Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-08-28

various periods ns icolony md
State.
By ". Is. CridIin.
Secretary Virginia Historical Pag-
cant Association.
SEVENTH INSTALLMENT
When the founders OF the nation
settled at Jamestown. the whole
country. with the exception OF small
patches cleared by fire, was vast
forest. The thick and lofty groves
grew. died and decaycd without in
tcrruption by the hand Of man, OK
cept where "A few were fcilcd by
aid Of sharp stones
In the Underwater section. tho river
sides were covered with swamps.
marsh and stasnant water. There
were no domestic animals. of any
kind. but deer. moose. elk, bear.
wolf and n species OF lion. squirrels.
rabbits and other quardrupcds sum
ming up IN species To tho number
OF twenty-ciGht. roamed tho forest
at will /, is recorded that there
was cighty-six varieties OF birds in
great abundance. In the streams
there were almost every known va
r'cty of fish. and in the woods tho
natives found chestnu;s. grapes.
walnuts. crab apples. whortlchcrrics.
strawberries. etc, and cultivated
with crude instruments OF wood and
stone. corn Pogatour). beans. peas.
pomDions. melons. potatoes and other
useful vegetables special attention
was paid to the raising and prcpar-
alton OF tobacco Uppowac), OF which
f,.n Of IL ,t,r, "A
Offering as incense To their deities.
secured Mig Yield Per Acre.
II seems almost unbelievable, when
ono reads that the labor Of tho
rauaws who alone cultivated tho
soil secured "A yield pcr acre equal
10. " not greater. than that pro-
duced by our practical farmers with
the aid OF modern machinery.
The Indians OF Virginia were
members OF the grca, Algonquin
Nation. whose territory extended
along the southern, borders OF the
present State with exception of n
ANAL strip occupied by the Manakins,
Of the Tuscarora tribe. who with
their nclEhhors. the Chcrokccs OF
western North Carolina. were OF the
1roauoisc Sation). thence along tho
northern shores Of tho Ohio "a It's
confluence with the M!rGissippi, fol-
lowing the eastern bank OF the river
20 the Lake of the Moods and Lake
Winnipeg In Canada. The Great
Lakes, with the exception OF Erie.
Ontario and the eastern shore OF the
Huron. were within their territory.
In fact. all OF Canada east OF She
points mentioned was Zealously
claimed as Algonquin hunting ground
on which the Iroquois must not VEN
turc. thence turning south ut Lake
Champaign they held sway along
the Atlantic Coast us far as the
South Carolina border.
Mountains Lasting Memorial.
Apparently the Iroquoisc were
dwellcrs In tho Eastern section OF
the continent before the arrival OF
the Aigonuuins. for a wedge was
driven between the Chcrokccs and
Tuscaroras in the South and the
"Fiyc Nations" OF the IrOQuoisc in
the North. The Five Nations" or
tribes. were surrounded on all sides
by Algonquin enemies Neither OF
these two nations was the original
Inhabitants Of Virginia. Their fore
fathers had conquered race much
their superior in knowledge of the
arts ard sciences Of civilization; n
people who understood The use and
manufacture OF metal instruments of
war and peace.
We have little knowledge of them
g other than relics cXcavated from the
great mounds. tumuli and earth
works still TO he found in the west
ern section of the State and extend
Ing as far AS the Mississippi We
have lasting memorial TO these
Allegiance in having given our
mountains the name Of the Allcghan-
les. The AiEonquins were the first
IL,
landed ut Jamestown, Roanoke Is
land and plymouth. The Indian
Nations were divided into tribes,
smch as the Powhatan. Pumunkcy.
Nattaponi and other tribes of Vir-
ginia. Thcgc were divided into fam
flies or clans. each clan composing
descendants from u remote anccs-
trcss. Descent was from tho female
side of the house and each had
symbol, or coat of arms, that dis
tnguishcd one family from another.
How Claus Got Names.
The clan names were representa-
tive of some animal, bird or reptile,
such as bear. eagle or snake, illus
trated by crude pictures drawn in
coiors upon shield or tcpcc, and tat
coed upon the face or body. y clan
Outlines would dwell in ono house
heightened as the family grew.
Sometimes as many as 100 persons
occupied one hut. The tcpccs were
crudcly framed of bent saplings and
covered with mats of bark or grass
and there being no chimneys, the
smoke of the fircSidc either escaped
through the holes in the roof or
door. An injury to member OF Il
clan was an injury to all. and the
offender, or his clan, must pay in
like manner. The chief men of each
clan formed the Council of the tribe,
presided over by the hereditary
chief. who was not necessarily the
War Chief, as this honor was con-
fcrred upon leader who had dis
tinguished himself by prowess and
strategy in battle.
Should n chief desire to declare
war on an, enemy, the Council would
solemnly deliberate on the question.
and. If an affirmative decision were
made would send the best orators TO
other friendly tribes in the neighbor-
hood in an attempt to show cause
for declaration of war and the ad-
vantaEe II would be for them to he
c, nc allies.
1eiCrc beginning hostiiities, IL was