Tooker] ETHNOGRAPHY OF THE HURON 13 



entered into an alliance and formed a new confederation against their 

 common enemies ( JE, 20 : 43) .^^ 



The Tobacco Nation did not trade with the French, as the Huron 

 controlled this trade (JE 21: 177). They lived like the Huron and 

 had the same customs. Like them, they planted com and had a fixed 

 abode (C 95-96). 



THE NEUTRAL LEAGUE 



To the south and a little toward the west lived another Iroquoian- 

 speaking neighbor of the Huron, the Neutral Nation (JR 33 : 61-63). 

 The Neutral [Atiouandaronks (JR 8: 115), Attiwandarons (JR 17: 

 165), Attiouandarons (JR 20: 49), Attiwandaronk (JR 21: 193), 

 Attiouendaronk (JR 23 : 179), Atiouendaronk (JR 27: 21), Attiuoin- 

 daron (S 151) ] were called in the Huron language "peoples of slightly 

 different language." (Peoples speaking an entirely different lan- 

 guage were called Ahioanake, 'strangers.') Conversely, the Neutral 

 called the Huron by the same term as that used by the Huron to refer 

 to the Neutral, Attiwandaronk. Probably not long ago, the Jesuits 

 thought, the Huron, Iroquois, and Neutral were one people who over 

 the course of time had become separated from one another to a greater 

 or lesser extent. As a result, some became enemies ; some neutral ; and 

 some maintained a special connection and means of communication 

 (JR 21: 193-195). 



The French named this group "the Neutrals" because they were at 

 peace with both the Iroquois and the Huron ( JR 21 : 193-195 ; 

 C 99-100). The tenn "Neutral" originally had been used to refer to 

 many separate tribes, all groups south and southwest of the Huron, 

 but later the French applied the name to only the one nation or 

 confederacy ( JR 21 : 191-193 ; cf . C 99 ; S 157-158) . Perhaps because 

 of their position, the French made journeys to the Neutral country 

 to trade for furs and other items (JR 21: 203). The Neutrals felt 

 free to visit the Huron ( JR 27 : 25) and to seek refuge in Huronia in 

 time of famine ( JR 20 : 47-49 ; cf . JR 20 : 69) . 



About 40 villages and hamlets comprised this nation ( JR 20 : 95, 

 105 ; 21 : 189) of at least 1,200 individuals ( JR 21 : 191) . The Jesuits 

 estimated about 500 fires and 3,000 persons in 10 villages visited on 

 one trip (JR21:223). 



"2 The alliance of the Huron League with the Tobacco League proved to be a lasting one. 

 After the defeat of the Huron, a number of them joined the Petun and their histories 

 became linked, the combined group becoming the present Wyandot. At the time of the 

 Jesuits, the close relationship between the two leagues may have been based on trade : 

 as the Huron controlled the trade with the French, the Tobacco League may .have found 

 it advantageous to have the Huron as friends. The Huron probably found it advanta- 

 geous to have access to the tobacco that grew in abundance in Petun country. Appar- 

 ently, both groups wished to maintain this partnership, for both effectively prevented 

 the French from establishing missions in Tobacco country, an act that would have indi- 

 cated an alliance between the Petun and the French independent of the Huron (Hunt 

 1940: 56). The geographic position of the Petun, west of Huronia, may have fostered 

 their dependency on the Huron. 



671-292—64 2 



