Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. IV
It must have been thro' hurry that I neglected giving you in my former Letter, the Numbers of the other Indians which T am well acquainted with. The Onondagas can muster about 200 fighting Men, The Cayugas about 260, The Senecas, including those of this about 1000. but there are besides, many of every Nation Settled with other Tribes at and about the Suquehanna &ea which if added to their respective Nations would encrease the number, and the Tuscaroras, alone since the last body of them came from the Southward to Joyn the rest may now [make] abt
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near 250. so that the Whole of the Six Nations without including any others will Amount to 2000 fighting Men, by which the Number of souls may be calculated in the usual manner.
I am sensible that Example will go farther than precept in the Introducing Arts or Mechanics amongst them The advantage of 'which they will daily grow more sensible of. Dt Wheelock has been so sanguine in these matters that he has made no advances worth mentioning in that way whatever may be reported, as to Smiths they are so necessary to them that they would readily admit them and indeed they were formerly allowed them in their villages at the Expense of the Government, & perhaps Carpenters might also be agreable for if these Mechanics were well inspected & Confined solely to their Trades, (which is a very difficult matter to effect) some of the Indians would doubtles be allured in a little time to apply themselves to Arts so usefull to themselves, & their proficiency in one or Two Arts, béyond which we should not go in the beginning would prepare them to receive others which at present are not necessary to their manner of Living--Tho' farming would be a most necessary acquirement, and which I believe they may-be brought to in Time.