terrible havock among them, which gene- ration, under the obftacles oppofed to it among them, was not likely to make good. That the lands of this country- were taken from them by conqueft, is not fo general a truth as is fuppofed. I find in our hiftorians and records, repeated proofs of purchafe, which cover a con- fiderabJe part of the lower country; and many more would doubtlefs be found on further fearch. The upper country we know has been acquired altogether by purchafes made in the moft unexceptionable form.
Weft ward of all thefe tribes, beyond the mountains, and extending to the great lakes, were the Majfawomees, a moft powerful confederacy, who harrafled unremit- tingly the Powhatans and Manahoacs. Thefe were probably the anceftors of tribes known at prefent by the name of the Six Nations.
Very little can now be difcovered of the fubfequent hiftory of thefe tribes feverally.
f 182 ] The Chickahominies removed about the year 1 66 1, to Mattapony river. Their chief, with one from each of the Pamunkies and Mattaponies, attended the treaty of Al- bany in 1685. This feems to have been the laft chapter in their hiftory* They retained however their feparate name fo late as 1705, and were at length blended with the Pamunkies and Mattaponies, and exift at prefent only under their names.
There remain of the Mattaponies three or four men only, and have more negro than Indian blood in them. They have loft their language, have reduced themfelves, by voluntary fales, to about fifty acres of land, which lie on the river of their own name, and have from time to time, been joining the Pamunkies, from whom they are diftant but 10 miles. The Pamunkies are reduced to about 10 or 12 men, tolerably pure from mixture with other colours. The older ones among them preferve their language in a fmall degree, which are the laft veftiges on earth, as far as