History of the Town of Alexandria
MISSISSAGAUS INDIANS ROAMED THE 1000 ISLANDS
From the Thousand Islands Sun, courtesy of Jeanne Snow editor, (July 4, 1946 issue)
Who were the Mississagaus, and why did they leave the region of the Thousand Islands?
There seems to be more or less mystery about their dwelling place in the Island region, and of their manner of living. But Mr. Johan George Kohl, a distinguished European traveler and author, who visited this section in 1854, left upon record many interesting reminiscences of his visit. And he gathered his information from an old person who could recall events of many years before. And so we can get a word picture of this friendly tribe that inhabited the Thousand Islands, and west to the Bay of Quinte, the land locked harbor of that fine sheet of water to the west of Kingston. But let us quote Mr. Kohl:
"It was the practice among the Mississasagaus at certain times of the year, to leave the islnds to their young people and make great hunting expeditions far to the northward, and into the south land, which would now be New York. The elderly person who gave me the facts about this tribe, had visited these Indians once when he was a young man. He was so hospitably received, that he afterwards repeated his visits, making acquaintances among them, and often lived with them for weeks, and shared their joys and sorrows of a hunter's life.
"Once, when he had been on a visit to the Niagara region and parts to the west, and was a long time absent, he could not desist when passing throught the Thousand Islands upon his return to his native home of Brockville, of making a call upon his Mississagaus friends. They recognized him immediately, and gave him the warmest reception, and carried him on their shoulders to their Chief. The Chief made a great feast in his honor and canoes full of Indians came gliding in flocks from the islands to see and welvome him.
"As he had to pass the night among them, the squaws prepared his couch, and two of the Indians insisted on serving him as a guard of honor standing at his tent door through the night, where they made their camp and kept the fire going. My informant stated that he was almost moved to tears on seeing his half naked savage friends again. It is a race very susceptible to kindness, though at the same time certainly very revengeful for injuries. They never forget their friends, but are very terrible and even treacherous against their enemies. They are proud of their prowess and animal daring and of the performances of their forefathers. In fact, they think of themselves as being the first race in creation.
"They have been scattered like the chaff. Their fisheries and hunting became continually less productive. The villages of the Whites were growing up around them. They began to feel the pressure of want. Their race died away like the fish in their waters. At last, the few that remained, accepted the proposal of the government, that they should exchange these islands for a more remote habitation.
"I do not know exactly where."
Nan Dixon
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