The âpéLenape distinctly claimed the whole of the present area of New Jersey. Their great chief, Tedyuscung, stated at the Conference at Easton (1757), that their lands reached eastward to the shore of the sea. The New Jersey tribes fully recognized their unity. As early as 1694, at an interview with Governor Markham at Philadelphia, when the famous Tamany and other Lenape chieftains were present, Mohocksey, a chief of the Jersey Indians, said: "Though we live on the other side of the water (_i.e._, the Delaware river), yet we reckon ourselves all one, because," he added, giving a characteristically native reason, "because we drink one water."[63]
The names, number and position of the Jersey tribes have not been very clearly made out. A pamphlet published in London, in 1648, states that there were twenty-three Indian kinglets in its area, with about 2000 warriors in all. Of these, Master Robert Evelin, a surveyor, who spent several years in the Province about 1635, names nine on the left bank of the Delaware, between Cape May and the Falls. The names are extremely corrupt, but it may be worth while giving them.[64]
1. Kechemeches, 500 men, five miles above Cape May.
2. Manteses, 100 bowmen, twelve leagues above the former.
Of these, the Mantes lived on Salem creek; _Ramcock_ is Rancocas creek; the _Eriwoneck_ are evidently the _Ermomex_ of Van der Donck's map of 1656; _Axion_ may be for Assiscunk creek, above Burlington, from Del. _assiscu_, mud; _assiscunk_, a muddy place. Lindstrom and Van der Donck name the most Southern tribe in New Jersey _Naraticons_. They were on and near Raccoon creek, which on Lindstrom's map is _Narraticon Sipu_, the Naraticon river. Probably the English name is simply a translation of the Del. _nachenum_, raccoon.
In 1675 the number of sachems in Jersey of sufficient importance for the then Governor Andros to treat with were four. It is noted that when he had made them the presents customary on such occasions, "They return thanks and fall a kintacoying, singing _kenon, kenon_."[65] This was the Delaware _genan_ (_genama_, thank ye him. Zeis).
The total number in New Jersey a few years before this (1671) were estimated by the authorities at "about a thousand persons, besides women and children."[66]
