14 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 
taugs reachedfrom the Marsapeagues to Patchogue; the Patchogues 
to Southampton, while the Shinnecocks dwelt from Canoe place 
to Montauk, where the Montauks lived. There were other unim- 
portant tribes but little known. 
These territorial divisions are indicated by colors and confined 
to one period. In every part there are traces of earlier nations more 
or less mentioned in the accompanying notes. The boundary line 
established in 1768 followed the Susquehanna up to Owego. 
Thence it ran due east to the Delaware a little north of the present 
state line, and up the Mohawk or west branch of that river till it 
reached a point directly south of the mouth of the Unadilla. A line 
due north and mainly along that stream struck Wood creek west of 
Fort Stanwix. Northward and eastward it was determined by pre- 
vious purchases. | 
Those familiar with Mr L. H. Morgan’s map of Ho-de-no-sau- 
nee-ga, or the territory of the people of the Long House after their 
conquests, will observe that the boundaries on the small map show- 
ing national distribution differ somewhat from his, partly from 
showing an earlier condition, but for other reasons as well. That 
eminent writer said, “A boundary line would seem at first to be 
a difficult problem in Indian geography. But a peculiar custom of 
our predecessors has divested this subject of much of its embarrass- 
ment, and enabled us to ascertain with considerable certainty the 
territorial limits of the nations of the league. The Iroquois rejected 
all natural boundaries, and substituted meridianal lines. This 
appears to have resulted from the custom of establishing them- 
selves upon both banks of the streams upon which they resided. 
Inland lakes were never divided by a boundary line; but the line 
itself was so deflected, that the entire circuit of each lake might be 
possessed by a single nation. The natural limits which rivers and 
lakes might furnish having been thus disregarded, and straight lines 
substituted, the inquiry is freed from some of its difficulties.” 
Mr Morgan, however, forgot that irregular ridges instead of 
streams, sometimes become boundaries, though straight lines might 
be carried along or over these. Another matter was overlooked, 
that national boundaries changed from time to time by mutual 
