sete) NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 
a natural formation, with actual relics and some possible occupation 
on a hillside. 
19 Near Munnsville and east of Oneida creek the Oneidas lived a 
long time, removing short distances as occasion required. They were 
in that vicinity when Van Corlaer visited them in December 1634. 
This is the first record of them as a distinct people. Gen. James 
Grant Wilson accidentally discovered his journal a few years since 
and had it translated and published. From this a few notes regard- 
ing the town are given. “ Before we reached the castle we saw 
three graves, just like our graves in length and height; usually their 
graves are round. These graves were surrounded with palisades 
that they had split from trees and they were closed up so nicely that 
it was a wonder to see. They were painted with red, white and 
black paint; but the chief’s grave had an entrance, and at the top of 
that was a big wooden bird, and all around were painted dogs and 
deer and snakes and other beasts. We marched boldly to 
the castle, where the savages opened to let us pass, and so we 
marched through them by the gate, which was three and a half feet 
wide, and at the top were standing three big wooden images like 
men, of carved wood, and with them I saw three scalps fluttering in 
the wind. . .This castle has two gates, one on the east and 
one on the west side. On the east side a lock of hair was also hang- 
ing, but this gate was one and a half feet smaller than the other one 
. This castle is situated on a very high hill and was sur- 
rounded by two rows of palisades. It was 767 paces in circum- 
ference. There are 66 houses but much better, higher and more 
finished than all the others we saw. A good many houses had 
wooden fronts that are painted with all sorts of beasts. There they 
sleep, mostly on elevated boards, more than any other savages.” 
In 1677 Greenhalgh said that Oneida was “about 20 miles from 
a small river which comes out of the hills to the southward and runs 
into Lake Teshiroque, (Oneida) about 30 miles distant from the 
Maquaes river, which is to the northward. The town is newly 
settled, double stockaded, but little cleared land.” 20 miles should 
be two from Oneida creek. In 1696 De Vaudreuil encamped on 
Oneida creek “within a (French) league of the village.” Next 
