As these Indians will in the sequel constitute an interesting part of the narrative of this concern, it seems proper in this place to give a more particular account of their situation. The Senecas here possess a reservation of forty-two square miles, part of it bounded by lake Erie. It is generally composed of land of a superior quality. The bottoms along the Cattaraugus river produce black and white walnut and sugar maple of a superior size. The higher land, abounds with white oak, white pine, bass, poplar, hickory, and other timber. There are, also, exclusive of the Indians’ corn fields, large openings like natural meadows, containing many hundred acres of excellent land, covered with abundance of grass and herbage, affording abundance of food for cattle. The Senecas at this place were said to be about one hundred and sixty in number. Their houses were made in the usual Indian style, and covered with bark, and their situation, in general, as to habits and living, much similar to those at Alleghany, when Friends first settled among them. About a mile from the Seneca village was a town of the Delawares, (more frequently called Munsies) about one hundred and sixty in number, who lived on sufferance on the Seneca Indians’ land.
These Indians, as well as the Senecas, had a considerable number of cattle, some horses, and abundance of poultry and swine. They had small enclosures round their villages, in which they kept their stock during the corn season, and sometimes the poor animals had but a scanty supply of fodder, notwithstanding the abundance of grass on their lands, from which, for want of a little labour to fence off their corn lots, they had little or no benefit during the summer.
Previous to leaving them, the two Friends had an interview with a number of their chiefs, and principal men and women, in which they were encouraged to industry, and to put in practice their good resolutions. Being informed by one of the Friends present, that he was shortly going to leave their country and return to his friends, one of the chiefs replied, “You may tell your old friends, the Quakers at Philadelphia, when you go home, that we are exceedingly thankful for the kindness you have shown us, and the assistance you have already given us. We are now determined to follow your advice as far as we are able, and to spill all the whiskey traders bring among us for sale. You must not think we are offended at you for trying to make us sensible of our weaknesses; for even our young men and young women rejoice to hear it, and are in hopes their hands will grow stronger, that they may be able to overcome their weaknesses. We are determined to try to help ourselves, and to lay up money to purchase useful articles to go to farming with. We pity our poor women, and see it is too hard for them to work in the hot sun, and do all the labours of the field. And although we cannot ask any more favours of you, yet one thing in particular we desire you to remember; that is, that we are a poor, ignorant people, and for want of learning, in the course of our dealings with the white people, we have been greatly wronged, and lost much of our property—we want some of our children instructed, that they may be able to do the business of our nation.”
On the fourteenth of the Sixth month, Friends had a council with the Indians at Alleghany, in which the two Friends lately came into their country, were introduced to them, and also informed that one of the Friends who had now been more than two years among them, was about to return home to his friends. Several matters were opened to encourage them to persevere in habits of industry, and to be strong in their resolutions against the use of spirituous liquors, over which they had, by this time, gained a great conquest.
A few days after this, Cornplanter and several other chiefs, called to see the Friend who was leaving them set out on his journey, and sent three of their people to accompany him on his way through the wilderness.
In their parting conference, Cornplanter expressed many thanks for the Friend’s services among them, and desired the Great Spirit might conduct him safely home to his relations, and that on his arrival he might inform his old friends, the Quakers in Philadelphia, that he was very thankful for their kind endeavours to instruct his people in a life of civilization, and he believed the Great Spirit above was pleased with it.
During the summer of 1800, the Indians made some further improvements, and seemed more disposed to relinquish their old habits. A yoke of oxen, which they purchased, were found very useful in drawing their firewood, and thereby relieving some of their women from heavy burthens; several of them procured cows. By this time many of the Indians had built themselves more comfortable houses, and began to assist their women in their agricultural labours, so that a gradual improvement was evident among them in the habits of civilized life.
In the following winter, Red Jacket, a Seneca chief, residing at Buffalo creek, with several other chiefs of the Seneca nation, visited Philadelphia, with whom Friends had a satisfactory interview. Suitable presents were given them, among which, was a set of saw-mill irons, which were particularly requested by Red Jacket.
In the spring of 1801, a greater spirit of industry seemed to manifest itself among the Indians. Divers more of them fenced in lots, and procured moreover, some working animals; their increasing attention to raising cattle and hogs, afforded a pleasing prospect; and was a strung inducement for them to scatter more from their villages, and realize the advantages of settling on separate tracts of land.
Circumstances, however, occurred among the Indians, which claimed the particular attention of the committee, and three Friends were deputed to visit the settlement. They proceeded there in the Ninth month, accompanied by a young Friend, a blacksmith, who offered his services to instruct some of the Indians in his useful occupation.