BUFFALO SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCES 289 



sixteen members, one half of whom are elected to represent the 

 different clans by the women of the clans. In 1890, there were 

 in New York State, 2,680 Senecas, of whom 1,355 lived on the 

 Cattaraugus Reservation and 518 on the Tonawanda Reservation. 

 The majority of the Senecas are "Pagans", that is they are not 

 Christians. In the Cattaraugus Reservation are two villages, one 

 grouped about the churches at Iroquois, the other at the east end 

 of the Reservation. On both reservations the people are mostly 

 farmers, and some fine farms are found there. Much of the land, 

 however, is still wild and wooded. Many of the people work for 

 their white neighbors, on farms or in the canning factories; and 

 some few of the primitive manufactures are still carried on. 

 Baskets are made of strips of elm or ash, and many are very 

 artistically made. Some have become professional actors in 

 various Indian plays. The Indians who sell flowers on the streets 

 of Buffalo are mostly from the Cattaraugus Reservation. 



The Tuscaroras. (1). 



On the "Mountain Ridge" in the township of Lewiston, 

 overlooking the beautiful Ontario Plain, lies the parcel of land 

 known as the Tuscarora Reservation. On this, supported by 

 their farms, live the thrifty, intelligent and prosperous Sixth 

 Nation of the Iroquois Confederacy, the Tuscaroras. 



Their occupancy of the Niagara Frontier is the result of a 

 long series of misfortunes, troubles and wanderings. Some of 

 these are known through history, some only through traditions 

 of the nation. 



The tradition of the origin and early wanderings of the Tus- 

 caroras is preserved in the writings of Elias Johnson, a chief of 

 the nation. According to this tradition ( 2 ) the six nations, after- 

 ward to be the Iroquois Confederacy, was led by Ta-ren-ya-wa-go, 

 Holder of the Heavens, until five of the nations had settled in 

 what is now Central New York. "The sixth and last family 

 went on their journey toward the sun-setting until they touched 

 the bank of the great lake which was named Kanha-gwa-roh-ka 



i. Various names have been given the Tuscaroras. Thos. Jefferson 

 called them "Monacans". Mr. Cusick calls them "Kau-ta-noh" and "Esan- 

 rora". Mr. Johnson calls them "On-gwe.hon-wa". Their land was 

 ' ' Dusga-o- weh- o" . 



2. Elias Johnson, in "The Legends, Traditions and Laws of the Iro- 

 quois". P. 44. 



