ABORIGINAL USE OF WOOD IN NEW YORK 



129 



In an attack made by some Iroquois in Canada, in 1642, one 

 " received seven buckshot in his shield, and as many in his body." 

 Being cumbersome in the woods bucklers soon disappeared when 

 found useless, yet the Mohawk name of onneregivare for shield is 

 preserved in the vocabulary of Father Bruyas, in 1675. The Iroquois 

 might have even then found them useful in their wars in Illinois, 

 and, if not, the sight of the western shields would have kept them 

 in mind. 



A curious use of a temporary shield occurred in 1660, being the 

 one referred to by Charlevoix, when a party of Hurons and French 

 were attacked by Onondagas and Mohawks. They took shelter in 

 an abandoned fort: 



The Iroquois came headlong, and with bowed head, to gain the 

 palisade, and they aimed at sapping it by strokes of axes, with a 

 courage which made them close their eyes to all dangers, and to 

 the continual discharges which they made upon them. It is true 

 that to secure themselves from the greater part of this hail, they 

 made mantelets of three blocks of wood, bound side by side, which 

 covered them from the top of the head even to the middle of the 

 thighs, and by this means they fixed themselves under the gunners 

 of the curtains. Relation, 1660 



Another instance is that of the use of canoes as shields and ladders 

 in the Erie war. The Iroquois had attacked an Erie fort which 

 was bravely defended. Every assault of the besiegers was repulsed : 



They took counsel to use their canoes as bucklers ; they carried 

 them before them, and by favor of this shelter behold them at the 

 foot of the intrenchment. But it is needful to climb the great 

 stakes, or the trees of which it is built. They set up their same 

 canoes, and make use of them as ladders to mount upon this great 

 palisade. Relation, 1656 



This recalls what Capt. John Smith said of the Massawomeks, 

 whom he met in Virginia, and who may have been a clan of the 

 Eries. In his several accounts he showed his high esteem of their 

 defensive armor. He bought shields of these and of the Susque- 

 hannas, calling them presents. The former he found useful when 

 attacked by Indians, who had nearly taken one of his partv : 



Here, too, we found the value of Mosco's counsel, for he advised 

 us to set the Massawomek targets about the forepart of our boat, 

 like a forecastle, and they stood us in good stead, for, from behind 



