ABORIGINAL USE OF WOOD IN NEW YORK IO9 



of the fire in a cabin; and the other Division places itself on the 

 other side." O'Callaghan, 1 14 



Van der Donck refers to something different, and perhaps 

 Algonquin : 



We have seen some counterfeit representations of trumpets in 

 their strong houses or castles, wherein they hold their council 

 assemblies, but their paintings are not spirited and ingenious. They 

 also paint their shields, and war hammers or clubs, and in their 

 houses on the rail-work, they paint representations of canoes and 

 animals, which are not well done. Van der Donck, 5:164 



If this writer had indeed been in Mohawk towns and seen their 

 long houses, it is curious that he should have passed over so plain 

 and common a feature in speaking of house paintings. 



Heckewelder seems to refer to the painting of these house totems 

 as a general custom: 



The Indians, in their hours of leisure, paint their different marks 

 or badges on the doors of their respective houses, that those who 

 pass by may know to which tribe the inhabitants belong. Those 

 marks also serve them for signatures to treaties and other docu- 

 ments. Heckewelder, p.254 



One superstitious custom, connected with cabins, seems to have 

 been quite general. It was not so singular as one of the Canadian 

 Algonquins, of a kindred nature. When an inmate died among 

 these, they lifted the bark above the spot, that the soul might pass 

 out of the cabin, but some thought it found its way through the 

 chimney or other opening above. Sometimes they hastened it by 

 beating on the cabin with sticks. This was called gannitenton by 

 the early Mohawks. In 1655 an Erie girl was killed at Onondaga: 



Towards evening the murderer, or some one else, had it cried 

 aloud through the streets and by the cabins that such a person had 

 been put to death. Then every one began to make a noise with 

 his feet and hands ; some, with sticks, struck upon the barks of the 

 cabins to frighten the soul of the deceased, and to drive it far away. 

 Relation, 1656 



Wentworth Greenhalgh saw a similar scene at the Seneca town 

 of Tiotohatton in 1677. Several prisoners had been put to death. 

 " Art night we heard a great noyse as if y e houses had all fallen, 

 butt itt was onely ye Inhabitants driving away y e ghosts of y e 

 murthered." O'Callaghan, 1 113 



