178 THE GEOEGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 



between tlie white men and an Indian tribe. The scene was laid at the 

 moment of settling the terms of a compact after the proposals of our 

 Government had been weighed, and well-nigh rejected by the Indians. 

 The two prominent figures in the front ground were an Indian chief, 

 attired in his peculiar costume, standing in a hesitating posture, with a 

 hand half extended toward a scroll hanging partly unrolled from the 

 hand of the other figure. The latter was an American officer in full 

 dress, offering with one hand the unsigned treaty to the reluctant sav- 

 age, while with the other he presents a musket and bayonet to his 

 breast. This picture was exhibited some years ago near Lewistown, 

 l^ew York, as the production of a man of the Tuscarora tribe, named 

 Cusick. It was an effecting appeal fromthe Indians to the white man, 

 for although, in point of fact, the Indians have never been compelled 

 by direct force to part with their lands, yet we have triumphed over 

 them by our superior power and intelligence, and there is a moral truth 

 in the picture, which represents the savage as yielding from fear that 

 which his judgment and attachments would have withheld." — McKenney 

 & Hall, vol. 1, page 2. 



MR, OATLIN'S notes ON THE TUCAEORAS INDIANS. 



Another of tlie tribes in the confederacy of the Six Nations, once numerous, but re- 

 duced at i^resent to the number of 500. This little tribe are living on their reserve, a 

 fine tract of land, near Buffalo, in the State of New York, and surrounded by civilized 

 settlements, many of them are good farmers, raising abundant and fine crops. 



LOCATION AND NUMBERS. 



Tuscaroras, on Cattaraugus Eeserve, 'New, York, in 1884, 4 ; Tusca- 

 roras, on Tuscaroras Eeserve, New York, in 1884, 419; in 1885, 414, and 

 some in Canada. In all, in 1884, 423 ; iu 1885, 414. 



IKOQUOIS— THE SIX NATION^. 



First called the "Five," and afterwards the " Six" Nations, living now 

 in New York and Canada. In 1650 they numbered 25,000. The con- 

 federation of the Six Nations had an established system of government. 

 Each tribe had its own law-makiug assembly. A congress of repre- 

 sentatives of all of the Six Nations met and enacted laws for the regu- 

 lation of affairs of the confederacy. Unanimous consent was requisite 

 to pass a law in this congress. 



The Five Nations were the Senecas, Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, 

 and Cayugas. After 1712 the Tuscaroras became members of the league, 

 and it became known as the Six Nations. The Hurons and Wyandots 

 belong to the same linguistic group. (See " League of the Iroquois," 

 by Lewis H. Morgan, 1851, and " Colden's History of the Five Nations.") 



The Iroquois were the most powerful and highest developed of any 

 of the North American Indians. They lived in towns or villages, and 

 were agriculturists. They were a warlike people. Many of their lead- 

 ers were men of rare courage, judgment, and eloquence. Brant was a 



