INDIAN FRIENDS.  

HISTORY HAS IT THAT THE INDIAN, METTALAK, RESPECTED FRIEND OF THE EARLY SETTLERS, SHOWED THE FIRST WHITE MAN IN WHAT LATER WOULD BE MEXICO, WHERE RIVER FORDING WAS FEASIBLE AND WHERE AND WHEN IT WASN'T.

METTALAK WAS THE SON OF A GREAT CHIEF AND THE LAST OF THE COOASK-AUKES (DWELLERS OF THE PINES).  A STRONG, BRAVE, STOIC INDIAN WHO LIVED TO THE AGE OF 120 AND SAW THE FALL OF THE INDIAN NATION AND THE COMING OF THE WHITE MAN AND HIS EFFORT IN SETTLING A HARSH AND FOREIGN LAND.  METTALAK IS THE SUBJECT OF MANY SWIFT RIVER VALLEY LEGENDS.

IT WAS METTALAK WHO URGED THE WHITE SETTLERS TO SETTLE HIGH ON THE HILLS, KNOWING TOO WELL THE ANGER OF THE TWO RIVERS AS THEY MET IN THE SPRING.

MOLL OCKETT, THE FAMOUS HUNTRESS AND TRAVELER OF THE ABERNAQUIS TRIBE, TRAVELED THE SWIFT RIVER TRAILS AND WAS A FRIEND TO THE WHITE PEOPLE, TEACHING THEM IN THE WAYS OF MAKING MAPLE SUGAR, GRINDING CORN BY USING A FLAT ROCK FOR A BASE, SHOWING THEM WHAT BERRIES WERE GOOD EATING.

IN HONOR OF THE MEMORIES OF THESE TWO GENEROUS HEARTED INDIANS, BOTH METTALAK AND MOLLY OCKETT'S GRAVES ARE MARKED IN WHITE MAN'S CEMETERIES.  MOLLY OCKETT IS BURIED IN ANDOVER AND METALLAK IN STEWARTSTOWN, N.H.