The Country of the Neutrals | Page 7

was about four days' journey to the
mouth of the Niagara River. On this side of the river, and not beyond it,
as "some map" lays it down, (Champlain's, doubtless,) were most of the
"bourgs" of the Neutral Nation. There were three or four on the other
side towards the Eries. Lalemant claims, and there is no doubt as to the
fact, that the French were the first Europeans to become acquainted
with the Neutrals. The Hurons and Iroquois were sworn enemies to
each other, but in a wigwam or even a camp of the Neutrals until
recently each had been safe from the other's vengeance.
Latterly however the unbridled fury of the hostile nations had not
respected even the neutral ground of their mutual friends. Friendly as
they were to the Hurons and Iroquois, the Neutrals engaged in cruel
wars with other nations to the west, particularly the Nation of Fire, as
has been stated above. The previous year a hundred prisoners had been
taken from the latter tribe. This year, returning with 2,000 warriors, the
Neutrals had carried off more than 170. Fiercer than the Hurons, they
burned their female prisoners. Their clothing and mode of living
differed but little from those of the Hurons. They had Indian corn,
beans and pumpkins in equal abundance. Fish were abundant, different
species being met with in different places. The country was a famous
hunting ground. Elk, deer, wild cats, wolves, "black beasts" (squirrels),
beaver and other animals valuable for their skins and flesh; were in
abundance. It was a rare thing to see more than half a foot of snow.
This year there was more than three feet. The deep snow had facilitated

the hunting, and, in happy contrast with the famine which had prevailed,
meat was plentiful. They had also multitudes of wild turkeys which
went in flocks through the fields and woods. Fruits were no more
plentiful than amongst the Hurons, except that chestnuts abounded, and
wild apples were a little larger.
Their manners and customs, and family and political government, were
very much like those of the other Indian tribes, but they were
distinguished from the Hurons by their greater dissoluteness and
indecency. On the other hand they were taller, stronger and better
formed.
Their burial customs were peculiar, although similar customs are
reported at this day amongst some African tribes. The bodies remained
in their wigwams until decomposition rendered them insupportable,
when they were put outside on a scaffold. Soon afterward, the bones
were removed and arranged within their houses on both sides in sight
of the inmates, where they remained until the feast of the dead. Having
these mournful objects before their eyes, the women habitually
indulged in cries and laments, in a kind of chant.
The Neutrals were distinguished for the multitude and quality of their
madmen, who were a privileged class. Hence it was common for bad
Indians to assume the character of maniacs in order to perpetrate crimes
without fear of punishment. The Jesuits suffered very much from their
malice. Some old men told them that the Neutrals used to carry on war
"towards" a certain western nation, who would seem to have lived on
the Gulf of Mexico, where the "porcelain, which are the pearls of the
country," was obtained from a kind of oysters. It is an undoubted fact
that a traffic was carried on with tribes as far south as the Gulf of
Mexico, from whom shells used for wampum were obtained by
successive interchanges of commodities with intervening tribes. They
had also some vague notion of alligators, which are apparently referred
to by the description, "certain aquatic animals, larger and swifter than
elk," against which these same people had "a kind of war," the details
of which are somewhat amusing, as given by Lalemant.
The two Jesuits left Ste. Marie the 2nd November, 1640, with two

French servants (probably "donnes,") and an Indian. They slept four
nights in the woods. The fifth day they arrived at the first village
("bourg") of the Neutral Nation called Kandoucho, but to which they
gave the name of All Saints. This is probably the same as N. D. des
Anges on Sanson's map, and was not far perhaps from the site of
Brantford.
Owing to the unfavorable reports which had been spread through the
country about the Jesuits, the latter were anxious to explain their
purposes to a council of the chiefs and old men. The head chief, "who
managed the affairs of the public" was called Tsohahissen (doubtless
the same as Daillon's Souharissen). His "bourg" was "in the middle of
the country;" to reach it, one had to pass through several other villages
("bourgs et bourgades.") In Sanson's map, Alexis is placed almost
exactly "in the middle of the country" of the Neutrals.