Iroquois Migration Hypothesis 



For the sake of a working hypothesis and for the benetit of future 

 discussion, we wish to advance a theory explaining the presence of 

 the Iroquois in this particular area. 



Let us suppose that the one, two or more related tribes of early 

 Huron-Iroquois lived in a portion of a region embraced within a 

 circle having a radius of 200 miles and with its center at the mouth 

 of the Ohio river, ere they w^ere in contact with the Caddo, 

 the Aluskhogee, the Sioux and some of the Algonkin. They were 

 more or less agricultural and sedentary and familiar with village 

 life. They knew how to erect stockades and build earthen walls for 

 their inclosures. 



Some movement of intruding immigrants or other influence caused 

 them as a body to push northward up the Ohio river. Some went 

 eastward into the Carolinas, but the main body migranted in a north- 

 easterl}' direction. The tribes of the Cherokee were the first to 

 lead the way and crowded upon the mound-building Indians of 

 Ohio, whom they fought for a long period of time. They finally 

 overcame the ]\Iound Builders' and absorbed a large number into 

 their own tribal divisions, and possessed themselves of the Mound- 

 Builder country. Very likely they were assisted in this conquest by 

 bands of Choctaw, Algonkins and by some of their own cognate 

 kinsmen. 



They then took upon themselves some of the characteristics of the 

 ^lound Builders, but endeavored to blot out some of their arts, to 

 the extent of mutilating objects they regarded as symbolic of their 

 former enemies. 



Other Iroquoian tribes then pushed northward and endeavored to 

 pass through the Cherokee AIound-Builder country. Jealousies arose 

 and the newcomers with the Delaware began a general war 

 against them, finallx- driving them southward and across the Appa- 

 lachian ranges. This estranged the two branches and led to wars 

 up to well into the historic period. 



The beaut}' and fertility of the country attracted settlement, but 

 the Cherokee constantlv raided their villages. Bands then be2:an to 



^ \\'e use this term only as a convenient expression to describe the Indian 

 tribes of the region under discussion. 



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