THOMAS) Connecticut's policy toward the Indians 613 



At that time, it was the general opinion, that there were nineteen Indians, in that 

 town, to one Englishman. There was a great body of them in the centerof the town. 

 They had a large fort a little north of the plat on which the first meeting-house was 

 erected. On the east side of the river, on the upper branches of the Podunk, they 

 were very numerous. There were also a great number in Hartford. Besides those 

 on the west side of the river, there was a distinct tribe in East-Hartford. These 

 were principally situated upon the Podunk, from the northern boundary of Hart- 

 ford to its mouth, where it empties into Couueeticnt river. Totauimo, their first 

 sacliem with whom the English had any ac(iuaintance, commanded two hundred 

 bowmen. These were called the Podunk Indians. 



At Mattahesick, now Sliddletown, was the great sachem Sowheag. His fort, or 

 castle, was on the high ground, facing the river, and the adjacent couutrj', on both sides 

 of the river, was his sachemdom. This was extensive, comprehending the ancient 

 boundaries of Weathersfield, then called Pyquaug, as well as Middletown. Sequin 

 was sagamore at Pyquaug, under Sowheag, when the English began their .settle- 

 ments. On the east side of the river, in the tract since called Chatham, was a con- 

 siderable clan, called the Wongung Indians. At Maohemoodiis, now called East- 

 Haddam, was a numerous tribe, famous for their pawaws, and worshipping of evil 

 spirits. South of these, in the easternmost part of Lyme, were the western Nehan- 

 ticks. These were confederate with the Pe(|iicts. South and east of them, from 

 Connecticut river to the eastern boundary line of the colony, and north-east or north, 

 to its northern boundary line, lay the Pequot and Moheagau country. This tract 

 was nearly thirty miles 8<{uare, including the counties of New-London, Windham, 

 and the principal part of the county of Tolland. 



Historians have treated of the Pequots and Moheagaus, as two distinct tribes, and 

 have described the Pequot country as lying i>riucipally within the three towns of 

 New-London, Groton, and Stonington. All the tract above this, as far north and 

 east as has been described, they have represented as the Moheagau country. Most 

 of the towns in this tract, if not all of them, hold their lands by virtue of deeds 

 from Uncas, or his successors, the Moheagau sachems. It is, however, much to be 

 doubted, whether the Moheagans were a distinct nation from the Pequots. They 

 appear to have been a part of the same nation, named from the place of their 

 situation. . . . 



The Pequots were, by far, the most warlike nation in Connecticut, or even in New- 

 England. The tradition is, that they were, originally, an inland tribe, but, by their 

 prowe.ss, came down and settled themselves, in that fine country along the seacoast, 

 from Nehantick to Narraganset bay. . . . The chief seat of these Indians, was at 

 New-London and Groton. New-London was their principal harbor, and called Pequot 

 harbor. They had another small harbor at the mouth of Mystic river. Their 

 principal fort was on a commanding and most beautiful eminence, in the town of 

 Groton, a few miles south-easterly from fort Griswold. It commanded one of the 

 finest jirospeets of the sound and the adjacent country, which is to be found upon the 

 coast. This was the royal fortress, where the chief sachem had his residence. He 

 had another fort near Mystic river, a few miles to the eastward of this, called Mystic 

 fort. This was also erected upon a beautiful hill, or eminence, gradually descend- 

 ing towards the south and south-east. . . . 



West of Connecticut river and the towns upon it, there were not only scattering 

 families in almost every part, but, in several i)laces, great bodies of Indians. At 

 Simsbury and New-Hartford they were numerous; and upon those fine meadows, 

 formed by the meanders of the little river, at Tunxis, now Farmington, and the 

 lands adjacent, was another very large clan. There was a small tribe at tiuilford, 

 under the sachem squaw, or queen, of Menunkatuck. At Brauford and East-Haven 

 there was another. They had a famous buryiug ground .at East-Haven, which they 

 visited and kept up, with much ceremony, for many years after the settlement of 

 New-Haven. 



