developed, does not stop in its search, but seeks for universal information. When we consider, that, by the munificence of Mr. Fatzinger, a LIBRARY has been secured in perpetuity, a library which in ten years, from his donation alone, would amount to five thousand volumes, I think we cannot fail to appreciate the inestimable benefit conferred upon the town, a benefit not temporary, but lasting. As long as literature can find a devotee, or the past a reverent worshipper, as long as memory survives, or hope is vouchsafed to mortals, books cannot die. I see no reason why, a century hence, those who come after us may not meet to celebrate the Centennial of the Waterloo Library and Historical Society, and to recall with loving, grateful praise, his name on whose foundation gift the noble structure then to be in existence, was built. It needs no prophetic vision, looking forward ten years, to behold our Society under a roof of its own building, with ample hall for meetings and lectures, an alcoved library, a daily issue of books, a reading room where at all times magazines and papers from all parts of the world invite perusal, and a collection of relics and curiosities repaying hours of study and inspection. I see it a place of resort for young and old, its walls hung with paintings and engravings and adorned with statuary, presenting, in fine, all the means for, and incentives to, æsthetic and intellectual cultivation. Within its walls will be engendered an intellectual spirit, which will go out, pervading, educating and refining all classes, entering all homes, and justly rendering our village the pride and boast of our citizens.

(APPENDIX, No. 2.)

SKOI-YASE.

-BY

GEORGE S. CONOVER.

This village of the Cayuga Indians was located on the north side of the Seneca river, within the bounds of the present village of Waterloo, in Seneca County, N. Y. The name, as given above, is on the authority of Hon. Lewis H. Morgan, in "League of the Iroquois," the signification of it, as there stated, being the "Place of Whortleberries." In the Seneca and Onondaga dialects it is Sa-yase. In the following paper the orthography will be given as it is found in the documents from which information and extracts are derived.

The journals kept by the different officers in the Sullivan campaign, have various ways of spelling and pronouncing the name, viz:-Sergeant Moses Fellows calls the place Long Falls; Major Beatty says Skaigee or Long Falls; Major Norris says Shaiyus or large falls; Sergeant Major George Grant says Schoyerre; Colonel Dearborn says Skaigee; Thomas Grant says Scawyace; Lieutenant John Jenkins says Scauwaga, and in General Sullivan's report it is Schuyero. In the proceedings of the Board of Commissioners of Indian affairs, September 4th, 1788, it is spelled Skawayes.

At the treaty with the Cayugas. at Albany, February 25th, 1789, a cession was obtained of their lands, certain reservations excepted, one of the latter being in the following language:-"also the Place in the Seneca River, at or near a Place called Skayes, where the Cayugas have heretofore taken Eel, and a competent Piece of Land on the southern Side of the River at the said Place sufficient for the Cayugas to land and encamp on and to cure their Eel." Before the sealing and delivery of this deed of cession and previous to the signature of the witnesses, some notes of erasures and corrections, as well as declarations of the construction or intent of certain parts of the treaty were made, among which is the following: "And the land to be reserved at the Fishing Place near Skayes, shall be of the Extent of one Mile on each Side of the River, the above Reservation of Land on the southern Side of the River only notwitstanding."

The cession of the lands of the Indians having been obtained, surveyors were sent out under the instructions and direction of Simeon DeWitt, the Surveyor-General of the State, to lay out the reservations, and to survey the land, which had been appropriated by acts of the Legislature to the troops of this State, in the late army of the United States, and which is now familiarly known as the military tract. Captain Abraham Hardenbergh, having been employed for this purpose, proceeded with his party to the lands of the Cayugas.

On the 5th of July, 1789, in a letter to the SurveyorGeneral, dated at Cayuga Ferry, he writes of the difficulties that beset him, stating that there was violent opposition from the Lesses at Canadesago [Geneva] and that they had induced the Indians at Buffalo Creek, at which place many of the Indians had settled after the invasion of General Sullivan's army, to repudiate the treaty; that the prominent Cayuga Chief, Fish Carrier, was very bitter in his opposition, saying that the treaty had been

made by a parcel of boys and old women, who had no authority to act for the nation, and that the Indians had ordered him to desist from surveying. He had been to Canadasego and had endeavored to resist the opposition there, and with the assistance of Colonel Seth Reed, Peter Ryckman and the Cayuga Chief, Steel Trap, had been in a measure successful, "so that I have no doubt if it became necessary to beat up for Volunteers, but I would at least be able to cope with the Lessee Party in Geneva.”* After requesting a supply of arms and ammunition, he also advises that some civil Officers should be appointed and Government be established in this Quarter," and gives the names of Dr. Caleb Benton, John McKinstry, Benjamin Allen, Lark Jennings and several others as the “Heads of the active Leasees" of whom he says, "I think it would be well if they were immediately apprehended. It would discourage the rest and bring them to serious reflection.'

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Upon receiving this information, the surveying party was speedily re-inforced with men, provisions, arms and ammunition; a portion of Montgomery county was formed into a Battalion, by Governor Clinton, who commissioned Abraham Hardenbergh as Major, John Hardenbergh and John Thornton as Captains, and Moses DeWitt and Ben

*Kanadesaga was the headquarters of the "New York Genesee Land Company," which was organized in 1787, and comprised eighty shareholders, among the foremost of whom were John Livingston, Major Peter Schuyler, Dr. Caleb Benton, Ezekiel Gilbert, John McKinstry and others. The object was to secure a Lease of all the Indian lands in the State for 999 years, doubtless relying upon their political influence to secure legislative sanction. The better to effect their purpose they gave an interest to certain traders residing in the Indian country, and a branch was organized in Canada, called the "Niagara Genesee Land Company," which enlisted the powerful influence of Colonel John Butler, Samuel Street, John Powell, Johnson and others. On the 30th of November, 1787, a lease for 999 years was procured from the Six Nations, of all their lands and, January 8th, 1788, a like lease was procured from the Oneidas, both being obtained by Livingston for himself and his associates. These leases were repudiated and declared void by the Legislature, February 16th, 1788, and by the energetic action taken under the orders of Gov. George Clinton, the object of the associates were frustrated. These leases were finally surrendered to the Board of Commissioners of Indian Affairs, on the 14th of February, 1789, by James Bryan and Benjamin Birdsall, two of the associates. Notwithstanding the failure of the project, the "Lessees" continued to wield a powerful influence with the Indians, and used their power in such di. rection as interest prompted.

jamin Dey as Lieutenants. Civil commissions were also issued, and Major Hardenbergh, Seth Reed and George Fleming were appointed Justices of the Peace, and authority was given the Major "to swear all Officers, civil and military," within the "district of the Battalion," and to set the wheels of justice in motion, organize the militia and take such action to authenticate the charges against Benton, McKinstry and others, "so that they can be legally proceeded against."

Being thus re-inforced, and having the necessary legal authority as well as the means to enforce obedience to the law, the surveyors were enabled to proceed with their work, although the disaffection of the Indians continued until June, 1790, when a further treaty was made with the Onondagas on the 16th, and with the Cayugas on the 22nd, which confirmed and ratified the preceding treaties, and which, being signed by the Fish Carrier and others prominent in their opposition, was an amicable settlement of the whole matter.

On the 3d of September, 1789, Major Hardenbergh writes from Cayuga lake to Governor George Clinton, that the large reservation and Ryckman's tract had been run out, and says that,

"Mr. Ryckman and the Cayugas insist upon it, that a Mile square on each side of the River at Scaware is reserved to the use of the Indians. Our Directions mention a competent Piece of Land on the southerly side, sufficient for the Indians to land, encamp and cure their Eels on.' Your Excellency's Orders or Directions from the Surveyor-General can only be our guide herein, and we shall be obliged to abide by our present Directions, unless new Instructions are received, for which Reason we have postponed the Survey for some time. I have only to observe that their old encamping Place is on the north side, and the southerly side is low, wet Ground."

From the foregoing, it would seem that in giving the instructions to Major Hardenbergh, the declaratory clause at the end of the treaty had been overlooked, and from the reply of Governor Clinton to the Major, dated New York, September 19th, 1789, the same had escaped his atten