BUSHNELI] NATIVE VILLAGES AND VILLAGE SITES 517 
occupied by the Delaware and other Algonquian remnants who were 
forced westward by the encroachment of European settlements on 
the Atlantic coast. In the year 1768 Great Island was partly occu- 
pied by the important Delaware village where Newoleeka, or Newah- 
leeka, was chief. It was often mentioned in the history of the period. 
(Colonial Records of Pa., (1), p. 428 et seq.) Many implements and 
objects of native origin have been discovered in the region which, in 
the days before the coming of the colonists, was probably a favorite 
locality of the Indian, one where game and fish were plentiful and 
easily obtained. A view of the upper end of Great Island, taken from 
the high cliff bordering the river, is shown in plate 9, 6. This was the 
site of the ancient village. 
In southern Virginia the Nottoway and Meherrin were connected, 
linguistically, with the tribes just mentioned, being Iroquoian, as 
were the neighboring Tuscarora and possibly the Coree, likewise the 
powerful Cherokee, whose many villages were scattered through the 
valleys of the southern mountains. A very interesting description 
of the pretected town of the Nottoway which stood in Southampton 
County, Virginia, is preserved, and it is evident the place had main- 
tained its primitive appearance, unchanged, since the settlement of 
the colony. The Nottoway continued their tribal organization as 
late as 1825, though greatly reduced in numbers. The town was 
visited by Col. William Byrd on April 7, 1728, and was described 
thus: : 
“This fort was a square piece of ground, inclosed with substantial 
puncheons, or strong palisades, about ten feet high, and leaning a 
little outwards, to make scalade more difficult. Each side of the 
square might be about a hundred yards long, with loop-holes at 
proper distances, through which they may fire upon the enemy. 
Within this inclosure we found bark cabins sufficient to lodge all 
their people, in case they should be obliged to retire thither. These 
cabins are no other but close arbours made of saplings, arched at the 
top, and covered so well with bark as to be proof against all weather. 
The fire is made in the middle, according to the Hibernian fashion, 
the smoke whereof finds no other vent but at the door... The 
Indians have no standing furniture in their cabins but hurdles to 
repose their persons upon, which they cover with mats and deer- 
skins.” (Byrd, (1), pp. 34-35.) 
This conformed with the custom of the northern Iroquois tribes 
where the strongly palisaded central village served as a place of 
refuge for the people of the outlying districts in times of danger. 
Not far distant from the town of the Nottoway stood, a few years. 
before, the village of Paski, where during the month of October, 1711, 
De Graffenried halted when on his way to Virginia: 
