the doors of families, * whose elder branches yet
dwell upon the shores of the -Cayuga.
; Yet their history is; a melancholy one, and their
decline, on the settlement of western New York,
was probably one of jibe- most striking instances
of the rapid depopulation of a tribe in modern
days. Their first cession of land to the, state was
in 1789. This was confirmed at the general treaty
of Fort Stamvixin 1790, and such had been the
pressure of emigration into that quarter, that iti
3 795, at a treaty held at Cayuga bridge,5 theyced-
ed their reserYO of onp hundred miles square in the
valley of the Seneca outlet and the basin of Cayuga
lake, reserving but four;miles square. . In
these treaties they deepied jthemselves wise to
change into laTge money annuities;*: a territory
which was no longer useful for hunting, and
which they'did not cultivate. |
Experience has shown, however,, throughout
America* that Indian tribes, wholly© omanmai-
ties, and not by agricultural .labor, are in the
most dangerous condition of rapid.decline. To
render the danger eminent, it needs butthe ciose
proximity of a European population, who present
the means of indulging selfish gratifications.
Among these means, so seductive to the Indian
mind, ardent spirits have ever been the most
baneful. It proved so at least with the Caym
gas, for within sixteen years after the treaty of
Fort Stanwix, they had all emigrated west.
'* A- perpetual annuity-of $2,300 was secured by one of
these treaties.
Sortie of them had rejoined their brethren, who
followed Brant and the Mohawks to Canada.
Some had migrated to Sandusky, in Ohio, and
others found a refilge' among the Senecas, near
Buffalo. With the SCneeas they have ever been
onrthe most intimate terms. Whilst they lived
on the- Cayuga lake, and the latter on the Seneca,
they were separated by a midland range of
forest, little more than sixteen miles broad.
They jntefmifiglq&freely in their- hunting parties,
and even in their villages. The inhabitants
still point to a large tree near Canoga, on the
banks of Cayuga lake, where the celebrated orator,
Bed Jacket, was horn.
In investigating the Indiafi population of New
York, under the provisions of the census act, I
found 114 Cayugas residing in twenty families,
on the Cattaraugus' reservation. TheSe families
cultivate. 346 acres of land, and during the year
1^8 45, they raised 1^970 Mshels of corn, 1,622 of
oats, 210 of wheat, 955 of potatoes, and 277 of
buckwheat, besides esculents and Small articles.
They were found to possess 43 milch cows, 39
horses, 4b sheep, and 109 hogs. Besides the
Cayugas residingon the Cattaraugus, there were
found,, dispersed among the other cantons, 83
persons; making the whole number within the
boundaries of New> York, 197. The style of
their dwellings is, generally, that of squared timber,
plainly but comfortahlf furnished, with glass
windows, and plain common furniture. Sixteen
of the number are members of protestant church