268 THE INDIAN OCCUPANCY 



J. G. Henderson is of the opinion that "the Neutrals occu- 

 pied the north side of the lake (Erie) their territory extending 

 perhaps across the Niagara River but never stretching around 

 the end of the lake westward", (i). 



Mr. Coyne, an authority on the Neutrals, included in that 

 nation the "associate nation" of the Wenroes. He thus extends 

 the eastern frontier of the Neutral Nation to within "a day's 

 journey of the Iroquois" or to a point between Oak Orchard 

 Creek and the Genesee River. (2). 



From the foregoing data and opinions we may safely con- 

 clude that the Neutral country was bounded on the north by 

 Lake Ontario and by an indeterminate line drawn from the head 

 of this lake to a point on the shore of Lake Huron, south of 

 Goderich. Eastward it extends across the Niagara River as far 

 at least as Lockport. East of the Niagara it extended at least 

 as far south as Tonawanda Creek, and perhaps to Eighteen 

 Mile Creek; and west of the Niagara to Lake Erie. On the west 

 it was bounded by the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair and St. 

 Clair River. 



Their country elicited praise from every visitor. It was 

 "incomparably larger, more beautiful and better" than any of 

 the surrounding countries. It abounded in game of all kinds. 

 Beavers were so abundant that in one year Yroquet, an Algon- 

 kin hunter and 20 of his men, secured five hundred skins (3). 

 Its streams and lakes were filled with fish. Its soil was excel- 

 lent ("excellentes terres") ; consequently the Neutrals were 

 noted for the abundance of their squashes, beans, corn and 

 tobacco." A very good oil which they call "Atouronton" was 

 found there. 



In this delectable land lived a numerous and sedentary 

 people. In Father Dallion's time, 1626, the Neutrals lived in 

 "twentyeight towns, cities and villages, made like those in the 

 Huron country, and also several little hamlets of seven or eight 

 cabins, built in various parts convenient for fishing, hunting or 



1. Quoted in note in Jes. Relations, Burrows edition. Vol. 21, P. 313 

 Note n. 



2. James H. Coyne, St. Thomas, Ont, in "The Country of the Neu- 

 trals", P. 10 of "Historical Sketches of the County of Elgin". 



3. Father Joseph De La Roche Dallion's letter, 1627, from Torachin, 

 Huronia, quoted in Father Chretien Le Clerq's, "First Establishment of 

 the Faith". 



