Page:Archæologia Americana—volume 2, 1836.djvu/107

 SECT. II.] ALGONKIN-LENAPE AND IROQUOIS NATIONS. 71 The only communication of the Hurons, with the infant colony of Canada, was by the river Ottawa, of a difficult navi- gation interrupted by numerous portages. The Five Nations directed their attacks to that quarter, cut off the several trading parties, which were in the habit of descending and ascending the river once a year, and intercepted the communication so effectually, that, about the year 1646, the Missionaries on Lake Huron were three years without receiving any supplies from Quebec. The Hurons who had lost several hundred warriors in those engagements became dispirited and careless. They indeed abandoned the smaller villages and fortified the larger. This only accelerated their ruin. In the year 1649, the Five Nations invaded the country with all their forces, attacked and carried one after the other the most considerable of those places of refuge, and massacred all the inhabitants.* The destruction was completed in the course of the ensuing year. A part of the Hurons fled down the Ottawa River and sought an asylum in Canada, where they were pursued by their im- placable enemies even under the walls of Quebec. The greater part of the Ahrendas,f and several detached bands, surrender- ed and were incorporated into the Five Nations. The remnant of the Tionontates took refuge amongst the Chippeways of Lake Superior. Others were dispersed towards Michilimackin- ac, or in some more remote quarters. This event was immedi- ately followed, as has already been stated, by the dispersion of the Algonkin Nations of the Ottawa River. Tn 167 L the Tionontates, after an unsuccessful war with the Sioux, left Lake Superior for Michilimackinac, where they rallied around them the dispersed remnants of the other tribes of their nation, and probably of the Andastes and other kin- dred tribes, which had been likewise nearly exterminated by the Five Nations. Some years later they removed to Detroit, in the vicinity of their ancient seats. And, though reduced to two villages, they resumed their ascendency over the Algonkin tribes and acted a conspicuous part with great sagacity in the ensuing conflicts between the French and the Five Nations. prisoners and burnt alive by the Iroquois. Eijjht or ten Jesuits were killed in Canada, at different times, whilst on their missionary duties. •j- Charlevoix says the villages of St. John and St. Michel. These were names imposed by the Missionaries, and, as appears by the Relations, both places were inhabited by that tribe.
 * The two Missionaries, Brebeuf and Lallemand, Jr., were made