NO. 12 MONACAN TOWNS IN VIRGINIA BUSHNELL I7 



settlements. Had he associated them in any way with the great 

 battle he would undoubtedly have mentioned them in that connection, 

 but this he failed to do. The Algonquian and Monacan tribes had 

 ever been enemies, it was known as early as 1608, and this fact may 

 explain the willingness with which Totopotomi and the Pamunkey 

 warriors joined the English in attacking their ancient tribal enemies. 



MONASUKAPANOUGH 



This name, as it appears on the Smith map, corresponds with the 

 position of an extensive village site on the banks of the Rivanna, in 

 Albemarle County, directly north of the University of Virginia and 

 about one-half mile up the river from the bridge of the Southern 

 Railway. At that point the Rivanna makes a wide bend, flowing from 

 the west, then turning and continuing in a southeastwardly direction. 

 On the right or south bank there is a wide, fertile bottom, bounded 

 on the north by the river and on the south ])y cliffs sloping to the 

 low grounds. On the left or north bank of the stream the bottom is 

 far less extensive than on the opposite side, but it is rather higher 

 and less liable to be overllowed, and the cliffs are nearer the river. 

 This is believed to have been the site of the ancient settlement of 

 Monasukapanough. The village appears to have occupied both sides 

 of the river, with a ford that made it possible to pass from one side 

 to the other, although canoes were probably in constant use on the 

 stream. A plan of the region is shown in figure 5. 



The translation of the name of the village has not been determined, 

 nor has that of the name of the related settlement which stood on 

 the bank of the James. As mentioned there is a ford across the 

 Rivanna at this place — shallow water — which may have to do with the 

 first part of the name. This is suggested by statements by William 

 Byrd, in the year 1728, during the running of the line between Virginia 

 and North Carolina,' when he had an old Saponi Indian acting as 

 guide. To quote from the remarkable narrative (p. 42) : On Septem- 

 ber 28 " We proceeded to the canoe landing on Roanoke, where we 

 passed the river with the baggage. But the horses were directed to 

 a ford about a mile higher, called by the Indians Moni-seep, which 

 signifies, in their jargon, shallow-water. This is the Ford where the 

 Indian traders used to cross with their horses, in their way to the 

 Catawba nation." And on October 2 they crossed a large creek " which 

 the Indians called Massa-moni, signifying, in their language. Paint 



^ Byrd, William, The Westover manuscripts : containing the history of the 

 dividing line Petersburg, 1841. 



