OF THE POLAR SEA. 95 
great family more widely spread than the other 
two, and from which, together with a vast number 
of other tribes, are sprung our Crees. Mr. 
Heckewelder, a Missionary, who resided long 
amongst these people, and from whose paper, 
(published in the Transactions of the American 
Philosophical Society,) the above classification 
is taken, states that the Lenapé have a tradition 
amongst them, of their ancestors having come 
from the westward, and taking possession of the 
whole country.from the Missouri to the Atlantic, 
after driving away or destroying the original 
inhabitants of the land, whom they termed Al- 
ligewi. In this migration and contest, which 
endured fora series of years, the Mengwe, or Iro- 
quois, kept pace with them, moving in a parallel 
but more northerly line, and finally settling on 
the banks of the St. Lawrence, and the great 
lakes from whence it flows. The Lenape, being 
more numerous, peopled not only the greater part 
of the country at present occupied by the United 
States, but also sent detachments to the north- 
ward as far as the banks of the River Missis- 
sippi and the shores of Hudson’s Bay. The 
principal of their northern tribes are now known 
under the names of Saulteurs or Chippeways, 
and Crees; the former inhabiting the country 
betwixt Lakes Winipeg and Superior, the latter 
