Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 09.pdf/128

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An Indian Deed. they furnish reasons for permitting a verdict to be given, after proper time for consulta tion, without a unanimous vote. Fraud has not been discussed, but its occasional exist ence is a strong reason for amending a sys tem which enables one rascal to defeat eleven honest jurors. Would that more of our citizens of high character and responsibility were willing to

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serve the public in the unambitious but deeply judicial work of the jury. Noth ing would tend more efficiently to im prove the methods of advocates at the bar. Wise jurymen uphold the liberties of their country and preserve against fools, knaves, and brutes the lives, the fortunes and the sacred honor of their country men.

AN INDIAN DEED. AMR. JOSHUA T. TRAVIS, late of Brooklyn, N. Y., was a great collector of relics. Among the many curiosities which he gathered together is an old Indian deed or rather the only copy of one, filled with quaint phrasing, Indian names, distracting hieroglyphics and seals. It is written on heavy parchment paper of the regular legal cap size. It is indorsed on the back : "Copy of Indian Deed," and reads as follows : — I "This indenture witnesseth that Wo Lare Pack enah, Tareckham, Sickias, Pettquesitt, Towis, Essepennick, Tethoy, Kekellapan, Teomis, Mackaioka, Methconga, Wisse Pansy, Indean Kings, Sackhomakeils, Right owners of all the lands from Quing Quingus Creek, called Duck Creek, unto Upland, called Chester Creek, all along by the west side of the Delaware River, and so between the said Creeks backward as far as a man can ride in Two DAVES with a horse, for and in consideration of the following goods, to us in hand paid, and secured to be paid by WILLIAM PENN, proprietary and Governor of the province of Pennsylvania and territories hereof, vido colot : "Twenty Guns, twenty fathoms matchcoat, twenty fathoms stroudwaters, twenty blankets, twenty kettles, twenty pounds of powder, one hundred barrs of lead, forty tomahawks, one hun dred knives, forty pairs stockings, one barrel of beer, twenty pounds of red lead, one hundred fathoms of wampham, thirty glass bottles, thirty

pewter spoons, one hundred awl blades, three hundred tobacco pipes, one hundred hands of tobacco, twenty tobacco tongs, twenty steels, three hundred flints, thirty pairs scissors, thirty combs, sixty looking glasses, two hundred nee dles, one skiple salt, thirty pounds of sugar, four gallons of molasses, twenty tobacco boxes, one hundred Jew's Harps, twenty hoes, thirty gim lets, thirty wooden screw boxes and one hundred string beads : "Do hereby acknowledge in behalf of ourselves as only right owners of the aforesaid tract of land to bargain and sell, and by these presents do fully and clearly and absolutely bargain and sell unto the said William Penn, his heirs and assigns forever, the aforesaid tract of land, with all the woods, rivers, creeks and appurts unto the same belonging, to be held, used, possessed and enjoyed by the said William Penn, his heirs and assignees forever, without any molestation or hindrance from or by us, or any of us, or from or by any other Indeans whatsoever that shall or may claim any right, title or interest in or unto the said tract of land, or any part thereof. "In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals at New Castle, this second day of the eighth month, 1685." Here follows a facsimile of the seals affixed by the Indians. There are thirteen of them, and remind one of a child's first exercise in learning to make pothooks. The original deed was under these thirteen seals,