The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-09-15
Cueha sailu Saturday grniug September Is, 1884,

When, under the generalshipo of Capt.
Joseph Brant, these people allied their
forces with the British. and left in the
Hohawk Valley a precarious livelihood
that had been riddled and cheekered
by the numerous wars of the colonists,
the imperial government allotted them
a reserve grant which comprised the
land lying within six miles on either
side of the Grand river, from its source
to its mouth.
At that period these were hunting
and fishing grounds unequalled in the
country: but century of insidious in
roads made by white settlers, of a
civilization not always wisely con-
Quoted, has despoiled the Iroquois of
his game, his national glory and hardi-
hood, and the greater portion of his
real estate, inasmuch as the reserve
has dwindled and shrunken into COM
parative dot of land that embraces but
ffty-three thousand acres of the leSst
value along the entire course OF the
river. In early times much OF this
land slipped out OF the Indians posses
after a season, when incoming whites
were settling the country, the demand
for river lands in southern Upper
Canada grew urgent, and the Iroquois
were induced to surrender their reserve
bit after bit, until now, in lieu of their
erstwhile real estate, they have de-
posted with the Dominion government
upwards of eight hundred thousand
dollars, the interest on which they
draw bi-annually individually, the
amount varying in accordance with the
expenditure they make on public works
within their own reserve.
The history of the Iroquois is I'M
questionably the most Interesting of
the myriad native tribes in the Amer
icas from the time of the formation of
the great Iroquois confederacy, more
than four hundred years ago, down to
the present day. OF this mighty alli-
ance that terrorized the entire CONT
nent north of Mexico, and which was
originally cemented together by 1.-The
fifty great chiefs of the fifty noble
families under the leadership of Hia-
watha, who framed that confederacy,"
Mr.. Horatio Hale writes: During the
American war of independence this
confederacy, in the clash OF stronger
forces, was for time broken UP. The
government for which they fought
gave them lands along the Grand river,
and here just hundred years ago they
re-established their league and re-
kindled its council fires The laws
and policy framed b. Hiawatha and his
associates more than four centuries
ago are still in force among their de-
scendants in this district. In this small
domain the chiefs are still elected. The
council is still conducted, and the civil
policy is decided as nearly as possible
by the rules of their ancient league.
Not many persons are aware that there
exists in the heart Of Canada this relic
of the oldest constitutional govern
ment of America free common
wealth older even than any in Europe,
except those of England and Switzer-
land and, perhaps, two small semi-inde-
pendent republics which Turk in the
businesses Of the ryrenees and the
Apenines." Possessing such historical
interest, with their veins filed with
patrician blood distilled through gen.
erations and centuries, with that we'll
nigh faultless and !mpregnable consti-
tutional alliance as a foundation, it is
small wonder that the Iroquois excite
more scholarly interest and concern
than other of Americas red men.
The Six Nations, as they are now
generally called, have always been to
a great extent an agricultural people,
the terrible battles
and depredations they found time TO
engage in with both the early settlers
and with rival tribes. Referring again
to Mr.. Hale, we learn that their eX-
tensive plantations of maize, beans and !
pumpkins excited the admiratio o; |
the first explorers" This early ten
dency has developed with years into q |
positive industry and to-day the Grand |
River Indians are peaceful, law-abid- !
ing, self-supporting people, quick to
adant aducatiaEal uell a--i4..l. |
tursl advancement. and skilled in many |
branches of trade and handicraft- i
Primitive farming is almost unknown
10 them; the well-to have thrashing |
respers. binders, tanning |
mills, and most of the modern improve
nents connected Herewith. The
poorer have their little plot of soil,
plant purple corn and potatoes, and
Ike ont a livelihood by basket-weav-
ng, mat braidiug and making ak ham
lies, lacrosse sticks, hickory whip ham
iles, and the score of other things that
indian fingers are so deft at. and this
happy condition has been attained sole
v by individual industry.