The Washington herald., 1906-10-21

the treaty OF 1913.
To-day, however. Mr.. Adams is known
as tine custodian Of the relics Of the Len
nj Lenape. The interesting collection in
cludes the pipe OF peace referred to; also
the cedar flute upon which was played
the stirring war dance held by the IN
dams at the time OF Braddock's defeat;
war clubs carried through many gener-
tons; ancient and valuable strings of
wampum, and many other articles rare
and interesting in the history of a race
once powerful and respected alike in
Peace and war,
It was the Delawares who granted to
the early colonists the States of New
Jersey and Delaware and administered TO
their aid and comfort. frequently succor-
ing them against the attacks of hostile
tribes. 1t was the Delawares who made
the historic treaty with William Penn in
f6S2. famous as the treaty that never
was sworn to and never was broken
on the part Of the Indians. It was the
Delawares who administered to Braddock
the singing defeat that first taught the
world that British regulars were not in
vincible. Indeed. Mr.. Adams has in his
possession an interesting relic in the
shape Of a document printed in 1749. be-
ing nothing more nor less than the report
OF a commission sent from England to
inquire into the causes which had led the
Delawares and Shawnees to espouse the
side of the French colonists, as against
the British. and their cruel allies. the
Iroquois. And it is worthy Of remark
that the findings OF this commission at
tribute 10 the DelaWares none but praise
worthy motives.
Indians Played Fair.
In fact. the history Of the Delawares.
from the time they first came into con-
tact with the whites, IS a long record OF
deeds that may well make the paleface
blush at the part played by the agents
OF Christianity and civilization" 1t is
estimated that at the time of the Penn
treaty there were not less than $1,000 OF
this great nation When its remnants
were removed to Kansas IN 1892 there
were less than 300. and when they were
forced to go into the Indian Territory in
the COS, this number had been reduced
by half On last years pay roll there
were just LOO
The origin OF the thanksgiving dance
now being held is lost in the mists OF
antiquity The traditions Of the race
teach that many generations ago their
people came from a far-Off country in
the Northwest, across a land of ice and
snow, until they reached the great fish
river-the Mississippi Rlver-where they
were fercely opposed by the resident
tribes, but that, overcoming all obsta-
cles they continued eastward until they
finally settled IN the valleys Of the Sus-
quehanna and Delaware. ruling that ter
ritory from the AIleghenIes 20 the ocean.
Became Very Powerful.
In course OF time they become so rich
that they neglected to give thanks to the
Great Spirit. whereupon a great drought
and famine accompanied by earthquakes,
fell upon them. In the midst Of their
troubles they were led Alright by an or
phan boy, whose foster parents had treat
cd him cruelty. To him appeared the
Great Spirit in a dream bidding him warn
the wise men Of the nation to return 10
their former religious observances- And
from that time. through all the vicissi-
tudes which have been encountered by
them since the landing Of the white man,
they have kept up the practice.
Thanksgiving OratiOns.
At the thanksgiving dance are made
certain orations. which have been handed
down from father to son for countless
generations. Some Of these have been
rendered into English by Mr.. Adams
They are all I'm poetry-blank verse-and
it is to be noted that they are nearly all
in the meter Of L0ngfellOw's "Hiawatha.'
Each night the oTations are different, |
and each night several dances take place /
Preceding each dance is an Grafton of in
structions an Grafton OF thanks, one of
praise and encouragement and instrUc-
ton, or an address in which the speaker
gives his own impressions and speaks for
the good Of the assembly Before the
dance closes each night hominy IS passed /
around. all partake OF the dish and say:
For this We are thankful"
Smoking is permitted In the dance
house but no fire except oshkosh" or
pure fire. produced by the friction Of one
stick Of wood upon another. The white
mans matches are not allowed.
1t is not generally known. but Mr.. Ad-
ans is authority for the statement that
the late Senator Quay was of Delaware
ancestry. Ii was for this reason that his /
influence with the Delawares was so /
marked
Only HOO Survivors.
Mr. Adams says: There are now living /
in the Cherokee nation about LOO Della |
wares. Perhaps two-thirds of them can |
read and write.
About 200 are full-blOOds. OGe-half Of /
whom adhere to the old faith; while about /
one-third OF the tribe profess the Chris /
tian faith, which 10 me is a most remark /
able thing, considering the massacre of |
the Christian Indians in Gnadenhutten /
Pa, and Gnadenhutten, Ohio, and the fur |
Their persecution Of them after that at tie |
hands Of the race that taught them that |
faith