(5.) p. 184. As far as I have been able to learn, the country from the fea coaft to the Alleghany, and from the mod: fouthern waters of James river up to Patuxen river, now in the (late of Maryland, was occu- pied by three different nations of Indians, each of which fpoke a different language, and were under feparate and diftinft go- vernments. What the original or real names of thofe nations were, I have not been able to learn with certainty: but by us they are diflinguiihed by the names of Powhatans, Mannahoacs, and Monacans, now commonly called Tufcaroras. The Powhatans, w^ho occupied the country from the fea fliore up to the falls of the rivers, were a powerful nation, and feem to have confifled of feven tribes, five on the weftern and two on the eaftern fhore. Each of thefe tribes was fubdivided into towns, fa- milies, or clans, who lived together. All the nations of Indians in North-America lived in the hunter ftate and depended for fubfiftence on hunting, fifliing, and the fpontaneous fruits of the earth, and a kind of grain which was planted and gathered by the women, and is now known by the name of Indian corn. Long potatoes.
pumpkins of various kinds, and fquafhes, were alfo found in ufe among them. They had no flocks, herds, or tamed animals of any kind. Their government is a kind of patriarchal confederacy. Every town or family has a chief, who is diftinguifhed by a particular title, and whom we commonly call *^ Sachem." The feveral towns or fa- milies that compofe a tribe, have a chief who prefides over it, and the feveral tribes compofing a nation have a chief who pre- fides over the whole nation. Thefe chiefs are generally men advanced in years, and diftinguifhed by their prudence and abilities in council. The matters which merely re- gard a town or family are fettled by the chief and principal men of the town : thofe which regard a tribe, fuch as the appointment of head warriors or captains, and fettling differences between different towns and families, are regulated at a meeting or council of the chiefs from the feveral towns ; and thofe which regard the whole nation, fuch as the making war, concluding peace, or forming alliances with the neigh- bouring nations,