52 ABORIGINAL MONUMENTS OF NEW YORK. 



who died exulting that the Great Spirit had made him an Indian ! Here, too, is 

 buried Mary Jemison, " the white woman," who, taken a prisoner by the Indians 

 when a child, conformed to their habits, became the wife of one of their chiefs, 

 and remained with them until her death. The story of her life is one of the most 

 eventful of those connected with our border history, filled as it is with thrilling 

 adventures and startling incidents. 



The work under notice is situated upon the edge of the second terrace, which is 

 here moderately elevated above the fertile alluvials bordering Buffalo Creek. The 

 particular spot which it occupies is considerably higher than any other near it, and 

 the soil is sandy and dry. It will be seen that the terrace bank upon one side is 

 made to subserve the purposes for which the trench and embankment were erected 

 upon the others. There is now no direct evidence to that effect; but no doubt 

 can be entertained that, in common with all the other works of the State, the wall 

 was crowned with pahsades, which were also carried along the brow of the terrace. 

 The greater portion of this work has been for some time under cultivation ; and the 

 original lines are so much defaced, that they would probably escape the notice of 

 the careless observer. They may, nevertheless, be distinctly traced throughout 

 their extent. At the point nearest the Indian cemetery, a portion of which is still 

 spared by the plough, the embankment is very distinct, and cannot fail to attract 

 attention. At a short distance to the northward of the work is a low spot of ground 

 or marsh, towards which opens a gateway. From this was probably obtained a 

 portion of the supply of water required by the ancient occupants of the work. 

 A number of springs start from the foot of the terrace where the ground is 

 also marshy. Within the walls of this work are to be found the various traces of 

 occupancy which I have already mentioned, sites of old lodges, fragments of 

 pottery, etc. 



Tradition fixes upon this spot as the scene of the final and most bloody conflict 

 between the Iroquois and the " Gah-kwas " or Eries, — a tradition which has been 

 supposed to derive some sanction from the number of fragments of decayed 

 human bones which are scattered over the area. 



The old mission-house and church stand in close proximity to this work. The 

 position of the former is indicated in the plan. Red Jacket's house stood above a 

 third of a mile to the southward upon the same elevation ; and the abandoned 

 council-house is still standing, perhaps a mile distant, in the direction of Buffalo. 

 A little distance beyond, in the same direction and near the public road, is a small 

 mound, called " Dah-do-sot" artificial hill, by the Indians, who it is said were 

 accustomed to regard it with much veneration, supposing that it covered the vic- 

 tims slain in some bloody conflict in the olden time. A genuine representative of 

 the Celtic stock had selected it as the site of his cabin, and his worthy but some- 

 what superstitious spouse was much horrified at the intimation that it probably 

 contained the bones of the unsanctified heathen. A shaft was sunk near the foun- 

 dation of the cabin to the base of the mound, but nothing of interest was disclosed. 

 A few half-formed arrow-heads, some chippings of hewn stone, and some small 

 bits of charcoal were discovered, intermingled with the soil thrown from the exca- 

 vation. Whatever deposits are contained in the mound, if any, probably occur 



