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First sheet Origin of the Indians Page 1
The Cherokees say that the first man and woman were red people, or Indians - that all before the flood were Indians, that the family saved from the flood were Indians; and that the Indians were such of the descendants of that family as were not affected by the confusion of languages, and are of course the real people, as their name indicates. They say however that their great ancestors had twelve sons, from whom came twelve tribes - that their fathers were believers of God above all other people, and that God told them they should be the father of all other nations. They speak of two very noted kings of theirs, one before and the other since the flood; this last they say was also a preacher & taught them many things. They speak also of two remarkable journies, one when fleeing from their enemies to a country which God had given them, and the other when they came to this continent. With regard to the seven clans or families in each tribe, they suppose that there were the posterity of seven families, and of course the individuals of each, are considered as members of the same family still, and not allowed to intermarry with each other, being blood connexions.
When they came to this continent, a certain tribe Delawares, took the lead. These were the grand fathers of all the other Indians, while the Cherokees were uncles to the Creeks, Choctaws, Chicasaws & some other tribes, again, were brothers to the Cherokees. Thus all the red people on this continent are one people, the descendants of the same family. On their journey as they came to a great water, either just before crossing, or just after, they are not sure, they separated, a part going Northwardly, and a part Southwardly. Those who went to the North settled in two towns called Ka no wo gi, & Nu ta gi. The Cherokees say that anciently people, three or four hundred years, were considered boys till 20 or 30 years old, and then warriors till 50 or 60. The Indians speak of their ancient prophets, who conversed with God & made know his will, and especially of one, who was their leader in the wilderness, to whom God gave a law marked on stone & other instructions, marked on skin and directions respecting their priests, their feasts, sacrifices, dances & &
They speak of a great town of theirs, anciently, with a high stone wall around it and houses with flat roofs. They seem to ascribe the departure of God from them and their calamities for a long time to the wickedness of one warrior, who indulged in unlawful disires [desires] & conversations