22 INDIAN HISTORY. 



region of the state, in fact all, except the narrow limits 

 already named, was uninhal)itcd by the red man ; at least 

 no evidences of a permanent oc('n])atioii have ever been 

 fonnd. 



'Jliis pecniiarit}' of onr aboriuinai history may l)e traced 

 . partly to the hnv regnlating the distribution of population 

 over the earth's surtace ; and i)artly to the [)hysical con- 

 formation of our state, and the relation thereta of the 

 great tribes then surrounding it. It is a law governing man, 

 whether civilized or uncivilized, that he seeks the hikes 

 and rivers and seaboard, and is there found in greatest 

 numbers. The reason for this law is that with the civilized, 

 navigable water is essential to commerce which is the main 

 supi)ort of all great cities; while water communication, 

 upon small streams even, aids the roving, wandering habits 

 of the nncivilized, besides furnishing an easy sustenance for 

 upholding life. It will be seen at a glance that this law 

 ai)plied to the mountainous and broken territory of Ver- 

 mont, through the body of which no considerable streams 

 of water course, would not favor an Indian occupation 

 remote t'voin the Connecticut, or from Champlain or Mem- 

 phreniagog. But in addition to this, the discerning mind 

 will discover another reason against the occnpation of our 

 state b}' the al)origines. It existed in the relation of the 

 surrounding tribes to our territory and to each other. The 

 Iroquois were a powerful and a warlike tribe on the west. 

 The Pequots another on the south. The Coossucks and 

 St. Francis were still others upon the east and north. 

 Between these fierce tribes, jealousies, rivalries and ani- 

 mosities, of course, held accustomed sw^ay ; and they were, 

 doubtless, saved from constant war only by the friendly 

 intervention of these Green Mountains. Poetry will apply 

 the same law to these savage nations, as if civilized : 

 "Mountains, inteiposed, make Mendly, 



States which else had been at war." 

 Thus, must Vermont have been a kind of middle or 

 neutral ground, lying ])etween and separating the territory 

 (jf the surrounding tribes ; common for the pin-poses of 



