FORAYS INTO THE -COUNTRY OF, THECIIERO-
KEES AND CATABAS.
Nothing is morq distinct or better settled in
the existing traditions of the Iroquois, than their
wars with some of the southern tribes,, particularly
the Cherokees. I found this ^subject first
alluded to among the Oneidas, who were, hotly
engaged in this southern war; afterwards amon g
the Onondagas, the Senecas of Tonawanda, the
Tuscaroras, and with still increasing particu-,
larity, among the .Senecas of Buffalo,gpattaraur
gus, and. Teonigono. But I was never able to
fix the . era o f its commencement, or_t© find an
adequate cause for'it. It seems almost incredir
hie-. that a war of this kind should been
carried on, at such a great distance, from, their
central council fire at Onondaga, yet nothing is
better established in their reminiscences.
They first came,into contact; as Tetoyoah told
me was his opinion*, in the western prairies. The
Iroquois?are known to have hunted- and warred
far and wide in that quarter. Thb two nations
seem to have been deeply find mutually exaspe-
rated. Tetoyoah spoke of an apt of horrid
treachery, the breaking of a peace pledge, and
the murder of a peace deputation.
. The war, however, instead of calling out the
banded energies of the confederacy;, appears to
have been almost entirely one of a partizan character.
It is memorable rather for partial enterprises
and personal exploits, than for exhibiting
the grander features of the military policy of
the Iroquois. Warriors tested their bravery and
heroism by going against the Cherokees. There
were, it seems, no great armies, no grand battles.
All was left to individual energy and courage.
The great object of every young Iroquois, as soon
as he was old enough to take the war path, was
to go against the Cherokees. A march from the
Oneidk .stone, the Kasonda creek, or the Genesee
valley, to the southern Alleghanies, was regarded
as a mere excursion or scouting trip. This long
journey was performed without provisions, or
any other preparation than hows, arrows and
clubs. The fewer there were in one of these
partizan enterprises, the. greater was their chance
of concealment and success. They relied on
thé- forest-for- food. • Thousands of miles were
neb s ufficient to dampen their ardor, and no time
Could blot out their hatred. They ealled. the
Cherokees, hy way of derision, We-yau-dah, and
Q-yau-dah, meaning a people who live in eaves.
These are the terms I found to he in use for the
Cherokee nation, in 1845.
EXPLOIT OF HIADEONI.
, The following incident in the verbal annals of
Iroquois, hardihood and heroism, was related to
me by the intelligent Seneca, Tetoyoah (William
Jones of Cattaraugus), along with other reminiscences,
of the ancient Cherokee wars. The
Iroquois thought life was well lost, if they could
gain glory by it.