From: The Development of Central and Western New York
By:
Clayton Mau 1958
The Chief Interests of the Iroquois -
In 1670 Father Estienne de Carheil was at Oiogoen, or Goiogouen, a Cayuga village which seems, at various times, to have had different locations. At that time it probably was situated a few miles south of the present village of Union Springs, in Cayuga County. The chief interests of the Indians of this village are described by Carheil in the following passages:
The ideas of all these tribes [Iroquois] prompt them to the pursuit of nothing but hunting and warfare. Among them are seen only parties of twenty, thirty, or fifty men, -of a hundred, and sometimes of two hundred; rarely do they go to the number of a thousand in a single band. These bands are divided, to go some in quest of men, and others of beasts; they make war more like highwaymen than like soldiers; and their expeditions are made rather by means of surprises than by regular battles. They rest all their glory in coming home accompanied
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by captives, -men, women, and children, -or loaded with the scalps
of those whom they have killed in combat.
It may further be said that there is nothing more inimical to our Missions than the victories that these peoples gain over their enemies, because by these victories they are made insolent; while there is nothing more desirable for the advancement of Christianity in this country than the humiliation of these spirits, -breathing, as they do, only blood and carnage; making it their glory to kill and burn people; and their brutal and passionate hearts offering such positive opposition to the gentle and humble spirit of JESUS CHRIST.
54 J. R., Dc Carheil, Relation of 1669270, pp. 73-75.
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The Cayuga Country
The following description of the Cayuga country was written in 1672 by Father Pierre Raffeix:
Goiogouen [Cayuga] is the fairest country that I have seen in America. Its latitude is 42 1/2 degrees, and the variation of the magnetic needle there is scarcely more than ten degrees. It is a tract situated between two Lakes, and not exceeding four leagues in width, consisting of almost uninterrupted plains, the woods bordering which are extremely beautiful. . Around Goiogouen there are killed annually more than a thousand Deer.
Fish -salmon, as well as eels and other kinds -are as plenty here at Onnontague‚ [Onondaga]. Four leagues from here I saw by the side of a river, within a very limited space, eight or ten extremely fine salt-springs. Many snares are set there for catching pigeons, from seven to eight hundred being often taken at once. Lake Tiohero [Cayuga Lake], one of the two adjoining our village, is fully fourteen leagues long by one or two wide. Swans and Bustards [geese] are very abundant there, during the entire Winter; and in Spring one sees nothing but continual ctouds of all sorts of wild fowl.
...There are estimated to be more than three hundred warriors here, and a prodigious number of little children.
56 J. R., Raffcix, Relation of 1671-'72, pp. 49-5 I.
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