ABORIGINAL USE OF WOOD IN NEW YORK 



135 



There was a mention of this picture writing in 1642, when Father 

 Jogues was captured by the Mohawks : " These barbarians, returning 

 to their country, painted their victories on the trees which bordered 

 the mouth of their river; they placed on the banks the heads of 

 those whom they had massacred ; they scrawled the visage of their 

 prisoners ; the figure of poor Isaac Jogues appeared among the 

 others." Relation, 1642 



Loskiel described this custom for memorial purposes: 



They generally chuse a tall well-grown tree, standing upon an 

 eminence, and peeling the bark on one side, scrape the wood till it 

 becomes white and clean. They then draw with ruddle, the figure 

 of the hero whose exploits they wish to celebrate, clad in his armor, 

 and at his feet as many men without heads or arms as fell by his 

 own hands. These drawings may last above fifty years, and it is 

 a great consolation to the dying warrior, that his glorious deeds will 

 be preserved so long. Loskiel, 1 125 



In the unpublished Moravian journals these and other posts are 

 often mentioned. When Cammerhofr and Zeisberger were going 

 to Onondaga in 1750, they camped one night where " were 3 posts 

 painted red, on which the Indians had fastened by their feet, accord- 

 ing to their usual custom, the 3 Gatabes [Catawbas] whom they 

 had taken prisoner." Cammerhoff 



They crossed a creek flowing into the east side of Cayuga lake, 

 which seems to be Salmon creek, then called Gientachne. War 

 parties usually encamped there: 



Here we saw the whole chancery court or archives of the Gajukas, 

 [Cayugas] painted or hanging in the trees. Our Gajuka gave us 

 a lengthy explanation of it all. W r hen the great warriors go to war 

 against the Gatabees, they make a painting of themselves. We saw 

 several of these fine works of art done in Indian style. On their 

 return they add their deeds in a painting, showing how many scalps 

 they have taken, what they bring with them in the shape of treasures, 

 bracelets, wampum and the like. The Gajuka pointed out to us 

 with much importance, what he had himself painted, as he had been 

 to war twice. The one time he had brought back 8 prisoners and 

 2 scalps, and on the other occasion 3 prisoners. Cammerhoff 



When near Nine Mile creek, between Skaneateles and Onondaga, 

 they came to another place of less note. The Cayuga guide 



