Omaha daily bee., 1915-07-05

readers 10 learn that there are stlll living
IN the state Of New York. and upon lands
owned by their ancestors. several thou
sand Indians belonging 20 the various
tribes OF the Five Nations, with the ex-
ception Of the Mohawks. tho ni0st form
liable OF them all. who emigrated 10
Canada after the war OF revolution be-
gan.
Many Of these red men. whose great
grandfathers carried the tomahawk and
scalping knife and filled the hearts OF
their white enemies with midnight terror
when their awful whoop rang from the
woods surrounding some lonely clearing,
or little stockade village, are now indus
trieus farmers or mechanics. while their
wives and daughters have learned to
keep house in the white mans fashion.
Some OF them are Christians and others
retain their pagan beliefs. Anyone who
wishes TO rec some OF the interesting
sights persons and things OF his own
country before going abroad for amuse-
mcnt and instruction, will do well 20
make a trip to one OF the so-cslled In
dian reservations in this state. for in
stance. TO that in the valley OF onondago,
q few miles south OF Syracuse.
In the American Museum OF Natural
History in New York city are collections
Of tools, weapons and other things be-
longing to them and also moss realistic
lie size figures OF Indian mon and women
engaged IN their ordinary occupations and
amid their ordinary SURROUNDINGS.
Indian corn IL one OF the great gifts OF
America 20 the world. The New YORK
Indians were skilled IN raising II, and
with pumpkins and squashes. Il consti-
tuted their principal vegetable food
These Indians lived IN peculiar structures
called long houses" which were barn
like edifices OF wood and bark, from
fifty to 100 feet IN length There was a
door at each end. closed with a screen OF
furry skins. and a narrow passage ran
centrally the entire length OF the house.
On each side was row OF compartments.
open to the central passage. like no many
stalls In q stable, ana generally about
eight feet square. Each compartment be-
Ionged 10 a family. and In large house
there might be ~ many as twenty
families
In the middle line Of the central pas
sage was row Of firo-plts, 30 arranged
that each fire reflected It's light and heat
into four compartments. Thus II long
house" contained twenty family compart-
ments. Il would have five fires. and It's
total human population might exceed
hundred persons. Each set OF four famll-
lee had lie cooking done at one OF these
tires and there were openings 10 let out
the smoke In the central line OF the roof
The Iroqnois confederacy was formed
not only for defense. but for domination
over Indian tribes not belonging 10 Il.
The Aohawks were the recognized milf
tary leaders OF the eonfederacy. and en-
3oyed q certain prestige that made them
the most dreaded OF all TO the enemies
Of the 1roQuols. Mohawk warriors were
selected for tribute gatherers. TO 10
among the Indians OF New England and
southern New York and collect the
tribute which was regularly paid q the
lroeuois BY the less war1ike tIibes/
IL is said that the appearance OF sim
sic Mohawk anywhere IN the Connecti-
cut valley. or along the lower Hudson,
or on Long Island, was a signal Tor gen.
eral terror and abject submission. 30 unit
versal WAS tho reputation OF that tribe
for skin. strength and fcroclty IN battle
Yet the Mohawks were by no means
the most numerous tribe: In that respect
the senecas were the leaders; while the
onondasas. inhabiting beautiful valley
situated in the center of the Iroouoi.
country. had the honor OF keeping tn,
central council fire. around which rep.
resentatives Of all the five nations a.
sembied m the autumn OF each year
The oneidas and the caylgas were tribel
which had been formed by segregation
20 that only the Mohawka. the ononia
Eas and the senecas could claim to b,
the true originators Of the federation.
In ms the rnscaroras relatives OF In,
otheFs. who had settled IN North Caro-
tina. Joined the New YORK Iroouols. q
that thereafter the confedsracy wa
spoken of as the six Nations"
Hlawatha was the traditional foundo
Of the Five Nations. bat AF. Longfeilov
IN hts poem on -'hlawaths" has inter
woven many legends which we're un
known 70 the Iroquoia tribes