568 INDIA.N LAXD CESSIONS IN THE UNITED STATES [eth.an-n. 18 



By tbe act of October 10, IfiOo, tlie bounds of the Indians on the 

 south side of James river were fixed as follows: "From the beads of 

 the southern branches of the blackwater to the Appomatuck Indians, 

 and thence to the Manokin Town/' This boundary was more accurately 

 fixed in 1G91, as will later be shown. 



After the deatli of Opechaucauough, no chief of sufficient prestige 

 and authority to bold the Indians iu confederation having arisen, a 

 long peace followed. Several of the tribes retired westward and those 

 which remained, reduced in numbers and wanting concert, lingered ou 

 the frontiers, and exchanged with the settlers their superfluous prod- 

 ucts at stated marts. This peace, however, was broken in 1675. The 

 Indians at the head of Chesapeake bay and tribes farther «onth made 

 sudden and furious inroads upon the frontier settlements " marked by 

 devastation and blood."' Ou the Cth of June, 167G, during the war 

 which ensued, the following act was passed: 



Act 3. Whereas this couutr;, is now engaged in a warr against the Indians, and 

 will thereby inevitably be at great cost and charges iu prosecuiing the same, and 

 whereas at or about the last conclusion of peace with the Indians, certain great 

 quantities of laud was assigned and sett ajiart, for them, wliich lands were they sold 

 for the use of the country would in some measure help to defray the publiqne charge 

 aforesaid, . . . Therefore enacted and ordained by governour, council and burgesses 

 of this grand assembly, and by the authority of the same, that all lands whatsoever 

 sett apart for Indians iu the last conclusion of jieace with them and other Indian 

 lands as now are, or hereafter sliall be by thera deserted, bee not granted away by 

 pattent to any perticuler person or persons, but that the same be reserved, and by 

 due forme of law vested on the country, and dispose to the use of the publiqne 

 towards defraying the charge) of this warr. Provided alwaies that this act nor any 

 thing therein coutained shall prejudice any legall grants heretofore made to any 

 person or persons whatsoever of any part or pareell of the said lands, and all such 

 Indian lands as have bin pattented since the peace aforesaid, and before such deser- 

 tion shall be held and deemed to be illegally pattented. = 



The act of April 16, 1691, above referred to as determining the 

 boundary of the Indian territory south of James river, is as follows: 



Forasmuch as by a chmse of the 8th act of assembly made at .lames Citty October the 

 tenth, lf)65, it is enacted that the bounds of the Indians on the south side .James river, 

 be from the heads of the Sonthern branches of the Black water to the Appomatuck 

 Indians, and thence to the Manokin Town, for the better explaining and ascertain- 

 ing the bounds betwixt the English and Indians on the south side of James River, 

 Beit enactcil . . . That a line from the head of the eheife or iirincipal branch of 

 the black water, to the upper part of the old Appamattocks Indian Town feild, and 

 thence to the upper end of Manokin Town be judged, deemed, held aud taken, to 

 be the said bounds, and that the right honourable the lieutenant governour, with 

 the advice of the conneell bee requested to appoint some surveyor or surveyors to 

 lay out, ascertain and plainly uiarke the said lines, ■and that all pattents or other 

 grants of any lands laying without the said bounds be, and hereby are declared void 

 and null to all intents and jiurposes as if the same had never been granted.^ 



In 1722 Governor Spotswood concluded a treaty with the Six Nations 

 by which they agreed never to appear to the east of the Blue ridge nor 



'Bark, History of Virginia, vol. ii, pp. 155-137. ^ Hening'a Statntes at Large, vol. Ii, p. 351. 



'Hening's Statutes at Large, vol. in, p. 84. 



