HISTORY OF THE NEW YORK IROQUOIS 147 



and natural way. Mr Hale took the same view, considering that 

 the three western nations adopted more captives or allies than 

 the Oneidas and Mohawks, and thus had more clans. 



The examination of early New York sites has thrown much 

 light on the time and manner of the Iroquois advent in New 

 York, heretofore based on doubtful grounds, though historic proof 

 seemed ample. No precise date can be given to the coming of 

 the Cayugas and Senecas, but no great age can be allowed either 

 of these. The case of the Onondagas is much clearer. The 

 former seem to have come directly from the west, and the latter 

 from the north, tarrying for awhile at the east end of Lake 

 Ontario. Early in the i6th century they had some settlements 

 in the north part of Onondaga county and south part of Oswego, 

 but did not reach the hills whence they had their name till late 

 in that century. Before its close they may have had one or two 

 towns there. One occupied about 1600, or a little later, is closely 

 connected by its relics with those having European articles. 



Possibly one early Oneida fort may be dated before 1580, but 

 the one which had the earliest of those Oneida stones which 

 gave name to the nation must have been later, and to this suc- 

 ceeded the fort attacked by Champlain in 161 5, also having its 

 great boulder. The Oneidas remained among the higher hills 

 till some time in the i8th century, when they sought the lower 

 land. Their earlier homes seem to have been on either side of 

 the St Lawrence, in the vicinity of the Oswegatchie river. From 

 these two nations we might find an approximate date for the 

 league, but Mohawk history, traditions and remains furnish much 

 plainer evidence. 



Indian tradition is no sure guide, for, even when striking events 

 are kept in mind, dates are almost certain to be confused. So 

 those who depend on popular tales vary over a century in the 

 date of the league. Mr Hale disregarded David Cusick's esti- 

 mates of time, but followed his scheme of settlement and division 

 of dialects, concluding that Mr Morgan was right in dating the 

 league about 1459. These eminent writers knew little prac- 

 tically of early Iroquois towns, and these silent witnesses did not 



