AN ERIE INDIAN VILLAGE AND BURIAL SITE 529 



Destruction of the Eries. One of the most picturesque and 

 tragic accounts of these people is given in the Relation of 1655-56. 

 It is the story of their destruction. In the account they are called 

 the Cat nation (La Nation du Chat). The Jesuit account is with- 

 out doubt essentially correct and differs in many respects from the 

 rather fanciful Seneca tradition. In one particular both accounts 

 agree and that is that the Eries brought destruction upon themselves 

 by their own folly. 



The account as given in the Thwaite's edition of the Relations 

 follows : 



CAUSE OF WAR AGAINST THE CAT NATION 



The Cat Nation had sent 30 Ambassadors to the Sonnontoua- 

 hronnons to confirm the peace between them ; but it happened that 

 by some unexpected accident, that a Sonnontouahronnon was killed 

 by a man of the Cat Nation. This murder so incensed the Son- 

 nontouahronnons, that they put to death the Ambassadors in their 

 hands, except five who escaped. Hence the war was kindled be- 

 tween those two Nations, and each strove to capture and burn 

 more prisoners than its opponent. Two Onnontagehronnons 

 among others were captured by men of the Cat Nation ; one 

 of them escaped and the other, a man of rank, was taken home by 

 the enemy to be burnt. He pleaded his cause so well that he was 

 given to the sister of one of the 30 Ambassadors who had been put 

 to death. She was absent from the village at the time ; but the 

 prisoner was nevertheless clothed in fine garments, and feasting and 

 good cheer prevailed, the man being all but assured that he would 

 be sent back to his own Country. When she to whom he had been 

 given returned, she was told that her dead brother was to be restored 

 to life, that she must prepare to regale him well, and then to give 

 him a most gracious dismissal. She, however, began to weep and 

 declare that she would never dry her eyes until her brother's death 

 was avenged. The Elders showed her the gravity of the situation, 

 which was likely to involve them in a new war ; but she would not 

 yield. Finally they were compelled to give up the wretched man 

 to her to do with him as she pleased. All this occurred while he 

 was still joyfully feasting. Without a word he was taken from the 

 feast and conducted to this cruel woman's cabin. Upon entering he 

 was surprised at being stripped of his clothes. Then he saw that 

 his life was lost, and he cried out, before dying, that an entire people 

 would be burned in his person, and that his death would be cruelly 

 avenged. His words proved true ; for no sooner had the news 

 reached Onnontague, than 1200 determined men started forth to 

 exact satisfaction for this afi^ront. 



We have already observed that the Cat Nation Is so called from 

 the large number of Wildcats, of great size and beauty in their 

 country. The Climate is temperate, neither ice nor snow being 

 seen in the winter ; while in summer it is said that grain and fruit 

 are harvested in abundance, and are of unusual size and excellence. 



