214 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 191 



cock, where its North and South branch (called Ackmick) joyn in one. In the 

 Peninsula made by these two branches, a great Indian king called Tottopottoma 

 was heretofore slain in battle, fighting for the Christians against the Mahocks 

 and Nahyssans, from whence it retains his name to this day. [Lederer, 1958, 

 p. 10.] 



Lederer depicts the site of this battle on his map of 1672 with the 

 legend "Tottopotoma" at the fork in question. Since this name 

 appears in a similar location on the Augustine Herrman map of 1673 

 (map 8) it would seem that it was generally believed by the con- 

 temporary Virginians that Tottopotomoy met his death here. 



From a reference appearing in the Maryland Archives for 1661 it 

 would appear that the Nahyssans mentioned by Lederer were still in 

 northern Virginia at this time. This reference derives from the 

 consideration given by the General Assembly of Maryland, sitting at 

 St. John's in St. Marys County, to a petition by the Susquehannock 

 Indians for assistance and aid. 



Tuesday the 23th April 



At a Grand Comittee of both howses 



It is ordered M.' Edward Lloyd and M.'' John Bateman Coll. W.™ Evans 

 M.'' Thomas Manning M.'' John Brewer and M.' George Vtye doe drawe up an 

 Acte impowring the Governor and Councell in the Intervall Betweene this As- 

 sembly and the next to rayse what forces they in their discrecon shall finde 

 necessary for the Assistance of the Sasquehannough Indians ag.* the Cynaco or 

 Naijssone Indians that have lately killed some English in Patapsco River [which 

 runs into Baltimore Bay] that they doe rayse by equall Assessment vpon the 

 Freemen of this Province and the Charge of the warre and that the said Comittee 

 doe agree and ascertayne the wages and pay of the Souldiery in the Acte and that 

 they doe meete by two of the Clock in the Afternoone to drawe up the Acte 



Thursday the second of May 



An acte Impowring the Governor and Councell to Rayse forces and maytayne a 

 Warre without the Province and to ayde the Sasquehannough Indians 



Whereas it doth appeare to this p''sent Generall Assembly that this Province 

 is in Eminent danger by a warre begun in itt by some forreigne Indians as it 

 hath been made appeare by credible informacon given of a person lately killd 

 and of others that are probably cutt off by these forreign Indians And that in 

 humane probabillity our neighbour Indians the Sasquehannoughs are a Bullwarke 

 and Security of the Northerne parts of this Province And that by former treatyes 

 with that nacon they have very much assured vs of their affeccons and friendship 

 And that they expected the like from vs, And by their treatyes it was agreed 

 Assistance should be granted to each oth[er] in tyme of danger And vpon their 

 severall late Applicacons to vs to that purpose Ayde hath been promis[ed] them 

 accordingly. 



It is Enacted and be it enacted [by] the Lord Proprietary of this Province by 

 and with the advice and consent of the vpper and lower how[se] of this p''sent 

 General [Assembly] that the Governor with the advice and consent of the Councell 



