Indigenous Peoples
On Henry Hudson’s third voyage, he traveled the Hudson River towards modern-day Albany. At the time, he believed that he had found the Northwest Passage, and he believed if he followed it, he could get to Asia. However, the river soon became too shallow to navigate, and he was forced to turn back. Along the way, he met the Mohican Indians. He traded beads and tools with the Native Americans for corn, furs, and tobacco. Hudson and the Native Americans had a very friendly relationship, and they respected each other. Overall, by trading with Hudson, the Mohicans gained tools and increased their trade with the Dutch. However, along with this came disease, which killed many of the Native Americans.
|
Mohican Life
The Mohicans spoke a language called Algonquian, which was spoken by many northeastern Native American tribes, and they lived in small villages around the Hudson River, mainly because it was a great food and water source. Their homes were dome-shaped and made of saplings strung together by bark and branches. The Mohicans also put a fire in the center of their village for cooking and heat. They even planted poles in the ground to create fences that could protect them. Outside of the fence, the Mohicans had small farms where they grew corn, squash, beans, pumpkins, and gourds. Living by rivers was also helpful to them because it provided fertile ground for farming. Once the dirt became dry, the Mohicans would pack up and move their village. Not only did the Mohicans farm, but they also hunted and gathered. They mainly hunted deer, elk, turkey, fish, and gathered berries, roots, and nuts. After eating the meat, the Mohicans would make clothes out of the animals’ skins. Women wore skirts in summer, and men wore a breechcloth between their legs. In winter, women and men both wore fur robes and moccasins. Men shaved their heads and wore big headdresses made of feathers, while women decorated their dresses and skirts with shells and beads. The Mohicans also had great respect for nature, and they used wood from trees to make many of the items they needed. For example, women would weave wooden baskets, make dishes from sticks, and canoes were made from fallen logs. For weapons, the Mohicans made bows and arrows from wood. They would use stone for the points of the arrows.