42 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



passing the other end of Oneida lake. On the Jesuit map of 1665 

 the Black and Oswegatchie rivers both bear the title, " R. qui vient 

 du coste d'agne " or the Mohawk country. By the latter route the 

 Mohawks took Father Poncet back to Canada in 1652. For a con- 

 siderable part of the way the routes were one. Gen. J. S. Clark 

 has elaborated the full route very clearly, in a note to Rev. Dr 

 Charles Hawley's translation of the Relations as they concerned 

 the Mohawks. He supposed that one trail from the Mohawk fol- 

 lowed its north bank to Rome, continuing along the line of the 

 present Rome & Watertown Railroad till it struck Salmon river, 

 10 or 12 miles from the lake. From the Mohawk another followed 

 the west bank of West Canada creek and near the line of the Black 

 River Railroad and Black river to Great Bend. Lake Ontario might 

 then be reached by following the stream, or by a portage of a few 

 miles to Indian river the St Lawrence might be entered through the 

 Oswegatchie. The usual war path of the Mohawks was through 

 Lake Champlain and the Sorel river. The lake was reached by 

 several trails. 



The trail by which the French usually came to early Onondaga 

 led from the mouth of Salmon river to Brewerton, and thence it 

 varied as the village moved. The French at last came by way of 

 Oswego. Champlain also came by way of Brewerton, but where he 

 left Lake Ontario has been much disputed. It was far to the north- 

 east of Oswego, and Salmon river has been thought a probable place. 

 That he crossed the Chittenango at Bridgeport is likely, and that he 

 followed a trail is evident from encountering a party going to the 

 fishing place. The path probably led up the ridge east of the 

 Chittenango valley, but has left no traces. 



The trails leading to the Susquehanna valley became important 

 nearly 200 years ago, when the Iroquois land claims in Pennsyl- 

 vania assumed a new aspect. They had been matters for diplomatic 

 action even in the 17th century. When the Iroquois realized that 

 there was money in them they sent a resident viceroy to rule their 

 subjects there and care for their lands. This and their southern 

 wars led to many journeys. As early as 1737 Conrad Weiser was 

 sent as an ambassador to Onondaga by way of Owego. In 1743 



