their warriors by thousands. They were
called by the Iroquois TODERICHROONES, one of the tribes known to the
English as Catawbas, sometimes called Saponies. They formerly resided
between the Potomac and Roanoke rivers, east of the Alleghanies. A
most inveterate hostile feeling existed between them and the Iroquois,
which reached back to near the middle of the seventeenth century. A
peace was arranged as early as 1685, through negotiations with the
government of Virginia, and again what was expected to be a "lasting
peace" and firm alliance, was concluded in 1714, but in the night
after the close of the council, the Iroquois deputies, while reposing
in fancied security were treacherously murdered while asleep. This
aroused the Iroquois to vengeance, and the war was renewed with
unexampled ferocity, with a determination to totally extirpate the
base, faithless and treacherous people. In 1717 through the
intercession of Governor Hunter, at the request of Governor Spottswood
of Virginia, a truce was arranged, and in 1722 delegates from the Five
Nations met Governor Spottswood at Albany to conclude what was to be
an "everlasting peace," in which the Iroquois bound themselves not to
cross the Potomac or go over the Alleghanies, without a passport from
the Governor of New York, Governor Spottswood engaging that the tribes
in his locality should not pass to the north or west of same lines.
The tribes mentioned by the Governor were the "NOTTOWAYS, MEHERINS,
NANSEMONDS, PAMUNKEYS, CHICOHOMINYS, and the CHRISTANNA INDIANS whom
you call TODERICHROONES," and others--in all, ten nations. This
council was conducted with great formality, and valuable presents were
presented, among which were a "_fine coronet_" and a "_gold horse
shoe_" with an inscription. In 1738 they were again at war, and in
1742 at peace. In 1731 Governor Clinton says "the Governor of South
Carolina sent six chiefs of the Catawbas, to make peace with the Five
Nations," and says that "they had been at war as long as any one in
this country can remember." In 1753 Sir William Johnson mentions the
fact that the Cayugas "_are about to strengthen their castle by taking
in the_ TEDARIGHROONES." In the same year they are mentioned as
attending a conference at Mt. Johnson and are described as "one of the
nine confederate nations." The town is indicated at the head of Cayuga
lake on the Guy Johnson map of 1771, in the same position where it was
found by Colonel Dearborn in 17