File:Section of the 1670 Lederer map - Smithsonian miscellaneous collections (1931) (14784530765).jpg

Identifier: smithsonianmisce821931sm (find matches)
Title: Smithsonian miscellaneous collections
Year: 1862 (1860s)
Authors: Smithsonian Institution
Subjects: Science
Publisher: Washington : Smithsonian Institution
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
to Mahock. Theformer was the Mowhemcho of Smith, the latter was undoubtedlyanother form of Massinacack. from which the present name of thecreek has been derived. Two streams are represented coming togetherat Mahock and at once suggest the confluence of the James and theRivanna, but it probably indicates the creek now bearing the nameMohawk flowing into the James. This was,-without doubt, the siteof the ancient village of Massinacack. Lederers narrative is vague and uncertain, the distances givenare not reliable, but the names of streams and of places which appearon the map and are repeated in the text may be quite accurate. Forthis reason the present Mohawk Creek is believed to have been theMahock of Lederer. By continuing due westward from this creekthe party would have reached the James flowing in a northerly ^ Lederer, John, The discoveries of ... . Begun in March 1669, and endedin September 1670. London, 1672. Reprint, Rochester, 1902. NO. 12 MONACAN TOWNS IN VIRGINIA BUSHNEl.L II
Text Appearing After Image:
Fig. 3.—Section of the Lederer map, 1670, showing the trail up the James toAlonakin and Mahock, with Sapon Nahissan far to the southwest. 12 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 82 direction; this was probably what they considered to be the south-branch of James river, which Major Harris observing to run north-ward, vainly imagined to be an arm of the lake of Canada. During the i8th century there was an important ferry acrossthe James at. or very near, the site of this early native settlement.Leading southward from the ferry was a road over which colonistswent to Carolina. As many of the roads developed by the firstsettlers followed the lines of ancient trails it is within reason tobelieve the same route had been traversed by Indians throughgenerations. RASSAWEK No account has been discovered of a European having visitedthe village of Rassawek, although early writers referred to it as theprincipal town of the Monacan confederacy. Smith wrote in 1612: Upon the head of the Powha

Note About Images