Page:Archæologia Americana—volume 2, 1836.djvu/95

 SECT. II.] ALGONKIN-LENAPE AND IROQUOIS NATIONS. 59 and while that matter was in debate, a speech was delivered by the Indian Chief Tachanoontia ; a portion of which we will quote, as it proves by his own declaration, that the more western Indians of Virginia were Lenape tribes. It must be premised that the termination i-oonaw, borrowed from the Al- gonkin Ireni (men), was used by the Iroquois, to designate Indians of the Algonkin language. " All the world knows we conquered the several nations living on Sasquahannah, Cohongoronta (Potomac), and on the back of the great mountains in Virginia ; the Conoyuch-such- roonaw, the Cohnowas-ronow,* the Tohoairough-roonaw, and the Konnutskinough-Yoonaw feel the effects of our conquests, being now a part of our nations, and their lands at our disposal. We know very well, it hath often been said by the Virginians, that the Great King of England, and the people of that Colony, conquered the Indians who lived there ; but it is not true. We will allow they have conquered the Sachdagugh- roonawf (Powhatans), and drove back the Tuscaroraws, and that they have on that account a right to some part of Virginia ; but as to what lies beyond the mountains, we conquered the nations residing there, and that land, if the Virginians ever get a good right to it, it must be by us." The first attempt by the British to colonize North America was made in the year 1585, on the coast of North Carolina, at the small island of Roanoke. From the few words collect- ed by Ralph Lane and Heriot, in Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds, and from Lawson's vocabulary of the Pamlicos, it is evident that the shores of those Sounds, from the Virginia line to the vicinity of Neuse River and Cape Hatteras, were inhabited by Lenape tribes. The Pamlicos were reduced by a great mortality in 1695 ; % ana according to Lawson, that particular tribe was reduced to fifteen warriors in the year 1708. perhaps the Conoys of Potomac, and the Kanhawas of the River Kanhawa. -~ f Sachdagughs are the same as the Powhatans. (Evans s Analysis.) I Archdale.
 * 1) Here are two names nearly similar, given to two distinct tribes,