SW_GH1804_123

mile; being about the twentieth part of our present population in the same territory, and the hundreth of that of the British Islands. The numbers of some of them are stated as they were in the year 1669, when an attempt was made by the Assembly to enumerate them. Probably the enumeration is imperfect, and in some measure conjectural, and that a further search into the records would furnish many more particulars. What would be the melancholy sequel of their hsitory, may, however, be augured from the census of 1669, by which we discover that the tribes therein mentioned and enumerated, were, in the space of 62 years re-duced to about one-third of their former number. Spirituous liquors, the small pox, war, and an abridgment of territory, to a people who lived principally on the spontaneous productions of nature, had committed great havoc among them. That the lands of this country (Virginia,) were taken from them by conquest, is not so general a truth as is supposed. We find in our histo-ries and records, repeated proofs of purchase which cover a considerable part of the lower country, and many more would doubtless be found on further search. The upper country, we know, has been acquired altogether by pur-chases made in the most unexceptionable form, westward of all these tribes, beyond the moun-tains, and extending to the great lakes on the Massawomics, a most powerful confederacy, who