SWANTON] INDIANS OF THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES 149 



River near the present Gholsonville, Va., in 1Y14. In 1728 Byrd re- 

 ported that they had united with the Saponi and Occaneechi under 

 the name of the former. The remnant evidently accompanied the 

 Tutelo and Saponi to New York, and from this time on they disap- 

 pear from history. 



Manahoac population. — This is nowhere entered apart from the 

 population of other tribes. Mooney estimated that there were 1,200 

 in 1600, but I would reduce this figure to 1,000. 



MEHERRIN 



This tribe was found by the Virginia colonists on the river of the 

 same name. Edward Blande and his companions visited them in 1650, 

 calling them "Maharineck." They are noted later, in 1669, as the 

 "Menhey ricks." After the disruption of the Susquehana Indians 

 about 1675, a part of them seem to have joined this tribe, giving rise 

 to the belief that the latter were all of Susquehanna or Conestoga 

 descent. In April 1728, Byrd learned from three Meherrin Indians 

 that they had deserted their ancient town near the mouth of Meherrin 

 River for fear of the Catawba, who had killed 14 of them on the east 

 side of Chowan. In 1761 the southern Tuscarora, Meherrin, and 

 southern Saponi were on and near Roanoke River, and the Meherrin 

 probably united ultimately with the first named. 



Meherrin population, — In the census of Virginia Indians made in 

 1669, they were said to have had 50 bowmen, which would mean a 

 total population of about 180. This figure is repeated in 1709. In 

 1755 there were said to be 7 or 8 fighting men. In 1761, 20 were 

 returned, but this seems to have been owing to a confusion of notes. 

 Mooney estimated 700 for the year 1600. 



MICHIGAMEA 



The "old country" of this tribe was about the headwaters of the 

 Sangamon River in Illinois, but in 1673 Marquette found them in 

 northeastern Arkansas on a lake, perhaps the present Big Lake, 

 though the disturbances created by the earthquake of New Madrid 

 may have changed considerably the topography in this section. 

 Toward the end of the seventeenth century, they were driven out of 

 Arkansas by the Quapaw or Chickasaw, and joined the Kaskaskia 

 in the territory of the present Illinois. Du F'ratz says that they 

 united with the Quapaw, and a part may have done so. The name 

 of the tribe appears as late as the year 1818, but they must have lost 

 their identity by the middle of the nineteenth century. 



Michigamea population, — Chauvignerie (1736) estimates 250 war- 

 riors, but this figure must be too high, as he gives only 508 for the 



