OF LANCASTER COUNTY. d 



tive nations also by the name of the Wajmnachki, corrupted by the 

 Europeans into Openahi^ 02ienagi^ Abenaquis^ and Apenakis, and among 

 the whites, by the name of Delawares, held their principal seats upon 

 the Delaware river, and were acknowledged by nearly forty tribes as 

 their 'grandfathers,' or parent stock. They relate, that many centuries 

 past, their ancestors dwelt far in the western wilds of the American con- 

 tinent, but emigrating east^ardly, arrived after many years on the iVa- 

 rasesi Sipu (the Mississippi), or river of fish, where they fell in with the 

 Mengwe, who had also emigrated from a distant country, and approached 

 this river somewhat nearer its source. The spies of the Lenape reported 

 the country on the east of the Mississippi to be inhabited by a powerful 

 nation, dwelling in large towns, erected upon their principal rivers. 



" This people, tall and stout, some of whom, as tradition reports, were 

 of gigantic mould, bore the name of AlUgewi^ and from them were de- 

 rived the names of the Allegheny river and mountains. Their towns were 

 defended by regular fortifications or intrenchments of earth, vestiges of 

 which are yet shown in greater or less preservation. The Lenape re- 

 (|uested permission to establish themselves in their vicinity. This was 

 refused, but leave was given them to pass the river, and seek a country 

 farther to the eastward. But, Avhilst the Lenape were crossing the river, 

 the Alligewi, becoming alarmed at their number, assailed and destroyed 

 many of those who had reached the eastern shore, and threatened a like 

 fate to the others should they attempt the stream. Fired at the loss they 

 had sustained, the Lenape eagerly accepted a proposition from the Meng- 

 we, who had hitherto been spectators only of their enterprise, to conquer 

 and divide the country. A war of many years duration was waged by 

 the united nations, marked by great havoc on both sides, which eventu- 

 ated in the conquest and expulsion of the Alligewi, who fled by the way 

 of the Mississippi, never to return. Their devastated country was ap- 

 portioned among the conquerors; the Mengwe choosing their residence 

 in the neighboi'hood of the great lakes, and the Lenape possessing them- 

 selves of the lands to the south. 



" After many ages, during which the conquerors lived together in great 

 harmony, the enterprising hunters of the Lenape crossed the Alleghany 

 mountains, and discovered the great rivers Susquehannah and Delaware, 

 and their respective bays. Exploring the Sheyichhi country, (New Jer- 

 sey,) they arrived on the Hudson, to which they subsequently gave the 

 name of the Mohicannittuck river. Keturning to their nation, after a 

 long absence, they reported their discoveries; describing the country 

 they had visited as abounding in game and fruits, fish and fowl, and des- 

 titute of inhabitants. Concluding this to be the country destined for 

 them by the Great Spirit, the Lenape proceeded to establish themselvCvS 

 upon the four great rivers, the Hudson, Delaware, Susquehannah and Po- 



