176 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



of the Mahican lands near Rensselaerwyck and west of the river 

 to the Mohawk border, and on the east side to the same extent. 

 No Alohawk names are on his deeds. Some land was added on 

 the east in 1637, and his tract was 24 miles long and 48 wide. 

 With no Mahicans now intervening, the Dutch had closer rela- 

 tions with the Alohawks. A few Mahicans lingered in their old 

 homes and those who had removed were sometimes hostile, but 

 at a later day many returned to New York and the old foes 

 became allies and friends. 



Chapter 6 



French visit Hurons and Neutrals. Daillon in New York. Increase of 

 Iroquois trade and strength. War with Canadian Indians. Van Curler's 

 journey to Oneida. Each of the Five Nations first mentioned by name. 

 Fear of Mohawks in New England. Canoe fight. Huron war continues. 

 A Neutral tribe joins the Hurons. Fries described. Iroquois retaliate 

 on French. Montreal founded. Onontio. French forts built. Jogues 

 taken. Mohawk sacrifice. 



Meanwhile the French power was developing in Canada, 

 opposed to the Dutch in religion, nationality and trade, and this 

 soon greatly affected the Iroquois nations. Of their kindred 

 north of Lake Erie brief mention has already been made. All 

 were populous and powerful, but less warlike than others. Their 

 towns were well defended, but not so well as those of the Iro- 

 quois. During war they abandoned many of their frontier towns, 

 and thus the Petuns and Hurons, once having towns farther 

 east, were now thickly grouped between Lake Simcoe and the 

 Georgian bay. The researches of Mr A. F. Hunter and others 

 in locating and describing the ossuaries and town sites of these 

 nations, have greatly enlarged our knowledge of their strength 

 and age, and have shown the way in which they drew back into 

 their historic abodes. The Neutrals seemed to have little to 

 dread, and yet at last withdrew their outlying villages in New 

 York, confining- themselves to their territory between Niagara 

 and Detroit. 



These populous nations quickly attracted the attention of both 

 missionaries and traders. Father Joseph le Caron went to the 

 Hurons in 161 5, with 12 French traders. Champlain found him 



