EARTHENWARE OF THE NEW YORK ABORIGINES 83 



Soapstone is common in the New England states^ and Mr John 

 J. Alton said, in writing of its ancient inhabitants^ * I have never 

 seen a fragment of baked clay pottery made by these Indians.' This 

 is merely negative testimony^ for it is found there in some places, 

 and early writers mention its use and mianufacture. In Gosnold's 

 voyages it is said of the Indians of Marthas Vineyard, that ' the 

 necks of their pipes are made of clay hard dried, (whereof in the 

 island is great store, both red and white) the other part is a piece 

 of hollow copper, very finely closed and cemented together.' The 

 references to pipes with copper bowls are certainly curious, and 

 there can be no doubt of the occasional use of copper in other ways. 



The pottery in some parts of Ohio closely resembles that of New 

 York, and this remark also applies to some earthworks as well. The 

 natural conclusion, confirmed by early maps, is that the Iroquois 

 family held all the country on the south shore of Lake Erie 300 

 years ago. It is every way probable that nearly all of Ohio was 

 then in the possession of the Eries and their kindred. T^^ inland 

 homes of the former are mentioned in the Relation of 1648. ' This 

 lake^ named Erie, was formerly inhabited on its southern shores by 

 certain peoples whom we call the nation of the Cat; who have been 

 obliged to withdraw into the lands in order to get away from their 

 enemies, who are more towards the west. These people of the Cat 

 have a number of fixed villages, for they cultivate the ground, and 

 are of the same language as our Hurons.' 



Some of the usual types of clay vessels ornamented like those of 

 the Iroquois, have been found in New York city, near the Harlem 

 river, by Messrs Chenoweth, Calver and others. Some of these are 

 quite large. The largest vessel found in 1890 was 2 feet high and 

 18 inches in diameter,, while others were nearly as large. On the 

 other hand, some fragments were very coarse in every way, and 

 had local peculiarities. 



Mr W. W. Tooker, of Sag Harbor^ said of the earthenware of 

 Long Island, ' It is found wherever we find traces of the Indian's 

 footsteps. Much of it is ornamented by cords^ incised lines^ by the 

 impression of the thumb, by the finger nail, and in other ways.' He 

 restored one large vessel out of 184 pieces, and found two smaller 



