts at exploration and
settlement were made along the middle Atlantic
no ND liam htCfn of
the states north OF the belt adjoining the Gulf of
Mexico is as completely unknown during these
one hundred and fifteen years as during the
great indefinite period prior to the discovery.
Smiths history first introduces US to the tribal
divisions and dialectcal families 1t was first
published fragmentary; then as a whole i'm
London in 1929, and reprinted at Richmond.
Virginia. in 1919. The second booke" is from
the pen Of Captain Smith himself, and contains
an account, among many other interesting
Things OF meeting ''seven boats full OF these
MassawOmekes" at the h ad OF the Chesapeake
bay. The 'third booke" is made up mostly from
the narratives Of several of Smiths companions
and edited by Dr. William SimOns, and this also
treats of the MassawOmekes, giving some addi-
tlODal details about them. Prof. Guss proceeded
to give quotations from both Smith and SmOns.
JOHN SMITHS EXPLORATIONS OF THE CHEsA-
PEAKE BAY AND ITS RIVERS.
Smith made two exploring expeditions up the
chesapeake Bay in 16O8 the first commenced
June I'd and the other July "a. in an open barge
OF "aboute two tuns. and had in it but twelve
men to perform this discovery" Yet he pro-
duced map of the Chesapeake and it's inflow
ing streams, which was long the standard and
which must ever remain marvellous monument
of this indefatigable explorer. 1t was during
his first voyage while among the sayages Of
Gus kar-a-waok. now the Uanticoke river OPP
posite the mouth of the Potomac whom Smith
terms ''the best merchants of all other salvages;"
that he first heard of this tribe of Indians.
SMITHS SEARCH FOR THE MYSTERIOUS TRIBE
He says the Indians much extolled great ma
ton called MassawOmekes." They pointed
across the bay as the direction from which they
came. and Smith inferIing that they might be on
the islands in the bay. returned bv Limbo" i'm
search of them. Not finding them he rowed UP
the bay and crossed over to the western shore
and came as far north as Bous. now Gunpowder
river. Here he eXhOrted his men: .'Regain
your Old spirits. for return / wiffnot. if God
please. until l have seen the Massawomekes.
t Glna v,t pa'owomek ooe or the head Of
less" Sickness. however. compelled his return
AT the mouth Of the Potomac they summoned
courage to explore that river. then returning to
the mouth OF the James river where the natives
inferred from some signs that they had been to
|aT. pressed them for an answer, and they were
finally told as a great secret that they had taken
spOlls from the MaSsawOmekes which report
spread up the river towards jamestown faster
than they rowed the barge. 1t is apparent that
the natives east of the bay and on the west side
as far south as Fortress Monroe, were in con-
slant dread of the incursions of people they
termed the MassawOmekeS. and that their de-
scrlption greatly excited Smith to see them
SMITHS SECOND TRIPLE ENCOUNTERS THE
MASSAWoMEKES
On the second voyage, returning to the mouth
OF the James, in the vicinity of the present
Fortress Monroe. Smith again imposed upon
I,,1;f 81
petition against the Massawomekes. and by
this means was we'll feasted by the king They
were rOwed beyond the point reached during
the first voyage and explored the head of the
Chesapeake bay While crossing the head of
the bay they met seven canoes filled with the
veritable Massawomekes Both parties made
preparations for an encounter, but the Indians
finally took to the shore and there stood staring
at the strange sight until Smiths boat anchored
close by them
After long delfberatlon two of them yentured
to come to Smith in canoe, followed by the
others at a distance. The two being presented
with bell each the whole party soon became SO
FAMILIAR that they all came aboard the barge
understand each other and had a conference
only by signs, from which Smith inferred that
they had been
AT WAR WITH THE TOCKwOGHs
a LEM Lenape tribe on the Elk river, east of the
head of the bay, for they showed fresh wounds
as evidence of an encounter. They gave Smith
''venson, bears flesh, fish, bows. arrows. clubs.
targets and bear SKINS" 'sThe night parting
u.s." says Smith, 1--WE imagined they appointed
the next morning to meet. but after that we
never saw them'' "A rocLy ,;,or
where the Massawomekes went up. we called
Willowbyes river" now known as the Patapsco.
at Baltimore. This is all there is of this only in,
terror and unknown people.
''GYANT LIKE PEOPLE"
The next day Smith discovered the river and
people called Tockwoghs, who being about to
give him hostile reception, became hospitable
friends on seeing the Massawomekes weapons,
and being made believe they were taken by
force While on the Susquehannah river Smith
sent for and had an interview with some sixty
of them 'gyant like people," termed by him
Sasquesahanocks, mighty people and mortal
enemies with the MassawOmekes" They came
down from the chief town Sasquesahanough.
located near Columbia, Pa. They numbered 900
able men," and the nation had, as given on
Smiths map, five other towns, land are pali-
sad9d in these towns to defend them from the |
MassawOmekes, their mortal enemies" They
promised Smith their aidand victuals and what |
ever they had besides if he would be their gov