This  digression  has  led  to  a  view  of  the
condition  of  the  Lenapes,  nearly  a  century
subsequent  to  the  main  incidents  of  our
story.  At  the  death  of  Wissinoming,  Man-
atamany  was  looked  upon  as  the  natural
and  legitimate  successor  to  his  father,  whom
he  much  resembled  in  strength  of  mind  and
heroic  deportment.  Being  younger,  how-
ever, than  his  sister  Winona,  she  was  looked
up  to  as  the  "  guardian  angel"  of  her  people;
and  as  much  consulted  in  matters  of  state  as
her  brother.  To  add  to  their  other  troubles,
a  serious  outbreak  now  occurred  between  a
portion  of  their  people  and  the  colonists,  in
which  a  young  man,  a  favorite  of  the  col-
onists, was  killed;  much  excitement  was
manifested  by  both  parties.  The  cause  of
the  quarrel  was  the  attempted  occupancy
and  cultivation,  on  the  part  of  the  settlers,
of  the  Great  Shawano  Island^  opposite  the
Indian  town  of  Wyomissing.  This  island
was  a  favorite  resort  of  the  Indians,  and  was
a  cherished  part  of  their  possessions.  Its
great  productiveness.*  excited  the  cupidity

*  That  these  islands  in  the  Delaware,  as  well  as  the  adja-
cent main  land,  were  under  cultivation  by  the  Indians,  there
is  scarcely  a  doubt  remaining.     The  evidence  of  the  early


LEAP.       107

of  the  colonists,  and  frequent  attempts  had
been  made  for  its  purchase ;  but  no  offer,
however  liberal,  would  be  entertained  for  a
moment.  In  the  quarrel  Manatamany  took
no  part,  though  his  heart  was  with  his  peo-
ple. Winona,  the  friend  of  the  colonist,  as
well  as  the  beloved  oracle  of  her  own  na-
tion, was  looked  to  by  the  friends  of  peace
in  both  parties,  as  the  only  hope  of  an  ami-
cable settlement  of  the  difficulty.  Winona
felt  the  responsibility  of  her  position,  but
did  not  shrink  from  the  performance  of  her
duty.
