THE PASSENGER PIGEON IN PENNSYLVANIA 149 



Ancient Indian Ceremonies, Customs and Wonders 



OBy John C. French) 



It is frequently of benefit and interest to us to re- 

 view what the earliest white visitors to the great Alle- 

 gheny forest said of the redmen they met and the won- 

 ders they were shown by the enthusiastic Indians. A 

 letter dated, 1629, and published in Sagard's "Historic 

 du Canada," 1632, describes a visit to the Senecas, 

 1627, by the Franciscan, Joseph d'Allion to the oil 

 spring, near Hinsdale, New York, ''Ischua," shown to 

 him by the Indians, the name is equivalent to, "Oil- 

 place" or 'Tlenty-oil-here." The oil was collected by 

 the Indians and used as a liniment in treating sprains, 

 frost-bite and rheumatism and internally, for colds 

 and bronchial inflammations; and "to destroy the ser- 

 pent within, that causes fever and chills." 



The writer saw the ceremonies at the oil gathering 

 of 1881 ; and in 1883, Mr. Ashburner, a Pennsylvania 

 geologist visited Cuba, New York, and saw the pro- 

 ceedings, which he described to Professor SilHman, 

 in words, as follows : 



"The oil spring, or fountain, rises in the midst of 

 marshy ground ; it is a muddy and, dirty pool of about 

 18 feet in diameter. The water is covered with a thin 

 layer of petroleum, giving it a foul appearance as if 

 coated with dirty molasses, having a yellowish-brown 

 color. They collect the petroleum by skimming it like 

 cream from a milk pan. For this purpose they Use a 

 broad flat board, made thin at one edge like a knife. 

 It is moved flat upon and just under the surface of the 

 water, and is soon covered by a thin coating of the pe- 



