nt on their territory, and it
resulted in a long war.

The people of the north were too skillful in the use of bows and arrows,
and could endure hardships which proved fatal to a foreign people. At
last, the northern people gained the victory, and all the towns and
forts were totally destroyed and left in ruins.<45> If this tradition
stood alone, it would not be deserving of much attention, but we
know the Iroquois tribes did originally live in the valley of the St.
Lawrence. We also feel sure the Mound Builders were a powerful people,
and lived in the Ohio Valley. What is there unreasonable, therefore,
in supposing that the Iroquois came in contact with them, and that this
tradition rests on facts?

But this tradition is very similar to one among the Delawares. This
tribe spoke a different stock language than the Iroquois, and belonged
to the Algonquin division of the Indian tribes. There were many wars
between the Delawares and the Iroquois, but finally the latter were
acknowledged masters. It is well to keep this in mind, because with this
feeling between the two tribes, they would not be apt to have similar
traditions unless there was a basis of fact.<46>

Mr. Gallatin informs us that the original home of the Algonquins was
to the north of Lake Superior. The tradition states that the Delawares
(they called themselves the Leni-lenape) were living in a cold, fir-tree
country--evidently the wooded regions north of Lake Superior. Getting
tired of this country, they set out towards the East in search of a
better place, and probably followed the lake shore around until they
finally came to a great river--that is, the Detroit. The country
beyond was inhabited by a numerous and powerful people, called the
Allegewi,<47> who dwelt in great fortified towns. Here they found the
Huron-Iroquois tribes. This was before the Iroquois had separated from
the Hurons.

Some treachery on the part of the Allegewi was made the occasion of war.
The Leni-lenape and the Hurons united their forces. This is perhaps the
Confederacy of Cusic. A long war resulted, but in the end the Allegewi
were defeated, and, as the tradition states, "all went southward."<48>
We see no reason to doubt but what we have here a traditional account of
the overthrow of the Mound Builders. The remnant that fled south found
the country inhabited by mound-building tribes, and doubtless became
absorbed among them. In confirmation of this view it may be said that
the