Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/142

 114 Sloan's Architectural Review and Builders' Journal. [August, DIPLOMACY— WHITE AND RED. the quiet decadence of this once and again warlike tribe, as well as the con- templative ease and quiet of the infant white community — the one never again, save for a momentary sprouting, in- stantly frost-killed, to see ensiling spring — the other replete with burgeons and buds yet yielding perennial leafage, flowers and fruit. As a high solemnity, the likelihood is, that it comprised three consecutive days : the informal confer- ence, with friendly conversation ; the formal discussion, involving Christian persuasion and lofty Indian oratory ; and the sacred convention, typified by the interchange of engrossed vellum and symbolic wampum. ABORIGINAL TOPOGRAPHY. King Tamanen and Matamequan,* on the 23d of fourth month, 1683, [equiva- lent to February 23d, 1683, now,] sell to William Penn lands from Neshameneh creek to Pemapecka, [now Pennypack creek.] — Watson. Watson is right in wishing to have located and surveyed, for public use, the two ancient Indian trails sketched on the diagram accompanying Governor —Thomas Holmes' requisition to survey the laud bought for William Penn, July 30th, 1685, of Shakkoppoh, Secane, and other Sachems. The ground-plot of the survey goes in a direct line from Phila- delphia to a spot upon the Susquehan- nah, at about three miles above the " Conestogan," near to a spot marked " Fort demolished." The line crosses two Indian paths, running each northwest by north ; the first at fifteen miles from Philadelphia, at " Rocljy Run." the other at thirty-eight miles distant, near a rivulet, "two miles beyond Doe Run." They are probably the line of original incursion of the Lenni Lenape on their aggressive march, from the far north- west, against the Allegewi, the Watling street and Irming street of savage North America. enterer [into a bouse]. Granville John Penn remarks : " It "would appear that the great Treaty of " 1682 was conducted, throughout, with " the usual circumstances of diplomatic " action on both sides. First, there were " the preliminary negotiations through " his Commissioners, prior to the arrival " of William Penn in this country, by " whose hands he sends a letter, in which " he says : ' I desire to enjoy it, [my " ' Province,] with your love and con- " ' sent.' I shall shortly come to you "myself, at which time we may more " largety and freely confer and discourse " of these matters ; in the mean time I "have sent my Commissioners to treat " with you about land, and a firm league " of peace. Let me desire yo to be " kind to them and the people, and re- "ceive these presents and tokens, which " I have sent you, as a testimony of my " good will, and my resolution to live "justly, peaceably, and friendly with "you." This was in 1681. Ebeling relates : " William Penn found means to acquire the favor of the In- dians, not only by solemn conferences and treaties, but by friendly visits and conversations in their own language, assisting at their festivals, making pres- ents, and so forth." PENN'S INDIAN OUTLAY AND INDIAN ACQUIREMENTS. Mr. Oldmixon observes : " This friend- ship and civility of the Pennsylvania Indians are attributed to Mr. Penn the Proprietary's extreme humanity and bounty to them, he having laid out some thousands of pounds to support and oblige them." This would not be less than £4,000, equivalent to £20,000, now- a-days, or, with average exchange against us, about $106,000, gold, in presents. We require no very elaborate computation to show that a pound then was equivalent to five pounds now. The yearly incomes of the heroines of the
 * Tamanen means, The affable, and Matamequan, The