28 SIOUAN TRIBES OF THE EAST. [Ithnology 



encroaching- upon tliem, and, like all the Virginia tribes, tliey rapidly 

 wasted away. The Powhatan on the east probably kept up their 

 desultory raids so long as they themselves were in condition to tight, 

 and from numerous chance references we know that the Iroquois were 

 constantly striking them in the rear. They probably suftered more or 

 less by the relentless war waged by the Virginians against the Pow- 

 hatan from 1G22 to KUo, at one time during which it was enacted that 

 there should be three aunual expeditions to sweep the whole country 

 from the sea to the heads of the rivers for the utter extermination of the 

 Indians. They were also directly in the track of the Eechahecrian 

 (Kickohockan, Cherokee), who in ]65G (or 1054) descended from the 

 mountains and ravaged the country as far as the falls of the James, 

 where they defeated the combined forces of the English and Pamunki 

 in perhaps the bloodiest Indian battle ever fought on the soil of Vir- 

 ginia (Neill; Burk, 2). The traders were probably among them before 

 this time, as we find that in 1043 a party was authorized to explore the 

 country west and south of Appomattox river, with the right to trade 

 with the Indians for fourteen years (Xeill). lu 1005 stringent laws were 

 enacted for the government of the Indians, and they were no longer 

 allowed to choose their own chiefs, but were compelled to accept 

 chiefs appointed by the governor (Keill). It is quite plain that all the 

 Virginia tribes alike had now bec(mie mere dependents of the English. 

 A remark by Lederer indicates that the Saponi were at this time car- 

 rying on a war with the whites, and from the harsh regulations made 

 by Virginia it is probable that the Monacan and others nearer home 

 were also concerned. 



In 1009 the Manachee, or Monacan, were reduced to 30 bowmen 

 (Neill, 1), with perhaps a total i)opulation of 100 or 120. No otlier tribe 

 of the confederacy is named in the census of that year, the tribes known 

 later being still beyond the borders of the settlements. In 1070 the 

 German traveler, John Lederer, under a commission from the governor 

 of Virginia, explored the country from the settlement at James falls 

 (Richmond) southwestward through Virginia and North Carolina to 

 Catawba river. Two days above the falls he came to the village of the 

 Monacan, who received him wii-li friendly volleys from their firearms. 

 From this and other references it appears that the warriors of the Vir- 

 ginia frontier, although still called ''bowmen," were already jiretty 

 well supplied with guns. This village, known then and later as "Mona- 

 can Town," was on the southern side of James river, about 20 miles 

 above the present Eichmond, and within the present limits of Pow- 

 hatan county, Virginia. The Indian plantations extended for 3 miles 

 along the river, between two small streams known as Monacan and 

 Powick creeks. In 1(>99 a colony of French Huguenots took pos- 

 session of the spot, which still retained the name of Monacan Town, 

 although the Indians had disappeared (Beverley, 1; V. H. S., 1). The 

 village seems identical with the Mowliem(en)cho of Smith's map of 1009. 



