30 SIOUAN TRIBES OF THE EAST. [ethnology 



no relation to the Doeg, named iu the records of the Bacon rebellion iu 

 1675, who were probably a branch of the Nauticoke. 



This seems to be the last appearance of the Monacan iu history under 

 that name. Beverley, in his history of Virginia, published in 1722, 

 makes no mention of them in his list of existing tribes, but in speaking 

 of the Hugueuot colony of 1699, already mentioned, says that these 

 exiles settled on a piece of very rich land on the southern side of James 

 river, about 20 miles above the falls, "which land was formerly the 

 seat of a great and warlike nation of Indians called the Monacans, 

 none of which are now left in these parts; but the laud still retaius 

 their name, and is called the Monacan Town" (Beverley, 2). It is prob- 

 able that between 1070 and 1699 the small remnant had removed west- 

 Avard and joined the Nahyssan (Tutelo) and Sapoui, 



On leaving the Monacan, Lederer passed through the territory of 

 the Mahock, mentioned later on, and then, with a single Indian com- 

 panion, left James river and turned southwestward. After traveling- 

 four days over a rough road without meeting Indians or signs of habi- 

 tation, he arrived at "Sapon, a town of theNahyssans," situated on a 

 tributary of the ui)per Roanoke. His estimates of distances are too 

 great, but from a comparison of his narrative with that of Batts, written 

 a year later, it seems probable that the Saponi village was on Otter 

 river, a tributary of the Staunton, or Roanoke, ^southwest of Lynch- 

 burg, Virginia. He describes the village as situated on high land, by 

 the side of a stately river, with rich soil and all the requisites for a 

 pleasant and advantageous settlement. The name Sapon or Saponi 

 may possibly have a connection with the Siouan (Dakota) word sajM, 

 ''black." The chief resided at another village, called Pintahse, (p. 127), 

 not far distant, and equally well situated on the same river. 



Lederer states that che Nahyssan had been constantly at war with 

 the whites for ten years past, notwithstanding which he ventured to go 

 among them, trusting to the trading goods which he carried to pw- 

 cure him a welcome; for he had heard that they never offered any 

 injury to a small party from which no danger could be apprehended. 

 In another place lie observes that Totopotonioi, the Pamunki chief, 

 had been killed while fighting for the English against the Mahock and 

 Nahyssan. This eveut occurred during the invasion of the Rechahec- 

 rian (Cherokee) in 1656, and if Lederer's statement be true it would 

 prove that the Siouan tribes of Virginia had aided the Cherokee in 

 this invasion. This is quite likely, as we know that the upper tribes 

 had always been the enemies of the Powhatan, living lower down. It 

 is i)robable also that the war mentioned by Lederer had been inaugu- 

 rated in that year. However, the event justified his calculations, for 

 after questioning him closely as to whence he came, whither he went, 

 and what his business was, his answers, with the trinkets which he 

 presented them, satisfied them that he intended no mischief, and they 

 welcomed him with every demonstration of friendshiiJ. They even went 

 so far as to offer a "sacrifice" — probably a ceremonial dance — iu his 



