Mr. Edwards.
Was instructor of a few families of Iroquois, who came down
from their country for the sake of christian knowledge and
the schooling of their children. These families consisted of
Mohawks, Oneidas and Tuscaroras. I was their school-master
and preached to them on the Lord's day. Mr. Edwards visited
my school, catechised my scholars, and frequently delivered
a discourse to the children."
This quotation may serve to show what kind of man this early
missionary was, and the deep interest then felt in the education and
civilization of the aborigines. The formality with which the clerical
harness was put on in the historic Old South Church, is strikingly in
contrast with the way the missionary to the Indians is equipped
now-a-days.
In the following quotations the dates are of the year 1753. May 22d of
that year, a party consisting of Mr. Hawley, Mr. Woodbridge, a Mr.
Ashley and Mrs. Ashley, set out from Stockbridge for Oquaga.
May 30th, 1753, a little more than a week after leaving Stockbridge,
the party had its first view of the Susquehanna at Colliers. As the
journal gives some description of our valley as it was then--one
hundred and thirty years ago--I quote freely:
"Our way was generally obstructed by fallen trees, old logs, miry
places, pointed rocks and entangled roots, which were not to be
avoided.
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