90 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 jdy 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 



