David Cusick's Sketches of Ancient History of the Six Nations: Comprising First—A Tale of the Foundation of the Great Island, (Now North America), The Two Infants Born, and the Creation of the Universe. Second—A Real Account of the Early Settlers of north America, and Their Dissensions. Third—Origin of the Kingdom of the Five Nations, Which Was Called a Long House: the Wars, Fierce Animals, &c

In Short

This work serves as a foundational history of the Six Nations of the Iroquois. It moves from the cosmological birth of the universe to the establishment of a powerful confederacy, detailing the challenges faced by the original inhabitants, including battles against giants, serpents, and internal strife. By weaving together oral tradition and historical memory, the author seeks to preserve the heritage of his people for posterity. It remains a vital document for its unique perspective on indigenous history, documenting the cultural identity and resilience of the Five Nations long before European contact.

The Story

The narrative begins with the creation of the "Great Island," now North America, where the earth gives life to the Eagwehoewe people in the northern regions. Early in this era, the harmony of the land is disrupted by giants who commit outrages against the inhabitants. A group of foreign travelers, shipwrecked on the southern coast, attempts to establish a foothold, but they are ultimately overrun by the monsters that plague the territory.

As the Eagwehoewe live along the St. Lawrence River, they endure relentless incursions from the Ronnongwetowanca, a tribe of northern giants. The people’s lives are marked by constant vigilance, as their towns are repeatedly targeted while hunters are away. A prince and his brothers suffer the loss of their sister to these invaders, sparking a quest for justice. Eventually, the people organize a collective defense, successfully exterminating the Ronnongwetowanca after a series of decisive battles.

The saga continues with the emergence of a great council fire among the northern nations, who reside near the Great Lakes. A period of prosperity is interrupted by the appearance of a horned serpent on Lake Ontario, which brings disease and death. Though the monster is driven back by thunderbolts, it serves as a harbinger of internal conflict, as the northern nations eventually destroy one another in a civil war that leaves the land desolate and reclaimed by wild beasts.

Centuries later, the "Five Families" begin to thrive, though they remain threatened by the "Flying Heads"—monstrous, invasive entities—and the Lake Serpent. Through the guidance of the Holder of the Heavens, the people learn to build fortifications and secure their towns. They endure the depredations of the "Stonish Giants," who are eventually trapped in a hollow and overwhelmed by rocks. The narrative tracks the succession of kings, known as the Atotarho, who govern the Five Nations as they expand their influence.

As the confederacy matures, it engages in long-standing conflicts with neighboring tribes, such as the Ottauwahs and the Erians. The narrative periodically shifts to the arrival of warnings from the Holder of the Heavens, who foretells that white settlers will eventually cross the "Big Waters," acquire the red people’s lands, and cause their population to "melt away like snow." By the time of the European arrival in 1492, the Five Nations have established a sophisticated system of governance and defense. The work concludes by detailing the linguistic roots of the Mohawk and Tuscarora peoples, cementing their identity and political structure as a lasting, independent power.

How It Unfolds

The birth of the world The narrative opens with the emergence of the Great Island from the waters and the initial creation of the Eagwehoewe people. This era is characterized by the land’s abundance and the early threats posed by giants inhabiting the northern territories.

The struggle for survival The story shifts to the migration of tribes and the establishment of settlements along the St. Lawrence River. The people must learn to protect themselves against the Ronnongwetowanca and other monsters through the use of fortifications and tactical warfare.

The rise of the Long House As the Five Families unite, the focus transitions to the formation of a formal confederacy and the establishment of a council fire at Onondaga. The narrative records the reigns of successive kings and the development of sophisticated social and political structures.

The shadow of change The text describes the increasing power of the Five Nations alongside the growing threat of external encroachment. It concludes with the arrival of Columbus, framing this event within the context of prophecies and the eventual decline of the indigenous hold on the continent.

The People

The Holder of the Heavens acts as a divine protector and guide. He intervenes when the people are at their most vulnerable, providing the wisdom to build defenses and the strategic insight to banish monsters like the Stonish Giants. His influence is foundational to the survival of the Five Nations.

The Atotarho kings represent the political backbone of the confederacy. Each king, numbered in succession, oversees the growth of the nation, the maintenance of the council fire at Onondaga, and the management of wars against encroaching tribes. They are tasked with upholding the sovereignty of the Long House.

The Eagwehoewe people are the resilient core of the history. Constantly buffeted by the threats of the wilderness and the intrusions of foreign giants, they evolve from scattered families into a powerful, organized confederation. Their survival is a testament to their adaptability and their willingness to unite against common threats.

The monsters—including the Flying Heads, the Stonish Giants, and the Lake Serpent—function as the antagonists of the narrative. They represent the forces of chaos and nature that threaten to undo the people. Their presence forces the Five Nations to innovate, leading directly to the creation of the fortifications and the military cooperation that define their society.

In Its Own Voice

The creation of the land animals; the Eagwehoewe people were too created and resided in the north regions, and after a time some of the people become giants and committed outrages upon the inhabitants, &c.

This opening context describes the primordial state of the world before the rise of the organized nations.

The five families were compelled to make fortifications throughout their respective towns, in order to secure themselves from the devouring monsters.

This passage explains the architectural necessity that shaped the daily life of the early tribes.

He informs the people that the whites beyond the great water had killed their Maker, but he rose again; and he warns them that the whites would in some future day take possession of the Big Island and it was impossible to prevent it.

This reflection highlights the fatalistic prophecy delivered by an aged visitor regarding the future of the Five Nations.

What It's Really About

At its core, this work is an exercise in cultural preservation. It argues that the Five Nations are not a people without a history, but a civilization with a deep, recorded past that rivals the antiquity of any other. It explores the tension between human ingenuity—the building of forts, the forging of leagues—and the chaotic, predatory forces of the natural and supernatural world. The underlying theme is one of sovereignty; the book argues that the Iroquois are an independent, organized power with a legitimate claim to their territory, governed by laws and traditions that predate European arrival. It poses the question of how a people maintains its identity while facing inevitable, encroaching change.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the intersection of mythology and historiography will find this work compelling. It is a rare, firsthand effort by an indigenous author to codify an oral tradition into the English language, reflecting the specific linguistic and cultural struggles of the early 19th century. The prose is deliberate and often rhythmically unusual, reflecting the author’s background as a non-native English speaker; this gives the text a unique, authentic gravity that modern readers may find both challenging and deeply rewarding.

It feels like stepping into a different architecture of time. The book does not present history as a dry linear progression but as a cycle of creation, struggle, and divine intervention. You will encounter a world where the natural and the monstrous are inextricably linked, and where the survival of a nation is tied to its ability to interpret signs in the stars and warnings in dreams. While the period attitudes and the non-standard syntax might require a patient reader, the reward is a foundational text that provides an unfiltered look at how the Iroquois understood their own origins. It is a haunting, informative record that lingers in the mind, particularly for its poignant, prophetic accounts of the cultural shifts that followed the arrival of European settlers.