Norwich bulletin., 1913-10-24
HAMPTON PAPERS
cowHANTic INDIANS.

Hampton has many historic places and foremost among them should be the CoWSantic ledgeS where dwelt the Cowhantic Indians, a peaceful tribe who were content to spend their sum ners on the banks of the Little River and their winters in the ledges to the west of the valley, which bear their name.
 Once more we are indebted to the Bennett records and traditions to carry us back and bring us in touch with the first inhabitants of Towards Valley. When the first William Bennett purchased his lands of the Cowhantic Indians about l72O he found the smooth flats cleared and ready for his first crops. For his predecessor the red man had from time immemorial burned away the forests and kept the land clear and mellow for his fields of corn; while along the banks of the Little River he nd built his wigwams, finding plenty of good fishing, eels, pickerel etc: the muskrat and otter and all kinds of game in the woods to supply his needs The old corn field, are en- circled by three heavily wooded knolls, that rise,cone shaped, two on the North and one on the South of the Hats Never has the greedy Woodsman 3}een permitted by the Bennett owners ED dishonor this virgin timber and To- Iav we see many of the same trees 4 ct standing on these knolls. which :5uretched forth their giant branches and offered protection and shelter to khe Indian who built his camphres in their shade. And IS we look upon them we cannot help but wish that they could tell us of their yiglls dur ing the two centuries they have guarded these Flats of the dusky souaws who planted their hills or corn among the blackened stumpS that studded these now green fields How the faithful creatures made thelr early morning trips to the same knolIs to visit their traps thelr tramping up and down the banks or this same Little River that has flowed on and on as if it's mission was to hasten away the day of the Red Man and bring in the progress and ciVIl- zation of the White.
 If one stops to consider the lay of the land on these Bennett flats 1t gives one very good idea of the sort of location the Indian chose for his primitive farming. It is said that there is no easier farm in town to cultivate thaa this Homestead which shows how the Indian in choosing the site for his village took into consid- eration not only free access to water but easy cultivation as well. He made his winter home less than one mile from the summer village.
 The Cowhantic ledges are well worthy of greater notoriety. No one VlSlTln2 III .I1dInplOu SIIOulU Ad1l AO see them. They lie directly back of the Howard Valley schoolhouse. A lane leaves the main road just north of the schoolhCuse and aSCends the steep Cowhantic hill meeting the road on ton of Jewett Hill thus uniting the hill with the valley. This lane was originally laid out to accommodate the so odd scholars, that fifty years. ago lived on the Hill and attended the Valley school. To-day there are but five houses on this road and one scholar to attend the school.
 Following the lane for about forty rods brings one to a pair of bars opening on the left. A rough path leads one to the Cowhantic Indians winter quarters. The lodges rise per pendicular for about forty rods and are about ffty-six feet high. They extend like a she1tering arm around and above a broad smooth plain under the hill. The smoke of their camp fires still shows against the face of the ledges and in the hollows of the rocks where they built their fires. It was an ideal place for an encamp- ment: secure from attack from en- emies as the approach at either end could easily have been guarded. Pro- tected above by the sheer wall or rock and below by the growth of timber on the plain. it would have been difficult indeed for warning tribe of Indians to surprise the Cow hantic Indians in this fastness.
 Standing on the plain now covered with second growth timber and gaz- ing up at the gray hook walls. the massive natural fortress entirely shutting out the world on the western side and casting grim shadows over all, one can understand the wisdom of the American Indian in choosing both his winter and summer homes. No longer can one picture him in inagi- nation as an airnless wandering cre- ture thinking only of securing his food from day to day, instead they can realize his sagacity and prudence as perhaps they never did before.
 Scrambling up the steep path, one can reach the top of the ledge and thus obtain a view of the surround ing country of surpassing beauty Rolling hills stretch away as far as eye can see; the course of the Little