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H I STO RY

OF THE

FIVE Indian NATIONS

O F

CANADA,

Which are dependent

On the Province of New-York uiAmerica,

AND

Are the Barrier between the English and French
in that Part of the World.

WITH

Particular Accounts of their Religion, Manners, Cu/tcms, Laws, and
Forms of Government j their fev°:«'. Scales and Treaties wiiL
the European nations j their Wars with the other Indians j and
a true Account of the prefent State of our Trade with them.

In which are fliewn,
The great Advantage of their Trade and Alliance to the Britifh
Nation, and the Intrigues and Attempts of the French to engage
them from us ; a Subject nearly concerning all our American
Plantations, and highly meriting the Attention of the Britijb
Nation at this Juncture.

By the Honourable Cadwallader Golden, Efq-t

One of his Majeftys Counfel, and Surveyor -General

of New-York.

To which are added,
Accounts of the feveral other Nations of Indians in North- Am-rica*
their Numbers, Strength, &c. and the Treaties which have been
lately made with them.

In T W O VOLUMES. '

The Third Edition.

LONDON:

Printed for Lockyer Davis, at Lord Bacon s Head in
Fleet -jlreet ; J. Wren in S alijbury -court ; and J. Ward
in Cornhilly oppofite the Royal-Exchange.

Ut> CCLV.

TO fl?

( Hi )

TO THE HONOURABLE

E N E R A L

O G L E?HO R PE.

S 1 R,

TH E Indian Affairs have ever
appeared to your Judgment of
fuch Importance to the Welfare
of our own People, that you have ever
carefully applied your Thoughts to them ;
and that with fuch Succefs, that not
only the prefent Generation will enjoy
the Benefit of your Care, but our lated
Pofterity blefs your Memory for that
Happinefs, the Foundation of which v/as
laid under your Care, provided that the
People here, whofe Duty and Intereit
is chiefly concerned, do on their own
Parts fecond your Endeavours, towards
fecuring the Peace, and advancing the
Profperity of their Country.

A 2 The

( h )

The following Account of the Five
Indian Nations, will mew what dange-
rous Neighbours the Indians have once
been ; what Pains a neighbouring Co-
lony (whofe Intereft is oppofite to ours)
has taken to withdraw their Affections
from us ; and how much we ought to
be on our Guard. If we only confider
the Riches which our Enemies receive
from the Indian Trade (though we are
under no Appreheniions from the Indians
themfelves) it would be highly impru-
dent in us to fuffer fuch People to grow
Rich and Powerful, while it is in our
Power to prevent it, with much leis
Charge and Trouble, than it is in theirs
to accomplish their Defigns.

Thefe Considerations alone are fuffi-
cient to make the Indian affairs deferve
the moft ferious Thoughts of every Gover-
nor in America. Bat I well know, be-
fides, that your Excellency's Views are
not confined to the Intereft of one
Country only.

The Five Nations are a poor, and ge-
nerally called, barbarous People, bred

under

( v)

under the darkeft Ignorance ; and yet
a bright and noble Genius fhines through
thefe black Clouds. None of the greateft
Roman Heroes have difcovered a greater
Love to their Country, or a greater Con-
tempt of Death, than thefe People called
Barbarians have done, when Liberty came
in Competition. Indeed, I think our
Indians have outdone the Romans in this
Particular ; fome of the greateft of thofe
have we known murdered themfelves to
avoid Shame or Torments ; but our In-
dians have refufed to die meanly, or
with but little Pain, when they thought
their Country's Honour would be at
Stake by it * ; but have given their Bo-
dies, willingly, to the moft cruel Tor-
ments of their Enemies, to mew, as
they faid, that the Five Nations con-
fifted of Men, whofe Courage ind Re-
folution could not be fhaken. They
greatly fully, however, thofe noble Vir-
tues, by that cruel Iraffion, Re ige':
this they think is not only lawful, but

A 3 honour-

* This will appear by feveral Instances in the
Second Part of this Hiftory. ' "

( vi )

honourable, to exert without Mercy on
their Country's Enemies, and for this
only it is that they can deferve the Name
of Barbarians.

But what, alas ! Sir, have we Chrif-
tians done to make them better ? We
have indeed Reafon to be afhamed, that
thefe Infidels, by our Converfation and
Neighbourhood, are become worfe than
they were before they knew us. Inftead
of Virtues we have only taught them
Vices, that they were intirely free from
before that Time. The narrow Views
of private Interefl have occafioned this,
and will occafion greater, even publick
Mifchiefs, if the Governors of the People
do not, like true Patriots, exert them-
felves, and put a Stop to thefe growing
Evils. If thefe Practices be winked at,
inftead of faithful Friends, that have
manfully fought our Battles for us, the
Five Nations will become faithlefs Thieves
and Robbers, and join with every E-
nemy that can give them any Hopes of
Blunder.

If

( vii )

If Care were taken to plant and cul-
tivate in them that general Benevolence
to Mankind, which is the true firft
Principle of Virtue, it would effectually
eradicate thofe horrid Vices, occaiioned
by their unbounded Revenge ; and then
they would no longer deferve the Name
of Barbarians, but would become a Peo-
ple, whofe Frienddiip might add Ho-
nour to the Britijh Nation.

The Greeks and Remans, Sir, once
as much Barbarians as our Indians now
are, deified the Heroes that firft taught
them thofe Virtues, from whence the
Grandeur of thofe renowned Nations
wholly proceeded ; a good Man, how-
ever, will feel more real Satisfaction and
Pleafure, from the Senfe of having any
Way forwarded the Civilizing of a bar-
barous Nation, or of having multiplied
the Number of good Men, than from
the fondeft Hopes of fuch extravagant
Honours.

Thefe Confiderations, I believe, will
induce you, Sir, to think a Hiftory of
the Five Nations not unworthy of your

Patro-

( viii )

Patronage ; and on thefe only it is that
I prefume to offer my beft Endeavours
in this, who am, with the greateft
Refpeft,

S I R,

Tour moji obedient^

and mojl humble Servant y

Cadwallader Golden,

( ix )
THE

PREFACE

To the First Part.

rHOUG H every one that is in the leaft ac-
quainted with the Affairs of North- America,
knows of what Confequence the Indians, com-
monly known to the People of New- York by the
Name of the Five Nations, are, both in Peace and
IVar j / know of no Accounts of them, published in
Englifh, but what are very imperfecl, and indeed
meer TranJJations of French Author j, who them) elves
know little of the Truth. This fee ms to throw fome
ReflecJfais on the Inhabitants of our Province, as if
we ivanted Curiofity to enquire into our awn Affairs,
and were willing to rejl fatisfed with the Accounts
the French give us of our own Indians, notwith-
/landing that the French in Canada are always in a
different Interejl, and fometimes in open Hojlility
with us. This Confederation, I hope, will jujlify
my attempting to write an Hi/lory of the Five Nations
at this Time ; and having had the Perufal of the
Minutes of the Commiffioners for Indian Affairs, /
have been enabled to coilecl many Materials for this
Hijlory, which are not to be found any where
fife j and cannot but think, that a Hijlory of this
Kind will be of great Ufe to all the Britifh Colonies
in North-America, fince it may enable them to learn
Experience at the Expence of others : And if I can

' con-

I* )

Contribute any Thing tofo good a Purpofe, I Jhall mt
think my Labour loft.

It will be necejfary for me here to fay fomething in
Excufe of two Things in the following Performance,
which, I am afraid, will naturally be found Fault
with in it, 1 he fir ft is, the filling up fo great Part
of the Work with the Adventures of J mall Parties,
and fometimes with thofe of one Jingle Man : And the
fecond is, the infer ting fo many Speeches at Length.

As to the firft, the Hiftory of Indians would be
very lame\ zvithout an Account of thefe private Ad-
ventures ; for their warlike Expeditions are almoji
always carried on by furprijtng each other, and their
whole Art of War conjifls in managing fmall Parties.
The whole Country being one continued Forejl, gives
great Advantages to thefe fculking Parties, and has
obliged the Chrijlians to imitate the Indians in this
Method of 'making War among them. Andfome would,
doubtlefs, be dejirous to know the Manners and Cuf-
toms of the Indians, in their publick Treaties ffpeci~
ally, who could not be fatisfied without taking Notice
of fever al minute Gircumjlances, and Things other wife
of no Confeqhence. We are fond of fe arching into
remote Antiquity, to know the Manners of our ear-
liejl Progenitors ; and, if I am not ?nfftaken, the
Indians are living Images of them.

My Deftgn, therefore, in the fecond zuas, that
thereby the Genius of the Indians might appear. An
Hijlorian may paint Mens Actions in lively Colours,
or in faint Shades, as he likes beji, and in both Cafes
preferve a perfeel Likenefs ; but it will be a difficult
Tafk to Jhew the Wit, Judgment, Art, Simplicity, and
Ignorance of the fever al Parties, managing a Treaty,
in other Words than their own. As to my Part, I
thought my f elf incapable of doing it, without depriving
the judicious Obferver of the Opportunity of difcovering
much of the Indian Genius, by my contracting or pa-
rathrafmg their Harangues, and without committing

'f-

( xi )

often grofs Miflakes. For, on thefe Occafions, a fkil-
ful Manager often talks confufedly, and obfcurely,
with Defign; which if an Hijiorian Jliould endeavour
to a?nend, the Reader would receive the Hijiory in a
falfe Light,

The Reader will find a great Difference between
fome of the Speeches here given of thofe made at Al-
bany, and thofe taken from the French Authors.
Ours are genuine and truly related, as delivered by
the fworn Interpreters, of whom Truth only is requi-
red; a rough Stile, with Truth, is preferable to Elo-
quence without it : This may be f aid in f unification of
the Indian Exprejfion, though I ?nuji own, that I fuf-
pecl our Interpreters may not have done fuflice to the
Indian Eloquence. For the Indians having but few
Words, and few complex Ideas, ufe many Metaphors
in their Difcourfe, zuhich interpreted by an unfkilful
Tongue, may appear mean, and fir ike our Imagina-
tion faintly j but under the Pen of a fkilfulReprcf en-
ter, might Jlro7\gly move our PaJJions by their lively
Images. I have heard an old Indian Sachem, /peak
with much Vivacity and E locution, fo that the Speaker
pleajed and moved the Auditors with the Manner of
delivering his Difcourfe ; which however, as it after-
wards came from the Interpreter, difappointed us in our
Expectations. After the Speaker had employed a confi-
derable Time in haranguing with much Elocution, the
Interpreter often explained the whole by one Jingle Sen-
tence. I believe the Speaker in that Time, embellijh-
ed mid adorned his Figures, that they might have
their full Force on the Imagination, while the Inter-
preter contented himfelj with the Senfe, in as few
IVords as it could be expreffed.

He that firft writes the Hiflory of Things, which
are not generally known, ought to avoid, as much as
poffible, to make the Evidence of the Truth depend in-
tirely on his own Veracity and Judgment \ and for this
Reafon I have related feveral Tranfaclions in the

IVords

( *s )

Words of the Regifers, when this is once done, he
that Jhall write afterwards, need not acl with fo
much Caution*

The Hiflory of thefe Indians, 1 promt fe myfelf
will give an agreeable Amufement to many ; almoft
every one will find fomething in it fuited to his own
Palate ; but every Line will not pleafe every Man-, on
the contrary, one will naturally approve what ano-
ther condemns, as one defires to knoiv what another
thinks not worth the Trouble of reading ; for which
Reafon, I think, it is better to run the Rifque of be-
ing jometimes tedious to certain Readers, than to o?nit
any thing that may be ufeful to the World.

I have fometimes thought, that Hif lories wrote with
all the Delicacy of a fine Ro?nancc, are like French
Dijhes, more agreeable to the Palate than the Stomach,
and lefs wholfome than more common and coarfer Diet*

An Hijiorian's Views muff be curious and ex ten five,
and theHiflory of different People and different Ages
requires different Rules, and often different Abilities to
write it \ I hope therefore the Reader will, from
thefe Corfiderations, receive this firfi Attempt of this
kind with more than ufual Allowances.

The Inhabitants of New- York have . been much
more concerned in the Tranfaclions, which followed
the Tear 1688, than in thofe which preceded, it.
And as it requires uncommon Courage and Refoluthn
to engage willingly in the Wars againfl a cruel and
barbarous Enemy, I fbould be forry to forget any that
might deferve to be remembred by their Country with
Gratitude on that Occafion.

THE

A Vocabulary of Words and Names us'd bv the
French Authors, who treat of the Indian Afeirs,
is inferted at the End of this Volume.

THE

CONTENTS

OF THE

FIRST VOLUME.

rH E Introduction, being a Jhort View of the
Form of Government of the Five Nations, and
of their Laws and Cujioms. — pag. I.

PARTI. CHAP. I,

Of the Wars of the Five Nations, with the Adiron-
dacks and Quatoghies. . 21

CHAP. II.

The Wars and Treaties of Peace of the Five Na-
tions with the French, from 1665 to 1 683, and
their Affairs with New- York in that time, 31

CHAP. III.

Of the TranfaEiions of the Indians of the Five Na-
tions with the ntigbouting Englifh. Colonies, 36

CHAP. IV.

Monf. De la Barrel Expedition^ and fome remarka-
aUi Tranfaclions in- 1684. ■ 60

Vol. I. b CHAR

The CONTENT S.

CHAP. V.

The English attempt to trade in the Lakes , and the
French attack the Senekas. . 73

CHAP. VL

Colonel Dongan'j Advice to the Indians, Adario*-?
Enterprize, and Montreal facked by the Five Na-

PART II. CHAP. I.

The State of Affairs in New- York and Canada, at
the Time of the Revolution in Great-Britain. 97

CHAP. II.

A Treaty between the Agents of MafTachufets-Bay,
New-Flymouth and Connecticut, and the Sa-
chems of the Five Nations at Albany. 106

CHAP. III.

An Account of a general Council of the Five Na-
tions at Onondaga, to confder of the Count De
Frontenac'j Mejfage, ■ 112

CHAP. IV.

The French furprize Schenectady. The Mohawks
Speech of Condolance on that Occafton. 1 20

CHAP-

The CONTENTS.

CHAP. V.

The Five Nations continue the War with the French.
The Mohawks incline to Peace. Their Conferences
with the Governor 0/* New-York. — 129

CHAP. VI.

The Englifh attach Montreal by Land, in Conjunc-
tion with the Indians, and Quebeck by Sea, 1 34

CHAP. VII.

The French, and the Five Nations, continue the
War all Winter with various Succefs. The French
burn a Captain of the Five Nations alive, 139

CHAP. VIII.
The Five Nations treat ivith Cap. Ingoldfby. 145

CHAP. IX.

The Frtnch fur prize, and take three Mohawk
Cajiles. ■ • 150

C H A P. X.

Treaties and Negotiations of the Five Nations with
the Englifh and French, 1693, 1694. 159

CHAP. XI.

The War continued. The French repoffefs them-
f elves of Cadarackui Fort ; and find Means to
break off the Treaty between the Five Nations and
Dionondadies. ■ ■ 189

CHAP.

The CONTENTS.

CHAP. XII.

The Count De Frontenac attach Onondaga in Per-
fon with the whole Force of Canada. ¥%e Five
Nations continue the War ivith the French, ctnd
make Peace with the Dionondadies ■ 197

CHAP. XIII.

The Conducl which the Englifh and French o.hferved,
in regard to the Five Nations, immediately after
the Peace of Refwick. 205

Papers relating to an Acl of the Affemhly of the Pro-
vince of New- York, for the Encouragement of
tbelndhnTrade, and for prohibiting the felling of
Indian Goods to the French of Canada, 2 1 4,

( * )

THE

INTRODUCTION^

BEING

A Jhort View of the Form of Government of
the Five Nations, and of their Laws,
Cuftotns, &c.

IT is necefTary to know fomething of the Form
of Government of the People, whpfe Hiftory
one is about to know, and a few Words will
be fufficient to give the Reader a Conception of
that of the Five Nations, becaufe it ftill remains
under original Simplicity, and free from thofe com-
plicated Contrivances, which have become ne-
cefTary to the Nations, where Deceit and Cunning
have increafed as much as their Knowledge and
Wifdorn.

The Five Nations (as their Name denotes) com-
fift of fo many Tribes or Nations, joined together
by a League or Confederacy, like the United Pro-
■vinces, and without any Superiority of the one over
the other. This Union has continued fo long,
that the Chriftians know nothing of the Original of
it : The People in it are known by the Engtijb
under the Names of Mohawks, Oneydoes, Qnonda-
gas, Cayugas, and Sennekas.

Each of thefe Nations is again divided into
three Tribes or Families, who diitinguiih them-
felves by three different Arms or Enfigns, the
Ttrtoife, the B.ear, and the W*lf\ and °the Sa-

B chemSy

(2 )

chemS) or old Men of thefe Families, put this
Enfign, or Mark of their Family, to every pub-
lick Paper, when they fign it.

Each of thefe Nations is an abfolute Republick
by itfelf, and every Caftle in each Nation makes
an independent Republick, and is governed in all
publick Affairs by its own Sachems or old Men.
The Authority of thefe Rulers is gained by, and
confifts wholly in the Opinion the reft of the Na-
tion have of their Wifdom and Integrity. They
never execute their Refolutions by Force upon any
of their People. Honour and Efteem are their
principal Rewards; as Shame, and being defpifed,
their Punifhments. They have certain Cuftoms,
which they obferve in their publick Tranf actions with
other Nations, and in their private Affairs among
themfelves; which it is fcandalbus for any one
among them not to obferve, and thefe always draw
after tnem either publick or private Refentment,
whenever they are broke.

Their Leaders and Captains, in like Manner,
obtain their Authority, by the general Opinion of
their Courage and Condu£t, and lofe it by a
failure in thole Virtues.

Their great Men, both Sachems and Captains,
are generally poorer than the common People ; for
they affect to give away and diftribute all the Prefents
or Plunder they get in their Treaties or in War,
fo as to leave nothing to themfelves. There is
not a Man in the Miniftry of the Five Nations,
who has gained his Office, otherwife than by
Merit ; there is not the lead: Salary, or any Sort
of Profit, annexed to any Office, to tempt the
Covetous or Sordid ; but, on the contrary, every
unwcrthv A&ion is unavoidably attended with the
Forfeiture of their Commiffion ; for their Autho-
rity is onlv the Efteem of the People, and ceafes
the Moment that Efteem is loft. Here we fee

the

( 3 )

the natural Origin of all Power and Authority
among a free People, and whatever artificial Pow-
er or Sovereignty any Man may have acquired, by
the Laws and Conftitution of a Country, his real
Power will be ever much greater or le£>, in Pro-
portion to the Efteem the People have of him.

The Five Nations think themfelves by Nature
fuperior to the reft of Mankind, and call themfelves
Ongue-honwe ; that is, Men furpafling all others.
This Opinion, which they take Care to cultivate
into their Children, gives them that Courage, which
has been fo terrible to all the Nations of North
America ; and they have taken fuch Care to im-
prefs the fame Opinion of their People on all their
Neighbours, that they, on all Occafions, yield the
molt. fubmifHve Obedience to them. I have been
told by old Men in New-England, who remem-
bred the Time when the Mohawks made War on
their Indians, that as foon as a fihgle Mohawk was
difcovered in the Countrv, their Indians raifed a
Cry from Hill to Hill, A Mohawk \ A Mohawk \
upon which they all fled like- Sheep before Wolves,
without attempting to make the lead Refinance,
whatever Odds were on their Side. The poor
New England Indians immediatel y ran to the Chnftian
Houfes, and the Mohawks often purfued them fo
clofely, that they entered along with them, and
knocked their Brains out in the Prefence of the
People of the Houfe ; but if the Family had Time
to (hut the Door, they never attempted to force it,
and on no Occafion did any Injury to the Christi-
ans. All the Nations round them have, for many
Years intirelyfubmittcd to them., and pay a yearly
Tribute to them in Wampum * \ they dare neither

make

* Wampum is the Current Money among the Indians :

It is of two Sorts, White and Purple : the White is

worked out of the Infide of the great Conques into the

B 2 Form

( 4 )

make War nor Peace, without the Confent of the Mo-
hawks* Two old Men commonly go about every
Year or two, to receive this Tribute ; and I have
fVften had Opportunity to obferve what Anxie-
fy the poor Indians were under, while thefe two
old Men remained in that Part of the Country
where I was. An old Mohawk Sachem, in a poor
Blanket and dirty Shirt, may be feen ilTuing his
Orders with as arbitrary an Authority, as a Roman
Dictator. It is not for the Sake of Tribute how-
ever, that they make War, but from the Notions
of Glory, which they have ever moft ftrongly
imprinted on their Minds ; and the farther they go
to leek an Enemy, the greater Glory they think
they gain ; there cannot, I think, be a greater or
ftronger Inftance than this, how much the Senti-
ments imprefled upon a People's Mind, conduce
to their Grandeur, or one that more verifies a Say-
ing often to be met with, though but too little
minded, That it is in the Power of the Rulers
of a People to make them either Great or Little ;
for by inculcating only the Notions of Honour and
Virtue, or thofe of Luxury and Riches, the People,
in a little Time, will become fuch as their Rulers
defire. The Five Nations, in their Love of Li-
berty, and of their Country, in their Braver)' in
Battle, and their Conitancy in enduring Torments,
equal the Fortitude of the moft renowned Romans,
1 fhall flnifh their general Character by what an

Foimof a Bead, and perforated, to firing on Leather ;
the Purple is worked out of the Infide of the Mufcle
Shell ; they are wove as broad as one's Hand, and about
two Feet long ; thefe they call Belts, and give and re-
ceive at their Treaties as the Seals of Friendfhip, for
leffer Matters a fingle String is given. Every Bead is
of a known Value, and a Belt of a lefs Number, is
jnade to equal one of a greater, by fo many as is
wanting fattened to the Belt by a String.

i Eric-

(s)

Enemy, a Frenchman, fays of them, Monfieur Dt
la Poterie, in his Hiftory of North America.

" When we fpeak (fays he) of the Five Na-
•' t tints in France , they are thought, by a common
44 Miftake, to be mere Barbarians ? always thirfting
•* after human Blood ; but their true Character is
,c very different. They are indeed the fierceft
*c and rnoft formidable People in North America,
*' and, at the iame Time, are as politick and ju-
?* dicious, as well can be conceived ; and this ap-
*4 pears from the Management of all the Affairs
*' which they tranfact, not only with the French zfi&
JM Englijh, but like wife with almoit all the Indian
*' Nations of this vaft Continent.*7

Their Matters of Confequence, which concern
all the Nations, are tranfacted in a general Meet-
ing of the Sachems of each Nation. Th-efe Con-
ventions are commonly held at Onnondaga, which is
nearly the Center of their Country ; but they have
fixed on Albany for the Place of treating with
the Britijh Colonies.

They frrictly follow one Maxim, formerly ufed
by the Romans to increafe their Strength, that is,
they encourage the People of other Nations to
incorporate with them ; and when they have fub-
dued any People, after they have fatiated their Re-
venge by fome cruel Examples, they adopt the
reft of their Captives ; who, if they behave well,
become equally efteemed with their own People ;
fo that fome of their Captives have afterwards be-
come their greateft Sachems and Captains. The
TuJkarorasr after the War they had with the Peo-
ple of Carolina, fled to the Five Nations, and are
now incorporated with them ; fo that they now
properly indeed confift of fix Nations, though they
ftill retain the old Name of the Five Nations amon^
the Englifh. The Cowetas alfo, or Creek-hidians,
are in the lame Friendfhio with them*

B i The

(6 )

The TufiaroraS) fince they came under the Pro-
vince of New Tork^ behave themfelves well, and
remain peaceable and quiet; and by this may be
feen the Advantage of ufing the Indians well, and
I believe, if they were frill better ufed, (as there
is Room enough to do it) they would be propor-
tionably more ufeful to us.

The Cruelty the Indians ufe in their Wars, to-
wards thofe that do not or cannot refill;, fuch as
Women and Children, and to their Prifoners, after
they have them in their Power, is defervedly in-
deed held in Abhorrence : But whoever reads the
Hiftory of the fo famed Heroes, will find them,
I'm afraid, not much better in this Refpecl:. Does
uichiiles'1^ Behaviour to HeSlors dead Body, in
Horner^ appear lefs favage? This Cruelty is alfc
not peculiar to the Five Nations^ but equally prac-
ticed by all other Indians. It is wonderful, how
Cuftom and Education are able to foften the moft
horrid Actions, even among a polite and learned
People ; witnefs the Carthaginians and Phccnicians
burning their own Children alive in Sacrifice ; and
feveral PafTages in the Jewijh Hijicry ; and wit-
nefs, in later Times, the Chriftians burning one
another alive, for God's Sake.

When any of theyoungMen of thefe Nations have
a Mind to fignalize themfelves, and to gain a Repu-
tation among their Countrymen, by fome notable En-
terprize againfr. their Enemy, they at firft commu-
nicate their Defignto two or three of their moft in-
timate Friends; and if they come into it, an Invi-
tation is made, in their Names, to all the young
Men of the Cattle, to feaft on Dog's Flefh ; but
whether this be, becaufe Dog's Flefh is moil: agree-
able to Indian Palates, or whether it be as an Em*
blem of Fidelity, for which the Dog is diftinguifh-
ed by all Nations, that it is always ufed on this
Occafioti, I have not fufficient Information to

de-

( n

determine. When the Company is met, the Pro-
moters of the Enterprize fet forth the Undertaking
in the beft Colours they can ; they boaft of what
they intend to do, and incite others to join, from
the Glory there is to be obtained ; and all who eat
of the Dog's Flefh, thereby inlift themfelves.

The Night before they let out, they make a
grand Feaft, to this all the noted Warriors of
the Nation are invited ; and here they have their
War-Dance, to the Beat of a kind of Kettle-drum.
The Warriors are feated in two Rows in the Houfe,
and each rifes up in his Turn, and fings the great
Acts he has himfelf performed, and the Deeds
of his Anceftors ; and this is always accompanied
with a Kind of a Dance, or rather Action, repre-
fenting the Manner in which they were performed;
and from Time to Time, all prefent join in a
Chorus, applauding every notable A£t. They ex-
aggerate the Injuries they have at any Time receiv-
ed from their Enemies, and extol the Glory which
any of their Anceftors have gained by their Brave-
ry and Courage ; fo that they work up their Spi-
rits to a high Degree of warlike Enthufiafm. I
have fometimes perfuaded fome of their young In-
dians to act thefe Dances, for our Diveriion,
and to (hew us the Manner of them ; and even,
on thefe Occafions, they have work'd themfelves up
to fuch a Pitch, that they have made all prefent un-
cafy. Is k not probable, that fuch Defigns as thefe
have given the firft Rife to Tragedy?

They come to thefe Dances with their Faces
painted in a frightful Manner, as they always are
when they go to War, to make themfelves terri-
ble to their Enemies j and in this Manner the
Night is fpent. Next Day they march out with
much Formality, drefled in their fineft Apparel,
and, in their March, obferve a profound Silence.
An Officer of the regular Troops told me, that

B 4 while

'(» )

while he was Commandant of Fort-Hunftr, the
Afchaw&s, on one of thefe Occahons, told him,
that they expected the ufual military Honours as-
they parTed the Garrifon. Accordingly he drew
out his Garrifon, the Men prefented their Pieces
as the Indians puffed, and the Drum beat a March j
and with lefs Refpecl, the Officer faid, they would
have been difTatisiied. The Indians palled in a
iingle Row, one after another, with great Gravi-
ty and profound ^Silence ; and every one of them,
as he pafe! the Officer, took his Gun from his
Shoulder, and fired into the Ground near the Offi-
cer's Foot i They marched in this Manner three
or four Miles from their Cattle. The Women,
on thefe Occafions, always follow them with their
old Clothes, and they fend back by them their Fi-
nery in which they marched from the Caftle,
But before they go from this Place, where they
exchanged their Clothes, they always peel a large
Piece of the Bark of fome great Tree ^ they com-
monly chufe an Oak, as moft lafting j upon the
frnooth Side of this Wood they, with their red Paint,
draw one or more Canoes going from Home, with
the Number of Men in them padling, which
go upon the Expedition \ and fome Animal, as a
Deer or Fox, an Emblem of the Nation againfb
which the Expedition is defigned, is painted at the
Head of the Canoes ; for they always travel in Ca-
noes along the Rivers, which lead to the Country
againft which the Expedition is defignedr as far as-
they can.

After the Expedition is over, they ilopat the fame
Ptacein their Return, and fend to their Caftle, to in-
form their Friends of their Arrival 5 that they may
be prepared to give them afolemn Reception, fuited to
the Succefs they have had. In the meanTime, they
reprefent on the fame, or fome Tree near it, the
Event of the Enterprise, and now the Canoes are

painted

(9)

painted with their Heads turned towards the Cattle >
the Number of the Enemy killed, is reprefented by
Scalps painted black, and the Number of Prifoners
by as many Withs, (in their Painting not unlike
Pothooks) with which they ufually' pinion their
Captives. Thefe Trees are the Annals, or rather
Trophies of the Five Nations : I have feen many
of them ; and by them, and their War Songs, they
preferve the Hiftory of their great Atchievements.
The folemn Reception of thefe Warriors, and the"
Acclamations of Applaufey which they receive at
their Return, cannnot but have in the Hearers the'
fame Effect, in raifing an Emulation for Glory y
that a Triumph had on the old Romans,,

After their Prifoners are fecured, they never of-
fer them the leaft Male-treatment,, but, on the con-
trary, will rather ftarve themfelves, than lufTer them
to want ; and I have been always affured, that
there is not one Inftance, of their offering the leaf!
Violence to the Chaftity of any Woman that was-
their Captive. But notwithstanding this, the poor
Prifoners afterwards undergo fevere Punifhments
before they receive the laft Doom of Life or Death..
The Warriors think it for their Glory, to lead'
them through all the Villages of the Nations fubjeclr
to them, which lie near the Road ; and thefe, tor
fhew their ArFecYion to the Five Nations y and their
Abhorrence of their Enemies, draw up in two*
Lines, through which the poor Prifonersy flark
naked, mufl run the Gauntlet; and on this Occa-*
fion, it is always obferved, the Women are much
more cruel than the Men. The Prifoners meet
with the fame fad Reception when they reach their
Journey's End ;. and after this, they are prefented'.
to thofe that have loft any Relation in that or any
former Enterprizc If the Captives be accepted,
there is an End to their Sorrow from- that Moment;
they are dreiicd as fine as they can make them ;

B-5 they

( io )

they are absolutely free (except to return t6 tKc-ir
own Country) and enjoy all the Privileges the Per-
fon had, in whofe Place they are accepted ; but if
otherwife, they die in Torments, to fatiate the
Revenge of thofe that refufe them.

If a young Man or Boy be received in Place of a
Hufband that was killed, all the Children of the
Deceafed call that Boy Father ; fo that one may
fometimes hear a Man of thirty fay, that fuch a Boy
of fifteen or twenty is his Father.

Their Caflles are generally a Square furrounded
with Palifadoes, without any Baftions or Out-
works ; for, fince the general Peace, their Villa-
ges lie all open.

Their only Inftruments of War are Mufquets,
Hatchets, and long fharp-pointed Knives ; thefe
they always carry about with them: Their Hatchet,
in War-time, is ftuck in their Girdle behind
them ; and befides what Ufe they make of this
Weapon in their Hand, they have a dexterous Way
of throwing it, which I have feen them often prac-
tife in their Exercife, by throwing it into a Tree at
a Diftance : They have, in this, the Art of di-
recting and regulating the Motion, fo that though
the Hatchet turns round as it flies, the Edge always
Aicks in the Tree, and near the Place at which
they aim it. The Ufe of Bows and Arrows arc
now intirely laid afide, except among the Boys,
who are frill very dexterous in killing Fowls and
other Animals with them.

They ufe neither Drum nor Trumpet, nor any
Kind of mufical Inftrument in their Wars ; their
Throats ferve them on all Occafions, where fuch
are necefTary. Many of them have a furprifing
Faculty of raifuig their Voice, not only in inarti-
culate Sounds, but Jikewife to make their Words
-underftood at a great Diftance ; and we find the
feme was pra&ifed by Homers Heroes,

( » )

Thrtci to its Pitch his lofty Voice he rears,——
O Friend ! Ulyffes Shouts invadt my Ears,

The Five Nations have fuch abfolute Notions of
Liberty, that they allow of no Kind of Superiority
of one over another, and banifh all Servitude from
their Territories. They never make any Prifoner
a Slave ; but it is cuftomary among them to make
a Compliment of Naturalization into the Five Na-
tions-, and, confidering how highly they value
themfelves above all others, this muft be no fmall
Compliment. This is not done by any general
Ad of the Nation, but every Tingle Perfon has a
Right to do it, by a Kind of Adoption. The firft
Time I was among the Mohawks, I had this
Compliment from one of their old Sachems, which
he did, by giving me his own Name, Cayende-
rongue. He had'been a notable Warrior ; and he
told me, that now I had a Right to aflume to my-
felf all the Ads of Valour he had performed, and
that now my Name would echo from Hill to Hill
all over the Five Nations. As for my Part, I
thought no more of it at that Time, than as an
Artifice to draw a Belly full of ftrong Liquor from
me, for himfelf and his Companions j but when
about ten or Twelve Years afterwards, my Bufi-
nefs led me again among them, I directed the Inter-
preter to fay fomething from me to the Sachems ;
he was for fome Time at a Lofs to underftand their
Anfwer, till he had afked me whether I had any
Name among them : I then found that I was really
known to them by that Name, and that the old
Sachem, from the Time he had given me his
Name, had aflumed another to himfelf. 1 was
adopted, at that Time, into the Tribe of the
Bear, and, for that Reafon, I often afterwards had
the kind Compliment of Brother Bear.

B 6 The

f r* )

The Hofpitality of thefe Indians is no lefs re*
snarkable, than their other Virtues ; as foon as any
Stranger come3, they are fure to offer hi m Victuals..
If there be feveral in Company, and come front
a -far,, one of their beft Houfes is cleaned' and givent
up for their Entertainment.. Their Complaifance,.
©n thefe Occafions, goes even farther than Chrif-
tian Civility allows of, as they have no^ other Rule-
for itr than the fumifhing their Gueft with every
Thing they think will be agreeable to- him ; for
this Reafon, fome of their prettieft Girls are always
ordered to wafh therofelves,. and drefs in their bed
Apparel, in order to-be presented to the Stranger,,
for his Choice ; and the young Lady, who has the
Honour to be preferred on thefe Occafions, per-
forms, all the Duties of a. fond Wife, during the
Stranger's Stay : But this lari Piece of Hofpitality
is how either laid afide by the Mohawks> or, at:
leaft, they never ofFer it to any Chriftian. This
Nation, indeed, has laid afide many of its ancient
Cuftoms> and fo likewife have the other Nations,,
with whom we are beft acquainted^ and have,
adopted many of ours ; fo that it is noteaiy now to
dilringuiih their original and- genuine' Manners,,
from thofe which they have lately acquired ; and:
for this Reafon it is, that they now feld orn offer
Victuals to Perfons of any Distinction, becaufo
they know,, that their Food and Cookerv is not
agreeable to our delicate Palates. Their Men value
themfelves^ in having all Kind cf Food in equal'
Efteem. A Mohawk Sachem.tc\& me with a.Kind
of Pride, That a Man eats every Thing without:
Piftinciion^ Bears^ Ca.tsy Dcgs> Snakes , F?-ogs^i\Qt
intimating,, that it is Woraanifh, to have any De-
licacy in the Choice of Food*.

I can,, however, give two ltrong Inftances of the-
Hofpitality of the Mohawks, which fell under my
■own Obfervationi and which ihew5 that; they have

th&

<

C 13 )

the very fame Notion of Hofpitality, which we
find in the ancient Poets. When I was laft in the
Mohawks Country,, the Sachems told me, that
they had an Englijhman among their People, a.
Servant who- had" run from his Mafter in New York.
I immediately told them, that they muft deliver
him up. No, they anfwered, we never ferve any
Man fo, who puts himfelf under our Protection.
On this I infilled on the Injury they did thereby
to his Mafter ; and they allowed it might be atv
Injury, and replied, though, we never will deliver
him up, we are willing to pay the Value of the
Servant to the Mafter.. Another Man made his
Efcape from the Goal of Albany,, where he was in
Prifon on an Execution for Debt ; the Mohawks
received him, and, as they protected him againft
the Sheriff and his Officers, they not only paid the
Debt for him, but gave him. Land, over and above
Sufficient for a good Farm,, whereon he lived when
I was laft there.. To this it may be added, all
their extraordinary Vifits are accompanied with
giving and receiving Prefents of fome Value ; as
we learn likewife from. Homer was the Practice in
old Times.

Polygamy is not ufual among them ;■. and indeed,
in any Nation, where all are on a Par, as to Riches
and Power, Plurality of Wives cannot well be in*
troduced.. As all kind of Slavery is banifned from
the Countries of the Five Nations, fa. they keep
themfeives free al fo from. the Bondage of Wedlock;
and when either of the Parties becomes difgufted,
they feparaie without Formality or Ignominy to
either, unlefs it be occafioned by fome fcandalous
Offence in. one of them.. And in Cafe of Divorce,,
the Children,, according to. the natural Courfe of
all Animals,, follow the Mother.. The Women
here bring forth their Children with as much Eafe
as other Animals,, and without the Help of a Mid-

wife^,

( 14)

wife, and, foon after their Delivery, return to their
ufual Employment. They alone alfo perform all
the Drudgery about their Houfes, they plant their
Corn, and labour it, in eveiy refpecl:, till it is
brought to the Table : They likewife cut all their
Fire-wood, and bring it Home on their Backs,
and in their Marches bear the Burdens. The
Men difdain all Kind of Labour, and employ
themfelves alone in Hunting, as the only proper
Bufinefs for Soldiers. At Times, when it is not
proper to hunt, one finds the old Men in Compa-
nies, in Converfation ; the young Men at their
Exercifes, mooting at Marks, throwing the Hatchet,
Wreftling, or Running, and the Women all bufy
at Labour in the Fields.

On thefe Occafions, the State of Lacedamon ever
occurs to my Mind, which that of the Five Na-
tions, in many Refpects, refembles ; their Laws,
or Cuftoms, being, in both, form'd to render the
Minds and Bodies of the People fit for War.

Theft is very fcandalous among them ; and it
is necefiary it mould be fo among all Indians, fince
they have no Locks, but thofe of their Minds, to
preferve their Goods.

There is one Vice which the Indians have all
fallen into, fince their Acquaintance with the
Chriftians, and of which they could not be guilty
before that Time, that is, Drunkennefs : It is
jftrange, how all the Indian Nations, and almoft
every Perfon among them, Male and Female, are
infatuated with the Love of ftrong Drink ; they
know no Bounds to their Defire, while they can
fwallow it down, and then indeed the gre'ateft
Man among them fcarcely deferves the Name of
a Brute.

They never have been taught to conquer any
Paffion, but by fome contrary Paflion ; and the
Traders, with whom they chiefly converfe, are fo

far

( is)

far from giving them any Abhorrence of this Vice,
that they encourage it all they can, not only for
the Profit of the Liquor they fell, but that they
may have an Opportunity to impofe upon them.
And this, as they chiefly drink Spirits, has de-
ftroyed greater Numbers, than all their Wars and
Difeafes put together.

The People of the Five Nations are much oriven
to Speech-making, ever the natural Confcquencc of
a perfect Republican Government :. Where no fin-
gle Perfon has a Power to compel, the Arts of
Perfuafion alone muff, prevail. As their beft Speak-
ers diftinguifh themfelves in their publick Councils
and Treaties with other Nations, and thereby eain
the Efteem and Applaufe of their Countrymen,
(the only Superiority which any one of them has
over the others) it is probable they apply them-
felves to this Art, by fome Kind of Study and Ex-
ercife, in a great Meafure. It is impoflible for
me to judge how far they excel, as I am ignorant
of their Language ; but the Speakers whom I have
heard, had all a great Fluency of Words, and
much more Grace in their Manner, than any Man
could expec*, among a People intirely ignorant of
all the liberal Arts and Sciences.

I am inform'd, that they are very nice in the
Turn of their Expreffions, and that few of them-
felves are fo far Matters of their Language, as
never to offend the Ears of their Indian Auditory,
by an unpolrteExpreflion. They have, it feems, a
certain Urbanitas, or Atticifm, in their Language,
of which the common Ears are ever fenfible, though
only their great Speakers attain to it. They are
fo much given to Speech-making, that their com-
mon Complements, to any Perfon they refpecl", at
meeting and parting, are made in Harangues.

They have fome Kind of Elegancy in varying
and compounding their Words, to which, not

many

(r6)

many of themfelves attain, and this principally difc
tinguifhes their beft Speakers. I have endeavoured
to get fome Account of this, as a Thing that might
be acceptable to the Curious ; but, as I have not
met with any one Perfon who underftands their
Language, and alfo knows any Thing of Gram-
mar, or of the learned Languages, I have not
bzen able to attain the leaft Satisfaction. Their
prefent Minifter tells me, that their Verbs are va-
ried, but in a Manner fo different from the Greek
and Latin, that he cannot difcover by what Rule
tt was done ; and even fufpecls that every Verr>
has a peculiar Mode : They have but few radical'
Words, but they compound then Words without
End ; by this their Language becomes fufficiently
copious, and leaves Room for a good Deal of Art:
to pleafe a delicate Ear. Sometimes one Word,
among them includes an entire Definition of the
Thing ; for Example, they call Wine Qneharadcfe-*
hoengtferagherie, as to lay, a Liquor made of the
'Juice of the Grafh-. The Words exprefling Things-
lately come to their Knowledge are all Compounds :
They have no Labeals in their Language, nor cam
they pronounce perfectly any Word wherein there
h a Labeal; and when one endeavours to teach
them to pronounce thefe Words,, they tell one,,
they think it ridiculous that they mult fhut their
Lips to fpeak„ Their Language abounds with
Gutturals and frrong Afpirations,. thefe make it very
{onerous and bold;, and their Speeches abound
with Metaphors, after the Manner of the Eaftern*
Nations, as will beft appear by the Speeches- that I
iiave copied.

As to what religious Netions they have, it is
difficult to judge of them ; becaufe the Indians r that
fpeak any Evglijhy and live near us, have learned
many Things of us ; and it is not eafy to diftin-
guifli the Notions they had originally among themr.

felv.es,

C h )

felves, from thofe they have learned of the ChnJ-
ham. It is certain they have no Kind of publick
Worfhip, and I am told that they have no radical
Word to exprefs GW, but ufc a compound Word,
fignifying the Prcferver, Suftainer, or Mafter of
the Univerfe 5 neither could I ever learn what Sen-
timents they have of a future Exiftence. Their
funeral Rites feem to be formed upon a Notion
of fome Kind of Exiftence after Death : They
make a large round Hole, in which the Body can
be placed upright, or upon its Haunches, which
after the Body is placed in it, is covered with
Timber, to fupport the Earth which they lay oyer,,
and thereby keep the Body free from being prefled ;
they then raife the Earth in a round Hill over it.
They always drefs the Corps in all its Finery, and
put Wampum and other Things into the Grave
with it ; and the Relations fuffer not Grafs or any
Weed to grow on the Grave, and frequently yifit
it with Lamentations : But whether thefe Things
be done only as Marks of Refpecl: to the De-
ceafed, or from a Notion of fome Kind of Exiftence
after Death, mult be left to the Judgment of the
Reader.

They are very fuperftitious in obferving Omens
and Dreams ; I have obferved them fliew a fuper-
ftitious Awe of the Owl, and be highly difpleafed
with fome that mimicked the Cry of that Bird in
the Night. An Officer of the regular Troops has,
informed me alfo, that while he had the Command
of the Garrifon at Ofwcgoy a Boy of one of the
far Weftward Nations died there; the Parents made
a regular Pile of fplit Wood, laid the Corps upon it,,
and&burnt it ; while the Pile was burning, they
ftood gravely looking on,, without any Lamenta-
tion, but when it was burnt down, they gathered,
up the Bones with many Tears, put them into a
Box, and carried them away with them , and this*

laciir

( iB )

Inclination, which all ignorant People have to Su~
perflation and amufing Ceremonies, gives the Popifli
Priefts a great Advantage in recommending their
Religion, beyond what the Regularity of the Pro-
teitant Do£rine allows of.

Queen Anne fent over a Miflionary to refide
among the Mohawks^ and allowed him a fufficient
Subfiftence from the privy Purfe ; me fent Furni-
ture for a Chapel, and a valuable fet of Plate for
the Communion Table ; and (if I am not mil-
taken) the like Furniture and Plate for each of the
other Nations, though that of the Mohawks was
only applied to the Ufe defigned. The common
Prayer, or at leaft a confiderable Part of it, was
translated alfo into their Language and printed ;
fome other Pieces were likewife tranllated for the
Mmifter's Ufe, viz. An Expofition of the Creed,
Decalogue, Lord's Prayer, and Church Catechifm,
and a Difcourfe on the Sacraments. But as that
Minifter was never able to attain any tolerable
Knowledge of their Language, and was naturally
a heavy Man, he had but fmall Succefs ; and his
Allowance failing, by the Queen's Death, he left
them. Thefe Nations had no Teacher, from that
Time, till within thefe few Years, that a young
Gentleman, out of pious Zeal, went voluntarily
among the Mohawks. He was at firft intirely igno-
rant of their Language, and had no Interpreter,
except one of the Indians, who underftood a little
Englifc and had, in the late Millenary's Time,
learned to read and write in his own Language.
Pie learned from him how to pronounce the Words
in the Tranflations, which had been made for the
late Miffionary's Ufe. He fet up a School, to teach
their Children to read and write their own Lan-
guage j and they made furprifing Proficiency, con-
ndering their Matter did not underftand their Lan-
guage. I happened to be in the Mohawk Country,

and

( 19 )

and faw feveral of their Performances ; I was pre-
sent at their Worfhip, where they went through
fome Part of the Common Prayer with great De-
cency. I was likewife prefent, feveral Times, at
their private Devotions, which fome of them per-
formed duly, Morning and Evening. I had alfo
many Opportunities of obferving the great Regard
they' had for this young Man ; fo far, that the
Fear of his leaving them made the greateft Reirraint
on them, with which he threatened them, after
they had been guilty of any Offence. Soon after
that Time, this Gentleman went to England, re-
ceived Orders, and was fent by the Society, Mil-
lenary to Albany * with Liberty to fperid fome Part
of his Time among the Mohawks.

I had lately a Letter from him, dated the feventh
of December, 1641, in which he writes as follows :
" Drunkennefs was fo common among them, that
" I doubt, whether there was one grown Perfon
" of either Sex free from it ; feldom a Day palled
" without fome, and very often forty or fifty being
" drunk at a Time. But I found they were very
« fond of keeping me among them, and afraid I
« mould leave them, which I madeUfe of to good
« Purpofe ; daily threatning them with my Depar-
" tare, in Cafe they did not forfake that Vice, and
" frequently requiring a particular Promife from
« them fingly ; by which Means (through God's
" Blemncrfthere was a gradual Reformation ; and
" I know not that I have feen above ten or twelve
" Perfons drunk among them this Summer. The
" Women are a'moft all entirely reformed, and
« the Men very much. They have entirely left
« off Divorces, and are legally married. They are
" very conftant and devout at Church and Family
" Devotions. They have not been known to ex-
" ercife Cruelty to Prifoners, and have, in a great
« Meajiire, left off going a fighting, which I find

*' the

f 20 )

" ^i^oil difficult, of all Things, to di/Tuade them

« fT'u I ? feen??lr(>Perfuaded of the Truths

of Chriiliamty. The greateft Inconveniency I

labour under is the Warn of an Interpreter,

which could I obtain, for two or three Years, I

* mould hope to be tolerably Mafter of their Lan-

guage and be able to render it eafier to my

This Gentleman's uncommon Zeal deferves I
think, this publick Teftimony, that it may be a
Means of his receiving fuch Encouragement, as
may enable him topurfue the pious Purpofes he has
W View.

The Mohawks, were they civilized, may be
«feful to us many Ways, and, on many Occasions,
more than any of our own People can be ; and this
well deferves to be confidered.

There is one Cuftom their Men conftantly ob-
serve, which I muft not forget to mention: That
if they be font with any Meffage, though it demand
the greateft Difpatch, or though they bring: Intelli^
gence of any imminent Danger, they never tell it
at their hrft Approach ; but iit down for a Minute
or two, at leaft, in Silence, to recolleS them-
lelves before thev fpeak, that they may not mew
any Degree of fear or Surprize, by an indecent
Expreffion. Every fudden Repartee, m a public
1 reaty leaves with them an ImpreiTion of a light
mconflderate Mind s but, in private Convention,
they ufe, and are delighted with briik witty An-
swers, as we can be. By this they mew the great
Difference they place between the Conventions of
Man and Man, and of Nation and Nation ; and
m this and a thoufand other Things, might Weill
Oe an Example to the European Nations.

THE

{ 21 J

tttmm mm ■ —.————■—'»

THE

HISTORY

O F T H E

Five INDIAN Nations,

DEPENDING

On the Province of NEW-YORK.

PART I.

The Htflory of the Five Nations, from the Time
the Chrijlmns firji knew any Thing of them, to
thai of the Revolution in Great-Britain.

CHAP. I.

Of the Wan of the Five Nations with the Adiron-
dack^ and Quatoghies.

TH E firft Settlers of New-York having been
little curious in inquiring into the Indian
J fair 5, further than what related to Trade; or,
at leaft, having neglected to tranfmit their Difco-
veries to Pofterity, it is much more difficult to give
a juft Hiftory of thefe Nations before, than fines
the Time of their being; under the Crown of England.
What we can learn of Certainty, however, is this.
The French fettled at Canada in the Year 1603, fix

Years

(22 )

Years before the Dutch polTefTed themfelves of
New-Netherlands, now called Neiv-York, and found
the Five Nations at War with the Adirondack's,
which, they tell us, was occafioned in the follow-
ing Manner.

The Adirondachs formerly lived three-hundred
Miles above Trots Rivieres, where now the XJtawa-
was are fituated ; at that Time they employ 'd
themfelves wholly in Hunting, and the Five Nations
made planting of Corn their Bufinefs. By this
Means they became ufeful to each other, by ex-
changing Corn for Venifon. The Adirondack*,
however, valued themfelves, as delighting in a
more manly Employment, and defpifed the Five
Nations, in following Bufinefs, which they thought
only fit for Women. But it once happened, that
the Game failed the Adirondack^, which made them
defire fome of the young Men of the Five Nations
to affift them in Hunting. Thefe young Men
Toon became much more expert in Hunting, and
able to endure Fatigues, than the Adirondachs ex-
pected or defired ; in fhort, they became jealous of
them, and, one Night, murdered all the young
Men they had with them. The Five Nations
complained to the Chiefs of the Adirondack*, of the
Inhumanity of this Action ; but they contented
themfelves with blaming the Murderers, and or-
dered them to make fome fmall f Prefents to the
Relations of the murdered Peifons, without being
apprehend ve of the Refentment of the Five Na-
tions ; for they looked upon them, as Men not
capable of taking any great Revenge.

This, however, provoked the Five Nations to
that Degree, that they foon refolved, by fome
Means, to be revenged ; and the Adirondack^ being

informed

•(- It is ftill a Cuftom among the Indians, to expiate
Murder by Prefents to the Relations of the Peribri
killed.

( n )

informed of their Defigns, thought to prevent them
by reducing them with Force to their Obedience.

The Five Nations then lived near where Mont Real
now ftands ; they defended themfel ves at firft but faintly
againft the vigorous Attacks of the Adirondacks, and
were forced to leave their own Country, and fly to the
Banks of the Lakes where they live now. As they
were hitherto Lofers by the War, it obliged them
to apply themfelves to the Exercifeof Arms, in which
they became daily more and more expert. Their
Sachc?ns, in Order to raife their People's Spirits,
turned them againft the * Satanas, a lefs warlike Na-
tion, who then lived on the Banks of the Lakes ;
for they found it was difficult to remove the Dread
their People had of the Valour of the Adirondack.
The Five Nations foon fubdued the Satanas, and
drove them out of their Country ; and their People's
Courage being thus elevated, they, from this
Time, not only defended themfelves bravely againft
the whole Force of the Adirondack^ but often carried
the War into the Heart of the Adirondacks'sCoun-
try, and, at laft, forced them to leave it, and to fly to
that Part of the Country, where Quebeck .is now built.
There are more Inftances than one in Hiftory,
of poor difpirited Nations, that by fome fignal Af-
front or Abufe have had their Spirits fo raifed, that
they have not only performed notable Things on a
fudden, but, if they happened, at the fame Time, to
beledand governed by wife Men, havefo far kept up
and improved that Spirit, that they have become, in a
Manner, a different People. Letus examine Hiftory,
and we fhall find, that the different Figure every Coun-
try has made in the World, has been ever principally
owing to the Principles which were inculcated into,
and carefully cultivated in the People. In this chiefly

* They are called Shaouonons, by the French, and live
now on one of the Banks of the Miftfipi.

3 C0n-

( H)

confifrsthe Art of making a Nation glorious, or the
Crime of debating them into Servitude or Slavery.
It was from the Notions of Liberty, Honour, and Glo-
ry, and fuch wife and generous Principles, which the
meaneft Citizen among the old Romans entertained,
that they became fo great and powerful, and aTerror
-to all Nations; as the fordid, timorous, cunning Ar-
tifices, and the Love of Wealth and fenfual Plea-
fures, cultivated among the prefent Romans, has de-
bafed them now into the meaneft and leaft feared
Nation on the Earth. The Hiftory of the Five
Nathms mil readily mew, how far the ancient
Roman Principles have been cultivated amon<? them.
Soon after this Change of the People of thefe
Nations, the French arrived at Canada, and fettled
at ghicbeck j and they thinking it advifeable to gain
the Efteem and E iendfhip of the Adirondacks*, in
ivhofe Country they fettled, Monfeeur Champ/ah,
the tirft Governor of Canada, joined the Adiron-
jacks, in an Expedition againft the Five Nations.
They met a Party of two-hundred Men of the
Five Nations in Cerlar's Lake, which the French,
on this Occation called by Monficur Champlain'l
Name, and both Sides went afhore to prepare for
Battle ; which proved to the Difadvantage of the
Five Nations, The French, in jfhort, kept them-
felves undifcovered, till the Moment they began
to join Battle ; and their Fire-arms furprifed the
Five Nations ib much, that they were immedi-
ately put into Confution; for, before that Time,
they had never feen fuch Weapons. The Trade
with the French, foon after this, drew mod of the
neighbouring Nations to ghtebeck, and they all
joined in the War againft the Five Nations.

The Adirondacks having their Numbers thus in-
ceafed, and their Fire-arms giving them new Con-
fidence, propofed nothing lefe to themfelves, than
the entire Definition tf the Five Nations. Upon

this

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this, their young Warriors became fierce and
infolent, and would not be kept under any Difci-
pline or Subjection to their Captains ; but, upon
all Occafions, rafhly attacked the Enemy, who
were obliged to keep themfeb es upon the Defen-
five ; and to make up what they wanted in Force,
by Stratagems, and a fkilful Management of the
War. The young Men of the Five Nations foon
perceived the Advantages they gained by this Con-
duct, and every Day grew more fubmiflive to their
Captains, and diligent in executing any Enterprize.

The Five Nations fent out fmall Parties only,
who meeting with great Numbers of the Adiron-
dacks, retired before them with feeming Terror,
while the Adirondack* purfued them with Fury, and
without Thought, till they were cunningly drawn
into Ambufcades, where moft of their Men were
killed or taken Prifoners, with little or no Lofs to
the Five Nations,

The Adirondacks, by this Means, wafted away,
and their boldeft Soldiers were almoft intirely de-
ftroy'd, while the Number of the Five Nations were
increafed, by the Addition of the Prifoners, which
they took from the Sa tanas.

The wifeft and beft Soldiers of the Adirondack*,
when it was too late, now at length difcovered that
they muft learn the Art of War from thofe Enemies
that they at firft defpifed ; and now five of their Cap-
tains endeavoured to perform by themfelves fingly,
with Art and by Stratagem, what they could not do
by Force at the Head of their Armies ; they had
however no longer any Hopes of conquering, their
Thoughts were only fet on Revenge.

It is not improper to obfervehere, once for all, that
in writing the Hiftoryof Indians, it is often neceflary
to give an Account of the Enterprizes of fingle Per-
fons, otherwife the Indian Genius can never be known
or their Manner of making War underftood. An
Indian, named Piarfket, was at this Time one of ths
Vol. I. C Cap.

( 26 )

Captains of greateft Fame among the Adirondack* :
This bold Man, with four other Captains, fet out for
cTrois-Rivieres\n one Canoe, each of them beingpro-
vided with three Mufkets, which they loaded with two
Bullets apiece, joined with a fmall Chain ten Inches
long ; they met with five Canoes in Sorel River,
each having ten Men of the Five Nations on Board.
Pi/karet and his Captains, as foon as thofe of the
Five Nations drew near, pretended to give them-
felves up for loft, and fung their Death Song, * then
fuddenly fired upon the Canoes, which they re-
peated with the Arms that lay ready loaded, and
tore thofe Birch VefTels betwixt Wind and Water.
The Men of the Five Nations were fo furprifed,
that they tumbled out of their Canoes, and gave
Pijkaret and his Companions the Opportunity of
knocking as many of them on the Head as they
pleafed, and favedthe others, to feed their Revenge,
which they did, by burning them alive with the moft
cruel Torments. This ho we ver was fo far from glutt-
ing Pifiartfs Revenge, that it feemed rather to give
a keener Edge to it j for he foon after undertook ano-
ther Enterprize, in which none of his Countrymen
durft accompany him : He was well acquainted with
the Country of the Five Nations, and fet out about
the Time the Snow began to melt, with the Pre-
caution of putting the hinder Part of his Snow
Shoes forward, that if any mould happen upon his
Footfteps, they might think he was gone the con-
trary Way ; and for further Security, went along
the Ridges and high Grounds, where the Snow
was melted, that his Track might be often loft j
when he came near one of the Villages of the Five
Nations, he hid himfelf till Night, and then en-
tered
* It is a Cuftom among the Indian Prifoners of War,
when led to Death, to fing an Account of their own
Exploits ; and this they are hardy enough to continue
even in the Midft of Tortures.

( *7 1

tered a Cabin, while every Body was faft afteep,
murdered the whole P'amily, artd carried their Scalps
into his lurking Place. The next Day the People
of the Village fearched for the Murderer in vain.
The following Night he murdered all he found in
another Cabin. The Inhabitants next Day fearch-
ed likewife in vain for the Murderer ; but the third
Night a Watch was kept in every Houfe. Plfka~
ret in the Night bundled up the Scalps he had taken
the two former Nights, to carry, as the Proof of
his Victory, and then ftole privately from Houfe to
Houfe, till atlaft he found an Indian nodding, who
was upon the Watch in one of the Houfes; he
knockt this Man on the Head ; but a3 this alarmed
the reft, he was forced immediately to fly. He
was however under no great Concern from the Pur-
fuit, being more fwift of Foot than any Indian.
then living. He let his Purfuers come near him
from Time to Time, and then Would dart from
them. This he did with Defign to tire them out
<with the Hopes of overtaking him. As it began
to grow dark, he hid himfelf, and his Purfuers ftop'd
to reft. They not being apprehenfive of any Danger
from a fingle Man, foon fell afleep, and the boldP/?-
karet obferving this, knocked them all on the Head,
and carried away their Scalps with the reft. Such
Stories as thefe are told among the Indians^ as extra-
ordinary Inftances of the Courage and Conduct of
their Captains. The Indians will often travel thus
three or four hundred Miles fingly, or two or three
in Company, and lurk about their Enemy's Borders
for feveral Weeks, in Hopes to revenge the Death of
a near Relation or dear Friend. Indeed they give
themfelves fo very much up to Revenge, that this
PafHon feems to gnaw their Souls, and gives them no
Reft till theyfatisfyit. It is this Delight in Re veno-e,
thatmakes ail barbarous Nations cruel ; and the curb-
ing fuchPaflions is one of the happy Effects of being
civilized.

C 2 The

C » )

The Five Nations are to much delighted with
Stratagems in War, that no Superiority of their
Forces ever make them neglect them. They
amufed the Adirondachs and their Allies the Shiato-
ghies (called by the French Hurons) by fending to
the French, and defiring Peace. The French defired
them to receive fome Priefts among them, in Hopes
that thofe prudent Fathers would, by fome Art, re-
concile them to their Intereft, and engage their
Affections. The Five Nations readily accepted
the Offer, and fome Jefuits went along with them:
But after they had the Jefuits in their Power, they
ufed them only as Hoflages, and thereby obliged the
French to fland neuter, while they prepared to at-
tack the Adirondacks and ^uatoghies, and they de-
feated the ^uatcghies in a dreadful Battle fought
within two Leagues of ^uebeck.

The French own, that if the Five Nations had
known their Weaknefs at that Time, they might
have eaf ly deftroyed the whole Colony.

This Defeat, in Sight of the Fremh Settlements,
flruck Terror into all their Allies, who were at
that Time very numerous, becaufe of the Trade
with the French, which furnifhed them With many
the moft ufeful Conveniences ; for before that
Time the Indians had no Iron Tool among them.

The Nipeceriniens, who then lived on the Banks
of St. Lawrence River, fled upon this to the North-
ward, believing that the extreme Coldnefs of the
Climate, and a barren Soil, would be the fecureft
Defence againft the Ambition of the Five Nations,
The Remainder of the Quatoghies fled with the
Vtawawas Southweftward ; and for the greater Se •
curity, fettled in anlfland, which being further than
the Name of the Five Nations had then reached,
they trufted to the Diftance of the Place, and the
Advantage of its Situation.

Their laft Expedition having fucceeded fo well,
the Five Nations gave out, that they intended next

Winter

{ «9 )

Winter to vifit Yonnendio, (the Name they give to
the Governor of Canada;} thefe Vifits are always
made with much Shew. Under this Pretence they
gathered together iooo or 1200 Men. Their out-
Scouts met with Pifkaret near Nicolet River, and
ftill pretending a friendly Vifit to the Governor of
Canada, as their only Defign, he told them, that
the Adirondacks were divided into two Bodies, one
of which hunted on the North Side of St. Laurence
River at Wabmake, three Leagues above Trois Ri-
vieres, and the other at Nicolet. As foon as they
had gained this Information, they killed him, and
returned with his Head to the Army. The Five
Nations divided likewife into two Bodies ; they
furprized the Adirondacks in both Places, and in
both cut them in Pieces.

Thus the moft warlike and polite Nation of all
the Indians in North America, was almoft intirely
deftroyed by a People they at firft defpifed, and
by a War which their Pride and Injuftice brought
upon them ; and we here fee, that all the Advan-
tages of Numbers, Courage and Weapons, is not
equal to good Difcipline in an Army,

A very few Adirondacks only now remain in fome
Villages near Qiiebeck, who ftill wafte away and
decay, by their drinking ftrong Waters, though
when the French fir/ft fettled at Quebec k, 1 500
fighting Men of them lived between that Place [
and Siilerie, which are only a League diffant, be-
fides thofe that lived at Saquenay, Trois Rivieres^
and fome other Places. And fince this decifive
Battle, the Adirondacks have never been conlidered
as of any Confequence, either in Peace or War.

The Quatoghies and Utawawas now foon began
to be in Want of the European Commodities, which
had made them confiderable among their new
Friends. In order therefore to fupply themfclves
anew, they returned to Trade at Quebec k •> and by

C 3 this

( 3° )

this Means the Place of their Retreat was difcovered
to the Five Nations ; and they not having their
Revenge fatiated, while the Quatoghies had a Be-
ing, fo.on convinced them, that no Extent of Coun-
try could fet Bounds to that Patfion, when it rages
in the Hearts of the Five Nations, for they foon
after attacked them in their new Settlement. The
^uatoghies had the good Fortune to difcover the
Five Nations Time enough to make their Efcape,
and fled to the Puteijuate?nies, who lived a Day's
Journey further, where they, and all the Neigh-
bouring Nations, fecured themfelves in a large
Fort. The Five Nations followed, but, being in
Want of Provifion, they could not attempt a Siege,
and therefore propofed a Treaty with the Putewa-
temtcs, which was accepted. The Putewatemies
acknowledged the Five Nations as Mailers of all
the Nations round them, applauded their Valour,
and promifed them their Friendfhip, and to fupply
them with Provifions 5 they would not, however,
truft themfelves out of their Fort, but fent out a
Supply ; and even this they did, only with Defign
to do that by Treachery, which they durfr. not at-
tempt by Force ; for the Provifions were poifoned.
The Treachery was difcovered however to the Five
Nations, by an old ^uatoghie, who had a Son Pri-
soner among them ; his Afrecl:ion for his Son over-
coming even his Hatred to his Country's Enemies.
This Treachery highly enraged the Five Nations
againft the Putewatemies, and the neighbouring
People ; but Famine obliging them to retire at this
Time, they divided their Armies into Parties, the
better to provide for their Subfritence, by Hunting;
one of thefe Parties in their Chace fell in with a
Village of the Chicktaghicks (called by the French
Flinois) and furprized the old Men, Women and
Children, when the young Men were abroad Hunt-
ing j but the young Men, upon their Return, ga«

thering

( 3i )

thering together all the reft of the Villages, purfued
this Party of the Five Nations^ and recovered the
Prifoners.

This was the firft Time that the Five Nations
had been feen in thofe Parts, but their Name was
become fo terrible, that the Chicktaghicks, not-
withftanding this Advantage, left their Country,
and fled to the Nations that lived weftward, till the
General Peace was fettled by the French^ and
not till on that Occaiion returned to their own
Country.

CHAP. II.

The IVars and Treaties of Peace of the Indians of
the Five Nations with the French, from 1665 to
1683, and their Affairs with New- York in thai
Time.

IN June 1665, Monfieur De Trafi, appointed
Vice- Roy of America by the French King, arrived
at ^uebeck^ after he had vifited the French Ijlands
in the Weft-Indies, and brought with him four Com-
panies of Foot ; and in September of the fame Year,
Mr. Courfel arrived Governour-General of Canada ;
he brought with him a Regiment and feveral Fa-
milies, with all Things necefTary for eftablifhing of
a Colony. Their Force being now thus confide-
rably augmented, the French Governour refolved
to chafHfe the Infolence of the Five Nations ; and
for that Purpofe, in the Winter, fent out a Party
againft the Mohawks, but thefe by the Cold, and
their not knowing the Ufe of Snow Shoes, fuffered
very much, without doing any Thing againft the
Enemy. *

This Party, however, fell in with * SkenecJady,
a fmall Town which Corlear a (coniiderable Man

C 4 among

* The French call this Town Corlear, from the Per-
forms Name who full fettled there. It is fituate on the
Mohawks River fixteen Miles from Albany,

( 32 )
among the Dutch) had then newly fettled. When
they appeared near Skeneclady, they were almoft
dead with Cold and Hunger ; and the Indians, who
were then in that Village, had entirely deftroyed
them, if Corltar (in Companion to his Fellow-
Christians) had not contrived their Efcape. He
had a mighty Influence over the Indians ; and it is
from him, and in Remembrance of his Merit, that
all Governors of New-York are called Corlear by
the Indians to this Day, though he himfelf was
never Governor. He perfuaded the Indians , that
this was a fmall Party of the French Army come
to amufe them, that the great Body was gone di-
rectly towards their Caftles, and that it was necef-
fary for them immediately to go in Defence of their
Wives and Children. This they believed, and
readily obeyed ; and as foon as the Indians were
gone, he fent to the French, and fupplied them
with Provisions and ether NecefTaries to carry them
back. The French Governour, in order to re-:
ward fo fignal a Service, invited Corlear to Canada ;
but as he went through the great Lake, which lies
to the Northward of Albany, his Canoe was over-
fef, and he was drowned ; and from this Accident
that Lake has ever fmcebeen called Corlear's Lake,
by the People of New-York. There is a Rock in
this Lake, on which the Waves dafh and fly up to
a great Height ; when the Wind blows hard, the-
Indians believe, that an old Indian lives under this
Rock, who has the Power of the Winds ; and
therefore, as they pafs it in their Voyages over,
they always throw a Pipe, or fome other fmall Pre-
fent to this old Indian, and pray a favourable
Wind. The Englifo that pafs with them fome-
times laugh at them, but they are fure to be told
of Corlear's Death. Your great Countryman Cor-
lear (fay they) as he pafled by this Rock, jefted at
our Fathers making Prefents to this old Indian, and

in

(33 )

in Derifion turned up his Backfide, but this Affront
coft him his Life.

In the following Spring, the Fice-Roy and the
Governor of Canada , with twenty- eight Compa-
nies of Foot, and all the Militia of the Colo-
ny, marched into the Country of the Mohawks^
with a Defign to deitxoy this Nation, which by
their Wars not only prevented their Commerce
with the Weftern Indians, but likewife often put
their Colony in Danger. It certainly was a bold
Attempt, to march above 700 Miles from Quebec k
through vaft unknown Forefts. The Mohawks^
however, on their Approach, Men, Women and
Children, retired into the Woods, and all that the
French were able to do, was to burn fome Villages,
and to murder fome old Sachems that (like the old
Roman Senators) chofe rather to die than to defert
their Houfes.

The French were fo conceited before, of their
Superiority over the Indians in their Skill of War,
and their Weapons, that they thought they could
not efcape, but the little Honour or Advantage
they got by this Expedition, leflened their Vanity,
and made them defirous of Peace ; and the Five
Nations remaining fearful of the French fire Arms,
it was without much Difficulty concluded in the
Year 1667.

The Five Nations, however, being naturally
very enterprizing and haughty, one of their Par-
ties fome Time after met with fome French in their
hunting, and quarrelled with them. The Indians
had the Ad vantage, they killed feveral of the French,
and carried one Prifoner into their own Country.
Monfteur deCourfel fent on this to threaten the Five
Nations with War, if they did not deliver up thefe
Murderers ; and the Five Nations, to fhew their
publick Difpleafure at this Breach of Peace, fent
A^ariata^ the Captain of the Company that did

C5 the

( 34)

the Mifchief, with forty others, to beg Pardon %
but Monfieur Courfel was refolved to make an Ex-
ample of Jgariata, and ordered him to be hanged
in Sight of his Countrymen ; and the French think
that this Severity was a great Means of preferving
the Peace till the Year 1683.

The Dutch, who fettled in the New-Nether-*
lands ; now called New- Yo rk, in 1609, entered in*
to an Alliance with the Five Nations, which con-
tinued without any Breach on either Side, till the
Englijh gained this Country. The Dutch gained
the Hearts of the Five Nations by their kind Ufage,
and were frequently ufeful to the French, in faving
thofe of them that were Prifoners from the Cruelty
of the Indians.

In 1664, New-York being taken by the Englifb,
,jhey likewife immediately entered into a Friend-
fhip with the Five Nations, which has continued
without the leaf! Breach to this Day; and Hif-
tory, I believe, cannot give an Instance of the moft
Chriftian or moll: Catholick Kings obferving a
Treaty fo ftrictly, and for fo long a Time as thefe
Barbarians, as they are called, have done.

The Evglijh and French (Peace being every
where fettled) now endeavoured to extend their
Commerce and Alliances anions; the Indian Nations.
that live to the weftward of New-York. The
French, however, in their Meafures, difcovered
always a Defign of conquering and commanding ;
for with this View Mr. de Frontenac, who had
fucceeded in the Government of Canada, hi the
Year 1672, perfuaded the Five Nations to allow
him to build a Fort on the north Side of Cadarackui
Lake, under Pretence of a Store for Merchandife,
and the Security of his Traders, and under the
Fame Pretence built feveral other Forts at fome
other confuierable Places far in the Country.

The

( 35 )

The Englijh and Dutch, on the contrary, pro-
fecuted their Meafures only with the Arts of Peace,
by fending People among the Indians to gain their
AffecTions, and to perfuade them to come to Al-
bany to trade ; but the War with the Dutch, which
happened about this Time, prevented even thefe
honeft Defigns from having the Succefs they other-
wife might have had; for in the Year 1673, New*
York being furprifed by the Dutch, and reftored
the next Year to the Englijh, the Alterations of
Government, and of Matters, obftruc~ted very much
any Meafures that could have been taken for the
publick Good. Their Trade was likewife confi-
derably hindered by the War which the Five Na-
tions had at that Time with the * River Indians,
which forced many of thofe Indians to feck Shel-
ter among; the Utawazvas, who fell under the French
Government at laft; however, the Englijh, Dutch
and French, having all made Peace in Europe, and
the Government of New-York likewife having ob-
tained a Peace between the Five Nations and Mahi-
kindars or River bidians, both the Englijh and
French were at full Liberty to profecute their De-
fies of extending; their Commerce among; the In-
dians, which both did with very connderable Suc-
cefs and Advantage to the Inhabitants of their re-
fpe<5tive Colonies.

But this Juftice mutt be done to the French, that
•they far exceeded the Englijh in the daring At-
tempts of fome of their Inhabitants, in travelling
very far among unknown Indians, difcovering new
Countries, ana every where fpreading the Fame
of the French Name and Grandeur. The Sieur
Perot travelled in the Year 1667, as far as the Fall

C 6 St.

* The Indians living on the Branches of Hud/on**
River, within or near the Englijh Settlements at that
Time.

1 36 )

St. Mary beyond Miffilimakinak, and having learn-
ed thofe Indians Language, gained them over to
his Country's Intereft.

The Courage and Refolution of many of thefe
Adventurers are defervedly recorded by the French %
but the Englijh give it another Turn, and fay it is
the Barrennefs and Poverty of Canada that pufhes
the Men of Spirit there, upon Enterprizes, that
they would not have attempted, if they had lived in
the Province of New-York. The chief Reafon, in
my Opinion, however, of the French having fo
far fucceeded beyond the Englijh^ is, that the Indian
Affairs are the particular Care of the Governor
and other principal Officers in Canada^ who have
the greateft Knowledge and Authority; whereas
thofe Affairs in New-York are chiefly left to the
Management of a few Traders with the Indians,
who have no Care for, or Skill in publick Affairs,
and only mind their private Intereft.

CHAP. HI.

Of the Tranfaclions of the Indians of the Five
Nations with the neighbouring Englifh Colonies.

TH E Five Nations being now amply fupplied
by the Englijh with Fire-Arms and Ammu-
nition, give full Swing to their warlike Genius, and
foon refolved to revenge the Affronts they had at
any Time received from the Indian Nations that
lived at a greater Diftance from them. The near-
eft Nations, as they were attack'd, commonly fled
to thofe that were further off", and the Five Nations
purfued them. This, together with a Defire they
had of conquering, or Ambition of making all the
Nations round them their Tributaries, or to ac-
knowledge the Five Nations to be fo far their
Mafters, as to be abfolutely directed by them in all
Affairs of Peace and War with their Neighbours^

made

(37)
made them over-run great Part of North- America,
They carried their Arms as far South as Carolina*
to the northward of New-England, and as far Weft
as the River Mijpffipi, over a vaft Country, which
extends twelve hundred Miles in Length, from
North to South, and about fix hundred Miles in
Breadth ; where they entirely deftroyed many Na-
tions, of whom there are now no Accounts re-
maining among the EngUJh.

Thefe Warlike Expeditions often proved trou-
blefome to the Colonies of Virginia and Maryland \
for not only the Indians that were Friends to thofe
Colonies became Victims to the Fury of the Five
Nations, but the Chriftian Inhabitants likewife
were frequently involved in the fame Calamity.

The French having a long Time felt the Incon-
veniencies and Dangers they were in from this rel-
iefs warlike Spirit of the Five Nations, made ufe
of this Time of Peace to guard againft it for the
future, and were very diligent in purfuing the moft
prudent Meafures. They fent fome of their wifeft
Priefts and Jefuits to refide among them, and the
Governors of New-York were ordered, by the Duke
ef York, to give thefe Priefts all the Encourage-
ment in their Power. The chief View of thefe
Priefts was, to give the Indians the higheft Opi-
nion of the French Power and Wifdom, and to ren-
der the EngUJh as fufpec'ted and as mean as poffible
in their Eyes. They waited likewife for every Op-
portunity to breed a Quarrel between the EngUJh
and the Indians, and to withdraw the Five Nations
from fighting with thofe Nations that traded to Ca-
nada. For thefe Purpofes thefe Priefts were inftru-
mental in turning the Refentment of the Five Na-
tions againft the Indians, that were in Friendfhip
with Virginia and Maryland. The Governor of
Maryland, on the other Hand, to prevent the ill
Confequences that might happen by Wars between

Nations

(38)

Natione that were in Friendship with the Englljby
and lived in their Neighbourhood, fent Colonel Cour-
fey, m 1677, to Albany, to increafe the Friend-
{hip between Virginia and Maryland on the one
Part, and the Five Nations on the other 5 and,
accordingly, both Sides gave mutual Promjfes at
Albany : But this good Understanding was foon
fhaken by fome Parties of the Oneydoes, Ononda-
gas, and Senekas^ who were out when this Treaty
was made, ana* were ignorant of it. One of them
met with the Sufguehana Indians, who were in
Friendship with Maryland, and fell upon them ;
they killed four of the Sufguehanas^ and took fix
Prisoners. Five of theSe Prifoners fell to the Share
of the Se?iekaS) who, as fopn as they arrived in
their own Country, fent them back with Prefents,
to mew that they kept their Promifes with Mary-
land -, but the Oneydoes detained the Prifpner they
had.

Another Party, ^that went againft the Canagejfe
Indians (Friends of Virginia) were furprifed by a
Troop of Horfe, who killed one Man, and took a
Woman Prifoner. The Indians, in Revenge, kil-
Jed four of the Inhabitants, and carried away their
Scalps, with fix Cbriftian Prifoners.

The Mohawks, all this while, kept ftri&ly to
their Words, and fuffered none of their Men to go
towards Virginia and Maryland.

There is Reafon to think that the Dutch, who
lived about Albany at that Time, fpirited up the
Indians againft the Englijh ; the national Differen-
ces, that were then recent, bred a Rancour in their
Spirits. Some Dutchmen perfuaded the Oneydoes^
that the Englijh at New-Tor k were refolved to de-
stroy them, and put them into a terrible Distur-
bance ; for here the Dutch and the French priefts
joined in the fame Meafures. The Commandant
at Albany hearing of this, fent two Interpreters of

the

( 9»)

the Indian Language, to perfuade the Oneydoes to
come to Albany, in Order to be allured of the
Englijh Friendfhip, and to have their JeaJoufy re-
moved ; which being done, Siyerife, one of the
chief Sache?ns of the Oneydces, excufed his Country-
men at Albany the 15th of February 167 J, by layino-
the Blame on the People of Scheneftady, who ha3
informed net one, but feveral of their People, and
at feveral Times, that the Englijh defigned to cut
them all off; and faid, had they net Reafon to be-
lieve the People of Schejiectady, who are Friends
and Neighbours to the Englijh? They brouo-ht
with them a Chriftian Woman and her Child, that
had been taken Prifoners, and reftored them, pray-
ing the Governor to ufe his Intereft to have their
People reftored, that had been taken by the People
of Virginia ; but they kept another Chriftian Wo-
man and her two Children, which they faid they
did only till fuch Time as their Prifoners mould
be reftored, or fome Canajioga Indians given in
their Place.

When the Five Nations make Peace with another
Nation, that has taken fome of the Five Nations
Prifoners, if thefe Prifoners be dead, or cannot be
reftored, they ufually demand fome Indians, in
Friendfhip with the Five Nations, in their ftead •
who either are adopted in Place of their dead
Friends, or reftored to their own Nation ; and
Sometimes they defire fome of their Enemies 'to be
given to them, and even thofe frequently are adopted
by a Father in Place of a Son, or by a Sifter in Place
of a Brother, and, moft frequently, by a Wife in
Place of a Hufband loft in the Wars ; but if they
chance not to be agreeable to the Relations, then
they are certainly made Sacrifices to their Re-

venge.

Governor Androfs, being acquainted by Letter
With this laft Propofal of the Oneydees, required the

im-

(40)
Immediate Delivery of the Chriftian Prifoners, and
promifed to write to Virginia to have the Indian
Prifoners fav'd. Some Prefents being given to the
Ontydoes> and they promifed to bring them in a
Month's Time.

They, at the fame Time, informed the Com*
mandant at Albany -, that eight of their Men were
then out againft the People of Virginia ; that they
knew nothing of what was now promifed j and
therefore, in Cafe they mould do any Harm, they
defired that it might not be taken as a Breach of
their Promifes they now made. They promifed
likewife to inform the Governor of every Thing
thefe Parties fhou'd happen to do. In the laft
Place they faid, we fhall be very forry if any Thing
fhould happen to the Prifoners that we have pro-
mifed to reftore, left it fhould create fome Jealouftes
of us, we hope that you will confider that they
are mortal. Accordingly, in May following, the
Oneydoes brought the other three Prifoners to Al-
bany, and, on the twenty-fourth of that Month,
Swerifey when he delivered them to the Com-
mandant at Albany, and the Commiuloners for
Indian Affairs, faid,

<c Brethren^
<c We are come to this Place with much Trouble,
*' as we did laft Winter, and renew the Requeft
** we then made, that fix Indians be delivered to
« us in the Room of thefe fix Christians, in Cafe
" our People, who are Prifoners, be dead. None
** of us have gone out againft the Chriftians fince
<c we were laft here ; but v/e told you then that
<c fome were then out, who knew nothing of the
** Governor's Orders, and we defired, that if any
*' Thing happened it might not be taken ill.
" Now thirteen of our People, who went out againft
*< our Indian Enemies, met eighteen Men on
U i> , « Horfe-

( 4i )

-.

a

«c

<<

■ :
Horfeback, as far from any of the Englljh Plan-
tations as Cahnuaga is from Albany, they fired
upon our People ; our Men, being Soldiers, re-

el

" turned their Fire, and killed two Men and two
Horfes, and brought away their Scalps.
" It would be convenient that the Governor
tell the People of Virginia, not to fend their
Men fo far from Home j for if they mould meet
our Parties in their Way againft our Enemies,
the Cahnowas, whom the EngUJh call ArogiJliy
we cannot anfwer for the Confequences.
" We have now obferved the Governor's Or-
ders, in bringing the three other Chriftian Pri-
«-c foners ; and we truft the Affair of our Prifoners
u wholly to the Governor.

" We have now performed our Fromifes : But
<c where are our Prifoners; or, if they be dead,
<c the others in their Room, now when it is fo
" late in the Spring ? However, we will ftill truft
<{ this to the Governor."

Then delivering the Prifoners one by one, faid,
We have, we fay, now performed our Promifes,
€i and are not afhamed. We hope Corker, who
governs the whole Country, will likewife do
that, of which he need not be amamed.
" Corlaer governs the whole Land, from New-
Work to Albany, and from thence to the Senekas
" Land i we, who are his Inferiors, {hall faith -
" fully keep the Chain : Let him perform his
" Promife, as we have ours, that the Chain be
" not broken on his Side, who governs the whole
" Country."

Then the Commiffioners gave them Prefents for
their kind Ufage of the Prifoners.

After which Swerife flood up again and faid;
" Let Corlaer take Care, that the Indian Woman,
" that is wanting, be reftored, and, for thofe that
«« are killed, others in their Room. If Corlaer will

not

( 42 )

cc not give Ear to us in this Affair, we will not
" hereafter give Ear to him in any Thing."

Hearing afterwards, that thefe laft Words were
ill taken, Swerife, with two more of the chief
Oneydoe Sachems, excufed it, faying ; " What we
" faid, of not hearkening any more to Corlaer, did
<c not proceed from the Heart, but was (poken by
<c Way of Argument, to make Corlaer more care-
" ful to releafe our People that are Pi ifoners ; and
** you may be convinced it was fo, when you con-
" fider that it was faid after your Anfwer, and
<c without laying down either .Bever, or any Belt
c< or Wampum, as we always do, when we make
<c Proportions*; therefore we defire, that, if it
<{ be noted, it may be blotted out, and not made
** known to Corlaer, for we hold firmly to our
M Covenant, as we faid in our Proportions."

They, at the fame Time, told them, That the
Simondowans f came to them with eight Belts, de-
firing them no longer to profecute the War with the
Virginian Indians, but to go to War againft the
Dewaganas %, a Nation lying to the North-weft-
ward ; and that the Sennekas did defire them to fet
thefe Chriftians at Liberty, and to carry them to
Albany \ all which we promifed to do.

The Five Nations continuing however flill to be
troublefome to Virginia, that Government, in Sep*-
t ember following, fent Colonel William Kendall^
and Colonel Southley Littleton, to Albany, to renew
and confirm the Friendship between Virginia and

* The Word Proportion has been always ufed by
the CommifTioners for Indian Affairs at Albany, to fignify
Propofals or Articles in the Treaties or Agreements
made with the Indians.

f A Caftle of the Sennekas, from whence the French
call the Sennekas Tonontauan.

% Comprehended under the general Name of Uta-

the

( 43 )

the Five Nations. Colonel Littleton died at Albtww
before the Indians arrived; and Colonel Kendall
fpoke firft to the Oneydoes, and told them in a fet
Speech, " That their People had taken away and
deftroyed their Goods and People, and brought
fome of the Women and Children of Virginia
Captives into their Caftles, contrary to that
Faith and Promife, and in Breach of the Peace
made with Colonel Courfey, without any the
leafl Provocation, or Injury done, by the People
of Virginia. However, through the great Re-
fpedt. Virginia has to their Nations, and by the
Perfuafions of the Governor of New-York, and
the Information he has given the Government
of Virginia, that they had quietly and peaceably
delivered to him the Prifoners taken from Vir-
ginia, who were returned {a.{e\y ; and their ex-
cufing the fame, and Inclination to live peaceably,
without injuring Virginia for the future ; the
Government of Virginia did forgive all the
Damages the Five Nations have done to the
People of Virginia, though very great ; pro-
vided that they, or any living among them, for
the future, do not offend, or moleft the People
of Virginia, or Indians living among them."
He fpoke to the Mohawks and Sennekas, feparately
from the Oneydoes, becaufe they had not done any
Mifchief, and promifed them kind and neighbourly
Ufage when they came to Virginia, and gave them
Prefents ; they returned the Compliment, with an
AiTurance of their Friendfhip, and condoled Colonel
Littleton's Death, after the Indian Manner, by a
JPrefent of a Belt of black Wampum, befides the
Belt given, on renewal of the Friendfhip.

The Onnondagas did not come till November-, on
the fifth of which Month the Virginian Agent fpoke
to them, in the fame Words he did to the Oneydoes.
It does not appear, by the Regifber of Indian Af-
fairs,

(44)

fairs, what Anfwer the Oneydoes and Onnondagas
made, but it is certain they did not obferve Friend-
fhip with Virginia^ but molefted them with reite-
rated Incurfions of their Parties. It is obfervable,
however, that thefe two Nations, and the Cayugasy
only had French Priefts among them at that Time,
and that none of the reft ever molefted the Englijh ;
for which Reafon, Colonel Dongan, notwithstand-
ing the Orders he had received from his Mafter, and
that he himfelf was a Papift, complained of the ill
Offices thefe Priefts did to the Englifi Intereft, and
forbid the Five Nations to entertain any of them ;
though the Englijh and French Crowns, while he
was Governor of Nevj-Yorky feemed to be more
than ever in ftricl Friendfhip.

The French had no Hopes of perfuading the Five
Nations to break with New-York directly, but they
were in Hopes, that, by the Indian Parties doing
frequent Mifchief in Virginia, the Government of
New-York would be forced to join, in relenting the
Injury, and thereby that Union between the Go-
vernment of New-York and the Five Nations, would
be broke, which always obftru£ted, and often de-
feated, the Defign the French had, of fubjecting all
North A?nerica to the Crown of France. For this
Reafon, the Governors of New-York have always,
with the greateft Caution, avoided a Breach with
thefe Nations, on Account of the little Differences
they had with the neighbouring Colonies. Thefe
new Incurfions of theie two Nations were fo trou-
blefome to the People of Virginia, that their Go-
vernor, the Lord Howard of Effngha?n, thought it
neceffary, for their Security, to undertake a Journey
. to New-York.

I fhall give a particular Account of this Affair,
which was thought of fuch Confequence, that a
Peer of England left his Government, and travelled
four-hundred Miles, to treat with the Five Nations ;

and

( 45 )

and mall take this Opportunity of defcribing fomc
Ceremonies they ufe, in making Peace.

The Sachems of the Five Nations being called to
Albany , eight Mohawks , three Oneydoes, three Qn-
nondagas, and three Cayuga Sachems, met his Lord-
fhip there; and, on the thirteenth of July, 1684,
he, accompanied by two of the Council of Virginia,
fpoke to the Sachems as follows, in the Prefence of
Colonel Thomas Dongan, Governor of New-York,
and the Magiftrates of Albany, The Senekas being
far off, were not then arrived.

Propofals made by the Right Honourable Francis
Lord Howard of Effingham, Governor-general of
bis Majeflfs Dominion of Virginia.

To the Mohawks, Oneydoes, Onnondagas, and
Cayugas.

<c T T is now about feven Years, faid he, fince you
" JL (unprovoked) came into Virginia, a Country
" belonging to the great King of England, and
" committed feveral Murders and Robberies, car-
M rying away our Chriftian Women and Children
<c Prifoners into your Carries. All which Injuries
v/e defigned to have revenged on you, but at the
Defire of Sir Edmond Androfs, then Governor-
general of this Country, we defrfted from de-
ftroying you, and fent our Agents, Colonel
" William Kendal, and Colonel Southley Littleton,
M to confirm and make fure the Peace, that Colonel
u Courfey of Maryland included us in, when he firft
" treated with you. We find, that as you quickly
*' forgot what you promifed Colonel Courfey, 16
" you have wilfully broke the Covenant-chain
#* which you promifed our Agent, Colonel Kendal,
** mould be kept more ftrong and bright, if we of
44 Virginia would bury, in the Pit of Oblivion, the

2 « In-

(46 )

*1 Injury then done us ; which, upon Governor
** Androjfs Interceflion, and your Submiflion, we
ft were willing to forget : But you not at all mind-
** ing the Covenant then made, have every Year
** fince, come into our Country in a war-like
€C Manner, under Pretence of fighting with our
iC Indians^ Our Friends and Neighbours, which you
*c ought not to have done, our Agent having in-
M cl-uded them likewife in the Peace. You not
<c only deftrOyed, and took lever al of them Pri-
*£ foners, but you have alfo killed and burnt our
c< Chriftian People, deftroying Corn and Tobacco,
?fr more than you made Ufe of, killed our Horfes,
<c Hogs, and Cattle ; not to eat, but to let them
iC lie in the Woods and ftink : This you did, when
« you were not denied any Thing you faid you
-«« wanted.

u I muft alfo tell you, that, under the Pretence
<c of Friendship, you have come to Houfes at the
** Heads of our Rivers (when they have been
*' fortified) with a white Sheet on a Pole, and have
¥ laid down your Guns before the Fort ; upon
*' which, our People taking you for Friends, have
*c admitted your great Men into their Forts, and
«6 have given them Meat and Drink, what they
*< defired. After the great Men had refrefhed
*< themfelves, and defiring to return, as they were
<6 let out of the Fort-gates, the young Men com-
«' monly rufhed into the Fort, and plundered the
" Houfes, taking away, and deftroying all the
<< Corn, Tobacco, and Bedding, and what elfe
« was in the Houfes. When they went away,
*< they generally alfo took feveral Sheep with them,
" and killed feveral Cows big with Calf, and left
/« them behind them cut to Pieces, and flung about,
M as if it were in Defiance of us, and in Derifion
«* of our Friendfhip. Thefe, and many more In-
3 juries

(47 )

" juries that you have done us, have eaufed me to
<c raife Forces, to feild to the Heads of out Rivers,
" to defend our People from thefe Outrages, till
u I Came to New- Tork^ to Colonel Thomas Dongan,
*' your Governor-general, to defire him, as we are
*' all one King's fubjects, to anift me in warring
M againft you, to revenge the Chriftian Blood that
" you have fhed, and to make you give full Satis-
** faction for all the Goods that you have deftroyed :
•* But by the Mediation of your Governor, I am
** now come to Albany, to fpeak with you, and to
* c know the Reafon of your breaking the Covenant-
<* chain, not only with us and our neighbour In?
" dians, but with Maryland, who are great Kino-
*' Charles's Subjects ; for our Indians have given
" King Charles their Land ; therefore I, the Go
" vernor of Virginia, will protect them, as your
" Governor, under the great Duke of York and
U Albany, will henceforth you, when the Chain of
iC Friendship is made between us all.

" Now I have let you know, that I amfenfible
" of all the Injuries you have done us, and by the
M Defire of your Governor-General, I am Willing
M to make a new Chain with you for Virginia,
H Maryland, and our Indians, that may be more
Hi ftrong and lafting, even to the World's End ; Co
" that we may be Brethren, and great King
M Charles's Children.

*« I propofe to you, firjl, That you. call out of
€i our Countries of Virginia and Maryland, all
" your young Men or Soldiers that are now
M there.

«' Secondly, That you do not hinder or molefl
<c our friendly Indians from hunting in our Moun-
" tains, it having been their Country, and none
** of yours ; they never go into your Country to
fl* difturb any of you.

" Thirdly,

cc
cc
cc
cc

(48 )

c< Thirdly, Though the Damagei you have done
<c our Country be very great, and would require a
<c great deal of Satisfaction, which you are bound
** to give ; yet we aflure you, that only by the
<c Perfuafions of your Governor, who is at a vaft
" deal of Trouble and Charge for your Welfare,
<c which you ever ought to acknowledge, I have
pafs'd it by and forgiven you ; upon this Con-
dition, that your People, nor any living among
you, for the future, ever commit any Incurfions
upon our Chriftians or Indians living among us,
<c or in Maryland.

<c For the better Confirmation of the fame, and
<c that the Peace now concluded may be lafting, I
" propofe to have two * Hatchets buried, as a
<c final Determination of all Wars and Jarrings be-
" tween us ; one on behalf of us and our Indians ,
€C and the other for all your Nations united to-
" gether, that ever did us any Injury, or pretended
cc to war againft our Indian Friends, or thofe of
f* Maryland.

" And that nothing may be wanting for Con-
cc firmation thereof (if you defire it) we are willing
" to fend fome of our Indian Sachems, with am
*< Agent, next Summer, about this Time, that
<c they may ratify the Covenant with you here, in
" this prefixed Houfe, where you may fee and
■* fpeak together as Friends.

** That the Covenant now made between us, in
" this prefixed Houfe, in the Prefence of your Go-
" vernor, may be firmly kept and performed on
<c your Parts, as it always has been on ours; and
<4 that you do not break any one Link of the Co-
*« venant-chain for the future, by your People's
<c coming near our Plantations ; when you march

* Ail Indians make Ufe of a Hatchet or Axe, as aa
Emblem to exprefs War.

to

t<
C<
C«

ex

- ( 49 )
to the Southward, keep to the Feet of the Moun-
tains, and do not come nigh the Heads of our
Rivers, there being no Bever-huntino- there -
for we fhall not for the future, though you lay
down your Arms as Friends, ever truft you more
you have fo often deceived us."

The next Day the Mohawks anfwer'd firft by
their Speaker, faying :

" We muft, in the firft Place, fay fomething to
" the other three Nations, by Way of Reproof,
" for their not keeping the former Chain, as they
'•' ought ; and therefore we defire you, great $a-
" chem of Virginia, and youCorlaer, and all here
" prefent to give Ear, for we will conceal nothing
« of the Evil they have done." [Then turnino- to
the other Nations] " You have heard Yefterday
« all that has been faid ; as for our Parts, we
« are free of the Blame laid onus; we have al-
" ways been obedient to Corlaer, and have fteadily
" kept our Chain with Virginia, Maryland, and
« Bo/ion ; but ye are ftupid and brutifh, and have
* no Understanding, we muft iramp Understand-
" ing into you. Let the new Chain made Yeiter-
c^ day be carefully preferved for the future. This
<r> we earnestly recommend to you, for we are ready
« to cry for Shame of you j let us be no more
" afhamed on your Account, but be obedient, and
" take this Belt, to keep what we lay in your
Memory.

" Hear now, now is the Time to hearken ;
the Covenant chain had very near dipt, by your
not keeping it firmly. Hold it fast now, when
all former Evils are buried in the Pit.
" You Ojieydoes, I fpeak to you as Children ; be
no longer childifh, or void of Understanding.

Vol. I. D « You

tc

u

( So )

$ You Onondaga s, our Brethren, you are like
<* deaf People, that cannot hear, your Senfes are
<< covered with Dirt and Filth,

•* You CayugaSy do not return into your for-
« mer Ways, There are three Things we muft
** all obferve.

" Ftrfl9 The Covenant with Corlear. Secondly,
*< the Covenant with Virginia and Maryland,
*c Thirdly , with Bojlon. We muft {tamp Under-
*' {landing into you, that you may be obedient ;
w and take this Belt for a Remembrancer."

Then Cadianne, the fame Mohawk Speaker, turn-
ing to my Lord, faid :

" We are very thankful to you, great Sachem
*c of Virginia % that you are perfuaded by Corlear \
« our Governour, to forgive all former Faults.
** We are very glad to hear you, and fee your
** Heart foftened. Take thefe three Beavers as a
«* Token.

f* We thank the great Sachem oi Virginia for fay-
** ing, that the Axe mall be thrown into the Pit.
*<■ Take thefe two Beavers as a Token of our Joy
" and Thankfulnefs.

« We are glad that Ajfarigoa * will bury in the
« Pit what is pafL Let the Earth be trod hard
** over it ; or rather, let a ftrong Stream run under
" the Pit, to warn tlie Ewl away out of our Sight
" and Remembrance, and that it may never be
*l digged up again.

*« "Ajfarigoa, you are a Man of Knowledge and
« Underftanding, thus to keep the Covenant-chain
*6 bright as Silver ; and now again to renew it, and
« make it ftronger. (Then pointing to the three
" other Nations, faid,) But they are Chain-break-

* The Name the Five Nations always give the Go-
frsrnor of Virginia*

( 5i )
m ers. I lay down this as a Token, that we Mo-
" hawks have preferved the Chain intire on our
" Parts. Gives two Bevers and a Racoon.

" The Covenant mud be kept ; for the Fire of
¥ Love of Virginia and Maryland burns in this
" Place, as well as ours, and this Houfe of Peace
" muft be kept clean. Gives two Bevers.

" We now plant a Tree *, whofeTop will reach
" the Sun, and its Branches fpread far abroad, fo
" that it fhall be (een afar off; and we mall fhel-
" ter ourfelves under it, and live in Peace without
" Moleftation. Here he gave two Beavers.

" You propofed Yefterday, that if we were
" defirous to fee the Indians of Virginia, you arc
« willing to fend fome of their Sachems next Sum-
« mer, about this Time, to this Place. This
" Propofal pleafes me very much, the fooner they
«< come the better, that we may fpeak with them
«c in this Houfe, which is appointed for our fpeak-
" ing with- our Friends ; and give two Belts to
•* confirm it.

" You have now heard what Exhortation we
" have made to the other three Nations j we have
" taken the Hatchet out of their Hands ; we now
" therefore pray, that both your Hatchets may

likewife be buried in a deep Pit. Giving two

Bevers.

" Jfarigoa, fome of us Mohawks are out againfl

our Enemies, that lie afar off, they will do you
" no Harm, nor plunder, as the others do. Be
" kind to them, if they fhall happen to come to
" any of your Plantations ; give them fome To-
" bacco and fome Victuals ; for they will neither
* c rob nor fteal, as the Oneydoes, Onnondagas, and
" Cayuga s have done.

* The Five Nations always exprefs Peace by the Me-
taphor of a Tree.

D 2 « The

<c

CC

( 5* )

« The Oneydoes particularly thank you, great
« Sachem of Virginia, for confenting to lay down
« the Axe. The Hatchet is taken out of all their
'« Hands. Gives a Belt.

« We again thank AJfarigoa that he has made
" a new Chain. Let it be kept bright and clean,
« and held faft on all Sides ; let not any one pull
« his Arm from it. We include all the four Na-
& tions, in giving this Belt.

*« We ao-ain pray AJfarigoa, to take the Oney-
« does into his Favour, and keep the Chain ftrong
« with them ; for they are our Children. Gives a

« Belt.

" The Oneydces give twenty Bevers, as a Satis-
« faction for what they promiied the Lord 2?»///-
" more, and defire that they may be difcharged of
" that Debt."

The two Governors told them, that they would
ufe their Endeavours with the Lord Baltimore,, to
perfuade him to forgive what remained.

Then the Indians defired that the Hole might be
du°- to bury the Axes, viz. one in Behalf of Vir-
ginia and their Indians, another in Behalf of Mary-
land and theirs, and three for the Onnondagas, Oney-
does, and Cayugas. The Mohawks faid, there was
no Need of burying any on their Account, for the
firft Chain had never been broke by them.

Then the three Nations fpoke by an Onnondaga,
called Thanohjanihta, who faid :

" We thank the great Sachem of Virginia, that
« he has lb readily forgiven and forgot the Injuries
" that have been done ; and we, for our Parts,
*< gladlv catch at, and lay hold of the new Chain.
« Then each of them delivered an Axe to be bu-
" ried and gave a Belt.

" I fpeak in the Name of all three Nations, and
** include them in this Chain, which we defire may

<• be

(53)
M be kept clean and bright like Silver. Gives a
" Belt.

" We defire that the Path may be open for the
** Indians under AjfarigocCs Protection, to come
" fafely and freely to this Place, in order to confirm
" the Peace. Gives fix Fathom of Wampum."

Then the Axes were buried in the South-eaft
End of the Court-yard, and the Indians threw
the Earth upon them ; after which the Lord
Howard told them, fince now a firm Peace is con-
cluded, we {hall hereafter remain Friends, and
Virginia and Maryland will fend once in two or
three Years to renew it, and fome of our Sa-
chems mail come, according to your Defire, to con-
firm it.

La ft of all the Oneydoesy the Onnondagas, and
Cayugas, jointly fang the Peace-Song, with Demon-
strations of much Joy ; and thanked the Governor
of Nezu-Tork for his effectual Mediation with the
Governor of Virginia in their Favour.

Colonel Dungan had gained the Affections of the
Five Nations, and they efteemed him much.

They defired the Duke of York's Arms to put
upon their Cajlles, which, from the Sequel of their
Story, we may fuppofe they were told would fave
them from the French. Colonel Dungan defired
them to call Home thofe of their Nations that had
fettled in Canada.* To which they anfwered, Cor-

D 3 Uar

* The Trench Priejls had, from Time to Time, per-
fuaded feveral of the Five Nations to leave their own
Country, and to fettle near Montreal ; where the French
are very induftrious in encouraging them. Their Num-
bers have been likewife increafed by the Prifoners the
French have taken in War, and by others that have run
from their own Country ; becaufe of fome Mifchief that
they had done, or Debts which they owed the Chrif-
tians. Theie Indians are all profefc'd Papifts, and for

that

( 54 ) -

har keeps a Correfpondence and Friendmip with
Canada, and therefore he can prevail more than we
can. Let Corlear ufe his Endeavours to draw our
Indians Home to their own Country.

The Government of the MaJJachufets Bay had
appointed Colonel Stephanas Cortland, one of the
Council of Nczv-Tork, their Agent at this Time,,
to renew their Friendship likewife with the Five
Nations, and to give them forne fmall Prefents 5
which was accordingly done.

The Governor of New-York, Colonel Dtmgany
concluded with this Advice to them : Keep a good
Understanding among yourfelves ; if any Difference
happen, acquaint me with it, and I will compofe
it. Make no Agreement with the French, or any
other Nation, without my Knowledge and Appro-
bation. Then he gave the Duke*s Arms to be put
up at each of their Caftles, in Hopes it might
deter the French from attacking them, (as they
were threatened from Canada) by this fo manifeft
a Declaration of their being under the Protection of
the Crown of England, when the two Crowns
were in the ftri&eft Friendfhip ; but it is probable
the French chofe this very Time to attack them,
to bring them off from that Confidence they feemed
to have in the Englijh.

It may be proper, before I proceed,, to infert here
alfo a remarkable Speech made by the Onnondagas
and Cayugas to the two Governors, pn the fecond
Day of Augujl^ viz.

that Reafon are commonly called the praying Indians by
their Countrymen, and they are called Cahnuagas by the
People of Albany, from the Place where they live ; the
French value them on Account of the Intelligence th«y
give in Time of War, and their Knowledge of the
Countries.

" Brttber

(55 )

f* Brother Corlear,

** Your Sachem is a great Sachem, and we are
*c but a (mail People -r but when the Englijh came
" firft to Manhatany * to Aragijke f and to rrf/£<?/£~
"' ranagaryXr they were then but a frmll People,,
" and we were great. Then, becaufe we found
" you a good People, we treated you kindly, and
H gave you Land ; we hope therefore, now that
" you are great, and we (mail, you will protect
W us from the French. If you do not, we (hall
" lcfe all our Hunting and Be vers : The French
M will get all the Bevers. The Reafon they are
" now angry with us is, becaufe we carry our
** Bever to our Brethren.

c< We have put our Lands and ourfelves under
f* the Prote&ion of the great Duke of York, the
** Brother of your great Sachem* who is likewife a
*' great Sachem*

* ' We have annexed the S'ufquehana River, which
" we won with the Sword, to this Government ;
" and we defire it may be a Branch of the great
" Tree that grows in this Place, the Top of which
" reaches the Sun, and its Branches fhelter us from
" the French, and all other Nations. Our Fire
•c burns in your Houfes, and your Fire burns with
" us ; we defire it may be fo always. But we will
<6 not that any of the great Perm's People fettle
" upon the Sufquehana River, for we have no
« other Land to leave to our Children.

" Our young Men are Soldiers, and when
" they are provoked, they are like Wolves in
" the Woods, as you, Sachem of Virginia, very
<c well know.

" We have put ourfelves under the great Sachem
" Charles, that lives on the other Side the great

* Nw.Vork. + Virginia, \ Maryland.

D 4 " Lake.

(5« )

«« Lake. We give you thefe two white drefTed
44 Deer-fkins, to fend to the great Sacbem, that he
c< may write on them, and put a great red Seal to
44 them, to confirm what we now do ; and put
44 the Sufquehana River above the Falls, and all
'* the reft of our Land under the great Duke of
44 York, and give that Land to none elfe. Our
■c Brethren, his People, have been like Fathers
44 to our Wives and Children, and have given us
4C Bread when we were in Need of it ; we wiM
<4 not therefore join ourfelves, or our Land, to
44 any other Government but this. We defire Cor-
44 /ear, our Governor, may fend this our Propo-
44 fition to the great Sacbem Charles, who dwells
44 on the other Side the great Lake, with this
44 Belt of Wampum, and this other fmaller Belt to
44 the Duke of York his Brother : And we give you,
44 Corlear, this Bever, that you may fend over
44 this Proportion.

44 You great Man of Virginia, we let you
44 know, that great Penn did fpeak to us here, in
44 Ccrlear's Houfe by his Agents, and defired to
44 buy the Sufquebana River of us, but We would
44 not hearken to him, for we had fattened it to
44 this Government.

44 We defire you therefore to bear Witnefs of
4< what we now do, and that we now confirm
44 what we have done before. Let your Friend,
44 that lives on the other Side the great Lake, know
44 this, that we being a free People, though united
44 to the Englijb, may give our Lands, and be
44 joined to the Sacbem we like heft. We give
44 this Bever to remember what we fay."

The Senekas arrived foon after, and, on the
fifth -of Auguft, fpoke to the Lord Howard in the
following Manner :

44 We have heard and underftood what Mifchief
44 hath been done in Virginia \ we have it as perfect

44 as

f 57 )

<c as if it were upon our Fingers Ends. O Cor-
" /ear/ we thank you for having been our Inter-
" ceflbr, fo that the Axe has not fallen upon us.

" And you, AJfarigoa, great Sachem of Virgin
" nia, we thank you for burying all Evil in the
cc Pit. We are informed that therfifohawfa\ Oney-
" does, Onnondagas, and Cayugas, have buried the
" Axe already; now we that live remoteft off, are-
" come to do the fame, and to include in this Chain,
<c the Cahnawaas, your Friends. We defire there -
" fore, that an Axe, on our Part, may be buried
" with one of JJfarigoa's. O Corlcar ! Cor/ear/
« we thank you for laying hold of one End of the
c* Axe ; and we thank you, great Governor of
« Virginia, not only for throwing afide the Axe,
" but more efpecially for your putting all Evil-
" from your Heart. Now we have a new Chain, a
" ftrong and a ftraight Chain, that cannot be bro-
« ken. The Tree of Peace is planted fo firmly,
" that it cannot be moved, let us on both Sides
" hold the Chain fail.

" We underfland what you faid of the great Sa~
" chem, that lives on the other Side the great
" Water.

" You tell us, that the Cahnazvaas will comehi-
" ther to ftrengthen the Chain. Let them not make
" anyExcufe, that they are old and feeble, or that
" their Feet are fore. If the old Sachems cannot,
" let the young Men come. We mall not fail to
" come hither, tho' we live fartheft of, and then
" the new Chain will be ilronger and brighter.

" We underftand, that becaufe of the Mifchief
" that has been done to the People and Caftles of
" Virginia and Mary/and, we muft not come near
" the Heads of your Rivers, nor near your Plan-
" tations, but keep at the Foot of the Mountains ;
*' for tho' we lay down our Arms, as Friends,
" we fhall not be trufted for the future, but look-

Vf 5 " ed

C 58 )

" ed on as Robbers. We agree however to this
^** Proportion, and mall wholly ftay away from
u Virginia : And this we do in Gratitude to Gor-
** lear, who has been at fo great Pains to per-
'* fuade you, great Governor of Virginia, to for-
« get what is pafr. You are wife in giving Ear to*
«• Corlear's good Advice, for we {hall now go a--
" Path which was never trod before.

44 We have now done fpeaking to Corlear, and
** the Governor of Virginia ; let the Chain be for
" ever kept clean and bright by him, and we mall
" do the fame.

" The other Nations from the Mohawks Coun-
" try to the Cayugas, have delivered up the Sufque-
" hana River, and all that Country, to Corlear's
c6 Government. We confirm what they have done
" by giving this Belt."

Coll. Bird, one of the Council of Virginia, and
Edmonds yenning, Efq ; Attorney General of that
Province, came with four Indian Sachems , (accord-
ing to the Lord HozvarcVs Promife) to renew and
confirm the Peace, and met the Five Nations at
Albany in September 1685.

Coll. Bird accufed them of having again broke
their Promife, by taking an Indian Girl from aiv
Englifh Man's Houfe, and four Indian Boys Pri-
ibners.

They excufed this, by its being clone by the Par-
ties that were out when the Peace was concluded*,
who knew nothing of it ; which Accident they had
provided againft in theif Articles, They faid, the
four Boys were given to the Relations of thofe Men
that were loll ; and it would be difficult to obtain
their Reftoration \ But they at laft promifed to de-
liver them up.

The Senakas and Mobaivks declared themfelves
free of any Blame, and chid the other Nations.

s*

( 59 >

So thatwemayftillobfervethelnfluence which the
French Priefts had obtained over thofe other Na-
tions, and to what Chriftian like Purpofe they ufed
it.

The Mohaws Speaker faid, c* Where mall I feek
" the Chaia of Peace ; Where fhall I find it but
" upon our * Path ? And whither doth our Path
" lead us, but into this Houfe ; This is a Houfe
" of Peace ;" after this he fang all the Links of the
Chain over. He afterwards fang by Way of Admo--
nition to the Onnondagas, Oneydoes, and Cayugasy,
and concluded all with a Song to the Virginia In- -
dians.

The French Priefts however ftill employed their'
Influence over the Onnondagas, Cayngas, and Oney--
does ; and it was eafy for them to fpirit up the th-
dians (naturally revengeful) againft their old Ene-
mies. A Party of the Oneydoes went out two
Years after this againft the PVayanoack Indians ^ ,
Friends of Virginia, and killed fome of the People
of Virginia, who aflifted thofe Indians, They
took fix Prifoners, but reftored them < at Albany y
with an Excufe, that they did not know they Were
Friends of Virginia, But Coll. Dungan on this
Occafion told them, that he only had kept all the
Englijh in North- America from joining together to
deftroy them ; that if ever he mould hear of the
tike Complaint, he would dig up the Hatchet, and
join with the reft of the Englijh' to cut them off
Root and Branch ; for there were many Complaints
made of him to the King by the Englijh, as well as
by the Governor of Canada y for his favouring^ of
them.

We have now gone through the material Trans-
actions which the Five Nations had with the En-

* The Mohawk Country is fituated between the other
Nations and Albany,,

D 6 gujh,

( 6o )

glijh, in which we find the Englijh purfuing no-
thing but peaceable and Chriftian-like Meafures ;
and the Five Nations (tho' Barbarians) living with
the People of New-York, like good Neighbours and
faithful Friends, and generally with all the Englijh
olfo, except when they were influenced by the
Jefuits j at the fame Time one cannot but admire
the Zeal, Courage and Refolution of thefe Jefuits,
that would adventure to live among Indians at War
with their Nation ; and the better to carry their
Purpofes, to comply with all the Humours and
Manners of fuch a wild People, fo as not to be dif-
tinguifhed by Strangers from meer Indians. One
of them, named Milet, remained with the Oneydoes
till after the Year 1694; he was advanced to the
Degree of a Sachem, and had fo great an Influence
over them, that the other Nations could not pre-
vail with them to part with him. While he lived
with them, the Oneydoes were frequently turned
againft the Southern Indians (Friends of the Englijh
fouthern Colonies) and were always wavering in
their Refolutions a^ainfl: the French at Canada.

We ihall now fee what Effect, the Policy of the
French had, who purfued very different Meafures
from the Englijh.

CHAP. IV.

Mr, De la Barrels Expedition, and fome remark'
able TranJaElions in 1684.

TH E French, in the Time they were at
Peace with the Five Nations, built their Forts
at faidonderaghi and Mijfilimakinak, and made a
Settlement there. They carried on their Commerce
among the numerous Nations that live on the Banks
of the great Lakes, and the Banks of the MiJfiJJipi ;
they not only profecuted their Trade among thefe
Nations, but did all they could to fecure their Obe-
dience, and to make them abfolutely fubject to the

Crown

( 6l )

Crown of France, by building Forts at the consider-
able PafTes, and placing fmall Garrifons in them.
They took in fhort all the Precautions in their
Power, not only to reftrain the Indians by Force,
but likewife to gain their Affections, by fending
Mijfionaries among them. The only Obitruc"tion
they met with was from the Five Nations, who
introduced the Englijh of New-York into the Lakes
to trade with the Indians that lived round them.
This gave the French much Uneafmefs, becaufe they
foreiaw, that the EngUJl) would not only prove
dangerous Rivals, but that the Advantages which
they had in Trade, beyond what it was poflible for
the Inhabitants of Canada to have, would enable
the People of New-York to far to underfel them, that
their Trade would foon be ruined, and all the In-
tereft loft which they had gained with fo much La-
bour and Expcnce. The Five Nations likewife
continued in War with many of the Nations, with
the Chitlaghicks particularly, who yielded the moft
profitable Trade to the French ; and as often as
they difcovered any of the French carrying Ammu-
nition towards thefe Nations, they fell upon them,
and took all their Powder, Lead and Arms from
them. This made the French Traders afraid of
travelling, and prevented their Indians from hunt-
ing, and alfo lefTened the Opinion they had of the
French Pozuer, when they found that the French were
not able to protecl: them againft the Infults of the
Five Nations,

The Senakas lie next to the Lakes, and nearefl
to the Nations with whom the French carried on
the greateft Trade, thefe People were fo averfe to
that Nation, that they would never receive any
Priefts among them, and of Confequence were moft
firmly attach'd to the Englijh Intereft, who fuppli-
ed them with Arms and Powder (the Means to be
revenged of their Enemies.) For thefe Reafons

Mr.

( 62 )

Mr. De la Bar re (Governor of Canada) fent a
MefTenger to Coll. Dungan, to complain of the
Injuries the Senakas had done to the French, and to
fhew the Neceffity he was under to bring the Five
Nations to Reafon by Force of Arms. This Mef-
fens;er happening to arrive at the Time the Indians
met the Lord Howard at Albany^ Coll. Dungan
told the Senakas the Complaints that the French
Governor made of them. To which they gave him
tfhe following Anfwer, in Prefence of Mr. De la
Barrel Meflenger, on the 5th of Angiift, 1684.

" We were lent for, and are come, and have
*' heard what you have laid to us, that Corlear
<c hath great Complaints of us, both from Virginia
*c and Canada.- What they complain of from Ca-
«* nada may poffibly be true, that fome of our
s* young Men have taken fome of their Goods,
" but Tonnendio the Governor of Canada, is the
f* Caufe of it. He not only permits his People to
w carry Ammunition, Guns, Powder, Lead, and
4C Axes to the Tiuhtaih-ronoons * our Enemies,
Sf but fends them thither on Purpofe. Thefe
" Guns which he fends knock our Bever Hunters
" on the Head, and our Enemies carry the Be-
*' vers to Canada that we would have broughtto
ct our Brethren. Our Bever-Hunters are Soldiers,
" and could bear this no longer. They met
"• fome French in their Way to our Enemies,
" and very near them, carrying Ammunition,
« which our Men took from them. This is
** agreeable to our Cuftoms in War j and we
" may therefore openly own it, tho' we know
"• not whether it be praclifed by the Christians
4t in fuch like Cafes..

* Ronoon figniiies Nation or People, in the Lan-
guage of the Five Nations ; they fay Tiuhtuib -ronoon,
Chkhigbihronaonf D.eonondadik-ronoon, &c.

When;

(63 )

*< When the Governor of Canada fpeaks to ua
*c of the Chain, he calls us Children, and faith, I
" am your Father, you rnuft hold faft the Chain,
" and I will do the fame : I will protect you as a
" Father doth his Children. Is this Protection, to
•* fpeak thus with his Lips, and at the fame Time
** to knock us on the Head, by aiftfting our Ene-
■* mies with Ammunition ?

" He always fays, I am your Father, and you
•* are my Children; and yet he is angry with hi3
" Children, for taking thefe Goods,.

" But, O Corlear ! O AJJarigoa ! we muft'com-
** plain to you; you Corlear are a Lord, and go-
•' vern this Country : is it jufl that our Father is
*' going to fight with us for thefe Things, or is it
" well done ? We rejoiced when La Sal was fent
" over the great Water ; and when Perot was re-
ec moved, becaufe they had furnifhed our Enemies
** with Ammunition y but we are difappointed in
" our Hopes,- for we find our Enemies are ftill
" fupplied. Is this well done? Yea, he often for-
** bids us to make War on any of the Nations
M with whom he trades; and at the fame Time
" furnifhes them with all Sorts of Ammunition, to
" enable them to deftroy us..

" Thus far in Anfwer to the Complaint the Go-
u vernor of Canada hath made of us to Corlear,
" Corlear faid to us, that Satisfaction mult be
% made to the French for the Mifchief we have
iC done them ► This he faid before he heard our
Anfwer.. Now let him that hath Infpection over
all our Countries, on whom our Eyes are fixed,
let him, even Corlear, judge and determine. If
you fay that itmuft be paid, we mail pay it, but
ft we cannot live without free Bever Hunting.

" Corlear, hear what we fay,, we thank you for
u the Duke's Arms, which you have given us to
" be put in our Caftles, as a Defence to them,
" You command them. Have we wandered out

«• of

«(

u

( 64)

<c of the Way, as the Governor of Canada fays ?
" We do not threaten him with War, as he
" threatens us. What fhall we do ? Shall we
" run away, or fhall we fit ftill in our Houfes ?
" What fhall we do? we fpeak to him that go-
<c verns and commands us.

" Now Corlear, and AJfarigoa, and all People
" here prefent, remember what we have anfwcred
f* to the Complaints of the Governor of Canada ;
« yea, we wifh that what we here faid may come
cc to his Ears." Then they gave a Belt.

Monfieur De la Barre at this Time was gone,
with all the Force of Canada , to Cadarackui Fort,
and ordered the three Veflels to be repaired which
the French had built on Cadarackui Lake : His
Defign was to frighten the Five Nations into his
own Terms, by the Appearance of the French
Army, which confifted of 600 Soldiers of the re-
gular Troops, 400 Indians, and 400 Men that
carried Provifions, befides 300 Men that he left
to fecure Cadarackui Fort, and the weftern Indians ,
that he expected would join him. But while he
was at this Fort, the Fatigue of travelling in the
Month of Augufl, together with the Unheal thinefs
of that Place (the Country thereabout being very
marfhy) where he tarried fix Weeks, occafioned
fo great a Sicknefs in his Army, that he found him-
felf unable to perform any Thing but by Treaty ;
and therefore fent Orders to Monfr. Dulhut, who
was come from MiJJilimakinak with 600 Men,
French and Indians, to flop. Monfr. De la Barre
palled acrofs the Lake, with as many Men as were
able to travel, and arrived at the River which the
French call La Famine, by the Indians called Kaiho-
hage, which falls into the South-Side of Cadarac-
kui Lake, about thirty Miles from Onnondago,
There were two Villages of the Five Nations on
the North-Side of the Lake, about fifteen Miles
from the French Fort, confifting of thofe Indians

that

( 65 )

that had the moft Inclination to the French : They
provided the French Army with Provifions, while
they remained at the Fort; but it is probable,
fent an Account to their own Nations of every
Thing that happened ; and that this was the Rea-
fon of the Ufage they afterwards met with from
the French.

When Monfr De la Barre fent to Coll. Dungan,
he was in Hopes, from the flricl: Alliance that was
then between the Crowns of England and France ,
and from Coll. Dungan's being a Papift, that he
would at leaft fit ftill till he had reduced the Five
Nations. But none of thefe Reafons permitted that
Gentleman to be eafy, while the French attempted
fuch Things, as in their Confequences would be
of the higheft Degree prejudicial to the Englifh
Intereft, and might put all the Englijh Colonies in
America in Danger. Wherefore he difpatched the
publick Interpreter, with Orders to do every Thing
in bis Power to prevent the Five Nations going to
treat with Monfr. De la Barre.

The Interpreter fucceeded in his Defign with the
Mohazuksy and with the Senakas, who promifed
that they would not go near the French Governor :
But he had not like the Succefs with the Onnon-
dagas, Oneydoes, and Cayugas, who had received
the French Priefts, for they would not hear the
Interpreter, but in Prefence of the French Priefts,"
and Monfr. la Maine, and three other Frenchmen
that Monfr. De la Barre had lent to perfuade them
to meet him at Kaihohage ; they gave the following
Anfwer to the Interpreter.

" Arte, you are Corlear's MeJJenger, * Ohquejfe
" (Monfr. la Maine) is the Governor of Canada's ;
<c and there f fits our Father ; Tonnondio acquaint-
" ed us fome Time ago, that he would fpeak with

* That is, the Partridge, f Pointing to the Jefuite.

" us

;*

i<.

*c

(66 )

us, before he would undertake any Thing agarnft
the Senekas. Now he hath fent for all the Na-
** tions to fpeak with him in Friendihip, and that
" at a Place not far from Onnondaga, even at Kai-
y hobage. But our Brother Corlear tells us, that
" we muft not meet the Governor of Canada with-
ci out his Permifiion ; and that if Tonnondio have any
c< Thing to fay to us,, he muft fiflfi fend to Corlear
*c for Leave to fpeak with us. Tonnondio has fent
" long ago to us to fpeak with him, and he has
" lately repeated that Defire by Onnijfantie the
" Brother of our Father % Twirhaerfira that fits
there ; he not only has entreated us by ourFather^
but by two praying Indians, one an Onnondaga^
the other the Son of an old Mohawk Sachem,
Connondowe. They brought five great Belts of
«* Wampum, not a Fathom or two only, as you
!* bring. Now Obquejfe has been fent with three
<c Frenchmen ; Tonnondio not being content with
*c all this, has likewife fent Dennehocl, and two
other Mohawks, to perfuade us to meet him, and
to fpeak with him of good Things. Should we
not go to him after all this Intreaty, when he is-
come fo far, and fo near to us ? Certainly if we
do not, we mail provoke his Wrath, and not
<c deferve his Goodnefs. You fay we are Sub-
s' jects to the King of England and Duke of Torkr
" but we fay we are Brethren.. We muft take
*' Care of ourfeives. Thofe Arms fixed upon the
tc Pofts,, without the Gate, cannot defend us
" againft the Arms of la Barre. Brother Corlear ,
" we tell you, that we: mall bind a. Covenant-
f* Chain to. our Arm-, and to his,, as thick as that

X The Indians commonly gave a new Name to any
Perfon they receive or adapt into their Nation. This
is the Jefuites Indian Name, the Interpretation whereof
I know- not.

« PofK

( 67 )

<€ Poft, (pointing to a Poft of the Houfe) be not
" diflatisfied ; fhould we not embrace this Happi-
M nefs offered us, viz. Peace, m the Place of
«c War, yea, we fha.ll take the Evil Doers, the
" Senekas, by the Hand, and la Barre likewife,
" and their Axe and his Sword fhall be thrown
*' into a deep Water. We wifh our Brother Cor-
" lear were prefent, but it feems the Time will
" not permit of it/'

Accordingly Garangulay one of the chief Sa-
chenis of the Ormondagas, with thirty Warriors,
went with Mr. la Maine, to meet the Governor
of Canada at Kaihohage, After he had been two
Days in the French Camp, Monfr. la Barre fpoke
to him as follows, (the French Officers making a
Semi-circle on one Side, while Garangula, with
his Warriors, compleated the Circle on the other.

* Monfr, De la Barrel Speech to Garangula.

u The King, my Mailer, being informed that
*c the Five Nations have often infringed the Peace,
V has ordered me to come hither with a Guard,
4C and to fend OhgueJJe to the Onnondagas, to bring
*c the chief Sachem to my Camp. The Intention
" of the great King is, that you and I may fmoke
** the Calumet \ of Peace together, but on this

" Con-

* Voyages du Baron de la Hontanr Tome I. Let-
ter 7.

■f- The Calumet is a large fmoaking Pipe made of
Marble, moil commonly of a dark red, well polifhed,
fhaped fame what in the Form of a Hatchet, and adorn-
ed with large Feathers of feveral Colours. It is ufed
in all the Indian Treaties with Strangers, and as a Flag
of Truce between contending Parties, which all the-
Indians think a very high Crime to violate.. Thefe Ca-
lumets are generally of nice Workmanlhip, and were irt

Ufe

( 68 )

" Condition, that you promife me, in the Name
c* of the SenekaS) Cayugas, Onondagas^ and Mo-
<c hawks ^ to give intire Satisfaction and Repara-
f* tion to his Subjects j and for the future never to
" moleft them.

" The Senekas, Cayuga s, Onondagas^ Oneydoes^
*c and Mohawks have robbed and abufed all the
<c Traders that were paffing to the Illinois and
" Umamies^ and other Indian Nations, the Chil-»
" dren of my King. They have a£ted, on thefe
" Occafions, contrary to the Treaty of Peace with
** my Predeceflbr. I am ordered therefore to de-
*' mand Satisfaction, and to tell them, that in
<c Cafe of Refufal, or their plundering us any more,
fc that I have exprefs Orders to declare War.
" This Belt confirms my Words. The Warriors
" of the Five Nations have conducted the Engl ijh
c< into the Lakes, which belong to the King, my
<c Matter, and brought the EngUJh among the
" Nations that are his Children, to deftroy the
*' Trade of his Subjects, and to withdraw thefe
«c Nations from him. They have carried the En-
" gtijb thither, notwithftanding the Prohibition of
" the late Governor of New-Tor k, who forefaw the
M Rifque that both they and you would run. I
" am willing to forget thefe Things, but if ever
" the like mall happen for the future, I have ex-
■" prefs- Orders to declare War againfl you. This
" Belt confirms my Words. Your Warriors have
" made feveral barbarous Incurfions on the Illinois
cc and Vmamies : they have maiTacred Men, Wo-
" men and Children, and have made many of thefe
<c Nations Prifoners, who thought themfelves fafe

Ufe before the Indians knew any Thing of the Chrifti-
ans ; for which Reafon we are at a Lofs to conceive by
what Means they pierced thefe Pipes, and fllaped them
fo iinely, before they had the Ufe of Iron.

" in

( 69 )

** in their Villages in Time of Peace. Thefe Peo-
iC pie, who are my King's Children, muft not
" be your Slaves ; you muft give them their Li-
" berty, and fend them back into their own
£C Country. If the Five Nations fhall refufe to do
" this, I have exprefs Orders to declare War
" againft them. This Belt confirms my Words.

" This is what I have to fay to Garangula, that
" he may carry to the Senekas, Onondagas, Oney~
« dees, Cayugas and Mohawks the Declaration
" which the King, my Mafter, has command-
M ed me to make. He doth not wifh them to
«.< force him to fend a great Army to Cadarackui
*' Fort, to begin a War which muft be fatal
" to them. He would be forry that this Fort,
" that was the Work of Peace, mould become
<c the Prifon of your Warriors. We muft endea-
" vour, on both Sides, to prevent fuch Misfor-
" tunes. The French, who are the Brethren and
41 Friends of the Five Nations, will never trouble
c< their Repofe, provided that the Satisfaction which
tc I demand be given, and that the Treaties of
w Peace be hereafter obferved. I fhall be extream-
*' ly grieved if my Words do not produce the Ef-
i€ feci which I expect from them ; for then I fhall
<c be obliged to join with the Governor of New-
" York, who is commanded by his Mafter to aflift
** me, and burn the Caftles of the Five Nations,
44 and deftroy you. This Belt confirms my Words.
Garangula was very much furprifed to find the
foft Words of the Jejitit, and of the Governor's
Meffengers, turned to fuch threatening Language.
This was defigned to ftrike Terror into the Indians ;
but Garangula having good Information from thofe
of the Five Nations living near Cadarackui Fort, of
all the Sicknefs and other Misfortunes which af-
flicted the French Army, it was far from producing
the defigned EfFecl:. All the Time that Monfieur
di la Earre fpoke, Garangula kept his Eyes fixed

on

f 70 )

on the End of his Pipe ; as foon as the Governor
had done fpeaking, he rofe up, and having walked
five or fix Times round the Circle, he returned to
his Place, where he fpoke {landing, while Monfieur
de la Barre kept his Elbow-Chair.

Garangula's Anfwer*

c< Yc?inondio,

" I honour you, and the Warriors that are with*
" me all likewife honour you. Your Interpreter
" has finimed your Speech ; I now begin mine,
" My Words make hafte to reach your Earsr
" hearken to them,

" Yonnondio, you mufl have believed, when you
«< left ghiebecky that the Sun had burnt up all the
«' Forefts which render our Country inacceffible to
«c the French , or that the Lakes had fo far over-
*< flown their Banks, that they had furrounded our
«* Catties, and that it was impofiible for us to get
«i out of them. Yes, Yonnondio, furely you muft
«'. have dreamt fo^ and the Curiofity of feeing fo
" great a Wonder has brought you fo far. Now
«< you are undeceived, fince that I and the War-
«* riors here prefent are come to allure you, that
«« the Senekas^ Cayugas, Onondagas^ Oneydoes, and
*' Mohawks are yet alive. I thank you, in their
«"« Name, for bringing back into their Country
<c the Calumet^ which your Predeceflbr received
«« from their Hands. It was happy for you, that you
a left Underground that murdering Hatchet, that
« has been fo often dyed in the Blood of the French,
« Hear, Yonnondio, I do not fleep, I have my Eyes
iC open, and the Sun, which enlightens me, dif*
" covers to me a great Captain at the Head of a.
" Company of Soldiers, who fpeaks as if he were
" dreaming. He fays, that he only came to the
<c Lake to fmoke on the great Calumet with the

Onon-

( 7* )

« Onsndagas. But Garangida fays, that he fees the
" contrary, that it was to knock them on the Head,
*' if Sicknefs had not weakned the Arms of the
*c /French*

rt I fee Yonnondio raving in a Camp of fick
*< Men, whofe Lives the great Spirit has faved,
■" by inflicting this Sicknefs on them. Hear, Ton-
Mi nondio, our Women had taken their Clubs, our
" Children and old Men had carried their Bows
*4 and Arrows into the Heart of your Camp, if
" our Warriors had not difarmed them, and kept
« them back, when your MefTenger, OhgueJJe
<c came to our Caftles. It is done, and I have
*' faid it* Hear, Yonnondio, we plundered none
*c of the French^ but thofe that carried Guns,
«' Powder, and Ball to the hvikties and Chiciag-
w hicks, becaufe thofe Arms might have coft us our
xt Lives. Herein we follow the Examples of the
** Jefuits, who ftave all the Caggs of Rum brought
<* to our Caftles, left the drunken Indians mould
■" knock them on the Head. Our Warriors have
l< not Bevers enough to pay for all thefe Arms,
« that they have taken, and our old Men are not
" afraid of the War. This Belt preferves my
" Words. We carried the Englijb into our
** Lakes, to trade there with the Utaw/iwas and
" ghiatoghies, as the Adirondacks brought the
•" Fre7ich to our Caftles, to carry on a Trade
*6 which the Englijh fay is theirs. We are born
" free, we neither depend on Yonnondio nor
*' Coi'lear.

** We may go where we pleafe, and carry with
" us whom we pleafe, and buy and kll what we
** pleafe : If your Allies be your Slaves, ufe them
*t as fuch, command them to receive no other but
*c your People. This Belt preferves my Words.

" We knock'd the Twibtwies and Chicleghichs
" on the Head, becaufe they had cut down the

*-' Trees

(17* )

« Trees of Peace, which were the Limits of o«r
<« Country. They have hunted Bevers on our
<< Lands : Theyhave a&ed contrary to the Cuftoms
« of all Indians ; for they left none of the Bevers
<' alive, they killed both Male and Female. They
<6 brought the Satanas * into their Country, to take
« Part with them, after they had concerted ill De-
<< figns againft us. We have done lefs than either
« the Englijh or French^ they have ufurped the
" Lands of fo many Indian Nations, and chafed
« them from their own Country. This Belt pre-
*« ferves my Words. Hear, Tonnondio^ what I
«* fay is the Voice of all the Five Nations ; hear
« what they anfwer, open your Ears to what they
« fpeak : The Senekas, Cayugas, Onondaga x, Oney-
" does, and Mohawks fay, that when they buried
" the Hatchet at Cadarackui (in the Prcfence of
" your Predeceflbr) in the Middle of the Fort, they
{* planted the Tree of Peace in the fame Place,
" to be there carefully preferved, that in Place' of
" a Retreat for Soldiers, that Fort mi^ht be a
" Rendezvous for Merchants ; that, in Place of
" Arms and Ammunition of War, Bevers and
•* Merchandize mould only enter there.

" Hear, Tonncndio, take Care for the future,
" that fo great a Number of Soldiers, as appear
" there, do not choak the Tree of Peace planted
tc in fo fmall a Fort. It will be a great Lofs,
«c if after it had fo eafily taken Root, you fhould
" ftop its Growth, and prevent its covering your
«' Country and ours with its Branches. I allure
«« you, in the Name of the Five Nations, that our
" Warriors mall dance to the Calumet of Peace
" under its Leaves, and (hall remain quiet on
" their Matts, and mall never dig up the Hatchet,
" till their Brethren, Tonnondio or Corha?', (hall

* Called Satoanons by the French.

3 " either

( 73 )
f* either jointly or feparately endeavour to attack
" the Country, which the great Spirit has given to
" our Anceftors. This Belt preferves my Words,
" and this other, the Authority which the Five
6i Nations has given me."

Then Garangula addrefling himfelf to Monfieur
le Maine ^ faid,

" Take Courage, Ohguejje, you have Spirit, fpeak,
« explain my Words, forget nothing, tell all that
<< your Brethren and Friends fay to Yononndio^ your
«" Governor, by the Mouth of Garangula, who loves
" you, and defires you to accept of this Prefent of
" Bever, and take Part with me in my Feaft, to
" which I invite you. This Prefent of Bever is
" fent to Tonnondio en the Part of the Five Na-
" tions."

When Garangula* 's Harangue was explained to
Monfieur de la Barre, he returned to his Tent*
much inrao-ed at what he had heard.

o

Garangula feafted the French Officers, and then
went Home, and Monfieur de la Barre fet out in
his Way towards Montreal \ and as foon as the Ge-
neral was imbarked, with the fav/ Soldiers that re«
mained in Health, the Militia made the belt of
their Way to their own Habitations, without any
Order or Difcipline.

Thu.s a very chargeable and fatiguing Expedition
(which was to ftrike the Terror of the French
Name into the flubborn Hearts of the Five Na^
tions) ended in a Scold between the French General
and an old' Indian.

C H A P. V.

The Englifh attempt to to trade in the Lakesy and
the French attack the Senekas.

H E Marquis de Nonville having now fuc-

ceeded Monfieur de la Bar,e^ ui the Year

Vol. I. E 1685,

T

( 74 )

1 685, and having brought a Reinforcement of Sol-
diers with him, refolved to recover the Honour
the French had loft in the laft Expedition, and re-
venge the Slaughter the Five Nations continued
to make of the Twihiivies and Chiclaghicks, who
had put themfelves under the French Protec-
tion ; for the Five Nations having intirely fub-
dued the Chiclaghicks *, after a fix Years War,
they refolved next to fall upon the Twibtwies^ and
to call them to an Account for the Difturbance
they had given fome of their People in their Be-
ver Hunting. The Five Nations have few or no
Bever in their own Country, and for that Reafon
are obliged to hunt at a great Diftanc.e, which often
occafions Difputes with their Neighbours about the
Property of the Bever. The Bever is the moft
valuable Branch of the Indian Trade, and as the
Tvj'ihtwies carried their Be vers to the French , the
Englijh encouraged the Five Nations in thefe Ex-
peditions, and particularly, in the Beginningof the
Year 1687, made the Five Nations 2. Prefent of a
Barrel of Powder 3 when their whole Force was pre-
paring to go againit the Twihtwies. The Englijh
were the better pleafed with this War, becaufe they
thought that it would divert the Five Nations from
the Virginia Indians : But the French were refolved
to fupport their Friends more effeciually by a pow-
erful Diverfion, and to change the Seat of the
War.

For this Purpofe Mr. de Nonville fent, in May
1687, great Quantities of Provifion to Cadaruckui
Fort, and gathered the whole Force of Canada to
Montreal, His Army eonnfted of fifteen hundred
French of the regular Troops and Militia, and
rive hundred Indians that lived near Montreal and
Queheck. He fent likewife Orders to the Comman-
dant at MijjiliuiG&nak to alienable all the Na-

z lions

* CaUed Iliinoiihy the French.

( 75 )

tions living round him, and to march them to
Oniagarq^ in order to join the Forces of Canada
defigned againft the Senekas, and the other Officers
ported among the Indians Weflward had the like
Orders.

The Tivibtwies received the Hatchet with Joy
from the Hands of the French Officer. The Qu-
t agamies, Kikabous, and Majkuticks, who were
not ufed to Canoes, were at firft perfuaded to join
the Tivibtwies, who were to march by Land to
Tcv.chfagrondie, were there was a French Fort, at
which they were to be fupplied with Ammunition.
But after the French Officer left them, the Uta-
gatnies and Majkuticks weredifTuaded by feme of
the Mahikander ladiuns, who happened to be with
a neighbouring Nation at that Time.

The Putewatemies, Alalhorninies, and Puans
offered themfelves willingly, and went to the Ren-
dezvous at Miffilimakinak ; where they were re-
ceived by the U taw aw as with all the Marks of
Honour ufually paid to Soldiers. Though the
Utawawas had no Inclination to the prefent Enter-
prize ; they could not tell however how to appear
againft. it, otherwife than by inventing what Delays
they could, to prevent their March.

In the mean while a Canoe arrived, which was
Ferit by Mr. de Nonville, with his Orders to the
Officers. This Canoe, in her Paflage, difcovered
fome EngUJh, commanded by Major Mac Gregory,
iri their Way to Teidouderaghie. The Englijh
thought (after they had an Account of the new* Al-
liance their King had entered into with the French)
that the French would not diflurb them in profe-
cuting a Trade with the Indians every where, and
that the Trade would be equally free and open to
both Nations. With thefe Hopes a conhderable
Number of Adventurers went out, under the
Conduct of Major Mac Gregory, to trade with

E 2 the

( 7& )

the Indians that lived on the Banks of the Lakes ;
and that they might be the more welcome, perfuad-
ed the Five Nations to fet all the Dionondadie Pri-
foners at Liberty, who went along with the Englijh>
and conducted them towards MiJJMmakinak^ or
Teiodonderaghie ; but the EngliJJj found themfelves
miftaken, for the French Commandant at Teiodon-
deraghie^ as foon as he had Notice of this, fent
three-hundred French to intercept the EngliJI).

* The Utawawas and D ionondadies having like *
wife an Account of the EngUJh, defigned to fup-
port their own Independency, and to incourage the
EngUJh Trade. The Return of the Dionondadie Pri-
foners made that Nation very hearty in favouring
the EngUJh, they therefore marched immediately
off, with Defigntojoin Major Mac Gregory^ but
the Utawawas were divided in their Inclinations,
their chief, with about thirty more, joined the
French, the reft remained in fufpence, and flood
neuter.

The Utowawas thus wavering, difconcerted the
Meafures of the Diaiondadies, for they began to
fufpecT: the Utawawas, and therefore immediately
returned to fecure their Wives and Children that
they had left near the French Fort with the Uta-
wawas. The EngUJh and their Effects were feized
without any Oppofition, and were carried to the
French Fort at Teiodonderaghie,

The EngUJh brought great Quantities of Rum
with them, (which the hidians love more than
their Lives) and the French being afraid, that if
the Indians took to Drinking, they would grow
ungovernable, did what they could to keep them
from it. They were mofl concerned that the Pu-
tewatemies (who had no Knowledge of the EngUJh,

* Hiftoire de le Amerique Septentrionale, par Mr.
dclaPoterie, Tome it. Cap. i6.

or

( 77 )

or of that bewitching Liquor, and were firmly at*
tached to the French) fhould not tafte it.

The Utawawas ftill contrived Delays to the
• March, and having got ibme of the Puiewatemies
privately by themfeives, they offered them a Cag
of Rum, and laid : <; We are all Brethren, we ought
4< to make one Body, and to have one Soul. The
« c prench invite us to War againft the Five Nations ,
u with Defign to make us Slaves, and that we
" fhould make ourfelves the Tools to effecl: it. As
«c foon as they fhall have deftroyed the Five Nations ,
41 they will no longer obferve any Meafures with
44 us, but ufe us like thofe Beafts they tie to their
M Ploughs. Let us leave them to themfeives, and
44 they will never be able to accomplifh any thing
44 againft the Five Nations"

But the Puiewatemies had entertained fuch No-
44 tions of the French, as made them deaf to the
* ' Politicks of the Utawawas.

The French however grew jealous of thefe Caball-
ings, and therefore refolved to delay their March
no longer, and would not ftay one Day more for
the Utawawas, who defired only fo much Time to
pitch their Canoes, and went away without them.

Mr. Tonti, Commandant amongft the Chiclag-
hicks, met with another Party of the Englifij of a-
bout thirty Men, in Lake Erie, as he marched
with the Chicktaghicks, and Twihtwies, and other
neighbouring Nations, to the general Rendezvous.
He fell upon the Englijh, plundered them, and
took them Prifoncrs. The French divided all the
Merchandize among the Indians, but kept the
Rum to themfeives, and got all drunk. The Dec-
noncladie Prifoners, that conducted the E ng I 'i/I>, join-
ed with the Mihikander Indians that were amono-
Mr. Tontrs Indians (who had privately difluaded
about twenty of the neighbouring Nations from go-
ing with Tonti) and endeavoured to perfuade all 'the

E 3 Indians

( 7§ )

Indians to fall upon the French > while they Were
drunk, and deftroy them ; faying, the French are a
proud, impious, covetous People, that fell their
Goods at an extravagant Price ; the Fnglijh are a
good-natured honeft People, and will furnifh you
with every Thing at reafonable Rates. But thefe
Arguments were to no Purpofe, for thefe far Indi-
ans had entertained an extraordinary Opinion of the
French Power, and knew nothing of the Engli/h.

The French and Putewatemies being gone from
Yehdonderagbie* the Utazvawas began to be afraid
of the French Refentment, and therefore, the better
to keep up the Colour they had put on their Delays,
marched over Land, with all poiTible Expedition,
to the general Rendezvous near Oniagara^ where
all the French Force, both Christians and Indians^
wa? to meet.

The Five Nations being informed of the French
Preparations, laid afide their Defign againft the
Tvjihtwies^ and prepared to give the French a warm
Reception. Upon this the Prieil at Onondaga left
them, but the Prieft at Or.eydo had the Courage to
flay. The Senekas came to Albany to provide
Ammunition, and the Commiffioners made them
a Prefent of a confiderabie Quantity of Powder and
Lead, befides what they purchafed. They were
under a great deal of Concern when they took
Leave of the Commiflioners, and faid, " Since
" we are to expect no other Affiftance from our
" Brethren, we muft recommend our Wives and
ec Children to you, who will fly to you, if any Mif-
" fortune fhall happen to us. It may be we fhall
" never fee you again ; for we are reiblved to be-
iC have fo, as our Brethren fhall have no Reafon
.« to be alhamed of us."

We muft now return to Monfieur de NonviI!ey$
Army.

Monfieur

( 79 )

Monfieur Campagnle marched eight or ten Days
before the reft of the Army, with between two an J
three hundred Cannadiaus. As foon as thev arrived
at Cadaracku':, they furprifed two Villages of the
Five Nations, that were fettled about eight Leagues
from that Place, to prevent their giving any Intelli-
gence to their own Nation of the Trench Prepara-
tions, or of the State cf their Army, a: it was fup-.
pofed they did in the laft Expedition under Mon-
fieur de la Barre. Thefe People were furprifed
when they lead expected it, and by them from
whom they feared no Harm, becaufe they had fettled
there at the Invitation, and on the Faith of the
French. They were carried in cool Blood to the
Fort, and tied to Stakes, to be tormented by the
French Indians, (Chriftians, as they call them)
while they continued Tinging in their country Man-
ner, and upbraiding the French with their Perfidy
and Ingratitude.

While Monfieur de Nonville was at Cadarackui
Fort, he had an Account, that the Chickiaghicks
and Tvjihiwies waited for the ^uatcghics and Uta-
fvawas at * Lake St. Clair, with whom they de-
figned to march to the general Rendezvous, at the-
Mouth ot the Senekas River. For this Expedition
was chiefly defigned againft the Senekasy who had
absolutely refufed to meet Monfieur de la Barre,
and were moft firmly attached to the Englijh. The
SenekaSy for this Reafon, were defigned to be made
Examples of the French Refentment to all the other
Nations of Indians,

The MeiTenger having aflured the General, that
it was Time to depart, in order to meet with the
weftern Indians, that came to his Afnflance, he let
out the twenty-third of June, and lent one Part of

* In the Straights between Lake Erie and Quatoghie

E * his

( 8o )
his Army in Canoes, along the North Shore of the
Lake, while he, with the other Part, palTed along
the South, that no Accidents of Wind might pre-
vent the one or the other reaching, within the Time
appointed, at the Place the Indians were to meet
him. Jt happened, by reafon of the good Weather,
that both arrived on the fame Day, and joined the
weftern Indians at Trondequat. As foon as the A4en
were put on Shore, they hawled up the Canoes,,
and began a Fort, where four hundred Men were
left to guard the Canoes and the Baggage. Here a
young Cannadian was /hot to Deaths^ as a Deferter,
"for conducting the Er.gUJb into the Lakes, though
the tv/o Nations were not only at Peace, but their
Kings in ftricler Friendfhip than ufual. But this
Piece of Severity is not to be wondered at, when
this War was undertaken, chiefly to put a Stop to
the Englijh Trade, which now began to extend it-
felf far into the Continent, and would in its Confe-
quence ruin theirs. The next Day the Army began
to march towards the chief Village of the Senekas^
which was only feven Leagues diftant, every Man
carrying ten Bifkets for his Provifion. The Indian
Traders made the Van with Part of the Indians^ the
other Part marched in the Rear, while the regular
Troops and Militia compofcd the main Body. The
Army marched four Leagues the firft Day without
difcovering any Thing ; the next Day the Scouts ad-
vanced before the Army, as far as the Corn of the
Villages, without feeing any Body, though they
paffed within Piftol-ftiot of five -hundred Senekasy
that lay on their Bellies, and let them pafs and repafs
without difturbing them.

On the Report which they made, the French
haftened their March, in hopes to overtake the
Women, Children, and old Men ; for they no
longer doubted of all being fled. But as foon as the
French reached the Foot of a Hill, about a Quarter

of

(Si )

of a League .from the Village, the Senekas fuddenly
raifed the War-fhout, with a Difcharge of their
Fire-arms. This put the regular Troops, as well
as the Militia, into fuch a Fright, as they marched
through the Woods, that the Battalions immediately
divided, and run to the Right and Left, and, in the
Confufion, fired upon one another. When the
Senekas perceived their Diforder, they fell in among
them pell-mell, till the French Indians, more ufed
to fuch Way of fighting, gathered together and re-
pulfed the Senekas. There were (according to the
French Accounts) a hundred Frenchmen, ten French
Indians, and about fourfcore Senekas killed, in this
Rencounter.

Monfieur de Nonville was fo difpirited with the
Fright that his Men had been put into, that his In-
dians could not perfuade him to puriue. He halted
the Remainder of that Day. The next Day he
marched on with Deiign to burn the Village, but
when he came there, he found that the Senekas had
faved him the Trouble ; for they had laid all in
Ames before they retired. Two old Men only were
found in the Caitle, who were cut into Pieces and
boiled to make Soup for the French Allies. The
French ftaid five or fix Days to deftroy their Corn,
and then marched to two other Villages, at two or
three Leagues diftance. After they had performed
the like Exploits in thofe Places, they returned to the
Banks of the Lake.

Before the French left the Lakes, they built a
Fort of four Baftions at Oniagara, on the South-fide
of the Straights, between Lake Erie and Cadarackui
Take, and left a hundred Men, with eight Months
Provifions in it. But this Garrifon was fo clofely
blocked up by the Five Nations, that they all died
of Hunger, except feveri or eight, who were acci-
cidentaliy relieved by a Party of French Indians,

Et The

( 82 )

The weftern Indians, when they parted from the
French General, made their Harangues, asufual, in
which they told him, with whatPleafure they Taw
a Fort fo well placed to favour their Defigns againft
the Five Nations, and that they relied on his never
finifhing the War, but with the Deftru£fcion of the
Five Nations, or forcing them to abandon their
Country. He allured them, that he would acl: with
fuch Vigour, that they would foon fee the Five
Nations driven into the Sea.

He fent a Detachment of Soldiers to 1'eiodonde-
raghie, and in his Return to Canada, which was by
the North Side of the Lake, he left a fufiicient
Number of Men, and a Quantity of Provifions, at
Gadarackui Fort.

The French having got nothing but dry Blows
by this Expedition, fent thirteen of the Indians, t? at
they fut prifed at Cadarackui, to France, as Trophies
of their Viclory, where they were put into the
Galleys, as Pvebels to their King.

C H A P. VI.

Colonel Dongan'i Advice to the Indians. Adario**
Enterprize, and Montreal Jacked by the Five
Nations.

lOlonel Dongan, who had the Indian Affairs
_j very much at Heart, met the Five Nations at
Albany as foon as poilible after the French Expe-
dition, and fpoke to them on the nfth oiAugnjl, in
the following Words, viz.

u Brethren,

<c I am very glad to fee you here in this Houfe,
<c and am heartily glad that you have fuftained no
" greater Lofs by the French, though I believe it
16 was their Intention to deftroy you all, if they
c< couid have furprifed you in your Caftles.

2 " As

(83)

" As foon as I heard their Defign to war with
<{ you, I gave you Notice, and came up hither
44 mvfelf, that I might be ready to give all the
44 Affiftance and Advice that fo (hprt a Time
44 would allow me.

44 I am now about fending a Gentleman to
44 England, to the King, my Mailer, to let him
<c know, that the French have invaded his Terri-
" ritories on this Side of the great Lake, and
" warred upon the Brethren his Subjects, I there*
44 fore would willingly know, whether the Brethren
44 have given the Governor of Canada any Provo-
44 cation or not ; and if they have, how, and in
44 what Manner; becaufe I am obliged to give a
44 true Account of this Matter. This Bufinefs
u may caufe a War between the King of England
** and the French King, both in Europe and here,
cc and therefore I muft know the Truth.

44 I know the Governor of Canada dare not enter
ei into the King of England's Territories, in a
44 hoftile Manner, without Provocation, if he.
4 4 thought the Brethren were the King of England's
44 Subjects ; but you have, two or three Years ago,
** made a Covenant-chain with the French 3 contrary
44 to my Command, (which I knew could not hold
44 long) being void of itfelf among the Chriilians ;
<4 for as much as Subjects (as you arc) ought not
44 to treat with any foreign Nation, it not lying in
44 your Power, you have brought this Trouble o.i
44 yourfeives, and, as I believe, this is the only
44 Reafon of their falling on you at this Time.

44 Brethren, I took it very ill, that after you had
44 put yourfeives into the Number of the greaf
•* King of Engf v Ws Subjects, you fhould ever offer
44 to make Peace or War without my Confent.
44 You know that we can live without you, but

you cannot live without us. You never found
4V that I told you a LyM and I offered you the

6 M Ai'iiftance

<i

( 84 )

Affiftance you wanted, provided that you would
be advifed by me ; for I know the French better
than any of you do.
44 Now fince there is a War begun upon ycu by
" the Governor of Canada, I hope without any
44 Provocation by you given, I defire and command
<c you, that you hearken to no Treaty but by my
** Advice ; which if you follow, you mail have the
" Benefit of the great Chain of Friendfhip between
the great King of England and the King of
France, which came out of England the other
Day, and which I have fent to Canada by An-
thony le Junardt In the mean Time, I will give
you fuch Advice as will be for your good ; and
44 will fupply you with fuch NecefTaries, as you
44 will have Need of.

44 Fir/I, My Advice is, as to what Prifoners of
44 the French you fnall take, that you draw not
44 their Blood, but bring them Home, and keep
*« them to exchange for your People, which they
♦4 have Prifoners already, or may take hereafter.

44 idly, That if it be pofiible, that you can order
44 it fo, I would have you take one or two of your
44 wife ft Sachems, and one or two of your chief
44 Captains, of each Nation, to be a Council to
44 manage all Affairs of the War. They to give
4i Orders to the reft of the Officers what they are
44 to do, that your Defigns may be kept private j
44 for after it comes among fo many People, it is
44 blazed abrcad, and your Defigns are often
44 frufrrated ; and thofe chief Men mould keep a
44 Correfpondence with me by a trufty Meflenger.

44 %rfiyi The great Matter under Confideration
44 with the Brethren is, how to ftrengthen them-
*•* .felvcs, and weaken their Enemy. My Opinion
44 is, that the Brethren fhouid fend MerTengers to
44 the Utawaivas, Twihtwies, and the farther ln-
<* dians, .and to fend back likewife fome of the

Pri-

cc

( 85 )

Prifoners of thefe Nations, If you have any left,
to bury the Hatchet, and to make a Covenant-
chain, that they may put away all the French
that are among them, and that you will open a
Path for them this Way, they being the Kino- of
England's Subjects likewife, t'ho' the French have

" been admitted to trade with them ; for all that
the French have in Canada, they had it of the
great King of England-, that by that Means they
may come hither freely, where they may have
every Thing cheaper than among the French •
That you and they may join together againfr the
French, and make fo firm a League, that who-
ever is an Enemy to one, niuft be to both.
" \thly, Another Thing of Concern is, that you
ought to do what you can to open a Path for all
the North Indians, and Mahikanders, that are
among the Utawawas and further Nations : I
will endeavour to do the fame to brino- them
home ; for, they not daring to return Home
your Way, the French keep them there on pur-
pofe to join with the other Nations againft you,
for your Deftruction ; for you know, that one
of them is worfe than fix of the others ; there-
fore all Means muft be ufed to bring them Home,
and ufe them kindly as they pafs through your
Country.

" 5/%, My Advice further is, that A^elTengers
go, m behalf of all the Five Nations, to^the
Chrijiian Indians at Canada, to perfuade them to
come Home to their native Country. This will
be another great Means to weaken your Enemy ;
but if they will not be advifed, you know what

'* to do with them.

" 6thfy, I think itverynecefTary, for the Brethren's
Security and AiTifrance, and to the endamaghjg
the French, to build a Fort upon the Lake, where
I may keep Stores and Provifions, in Cafe of

"Ne-

<£
CC
CC
CC
(C

CC

cc
(<
cc

cc

it

(4

( 86 )

U Nece&ty ; and therefore I would have the
" Brethren let me know what Place will be moil
" convenient for it.

" jtbfy, I would not have the Brethren keep
c* their Corn in their Caftles, as I hear the Onon- '
w da gas do, but bury it a great Way in the
<c Woods, where few People may know where it"
" is, for fear of fuch an Accident as has happened
«' to the Senekas.

*' Sthfy, I have given my Advice in your General
" AfTembly by Mr. Dirk JVeJfels^ and Akus the Iri-
<c terpreter, how you are to manage your Parties,
w and how neceffary it is to get Prifoners, to ex-
" change for your own Men that are Prifoners with
*c the French j and I am glad to hear that the
M Brethren are fo united, as Mr. Dirk Wejfeh tells
•* me you are, and that there are no rotten Members
*< nor French Spies among you.

<c gthfy, The Brethren may remember my Ad-
«< vice, which I fent you this Spring, not to go to
** Cadarackui ; if you had, they would have ferved
<c you as they did your People that came from
" hunting thither ; for I told you then, that I
u knew the French better than you did.

•* lOthly, There was no Advice or Proportion
" that I made to the Brethren, all the Time that
** the Prieft lived at Onondaga , but what he wrote
«« to Canada , as I found by one of his Letters,
«* which he gave to an Indian to carry to Canada^
" but which was brought hither ; therefore I defire
«« the Brethren not to receive him or any French
«* Prisfl any more, having fent For Englijh Pnefis9
«' with Vvhcm you may be fupplied to your
" Content.

" lithfy, I would have the Brethren look out
c< fharp, for Fear of being furprized. I believe all
** the Strength of the French will be at their
*< Frontier Places, viz. dXCadarackui and Qr.iagara,

" where

(87 )

" where they have built a Fort now, and at Tro'ies
'* Rivieres , Montreal, and Chambly.

** \ithly, Let me put you in Mind again, not to
<c make any Treaties without my Means, which
«c will be more advantageous for you, than your
<c doing it by yourfelves, for then you will be
<e looked upon as the King of England's Subjects,
" and let me know, from Time to Time, every
" Thing that is done.

** Thus far I have fpoken to you relating to the
« War."

Then he chid them for their Breach of Faith with
Virginia. He told them, that he was informed,
that lail Spring they had killed a fine Gentleman,
v/ith fome others; and that a Party of the Oneydoes
was now there at the Head of Tames River, with
Intention to defrroy all the Indians thereabout.
They had taken fix Prifoners, whom he ordered
them to bring to him, to be reftored ; and that for
the future they mould defift from doing any Injury
to the People of Virginia, or their Indians, other-
wife all the Englijh would unite to deftroy them.
But at the fame Time he freed the Senekas from
any Blame, and commended them as a brave and
honeft People, who never had done any Thino*
contrary to his Orders, except in making that un-
lucky Peace with the French, three Years ago.

LajHy, He recommended to them, not to fuffer
their People to be drunk during the War : A
Soldier thereby (he faid) lofes his Reputation, be-
caufe of the Advantages he will give the Enemy
over him.

This hcneft Gentleman earneiHy purfued the In-
tereft of his Country; but it feems his Meafures
were not agreeable to thofe his Mailer had taken
with the French King j for he had Orders to procure
a Peace for the French on their own Terms, and

was

(88 )

was foon after this removed from his Government.
Indeed fuch an active, as well as prudent Governor
of New-Tor k, could not be acceptable to the French,
who had the univerfal Monarchy in View, in
America as well as in Europe,

The great Difpute between Col. Dungan and the
French was in this, that Col. Dungan would force
the French to apply to him, in all Affairs relating to
the Five Nations, and the French would treat with
them independently of the Englijh. For this Reafon
Col. Dungan refufed any Ailiftance to the French,
till they, by fuch Application, mould acknowledge
the*Dependance of the Five Nations on the Crown
of England. But King "James ordered him to give
up this Point ; and that he mould perfuade the Five
Nations to fend to Canada, to receive Propofals from
the French Governor ; and for this Purpofe, forced
them to agree to a Ceflation of Arms, till their
Deputies mould go and return from Canada ; and
that they mould, in the mean Time, deliver up all
the Prifoners they had taken from the French, and
that no Accident might prevent this, and blaft fo
favourable an Opportunity of making Peace to the
beft Advantage, Monfr. De Nonville fenthis Orders
to all his Officers in the Indian Countries, to obferve
a Ceflation of Arms, till the AmbaiTador of the
Five Nations mould meet him at Montreal, as they
had given him Reafon to expect they would in a
little Time, to conclude the Peace in the ufual
Form.

In the mean Time, Adario, the Chief of the
Deomondadies, finding that his Nation was become
fufpecled by the French, fince the Time they had
{hewn fo much Inclination to the Englijh, when
they attempted to trade to Mijftlimakinak, refolved,
by feme notable AcYion again ft the Five Nations,
to recover the good Graces of the French,

3 For

( h )

^ For this Purpofe, he marched from MiJJilima-
kiuak) at the Head of a hundred Men ; and that
he might act with the more Security, he took Ca-
darackui Fort in his Way for Intelligence: The
Commandant informed him, that Monfr. De Non-
wile was in Hopes of concluding a Peace with the
Five Nations, and expected their AmbafTadors in
eight or ten Days at Montreal for that Purpofe, and
therefore defired him to return to Mijjilimakinaky
without attempting any Thing that might obftruct
fo good a Defign.

The Indian being furprifed with this News, was
under great Concern for his Nation, which he was
afraid would be facrificed to the French Intereft, but
dillembled his Concern before the French Officer.
He went from Cadarackui, not to return Home, as
the Commandant thought, but to wait for the Am-
baffadors of the Five Nations, near one of the
Falls of Cadarackui River, by which he knew they
muft pafs. He did not lurk there above four or five
Days, before the Deputies came guarded by forty
young Soldiers, who were all furprifed, and killed
or taken Prifoners. As foon as the Prifoners were
all fecured, the cunning Deonondadi told them,
" That he having been informed, by the Governor
<c of Canada ', that fifty Warriors of their Nation
" were to pafs this Way about this Time, he had
" fecured this Pafs, not doubting of intercentfliff
« them." &

The AmbafTadors being much furprifed at the
French Perfidy, told Adario the Defign of their
Journey, who, the better to play his Part, feemed
to grow mad and furious, declaring againlt Monfr.
De Nonvillc, and laid he would," fome Time or
other, be revenged of him, for making a Tool of
him, to commit fuch horrid Treachery. Then
looking ftedfaftly 'on the Prifoners (among whom
Dekarnfora was the principal AmbaiTador) Jdarh

laid

( 90 )

fold to them, Go, my Brethren, I unty your Bonds,
and fend you Home again, though our Nations be
at War : The French Governor has made me com-
mit fo black an Action, that I (hall never be eafy
after it, till the Five Nations fhall have taken full
Revenge.

This was fufficient to perfuade the Ambafladors
of the Truth of what he laid, who allured him, that
he and his Nation might make their Peace when
they pleafcd, Jdario loft only one Man on this
Occafion, and would keep a Satana Frifoner
(adopted into the Five Nations) to fill up his Place.
Then he gave Arms, Powder and Ball to the reft
of the Prifoners, to enable them to return.

The AmbafTadors were chiefly, if not all, Onon-
dagas, and Qneydoes, who had been long under
the Influence of the French Prieffo, and ftill retained
an Affection to them ; but this Adventure thorough-
ly changed their Thoughts, and irritated them fo
heartily againft the French, that all the Five Na-
tions profecuted the War unanimously.

Jdario -delivered the Slave (his Prifoner) to the
French at Mijfilimakinak , who to keep up the En-
mity between the Deonondadies and the Five Na-
tions, ordered him to be fhot to Death. Jdario
called one of the Five Nations, who had been long
a Prifoner, to be an Eye Witnefs of his Country-
man's Death, then bid him make his Efcape to his
own Country, to give an Account of the French
Cruelty, from which it was not in his Power to
fave a Prifoner, he himfelf had taken.

This heightned the Rage of the Five Nations (o,
that Monfr. De NonvilWs fending to difown Jdaria
hi this Action, had no Effect upon them ; their
Breafts admitted of no Thoughts but that of Re-
venge. It was not long before the French felt the
bloody Effects of this cruel PafTion, for 1200 Men
of the Five Nations invaded the Ifland of Montreal*

when

f 9i )
when the French had no Siifpicion af any fuch At-
tempt, while Monfr. De Nanville and his Lady
were in that Town. They landed on the South
Side of the Ifland, at La Chine, on the 26th of
July 1688, where they burnt and facked all the
Plantations, and made a terrible Mafiacre of Men,
Women, and Children. The French were under
Apprehenfion of the Town's being attacks, for
which Reafon, they durft not fend out any confi-
derable Party to the Relief of the Country, only
once, when the Indians had blocked up two Forts,
Monfr. De Nonville fent out a hundred Soldiers,
and fifty Indians, to try to bring off the Men in
thofe Forts. The French of thus Party were all
either taken or cut to Pieces, except one Soldier,
and the commanding Officer, who, after he had
his Thighs broke, was carried off by twelve Indians
that made their Efcape. There were above a thou-
fand of the French killed at this Time, and twenty-
fix were carried away Prifoners, the greateft Part
of which were burnt alive. The Five Nations
only loft three Men on this Expedition, that got
drunk and were left behind. This, however, did
not fatiate their Thirft after Blood, for, in O Sober
following, they deftroyed likewife all the lower
Part of the Ifiand, and carried away many Pri-
foners.

_The Confluence of thefe Expeditions were very
diimal to the French y for they were forced to burn
their two Barks, which they had on Cadarackui
Lake, and to abandon their Fort there ; they de-
signed to have blown up their Works, when they
left that Place; and for that End left a lighted
Match where the Powder lav, but were in fuch a
Fright, that they durft not ftay to fee what EffecT:
it had. They went down Cadarackui River in fevcn
Birch Canoes j and for greater Security, travelled
in the Night. One of tne Canoes, with all the

Men

( 9*)

Men in it, were loft, by their Precipitation, aa
they pafTed one of the Falls in that River. The
Five Nations hearing the French had deferted Ca-
darackui Fort, fifty Indians went and took Pof-
feffion of it, who found the Match the French had
left, which had gone out, and twenty-eight Barrels
of Powder in the fame Place, together with feveral
other Stores.

The News of the Succefs the Five Nations had
over the French foon fpread itfelf among all the
Indians, and put the French Affairs every where
into the greater!: Diforder.

The Utawawas had always fhewn an Inclina-
tion to the Englijh, and they therefore immediately
fent openly four Sachems, with three Prifoners of
the Senegas, which they had, to afiure them, that
they would for ever renounce all Friendfhip with
the French, and promifed to reftore the" reft of the
Prifoners. They alfo included feveral Nations, that
lived near Mijjilimakinak, in this Peace.

This put the French Commandant there under
the greatefr. Difficulty to maintain his Port -, but
there was no Choice, he mufl (land his Ground,
for the Five Nations had cut off all Hopes of re-
tiring.

The Nepairinians and Kikabous, of all their nu-
merous Allies, only remained firm to the French ;
every one of the others endeavoured to gain the
Friendfhip of the Five Nations ; and would cer-
tainly have done it, by murdering all the French
among them, had not the Sieur Perot, with won-
derful Sagacity and imminent Hazard to his own
Perfon, diverted them.

Canada was now in a moft miferable Condition, .
for while the greateft Number of their Men had
been employed in the Expedition againft the Five
Nations, and in trading among the far Nations, and
making new Difcoveries and Settlements, Tillage

and

( 93 )

and Hufbandry had been neglected ; and they loft
feveral Thoufands of their Inhabitants, by the con-
tinual Incurfions of fmall Parties, fo that none
durft hazard themfelves out of fortified Places ; in-
deed, it is hard to conceive what Diftrefs the
French were then under, for though they were every
where almoft ftarving, they could not plant nor fow,
or go from one Village to another for Relief, but
with imminent Danger of having their Scalps car-
ried away by the fculking Indians ; at laft the whole
Country being laid wafte, Famine began to rage,
and was like to have put a miferable End to that
Colony.

If the Indians had underftood the Method of at-
tacking Forts, nothing could have preferved the
French from an entire Deftrucftion at this Time ;
for whoever confiders the State of the Indian Affairs
during this Period, how the Five Nations were
divided in their Sentiments and Meafures ; that the
Onondagas, Cayugas, and Oneydoes, under the In-
fluence of the French Jefuites, were diverted from
profecuting the War againft Canada, by the Je-
fuites cunningly fpiriting up thofe three Nations
againft the Virginia Indians, and perfuading them
to fend out their Parties that Way : That the Se-
tiekas had a War at the fame Time upon their
Hands with three numerous Indian Nations, the
Utaivawas, Chicktaghicks, and Twihtwies-, and
that the Meafures the Englijh obferved all King
Ja?nes's Reign, gave the Indians rather Grounds
of Jealoufy than Afiiftance : I fay, whoever con-
fiders all thefe Things, and what the Five Nations
did actually perform, under all thefe Difadvantage9
again!! the French, will hardly doubt, that the
Five Nations by themfelves were at that Time an
Overmatch for the French of Canada.

PART

( 94 )

PART II.

THE

P R E F A C

rH E former Part of this H'tjlory was written
at New- York in the Tear 1727, on Occafion
of a Difpute which then happened, between -the
Government of New- York and fome Merchants.
The French of Canada had the whole Fur Trade
with the Weftern Indians in their Hands, and were
fupplied with their Woollen Goods from New- York.
Mr. Burnet, who took more Pains to be informed
of the Interejr of the People he was jet over, and of
making them vfeful to their Mother Country, than
Plantation Governors ufually do, took the Trouble of
perufmg all the Regi/iers of the Indian Affairs on
this Occafion. He from thence conceived of what
Confequence the Fur Trade with the Weftern Indians
was of to Great-Britain ; that as the Engliih had
the Fur Trade to Hudfon's Bay given up to them,
by the Treaty of Utrecht, fo, by the Advantages
which the Province of New-York has in its Situa-
tion, they might be able to draw the whole Fur Trade
in the other Parts of America to them/elves, and
thereby the Englifh engrofs that Trade, and the Ma-
nufactories depending on.it.

For this Purpofe he thought it ncceffary to put a
Stop to the Trade between New- York and Canada,
by which the French fupplied themf elves with the mo0
valuable and neccfjary Commodities for the Indian
Market -, and to Jet the Inhabitants of the Province

011

( 95 )
on trading direftly zvith the Indians. Be/ides the
Confederation of Profit and Cain, be confide red what
Influence this Trade had on the numerous Nations of
Indians living on the vafli Continent of North Ame-
rica, and who fur round the Britifh Colonies ; of what
Advantage it might be of, if they were influenced
by the Englifh in Cafe of a liar with France ; and
how prejudicial on the other Hand, if they were
direcled by French Cowfels.

The Legiflature of New- York was foon convinced
of the Jujinefs of the Reafoning, and paflfed an Aft,
prohibiting the Trade to Canada, and for encouraging
the Trade direftly with the Indians. They were like-
wife at the Charge of building a fortified trading
Houfe at Ofwego, on Cadarackui Lake, and have
ever fine v -maintained a Garrifon there. As this Act
did in its Confequence take a large Profit from one or
two confiderable Merchants, who had the Trade to
Canada intirely in their Hands, they endeavoured to
raife a Clamour againji it in the Province, and pre-
fented likewife Petitions to the King, in order to get
It he Aft repealed. Upon this Occaficn Mr. Burnet
gave me the Perufal of the Publick Regijler of Indian
Affairs, and it was thought the Publication of the
Hijlory of the Five Nations might be of Ufe at that
Time.

I /hall only add, that Mr. Burnet's Scheme has
had its defired Ejfeft : The Englifh have gained the
Trade which the French, before that, had with the
Indians to the JVcJlward of New- York ; and where-
as, before that Time, a very inconjiderable Number
cf Men zvcre employed in the Indian Trade Abroad,
now above three hundred Men are employed at the
Trading Houfe at Ofwego alone ; and the Indian
Trade has fince that Time yearly incrcafed Jo far,
that fcveral Indian Naticjts come now every Summer
to trade there, whofe Na?nes were net jo much as
known by the Ellgliill before.

This

(96)

This Hijloty, from New- York, foon went t§
England, and I have been informed, that a Publi-
cation, with a Continuance of that Work, would
be acceptable there, I have the more ch ear fully coin-
plied with this Notice, becaufe of the War threatened
from France, believing that a Publication of this
Kind may be ufeful, zuh ether the prefent Inquietudes
between the two Nations end in a War or in a Treaty,
The French have encouraged feveral Publications of
this Sort at Paris, and certainly fuch may be more
ufeful in a Britifh Government, where the People have
fo great a Share in it, than it can be in a French
Government? intirely direcled by the Will of their
Prince.

I now continue this Hi/lory to the Peace of Ref-
wick, and if 1 find this acceptable, and that a far-
ther Continuation of it be defired, I foall, if my Life
and Health be prejerved, carry it down farther ; but
as 1 have too much Reafon to doubt my own Ability,
to give that Pleafure and SaVsfaclion zvhich the Pub-
lick may expeel in Things thus fubmitted to their View,
I think it not jufri fable to trouble them with too much
at once.

THE

( 97 )
THE

HISTORY

O F T H E

Five INDIAN Nations,

DEPENDING

On the Province of NEW-YORK.

PART II.

The Hijlory of the Five Indian Nations of Ca-
nada, from the Tirye of the Revolution to the
Peace of Refwick.

CHAP. I.

The State of Affairs in New- York and Canada,
at the Time of the Revolution in Great-Britain.

WE left the Five Nations triumphing over
the French in Canada , and they almoft
reduced to Defpair. The Revolution, which hap-
pened at this Time in England, feemed to be a
favourable Conjunction for the Fivf Nations ; the
Englijh Colonies, by the War at that Time d .:*,-
clared ao-ainft France, becoming: Parties in then
Quarrel : For one will be ready tq think, that the,
Vol. I. F F '

( 98 )

Five Nations being by themfeives too powerful for
the French^ as appears by the preceding Chapter,
when thefe were aflifted by the Utawawas, £hia-
toghies, Twihtwies, Chiclaghicks, Putcwatemies,
and all the Wejiern Indian Nations, and when the
EngUJh flood neuter; now certainly, when not
only all thefe Indian Nations had made Peace with
the Five Nations, but the EngUJh joined with them
in the War, the French would not be able to ftand
one Campaign. . .

But we mall find what a Turn Affairs took, con-
trary to all reafonable Expectations, from the ge-
neral Appearance of Things, and of what Impor-
tance a refolute wife Governor is to the well-being
of a People, and how prejudicial Divifions and
Parties are. For this Reafon it will be necefTary
to take a View of the Publick Affairs in the Pro-
vince of New-York, and in Canada, at that Time,
in order to underftand the true Caufes of the Al-
terations, which afterwards happened in Favour of
the French.

The Revolution occafioned as great Diverfions
and Parties in the Province of New-York, in Pro-
portion to the Number of People, as it did in Bri-
tain, if not greater. The Governor and all the
Officers either fled or abfconded ; the Gentlemen
of the King's Council, and fome of the moil con-
fiderable or richeft People, either out of Love, or
what they thought Duty, to King James, or ra-
ther from an Opinion they had that the Prince of
Orange could not fucceed, refufed to join in the
Declaration the People made in Favour of that
Prince, and fuffered the Adminiftration to fall into
different Hands, who were more zealous for the
Proteftant Intereft, and who were joined by the
fa" greateft Number of the Inhabitants. After the
* -volution was eftablifhed, they that had appeared
o warmly for it, thought that they deferved beft of

the

(99 )

the Government, and expected to be continued in
the Publiclc Offices ; the others were zealous to re-
cover the Authority they had loft, and ufed the
moft perfuafive Means with the Governors for that
Purpofe, while the former trufted to their Merit.
This begat great Animolities, which continued
many Years. Each Party, as they were at diffe-
rent Times favoured by feveral Governors, oppofed
all the Meafures taken by the other, while each of
them were by Turns in Credit with the People or
the Governor, and fometimes even profecuted each
other to Death. The publiclc Meafures were by
thefe Means perpetually fluctuating, and often one
Day contradictory to what they were the Day be-
fore. The fucceeding Governors, finding their
private Account in favouring fometimes the one
Party, and at other Times the other, kept up the
Animofities all King William** Reign, though very
much to the publick Prejudice ; for each Party
was this while \o eager in refenting private Injuries,
that they intirely neglected the publick Good.

The Conftitution of Government in the Engtijh
Plantations^ where the Governors have no Salary,
but what they can attain with the Confent of the
Aflemblies or Reprefentatives of the People, gave
Occafion to impn^dent Governors to fall upon thefe
Expedients, as th\' fometimes call them, for o-et-
ting of Money. And a prevailing Faction, know-
ing for what Purpofe the Governments in America
were chiefly defired by the Englijh Gentlemen,
ufed this great Privilege to tempt a Governor to be
at the Head of a Party, when he ought to have
been the Head of the Government. Indeed New-
York has had the Misfortune, too frequently, to be
under fuch as could not keep their Paffion for
Money fecret, though none found it fo profita-
ble a Government, as they did who followed ftrict-

F 2 ly

( ioo )
\y the true Maxims of governing, without mak-
ing Money the only Rule of their Actions.

The frequent Changes of Governors were like-
wife prejudicial to the publick Affairs. Colonel
Slaughter, the nrft Governor after the Revolution,
happened to die foon after his Arrival, when fteady,
as well as refolute Meafures, were moil necefTary.
But fome think, that the Occafion of all the Mis-
fortunes lay in the Want of Care in the Choice of
Governors, when the Affairs of America wanted
able Hands to manage them ; they think that the
Miniftry had the faving of Money chiefly in View,
when, to gratify fome fmall Services, they gave
Employments in America to thofe that were not
capable of much meaner Offices at Home. The
Opinion the People had of Colonel Slaughter's Ca-
pacity gave ground to thefe Surmifes ; but, if it
was fo, it happened to be very ill-faved Money ;
for the Mifmanagements in this Country occafioned
far greater Expence to the Crown afterwards, than
would have bought fuch Gentlemen handfome
Eitates, befides the great LolTes they occafioned to
the Subjects.

The greater! Number of the Inhabitants of the
Province of New-York being Dutch, frill retained
an Affection to their Mother Country, and by
their Averfion to the Englijh weakened the Admi-
niitration. The common People of Albany, who
are all Dutch, could not forbear giving the Indians
feme ill Impreffions of the Englijh ; for the Mo-
hawks, in one of their publick Speeches, expreffed
themfelves thus : " We hear a Dutch Prince reigns
" now in England, why do you fuffer the Englijh
" Soldiers to remain in the Fort ? put all the En-
" ghjh out of the Town. When the Dutch held
" this Country long ago, we lay in their Houfes j
<c but the Englijh have always made us lie without
" Doors." It is true, that the Plantations were

firft

( ioi )

firfl fettled by the meaneft People of every Nation,
and fuch as had the leait. Senfe of any Honour. The
Dutch hrft Settlers, many of them I may fay, had
none of the Virtues of their Countrymen, except
their Induftry in getting Money, and they facri-
ficed every Thing, other People think honourable
or moft facred, to their Gain : But I do not think
it proper to give particular Inffances of this.

The People of Nut- England were engaged in a
bloody War at this Time with the Oivenagungas,
Ouragies, and Panacoks, the Indians that lie be-
tween them and the French Settlements. The
Scahkooks were originally Part of thefe Indians.
They left their Country about the Year 1672, and
fettled above Albany, on the Branch of Hudfon's
River that runs towards Canada. The People of
New-England were jealous of the Scahkook Indians^
that they remembring the old Difference they had
with the People of New-England, and the Relation
they bore to the Eajlern Indians, did countenance
and affifr, thefe Indians in the War againft New-
England. They had Reafon for thefe Jealoulies,
for the Scahkook Indians received privately ibme
Owenagunga MeiTengers, and kept their comino-
among them fecret from the People of Albany ; and
fome Scahkooks had gone privately to the Owena-
giingas. They were afraid likewife, that the Mo-
hawks might have fome Inclination to favour thofe
Indians, becaufe fome of the Eajlern Indians had
fled to the iMohawks, and were kindly received by
them, and lived among them.

Notwithfbnding all thefe Failures of good Po-
licy, in the Government of Nw-Tork, the French
had not gained lb great Advantages, if they had not
carefully obferved a different Conduct, which it is
now neceifary to confide r.

Canada was at this Time in a very diflreffed
Condition, the Country and our Plantations burnt

F 3 and

( 102 )

and deftroyed, their Trade intirely at a /land, great
Numbers of their People flain, and the Remainder
in danger of perifhing by Famine, as well as by
the Sword of inveterate cruel Enemies. When
fueh Misfortunes happen to a Country, under any
Adminiftration, though in Truth the Conduct of
Affairs be not to be blamed, it is often prudent to
change the Minifters ; for the common People ne-
ver fail to blame them, notwithstanding their hav-
ing acted with the greateft Wifdom, and therefore
cannot fo foon recover their Spirits, that are funk
by Misfortunes, as by putting their Affairs into
different Hands.

For thefe Reafons, it is probable, the French
King recalled Mr. de Nonviile9 but rewarded him
for his Services, by an honourable Employment in
the Houfhold. The Count de Frontenac was fent
in his Place. This Gentleman had been formerly
Governor of that Country, and was perfectly ac-
quainted with its Intereft ; of a Temper of Mind
fitted to fuch defperate Times, of undaunted Cou-
rage, and indefatigable, though in the fixty-eighth
Year of his Age. The Count de Frontenac ar-
rived the fecond of October 1689. The Country
immediately received new Life by the Arrival of a
Perfon, of whofe Courage and Conduct every one
had entertained a high Opinion. Care was taken
to increafe this Impreflion on the Minds of the
People, by making publick Rejoicings with as much
Noife as poflible. He wifely improved this new
Life, by immediately entering upon Action, with-
out fuffering their Hopes to grow cold. He ftaid
no longer at Quebeck^ than was neceffary to be in-
formed of the prefent State of Affairs, and in four
or five Days after his Arrival fet out in a Canoe
for Montreal^ where his Prefence was molt necef-
fary ; and the Winter was already fo far advanced,
that the Ice made it impracticable to go in a larger

Veflk

( 503 )

Vefiel. By this the old Gentleman increafed the
Opinion and Hopes the People entertained of him,
that, without flavins: to refrem himfelf after a fa-
tiguing Sea- Voyage, he would immediately under-
take another, that required all the Vigour and
Heat of Youth to withftand the Inclemencies of
the Climate and Seafon, and the Difficulty of fuch
a PafTage.

When the Count tie Frontenac came to Mont-
real, he increafed the Admiration the People had
of his Vigour and Zeal, by pretending to go to
vifit Cadarackui Fort, now abandoned, which he
had built in the Time he was formerly Governor.
The Clergy and People of Montreal came jointly
with ftretched out Arms, reprefenting the Danger
of fuch an Attempt, and the Difficulties and Hard-
fhips that would neceflarily attend it, praying him
not to expofe a Life that was fo necefTary for their
Safety. He, with feeming Reluctance, yielded to
their Intreaties ; I fay with feeming Reluctance,
for it was inconfiftent with his Prudence really to
have fuch a Defign. This Shew of the Gover-
nor's offering to go in Perfon, animated fome of the
Gentlemen of the Country, who voluntarily went
in the Winter, with one Hundred Indian Traders,
to vifit that Fort ; and finding it in better Condi-
tion than they expected, by the Report of thofe
who had abandoned it, they ftaid there, and made
fome fmall Reparations in the Walls, which the
Indians had thrown down.

The Count de Frontenac brought back with him
Taiverahct, a Capiga Sachem, one of the thirteen
Prifoners that Mr. de Nonville took at Cadarackui,
and fent to France. He was in Hopes this Indian
would be ufeful in procuring a Treaty of Peace
with the Five Nations, for they had an extraordi-
nary Opinion of Tawerahet ; and the French had
found, by fad Experience, that they could not be

F 4 Gainers

( 104 )
Gamers by continuing the War : For this Purpofe
the Count ufed Tawerahet with much Kindnefs
curing his Voyage, and, after he arrived at £„!
beck lodged him in the Gaftle under his own
Ivoof, and took fuch Pains with this Sachem, that
he forgot all the ill Ufage he had formerly re-
ceived. J

The French had the more Reafon to defire a
Feace , with the Five Nation?, becaufe they knew
that they would now certainly have the EnplUb
Colonies likevvife upon them ; and if the Five Na-
tions had been able to do fo much Mifchief by them-
ieives alone, they were much more to be feared
when they would De ailifted, in all Probability!
witn the rorce and Intereft of the Emlijb Co-
lonies.

Four Indians of lefs Note, who were brought
bacK along with ciazverahei, were immediately dif-
patcned, in the Sachem's Name, to the Five Na-
ttons, to inform them of his Return, and of the
kind Ufage they had received from the Count de
trontenuc ; and to prefs them to fend fome to vifit
their old Priend, who had been fo kind to them
when he was formerly Governor of Canada, and
who itill retained an Affection to the Five Nations •
as appeared by the Kindnefs Taiverahet and they
had received from him. This was the only Me-
thod left to the French of making Propofals of
Peace, which it was their Intereft by ail Means to
procure.

The Governor of Canada, as I faid, conceived
that^ there was no Way fo proper to keep up the
Spirits of the People, who had got new Life by his
Arrival, as by putting them upon Action ; and in-
deed their preient miferable Condition made them
forward^ enough, to undertake the molt defperate
Enterprise, when the frequent Incurfions of the

Indians

( io5 )

Indians made it as dangerous to be at Home, as to
attack the Enemy abroad.

For this Purpofe he fent out three Parties in the
Winter; one was defigned againft Neiv-York, the
other againft Conned i cut, and the laft againd New-
England.

The Five Nations followed Colonel Duvgans
Advice, in endeavouring to bring off the IVeftern
Indians from the French, and had all the Succefs
that could be expected, before Mr. dc Frontenac
arrived.

They were overjoyed when they heard, that the
Englijh had entered into War with the French , and
came feveral Times to Albany to know the Certainty
of it, while it was only rumoured about. The
People of Albany defired them to fecure any of the
praying Indians that mould come from Canada, if
they found that they were ftill ruled by the Priefts ;
but to encourage them, if they came with a Defign
to return to their own Country.

The Senekas, Cayugas, Cnondagas, and Qnsydoes,
the twenty feventh of June 1689, before any Go-
vernor arrived, renewed the old Covenant (as they
(aid) which was firft made many Years ago with
one Tagues, who came with a Ship into their River.
Then we firft became Brethren, faid they, and
continued fo till laft Fall, that Sir Edmond/lndrofs
c< came and made a new Chain, by calling us
" Children ; but let us ftick to the old Chain,
" which has continued from the firft Time it was
u made, by which we became Brethren, and have
" ever fince always behaved as fuch, Virginia^
" Maryland, and New-England, have been taken
" into this filver Chain, with which our Friend-
" fhip is locked faft. We are now come to make
*c the Chain clear and bright. Flere thev gave
«c two Be vers."

F 5 King

6<
(C

( io6 )

King James, a little before his Abdication, fent

overbirEdmondAndrofs with arbitrary Powers, and

Prm \^imion of &t French, changed the Stile

or fpeaking to the Indians, of which they were

very fenfible. J

They difcovered a great Concern for their People
that were carried to Canada; they long: hoped (they
faid) that the King of England would have been
powerful enough to deliver them, but now they
began to lofe all Hopes of them.

CHAP. II.

A Treaty between the Agents of MafTachufetV Bay*
New-Plymouth, and Connecticut, and the Sa-
chems of the Five Nations, at Albany, in the
Tear 1689.

ABOUT the Beginning of September 1689,
Colonel John Pynehm, Major John Savage,
and Captain Jonathan Bull, Agents for the Colonies
of Majfachufefs Bay, New-Plymouth, and Con-
necticut, arrived at Albany, to renew the Friendship
with the Five Nations, and to engage them againft
the Eajiern Indians, who made War on the Englijb
of thofe Colonies, and were fupported by the
French,

The Five Nations had received four MefTeno-ers
from the Eajiern Indians, which gave the People of
A 'ezu- England fome Apprehenfions, and they were
therefore defirous to know what Reception thefe
Meflengers had met with.

The Five Nations anfwered by Tahajadoris, a
Mohawk Sachem, on the twenty fourth of September.
He made a long Oration, repeating all that the
Agent from New-England had faid, the Day before,
and defired them to be attentive to theAnfwernow
to be made to them. They commonly repeat over
all that has been faid to them, before they return

an/

( io7 )

any Anfwer, and one may be furprized at the Ex-
a&nefs of thefe Repetitions. They take the fol-
lowing Method to aflift their Memories : The Sa-
chem, who prefides at thefe Conferences, has a
Bundle of fmall Sticks in his Hand ; as foon as the
Speaker has jfinifhed any one Article of his Speech,
this Sachem gives a Stick to another Sachem, who
is particularly to remember that Article ; and fo
when another Article is fmifhed, he gives a Stick
to another to take Care of that other, and fo on.
In like Manner when the Speaker anfwers, each of
thefe has the particular Care of the Anfwer refolved
on to each Article, and prompts the Orator, when
his Memory fails him, in the Article committed to
his Charge. Tahajadoris addreiling himfelf to the
Agents, faid :

" Brethren,

" You are welcome to this Houfe, which is ap-
** pointed for our Treaties and publick Bufmefs
** with the ChrifHans ; we thank you for renewing
" the Covenant-chain. It is now no longer of Iron
" and fuhjecr, to Ruft, as formerly, but of pure
" Silver, and includes in it all the King's Subjects,
*4afrom the Senekas Country eaftward, as far as any
4< of the great King's Subjects live, and fouthward,
*' from New- England to Virginia, Here he gave
*' a Bever.

4C We are s;lad to hear of the 2;ood Succefs our
** great King has had over the French by Sea, in
<c taking and finking fo many of their Men of War.
" You tell us in your Propofals that we are one
*c People, let us then go Hand in Hand together,
<c to ruin and deftroy the French our common
<c Enemy. Gives a Bever.

" The Covenant-chain between us is ancient (as
* you tell us) and of long ftanding, and it has been

Y 6 " kept

( 108 )
" kept inviolably by us. When you had Wars
• Tome time ago with the Indians, you defired us
to help you ; we did it readily, and to the Pur-
pofe ; for we purfued them clofely, by which we
prevented the Effufion of much of your Blood.
This was a certain Sign that we loved truly and
fmcerely, and from our Hearts. Gives a Belt.
" You advife us to purfue - our Enemies, the
French, vigoroufly ; this we allure you we are
refolved to do to the utmoft of our Power : But
fince the French are your Enemies like wife, we
defire our Brethren of the three Colonies to fend
us an hundred Men for the Security of this Place,
J which is ill provided, in Cafe of an Attack from
the French ; the Chriftians have Victuals enough
for their Entertainment. Gives one Belt.
" We patiently bore many Injuries from the
French, from one Year to another, before we
took up the Axe againft them. Our Patience
made the Governor of Canada think, that we
were afraid of him, and durft not relent the In-
juries we pad fo long fuffered ; but now he is
undeceived. We allure you, that we are refolved
never to drop the Axe, the French never mall
fee our Faces in Peace, we mail never be recon-
ciled as long as one Frenchman is alive. We fnall
1 never make Peace, though our Nation mould be
ruined by it, and every one of us cut in Pieces.
Our Brethren of the three Colonies may depend
on this. Gives a Bever.
" As to what you told us of the Cwenagungas
" and Uragees, we anfwer : That we were never fo
" proud and haughty, as to begin a War without
" juli Provocation. You tell us that they are
" treacherous Rogues, we believe it, and that they
" will undoubtedly afiift the French, If they mail
*' do this, or Html join with any of our Enemies,

" either

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( io9 )
" either French or Indians, then we will kill and
<e deftroy them. Gives a Bever."

Then the Mohawks offered five of their Men, to
guard the Agents Home againft any of their Indian
Enemies, who they were afraid might be laying in
wait for the Agents, and gave a Belt.

Afterwards the Speaker continued his Speech,
and faid : " We have fpoke what we had to fay of
" the War, we now come to the Affairs of Peace :
" We promife to preferve the Chain inviolably,
" and wifh that the Sun may always mine in Peace
" over all our Heads that are comprehended in this
<e Chain. We give two Belts, one for the Sun,
" the other for its Beams.

We make fait the Roots of the Tree of Peace
" and Tranquillity,1 which is planted in this Place.
" Its Roots extend as far as the utmoft of your
«* Colonies ; if the French fhould come to make
" this Tree, we would feel it bythe'Motion of its
" Roots, which extend into our Country : But we
tc truil it will not be in the Governor of Canada's
" Power to make this Tree, which has been Co
" firmly and (o long planted with us. Gives two
" Bevers."

Lajlly, He defired the Magiftrates of Albany
to remember what he had faid, and gave them a
Bever.

But the Agents perceiving, that they had nofc
anfwered any Thing about the Owenagunga Mef-
fengers, and had anfwered indiftin&ly about the War
with the Eajlern Indians, defired them to explain
themfelves fully on thefe two Points, about which
the Agents were chiefly concerned.

The Five Nations anfwered :

" We cannot declare War againft the Eajiern

Indians, for they have done us no Harm : Never-

thelefs our Brethren of Nc "-England maybe af-

fured, that we will live and die in Friendmip with

64 them.

a

( "0 )

«c them. When we took up the Axe againft the
" French and their Confederates, we did it to re-
it venge the Injuries they had done us ; we did not
" make War with them at the Perfuafions of our
M Brethren here ; for we did not fo much as ac-
" quaint them with our Intention, till fourteen Days
" after our Army had begun their March."

After the Company had feparated, the Sachems
fent to the New-England Agents, defiring to fpeak
with them in private ; which being granted, the
Speaker faid, we have fomething to tell you, which
was not proper to be fpoken openly, for fome of
our People have an Affection to the Owenagungas ;
and we were afraid, that they would difcover or
hinder our Defigns.

Now we afiure our Brethren, that we are refolved
to look on your Enemies as ours, and that we will
firfr. fall on the * Oivaragees ; and then on the
Owenagungas, and laftly oat the French ; and that
you may be convinced of our Intention, we defign to
fend five of our young Men along with our Brethren
to New -England j to guard them, who have Orders
to view the Country of the Owaragees, to difcover
in what Manner it can be attacked with the moir.
Advantage. This we always do before we make
an Attempt on our Enemies. In a Word, Brethren,
your War is our War, for we will live and die
with you.

But it is to be obferved, that they confirmed
nothing relating to thefe Indians, by giving Belts.

It is probable, that the Sachems acSted with fome
Art on this Occafion, for they really had favourable
Inclinations towards the Owenagungas ; and they had
Reafon not to increafe the Number of their Enemies,
by making War on the Eajlern Indians, who avoided

* Called by the Feople of New England Tanocok
Indians >

doing

( III )

doing them any Injury. The People of Many like-
wife have always been averfe to engage our Indians
in a War with the Eajlern Indians * left it fhouid
change the Seat of the War, and bring it to their
own Doors.

On the 25th the Magistrates of Albany had a
private Conference with "the Sachems of the Five
Nations, and defired to know their Refolutions as
to the War with Canada, and the Meafures they
refolved to follow. In this Conference the Indian*
faw that the People of Albany were fo much afraid
of the French, that their Spirits were funk under
the Apprehenfions of the approaching War ; and
for thisReafon made the following Anfwer.

" We have a hundred and forty Men out-flculkino-
" about Canada ; it is impofiible for the French to
*' attempt any Thing, without being difcovered and
" harafled by thefe Parties : If the French (hall at-
•« tempt any Thing this Way, all the Five Nations
" fhall come to your Affiftance, for our Brethren
*c and we are but one, and we will live and die
" together. We have defired a hundred Men of
" our Brethren of B oft an to affift us here, becaufe
" this Place is moft expofed ; but if the Governor
w of Canada is fo ftrong, as to overcome us all
" united together, then hemuftbe ourMafter, and
*' is not to be refifted ; but we have Confidence in
" a good and juft Caufe ; for the great God of
*' Heaven knows how deceitfully the French have
" dealt with us, their Arms can have no Succefs.
*' The Great God hath fent us Signs in the Sky to
" confirm this. We have heard uncommon Noife
¥ in the Heavens, and have feen Heads fall down
" upon Earth, which we look upon as a certain
" Prefage of the Deftru&ion of the French ; Take
¥ Courage f On this they all immediately joined
f in finding and crying out, Courage ! Courage !

CHAP,

( 112 )

CHAP III.

An Account of a general Council of the Five Nations
at Onondaga, to conftder the Count De Fronte-
nacV Mejfage,

|N the 27th of December 1689, two Indians
came to Albany, being fent by the Onondaga
and Oneydo Sachems, with feven Hands of Wampum
from each Nation, to tell their Brethren in New-
York and New-England, that three of their old
Friends, who had been carried Prifoners to France,
were come with Propofals from Canada ; that there
was a Council of the Sachems appointed to meet at
Onondaga, and that they therefore defired the
Mayor of Albany, Peter Scheyler, and fome others
of their Brethren, to come thither, to be prefent
and to advife on an Affair of fo great Confequence ;
for they were refoived to do nothing without the
Knowledge and Confent of all thofe that were in-
cluded in the Chain with them.

The fame Meffenger told them, that fome Letters
were fent to the Jefuit at Oneydo ; and that they would
neither burn, nor fufFer thofe Letters to be opened,
till the Brethren mould firir. fee them.

All that the Magifrxates of Albany did on this
important Occafion, was to fend three Indians with
Infrrudions in their Name, to difTuade the Five
Nations from entertaining any Thoughts of Peace,
or yielding to a CefTation of Arms.

On the 4th of January one of the chief Mohawk
Sachems came to Albany, to tell the Magi urates,
that he was to go to Onondaga, and defired the
Brethren's Advice how to behave there ; on which
the Magistrates thought it neceflary to fend likewife
the publick Interpreter, and another Perfon to affift
at the general Meeting, with written Inftructions ;

but

( "3 )

but no Perfon of Note, that had any Influence on
the Indians, went.

When the Meffengers arrived at Oneydo, they
difcourfed privately with one of the Prifoncrs that
had returned from France, and found that he had
no Love for the French ; but it is impoffible but that
Indians, who had feen the French Court, and many
of their Troops, muft be furprifed at their Gran-
deur : he complained however of the ill Ufage he
had met with. The French chofe, on this Oc-
cafion, to fend firft to Oneydo, becauie of the Af-
fiftance they expected the Jefuit, that refided there,
would give to their Negotiation.

I believe it will not be tedious to the Reader, that
defires to know the Indian Genius, if I give a cir-
cumftantial Account of this general Council or Par-
liament of the Five Nations, that he may fee in
what Manner a People that we call Savages behave
on fuch important Occafions.

On the 2 2d of January the general Council was
opened at Onondaga, confuting of eighty Sachems ;
in the firft Place, Sadekanaghtie, an Onondaga Sa-
chem, rifing up, addrefled himfelf to the Meflenger
oi Albany, faying,

Four Meffengers are come from the Governor of
Canada, viz. three who had been carried Prifoners
to France, and a Sachem of the praying Indians that
live at Montreal.

The Governor of Canada notifies his Arrival to
us, that he is the Count de Frontcnac, who hac}
been formerly Governor there ; that he had brought
back with him Tawerahet a Cayuga Sachem, and
twelve Prifoncrs, that had been carried to France ;
then talcing the Belt of IVampum in his Hand, and
holding it by the Middle, he added, what I have
•faid relates only to one half of the Belt, the other
halt is to let us know, that he intends to kindle again
his Fire at Cadarackui next Spring, and therefore in-
vites

( U4 )

vites his Children, and Dekanafora an Onondaga
Captain in particular, to treat there with him about
the old Chain. Then Adarahta the chief Sachem
of the praying Indians flood up, and fa id, with
three Belts in his Hand, I advife you to meet the
Governor of Canada as he defires ; agree to
this, if you would live, and gives one Belt of
JVampum.

Tawerahet fends you this other Belt, to inform
you of the Miferies, that he and the reft of your
Countrymen have fuffered in their Captivity ; and
to advife you to hearken to Yonondioy if you defire
to live.

This third Belt is from * Thurenfera^ f OhgueJ/e9
and % Ertcl, who fay by it, to their Brethren ;
We have interceded for you with Yonondio, and
therefore advife you to meet him at Cadarackui
in the Spring, becaufe it will be for your Ad-

vantage.

When this Sachem had done fpeaking, the Mo-
hawk MefTenger fent from Albany delivered his
MeiTage Word for Word, as he had received it,
without omitting the leaft Article. The Inter-
preter, while the Indian was fpeaki-ng, read over a
Paper, on which the MefTage was fet down, left any
Thing fhould have been forgot.

After this Cannehoot a Seneka Sachem ftood up,
and gave the general Council a particular Account
of a Treaty made laft Summer, between the Senekas
and the JVagunha Meftengers, (one of the Uta*

* Thurenfera fignifies the Dawning of the Day, and
was the Name given by the Indians to the Jefuit Lam~
berviUe, who had formerly refided at Onondaga.

•f Monfr. U Morne, the Word fignifies a Partridge.

% Erfel fignifies a Rofe, the Name of fome other
French GenUeman, for whom the Indians had an
Efteem.

wawQ

( "5 )

zvaiva Natrons) who had concluded a Peace for
themfelves, and feven other Nations, to which the
other four Nations were defired to agree, and their
Brethren of New-York to be included in it. He
faid the Propofals made in feveral Proportions were
as follow.

i. We are come to join two Bodies into one*
Delivering up at the fame Time two Pri loners.

2. We are come to learn Wifdom of you Senekas^
and of the other Five Nations , and of your Brethren
of New-York. Giving a Belt*

3. We by this Belt wipe away the Tears from
the Eyes of your Friends, whofe Relations have
been killed in the War, and likewife the * Paint
from your Soldiers Faces. Giving another Belt*

4. We now throw afide the Ax, which Yonondh
put into our Hands, by this third Belt.

5. Let the Sun, as long as he fhall endure, al-
ways fhine upon us in Friend/hip. Here he gave a
red Marble Sun as large as a Plate.

6. Let the Rain of Heaven warn away all Hatred,
that we may again fmoke together in Peace, giving
a large Pipe of red Marble.

7. Yonmdio is drunk, but we wafh our Hands
clean from all his Actions. Giving a fourth Belt.

8. Now we are clean warned by the Water of
Heaven, neither of us muft defile ourfelves by
hearkening to Yonondio.

9. We have twelve of your Nation Prifoners,
who fhall be brought Home in the Spring \ there he
gave a Belt, to confirm the Promife.

* The Indians always paint their Faces when they
go to War, to make themfelves look more terrible
to the Enemy. A Soldier in the Indian Language
is expreifed by a Word, which fignifies a Fair fighter.

10. We

f "6 )

10. We will bring your Prifoners when the
Strawberries mall be in bloiTom *, at which Time
we intend to viilt Cortesr^ and fee the Place where
the Wampum is made. ( New-Tor k.)

The Speaker added, we will alio tell our Friends
the other Utawawa Nations, and the Dionondadies^
who have eleven of your People Prifoners, what
we have now done, and invite them to make
Peace with you.

Pie faid further, we have fent three MeiTengers
back with the IVagunhas, in order to confirm this
Peace with their Nation.

After the Seneka Speaker had done, the Wagunha
Prefents were hung up in the Houfe, in the Sight
of the whole AfTembly, and afterwards diftributed
among the feveral Nations, and their Acceptance
was a Ratification of the Treaty. A large Belt
was given alfo to the Albany Meilengers as their
Share.

The Belt of Wampum fent from Albany was in
like Manner hanged up, and afterwards divided.

New-England^ which the Indians call Kinfl>on
(that is, a Fifh) fent likewife the Model of a Fifh,
as a Token of their adhering to the general Cove-
nant. This Fifh was handed round among the
Sacbetus, and then laid afide to be put up.

After thefe Ceremonies were over, Sadekanahtie^
an Onondaga Speaker, flood up, and faid, Brethren,
we mull: flick to our Brother Quider, and look on
Tonondio as our Enemy, for he is a Cheat : By
S^ttider they meant Peter Scbiyler the Mayer of
Albany, who had gained a confiderable Efteem-
among them; as they have no Labeals in their
Language, they pronounce Peter by the Sound
finder.

* The Indian: in this Manner diftinguifh the Seafons
of the Year, as the Time of planting Corn, or when it
is ripe, when the Che (huts bloflbm, cjV.

The

( "7 )

The Meffenger fromCanada had brought Letters
and fome medicinal Powder, for the Jefuit Milet,
who refided at Oneydo. Thefe Letters and the
Powder were delivered to the Interpreter from Al-
bany to be carried thither, that the Contents of
them might be made known to the Sachems of the
feveral Nations. The Jefuit was prefent all this
while in their Council.

Then the Interpreter was defired to fpeak what
he had to fay from their Brethren at Albany. He told
them, that a new Governor was arrived, who had
brought a great many Soldiers from England. That
the King of England had declared War ao-ainft
France, and that the People of New-England were
fitting out Ships againft Canada. He advifed them,
that they mould not hearken to the French, for when
they talk of Peace, faid he, War is in their Heart,
and defired them to enter into no Treaty but at
Albany, for the French, he faid, would mind no
Agreement made any where d(c.

After this they had Confutations for fome Time
together, and then, gave the followincr Anfwer by
their Speaker. J

Brethren, our Fire burns at Albany. We will not
fend Dekanafora to Cadarackui. We adhere to our
old Chain with Cor tear; we will profecute the War
with Tonmdio, and will follow your Advice in
drawing off our Men from Cadarackui. Brethren,
we are glad to hear the News you tell us, but tell
us no Lies. .

Brother Kinjhon, we hear you defign to fend Sol-
diers to the eaftward againlr the Indians there ; but
we advife you, now lo many are united againft the
French, to fall immediately on them. Strike at the
Root, when the Trunk mall be cut down the
Branches fall of Courfe.

Corlear and Kinjfmi, Courage ! Courage ! In the
Spring to Shtebeck, take that Place, and you'll have

your

(lit)

your Feet on the Necks of the French, and all their
Friends in America,

After this they agreed to the following Anfwer
to be fent to the Governor of Canada*

i. Yonondio^ you have notified your Return to
us, and that you have brought back thirteen of our
People that were carried to France, we are glad of
it. You defire us to meet you at Cadarackni next
Spring, to treat of the old Chain ; but Yonond'w^
how can we truft you, after you have acted deceit-
fully fo often r Witnefs what was done at Cada~
rackui ; the Ufage our MefTengers met with at Ufa*
wawa> and what was done to the Senekas at Uta-
waiva. This was their Anfwer; however, they
fent a Belt with this, which always fhews a Difpo-
fition to treat.

2. Tber ban/era, OghueJJe and Ertel, do you obferve
Friendfhip with us, if you have not, how come
fou to advife us to renew Friendfhip with Yonondio^
they fent them likewife a Belt ?

3. Tawerahet, the whole Council is glad to
hear, that you are returned with the other twelve.
Tonondio, you muft fend Home Tawerahet and the
others this very Winter, before Spring, and we will
fave all the French that we have Prifoners till that
Time.

4. Yonondio, you defire to fpeak with us at Qa~
darackui : Don't you know that your Fire there is
extinguifhed ? It is extinguished with Blood, you
muft fend Home the Prifoners in the firft Place.

5. We let you know that we have made Peace
with the Wagunhas.

6. You are not to think, that we have laid down
the Axe, becaufe we return an Anfwer ; we intend
no fuch Thing : Our Far-fighters mail continue the
War till our Countrymen return.

7. When our Brother Tawerahet is returned,
then will we fpeak to you of Peace.

As

( H9 )

As foon as the Council broke up, their Refolu.
tions were made publick to all their People, by the
Sachems of their feveral Nations,

Two Sachems were fent to Albany, by their o-e-
iieral Council, to inform their Brethren there of their
Resolutions, and to bring back the Contents of the
Letters fent from Canada to the Jefuit.

As foon as they arrived, one of the Mohawks ,
that had been fent from Albany to the Council, de-
livered the JVagunha Belt, and repeated over di-
ftinaiy all the Articles agreed to with that Nation,
and referred to the Onondaga Speaker , being one of
thofe fent by the Council of Albany, to recite the
Anfwer to the Governor of Canada, He rifmg up,
repeated over the whole, as before fet downf and
added, The French are full of Deceit ; but I call
God to witnefs, we have hitherto ufed no Deceit
with them ; but how we fhall act for the future,
Time only can difcover. Then he afTured the
Brethren, that the Five Nations were refolved to
profecute the War, in Token whereof he prefented
* Sguider with a Belt, in which three Axes were
reprefented. Perhaps by this Reprefentation only
three Nations joined in fending it, the Cayugas and
Oneydoes being more under the Influence of the Jefuit
Mt let, who lived among them intirely, according
to their Manner of Life, and was adopted by the
Oneydoes, and made one of their Sachems, The
Letters from Canada to him were read ; they
contained nothing but common News and Com-
pliments.

The Mohawk MeiTengers, that had been fent
from Albany, had carried with them Goods to fell at
the general Council. This was taken Notice of at
the general Council, and gave the Indians a mean
Opinion of the People ofAlba?7y, and particularly of

* Peter Schyler, Mayor of Albany.

Peter

( 120 )

Peter Schyler ; for it is exceedingly fcandalous
among the Indians, to employ a Merchant in pub-
lick Affairs ; Merchants (I mean the Traders with
the Indians) are looked upon by them as Liars, and
People not to be trufted, and of no Credit, who by
their Thoughts being continually turned upon Profit
and Lofs, confider every Thing with that private
View. As this made a Noife at Albany, by its
giving the Jefuit an Opportunity of fetting the
Meffengers from Albany in an ill Light, Peter
Schyler cleared himfelf by Oath, of his having any
Intereft directly or indirectly in thofe Goods, and
fent a Belt back with his publick Juftification. The
Mohawk Meffengers had refufed to take the Goods,
as being fcandalous to the Bufinefs they went on ;
but were perfuaded, by being told that the Goods
belonged to ®huder.

The Magistrates of Albany advifed the Sachems,
to fend the Jefuit Prifoner to Albany, where he
might be kept fecurely, without having it in his
Power to do Mifchief, but they could not prevail.
The Indians were refolved to keep all the Means of
making Peace in their own Hands.

C H A P. IV.

The French furprife Schenectady. The Mohawks
Speech of Condolcance on that Occafion.

TBE Count De Front enac being defirous, as
before obferved, to raife the drooping Spirits
of the French in Canada, by keeping them in Adtion,
and engaging the moft daring of them, in Enter-
prizes that might give Courage to the reft, had fent
out three Parties againft the EngliJ}? Colonies, in
Hopes thereby to leffen the Confidence which the
Five Nations had in the Englifh Afliftance, now that
England had declared War againft France. The
Party fent againft New-York was commanded by

Mmfr*

( 12" )

Monfr. De HerviUe, and was ordered to attempt
the furprifing of Schenectady, the neareft. Village to
the Mohawks: It confuted of 150 French Bujh-
lopers or Indian Traders, and of as many Indians,
the moft of them French Converts from the Mo-
hawks, commonly called the Praying Indians, fettled
at a Place near Montreal, called Cahnuaga. They
were well acquainted with aW that Part of the
Country round Scheneclady ; and came in Sight of
the Place the 8th of February 1 689-90.

The People of Schenectady were at that Time in
the greateft. Security, notwithstanding that they had
Information from the Indians, of a Party of French,
and French Indians being upon their March that
Way. They did not think it practicable, in that
Seafon of the Year, while it was extremely cold,
and the whole Country covered with Snow. In-
deed Europeans will hardly think it poiiible, that
Men could make iuch a March through the Wil-
dernefs in the fevered: Frolls, without any Covering
from the Heavens, or any Proviiion, except what
they carried on their Backs.

Fho' the People of Schene^ady were informed
in the Evening before the Place was furprifed, that
feveral fculktng Indians were feen near the Place
they concluded, that they could be only fome of
the neighbouring Indian, \ and as they had no Of-
ficer of any Efteem among them, not a (ingle Man
could be perfuaded to watch in fuch fevere Wea-
ther, tho', as the French owned afterwards, if they
had found the leaft Guard or Watch, they would
not have attempted the Place, but have furrendered
themfelves Prifoners ; they were fo exceedingly
diftreiied with the Length of their March, and
with Cold, and Hunger: But finding the Place
in fatal Security, they marched into the Heart of
the Village, without being difcovered by any one
Perfon ; then they railed their War Shout, entered
Vol. I. G the

('122 )

the Houfes, murdered every Perfon they met, Men,
Women and Children, naked and in cold Blood ;
and at the fame Time fet Fire to the Houfes. A
very few efcaped, by running out naked into the
Woods in this terrible Weather : And feveral hid
themfelves, till the firft Fury of the Attack was
over ; but thefe were fbon driven from their lurk-
ing Places by the Fire, and were all made Pri-
foners.

Captain Alexander Glen, at this Time, lived at
a Diftance by himfelf, on the other Side of the
River, and was the moil noted Man in the Place.
He had at feveral Times been kind to the French,
who had been taken Prifoners by the Mohazvks,
and had faved feveral of them from the Fire. The
French were fenfible what Horror this cruel facking
of a defencelefs Place, and murdering ' People in
cold Blood, mull raife in Mens Minds ; and to
leflen this, they refolved to mew their Gratitude
to Captain Glen, They had paned his Houfe in
the Night, and obferving that he flood on his De-
fence the next Morning, fome of them went to the
River Side, and calling to him, allured him, that
they defigned him no Injury. They perfuaded him
to come to the French Officer, who reflored to
him all his Relations that were Prifoners.

Some Mohawks being alfo found in the Village,
the French difmiiled them, with AfTurance, that
they defigned them no Hurt.

This Conduct was not only neceffary to pro-
mote the Peace which the Count De Frontenac
with fo much Earneilnefs defired, but likewife to
fecure their Retreat, by making the Mohawks lefs
eager to purfue them.

The French marched back, without reaping any
vifible Advantage from this barbarous Enterprize,
befides the murdering fixty-three innocent Perfons

in

( I23 )

in cold Blood, and carrying twenty- feven of them
away Priibners.

The Care the French took to footh the Mohawks
had not intirely its Effect, for as foon as they heard
of this Action, a hundred of their readied young;
Men purfued the French, fell upon their Rear, and
killed and took twenty-five of them.

This Action frightned the Inhabitants in and
about Albany fo much, that many refolved to de-
fert the Place, and retire to New-York. They
were packing up and preparing for this Purpofe,
when the Mohawk Sachems came to Albany to con-
dole, according to their Cuftom, with their Friends,
when any Misfortune befals them. I fhall gvtl
their Speech on this Qccafion, as it v/ill be of Ufe
to the Reader, in order to his forming a true No-
tion of the Indian Genius. They fpoke the twenty-
fifth of March as follows. }

'< Brethren, the Murder of our Brethren at
" Scheneclady by the French grieves us as much,
" as if it had been done to ourfelves, for we are in
" the fame Chain ; and no doubt our Brethren of
fcC Mew-England will be likewife fadly affected with
" this cruel Aaion of the French.' The French
" on this Occafion have not acted like brave Men
44 but like Thieves and Robbers. Be not there-
" fore difcouraged. We give this Beit to wipe
" away your Tears.

" Brethren, we lament the Death of fo many
" of our Brethren, whole Blood has been fhed at
« Schencdlady. We don't think that what the
<c French have done can be called a Victory, it is
" only a farther Proof of their cruel Deceit. ' The
" Governor of Canada fends to Onondaga, and talks
<• to us of Peace with our whole Houfe, but War
" was in his Heart, as you now fee by woful Ex-
** perience. He did the fame formerly at Cada-
" rackuiy and in the Senckas Country. This is

G 2 " the

C I24 )
the third Time he has acted fo deceitfully. He
has broken open our Houfe at both Ends, for-
merly in the Sanekas Country, and now here.
We hope however to be revenged of them,
One Hundred of our braveft young Men are in
Purfuit of them, they are brifk Fellows, and
they will follow the French to their Doors. We
will befet them fo clofely, that not a Man in
Canada mall dare to ftep out of Doors to cut a
Stick of Wood j But now we gather up our
Dead to bury them, by this fecond Belt.
" Brethren, we came from our Catties with
Tears in our Eyes, to bemoan the Bloodfhed
at Schenedlady by the perfidious French. While
we bury our Dead murdered at Schenedlady, we
know not what may have befallen our own
People, that are in Purfuit of the Enemy, they
may be dead ; what has befallen you may hap-
pen to us; and therefore we come to bury our
Brethren at Schenectady with this third Belt.
" Great and fudden is 'the Mifchief, as if it had
fallen from Heaven upon us. Our Forefathers
taught us to go with all Speed to bemoan and
lament with our Brethren, when any Difafter or
Misfortunes happens to any in our Chain. Take
this Bill of Vigilance, that you may be more
watchful for the future. We give our Brethren
Eye-Water to make them (harp -lighted, giving-
a fourth Belt.

« We are now come to the Houfe where we
ufually renew the Chain ; but alas ! we find the
Houfe polluted, polluted with Blood. All the
Five Nations have heard of this, and we arc
come to wipe away the Blood, and clean the
Houfe. We come to invite Cor/ear, and every
one of you, and Raider (calling to every one of
the principal Men prefentby their Names) to be
revenged of the Enemy ^ by this fifth Belt.

6 " Bre-

l<

( W5 )

44 Brethren, be not difcouraged, we arc nrong

enough, '['his is the Beginning of your War,
44 and the whole Houfe have their Eyes fixed upon
w you at this Time, to obferve your Behaviour.
44 They wait your Motion, and are ready to join
44 in any refolute Meafures.

44 Our Chain is a ftrong Chain, it is a Sil-
44 ver Chain, it can neither ruft nor be broken.
M We, as to our Parts, are refolute to continue
* 4 the War.

44 We will never defift, fo long as a Man of us
44 remains. Take Heart, do not pack up and go
44 away, * this will give Heart to a daftardly
44 Enemy ; We are of the Race of the Bear, and a
44 Bear you "know never yields, while one Drop
44 of Blood is left. IVg tnufl all be Bears ; giving
44 a fixth Belt.

44 Brethren, be patient, this Difaftcr is an Af-
44 fli&ion which has fallen from Heaven upon
44 us. The Sun, which hath been cloudy, and
44 fent this Difafrer, will mine again with its pica-
44 fant Beams. Take Courage, faid he, Courage,
44 repeating the Word feveral Times as they gave
44 a feventh Belt."

(To the Englifli.)

Brethren, three Years ago we were engaged in
a bloody War with the Frennb, and you encou-
raged us to proceed in it. Our Succefs anfwered
our Expectation ; but we were not well begun,
when Cerlear ftopt us from going on. Had you
permitted us to go on, the French would not now
have been able to do the Mifchicf they have done,
we would have prevented their lowing, planting or
reaping.

* This was fpoke to the E?igHJ?j>, who were about
removing from Albany.

G 3 We

f 126 )

We would have humbled them effectually, but
now we die. The Obstructions you then made
now ruin us. Let us after this be fleady, and take
no fuch falfe Meafures for the future, but profecute
the War vigor omfiy. Giving a Bever Skin.

The Brethren muft keep good Watch, and if
the Enemy come again, fend more fpeedily to
tis. Don't defert Scheneclady. The Enemy will
glory in feeing it defolate. It will give them Cou-
rage that had none before, fortify the Place, it is
not well fortified new : The Stcckadces are too
fhort, the Indians can jump over them. Gave a
Bever Skin.

Brethren, The Mifchief done at SchtneJfady can-
not be helped now ; but for the future, when the
Enemy appears any where, -let nothing hinder your
lending to us by ExprefTes, and fire great Guns,
that all may be alarmed. We advife you to bring
all the River Indians under your Subjection to live
near Albany, to be ready on all Occafions.

Send to New-England, tell them what has hap-
pened to you. They will undoubtedly awake and
lend us their helping Hand. It is their Interelt,
as much as ours, to pufh the War to a fpeedy
Conclufion. Be not difcouraged, the French are
not fo numerous as fome People talk. If we but
heartily unite to pufh on the War, and mind our
Bufinefs, the French will foon he fubdued.

The Magistrates having returned an Anfwer on
the twenty-feventh, to the Satisfaction of the In-
dians, they repeated it ail over, Word by Word,
to let the Magistrates fee how carefully they minded
it, and then added.

Brethren, we are glad to find you are not dif-
courao-ed. ' The bell: and wifeft Men fometimes
make Miflakes. Let us now purfue the War vi-
gorously. We have a hundred Men out, they are
good Scouts. We expect to meet all the Sachems

of

( 127 )
of the other Nations, as they come to condole with
you. You need not fear our being ready, at the
ftrft Notice. Our Ax is always in our Hands, but
take Care that you be timely ready. Your Ships,
that muft do the principal Work, are long a fitting
out. We do not defign to go out with a fmall
Company, or in fculking Parties ; but as foon as
the Nations can meet, we mail be ready with our
whole Force. If you would bring this War to a
happy IfTue, you muft begin foon, before the French
can recover the LofTes they have received from us,
and get new Vigour and Life, therefore fend in all
Hafte to New-England, Neither you nor we can
continue long in the Condition we are now in, we
muft order Matters fo, that the French be kept in
continual Fear and Alarm at Home ; for this is
the only Way to be fecure, and in Peace here.

The Scahkok Indians, in our Opinion, are well
placed where they are (to the Northwaru of JI-
bany) ; they are a good Out-guard ; they are cur
Children, and we {hall take Care that they do
their Duty : But you muft take Care of the Indians
below the Town, place them nearer the Town,
fo as they may be of more Service to you.

Here wTe fee the Mohawks acting like hearty
Friends, and if the Value of the Belts given at that
Time be confidered, together with what they faid
on that Occafion, they gave the ftrongeft Proofs of
their Sincerity. Each of thefe Belts amount to a
large Sum in the Indian Account.

The Englijh of New-York and the French of
Canada were now entering into a War, in which
the Part the Five Nations are to take is of the
greateft Confequence to both ; the very Being of
the French Colony depended on it, as well as the
Safety of the Englijh. The Indians at this Time
had the greateft Averfion to the French, and they
defired nothing fo much, as that the Englijh might

G 4 join

C 128 )

join heartily in this War. Wo fhall fee by the
Sequel how a publick Spirit, directed by wife
Counfels, can overcome all Difficulties, while a
felfifh Spirit lofes all, even natural Advantages. In
the prefent Cafe, the Turn Things took feems to
have been entirely owing to one Thing;. The French
in making the Count de Frontenac Governor of
Canada-, chofe the Man every Way the beft qua-
lified for this Service : The Englljh feemed to have
little Regard to the Qualification of the Perfon they
ferit, but to gratify a Relation or a Friend,, by giv-
ing him an Opportunity to make a Fortune ; and
as he knew that he was recommended with this
Yriew, his Counfels were chiefly employed for this
Purpofe.

By this Means an Englifo Governor generally
wants the Elteem of the People ; while they think
that a Governor has not the Good of the People
in View, "but his own, they on all Occafions are
jealous of him ; fo that even a good Governor,
with more Difficulty, purfues generous Purpofes
and publick Benefits, becaufe the People fufpect
them to be mere Pretences to cover a private De-
fign. It is for this Reafon, that any Man, op-
pofin°- a Governor, is fure to meet with the Fa-
vour of the People, almolt. in every Cafe. On the
other Hand, the Opinion the French had of the
Count de F"ro?itcnac\ publick Spirit, and of his
Wifdom and Diligence, made them enter into all
his Meafures without hefitating, and chearfuliy
obey all his Commands.

CHAP.

( I29 )
CHAP. V.

The Five Nations continue the War ivitb the
French; the Mohawks incline to Peace ; their
Conferences with the Governor of New- York.

TH E Governor of Canada received Hopes that
the Five Nations inclined to Peace, by their
returning an Arifwer to Therawaet's Meflage, and
thought he might now venture to fend fome French
to^ them with further Propofals. The Chevalier
D'O, with an Interpreter called Collin, and Tome
others, went ; but they had a much warmer Re-
ception than they expected, being forced to run the
Gauntlet through a long Lane of Indians, as they
entered their Cattle, and were afterwards delivered
up Pnfoners to the Englijh.

The Five Nations kept out at this Time fmall
Parties, that continually harafled the French. The
Count de FronUnac fent Captain Lonvigni to Mif-

ftlimahnai, to relieve the Garifon, and he hid
Orders, by all Means, to prevent the Peace which
the Utawawas and §>uatoghies were upon the Point
of concluding with the Five Nations. He carried
with him one hundred forty three French, and fix
Indians, and was likewife accompanied with a Lieu-
tenant and thirty Men, till he got one hundred

•twenty Miles from Montreal. They were met in
Cadarackm River, at a Place called the Cats, by a
J arty of the Five Nations, who fell vi^oroufly on
their Canoes, killed feveral of the French, and
made them give Way; but Lonvigni, by putting
his Men afhore, at laft got the better, after a fmart
Engagement, in which the Indians had feveral
Men killed, and two Men, and as many Women,
taken Pnfoners. I am obliged to rely on the French
Account of thefe Skirmifhes ; they do not men-

G 5 tion

( 130 )
tion the Number of the Indians in this Recounter,
but I fufpedfc them to have been much fewer than
the French ; for when the Enemy are equal in
Number, or greater, they feldom forget to tell it.
One of the Indian Prifonerswas carried by them to
MiJJilimakinak, to confirm this Victory, and was
delivered to the Utawawas, who eat him. The
Lieutenant carried the other back with him. He
was given to Therawaet.

To revenge this Lofs, the Five Nations fent a
Party againft the IJland of Montreal, who fell on
that Part called the Trembling Point ; and though
they were difcovered before they gave their Blow,
they attacked a Party of regular Troops, and kil-
led the commanding Officer, and twelve of his
Men ; Another Party carried off fifteen or fixteen
Prifoners from Riviere Puante, over-againfr. Trois
Rivieres. This Party was purfued, and finding
that they were like to be over-powered, murdered
their Prifoners and made their Efcape. Thefe In-
curfions kept all the River, from Montreal to <%'<?-
beck, in continual Alarm, and obliged the Gover-
nor to fend all the Soldiers to guard the South Side
of the River. Nothwithftanding this, five Perfons
were carried away in Sight of Sorel Fort, by a
fmall fculking Party, but they were foon afterwards
recovered by the Soldiers. About the fame Time
another Party burnt the Plantations at St. Ours.

The Five Nations had conceived great Hopes
from the Affiftance of the Englijk, as the Magif-
trates of Albany had promifed the Mohawks, when
they came to condole, after the furprifing of Scbe-
neStady ; but; the Englijh were (o far from perform-
ing thefe Promifes, that many of the Inhabitants
retired from Albany to New-York ; and they who
had the Adminiftration of Affairs, were fo intent
on their Party- Quarrels, that they intirely neglected
the Indian Affairs. Indeed the People of New-

Yorky

( 13' )

York have too often made larg-e Promifes, and have
thereby put the Indians upon bold Enterprizes, when
no Meafures were concerted for fupporting them.
This made the Indians think, that the Englijh were
lavifh of Indian Lives, and too careful of their own.
The Mohawks, who lived neareft the Englijh,
were moft fenfible of thefe Things, and entertained
Notions prejudicial to the Opinion they ought to
have had of the Englijh Prudence and Conduct ;
it is even probable, thefe Indians began to entertain
a mean Opinion of both the Englijh Courage and
Integrity. It is not ftrangethen, that the Mohawks
at laft gave Ear to the aiTiduous Application of their
Countrymen, the praying Indians, who, with French
Arguments, perfuaded them to make Peace as
foon as poffible, without trufVmg longer to the
Englijh, who had fo often difappointtd or de-
ceived them.

The Alohazvks fent one of their Sachems, Odiga-
csgc, to the praying Indians, who introduced him to
the Count de Frcntenac. The Count made him
welcome, and told him, that he was fony for the
Injuries his PredeceiTors had done them ; but that
he would treat them like Friends, if their future
Conduct did not prevent him, and gave him a Belt,
with Propcfals of Peace to his Nation.

Colonel Slaughter, who was then Governor of
New-York, being informed that the Five Nations
were like to make Peace with the French, by their
having loft much of their Confidence in the Englijh
AfUftance, found it neceflary to meet them, which
he did in the End of May 1691. There were
prefent at that Time fix Oneydo, eleven Onondaga,
four Cayuga, and ten Seneka Sachems. He renewed
the Covenant with them, and gave them Prefents.
The Mohavjks having entered into a Treaty with
the French, did not join with the other four Na-
tions in their ^.nfwer.

G 6 On

( >3* )

On the fecond of June the Speaker, in Name of
the other four Nations, told him, they were glad to
fee a Governor again in this Place ; that they had
Jearned from their Anceftors, that the firft Ship
which arrived in this Country furprized them ex-
ceedingly ; that they were curious to know what
was in its huge Belly. They found Chriftians in it,
and among them one Jacques, with whom they
made a Chain of Friendship, which has been pre-
ferved to this Day. By that Chain it was agreed,
that whatever Injury was done to the one, mould
be deemed, by both Sides, as likewife done to the
other. Then they mentioned the Confufion that
had lately been in the Government of New-York ,
which had like to have confounded all their ArTairs,
but hoped all would be reduced to their wonted
Order and Quiet. They complained of feveral of
the Brethren leaving Albany in Time of Danger,
and praifed thofe by Name who ftaid, and then
faid: Our Tree of Peace, which grows in this Place,
has of late' been much ihaken, we muft now fecure
and fallen its Roots ; we muft frequently manure
and drefs it, that its Roots may fpread far.

They allured the Governor, that they were re-
iblved to profecute the War againft the French as
long as they lived, and that they would never fpeak
of Peace, but with the common Confent. Thev
abhor thofe that do otherwife, and deiired that the
Brethren might not keep a Correfpondence with
Canada by Letters. You need not (fay they) prefs
us to mind the War, we mind it above all Things ;
do you but your Parts, lay afide all other Thoughts
but that of the War, for it is the only Thing we
have at Heart. They gave Bevers at the End of
every diitino t Part of their Anfwer.

On the fourth the Mobaivks fpoke to the Go-
vernor, in Prefence of the other four Nations :
They <:onfe Med the Negotiations they had with the

praying

( 133 ).

praying Indians ', and with the Governor of Canada,
and that they had received a Belt from him. Then
they reftored one of the Prifoners taken at Sche-
tieftady, as the Fruit of that Negotiation. They
defired the Governor's Advice, and the Advice of
the whole Houfe, what Anfwer to return to the
Governor of Canada ; and laftly, defired the Senckas
to releafe the Prifoners they had taken from the
praying Indians.

Colonel Slaughter check'd the Mohaivks for en-
tering into a feparate Treaty with the Enemy, and
fa i d he could admit of no Propofals of Peace. He
told them, that the Prifoners taken from the praying
Indians muft not be reftored, putting them in
mind, that fome of them having been formerly
releafed, foon after returned and murdered feveral
People, and burnt feveral Houfes.

He aiTured them of his Affiftance, and then
added, You muft keep the Enemy in perpetual
Alarm. The Alohawks thanked him for his Af-
furance of Aftiftance ; but took Notice of his faying,
Ton muft keep the Enemy in perpetual Alarm.
Why don't you fay, they replied, We will keep the
Enemy in perpetual Alarm. In the laft Place, the
Mohawks renewed their League with all the Englijh
Colonies; adding, Though an angry Dog has en-
deavoured to bite the Chain in Pieces, we are re-
'folved to keep it firm, both in Peace and in War :
We now renew the old Chain, that fo the Tree of
Peace and Profperity may flourifh, and fpread its
Roots through all the Countrv.

In the laft Place, the four Nations anfwered the
Mobaivks.

" Mohawks, our Brethren, in anfwer to your
ct Propofals from the Governor of Canada, we muft
" put you in Mind of his Deceit and Treachery;
" we need only give one recent Inftance, how he
" lately fent to the Senekas to treat of Peace, and

" at

. ( 134 )

cc at the fame Time fell upon Schenectady, and cut
" that Place off. We tell you, that the Belt feat
cc by the French Governor is Poifon ; we fpew it
c£ out of our Mouths, we abfolutely reject it, and
fl are refolved to profecute the War as long as
" we live." Then they left the Belt lying on

the Ground.

CHAP. VI.

The Englifh attack Montreal by Land, in Con-
junclion with the Indians, and Qu.ebeck by Sea.

T was now evident that the Indians could no
longer be amufed with Words, and that, unlefs
the Englijb entered foon upon Action, the French
would carry their Defign of making Peace with the
Five Nations, and the Engiifb be left to carry on the
War in America by themfeives. Certainly a more
proper Opportunity of doing it with Succefs could
not be expecled, than at prefent, while the French
in Canada had neither recoveied their Spirits, nor
the Strength they had !oft5 by the terrible Incurfions
of the Five Nations, A joint Invaiion on Canada
was concerted with New- England; they were to
attack ^hiebeck by Sea, while Neiv-York attacked
Montreal by Land. The Governor therefore pro-
pofed to the Fadians to join with him in attacking
Canada, for which Purpofe he told them, that he
defigned to (end a confiderable Force this Summer.
They defired Time to confult on it at their general
Meeting, which was foon to be held at Onondaga,
and to know what Number of Chriftians he dehgned
to fend, that they might join a fuicable Number of
their Men. To this the Governor anfwered, that
he muft not communicate the Particulars of his
Defign to fo many, becaufe they could not then be
kept fecret from the Enemy ; as he found by the

Difcoveries

( H5 )

Difcoveries that were lafr. Year made to the French
by that Means.

It was at laft agreed, that the Mohawks mould
join with the Chriftians that were to march from
Nevj-Tork directly againft Montreal, and that the
other four Nations mould fend a confiderable Party
down Cadarackai Lake, and join them before
Montreal.

Major Peter Schuyler, the fame whom the Indians
call ^uider, commanded the Party fent from New-*
York, which confuted of three hundred Men, one
half Chriftians, the other Mobaivks and Scahkook
Indians. He fet out from Albany about Midfummer.
As he was preparing his Canoes to pafs Corlearys
Lake, he was difcovered by the French Indians,
who immediately returned to Montreal, to give
Information of what they had ieen. The Chevalier
Clermont was fent out to make further Difcoveries :
He found the Englijh above Chamblie, and went
immediately back with the Intelligence he there
gained. In the mean while Mr. de Callieres, Go-
vernor of Montreal, did all in his Power to give
Major Schuyler a proper Reception, by drawing the
Militia and regular Troops together for the Defence
of the Place. There happened to be a very con-
fiderable Number ofUtawazvas trading at that Time
at Montreal : Mr. de Colliere, in Order to engage

to to

them to join him, made a great Feaft for them,
went among them, and, after the Indian Manner,
began the War Song, leading up the Dance with his
Axe in his Hand, and fhouting and hollowing in
the fame wild Manner the Indians do. This done,
he carried his whole Force, which confuted of
twelve hundred Men, crofs the River, and en-
camped on the fouth Side, at la Prairie de la Mag-
deleine, together with a great Number of Utawawas,
the praying Indians, and other French Indians. The
famous Therawaet being now entirely gained by the

Ca~

( '36 J

CarefFes of the Count de Frontenac, made one of the
Number. They encamped round the Fort, which
ftood on a fteep riling Ground between two
Meadows.

Major Schuyler having left forty of his Men to
guard his Canoes, which had carried him crofs the
Lake, marched on without flopping. He got into
a Hollow, which led into the Meadow, without
being difcovered ; and marching under that Cover,
he fell fuddenly upon the Militia, who were foon
put into Confufion, and many of them, and of the
Uiawa zuas, who were pofted with them, were killed.
He purfued them as they fled to the Fort, which
he attacked brifkly, but wras obliged to leave it,
by the Approach of the regular Troops who came
to relieve it. He received them however bravely,
and, after they had loft fevcral Officers and many
Men, they retired. Major Schuyler finding the
Number of the Enemy much greater than was ex-
pected, and being informed that a confiderabJe
Party of the Enemy had marched fouthward, he
began to apprehend, that this Party was lent to cut
off his Retreat, by deftroving his Canoes. It was
refolved therefore immediately to follow this Party ;
he overtook them, and they covering themfelves
behind fome large fallen Trees, he attacked them,
and made his Way through them, but with con-
fiderable Lofs.

In this Attack the Mohawks fignalized them-
felves, but the Scahkook Indians did not behave
themfelves well. The Alobatvks, upon no Oc-
cafion, yielded an Inch of Ground, till the Englijh
firft gave Way. The French, by their own Ac-
counts., loft, in the feveral Attacks made by Schuyler^
two Captains, fix Lieutenants, and five Enfigns,
and, in all, three hundred Men, fo that their Slain
were in Number more than Major Schuyler had with
him. The Mohawks fuffered much, having feven-

teen

( Ul )

teen Men killed, and eleven wounded. They re-
turned to Albany the eleventh of Auguft*

After the Englijh under Major Schuyler had re-
tired, an Owenagunga Indian came from Neiv-
England, with an Account of the Preparations made
there againft Canada, and that they had actually
Tailed.

This Fleet, which was commanded by Sir William
Phips, was discovered in St. Laurence Bay, while
the Count de Front cnac remained at Montreal ; and
thereupon he made all poflible Hade to ^uebeck^
and carried three hundred Men with him.

The Fleet, which confided of thirty Sail, did not
reach ^uebeck till the feventh of Oclolcr. Sir Wil-
liam fpent three Days in nothing but Confutation,
while the French made all poffible Preparation for
a Defence, and, by this Means, fuffered them to
get over the Fright and Confternation, into which
the firft Appearance of the Fleet had thrown them j
for the Place was not in any Pofture of Defence.
It gave them Time likewife to draw all the Country
round them into the Town : And on the fourth Day
Sir William fummoned the Count to furrender, who
returned him fuch anAnfwer as his Conduct de-
fended.

The Englifi landed four Miles below the Town,
and had thick Woods to march through, before
they could come at it, in which Ambufcades of
French and Indians were made at proper Diftances,
by whom the Englijh were repulfed with confiderable
Lofs. They attempted the Wood again the next
Day with no better Succefs.

The French, in their Account of this Action, fay,
that the Men, though they appeared to be as little
difciplined as Men could be, behaved with great
Bravery, but that Sir William's Conduct was fuch,
that, if he had been in Concert with them, he

could

( i3§ )

could not have done more to ruin the Enterprizc j
yet his Fidelity was never fufpec~led. In fhort, this
Defcent was fo ill , managed, that the Englijh
got on Board again in the Night, with the Lofs
of all the Cannon and Baggage which they had
landed.

The French thought themfelves in fuch great
Danger at that Time, that they attributed their
Deliverance to the mod immediate Protection of
Heaven, in confounding the Devices of their
Enemy, and by depriving them of common Senfe ;
and for this Reafon the People of Quebec]? make an
annual Proceffion, in Commemoration of this De-
liverance.

Sir William cannonaded the Town for fome Time
with little Execution, and then returned in Hafte,
Winter approaching; indeed that Scafon was already
fo far advanced, that he loft eight VefTels in his
Return.

The Five Nations continued their Incurfions all
along St. Laurence River , from Montreal to Quebeck,
and carried away many Scalps. At one Time a
French Officer, with thirty-eight Men, furprifed
fome of the Five Nations in a Cabin, which they
had built near Lake St. Pierre. Some of them efcaped
and informed two other Cabins, which the French
had not difcovered, and they returned with their
Companions, and killed the Captain and Lieutenant,
and one half of the Men.

Notwithftanding that the French preferved their
Country, thefe warlike Expeditions, and the Ne-
ceility they were under of being on their Guard,
prevented their cultivating the Ground, or of reap-
ing the Fruit of what they had fowed or planted.
This occafioned a Famine in Canada, and, to in-
creafe the Mifery ot the poor Inhabitants, they were
forced to feed the Soldiers gratis, while their own
Children wanted Bread.

In

( 139 )

In October the Onondagas, Cayugas, and Oneydoes
came to Albany, to condole with the Engl 'ijb, for the
Men loft in the Expedition againft Montreal, as
they had already done with the Mohawks. They
faid it was ever their Cuftom to condole with their
Friends when they loft any Number of Men in
Battle, though they had the Victory. They at the
fame Time, as they had often done before, com-
plained of the Dearnefs of Powder : Why, fay
they, do you call us your King's Soldiers, when
you will not fell us Powder at the ufual and reafon-
able Rates ?

And inanfwerto a Complaint, of their not being
a fufficient Number of Englijb fent againft Montreal^
the People of Albany upbraided them with a Breach
of Promife, in not fending that Party down Cada-
rackui River which they promifed, which they faid
was the chief Reafon of the Want of Succefs in
that Expedition.

CHAP. VII.

The French and the Five Nations continue the War
all Winter with various Succefs. The French
burn a Captain of the Five Nations alive,

THE old French Governor kept up his Vigour
and Spirits wonderfully, no Fatigue made
him ever think of Reft. He knew of what Ufe it
would be to convince the Five Nations, that the
joint Attack of the Englifi and Indians had neither
weakened him, nor frightened him from carrying
on the War with as much Vigour as before. It was
abfolutely neceftary that the Utawazuas and other
Wejiern Indians, who came to Montreal to trade,
mould return fare to their own Country, otherwife
there would be an End to the French Trsde with
thofe Nations, upon which the Being of Canada
depends ; for it is only by the Fur-trade with thefe

Na-

f HO )
Nations, that they make Returns to Europe ; and
if thefe Nations did not return in Time, all the.
W,ejlern Indians would look on the Fnncb as loir,
and confequently would make Peace with the Fivje
Nations, and perhaps join in the Destruction of
Canada.

Captain la For eft, with one hundred and ten
Men, was lent to conduct the Utawaivas Home ;
he carried with him confiderable Prefents Tent by
the King of France, to confirm thefe Nations in
the French Intereft.

Two Indian Prifoners, taken at la Prairie, were
given to the Utawawds, and carried with them, to
confirm the Stories they were to tell of their Suc-
cefies again!! the Englijh and Five Nations. Thefe
poor Men were there burnt alive ; and if I mould.
add, that it was done by the French Inftigation,
what I mall relate by and by will clear me of the
Want of Charity. I believe it was fo, in order to.
rivet the Hatred between thefe People and the Five
Nations.

The Five Nations continued their Incurfions all
Winter on Canada. Forty of the Mohaivks fell up-
on Fort Vercheres, and carried off twenty of the
Inhabitants ; but the Alarm reaching Montreal,
Mr. de Crizaei, with one hundred Men of the re-
gular Troops, was fent in Purfuit of them, who
recovered molt of the Prifoners.

The Count de Frontenac being informed, that a
confiderable Party of the Five Nations hunted Be-
ver on the Neck of Land between Cadarackui Lake
and Lake Erie, with great Security, refolved to give
them a better Opinion of the Strength and Courage
of the French. For this Purpofe he fen-: three
hundred and twelve Men to furprife them, under
the Command of Mr. Beaucour, a young Gentle-
man. The Praying Indians of Montreal were of
the Party. This Expedition being in the Winter,

they

( i4r )
they were obliged to undergo cruel Fatigues, while
they marched on the Snow with Snow Shoes, and
carried all their Provifion on their Backs. Several
of the French had their Feet frozen, which oblio-ed
fifteen to return, with fome old Indians, that could
not bear the Fatigue ; and it was with much Dif-
ficulty that Beaucour could perfuade the reft to con-
tinue their March. After a March to a furprizino;
Diftance, at .that Seafon of the Year, they furprifed
eighty of the Five Nations, who notwithftandino-
made a brave Defence, and did not run before they
left mod: of their Men dead on the Spot. Three
Women were made Prifoners, with whom the
French immediately turned back to Montreal. Some
ftragling Parties went towards Albany, but did no
more Mifchief than killing two or three ftraelin^
Perfons, and alarming the Country.

The Trade to Miflilimakinak being {till intircly
ftopt, by the Parties of the Five Nations inveitino-
Cadarackui River, by which, and Cadarackui Lak7,
the Paflage in Canoes is made to the Ifc/lcm In-
dians, Captain la None, with a Command of the
regular Troops, was ordered* earlv in the Spring
to guard the Traders through that Paflage ; but
when he reached the Falls ck Calumet tc, ^he dis-
covered the Enemy, and returned fafter than he
went.

La None had Orders a fecond Time to attempt
this PafTage, and went as tar as the River du Lievre
(thirty Leagues from Montreal) without any Ob-
ftruction ; but there difcovering feveral Canoes of
the Five Nation*, he went back as fall: as before.

The Zhiatoghies and the Bullheads * having in-
formed the French of another fmaller River, which
falls into Cadarackui River, and runs to the North-
ward of it, by which a Pallage might be made to

* The Bullheads are faid to be cowardly People.

the

( MP )

the Lakes, it was refolved to attempt this Paflage,
though it were much farther round, and more dan-
gerous, there being many more rapid Falls in that
River. Three Officers, with thirty Soldiers, were
fent with the Traders for this Purpofe, but a Party
of the Five Nations meeting with them in the long
Fall, before they reached this River, they were all
killed or taken, except four that efcaped back to
Montreal.

A confiderable Party of the Five Nations, under
the Command of Blackkettle, a famous Hero, con-
tinued a long Time on Cadarackui River, in Hopes
of meeting with other French Parties, in their Paf-
fage towards Mijjiiimakinak ; but finding that no
Attempts were made that Way, he refolved to
make an Irruption into the Country round Montreal.
The French fay he had fix hundred Men with him;
but they ufually increafe the Number of their Ene-
mies, in the Relation they give of thefe Tranfac-
tlons, either to excufe their Fears, or to increafe
their Glory.

Blackkcttle overun the Country (to ufe the French
Expreffion) as a Torrent does the Low-lands,
when it overflows its Banks, and there is no with-
Handing it. The Soldiers had Orders to ftand
upon the Defenfive within their Forts. Mr. de
VaudreuiX purfued this Party (after they had burnt
and ravaged the whole Country) at the Head of
four hundred Men ; he overtook them and fur*
prifed them. The Five Nations fought defperately,
though the fame Author, at this Place, makes
them no more than two hundred Men. After they
had loft twenty Men on the Spot, they broke
through the French, and marched off. The French
loft four Officers and many common Soldiers, and
they took five Men, nine Women, and five Chil-
dren Piifoners.

The

( H3 )

The Five Nations in a few Days had however
fome Revenge ; a Captain having had Orders to
guard the VciTels from Montreal to ^ueheck, a Party
of the Five Nations attacked him in his Return,
as he paiTed through the Iflands in Lake St. Pierre.
He himfelf was killed, and the whole Party intirely
routed.

The French all this Summer were obliged to keep
upon the Defenfive within their Forts, while the
Five Nations, in fmall Parties, ravaged the whole
Country, fo that no Man ftirred the leaft Diftance
from a Fort, but he was in Danger of lofino- his
Scalp.

The Count de Fronienac was pierced to the Heart,
when he found that he could not revenge thefe ter-
rible Incurfions of the Five Nations ; and his An-
guifh made him guilty of fuch a Piece of monflrous
Cruelty, in burning a Prifoner alive after the Indian
Manner, as though I have frequently mentioned
to have been done by the Indians, yet I forbore
giving the Particulars of fuch barbarous Acls, fuf-
pe&ing it might be too offenfive to Chriftian Ears,
even in the Hiftory of Savages. Here however I
think it ufeful to give a circumftantial Account of
this horrid Act, to fhew on one Hand, what Courage
and Refolution, Virtue, the Love of Glory, and
the Love of one's Country can inftil into Men's
Minds, even where the Knowledge of true Reli-
gion is wanting ; and on the other Hand, how far
a falfe Policy, under a corrupt Religion, can debafe
even great Minds.

The Count de Fronienac, I fay, condemned two
Prifoners of the Five Nations to be burnt publickly
alive. The Intendant's Lady intreated him to
moderate the Sentence, and the Jefuits, it is faid,
ufed their Endeavours for the fame Purpofe. But
the Count de Frontenac faid, there is a Neceiuty of
making fuch an an Example, to frighten the Five Na-
tions

( 144 )
tions from approaching the Plantations, fihce the In-
dulgence, that had hitherto been fliewn, had in-
couraged them to advance with the greateft Bold-
nefs to the very Gates of their Towns; while they
thought they run no other Rifque, but of being made
Prifoners, where they live better than at Home.
He added, that the Five Nations having burnt i'o
many French, juftified this Method of making Re-
prifals. But with Submiffion to the Politenefs of
the French Nation, may I not afk, whether every
(or any) horrid Action of a barbarous Enemy, can
juftify a civilized Nation in doing the like r

When the Governor could no? be moved, the Je-
fiiits went to the Prifon, to inftruct the Prifoners in
the Myfteries of our Holy Religion, viz. of the
Trinity, the Incarnation of our Saviour, the Joys
of Paradife, and the Punifhments of Hell, to fit
their Souls for Heaven by Baptifm, while their Bo-
dies were condemned to Torments. But the In-
dians, after they had heard their Sentence, refufed
to hear the Jefuits fpeak, and began to prepare for
Death in their own Country Manner, by tinging
their Death Song.

Some charitable Perfon threw a Knife into the
Prifon, with which one of them difpatched himiclf:
The other was carried out to the Place of Execu-
tion by the Chriftian Indians of Loretto, to which
he walked, feemingly, with as much Indifference
as ever Martyr did to the Stake. While they
were torturing him, he continued linging, that he
was a Warrior brave and without Fear ; that the
moft cruel Death could not make his Courage; that
the moft cruel Torment mould not draw an inde-
cent Expreffion from him ; that his Comrade was t:
Coward, a Scandal to the Five Nations, who had
killed himfelf for fear of Pain ; that he had the
Comfort to reflect, that he had made many French-
men fuffcr as he did now. He fully verified his

Words,

( H5 )
Words, for the moft violent Torment could not
force the leafl Complaint from him, though his
Executioners tried their utmoft Skill to do it. They
firft broiled his Feet between two red hot Stones *
then tl ey put his Fingers into red hot Pipes, and
though he had his Arms at Liberty, he would not
pull his Fingers cut ; they cut his Joints, and ta-
king hold of the Sinews, twifted them round fmall
Bars of Iron. All this while he kept fmging and
recounting his own brave Actions againfrthe French.
At laft they flead his Scalp from his Skull, and
poured fcalding hot Sand upon it; at which Time
the Intendant's Lady obtained Leave of the Go-
vernor to have the Coup-de-grace given, and I be-
lieve flie thereby likewife obtained a Favour to
every Reader, in delivering him from a further
Continuance of this Account of French Cruelty.

Notwithstanding this Qruelty, which the French
Governor manfefted towards the Five Nations, and
thereby his Hatred of them, he found Peace' with
them i'o neceffary to Canada, that he ftill purfued it
by all the Means in his Power. For this Purpofe
the Praying Indians (who, as I obferved before, are
Mohawks, and have always kept a Correfpondence
with their own Nation) were employed to bririg it
about, and to endeavour a Ceffation of Arms, that
the Governor might have an Opportunity of mew-
ing what kind Things he had in his Heart towards
the Five Nations, but without Succefs,

CHAP. VIII.
The Five Nations treat with Captain Ingoldfbr.

^HE Governor of New-York, Colonel Slaugh-

-&• ter\ Death, foon after his Arrival, was very

prejudicial to the Affairs of New-York-, for Captain

Ingoldjby, who had no other Commiflion but that of

Captain of one of the independent Companies of

Vol, I, H Foot,

( i46 )
Foot, took upon himfelf the Government of the
Province, without any Authority ; and he having
likewife highly offended a great Number of the
People, by the Share he took in the late Party
Quarrels, it was not eafy for him to profecute any
vigorous Meafures. He was reckoned to be much
more a Soldier than a Statefman.

Captain Ingoldjby met the Five Nations at Alba-
ny, the fixth oijune 1692. In his Speech he told
them of his vigorous Refolutions to profecute the
War, and then blamed them for not fending (ac-
cording to their Promife) a Party down Cadarackui
River, to join them that went from Albany againft
Montreal, and for their Carelefsnefs infuffering them-
felves to be furprifed laft Winter in their Hunting.
He defired them to keep the Enemy in perpetual
Alarm, by the Incurfion of their Parties into the
Enemies Country, and to give him timely Notice
of all their Motions. He told them in the next Place,
that he heard the French were (till ufing their wont-
ed Artifice, of amufing them with Offers of Peace ;
but the former Proceedings of the French fufficiently
demonstrates, fays he to the Brethren, that while
Peace is in their Mouth, War is in their Hearts,
and the late horrid Murder of the Brethren, after
Quarter given, fufficiently (hews the Perfidy and
Rancour of their Hearts. It is in vain, faid he,
to think of any Ceflation of Arms, much lefs of a
Peace, while the two Kings are at War at Home.
He added, Virginia is ready to afiift us, and only
waits the King's Orders, which are daily expe&ed,
and then renewed the Chain for Virginia. In the
laft Place he told them, that he heard the Dionon-
daclas had fent two Prifoners Home, with a View
thereby to procure Peace ; and advifed them by all
Means to make Peace with that Nation.

The Five Nations anfwcred by Cheda, an Oney-

do Sachem ;

" Brother

( 147 )

" Brother Corlear,

The Sachems of the Five Nations have with great
Attention heard Corlear fpeak j we fhall make a
fhort Recital, to mew you with what Care we have
hearkened. After the Recital he continued.

We heartily thank Corlear, for his comma- to
this Place to view the Strength thereof, for his
bringing Forces with him, and for his Refolution
of putting Garifons into the Frontier Places. Giv-
ing five Bevers and a Belt.

Brother Corlear, as to what you blame us for,
let us not reproach one another, fuch Words do
not favour well among Friends. They gave no-
thing with this Article.

Brother Corlear, be patient under the Lofs of
your Men, as we are of the Mohawks our Brethren
that were killed at the fame Time. You take no
Notice of the great Loffes we have fuffered. We
defigned to have come to this Place to have con-
doled with you in your Lofs, but the War took up
all our Time, and employed all Hands. They
gave five Beyers, four Otters, and one Belt, as a
Gift of Condolence.

Brother Corlear, we are all Subjects of one s;reat
King and Queen, we have one Head, one Heart,
one Intereft, and are alj ingaged in the fame War.
You tell us, that we muft expect no Peace while
the Kings are at War on the other Side the great
Water. We thank you for being fo plain with us.
We allure you we have no Thoughts of Peace.
We are refolved to carry qn the War, though we
know we only are in Danger of being Lofers. Pray
do you profecute the War with the fame Refolu-
tion. You are ftrong and have many People. You
have a great King, who is able to hold out long.
We are but a fmall People, and decline daily, by
the Men we lole in this War, we do our utmott

H 2

to

( 148 )

to deftroy the Enemy; but how Arrange does it feem
to us ! How unaccountable ! that while our great
King is To inveterate againft the French,, and you
are fo earneft with us to carry on the War, that
Powder is now fold dearer to us than ever ? We
are poor, and not able to buy while we neglect
hunting ; and we cannot hunt and carry on the
War at the fame Time : We expeclr, that this
Evil we fo juftly complain of be immediately re-
medied. Giving nine Bevers.

Brother Corlear, you defire us to keep the Ene-
my in perpetual Alarm, that they may have no
Reft, till they are in their Graves ; Is it not to
fecure your own Frontiers ? Why then not one
Word of your People that are to join us ? We
affure you we fhall continue to carry on the War
into the Heart of the Enemies Country. Giving
eight Bevers.

We the Five Nations, Mohawks, Oneydocs, 0-
?wndagas, Cayugas, and Senekas, renew the Silver
Chain whereby we are linked fail with our Bre-
thren of Jjfarigoa {Virginia) and we promife to
preferve it as long as the Sun fnall fhine in the
Heavens. Giving ten Bevers.

But Brother Corlear, How comes it that none of
our Brethren fattened in the fame Chain with us,
offer their helping Hand in this general War, in
which our great King is engaged againft the French?
Pray Corlear, how come Maryland, Delaware Ri-
ver, and New England, to be difengaged from this
War? You have always told us, that they are
our Brethren, Subjects of the fame great King.
Has our King fold them ? Or do they fail in their
Obedience ? Or do they draw their Arms out of
our Chain ? Or has the great King commanded,
that the few Subjects he has in this Place, fhould
make War againft the French alone ? Pray make
plain to us this Myftery ? How can they and we

( 149 )
be Brethren, and make different Families ? How
can they and we be Subjects of the fame great
King, and not be engaged in the fame War ? How
can they and we have the fame Heart, the fame
Head, and the fame Intereft, as you tell us, and
not have the fame Thoughts ? How comes it,
that the Enemy burns and deftroys the Towns in
New-England, and they make no Refinance? How
comes our great King to make War, and not to
deftroy his Enemies ? When, if he would only
command his Subjects on this Side the great Lake
to join, the Deduction of the Enemy would not
make one Summer's Work.

You need not warn us of the Deceit and Trea-
chery of the French, who would probably infmuate
Thoughts of Peace ; but Brethren, you need not
fear us, we will never hearken to them : Tho' at
the fame Time, we muft own, that we have not
been without Thoughts of your being inclined to
Peace, by Reafon of the Brethrens Backwardnefs
in pufhing on the War. The French fpread Re-
port^ among us to this Purpofe, and fay, that they
had in a Manner concluded the Matter with you.
We rejoice to be now allured of this Falmood. We
fhall never defift fighting the French as long as we
fhall live. And gave a Belt of Wampum. ••

We now renew the old Chain, and here plant
the Tree of Profperity and Peace. May it grow and
thrive, and fpread its Roots even beyond Canada.
Giving a Belt.

We make the Houfe clean, where all our Affairs
of Importance are tranfa&ed with thefe five Otters.
< We return you Thanks for the Powder and Lead
given us ; but what fhall we do with them without
Guns, fhall we throw them at the Enemy ? We
doubt they will not hurt them fo. Before this we
always had Guns given us. It is no Wonder the
Governor of Canada gains upon us, for he fupplies
fl 3 his

(150 )

his Indians with Guns as well as with Powder ; he
iupplies them plentifully with every Thing that can
hurt us. Giving live Otters.

As to the Dionondadas fetting two of our Nation
at Liberty, we muft tell you that it was not the
Act of that Nation, but the private Act of one Per-
ion : We are defirous to make Peace with that
Nation as foon as we can, upon honourable Terms.
And gave a Belt.

The Mohawks, before they left the Place, defired
a private Conference with the Governor, and told
him, that they were exceedingly difTatisfied, that
the other Englijh Colonies gave no Afhttance, and
that it might prove of ill Confequence. Captain
Jngaldjby promifed to write to them, and hoped it
would have a good Effect.

CHAP. IX.
The French furprife and take three Mohawk Cajiles.

f~jry H E Praying Indians promifed their Endea-
vours to reconcile their Brethren the Mo-
hawks to the French, on whom the French ex-
pected they would have much Influence ; but their
Endeavours proving ineffectual, their Correfpon-
<lence began to be fufpected. The French thought
they did more Hurt than Good, by the Intelligence
the Enemy by their Means received. The French
in Canada began to lofe their Spirits, by being
obliged to remain fo long upon the Defenfive, as the
Five Nations gained more Courage by it. The
Count de Front enac thought it therefore abfolutely
neceffary to undertake fome bold Enterprize, to
fhew the Five Nations, that they had to do with an
Enemy ftill able to act offenfively : An Attack on
the Mohawks he thought would be moft effectual
for this Purpofe, becaufe it would fhew, at the
fame Time, that the Englijh would not prote&

their

( »Si )

their neareft Neighbours. As this was defigned to
be done by Surprize, the Winter Seafon was chofen
for this Purpofe, as leaft to be fufpected at fuch a
Time ; and when the Enemy could not, without
great Hardfhip, keep Scouts abroad to difcover
them, or the Emglijh give any Alfrftance.

The Body of the French defigned for this Expe-
dition was put under three Captains of the regular.
Troops, and thirty Subalterns, and confuted of
picked Men of the regular Troops of the common
Militia of the Country of the Praying Indians, the
^hiatoghies of Loretto, Adircndacks, and Sohokies,
who live to the Eaftward of Bo/ion, making in all
about fix or feven hundred Men, fo that a great
Part of the Force of Canada was employed in it.
They were well iupplied with all Sorts of Ammu-
nition, Provision, Snow- Shoes, and fuch Conve-
niences for Carnage, as were practicable upon the
Snow, and through fuch great Forefts as they had
to pafs. The French at Canada have a Kind of
light Sledges made with Skins, and are drawn by
large Dogs on the frozen Snow,

They fet out from la Prairie de Magdaleine the
15th of January 1692-3, after having endured what
might have been thought unfurmountable Hard-
ships ; they palled by Scheneclady at fome Diftance
from it, on the 8th of February, at which Time
one that had been taken Prifoner, when that Place
was facked, made his Efcape from them, and gave
the People of Scheneclady Intelligence of the French,
who by an Exprefs, immediately informed the
Commandant of Alba-ay. The Militia was expe-
ditioufly raifed, and a Lieutenant with fifty- Ave
Horfe was immediately difpatched to Scheneclady ;
but no Care was taken to give the Mohawks No-
tice, which might have been done without much
Danger, by fending up the South Side of the Ri-
ver, whilft the French marched on the North. The

H 4 French,

( 152 )

French^ on the 8th at Night, reached the firft
Mohawk Caftle, where there were only five Men,
and fome Women and Children in great Security,
their other Men being all Abroad, thefe were all
taken without Oppofition. The next Fort not far
from it was in like Manner furprized, without any
Oppofition, both of them were very fmall, and
being next the Englijh^ not fortified.

Scheneclady being the neareft Englijh Settlement
to the Mohawks , and but a little Way from their
neareft Caftle, many of them are always there. The
Mohawks then in the Town were exceedingly en-
raged, that none went out to affift their Nation ;
fome were fent therefore out the next Day, to gain
Information of the Enemy, and to give the Ma~
hawks Notice 5 but they returned without doing
their Duty.

The French went on to the next Mohawk Fort,
which was the larger!; and coming to that in the
Night, they heard fome Noife, and fufpected they
were difcovered : But this Noife was only occa-
fioned by a War Dance, forty of the Indians de-
signing to go next Day upon fome Enterprize. The
French approached the Caftle filently, and finding
the Indians no Way on their Guard, opened the
Gate, and entered before they were difcovered ;
but notwithftanding this, and the Confufion the
Indians muft be in, this Conqueft was not without
Lofs of Blood, the French having loft thirty Men,
before the Indians entirely fubmitted : The French
defigned to have put them all to the Sword, but
their own Indians would not fuffer it, and gave
Quarter : They took three hundred Prifoners, of
v/hom one hundred were fighting Men. I have no
Account of the Number of Mohawks killed, but
no Doubt it was very conftderable.

When

r r53 >

When the Account came to Albany, how much
the Mohawks, who were at Scheneclady, were en-
raged, that no Afllftance was fent to their Coun-
trymen ; Peter Schuyler a Major of the Militia of-
fered himfelf to go with what Force could be got
ready for their Afliftance. He went himfelf im-
mediately to ScheneStady, and fent to difcover the
Enemy : His Scouts brought him Intelligence, firft,
that the French were in PofTeifion of the two
fmalleft Forts, afterwards, that they had heard
great firing at the largeft Forts ; and at laft, that
it was taken. Having received 200 Men, partly
regular Troops, but mofr of the Militia, he began
his March on the 12th in Quell: of the Enemy ;
but hearing foon after, that fix hundred Men of the
upper Caftles were on their March, 'tis probable he
did not endeavour to be up with the French fo foon
as he might ; for I find by his Journal, that he was
nearer them on the fourteenth, than he was two
Days after. He had not fufficient Force to fight
them : He fent therefore to the upper Indians, to
haften their March. On the 15th he was joined
by thefe Indians, in all two hundred and ninety
Men ancT Boys, very ill armed. His Body then
confifted of two hundred and fifty Chriftians, and
two hundred and ninety Indians, armed fighting
Men. They had no other Provifion but fome Bif-
cuit every Man had in his Pocket. On the 16th
he was informed by an Indian, who pretended to be
a Deferter, that the French had built a Fort, where
they defigned to wait for him, and fight him ;
whereupon he fent an Exprefs to Coll. Ingoldejby,
then Commandant at Albany, to haften more Men
to join him, with fufficient Provifion for the whole.
He found afterwards, that this Indian was fent by
the French, on Purpofe to perfuade the Indians
to give over the Purfuit. Major Schuyler came up
to the Enemy on the 17th ; when he came near

H 5 them

( 154 )
them he did not go on ftreight towards them, for
Fear of Ambufcades, but marched round. As foon
as he came in Sight, he was faluted with three
loud Shouts, which were anfwered with as much
Noife. The Indians began in their Manner to fe-
cure themfelves, by felling the Trees between
them, and the Enemy fallied out to prevent them,
but were foon beat back. The Indians fell to
Work again, and defired the Chriftians to affift
them, wrhich was done, but in fuch Confufion,
that they themfelves were in Danger from the
falling Trees. The French fallied a fecond Time
with all their Force, crying out, They run, we'll
cut them off, and get their Provifions \ but they
were warmly received, and beat back into their
Fort. They fallied a third Time, and were beat
back with confiderable Lofs, the Indians bringing
in feveral Heads and Scalps. As foon as the Skir-
mifhes was over, the Major fent back an Exprefs,
to haften the Men that were to reinforce him, and
were to bring Provifion, fome of the Men having
had no Provifion for two Days. The Major then
iecured himfelf, under the Cover of the fallen
Trees, and kept out Watches to obferve the
French.

The 1 8th proving a cold ftormy Day, with
Snow, he was Informed, by a Deferter, that the
French were upon their March, it not being eafy to
follow their Tracks, or to difcover them in fuch
Weather. The Officers were commanded to pur-
fue and retard their March, till the Reinforcement
ihould come up, but the Men refilled to march
without Provifion. The Officers, with about 60
Men, and a Body of Indians, followed the Enemy
till Nijrht, when they began to fecure themfelves,
Try fortifying their Camp. The Officers wanting
a fufficient Number to fecure themfelves in like
Manner, or to fight the Enemy, returned, leaving

about

( 155 )

about forty Chriftians, and one hundred Indians >
to obferve them. On the 19th the Provifions,
with about 80 Men, arrived, under the Command
of Captain Sims of the regular Troops. Every
Man, as he was ferved with Provifion, marched
towards the Enemy. The Van was commanded
by Captain Peter Matthews of the regular Troops,
who coming up with the Enemy's Rear, would
have attacked them, to retard their March, but
the Mohawks were averfe to fighting. The French
dropt on purpofe feveral of their Prifoners, who
told the Mohawks, that the French were refolved
to put all the Prifoners to the Sword, rf they fhould
be attacked. The Enemy paffed the North Branch
of Hudfon's River upon a Cake of Ice, which very
opportunely for them, ftuck there in one Place,
while it was open by a late Thaw, both above
and below. The Weather continuing very cold,
and the Indians averfe to fighting, Major Schuyler
gave over the Purfuit on the 20th, having loft only
four private Men, and as many Indians, two Of-
ficers and twelve Men Chriftians and Indians were
wounded. The French loft thirty-three Men (the
Bodies of twenty-feven were found) of whom four
were Officers, and twenty-fix wounded, as the
Deferters told him. Between forty and fifty Pri-
foners were recovered. I have been told, that
Captain Matthews defired Coll. Schuyler, when he
came firft up with the French, to fummon them to
furrender ; he faid, the French are in great Dif-
trefs, and this will give them an Opinion of our
Strength ; but Coll. Schuyler refufed, tho' he was
brave, he was no Soldier ; and it is veiy probable,
that the French obferving the Want of Conduct
and Difcipline, were encouraged. It is true, the
Englijh were in great Want of Provifions at that
Time, The Indians eat the Bodies of the French
that they found. Coll. Schuykr (as he told me

H 6 himfelf

( 15* )

himfelf) going among the Indians at that Time,
was invited to eat Broth with them, which fome
of them had ready boiled, which he did, till they,
putting the Ladle into the Kettle to take out more,
brought out a French Man's Hand, which put an
End to his Appetite.

The French went home as faft as they could
carry their wounded Men with them : but coming
to a Place, where they had hid Provifions for their
Supply in their Return, they found it all fpoiled.
This put them in great Diftrefs, fo that they were
forced to eat their Shoes -, they fent fome of the
nimbleft Men forward to Montreal, that Provifion
might meet them. As foon as they came near the
Settlements they difperfed, every Man running
Home to eat, fo that they returned to Canada like
an Army routed. The French own they loft eighty
Men, and had thirty- three wounded in this Expe-
dition.

One may wonder how it is poffible for Men to
march feveral hundred Miles in the Wildernefs,
while the Ground is every where covered with
Snow, two or three Feet deep at leaft; but the
foremoft march on Snow Shoes, which beat a
firm Track for thofe that follow. At Night, when
they reft, they dig a Hole in the Snow, throwing
the Snow up all round, but higheft towards that
Side from whence the Wind blows, fo large, as to
contain as many Men as can lye round a Fire t
They make the Fire in the Middle, and cover the
frozen Ground round it with the fmall Branches
of the Fir- Trees. Thus they tell me a Man lies
much warmer, than one imagines that never
tried it.

When the Information of the French came to
Scheneclady, an Exprefs was fent to New-TorA to
Coll. Fletcher then Governor there; the Exprefs
reached New-Tor -k9 an hundred and fifty Miles

from

( 157 )

from Albany, the 12th at ten in the Nio-ht. The
Governor got the City Regiment under Arms by
eight the next Morning.

He called out to know who were willing to go
with him to the Frontiers, they all immediately
threw up their Hats, and anfwered one and all.
Indeed the People of this Province have, upon all
Occafions, fhewn their Courage and Resolution in
Defence of their Country ; but the Misfortune is
they are under no Difcipline, and have been feldom
led by Men that knew their Duty. The Governor
order an hundred and fifty VoluntLers for this Ser-
vice, and as many more from Long-ljland, The
River then happened to be open by afudden Thaw,
which does not, at that Time of the Year, hapoen
once in twenty Years. He embarked three hundred
Men in five Sloops, by four m the Afternoon of
the 14th, and arrived at Albany the 17th at nine in
the Morning. The fame Day the Governor went
to Schene£Iadyy and ordered the Men to follow, but
before they could get every Thing ready for their
March into the Woods, they had an Account, that
Major Schuyler was upon his Return. Several Gen-
tlemen of Albany, particularly Mr. Lanjlear, a Gen-
tleman of the beft Effete there, went out Volun-
tiers under Major Schuyler, which I ought not to.
have forgot.

Coll. Fletcher made a Speech to the Mohawks
at Albany, be blamed their fupine Negligence, in
fuffering themfelves to be furprifed in the Manner
they were in Time of War. He told them that
they had Reafon to be convinced, that the Englijh
were their Friends heartily, by the Number of
Men he had marched to their Ailiftance in a very
little Time, upon the firft Notice. He promifed
to wipe away their Tears in the Spring, by confi-
derable Prefents ; and that he would, in the mean
while3 take Care gf their Sublicence, by providing

HoiiwS

( 158 )
Houfes and Victuals for them. He told them, he
doubted they had fome falfe Brethren among them,
that gave the French Information, and favoured
their Defigns ; and in the laft Place, advifed them
to convince the French, that they had not loft their
Courage with this Misfortune.

The Mohawks, in their Anfwer, called Coll.
Fletcher by the Name of Cayenguirago % and he was
called fo by the Indians always after this. It figni-
fies a great fw if t Arrow, as an Acknowledgement
of the Speed he made to their Affiftance. But they
appeared in their Anfwer, to be quite difheartned ;
they had not, in the Memory of any Man, re-
ceived fuch a Blow. They faid their Strength was
quite broke, by the Continuance of the War ; but
they added, if all the Englijh Colonies would join,
they could frill eafily take Canada : Their being fo
ill armed, was the Reafon (they faid) that the French
had new efcaped.

The French, continued they, arm their Indians
compleatly, and furnilh them with every Thing
neceflary for War, as we find every Time we meet
with them.

The French had got a great Quantity of Furs,
and other Peltry, at Mijjilimakinak, by their Trade
with the Indians ; but the Five Nations had fo ef-
fectually blocked up the PafTage between that and
Canada, that they had remained there ufelefs to the
French for feveral Years. The Count de Frontenac,
after his Succefs againft the Mohawks, was in Hopes
the Five Nations would keep more at home in De-
fence of their own Caftles, and with thefe He pes fent
a Lieutenant, with eighteen Canadians, and twenty
praying Indians, to open the PafTage to Mijjilima-
kinak ; but this Party fell in with another of the
Five Nations, who entirely routed them, fo that
a few efcaped only, to give an Account of their
Misfortune 3 at laft 200 Canoes, loaded with Furs

from

( 159 )
from Mijjilimakinak, arrived at Montreal, which
gave as univerfal a Joy to Canada, as the Arrival of
the Galleons give in Spain,

CHAP. X.

The Treaties and Negotiations the Five Nations had
with //^Englifh and French, in the Tears 1693
and 1694.

AS by this Time the Reader may be tired with
the horrid Scenes of a barbarous War, it may
be fome Relief to obferve the Indian Genius in the
Arts of negotiating ; and fee how a barbarous Peo-
ple, without any of the Arts and Sciences in which
we value ourfelves, manage their Intereft with the
moil learned, and moft polite, and artificial Nation
in Europe. The Five Nations were informed,
that the Governor of Canada had received from
Europe a very confiderable Recruit of Soldiers, and
of all Sorts of Ammunition. This, with the great
Lofs the Mohawks had lately fuffered, while they
had been amufed by the Englijh with great Hopes,
and very little real Affiftance, made the Oneydoes
at laft yield to the Solicitations of the Jefuit Milet,
to fend a MefTage to the French for Peace. It is
probable he had the Art to influence the Peo-
ple at Albany to favour his Defigns, by givino-
them Hopes of being included in the Peace, as
may be conjectured, from what will appear in the
Sequel.

Coll. Fletcher being informed, that the Oneydoes
had fent a MefTenger to Canada, fent for the Five
Nations to Albany, He fpoke to them the third of
July 1693.

He firft excufed his not meeting them as he had
promifed, at the Time the Sap begins to run in the
Trees, by Reafon of his having received a Commif-

fion

( i6o )

fion to be Governor of Penfilvania, to which Place
he was obliged at that Time to go. He put them
in Mind with what Speed he came to their Affift-
ance lail Winter, and how effectual, in all Proba-
bility, it would have been, had they only retarded
the Enemy's March till he could have reached
them : He advifed them to guard againft being
drunk, and mewed them the ill Confequences of
it in Time of War.

Then he faid, " I have received Information,
" that fome of the Brethren are wavering, and
" inclined to Peace with the Enemy ; and am af-
cc fured, that fuch Thoughts muft arife from the
4C Inftigation of the Jefuit Milet, whom fome of
" the Brethren have fuffered to live fo Ions; among
" them, and whofe only Practice is to delude and
" betray them. Let me therefore advife you to
" remove that ill Perfon from among you."

In the End he condoled their Dead, and made
them a very confiderable Prefent of ninety Guns,
eight hundred and ten Pound of Powder, eight
hundred Bars of Lead, a thoufand Flints, eighty-
feven Hatchets, four Grofs of Knives, befides a
confiderable Quantity of Cloathing and Provifions.
This Prefent, he told them, their King and Queen
had fent them, and renewed the Covenant for ail
the Englijh Colonies.

The King ufually fends them a confiderable Pre-
fent with every new Governor fent to New-York r
which is not always applied as it is defigned. If
this Prefent had been made fooner, it had been of
much more Ufe to the Englijh, as well as to the
Five Nations.

The Five Nations the next Day fpoke as follows.

Brother Cayengnirago,
u We are involved in a bloody War, which
& makes us fit in Sorrow and Grief > and being

^ aboufc

( 161 )

** about to fpeak of Matters of Importance, we
<c in the firft Place, clear the Mouth and Throat
** of our Interpretefs, by giving her thefe three
w Bever Skins.

Then they repeated his Excellency's Speech, in
Anfwer to which they faid,

u Brother Cayenguirago, we rejoice, that the
" great King and Queen of England, take fuch
<c Notice of us, as we find, by the large Prefent
M fent us ; we return hearty Thanks for the Am-
fi munition efpecially.

" We are glad that our Brother Cayerigu'irago

" renews the Chain, not only between us and this

<6 Government, but likewife with New- England,

« Virginia, Maryland and Penfilvania ; it fhall be

M kept inviolable by us the Five Nations, as long

f1 as the Sun fhines. We pray our Brother Cayen-

c guirago to have a watchful Eye, that none

of the other Colonies keep any Correfpondence

with the Enemy, but ufe their Endeavours to de-

ftroy them. We heard nothing of what you

" told us of the Prieft Milet, who lives at Oneydo>

till we came to this Town. We have enquired

the Truth of our Brethren the Oneydoes, who con-

<c fefs, that the Prieft fent an Indian to Canada with

•* Letters, which has furprifed us very much.

<c Brother Cayenguirago, you are our great Tree,
" whofe Roots extend to the utmoft Bounds of this
" Government \ we defire you may not be difturb-
ed when any of our Prifoners mifbehave, for
they are not countenanced by us ; and all pro-
" per Methods fhall be taken to prevent the like
u for the future. In like Manner we beg you to
" take Care, that none of the Prifoners you have
" correfpond with the Enemy, as we fufpecl: the
iC Chevalier Dy O. did ; and that he was fent with
"* Letters to Canada byfome of our Brethren. (He
" made his Efcape from Bofion.)

Brother

a
((

it.

( 16a)

€t Brother Caenguirago^ In former Times our
Propofitions to one another were only Difcourfes
44 of Peace and Friendfhip, and in giving Prefents ;
44 but how much is the Cafe altered of late? Now
we talk of nothing but War, aud are continu-
ally prompting one another to it. As to our
Parts, we will keep clofe to the War to the laft
Drop of our Blood ; and tho' we be tofTed to
and fro with Storms, we will remain ftedfaft to
the laft Man, as it was refolved by both in the
Beginning of the War.

44 Brother Caengulrago^ we were told in our own
Country, not only that the King had made you
Governor of PenjUvania, but likewife that you
were preparing a Fleet to take Canada. O ! what
joyful News this was to our young Men. Sadaga-
06 rusj the great Seneka Captain, was to command
44 them. Now they faid, we need only make one
44 hearty Pufh while the Fleet is before Quebec k.
44 Now there will be an End to this bloody War,
44 and all our Troubles ; But alas, now we are come
44 here, we hear not one Word of this Defign.

" Brother Cayenguirago, you are that flourifhing
44 Tree that covers us; you keep the Chain bright j
46 we have one Requeft to make to you, that you
44 may ftay with us, and not return to England-, for
44 you know our Ways and Manners. If you have
*4 any Thing to tell the King and Queen, write
44 it to them, for the King knows you to be a
44 wife Man, and will therefore believe you.

44 Brother Cayenguirago, we are very glad to
44 hear that Penfilvania is come under your Go-
44 vernment, bring their young Men here, with
44 their Bows and Arrows and Hatchets in their
44 Hands, for this is the Place of Action. We are
44 pleafed that the Sbowonons or Satanas, who are
44 our Enemies, have applied to you for Protection ;
" and that you fent them to us to endeavour a

Peace,

t i&3 )

M Peace, and that you fent Christians with them,
" to conduct them back again. We wifh they
" were come to aflift us a^ainft the common E-

nemy.

" Brother Cayengulrago, now we have done,
16 but muft tell you again, that we roll and wallow
" in Joy, by Reafon of the great Favour the great
" King and Queen has done us, in fending us Arms
" and Ammunition, at a Time when we are in the
<c greateft Need of them; and becaufe there is fuch
" Unity among the Brethren/'

They made the Governor a confiderable Prefent
of Furs, to fhew their Refpecl to his Perfon ; but
they did not give one Belt to confirm any one Ar-
ticle ; fo that the whole of it is, according to their
Stile, only argumentative.

Coll. Fletcher not being fatisfied with their An-
fwer, concerning the Jefuit Milet^ made this fur-
ther Propofal to them. " As to Mllet the Prieft,
" whom the Brethren of Oneydo ftill harbour among
*< them, I muft tell you again, that he betrays you,
" and all your Councils ; and that you may fee I
" defire not to diminifh your Number, I am wil-
*' ling to give you a pretty Indian Boy, in Lieu of
" the old Prieft ; and accordingly the Boy was
" brought and delivered to them.

In anfwer to this the Oneydo Sachem faid, " As
" foon as the Indian Meflenger returns all his Pa*
cc pers fhall be taken from him, and be forthwith
<c brought to our Brother Cayengu'irago, before the
« Prieft fhall fee any of them : we are willing to
" take the Boy in Exchange for the Prieft, but it
" is not fafe to do it, while our Meflenger is in
" the Power of the Enemy ; let the Boy ftay here
<c till we bring the Prieft, which mall be as foon
" as the Meflenger fhall return." But he gave
no Belt or other Prefent to confirm this Promife.
He added.

Brother

( 1 64 )

c< Brother Cayenguirago, we now acquaint you
,c that it is propofed by all the Five Nations^ to
" make Peace with the Dionondadies^ a Nation of
" Indians near in Alliance with the French of £#-
" «tf^tf. This will both ftrengthen us and weaken
" the Enemy. The Senekas, who live nearer! them,
" have undertaken this Treaty, and take Belts of
,c Wamoum from the other Nations, to confirm
" the Peace. We defire your Approbation, that
*.c you would fend your Belt in Concurrence, as our
<{ eldeft Brother in our Chain."

The Governor approved of this, and gave them
a Belt to carry in his Name.

Notwithstanding what the Speaker of the Five
Nations had promifed to the Governor, to bring all
the Papers the Oneydo Meflenger mould bring from
Canada , before the Jefuit Mi let mould have Li-
berty to fee them, it could not be difficult for the
Jefuit, to perfuade them to keep the Power of
making Peace in their own Hands, and for that
Purpofe, to call a Meeting of the Sachems of Onon-
dago, v/here all fuch Matters had been formerly
tranfacted among themfelves, and there to deter-
mine independently, rather than to fubmit them-
felves to another Nation at Albany. They only
invited the Englijh to affift at the general Council.
The Englijh ufed what Arguments they could to
difTuade this Meeting, but rather to obferve the
Promife made to the Governor, and it feems ufed
fome Threatning. The Mohawks had fo much
Regard to the Englijh, that they refufed to affift at
the Council. The other four, notwithstanding this,
met, and refolved on an Anfwer to be fent to the
Governor of Canada ; but at the fame Time, to
fhew their Regard to the Mohawks and Englijh,
thefe Refolutions were not to be final, till they
fhould firft be communicated to the Englijh and
Mohawks , and their Advice received thereon ; for

which

( 1 65 )

which Purpofe, feveral Sachems were fent to Alba-
ny, of whom Decanefora was the Principal and
the Speaker.

Decanefora had for many Years the greateft. Re-
putation among the Five Nations for fpeaking, and
was generally employed as their Speaker, in their
Negotiations with both French and Englijh : He was
grown old when I faw him, and heard him fpeak ;
he had a great Fluency in fpeaking, and a graceful
Elocution, that would have pleafed in any Part of
the World. His Perfon was tall and well made,
and his Features to my thinking, refembled much the
Bufto's of Cicero. I mall give an Account of thefe
Negotiations from Decanejora's Mouth, becaufe his
Narration agrees in the main with the Account the
French give of them, and carries along with it as
flrong Evidences of Truth, as that of the French do :
but the chief Reafon is, that I intend to give the
Reader as perfect a Notion as I can of the Indian
Genius ; and here it will appear, what Art Decane-
fora had to make an Account of an Affair lefs dis-
agreeable to Engiifl) Ears, which had been under-
taken againfl their Advice, and contrary to their
Intereit.

Decanefora fpoke to Major Schuyler (Qiiider) and
the Magiftrates of Albany ', the fecond of February
1693-4. as follows.

" Brother Cayenguirago *, we are come to ac-
<c quaint you, that our Children the Oneydoes hav-
*' ins of themfelves fent a Meffencrer to Canada,
" he has broupiit back with him a Belt of Peace
<c from the Governor of Canadi

a.

* When the Affair of which they fpeak concerns
the Government of New-York, the Indians always ad-
drefs themfelves to the Governor whether he be pre-
sent or not.

As

( i66 )

" As fbon as Tariba (the Meffenger) arrived at
Canada, he was afked, where the fix hundred
Men were that were to attack Canada, as they
had been informed by Cariokefe a Mohawk De-
ferter ? He aflured them there was no fuch
Defign.

" He was carried to Quebeck, where he deliver-
ed his Belt, with the following Proportions.
Onondio, if you would have Peace, go to Albany,
and afk it there, for the Five Nations will do
nothing without Cayenguirago. The Governor
of Canada was angry at this, and fa id, he had
nothing to do with the Governor of New-
York, he would treat only with the Five Na-
tions ; the Peace between the Chriftians muft
be made on the other Side the great Lake.
He added, he was forry to fee the Five Nations
fo far degenerated, as to take a fixth Nation in-
to their Chain, to rule over them. If you had
defired me to come and treat in any of your
Caftles, I would have done it ; but to tell me
I muft go to Albany, is to defire of me what I
can by no Means do. You have done very ill,
to fuffer the People of New-York to govern you
fo far, that you dare do nothing without their
Confent. I advife you to fend two of each Na-
tion to me, and let Deeanefora be one of them.
I have Orders from the King my Mafter to grant
you Peace, if you come in your proper Perfons
to afk it. The Governor of Canada afterwards
faid.

« Children of the Five Nations, I have Com-
panion for your little Children, therefore come
fpeedily and fpeak of Peace to me, otherwife
I'll flop my Ears for the future : By all Means
let Deeanefora come ; for if the Mohawks come
alone, I will not hear them, fome of all the
Five Nations muft come. Now Tariba return
3 home*

( 167 )

home, and tell the Five Nations, that I will
wait for their coming till the Trees bud, and the
Bark can be parted from the Trees. I defign
for France in the Spring, and I leave a Gentle-
man to command here, to whom I have given
Orders to raife Soldiers, if you do not come in
that Time, and then what will become of you ?
I am truly grieved to fee the Five Nations fo de-
bauched and deceived by Cayenguirago, who is
lately come to New-York, and by juicier. For-
merly the chief Men of the Five Nations ufed to
converfe with me ; but this Governor of New-
" York has fo deluded you, that you hearken fo
' none but him ; but take Care of what will fol-
u low, if you hearken to none but him."

Then Decanefora excufed the not fending the
Letters to Albany, which came by Tariba, as they
had promifed, faying, the other Nations trufted
this to the Oneydoes, becaufe the MeiTenger was to
return to them, and the Oneydoes deceived the
others. He likewife excufed their not coming to
Albany as foon as Tariba returned, which was in
November. He faid the chief Sachem of the Onon-
dagas, who was entrusted (as their Speaker) by the
Five Nations with their general Affairs, by the
general Council of Onondaga, had a fore Leg, and
could not travel.*

That in fuch Cafe he (Decanefora) did all that
was in his Power, that is, he called a Council at
Onondaga, to give Directions in this Affair ; and that
he invited juicier to this Council. He continued,
u The four Nations that met there refolved to
" fend Deputies to Canada, and that I Decanefora
" was to be one of them ; but at the fame Time
" ordered me, with fome others, to communicate

* This, in the Indian Idiom, fignifies a trifling Excufe
ef an unwilling Perfon.

«< the

( 168 )

** the Refolutions of the General Council to our
Brethren at Albany, and to the Mohawks, to be
farther advifed by them.

" The Refolutions are, to fend three Belts to
the Governor of Canada, with the following
Proportions .

<c I. Onondio, you have fent for me often, and
as often afked, why I am afraid to come ? The
great Kettle of War that you have hung over
the Fire is the Reafon of it. Then laying down
the firffc Belt, I am to afj£ his Confent to the
other two Belts which I ftill keep in my Hand.
" II. We now not only throw down the Kettle,
and thereby throw the boiling "Water out of it,
but likewife break it to Pieces, that it may never
be hanged up again by this fecond Belt.
" III. Hearken, Onondio, you are fent from the
French King, your Mafter, as Cayenguirago is
from the great King and Queen of England.
What I am now about to fpeak to you, is by In-
fpiration from the great God of Heaven. You
fay that you will have nothing to do v/ith our
Brethren of Cayenguirago, but I muil teil you,
that we are inseparable, we can have no Peace
with you fo long as you are at War with them ;
we muft Hand and fall with them ; which I am
4 to confirm, by laying down the third Belt.

" When this was concluded the Jefuit Mllet,
< and another French Gentleman (who had been
c taken Prifoner, and was taken into the Place of
* the chief Sachem of Onondaga, formerly loft in
4 the War, and thereby became a Sachem) de-
c fired Leave to add two Belts to the other three.
6 By their being Sachems they had a Vote in the
{ General Council, and a Right to propofe any
J Thing. They wrote and read to us the Pur-

" forts

( x69 )

« ports of their Belts, and we have brought their
" Papers with us, to fhew to our Brethren. "

To fhew the Neceflity they were under of mak-
ing Peace, fpeedily he added :

*' That two Women, who were Prifoners at
u Canada, had made their Efcape, on Purpofe to
c< inform them that the French were making great
" Preparations of Battoes, and other Neceffaries
" for an Expedition ; one faid, me had informed
cc one of the Sachems of the Praying Indians of her
4i Defign, who fent an Indian with her to advife
<c the Five Nations, to prevent the great Danger
" they were threatned with by a fpeedy Conclufion
" of the Peace ; and added, that they had fent one
" of their People back with this Praying Indian,
<c to affure them that Deputies would certainly «0
C( to Canada in the Spring to treat of Peace." I
make no Doubt, this was only an Article to haflen
the Five Nations to conclude the Peace, left the
Englijh, if it were delayed, mould find Means to
prevent it. Then he {hewed the Flag which the
Governor of Canada fent them to be carried by
their Deputies, that the French might know them.
Upon thefe Refolutions being taken, the Five Na-
tions recalled fix hundred Men, that they had placed
along Cadarackui River, to intercept ' the French
as they paffed to and from Mijjdimakinak.
^ The Jefuits Papers being read to them, feveral
Things were found in them which he had not read
to the General Council. To this Dccanefora an-
fwered ; " We know that the Priefi: favours his
" own Nation, and deceives us in many Things •
" but it is net in his Power to alter our Affection
" to our Brethren, we wifh you would bury all
4< Mhunderftandings that you have conceived on
44 his Account ; and we likewiie wiili you gave
" lefs Credit to the Rum-Carriers than you do."
Here we fee, by this Appellation, what a con-
^ 0L- *• * temptiblc

( *7° )
temptible Character the Traders have among the
Indians , and yet the Government of New-Tor k has
almofr. perpetually trufted the Management of the
Indian Affairs to thefe Traders.

Decanefora ended his Conference as follows :
" The Governor of Canada's Words, and the Re~
" foliations o\ the four Nations are now before you,
" confult therefore what is to be done, and if it be
** neceflary for the Brethren to go to our Caflles
" to advife us farther, be not unwilling ; and then
<l he laid down a large Belt eleven Rolls deep, and
" feven Fathom of Wampum."

The next Day Major Schuyler told them that he
could confent to no Treaty with the French ; but
propofed to them to meet the Governor here in
feventy Days, and that Decanefora in particular
fhould return at that Time, and gave a Belt.

They agreed to meet the Governor at that Time ;
lt But as for myfelf (fays Decanefora) I cannot
" promife ; I am now the Minifter of the General
" Council, and cannot difpofe of myfelf, but by their .
" Directions ; if they order me, I fhall willingly
" return. We did not expect to hear fuch pofitive
<c Prohibition of keeping any Correfpondence with
" the French ; feventy Days muft pafs before we
" meet again, if any Mifchief be done by the
" Enemy in that Time, let us not blame one
" another. Confider again what is moft for the
" publick Good, and let it be fpoken before we
" part, and laid down a large Belt of fourteen
" deep."

Major Schuyler then afked them again, whe-
ther they promifed to flop all Correfpondence with
the French, either by the Jefuit or otherwife, for
feventy Days, and till they fhall have his Excellency
the Governor's Anfwer.

Decanefora anfwered to this, " I have no Au-
c< thority to anfwer this Queition. I ihall lay the

« Belt

( m )

'* down in every one of the Caflles, and tell, that
'* by it all Correfpondence is defired to flop with
M the French ; but I cannot promife that this will
" be complied with."

Major Schuyler on the 6th called the Indians
again together : He advifed them not to fubmit to,
nor truft fuch a perfidious Nation as the French
are, who have upon all Occafions proved themfelves
fuch. Be not difcouraged, (fays he, giving a Belt)
Heaven begins again to favour us. This Day the
Forerunners of the Sbazvonons are come to Town,
feven Nations are on their March following them^
one Thoufand in Number, including Men, Wo-
men and Children, as you may learn from their
own Mouths. Take Courage, and be not afraid,
giving five Fathom of Wampum. This feemed a
lucky Incident, and accordingly it had more In-
fluence than all other Arguments together.

Decanefora, the next Day, called the Magif-
trates together, and told them, you have at faft
fhut up the Way to Canada, but we have one
Thing to afk, after mature Deliberation, which
we expe& will not be refufed us. Major Schuyler
afiured them that every Thing mould be granted,
which was either for their Safety or Honour. We
defire then, faid he, that you fend a Meflenser
along with ours to the Praying Indians at Canada,
to tell them that the Prieft is falfe ; that we are to
meet Cayenguirago in the Spring, and therefore can-
not go to Canada at that Time ; and that a further
Ceflation of Arms be agreed to, till fuch Time as
we can go. We defire at leaft, that if you will
not fend a MefTenger, that you put the MefTage in
Writing, as a Token of your AfTent to it. This
laft was agreed to, and the Meflage was put in
Writing in the following Words, and transited
into French.

The

( *72 )

The Difpatch of three Belts, which two Mef-
fen<rers of the Five Nations carry to the Cara-
guljh and Catholick Indians, according to what
was refolved by the Agayandres of Sachems of the
Five Nations, at Albany, February the ninth 1694.

Fvjl Belt.
The Agayandres of the Five Nations cannot go
to Canada in the Spring, as they gave Reafon to
expect by the laft Meflage from Onondaga, becaufe
Cayenguirago has called all the Five Nations, and
othsr^ Indians, to meet him at Albany, in the
Month of April next, to which the Five Nations
have agreed.

Second Belt.
If the Caraguijls, or French, have any Thing to
propofe to me Five Nations, they may fafely come
into our Country. This Belt opens the Path, and
fecureS it to them both coming and going.

Third Belt.
The Five Nations, and their Friends, lay down
the Hatchet till they fhall have an Anfwer, which
they expect in forty Days. Provided neverthelefs,
that the Caraguijls and French tie their Hatchets
down at the fame Time.

Thefe Belts were accordingly prefented to the
Fraying Indians of Cahnuage, who refufed to re-
ceive them but in the Prefence of Mr. de Callieres,
Governor of Montreal. Mr. de Callieres acquaint-
ed the Count de Front enac with the Contents. Af-
ter which the Praying Indians, in Prefence of Mr.
de Callieres, gave the following Anfwer,

« We

( 173 )

<c We will have no Correfpondence with the

c* Five Nations, but by Order of the Governor of

" Canada our Father, and unlefs Decanefora, and

" the other Deputies, come before the Feaft of

M St. "John, the Way will be mut up for ever after,

" and our Father's Ears will be ftopt. We how-

M ever afFure you, that if the Deputies come in

" that Time the Path ihall be fafe both coming

*' and going."

Whether the Accounts given of the coming of
the Sbawonons was only an Amufement, or whe-
ther they were diverted on their March, I know
not, for I find no farther Account of them in the
Remitter cf the Indian Affairs : However it was,
the Impreffion, made on the Indians by that News,
was not fufficient to withftand the Force of the re-
folute Anfwer their MefTenger received from the
Praying Indians, Decanefora and the other Depu-
ties went early in the Spring to Canada ; the other
Scabe?ns met Colonel Fletcher at Albany, the fourth
of May 1694. The Indians fpoke firft by Sadaka-
nahtie, an Onondaga Sachem, as follows :

" Brother Cayenguirago,

" Some of our Sachem* agreed Jafl Winter that
" we mould keep no Correfpondence with the
" French ; we confefs that we have broke that
" Promife, and that we have received a MefTenser
" from Canada, and have fent our Deputies like-
" wife thither. The Belt is not yet arrived, by
" which we are to acknowledge our Fault in doin«-
" this. The Reafon of our doing it is truly this,
" we are afraid of the Enemy.

" When a MefTenger came laft Year from Ca-
M nada to Onondaga, our Brother Cayenguirago dif-
" charged our Meeting in General Council at

I 3 u Onondaga,

( '74 )

cc Onondaga, to confult on that MefTage, and or-
" dered us to hold our General Council here at
** Albany on that Affair. The Privilege of meet-
iC ing in General Council, when we pleafe, is a
*c Privilege we always enjoyed ; no former Go-
" vernor, of the Name of Corlear, ever obftructed
" this Privilege. We planted a Tree of Peace in
*' this Place with them, its Roots and Branches
" extend as far as Virginia and New-England, and
14 we have repoied with Pleafure under its Shade.
" Brother, let us keep to that firft Tree, and let
" us be united and unanimous ; and fuch Prohi-
" bition of our Affemblies will be of ill Confe-
<c quence, and occafion Differences between us.

" We acknowledge, I fay, our fending Agents
*4 to Canada for Peace, we were encouraged in do-
" ing this, by the Knowledge we have of the Go-
44 vernor of Canada. He is an old Man, and was
** formerly Governor of that Place. He was al-
44 ways eileemed a wife peaceable Man, and there-
44 fore we truft our Meflage will have a good Iflu-e.
44 We did not take it am'.fs that you lent to the
44 DewagunhaSy nor that Armut was fent to the
44 Sat ana S-, both of them our Enemies ; and, for
44 the fame Reafon, our Brother Cayenguirago ought
t; not to be difpleafed with our fending to the French
66 for Peace.

4i We, Onondaga s^ acknowledge ourfelves to
64 -have been the chief Promoters of this Meflage,
*>' we have fent in all nine Sachems with nine Belts.
44 It is true we are now under much Uneafinefs in
44 having trutted fo many Sachems in the French
44 Hands, being almoft half the Number we have
44 in our Nation ; but we were in hafre to prevent
44 the Defigns the French had againft our Coun-
44 tries and yours, by the great warlike Prepara-
*4 tioAS they were making in Canada.'*

Then

( '75 )

Then he told all the Orders and Directions
which their Ambafifadors had received ; which a-
greeing with the Account which Decanejora gave
of his Negotiation, I mall here pais over. He.
fmlfhed all by giving a Belt.

Colonel *meicher told them, he would give no
Anfvver to what they had faid, before they dif-
covered to him what Reafon they had to fay, that
he had forbid their holding any AlTembly at Onon-
daga, and that he had made Peace with the De-
wagunhas and Saianas, without their Confent and
Concurrence.

To this the Speaker the next Day anfwered ;
" I was fick, and abfent when the Affairs you
tc mention were tranfacted, and I was at a Lofs
" how to excufe our fending to the French contra*
" ry to your Advice ; but feveral Sachems being
44 arrived fince I fpoke, I have been better inform-
" ed by them, who were prefent at thofe Tranf-
" actions. We find it, in every Circumftance,
" as our Brother Cayenguirago fays ; that you
" did not obftrudT: our keeping General Councils
*4 at Onondaga, but only cautioned us in hearken -
'; ing to the Fallacies of the French, and in hold-
" ing Meetings on that Occafion. We afTure you
'* we will never feparate from you, we ftill have
" one Head, one Blood, one Soul, and one Heart
«• with you ; and as a Coniirmation of this, I give
" tnis Belt {even deep.

" As to the Dewagunhas and Shazvonons, we are
confident Cayenguirago will not admit them into
his Government, till they have made Peace with
us, which we fhall willingly grant. When our
Enemies are humbled, and beg Peace, why mould
they not have it ? Let them come and live with
us, it will ftrengthen our Country.

Brother Cacngulrago, when the Chriftians firfl
<c arrived, in this Country, we received thern kind-

I 4 " \y

cc

CC
CC
CC
it,
CC

( »/6 )

4t ly. When they were but a fmall People, we en-
44 tered into a League with them, to guard them
** from all Enemies whatfoever. We were fo fond
** of their Society, that we tied the great Canoe
44 which brought them, not with a Rope made of
*' Bark to a Tree, but with a ftronf iron Chain
44 fattened to a great Mountain. Now before the
44 Chrittians arrived, the General Council of the
tc Five Nations was held at Onondaga, where there
** has, from the Beginning, a continual Fire been
".kept burning; it is made of two great Logs,
<s whofe Fire never extinguishes. As foon as the
ii Hatchet-makers (their general Name for Chrifti-
'4 ans) arrived, this General Council at Onondaga
64 planted' this Tree at Albany, whofe Roots and
44 Branches have fmce fpread as far as Neiv-Eng-
*4 land, Connecticut, Penfilvania, Alar y la n d and Fir-
44 ginia ; and under the Shade of this Tree all thefe
4i Englijh Colonies have frequently been Sheltered.
44 Then (giving feven Fathom of Wampum) he re-
44 newed the Chain, and promifed as they likewife
44 expected, mutual Affiftance, in Cafe of an At-
44 tack from any Enemy.

44 The only Reafon, to be plain with you, con-
44 tinued he, of our fending to make Peace with
44 the French, is the low Condition to which we
44 are reduced, while none of our Neighbours fend
44 us the leaft Affiftance, fo that the whole Bur-
44 then of the War lies on us alone. Our Bre-«
44 thren of New-England, Connecticut, Penfiha-
44 nia, Maryland and Virginia, of their own ac-
44 cord thruft their Arms into our Chain ; but
44 fmce the War began we have received no Af-
44 fittance from them. We alone cannot continue
44 the War againft the French, by Reafon of the
44 Recruits they daily receive from the other Side
M the great Lake.

Brother

cc
cc

cc

( 177 )

u Brother Cayenguirago, fpeak from your Hearr*
are you refolved to profecute the War vigoroufly
againff. the French, and are your Neighbours of
Virginia, Maryland, Penfilvania, Connecticut and
New-England^ refolved to aflift us ? If it be
fo, we ailure you, notwithstanding any Treat-
ty hitherto entred into, we will profecute the
War as hotly as ever. But if our Neighbours
" will not affift, we muft make Peace, and we fub-
11 mit it to your Confideration, by giving this great
** Belt, fifteen deep.

" Brother Cayenguirago, I have truly told you
" the Reafcns which have induced us to offer
" Peace to the French-, we fhall likewife from the
" Bottom of our Hearts, inform you of the De-
'• fign we have in this Treaty. When the Go-
" vernor of Canada mail have accepted the nine
*' Belts, of which I have juff. now told you, then
u we fhall have fomething more lo fay by two
u large Belts, which lie ftill hid in our Bofom.
" We fhall lay down firfl one and fay, We have
<c a Brother Cayenguirago, with whole People we
" have been united in one Chain from the Begin*
tc ning, they muft be included in this Treaty \ we
" cannot fee them involved in bloody War, while
" we fit in eafy Peace. If the Governor of Ca-
** nada anfv/er, that he has made a feparate Peace
" with us, and that he cannot make any Peace
" with Cayenguirago, becaufe the War is from
tc over the great Lake ; then we fhall lay down
" the fecond great broad Belt, and tell the Gc-
" vernor of Canada , if you will not include Cay en-
*' guirago's People, the Treaty will become there-
" by void, as, if it had never been made ; and if
«< he perftfts, we will abfolutely leave him.'"

While the Sachems were at Albany, Dccanef:ra
and the other AmbafTadors arrived at the Cai^e of
the Praying Indians^ near the Falls above Montreal.

I 5 They

C 178 }

They were conduced from thence, by the Supe-
rior of the Jefuits, to Quebeck. They had their Au-
dience of the Governor of Canada with great So-
lemnity, in the Prefence of all the Ecciefiafticks
and Officers of Diftinetion, and of the moil con-
fiderable Indians then in the Place. They v/ere
every Day, while they ftaid in the Place, enter-
tained at the Governor's Table, or at the Tables
of the mod confiderable Officers. Decanefora on
his Side made a good Appearance, being cloathed
in Scarlet trim'd with Gold, and with a laced Be-
ver Hat on his Head, which had been given him by
Colonel Fletcher before he went.

The Jefuit Milet had by Letter, informed the
Governor of every Thing in their Commiffion,
and though he was thereby enabled to have an?
fwered them immediately, he confulted three Days,
after the Ambaffadors had delivered what they had
to fay, before he would return an Anfwer, that it
might appear with more Solemnity. The Indians
never return a fudden Anfwer on any Occafion of
Importance, however refolved they be beforehand,
and detpife thofe that do, though their Anfwer be
never fo much to the purpofe. I choofe to give an
Account of this from Decanefora's Mouth, as I did
of the former, and for the fame Reafon. The Ac-
count given of it by the Indians agrees, in all the
material Points, with that publiihed by the French,
and I am confident it is not lefs £enuine.

Colonel Fletcher being; fenfible of what Confe-
quence this Treaty between the French and Five
Nations might be of to all the Englifh Colonies,
gave them Notice of it, and informed them of the
Keafons whieh had induced the Indians to enter
into it. He told them, there was no Poffibility of
preventing it, but by the Indians being allured of
more effedt-ual AfTiitance, than they had hitherto
received, and advifed thera to icivl Com million ers

for

f m J

for thatPurpofe to Albany in Aagiift, at which Time
he intended to meet the Five Na ions there, after
the Return of their MefFengers from Canada. Ac-
cordingly, Andrew Hamilton ^ Efq; Governor of
New-Jerfcy, Colonel John Pinchon, Samuel Sands j
Efq; and Major Pen Fownfend, Commiilioners from
-Majfachufef s Bay, and Colon d "John Hauley and
Captain Stanley, Commiffioners from Cmneclicut,
waited on Colonel Fletcher at Albany, who carried
with him likewife a Part of the Council of New-
York,

Thefe Gentlemen having met the Indians at Alba-
ny the fifteenth of Augujl, Decanefora rofe up firft,
and defired Leave to fmg a Song or two of Peace,
before they began on Bulinefs. Then Rede, a Mo-
hawk Sachem, rofe up, and addrefTing hinifelf to
the other Sachems, faid, we have great Reafon to
rejoice, feeing fo many of thofe, who are in our
Chain, are now met, to confult together on the
general Weal ; after which they fang two or three
Songs.

Sadakanahtie being chofen Speaker for that Day,
rofe up, fpoke much to the fame Purpofe as he had
done to Colonel Fletcher in May latt ; giving; a me-
taphorical Account of their League with the Fng-
lijjj, how it began, and by what Steps it had been
inlarged and frrengthened ; how the other Colonies
had thruif. their Arms into this Chain, but had giv-
en little or no Ailiilance againfr. the common Ene-
my. " Our Brother Gayenguiragjs Arms (fays he)
«' and ours are (tiff, and tired with holding fad the
" Chain, v/hilft our Neighbours fit frill and fmoak
w at their Eafe. The Fat is melted from our Fleili,
-" an 1 fallen on our Neighbours, who grow fat
u while we grow lean: They fiourifh while we
" decay.

" This Chain made us the Envy of the French,
M and if all had held it as fail as Cayenguirage, it

16 Ci would

( i8o )
iC would have been a Terror alfo. If we would

' all heartily join and take the Hatchet in our
4< Hand, our common Enemy would foon be de-

' ftroyed, and we mould for ever after live in
" Peace and Eafe. Do you but your Parts, and
u Thunder itfelf cannot break our Chain."

Then he mentioned fome Jealoufies they had en-
tertained of New-England, by their fuffering the
Chevalier D' O to efcape to Canada^ which they fuf-
pe&ed had been concerted between him and the
People of New-England^ in Order to treat of Peace.
" Our Agents, faid he, faw the Chevalier D'O at
" Canada , who told them that he had been fet at
" Liberty by the Englijh, and that it was in vain
<c that the Five Nations warred againft the French »,
*c while the Englifi favoured them." On this
Occafion he (hewed them a Fiflb painted on Paper,
which the Commiffioners of New- England had mv*
en them, when they firft entered into the Chain,
as a Seal to the League.

He finifhed by telling them, that they would
next Day give all the Particulars of their Negotia-
tion in Canada.

The next Day Becanefora proceeded to the Ac-
count of his Negotiation, as follows : " The Go-
*4 vernor of Canada having often fent to us to
« come to Canada to treat with him, we- went
" thither, and told him, that we were come to
" treat of Peace. We made the following Pro-
" pofa's.

•* Father, if we do not conclude a Peace now,
•? it will be your Fault ; for we have already
4i taken the Hatchet out of the Hands of the Ri-
" ver- Indians (Hudforfs River) whom we incited
" to the War. But we muft tell you, that yon
" are an ill Man, you are inconftant and not to
46 be trufled ; we have had War together a lonar
4i I an^> and though you occafioned the War, we

" never

( i8i )

c< never hated the Houfe of Oghejja^ (a Gentle-
" man living at Montreal) let him undertake the
c< toilfome Journey to Onondoga 5 for if he will
" he fhall be welcome.

" Father, we are now fpeaking of Peace, and
<c therefore I muft fpeak a Word to the Praying In-
<c dians, and firft to thofe of Cahnuaga (chiefly Mo-
" hawks) you know our Cuftoms and Manners,
4C therefore make O?7ondio acquainted therewith,
" and be aflifting in the profecuting of this good
" Work. Then to the other Caftle, called Ca~
M najfadaga, (chiefly Onondagas) you are worfe
" than the French themfelves, you deferted from
*< us, and fide with our Enemies to deftxoy
" us ; make fome Amends now, by forwarding
" Feace.

" You have almoft eat us up, our bell Men
" are killed in this bloody War ; but we now
" forget what is paft. Before this we once threw
46 the Hatchet into the River of Kaibcage, * but
" you fifhed it up, and treacheroufly furprifed our
*c People at Cadarackuu After this you fent to
" us to have our Prifoners reftored ; then the
•** Hatchet was thrown up to the Sky, but you
<c kept a String faftened to the Helve, and pulled
" it down, and fell upon our People again. This
" we revenged to fome Purpofe, by the De-
" ftruc~tion of your People and Houfes in the Ifland
<c of Montreal.

" Now we are come to cover the Blood from
" our Sight, which has been fried by both Sides
M during this Ions: War.

" Qnondio, we have been at War a long Time,

we now give you a Medicine to drive away all ill

it

* The French call it la Famine, near Okfwego. The
Treaty with Mr. de la Bar was made there.

Thoughts

C 182 )

<c Thoughts from your Heart, to purge it and make
" it clean, and reftore it to its former State.

M Onondips we will not permit any Settlement at
44 Cadarackui ; you have had your Fire there thrice
<c extinguifhed ; we will not confent to your re-
" building that Fort, hut the PafTage through
« the River fhall be free and clear. We make the
" Sun clean, and drive away all Clouds and Dark-
" nefs, that we may fee the Light without Inter-
" ruption.

" Onondio, we have taken many Prifoners from
c< one another, during the War. The Prifoners
w we took have been delivered, according to our
<c Cuftom, to the Families that have loft any in
" the War, they no longer belong to the Publick,
*c they may give them back if they pleafe, your
" People may do the fame. We have brought
" back two Prifoners, and reftore them to you.

" After I had finifhed what I'had to fay, conti-
" tinued he, the Governor of Canada told me,
" that he would not make Peace with Cayengul-
" rago. To this I anfvvered, thefe Words dif-
" pleafe me much, you fhall keep Peace with
" him. Onondio faid again, I muft fight with Cay-
" engulrago, it is not in my Power to male? Peace ;
" this can only be done by my Mailer, who
" lives over the great Water. To this I replied,
" I cannot bear this Difcourfe ; if you fhould
w fiorht him now, and not ftav till I get Home,
<c all the Country will look on me as a Traitor ;
'" I can treat with you no longer. The Argu-
<c ment on this Subject iaited three Days, at lail
" the Governor of Canada affured me, that he
" would not undertake any Enterprize againft Cay-
" enguirago this Summer, but would wait to hear
46 what he would fay.

u The Governor of Canada infifted three Days
" to have Hoftages left, which I refufed ; but two

agreeing

(t

wC

( *83 )

agreeing of their own accord to fray, they were
left, viz. one an Onondago, another a Seneka.
" Then the Governor of Canada made the fol-
lowing publick Anfwer :

" I. I accept of Peace as you offer.
" II. Son, bring all the Prifoners back that you
have taken from me, and yours mall have Li-
berty to return Home, if they pleafe.
" III. Children eredf, my Fire again at Cada-
rackui, and plant there the Tree of Peace.

" After this the Governor of Canada delivered
" me a Belt, which I now lay down before you ;
" by it he faid, defire Cayenguirago to fend a wife
" Man to me, and he mall have Protection
" according to the Cuftom of Chriftians : and
" added,

" Children of tile Five Nations, if Cayenguirags
" mall employ you to do any Service for him, do
" not accept of it, let him fend his own People."
Decanefira added, that the Governor of Canada had
fixed eighty Days for a Return to this Belt.

He continued and faid, " The Sachems of the
Dionondadies were prefent ; after I had finifhed
my Speech, they faid ; May what you have now
faid be from your Hearts ;' we fufpecl: you are
not lincere ; let us no longer feel the Smart of
the Hatchet, and gave this Belt which I now
lay down.

Vi The Praying Indians next faid, Brethren,
our Father Onondio has told you to brino- Home
all the Prifoners, do not fail in this ; givino- two
Belts. &

" Brother Cayenguirago, you will find what I
have^now faid confirmed by this Faper, which
the Governor of Canada gave me. I brought
Letters iikewife for the Jeiuit iVlilet, who was

" to

( 1 84 )

" to read the Paper to us." The Paper contained"
the Articles in French, in which the Governor of
Canada was willing to make Peace.

But befides what Decanefora here tells, the French
Accounts fay, that he brought two Belts under-
ground (that is privately) from three Onondaga Sa-
chems, to afiure the Governor of Canada of their
particular Affection, which the Governor of Canada
anfwered, by a private Belt to them.

As foon as Decanefora had dortefpeaking, Colonel
Fletcher rejected the Belt fent by the Governor of
Canada, faying ; If the Governor of Canada have
any Thing to fay to me, let him fend fome of
his People to Albany, and they mall have Pro-
tection.

Next Day Sadekanahtie, after he had fung a lono-
Song, gave the following Account of their Negotia-
tions with the Dewagunhas and Dionondadies, which
they had undertaken by the Governor's Advice.

" We were afraid, fays he, to fend Meffengers
" of our own People, and therefore we employed
" two Prifoners we had of the Dionondadies with
|C the Governor's Belt. Sometime after this, fome
" of the Senekas hunting near the Dionondadies two
" of them were taken ; but when they were car-
*c ried to the Dionondadie Caftle, they were not
" treated like Prifoners ; they were ufed kind-
" }y, and fent back with the following Offers of
** Peace.

" We are glad to fee you Face to Face to fpeak
" to you, fince the Sun has been (o propitious to
" fend home the Men that were Prifoners with you*
" giving a few Strings of Wampum.

" We are glad of this Opportunity to tell you,
" that we have been both drunk in making War on
" one another ; we now give you a Cordial to eafe
" your Hearts, that there be no longer War be-
" tween us, by this Belt.

" We

( »85)

Cc We are glad that you have fet the Doors open
as far as Cayenguirago' s Houfe, that we may
freely go thither. Carry him this fecond Belt.
** Brethren, we thank you for having prepared a
Place for us at your General Council of Onon-
daga. Our Country is every where free to you
to treat with us, by this third Belt.
" Brethren, our whole Country rejoiced when
you invited us into your Country, and from
thence to go where Cayenguirago dwells ; be not
afraid to come to our Country, you fhall meet
with no Moleftation.

" Brethren, we thank you for putting us in
Mind of what was formerly agreed to, viz. that
when any ill Accident happens, we were to
meet together to compofe Matters, and not to
revenge it with War. We are now together to
put an End to all Mifunderftanding, by this
fourth Belt.

" Brethren, (we include all the Nations from
the Senekas Country to New-York in this Name)
hearken to us. We rend the Clouds afunder,
and drive away all Darknefs from the Heavens,
that the Sun of Peace may mine with Bright-
nefs over us all ; giving a Sun of a round red
polifhed Stone.

" Brethren, we put the Hatchet into the Hands
of the Cbightagbies^ Twihtwies^ and Odfira-
chies^ to war againft you ; but we (hall in three
Days go to thefe Nations and take the Hatchet
out of their Hands ; giving half a Stone Pipe.
<c You Senekas are ftupid Creatures, we muft
therefore warn you not to hunt fo far from your
Caftles, left you be hurt by any of thefe three
Nations, and then blame us. They then gave
the other half of the Pipe.
" But Brother Cayenguirago , fays Sadakabnitie9
•* do not fuffer thefe Nations to come nearer than

" the

( i86 )

cc the Senekas Country, left they difcover our Weak -
** nefs, and to what a low Condition the War has
" reduced us. Thefe Nations have been Co loner
" in Friendfhip with the French, and are Co much
" under their Influence, that we cannot truft them
" yet, or be too much upon our Guard againft
«« them."

Colonel Fletcher not being able to give the Five
Nations any Aflurance of a vigorous Affiftance, he
called the principal Sachems to a private Conference
on the twentieth. He afked them, whether they
had made Peace with the Governor of Canada ;
they anfwered, that it only wanted his Approbation,
and added, that they could no longer carry on the
War without Afiiftance. You have the whole Ne-
gotiations before you, fay they, and we fubmit it
to your Prudence.

He then allowed them to make Peace, provided
they kept faithful in their Chain with the Engiijh 5
but told them, that as to his Part he could make
no Peace with the Governor of Canada. They
were under great Uneafinefs to leave their Friends
in this War, they faid, and wifhed, fince neither
the Governor of Canada nor he would receive Pro-
pofals by their Hands, that they might think of
fome neutral Place to treat. The Governor an-
fwered, that he could neither receive nor fend a
Meilage on that Head ; and that Peace could be
only made between them by the two Kings,

The Governor next alked them, whether they
would permit the French to build again at Cada-
rackui ; they anfwered, they would never permit it,
and were refolved to infill on it, in all the enfuing
Treaties, that he never mall. Then the Gover-
nor added, if you permit the French to build any
where on that Lake, there will be an End to your
Liberty, your Pofterity will become Slaves to the
French. IC ever you mould permit them, I will

look

( i87 )

look on it as an abfolute Breach of the Chain with
us : If the French attempt it give me Notice, and
I will march the whole Force of my Government
to your Afliitance. We fhall rind afterwards, how-
ever, that the Government of New-York was far
from making good this Promife.

The Governor told them, that they had loft
much of their Honour in creeping to the French
in fuch an abject Manner ; for, fays he, the Go-
vernor of Canada's Paper, which you brought with
you, fays, that you came in the moft humble and
penitent Manner, and begged Peace. To which
they anfwered, the Governor of Canada has no
Reafon to make fuch Reflexions, we have many
of his Belts to (hew, by which he again and
again fued to us for Peace, before we would
hearken to him. But, replies the Governor, how
came you to call him Father ? For no other Rea-
fon, they replied, but becaufe he calls us Children,
Thefe Names iignify nothing.

They defired the Governor not to fay any Thing
particularly of Cadarackul^ in his publick Speech
that he was to make next Day, for they had, they
faid, fome among them that would tell all to the
Governor of Canada \ and concluded, with wifh-
ing that they had fome one, who could write and
read all that the Governor had faid to them, that
they might not forget any Part of it, when they
come to confult and refolve on this weighty Affair,
at their General Council at Onondaga.

Here we fee thefe Barbarians, thefe Savages, as
we call them, acting with the greateft Regard to
the Treaties they had entered into with their Allies,
and that at a Time when the Exigences of their
own Affairs, and when the faint feeble Ailiftance,
which their Allies had contributed in the common
Caufe, would, among Chrrftian Potentates, have
been thought a fufficient Excufe for their taking

Care

( 1*8 )

Care of themfelves feparately, in Breach of tne
mofr folemn Confederacy they could enter into.

The Sachems of the Five Nations being met at
Onondaga, to confult on the Terms offered by the
French, they were divided in their Opinions ; the
Cayugaip and Part of the Senckas, were mod fa-
vourable to the French Propofals ; but the major
Part was abfolutely againft allowing the French to
rebuild a Fort at Cadarackui, nor would they con-
fent to include all the French Allies in the Treaty,
with fome of which they had particular Caufes of
Animofity.

The Party that was moil for Peace obtained
Leave to go to Canada, to try whether they could
obtain Terms lefs difagreeable. They accordingly
went thither, within the Time prefixed by the Go-
vernor of Canada, for an Anfwer ; and to make
themfelves more acceptable to the French, they car-
ried thirteen FYrfoners with them, and delivered
them up. The Jefuit Milet was of this Number,
who had been taken in the Year 1689, and one
yonfcaire, who had been long a Prifoner among the
Senekas : He had been delivered up to a Family of
the Senekas, that had loft fome confiderable Re-
lation, and was by them adopted. He ingratiated
himfelf fo much with that Nation, that he was ad-
vanced to the Rank of a Sachem, and preserved
their Efteem to the Day of his Death ; whereby he
became, after the general Peace, very ufeful to the
French in all Negotiations with the Five Nations?
and to this Day they fhew their Regard to his Fa-
mily and Children.

When the Governor of Canada came to Parti-
culars with thefe Deputies, he could obtain nothing
but ambiguous or dubious Anfwers, as to the re-
building of Cadarackui Fort, and the including of
all the French Allies in the Peace. Whereupon
he difmuTed them with Prefents, and made them

many

X i89 )

many fair Promifes, in Cafe of their Compliance ;
but threatened them with utter Deftruction, in Cafe
of their refufingthe Terms he had offered. Many
of the French Indian Allies were prefent, when the
Governor of Canada refufed any Agreement without
his Allies being included in it, and this attached
them exceedingly to the French Intereft. This
Regard, which the French generally mew for the
Intereft of their Allies, is a Piece of Policy which,
upon all Occafions, proves ufeful to them ; whereas,
the Neglect of this Piece of natural Juftice has as
often been prejudicial to others, who have not had
fo tender a Senfe of it. But it is not fo eafy for a
weak State to keep up its Honour in fuch Cafes, as
it is for a powerful Prince.

CHAP. XL

The War renewed. The French repojfefs themj elves
of Cadarackui Fort, and find Means to break
off the Treaty between the Five Nations and
Dionondadies.

TH E Five Nations refufing to come to the
Governor of Canada's Terms, he refolved to
force them ; and as he fufpected that they continued
obftinate, by the Advice of the Englijh, and the
Confidence they had of the Englijh AfTiitance, he
thonght he would moft effectually lefTen that Con-
fidence, by attacking and deftroying the remainder
of the Mohawks^ who liv'd adjoining to the Englijh
Settlements. For this Purpofe he refolved to march,
in the Winter, the whole Force of Canada againft
that Nation ; but one of the Prifoners learning their
Defign, made his Efcape, and informed the Mo-
hawks of it. This made him alter his Meafures,
knowing well enough, that if the Englijh were
2 pre-

(190 )
prepared to receive them, fuch an Enterprize would
only lead thofe engaged in it to certain Defrru£t.ion.
He then fent three hundred Men into the Neck of
Land between Lake Erie and Cadarackui Lake, the
ufual hunting Place of the Five Nations, in Hopes
of furprifing them while they hunted carelefsly
there, and at the fame Time to view the old French
Fort there, to obferve in what Condition it re-
mained.

This Party met with three or four Men, who
defended themfelves obftmately, till they all fell
dead on the Spot. They furprifed likewife a Cabin,
where they took fome Men and Women Prifoners ;
and four of them were publickly burnt alive at Mon-
treal. So far the Count de Frontenac thought it
more proper to imitate the Indians in their mofl
favage Cruelties, than to inftrucl: them, by his Ex-
ample, in the Companion of the Chriftian Doc-
trine. A Party of one hundred and fifty of the
Five Nations fell upon the Dewagunhas, in their
Way to Canada , and entirely routed them. Ten
Prifoners were taken, nine of which were burnt
alive, in Revenge of the fame Fate the four Men
of the Five Nations had received at Montreal.

This Year alfo fome fculkino- French Indians
murdered fome People near Albany and Sche-
nectady.

The Party fent to view Cadarackui Fort found it
in a better Condition than they expected, the In-
dians having neglected to demolifh and level the
Baftions, and probably they had not Inftruments
fumcient to do it. The Count de Frontenac there-
fore, in the Summer of the Year 1695, fent a con-
fiderable Body of Men, both French and Indians,
thither, to repair the Fortifications, and to cover
thofe that fhould be at work. The Five Nations,
in Augujl, fent Mefiengers to Albany, to acquaint

the

( »9i)

the Englijh that the French had taken PoiTeflion of
Cadarackuiy and were repairing of it. They de-
manded, in Confequence of the Promife Colonel
Fletcher had given them, the AiTiflance of five
hundred Men and fome Canon, which they pro-
mifed they would draw over Land, where they
could not be carried by Water. At the fame Time
they defired, that the People of New-England
might be told, that many of the Owenagungas
were gone with the French to Cadarackui, and that
this was a proper Time to fall upon thofe that
remained, and to deftroy them, and the Women
and Children.

Coll. Fletcher came to Albany in September ", there,
in a Speech to the Five Nations, he blamed them
for being afleep, when they fuffered the French to
take PofTeffion of Cadarackui ; it would have been
much eafier, he faid, to have prevented their get-
ting the PofTeffion, than to drive them out, now
they are in it, efpecially as now you yourfelves
are convinced, that it is impoffible to carry Cannon
thither from this Place. All, fays he, I can now
do, is to advife you to inveft the Place with your
Parties, fo as to prevent their receiving any Supply
of Provifions : By this Means you may force them
to defert it. Then he gave them iooo Pound of
Powder, two thoufand Pound of Lead, 57 Fufees,
one Hundred Hatchets, three Hundred and forty-
eight Knives, and two Thoufand Flints, befides
Cloathing, &c. But in my Opinion, the Go-
vernment of Nevc-Tork have, on all Occafions,
been exceedingly to be blamed, in not having fome
Men of Experience among the Five Nations to ad-
vife and direct, them on all Emergencies of Impor-
tance. The French are very careful of this, and
the Officers of the regular Troops are obliged to
take their Tours among their Indians^ while the

vCap-

( 19^ )

Captains of the independent Companies of Fufiliers.
at New-York live like military Monks, in Idlenefs
and Luxury.

The French gained a great Advantage, by pof-
fefiing this Place, as it is of great Security to their
Traders, in their pafling between Montreal and
MiJJilimakinak. It ferved likewife as a Place of
Stores, and Retreat in all their Enterprizes againft
the Five Nations, that Place being nearly about
half Way between Montreal and the Country of
the Five Nations. It likewife expofed the Five
Nations in their hunting, to the Incurfions of that
Garifon, by its being in the Neighbourhood of their
principal hunting Place for Bever.

The French grew exceedingly uneafy, when they
found, that the Dionondadies, who live near Mif~
fdimakinak, had almoft concluded a Peace with the
Five Nations, and that the reft of their Allies were
like to follow their Example : Some of thefe Na-
tions had been at Montreal, and at their Return
forwarded the Peace, that thereby they might be
at Liberty to go to Albany ; for they informed their
Neighbours, that the Five Nations had intirely fhut
up the Path to Montreal; and befides that, the
French were not in a Condition to fupply them,
for they had nothing for themfelves, not lb much
as a Drop of ftrong Spirits. If thefe Nations had,
at that Time, deferted the French, it might pro-
bably have put an End to the French Colony ; for
as the Lands of Canada barely produce fufficient for
the Subiiftence of its Inhabitants, the only Means
they have of purchafmg Cioathing and other Ne-
ceffaries is by their Trade with the Indians. The
French likewife had been in Danger of greater Mis-
chief by the Peace, for thefe Nations being at War
with the Five Nations, and laying on the Back of
them, obliging the Five Nations to keep always a

very

( 193 )

very confiderable Part of their Force at home, to
defend themfelves againft thefe Nations, and to
revenge the Injuries they received from them ; but
if the Peace had been concluded with thefe Na-
tions, the Five Nations could have turned their
whole Force againfr. Canada, and probably might
have perfuaded thefe Nations to have joined with
them in warring on the French.

The French Commandant at MiJJilimakinak had
his Hands full at this Time ; and if he had not
been a Man of great Abilities, he muft have funk
under the Difficulties he had to go through ; in the
firft Place, to contradict the Stories brought from
Montreal, he ordered the Stores of his Fort to he
fold to the Indians at the cheapen1 Rate, and ai-
fured them, that great Quantities*were every Day
expected from France ', which were only detained
by contrary Winds ; and after thefe Goods fhall
arrive, faid he, they will be fold cheaper than ever
they have been. He told them likewife.> that the
Count de Frcnicnac would never make Peace with
the Five Nations, but was refolved to extirpate
them ; for which Purpofe he was now rebuilding"
Cadarackui Fort. At the fame Time he took all
poffible Methods to extinguifh the Beginnings of
Friendfhip, which appeared between the Five Na-
tions and Dionondadies.

The Dionondadies durft not avow their treating
with the Five Nations to the French, neither durit
the Five Nations truft their Agents in a Place
where they knew the French had fo great Influence ;
both Sides therefore agreed to carry on their Treaty
by Means of Prifoners which they took from one
another. The Civility with which the Diononda-
dies treated thefe Prifoners, their difmiffing them,
and their receiving again Prifoners which had been
taken by the Five Nations, gave the Commandant
fufficient Ground to fufpecl what was doing. The

Vol. I. K Dionon-

( 194 )

Dionondadies at laft took feven Men of the Five
Nations Prifoners, and carried them to Miffilima-
kinak. The French perceiving, by their Manner
of bringing them in, that the Dionondadies in-
tended to treat them with the Civility they had lately
ufed to others, murdered two of them with their
Knives as they .ftept afhore. On this the Dionon-
dadies immediately took to their Arms, faved_ the
other Five, and carried them fafe to their Caftle ;
and continuing in Arms, threatened Revenge for
the Tnfult they had received.

The French were forced in like Manner to ftand
to their Arms, and as there are always many dif-
ferent Nations at Miffiiima kinak trading, fome of
which were inveterate Enemies of the Five Nations ,
they joined with the French. The Utawawas flood
neuter. This gave the Commandant Means of
ending the Difpute by Compofition. He in the
iirft Place aflured them, that the Chriftians abhor-
red all Manner of Cruelty, and then told them,
that as the French fhared with the Dionondadies in
all the Dangers and Loffes fuftained by the War,
they ouoiit in like Manner to partake with them in
any Advantage. The Dionondadies on this were
perfuaded to deliver up one of the Prifoners. What
I am about to relate, I think, gives Room to charge
the French with a Piece of Policy, not only incon-
fiftent with the Chriflian Religion, but likewife with
the Character of a polite People ; and that all Con-
fiderations from Religion, Honour, and Virtue,
muft give Way to the prefent Exigencies of their
Affairs. That an End might be put to the Begin-
nings of a Reconciliation between thefe People and
the Five Nations^ the French gave a publick Invi-
tation to feaft on the Soup to be made on this Pri-»
foner, and, in a more particular Manner, invited
the Utawawas to the Entertainment.

The

( *95 )

The Prifoner being firfl made faft to a Stake, (o
as to have Room to move round it, a Frenchman
began the horrid Tragedy, by broiling the Flefh
of the Prifoner's Legs, from his Toes to his Knees,
with the red hot Barrel of a Gun ; his Example
was followed by an Utawawa^ and they relieved
one another as they grew tired. The Prifoner all
this while continued his Death Song, till they clapt
a red hot Frying-pan on his Buttocks, when he
cried out, Fire is flrong and too powerful ; then all
their Indians mocked him, as wanting Courage and
Refolution. You, theyfaid, a Soldier and a Cap-
tain, as you fay, and afraid of Fire ; you are not
a Man. They continued their Torments for two
Hours without ceafing. An Utaivaiva -being de-
firous to outdo the French in their refined Cruelty,
fplit a Furrow from the Prifoner's Shoulder to his
Garter, and filling it with Gunpowder, fet fire to
ft. This gave him exquifite Pain, and raifed ex-
ceflive Laughter in his Tormenters. When they
found his Throat fo much parched, that he was
no longer able to gratify their Ears with his howl-
ing, they gave him Water, to enable him to con-
tinue their Pleafure longer. But at lafr his Strength
failing, an Utaivaiva fiead off his Scalp, and threw
burning hot Coals on his Scull. Then they untied
him, and bid him run for his Life : He be^an to
run, tumbling like a drunken Man ; they fhut up
the Way to the Eaft, and made him run Weftward
the Country, as they think, of departed (miferable)
Souls. He had ftill Force left to throw Stones, till
they put an End to his Mifery by knocking him on
the Head with a Stone. After this every one cut a
Slice from his Body, to conclude the Tragedy with
a Feaft. It is doing no Injury, I think, to thefe
Frenchmen, who thus glory in this horrid Cruelty,
K 2 to

( '96 )

to afk them, whether they did not likewife regale
their revengeful Appetites with a Share of this in-
human Feaft ?

Though I have had frequent Occafions to men-
tion thefe barbarous inhuman Cruelties, tranfadted
by the Indians , yet I have avoided to relate the
particular Circumftances of them, becaufe I believe,
few civilized Ears can bear the reading of them
without Horror. But when they are perpetrated by
Chriftians, and fo far gloried in, as to be recorded
in their own Hiftory, I am willing to mew it to my
Countrymen in its proper Colours. This laft Piece
of French Hiftory is taken from Hijioire de I'Ameri-
que Septentrionale, par Monfr. de la Poterie, pub-
limed at Paris with the Royal Licence, and recom-
mended to the Publick by Monf. Fontenelle, Vol. ii.
Page 298.

Though this cruel Act had its defigned Effect,
in breaking off this Method of negotiating between
the Five Nations and Dionondadies^ it did not pre-
vent the Peace; and it had very near raifed a civil
War with their own Indians^ which was only
prevented by the dextrous Conduct of the French
Officers, who in all Kind of Artifice, have always
been fuperior to the Indians. But let me obferve
on this Occafion, that the avoiding any Misfor-
tune, by any bafe or wicked Action, is commonly
the Caufe of greater Mifchiefs than what is thereby
avoided; and of this numerous Examples may be
given.

C H A P.

( i97 )

CHAP. XII.

The Count de Frontenac attach Onondaga in Per-
fon, with the whole Force of Canada. The Five
Nations continue the IVar with the French, and
make Peace with the Dionondadies.

TH E Count de Frontenac having fecured Ca~
darackui Fort, which was called by his Name,
as a Place of Arms and Provifions, and for a Re-
treat to the Men that mould happen to be fick or
wounded, refolved to make the Five Nations feel
his Refentment of their refufinghis Terms of Peace.
For this Purpofe he alTembled all the regular Troops
of Canada, the^ Iv^ilitia, the Owenagungas, the
Quatoghies of Lo'/etto, the Adirondacks, Sokokies^
Nepiciriniens, the Praying Indians of the Five Na-
tions, and a few Utawawas, at Montreal, in June
1696. The other weftern Indians near MiJ/iii-
makinak, by their late Correfpondence with the
Five Nations, and the DifTatisfa&ion they had ma-
nifefled, were not trufted. The Manner of making
"War with the Indians in a Country wholly covered
with Woods, muft be fo much different from the
Methods ufed in Europe, that I believe the Reader
will be pleafed to have a particular Account of
the Count de Fronienac's Conduct in this, who was
an old experienced General, in the feventy-fourth
Year of his Age.

It is to be obferved, that it is impcfTible to pafs
the va|l Forefls between the Countries of the Five
Nations with Waggons, or other Carriages, or on
Horfeback, or even on Foot, in the Summer Time,
by Reafon of many impaiJible thick Swamps and
MorafTes. For this Reafon, the only Method of
travelling is in Bark Canoes, or very Light Battoes,
along the Rivers, which may be eailly carried on

K 3 Men's

( *9§ )
Men's Shoulders, where the Stream of the River
becomes too rapid, and from one River to another;
for which PurpOfe the fhorteft Pafles are always
chofen, and are called, for this Reafon, Carrying
Places.

The Count de Frontenac marched from la Chine,
in the fouth End of thelfland of Montreal, the fourth
of July, He divided five hundred Indians fo, that
the greatefl Number of them fhould always be in
the Van, which confuted of two Battalions of the
regular Troops. They were followed by the Ca-
noes which carried the Provifions. The Van v/as
commanded by the Chevalier de Callieres, Gover-
nor of Montreal; he had with him two large Bat-
toes, which carried two fmall Pieces of Cannon,
j&nall Mortars, Granadoes, and the Utenfils of the
Artillery. The Count de Frontmae was at the Head
of the main Body, accompanied by the Engineer
and feveral Gentlemen Voluntiers. The Body con-
fided of four Battalions of the Militia, who, in War
with Indians, were then more depended on than
the regular Troops ; thefe were commanded by
Monfieur Ramfay, Governor of Trot's Rivieres,
The Rear which confuted of two Battalions of
regular Troops, and of the reft of the Indians,
was under the Command of the Chevalier de Vau-
dreuil. All the Indians had French Officers fet
over them.

In this Order the Army marched, only thofe that
were in the Van one Day, were in the Rear the
next ; and they always kept a Number of Indians
on the Scout, to difcover the Tracks of the Ene-
my, for fear of Ambufcades. And when they were
obliged to carry the Canoes, and drag the large
Battoes, feveral Parties were detached to cover the
Men that worked.

After twelve Days March they arrived at Cada-
rackui Fort7 one hundred eighty Miles from Mont-
real*

( i'99 )

real. Here they waited for the Utawaiuas, who
difappointed them, and in the mean Time raifed a
Bark which had remained funk fince Cadarackui
Fort was deferted. They crofled over Cadarackui
Lake to Onondaga River (now Obfivega.) This
River being narrow and rapid, they ordered fifty
Men to march on each fide of it, to prevent their
being furprifed, and the Army moved (lowly along
the River, according to the Intelligence they re-
ceived from their Scouts. They found a Tree, as
they pafTed along, on which the Indians had, in
their Manner, painted the French Army, and had
laid by it two Bundles of cut Rirlhes. This was
a Defiance in the Indian Manner, and to tell them
by the Number of Rufhes, that fourteen hundred
thirty four Men would meet them. The French
pafTed the little Lake, between Ohfwe^a and Onon-
daga in Order of Battle 5 and the two Wings, to
prevent their being furprifed, and to make the
Place of their Landing more uncertain to the E-
nemy, took a Circuit along the Coaft. As foon as
they had landed they raifed a Fort. A Se?ieka,
who had been fometime a Prifoner in Canada, and
pretended an Attachment to the French, was fent
out to make a Difcovery. He deferted to the O-
nondagas. He found them waiting for the French,
with a Refolution to defend their CafHe, and to
fight the French ; for which Purpofe they had fent
away their Women and Children. The Scneka
told them that the French Army was as numerous
as the Leaves on the Trees ; that they had Ma-
chines which threw Balls up in the Air, and which
falling on their Caftle burft to Pieces, and fpread
Fire and Death every where, againft which their
Stockadoes could be of no Defence. This was
confirmed by another Senega, who deferted. Up-
on which the Onondagas thought it molt advifeable

K 4 . to

( 2C0 )

to retire, leaving their poor Fort and Bark Cotta-
ges all in Flames.

After the General had an Account of this, he
marched to their Village in Order of Battle. The
Army was divided into two Lines : The firft com-
manded by the Chevalier de Callieres, who placed
himfelf on the Left, confuted of two Battalions
of the Inhabitants in the Center, and a Battalion
jof the regular Troops on each Wing. The Ar-
tillery followed them. Moft of the Indians of
this Diviiiori were upon the right, who continual-
ly lent out Scouts. The fecond Line was com-
manded by the Chevalier de Vaudreuil, compofed
of the fame Number of Battalions, and in the
fame Order. The Count de Front enac was carried
in a Chair directly after the Artillery. But it was
impoilible for them to keep their Order, in palling
through thick Woods, and in paffing Brooks. In
this formidable Manner the aged General marched
up to the Afhes of the Village, and his Army
exerted their Fury on the Indian Corn, which co-
vered a large Field in thick Ranks.

An Indian Sachem, about one hundred Years
old, would not retire with the reft, but chofe this
Time to end his-Days. The French Indians had
the Pleafure of tormenting him, which he bore
with a furprifing Evennefs of Mind, and with that
Refolution which becomes a Sachem of the Five
Nations. He told his Tormentors to remember
well his Death, when his Countrymen mould
come to take terrible Vengeance of them. Upon
which, one ftabbing him feveral Times with his
Knife, he thanked him, but faid, you had better
make me die by Fire, that thefe Dogs of French-
men may learn how to fuffer like Men. You In-
dians, their Allies, you Dogs of Dogs, think of
me, when you (hall be in the like State. Thus
this old Sachem, under all the Weaknefs of old

Age,

( 201 )

Age, preferred a Greatnefs of Soul, and a due
Regard for the Honour of his Country, to the laft
Moment of his Breath.

The Chevalier de Vaudrcuil was fent with a De-
tachment of fix or feven hundred Men to deftroy
the Oncydocs Corn, who liv'd but a fmall Diftance
from Onondaga, which he performed without any .
Refiftance. The Jefuit Milet had lived for the
moft Part with the Oneydoes ; he had infufed into
them the moil favourable Sentiments of the French y
and they had been the moil inclined to Peace on
the French Terms. Thirty five of them ftaid in
their Caftle to make the French welcome; but.
the only Favour they obtained, was to be made
Prifoners, and carried to Alontreal. The French
Governor declared his Refolutions to extirpate the
Onondaga s, and for that Reafon gave Orders to
give no Quarter.

The Difficulty of fupporting fo many Men in
thefe Defarts, made it necefTarv for the Count de
Frontcnac to return as fpeediiy as pofiible. Though
the French Army was much an Overmatch tor the
Omndagas9 both in Number of Men and in their
Arms, the Onondagas were not fo far difpirited, as
not to follow them in their Return. They found
Opportunities to revenge themfelv.es in ibme Mea-
fure, by cutting oft every Canoe that happened
at any Time to be at a Diftance from the main
Body. This obliged the Count to haflen his
March, {o that he returned to Montreal the tenth
of Augujl.

The Onondagas fulFered nothing by this charge-
able Expedition, but the Lois of their Corn, and
their Bark Cottages. They loft not one Man, but
the old Sachem, who refolved to die a Martyr to
his Country's Honour. The French fuffered con-
fiderably by its Confequences ; for all the Planters
being taken off from their Labour, either in this

K 5 Expedition,.

( 202 )
Expedition, or In watching and fecuring their Forts
and Country, a Famine enfued 5 and this I find has
often happened in Canada^ where all the Men fit
to bear Arms, have been employed in fuch like Ex-
peditions. If the Oneydoes had not timely furren-
dered themfelves, the Count had not been able to
have carried Home the leaft Token of a Victory,
And all that can be faid for this Enterprize is, that
it was a Kind of heroick Dotage.

The Influence that the Jefuit Milet had obtain-
ed over the Oneydoes, was fuch, that fome Time af-
ter this, thirty of them deferted to the French, and
defired that he might be appointed their Paftor.

In the following Winter, the Mohawks, with the
Governor of New-TorFs Privacy, fent one to the
Praying Indians with two Belts, and he carried two
Prifoners with him. By the firft Belt, he afked,
whether the Path was entirely {hut up between their
two Countries ) and, by the fecond, demanded
the Reftitution of a Prifoner the Praying Indians had
taken : But his real Defign was, to learn the State
of their Country, and what Defigns were form-
ing. Notwithftanding the Influence and Arti-
fice of the French Priefts over thefe Converts, they
itill retained an Affe£tion to their Countrymen $
for which Reafon the Count de Frontenac entertain-
ed a Jealoufy of thefe Intercourfes, and threatened
to put to Death any that mould come in that Man-
ner again ; but the Meflenger had the Satisfaction
of difcovering the dtftrefled Condition of Canada by
Famine.

A Party of the French was fent out in the Win-
ter, to make fome Attempt upon the Englijh Set-
tlements near Albany ; but fome Mohawks and
Scahkook Indians meeting with them, before they
reached the Settlements, they were entirely routed.
The commanding Officer, one du Bau, and two*-
others, fayed themfelves. from the Fury of the In-

diansx

( 203 )

dians, by running to Albany ; the reft were either
killed or perifhed in the Woods, fo that not one
Man of this Party got back to Canada,

It was much eafier for the French tofet the Pray-
ing Indians upon the Englijh, againft whom it is
pofiible many of them had perlbnal Anunolities,
that made them go over to the French, than to fight
their Countrymen. Several of them came this
Winter fkulking about Scheneclady and Albany ;
and beins; well acquainted with the Country, and
fpeaking like wife the Mohawks Language, by which
they fometimes deceived the Inhabitants, they fur-
prifed fome of the Inhabitants, and carried away

their Scalps. •

The Five Nations, to (hew that the Count de
Frontenac's Expedition had no way difcouraged
them, fent out feveral Parties againft Canada. One
of them met with a Party of French upon St. Lau-
rence River, near Montreal. The French were
routed", and their Captain killed. As foon as this
was heard at Montreal, Repentigni was fent out
after them with, a confiderable Party of French,,
Nepicirinlen Indians and Praying Indians ; but this
Party was likewife defeated, and the Captain with;
many of his Men killed.

Thus the War was continued till the Peace of
Refwick, by fmall Parties of Indians, on both Sides,
harafling, furprifmg, and fcalping the Inhabitants
near Montreal and Albany.

Some Time this Year the chief Sachem of the-
Dionondadies ( whom. the French call the Baron) went
to Quebeck, pretending a ftrong Attachment to the
French, but really to conceal the Treaty of Peace
that he was on the Point of concluding with the
Five Nations ; for which Pur^ofe he had lent his
Son with nineteen Belts to the Senekas. The Sub-
fknee of whofe Commiffion was as follows :

K. 6 The

C 204 )

The French have for many Years confounded
our Refolutions, and deceived us, but now we are
refolved to break all their Artifices, by ftoopino-
our Lars. We come now to unite with you, while
the French know nothing of the Matter. The Com-
mandant at Mi(jilimakinak has told us many Lies,
he has betrayed us, and made us kill one another,
but we are firmly refolved never to hearken to him
any more. The Peace was accordingly firmly con-
cluded, notwitManding all the Oppofition the
French could make. The French Authors fay, the
only Reafon that induced the Dionondadies was,
that the Englifh fold them Goods cheaper than the
French cow Id.

_ Some Time before the News of a Peace ar-
rived, the French at Montreal being informed that
a Party of the Five Nations were difcovered near
Corlear\ Lake, fent out a Captain with a Party of
Soldiers and Indians, who being well experienced
in the Manner of making War with Indians.
marched through the thickeit Wgods, and by the
Jcalt frequented Places, fo that he difcovered the
Lnemy without being difcovered. He furprifed that
Party, killed feverai, and took one Prifoner. The
Utawawas being then trading at Montreal, the
Count de Fro?itenac invited them to a Feaft to be
made of this Prifoner, and caufed him to be burnt
pubiickiy alive at Montreal, in the Manner of
which I have already given two Accounts from the
Jtrencb Autnors.

CHAP,

( 205 )

CHAP. XIII.

The ConduSf which the Englifh and French obferved,
in regard to the Five Nations, immediately after
the Peace of Refwick,

SOON after the News of the Peace of Refivhk
reached New-York, the Governor fent an Ex-
prcfs to Canada, to inform the Governor there of
it, that Hostilities might ceafe. The Five Nations
having an Account of the Peace earlier than they
had it in Canada, took Advantage of it, in hunting
Bever near Cadarackui Fori. The Governor of
Canada being informed of this, and believing that
the Five Nations thought themfelves fecure by the
general Peace, refolved to take his laft Revenge of
them. For this Purpofe he fent a confiderable
Party ef Adirondack* to furprife them, which they
did, and killed feveral, but not without Lofs of
many of their own Men. The Lofs of one of their
greaterl: Captains at that Time gave the Five Na-
tions the greater!. Affliction. After he was mortally
wounded, he cried out : "• Muft I who have made
*' the whole Earth tremble before me, now die
<c by the Hands of Children ? " for he defpifed
the Adirondacks.

A Difpute at this Time arofe, between the Go-
vernment of New-York and Canada, about the
French Prifoners which the Five Nations had in
their Hands. The Earl of Bellamont, then Go-
vernor of New-York would have the French re-
ceive thofe Prifoners from him, and directed the
Five Nations to bring them to Albany for that Pur-
pofe. The French i on the other Hand, refufed to
own the Five Nations as fubject to the Crown of
Great-Britain, and threatened to continue the
War againft the Five Nations, if they did not
bring the Prifoners to Montreal, and deliver them

there.

( 206 )

there. The Count de Front enac fent fome of the
Praying Indians with a MefTage to this Purpofe,
and to have all the French Allies included in the
general Peace.

The Meffenger on his Return told the Count,,
publickly in Prefence of feveral Utawawas, that
the Five Nations refufed to include feveral of his
Allies, but were refolved to revenge the Injuries
they had received.; The Utawazvas were exceed-
ingly difcompofed at hearing this, and the Count,
to recover their Spirits, aflured them, that he ne-
ver would make Peace without including all his
Allies in it, and without having all their Prifoners
reitored. At the fame Time he made Prepara-
tions to attack the Five Nations with the whole
Force of Canada.

The Earl of Bellamont being informed of this,.
fent Captain John Schuyler (of the Militia) to tell,
the Count, that he had the Intereft of the King
his Matter too much at Heart,, to fuffer \!s\& French-
to treat the Fi^e Nations like Enemies, after the
Concluiion of the general Peace ; for which Rea-
son he had ordered them to be on their Guard,,
and had furnifhed them with Arms and Ammu-
nition ; that he had ordered the Lieutenant-Go-
vernor, in Cafe they were attacked, either by the
French, or their Allies, to join them with the re-
gular Troops ; and that if he found it necelfary,
fee would raife the whole Force of his Government
in their Defence.

This put a Stop to the French Threatening, and,
both Sides made Complaint to their Matters. 7'he
two Kings ordered their refpe£tive Governors to,
be afTifting to each other, in making the Peace ef-
fectual to both Nations, and to leave the Difputes,,
as to the Dependency of the Indian Nations, to
be determined by CcmmifTioners, to be appointed;
purfuant to the Treaty of RefwicL.

i It

( 207 )

It is exceedingly impolitick, when weaker Po-
tentates, ingaged in a Confederacy againft one
powerful Prince, leave any Points to be determin-
ed after the Conclufion of a Peace ; for if they
cannot obtain a Concefiion, while the Confedera-
cy ftands and their Force is united, how can a
weaker Prince hope to obtain it, when he is left
alone to himfelf, after the Confederacy is diflblved?
The French have fo often found the Benefit of
this Piece of Imprudence, that in all their Trea-
ties they ufe all the Cajoling, and every Artifice
in their Power, to obtain this Advantage, and they
feldom mifs it.

About the Time of the Conclufion of the Peace,,
at Re/wick, the noted Therouet died at Montreal*
The French gave him Chriftian Burial in a pompous
Manner, the Prieft, that attended him at his Death,
having declared that he died a true Chriftian ;
for, faid the Pried, while I explained to him the
Pafiion of our Saviour, whom the Jews crucified,
he cried out ; " Oh ! had I been there, I would
" have revenged his Death, and brought away their.
" Scalps.

Soon after the Peace was known at Montreal^
three confiderable Men of the Fraying Indians came
to Albany -, they had fine laced Coats given them,,
and were invited to return to their own Country.
They anfwered, that they were young Men, and
had not Skill to make a fuitable Anfwer, and had
not their ancient Men to confult with ; but promi-
sed to communicate the Propofals to their old Men,,
and would bring back an Anfwer in the Fall. I
find nothing more of this in the Regifter of Indian.
Jffairsy though it might have been of great Confe-
quence had it been purfued to Purpoie ; but fuch
Matters, where there is not an immediate private.
Profit,, are feldom purfued by the EngUfti with.

that

( 208 )

that Care and Afliduity, with which they are by
the French.

While Captain Schuyler was in Canada, he enter-
ed into fome indifcreetDifcourfe with Monfieur Afa-
ricour, for whom the Five Nations had a particular
Efteem, and call StowtoiviJJe. Captain Schuyler, in
afferting the Dependency of the Five Nations on
New-York, faid, that thofe Nations were their Slaves.
Mr. Maricour told this Difcourfe to an Onondaga,
with all the Aggravations he could, and added, that
it was intirely owing to the Englijh that the Peace
was not abfolutely concluded, and that Captain
Schuyler prevented their Prisoners being reflored,
becaufe he would have them fent to Albany, as be-
ing Slaves to the Englijh. That the French had no
Difpute with the Englijh, but for the Independen-
cy of the Five, Nations. This indifcreet Condudr.
of Captain Schuyler was fo much relented by the
Five Nations, that a Deputation of the moft con-
fiderable Sachems was fent to Albany in June 1699,
to complain of it; and they fent at the fame Time
Deputies to Canada to conclude the Peace, inde-
pendently of the Eng'ijh. Thefe Deputies that
came to Albany were fo far convinced that the
French had abufed them, and how much more it
was for their Security to be included in the general
Peace with the Englijh, than to have only the French
Faith for their Security, that they immediately dif-
patched a MeiTenger after their Deputies that were
gone to Canada. Though this MeiTenger reached
them too late to flop their Proceeding, it con-
vinced the Deputies fo far of its being for their In-
terefl to be joined with the Englijh in the Peace,
as they had been in the War, that they mfifted
that the Exchange of Prifoners be made at Albany.
At the fame Time the MeiTenger was fent after
their Deputies to Canada, Colonel Peter Schuyler

was

( 209 )
was lent with others to Onondaga^ to remove the
Prejudices they had received there.

The Count de Frontenac died while thefe Dif-
putes continued. Monfieur de Callieres, who fuc-
ceeded him, put an End to them, by agreeing
to fend to Onondaga to regulate the Exchange of
Prifoners there j for which Purpofe Monfieur Ma-
ricour, loncaire, and the Jefuit Bruyas, were fent.

When the French Commiflioners were come
within lefs than a Mile of Onondaga Caflle, they put
themfelves in Order and marched with the French
Colours carried before them, and with as much
Show as they could make. Decanefcra met them
without the Gate, and complimented them with
three Strings of Wampum. By the firil he wiped
away their Tears for the French that had been
flain in the War. By the fecond he opened their
Mouths, that they might fpeak freely ; that is,
promifed them Freedom of Speech. By the third
he cleaned the Matt, on which they were to fit,
from the Blood that had been fpilt on both Sides :
The Compliment was returned by the Jefuit, then
they entered the Fort, and were faluted with a ge-
neral Difcharge of all the Fire-Arms. They were
carried to the beft Cabin in the Fort, and there en-
tertained with a Feaft. The Deputies of the fe-
vcral Nations not being all arrived, the Jefuit, and
Monfieur Maricour, pafTed the Time in vifiting and
converfing with the French Prifoners. The General
Council being at lafc met, the Jefuit made the fol-
lowing Speech, which I take from the Relation the
Five Nations afterwards made of it to the Earl of
Bellament.

" I. I am slad to fee the Five Nutions. and that
c< fome of them went to Canada, notwithstanding
" Corlear forbid them : I am lorry for the Lofs of
f* your People killed by the remote Indians ; I

" condole

( 210 )
" condole their Death, and wipe away the Blood
" by this Belt.

" 2. The War Kettle boiled fo long, that it
" would have fcalded all the Five Nations had it
" continued ; but now it is overfet and turned up-
" fide down, and a firm Peace made.

" 3. I now plant the Tree of Peace and Wel-
" fare at Onondaga.

" 4. Keep fall the Chain you have made with
" Cor tear, for now we have one Heart and one
Interefl with them -, but why is Cor/ear againil
your correfponding with us, ought we not to
converfe together when we are at Peace and in
" Friendship I

5. Deliver up the French Prifoners you have,
and we fhall deliver not only thofe of your Na-
tion we have, but all thofe likewife taken by
any of our Allies ; and gave a Belt.
" 6. I offer myfelf to you, to live with you at
f« Onondaga, to inflru£t you in the Chriftian Re-
«< ligion, and to drive away all Sicknefs, Plagues
H and Difeafes out of your Country, and gave a
«< third Belt.

" 7. This laft Belt, he faid, is from the Ron-
« daxe, or French Indians, to defire P.eflitution of
ts the Prifoners taken from them."

The Jefuit in the Concufion faid ; " Why does
** not Corlear tell you ft hat paffes between the Go-
" vernor of Canada and him ? He keeps you in
«' the Dark, while the Governor of Canada con-
" ceals nothing from his Children. Nor does the
¥ Governor of Canada claim your Land, as Corlear
« does." .

The General Council immediately rejected the

Belt by which the Jefuit offered to flay with them,

faying, We have already accepted Corlear's Belt, by

which he offers us Paftors. to inftru£l us. Decane-

fora added, The Jefuits have always deceived us,

for

( 211 )

for while they preached Peace, the French came
and knocked us on the Head. To this the Jefuit
replied, that if he had known that Cor/ear intend-
ed to fend them Paftors, he would not have offered
this Belt.

It is to be obferved, that the Indian Council re-
fufed to hear the French, or to give them an An-
fwer, but in Prefence of the Commiflioners from
Albany,

The French Commiffioners having allured the
Peace with the Five Nations, the Inhabitants of
Canada efteemed it the greateft Bleffing that could
be procured for them from Heaven ; for nothing
could be more terrible than this laft War with the
Five Nations. While this War lafted, the Inhabi-
tants eat their Bread in continual Fear and Trem-
bling. No Man was fure, when out of his Houfe,
of ever returning to it again. While they laboured
in the Fields, they were under perpetual Appre-
frenfions of being killed or feized, and carried to
the Indian Country, there to end their Days in
cruel Torments. They many Times were forced
to neglect both their Seed Time and Harveft. The
Landlord often faw all his Land plundered, his
Houfes burnt, and the whole Country ruined, while
they thought their Perfons not fafe in their Forti-
fications. In fhort, all Trade and Bufinefs was of-
ten at an intire Stand, while Fear, Defpair, and
Mifery appeared in the Faces of the poor Inhabi-
tants.

The French Commiffioners carried feveral of the
principal Sachems of the Five Nations back with
them, who were received at Montreal with great
Joy. They were faluted by aDifcharge of all the great
Guns round the Place, as they entered. The
French Allies took this amifs, and afked if their
Governor was entring. They were told, that it
was a Compliment paid to the Five Nations, whofe

Sachems

f 212 )
Sachems were then entering the Town. We per-
ceive, they replied, that Fear makes the French
(hew more Refpea to their Enemies, than Love
can make them do to their Friends.

Monfieur de Callieres aflembled all the French
Allies (who were then very numerous at Montreal).
to make the Exchange of Prifoners, and they de-
livered the Prifoners they had taken, though the
Five Nations had fent none to be exchanged for
them. Thus we fee a brave People ftruggle with
every Difficulty, till they can get out of it with
Honour; and fuch People always gain Refpea,
even from their moft inveterate Enemies.

I (hall finifh this Part by obferving, that not-
withstanding the French Commiffioners took all the
Pains poffible to carry Home the French, that were
Prifoners with the Five Nations, and they had full
Liberty from the Indians, few of them' could be
perfuaded to return. It may be thought that this
was occafioned from the Hardfhips they had en-
dured in their own Country, under a tyrannical
Government and a barren Soil : But this certainly
was not the only Reafon ; for the ' Englijh had as
much Difficulty to perfuade the People, that had
been taken Prifoners by the French Indians, to leave
the Indian Manner of living, though no People
enjoy more Liberty, and live in greater Plenty,
than the common Inhabitants of New-York do.
No Arguments, no Intreaties, nor Tears of their
Friends and Relations, could perfuade many of
them to leave their new Indian Friends and Ac-
quaintance ; feveral of them that were by the Ca-
reiilngs of their Relations perfuaded to come Home,
in a little l ime grew tired of our Manner of liv-
ing, and run away again to the Indians, and ended
their Days with them. On the other Hand, Indian
Children have been carefully educated among the
Englifn, clbathed and taught, yet, I think, there

is

C 2'3 )

is not one Inflance, that any of thefe, after they
had Liberty to go among their own People, and
were come to Age, would remain with the Englijh^
but returned to their own Nations, and became as
fond of the Indian Manner of Life as thofe that
knew nothing of a civilized Manner of livino-.
What I now tell of Chriftian Prifoners among In-
dians y relates not only to what happened at the
Conclufion of this War, but has been found true
on many other Occafions.

PAPERS

PAPERS

RELATING TO

An ACT of the Assembly

OF THE

Province of NE TV-YORK,

FOR

Encouragement of the Indian Trade, &c. and

for prohibiting the felling of Indian Goods

to the French, viz. of CANADA.

I. A Petition of the Merchants of London to His
Majeity againft the faid Act.

II. His Majesty's Order in Council, referring
the Petition to the Lords CommifTioners of Trade
and Plantation.

III. Extract of the Minutes of the faid Lords,
concerning fome Allegations of the Merchants
before them.

IV. The Report of the faid Lords to his Majeily
on the Merchants Petition, and other Alle-
gations.

V. The Report of the Committee of Council of
the Province of New-Tork> in Anfwer to the laid
Petition.

VI. A Memorial concerning the Furr .Trade of
New-Tort, by C, Colden, Efq;

( 2i5 )

TO THE

King's Moft Excellent Majefly in
Council,

The Humble Petition and Reprefentation of Sa-
muel Bakery Samuel Storke, John Bayeux, Ri-
chard Jeneway, Robert Hack/haw, Jofeph Low,
Jofeph Paice, George Streatficld, William Parkin
and John Evered, Merchants of London, tra-
ding to New York, in behalf of themfelves, and
the reft of the Perfons concerned in the New-
Tor k Trade.

SHEWETH,

~y H A T by an Act pa/Ted in New-Tor k the
19th of November, 17 20, entitled, An Ac~f
^ for Encouragement of the Indian Trade, and
rendering it more beneficial to the Inhabitants of this
Province, and for prohibiting the felling of Indian
Goods to the French, all Trade whatsoever is pro-
hibited in the ftricteft Manner, and under the fe-
vered Penalties, between the Inhabitants of New-
Tork Government, and the French of Canada, or
any Subjects of the French King, or any Perfon
whatfoever, for or on the behalf of any fuch Subjects ;
and which Act was to continue in Force for three
Years.

That the Reafons afiigned in the Preamble of
this Act, for the palling thereof, are, For that the
French at Canada, by Means of Indian Goods pur-
chafed from the Inhabitants of New-Tork, had not
only almoft wholly engrofled the Indian Trade to
themfelves, but had, in great Meafure, withdrawn

the

( 216 )

the Affections of the Five Nations of Indians from
the Inhabitants of New-York ', and render'd them
wavering in their Faith and Allegiance to your
Majefty ; and would, if fuch Trade was not pre-
vented, wholly alienate the Minds of the faid In-
dians, which might prove of dangerous Confequence
to the Englijh Inter eft in America.

That this Act was fent home for your Majefty's
royal Confideration, but your Petitioners do not
find that your Majefty ever fignified your Allow-
ance or Difallowance thereof; from whence, and
from the Act's being to continue but three Years,
your Petitioners humbly conceive the fame was
fuffered to lie by probationary, to fee whether the
faid Act, in its Effects, was really advantageous
or prejudicial to the Britijh Trade and Inter eft in
America.

That your Petitioners have received Advice,
That the Government of Neiv-Ycrk either have, or
are about patting an Act, to revive and continue
the faid Act for prohibiting all Trade betv/een
New- York .and Canada.

Upon which Occafion, your Petitioners humbly
beg Leave to reprefent to your Majefty, That the
faid Act, tho' in the firft Intention of it, it might
be well defigned, yet, in its Effects, it has proved
very pernicious to the Eritifi Trade in general,
and to the Intereft of New-York in particular : For,
befides the Nations of bulians that are in the En-
glijh Intereft, there are very many Nations of /»-
dians, who are, at prefent, in the Intereft of the
French, and who lie between New- York and the
Nations of Indians in the E?iglijb Intereft > and this
Act prohibiting all Trade between New-York and
the French of Canada, or any of the Subjects of
France, the French, and their Indians, would not
permit the E?igliflj Indians to pafs over by their
Forts, fo as to carry on a free Trade with New-

3 y^ky

f 217 )

York) but prevented their PafTages, as much as
poflible, whereby that molt confiderable and only
valuable Branch of Trade from New-York, hath,
ever fince the palling the faid Act, very much
lefTened, from the great Difficulties of carrying on
any Trade with the Englijh Indians, and the Pro-
hibition of all Trade with the French ; and all the
Indian Goods have, by this Act, been raifed in
their Price 25 /. to 30 /. per Cent.

Whereas, on the other hand, this Branch of the
New-York Trade, by the Difcouragements brought
upon it by this Act, is almoft wholly engrofTed by
the French, who have already, by this Acl:, been
encouraged to fend proper European Goods to Ca-
nada, to carry on this Trade ; (0 that mould this
Acl be continued, the New-York Trade, which is
very confiderable, muft be wholly loft to us, and
center in the French.

And your Petitioners further beg Leave humbly
to reprefent, That as they conceive nothing can
tend more to the with-drawing the Affections of
the Five Nations of Indians from the Englijh In-
tereji, than the Continuance of the faid Act, which,
in its Effects, reftrains them from a free Commerce
with the Inhabitants of New -York, and may, too
probably, eftrange them from the Englijh Intereji :
Whereas by a Freedom of Commerce, and an
encouragM Intercourfe of Trade with the French,
and their Indians, the Englijh Intereft might, in
Time, be greatly improved and ftrengthened among
the Indians in general, who, by fuch Latitude of
TraJe, might be link'd to our Friendship in the
ftrongeft Ties of their own Intereft, as well as In-
clinations.

That therefore, and as the faid Act was, in its
Effects, fo plainly destructive and prejudicial to the
Trade and Intereft of thefe Kingdoms, and Co
much for the Intereft of the French, and greatly
Vtpt, I. L promoted

( 218 )

promoted that Mifchief which it was intended to
prevent,

Your Petitioners moft humbly pray your Ma-
jefty, That you would be gracioufly pleafed
to give the necefiary Directions to your Go-
vernor of New-York, not to pafs any new
Act for the reviving or continuing the faid
A& prohibiting Trade with the French of
Canada ; and that if any fuch Act, or any A£t
of the like Tendency, be already patted, that
the fame may be repealed. And your Peti-
tioners Jha 11 ever pray, &c.

Snmuel Baker ",
Rob. Hackflaw,
Jo. Lloyd^
Sam. StorkC)
y. Bayeux,
Sam. Fitch)
Rich, yeneway,
yof. Lowe)
Ajher Levy)
John Paine)

J. Bull)
Fra. IVilkS)
Wm. Parkin^
yohn Gilbert)
yof. PaicC) jun.
Rich. Mi CO)
yo. Miranda^
Geo. Streatjield)
yohn Everet)
'Thompfon Hayne.

At the Court at St. James' j the 30th Day of
April, 1724.

PRESENT

The King's Moft Excellent Majefty in Council.

UPON Reading this Day at the Board the
humble Petition and Reprefentation of Sa-
muel Baker) Samuel Storke) and feveral others, Mer-
chants of London, trading to New-York, in behalf
of themfeives3 and the reft of the Perfons concern'd

2 in

( 2I9 )

in the New-York Trade, which Petition fets forth,
That great Difcouragements have been brought
upon the Britijb Trade, by an Act patted in the
faid Colony of New-York, the 19th of November

1720, entitled, An A l& for the Encouragement of the
Indian Trade, and rendering of it more beneficial to
the Inhabitants of this Province, and for prohibiting
the felling of Indian Goods to the French. And
that as the faid Act was to continue in Force only
for three Years, they are informed the Govern-
ment of New-York either have, or are about paf-
fing an Act to revive and continue the fame:
Wherefore they humbly pray, that the Governor
of that Colony may be ordered, not to pafs any
new Act for that Purpofe ; and if any fuch A& be
already pafs'd, that it may be repealed.

^ It is ordered by his Majefty in Council, That
the faid Petition (a Copy whereof is hereunto an-
nexed) be, and it is hereby referred to the Lords
Cornmiffioners for Trade and Plantations, to exa-
mine into the fame, and report to his Majeflv, at
this Board, what they conceive fit to be done
therein.

Signed,

fames Vernon.

Extrocl of the^ Minutes of the Right Honourable
the Lords Cornmiffioners for Trade and Planta-
tions, the yth of July 1724.

MR. Sharp attending as he had been defired,
with feveral New-York Merchants, their
Lordihips took again into Confideration the Order
of Council of the 30th of April, mentioned in the
Minutes of the firft of May laft, referring to the

* Poard

( 220 )

Board their Petition againfr. their renewing an Act
parted in New-York, in November 1 720, entitled,
An Aft for the Encouragement of the Indian Trade,
and rendering of it more effeclual to the Inhabitants
of this Province, and for prohibiting the felling of
Indian Goods to the French. And Mr. Sharp, m
behalf of the feveral Merchants, acquainted their
Lordfhips, That he conceived this Acl:, tho' its
Intention of gaining the Indians to the Englijh In-
tereft might be good, would have quite a contrary
Effect, becaufe, if the Trade with the French was
prevented, and the Merchants mould difcontinue
that with the Indians, (as he was informed they
would) the French might lay hold of this Oppor-
tunity to furnifh themfelves with Goods from Eu-
rope, and fupply the Five Nations of Indians, and
thereby gain them to their Intereft : And this, by
reafon of their Situation, would not be in the Power
of the Englijh to prevent : That they were two or
three hundred Leagues diftant from Albany, and
that they could not come to trade with the Englijh
but by going down the River St. Laurence, and
from thence through a Lake, which brought them
within eighteen Leagues of Albany.

And that the French having made Settlements
along the faid River, it would be in their Power,
whenever they pleafed, to cut off that Commu-
nication.

That this A6t had been fo great a Difcourage-
ment to the Britijh Trade, in general, that there
had not been, by far, fo great a Quantity of Bea-
ver, and other Furs, imported into Great-Britain
fince the paffing the faid Aft, as there was be-
fore ; nor half the Quantity of European Goods
exported.

That feveral Merchants who had fent over to
New-York confiderable Quantities of European
Goods, had received Advice from their Correfpon-

dents,

( 221 )

dents, That fhould another Act of the like Nature
be parted, they could not find a Vent for them,
and defired they would fend no more.

Upon the whole, Mr. Sharp defired, in behalf
of the Merchants, that Mr. Burnet might be di-
rected not to pafs any Act of the like Nature for
the future.

To the King's Moft Excellent Majefty,

May it pleafe your Majejiy ;

IN Obedience to your Majefty's Commands, fig-
nified to us by your Order in Council of the
30th of April laft, referring to us the Petition of
feveral Merchants of London trading to New-York,
fetting forth " That the great Difcouragements
44 that have been brought upon the Britijh Trade
" by an Act parted in New-York the 19th of Ao-
44 vember 1720, entitled, An Ad for the Encourage-
44 ment of the Indian Trade, and rendering of it
44 more beneficial to the Inhabitants of this Province,
44 and for prohibiting the felling of Indian Goods
44 to the French. And that as the faid Act is now
44 expired, the faid Merchants are informed the
44 Government of New-York either have, or are
44 about parting an Act to revive and continue the
44 fame ; and therefore pray, that a flop may be
44 put thereto." We humbly take leave to repre-
fent to your Majefty,

That we have been attended by the Petitioners,
who informed us, that they have found this Act,
by Experience, to be fo great a Difcouragement
to the Britijh Trade, that there has not been, by
far, fo considerable a Quantity of Beaver, and other
Furs, imported into Great-Britain, from New-
York, fince the parting the faid Act, as heretofore,
nor half the Quantity of European Goods exported

L 3 thither ;

( 222 )

thither; in Confequence whereof the Price of
Furs is raifed Five and Twenty and Thirty per
Cent, to the great Prejudice of feveral Britijh
Manufacturers.

They likewife affirmed, that it was impractica-
ble to hinder the French from fuppiying the In-
dians with European Goods : For tho' New-York
fiiould not furnifh them, the French would find
another Way to he fupplied therewith, either from
fome other of his Majefty's Plantations, or, it
might be, directly from Europe. That it was of
dangerous Confequence to force this Trade into a
new Channel, many of the Goods which the In-
dians want, being as eafy to be had directly from
France or Holland, as from Great-Britain.

They further added, That it was not likely the
Act, in queftion, fhould produce the Effects ex-
pected from it, more particularly that of fecuring
the Five Indian Nations firmly to the Britijh Inte-
reit ; becaufe, if the French fhould once get a Sup-
ply of the Goods necefiary for the Indian Trade,
from any other Place, as the Five Indian Nations
are fettled upon the Banks of the River of St. Law-
rence, directly oppofite to Quebec k, two or three
hundred Leagues diftant from the nearer! Britijh
Settlement in New-Tor/:, the Vicinity of the French
would furnifh them with the Means of fuppiying
even the Five Nations with thefe Goods, and con-
fequently of alienating their Affections from the
Britijh Intereft. And that there was no Profpect
of obtaining a Trade with the French Indians by
this Means, becaufe the French would always be
able to prevent their PaiTage crofs the Lakes and
River of St. Lawre?ice to our Settlements.

Thefe were the moft material Objections made
by the Merchants againft the Bill.

On

( 223 )

On the other hand, the Preamble of the Act
fets forth, That it was found by Experience, that
the French of Canada, by means of Indian Goods
brought from that Province, had not only almoft
wholly engrofled the Indian Trade, but had in
great Meafure, withdrawn the Affections ~of the
Five Nations of Indians from the Inhabitants of that
Province, and rendered them wavering in their
Allegiance to your Majefty -, and would, if fuch
Trade were not prevented, altogether alienate the
M:nds of the faid Indians, which would prove of
dangerous Confequence to the Englifo Intereft in
America.

And Mr. Burnet, your Majefty's Governor of
NcW'Tork, informs us, That, fince the patting of
this Ac!:, feveral of the far Indians had come to
Albany to trade ; That fome of them came above
one thoufand Miles, and are now incorporated
with the Five Nations : That he had likewiie Intel-
ligence of more far Indians that defio-n'd to come
to Albany, which he conceives to have been a good
Effect proceeding from this Act: And likewiie
adds, That he did not doubt but the Cheapnefs of
Goods in Albany would induce the Indians to trade
there, rather than with the French at Montreal \
and that the Traders of Albany began to be fenfi-
ble of their Error in fharing a Trade with the
French, which they now perceive they can keep
wholly to themfelves.

Upon the whole, being doubtful of fome of the
Facts alledged by the Merchants, and confidering
how far the Briiijh Trade may be affected by this
Act, on the one hand ; and how much the Secu-
rity and Intereftofyour Majefty's Colonies in Ame-
rica may be concerned, on the other, we are hum-
bly of Opinion, That no Directions mould be fent

L 4 to

( m )

to New-York, upon the Subject-Matter of this Act,
til! Mr. Burnet {hall have been acquainted with the
Objections of the Merchants thereto, and his An-
fwers and Obfervations received thereupon. For
which End, if your Majefty fhall be gracioufly
pleafed to approve of this our Propofal, we mall
forthwith fend him Copies both of the Merchants
Memorial, and of what Objections they have made
before us to the Subject-Matter of this Bill.

Which is mod humbly fubmitted. Signed,

y. Chetwina
Whitehall, T. Pelham,

July 14, 1724. M.Bladen,

R. Plummer,
Ed. AJhe.

The Report of a Committee of the Council held at
New- York, November 6, 1724.

May it pleafe your Excellency,

IN Obedience to your Excellency's Commands
in Council, the 29th of Oclober, referring to us
a Petition of feveral Merchants in London, preferit-
ed to the King's moft excellent Majelty, againit
renewing an Act palled in this Province, entitled,
An Ad for the Encouragement of the Indian Trade,
and rendering it more effectual to the Inhabitants of
this Province^ and for prohibiting the felling of In-
dian Goods to the French ; as likewife the feveral
Allegations of the faid Merchants before the Right
Hon. the Lords of Trade and Plantations, we beg
Leave to make the following Remarks.

In order to make our Obfervations the more
diftinct and clear, we (hall gather together the fe-
veral Aflertions of the faid Merchants both in their
Petition, and delivered verbally before the Lords of

Trade,

( 225 )

Trade, as to the Situation of this Province, with
refpecl: to the French and Indian Nations y and ob-
ferve on them, in the firft Place, they beino- the
Foundation on which all their other Allegations
are grounded. Afterwards we mall lay before your
Excellency, what we think necefTary to obferve on
the other Parts of the faid Petition, in the Order
they are in the Petition, or in the Report of the
Lords of Trade.

In their geographical Accounts they fay, « Be-
" fides the Nations of Indians that are in the Eng-
" gtifi Intereft, there are very many Nations of
" Indians, who are at prefent in the Intereft of the
" French, and who lie between New -York and the

44 Nations of Indians in the Englijh Intereft.

44 The French and their Indians would not permit
" the Englijh Indians to pafs over by their Forts.

The faid Act, " Reftrains them (the Five Na-
«« tior.s) from a free Commerce with the Inhabi-
" tants of New-York.

" The Five Indian Nations are fettled upon the
44 Banks of the River St. Laurence, directly op-
44 poiite to Quebec k, two or three Hundred Leases
44 diftant from the neareft Britifb Settlements in
" New -York.

44 They {the five Nations of Indians) were two
44 or three Hundred Leagues diftant from Albany •
44 and that they could not come to trade with the
" Englifi but by going down the River St. Law-
44 rence, and from thence through a Lake, which
" brought them within eighteen Leagues of
«4 Many."

Thefe Things the Merchants have thought it fafe
for them, and coniiftent with their Duty to his
facred Majefty, to fay in his Majefty's Prefence,
and to repeat them afterwards before the Right Hon.
the Lords of Trade, though nothing can be more
tjije&ly contrary to the Truth. For there are no

k 5 Natioo'

( "6 )

Nations of Indians between H&p-Xerk and the Na-
tions of Indians in the Englijl) Interejl, who are now
fix in Number, by the Addition of the Tufcaroras.
The Mohawks (called Annies by the French) one of
the Five Nations, live on the South-fide of a Branch
of Hudforis-River, (not on the North-fide, as they
are placed in the French Maps) and but forty Miles
directly Weft from Albany, and within the Englijh
Settlements) fome of the Englifo Farms upon the
fame River being thirty Miles further Weft.

The Oneidas (the next of the Five Nations) lie
likewife Weft from Albany, near the Head of the
• Mohawks-River , about one Hundred Miles from
Albany.

The Onondaga s lie about one Hundred and Thirty
Miles Weft from Albany, And the Tufcaroras live
partly with the Oneidas, and partly with the Onon-
dagas.

The Cayugas are about one hundred and fixty
Miles from Albany.

And the Sennekas (the furtheft of all thefe Na-
tions) are not above two hundred and forty Miles
from Albany, as may appear by Mr. De L'lJIe's
Map of Louifiane^ who lays down the Five Nations
under the Name of Iroquois.

And Goods are daily carried from this Province
to the Sennekas, as well as to thofe Nations that lie
nearer by Water all the Way, except three Miles
(or in the dry Seafons, five Miles) where the Tra-
ders carry over Land between the Mohawks-River
and the Wood Creek, v/hich runs into the Oneida-
Lake, without going near either St. Lawrence-River ,
or any of the Lakes upon which the French pafs*
which are entirely out of their Way.

The neareft French Forts or Settlements to Al-
ba iy, are Chambly and Montreal, both of them lying
about North and by Eaft from Albany, and are
near two hundred Miles diftant from it, Quebeck

lies

( 227 )

lies about three hunded and eighty Miles North-
Eaft from Albany. So far is it from being true,
that the Five Nations are fituated upon the Banks
of the River St. Lawrence , oppofite to Quebec k, that
Albany lies almoft directly between £hiebeck and the
Five Nations. And to fay that thefe Indians cannot
come to trade at Albany, but by going down the
River St. Lawrence, and then into a Lake eighteen
Leagues from Albany (we fuppofe they mean Lake
Champlain) paffing by the French Forts, is to the
fame Purpofe as if they fhould fay, that one can-
not go from London to Briftcl, but by the Way of
Edinburg.

Before we go on to obferve other Particulars, we
beg Leave further to remark, that it is fo far from
being true that the Indians in the French Intereft,
lie between New-York and our Five Nations of In-
dians, that fome of our Nations of Indians lie be,
tween the French and the Indians, from whence the
French bring the far greateft Quantity of their
Furs : For the Sennekas (whom the French call So-
'nontcuons) are fituated between Lake Erie and Ca-
taraqui Lake (called by the French Ontario} near the
great Fall of J ragar a, by which all the Indians that
live round Lake Erie, round the Lake of the Hu-
rons, round the Lake of the Illemis, or Alichcgan,
and round the great Upper Lake, generally pafs in
their Way to Canada. All the Indians fituated up-
on the Branches of the MiJJijfippi, muft likewife
pafs by the fame Place, if they go to Canada. And
all of them likewife in their Way to Canada, pafs
by our Trading-Place upon the Cataraoui Lake, at
the Mouth of the Onondaga River. The neareil
and fafefT Way of carrying Goods upon the Caia-
raqui Lake towards Canada, being along the South-
fide of that Lake, (near where our Indians are fet-
tled, and our Trade of late is fixed, and not by the

L 6 North-

( 228 )

North-fide and Cataraqui, or FronUnac Forty where
the French are fettled.

Now that we have reprefented to your Excellency,
that not one Word of the Geography of thefe
Merchants is true, upon which all their Reafoning
is founded, it might feem needlefs to trouble your
Excellency with any further Remarks, were it not
to mew with what Earneftnefs they are promoting
the French Inter eji to the Prejudice of all his Ma-
jefty's Colonies in North America, and that they
are not afhamed of averting any Thing for that
End, even in the Royal Prefence.

Firft, They fay, « That by the A& pafTed in
** this Province, entitled, An Aft for Encourage-
" ment of the Indian Trade, &c. All Trade what-
" foever is prohibited in the ftric"teft Manner, and
«« under the fevereft Penalties, between the Inha-
w bitants of New-York Government, and the
u French of Canada,

This is not true, for only carrying Goods to the
French, which are proper for the Indian Trade, is
prohibited. The Trade as to other Things, is left
in the fame State it was before that Act was made,
as it will appear to any Perfon that fhall read it :
And there are yearly large Quantities of other
Goods openly carried to Canada, without any Hin-
drance from the Government of New-York. What-
ever may be faid of the Severity and Penalties in
that Act, they are found infufficient to deter fome
from carrying Goods clandefKnely to the French ;
and the Legislature of this Province are convinced
that no Penalties can be too fevere, to prevent a
Trade which puts the Safety of all his Majefty's
Subjects of North America in the greateft Danger.

Their next Aflertion is, All the Indian Goods have
by this Acl, been raifed 25 1. to 30I. per Cent. This
is the only Allegation in the whole Petition, that
there is any Ground for. Neverthelefs, though the

common

( **9 )

common Channel of Trade cannot be altered with-
out fome Detriment to it in the Beginning, we are
allured from the Cuftom-houfe Books, that there
has been every Year, fince the pafTing of this Act,
more Furs exported from New-York, than in the
Year immediately before the patting of this Act.
It is not probable, that the greateft Difference be-
tween the Exhortation any Year before this Act,
and any Year fince, could lb much alter the Price of
Beaves, as it is found to be this laft Year. Beaver
is carried to Britain from other Parts befides New-
York, and it is certain that the Price of Beaver is
not fo much altered here by the Quantity in our
Market, as by the Demand for it in Britain. But
as we cannot be fo well informed here, what occa-
fions Beaver to be in greater Demand in Britain,
we muft leave that to be enquired after in England.
However, we are fully fatisfied that it will be found
to be for very different Reafons from what the Mer-
chants alledge.

The Merchants go on and fay, Whereas on the
other Handy this Branch of the New- York Trade,
by the Difcouragements brought upon it by this Act,
is almoft wholly engroffed by the French, who have
already by this Acl, been encouraged to fend proper
European Goods to Canada, to carry on this Tradey
fo that jhould this del be continued, the New- York
Trade which is very confiderable, muft be wholly lofl to
US) and center in the French — - Though New-
York Jhould not furnijh them, /^French would find
another IVay to be fupplied therewith, either from
fome other of his Majefiys Plantations, or it ?night

be direclly from Europe. Many of the Goods

which the Indians want being as eafy to be had
direclly from France or Holland, as from Great-
Britain. .

This is eafily anfwered, by informing your Ex-
cellency, that the principal of the Goods proper

for

( 230 )

for the Indian Market are only of the Manufactures
of Great-Britain, or of the Britijb Plantations, viz,
Strouds, or Stroud- Waters, and other Woollens,
and Rum. The French mufl be obliged to buy all
their Woollens (the Strouds efpecially) in England,
and thence carry them to France, in order to their
Tranfportation to Canada. The Voyage to Quebec k
through the Bay of St. Lawrence, is v/ell known
to be the moft dangerous of any in the World, and
only practicable in the Summer Months. The
French have no Commodities in Canada, by reafon
of the Cold and Barrennefs of the Soil, proper for
the Wejl -India Markets, and therefore have no Rum
but by VefTels from France ', that touch at their
Iflands in the JVeJl- Indies. New-York has by Rea-
fon of its Situation, both as to the Sea and the In-
dians, every. Way the Advantage of Canada. The
New-York VefTels make always two Voyages in the
Year from England, one in Summer and another in
Winter, and feveral Voyages in a Year to the IVeJl-
Indies. It is manifeft therefore, that it is not in the
Power of the French to import any Goods near fo
cheap to Canada, as they are imported to New-
York.

But to put this out of all Controverfy, we need
only obferve to your Excellencv, That Strouds
(without which no considerable Trade can be car-
ried on with the Indians) are fold at Albany for 10 /.
a Piece : They were fold at Montreal before this Act
took Place, at 13/. is. 6d. and now they are
fold there for 25/. and upwards : Which is an evi-
dent Proof, that the French have not, in thele four
Years Time, (during the Continuance of this Act)
found out any other Way to fupply themfelves
with Strouds, and likewife that they cannot trade
without thsm, feeing they buy them at fo extrava-
gant a Price.

It

( 231 )

It likewife appears, that none of the neighbour-
ing Colonies have been able to fupply the French
with thefe Goods ; and thofe that know the Geo-
graphy of the Country, know it is impracticable
to do it at any tolerable Rate, becaufe they rauft
carry their Goods ten Times further by Land than
we need to do.

We are likewife aiTured, that the Merchants of
Montreal lately told Mr. Vaudreuil their Governor,
that if the Trade from Albany be not by fome
Means or other encouraged, they muft abandon
that Settlement. We have Reafon therefore to fuf-
pe&, that thefe Merchants (at leaft fome of them)
have been pra&ifed upon by the French Agents in
London ; for no doubt, the French will leave no
Method untried to defeat the prefent Deiigrte of this
Government, feeing they are more afraid of the
Confequences of this Trade between New-York
and the Indians, than of all the warlike Expeditions
that ever were attempted againft Canada*

But to return to the Petitioners, They conceive
nothing can tend more to the zuithdrawing the Affec-
tions of the Five Nations of Indians from the Englifh
Intereft, than the Continuance of the /aid J£f, which
in its Ejfecls reft rains them from a free Commerce with
the Inhabitants of New- York, and may too probably
ejlrange them from the Englifh Intereft, zvhereas by
Freedom of Commerce, and an encouraged Intercourse
of Trade with the French and their Indians, the
Englifh Intereft might in Time, be greatly improved
and ftrengthened.

It feems to us a ftrange Argument to fay, that
an Act, the whole Purport of which is to encourage
our own People to go among the Indians, and to
draw the far Indians through our Indian Country to
Albany (and which has truly produced thefe Effects)
would on the contrary, reftrain them from a free
Commerce with the Inhabitants of New-York, and

may

( *3* )

may too probably eftrange them from the Englijh
Interejl ; arid therefore that it would be much wifer
in us to make ufe of the French to promote the
Englijh Intereji ; and for which End, we ought to
encourage a free Intercourfe between them and our
Indians. The Reverfe of this is exactly true, in the
Opinion of our Five Nations; who in all their pub-
Jick Treaties with this Government, have repre-
fented againft this Trade, as The building the French
Forts with Englifh Strouds : That the encouraging
a Freedom of Commerce with our Indians, and the
Indians round them, who muft pafs through their
Country to Albany, would certainly increafe both
the Englijh Intereji and theirs, among all the Na-
tions to the Weftward of them ; and that the car-
rying the Indian Market to Montreal in Canaday
draws all the far Indians thither.

The laft Thing we have to take Notice is, what
the Merchants atTerted before the Lords of Trade,
viz. That there has not been half the Quantity of Eu-
ropean Goods exported fmce the pajfing of this Aff>
that ufed to be.

We are well affured, that this is no better ground-
ed than the other Facts they affert with the fame
Pofitivenefs. For it is well known almofi: to every
Perfon in New-York, that there has not been a lefs,
but rather a greater Quantity of European Goods
imported into this Place, fince the palling of this
Act, than was at any Time before it, in the fame
Space of Time. As this appears by the Manifefts
in the Cuftom-houfe here, the fame may likewife
be eafily proved by the Cuftom-houfe Books in
London.

As all the Arguments of the Merchants run upon
the ill Effects this Act has had upon the Trade and
the Minds of the Indians, every one of which we
have fhewn to be after ted without the leaft Foun-
dation to fupport them, there nothing now remains,

but

( *33 )

tut to fhew the good Effects this A& has pro-
duced> which are fo notorious in this Province, that
we know not one Perfon that now opens his Mouth
againft the Act.

Before this Act paiTed, none of the People of
this Province travelled into the Indian Countries to
trade : We have now above forty young Men, who
have been feveral Times as far as the Lakes a trad-
ing, and thereby become well acquainted, not only
with the Trade of the Indians, but likewife with
their Manners and Languages -, and thefe have re-
turned with fuch large Quantities of Furs, that
greater Numbers are refolved to follow their Ex-
ample. So that we have good Reafon to hope,
that in a little Time the Englijh will draw the whole
Indian Trade of the Inland Countries to Albany ,
and into the Country of the Five Nations. This
Government has built a publick Trading-houfe up-
on Cataraqui Lake, at lrondequat in the Sennekas
Land, and another is to be built next Spring, at
the Mouth of the Onondagas River. All the far
Indians pafs by thefe Places in their Way to Cana-
da ; and they are not above half fo far from the
Englijh Settlements, as they are from the French.

So far is it from being true what the Merchants
fay, That the French Forts interrupt all Communica-
tion between the Indians and the Englifh, that if thefe
Places be well fupported, as they eafily can be from
our Settlements, in cafe of a Rupture with the
French, it will be in the Power of this Province,
to intercept the greatest Part of the Trade between
Canada an J the Indians , round the Lakes and the
Branches of the MiJJiJJipi.

Since this Act palled, many Nations have come
to Albany to trade, and fettle Peace and Friendfhip,
whofe Names had not fo much as been heard of
among us.

In

( 234 )

_ In the Beginning of May 1723, a Nation of In-
dians came to Albany finging and dancing, with
their Calumets before them, as they always do
when they come to any Place where they have not
been before. We do not find that the Commil-
fioners of Indian Affairs, were able to inform them-
felves what Nation this was.

Towards the End of the fame Month, eighty
Men, befides Women and Children, came to Al-
bany in the fame Manner. Thefe had one of our
Five Nations with them for an Interpreter, by
whom they informed the CommiiTioners, that they
were of a great Nation, called Nebkereages, confirm-
ing of fix Catties and Tribes ; and that they lived
near a Place called by the French Mijfilimakinak^
between the Upper Lake and the Lake of the Hu-
ron*. Thefe Indians not only defired a free Com-
merce, but likewife to enter into a ftric~t. League of
Friendfhip with us and our Six Nations^ that they
might be accounted the Seventh Nation in the
League ; and being received accordingly, they left
their Calumet as a Pledge of their Fidelity.

In June another Nation arrived, but from what
Part of the Continent we have not learned.

In July the Twihtwies arrived, and brought an
Indian Interpreter of our Nations with them, who
told, that they were called by the French Miamies,
aud that they live upon one of the Branches of the
River MiJJiJJipi.

At the fame Time fome of the Tahfagrondie In-
dians who live between Lake Erie and the Lake of
the Huro-ns, near a French Settlement, did come
and renew their League with the Englijb, nor durft
the French hinder them.

In July this Year, another Nation came, whofe
Situation and Name we know not. And in Augujl
and September^ feveral Parties of the fame Indians
that had been here laft Year. But the greateft

Numbers

( 235 )
Numbers of thefe far Indians have been met this
Year, in the Indian Country by our Traders, every
one of them endeavouring to get before another,
in order to reap the Profits of (o advantagious a
Trade, which has all this Summer long, kept about
forty Traders conftantly employed, in going be-
tween our Trading-places in our Indian Country,
and Albany.

All thefe Nations of Indians, who came to Al-
bany faid, that the French had told them many
itrange Stories of the Englifo, and did what they
could to hinder their coming to Albany, but that
they had refolved to break through by Force. The
Difference on this Score between the Tabfagrondie
Indians and the French (who have a Fort and Set-
tlement there, called by them Le Detroit) rofe to
that Height this Summer, that Mr. Tonti who com-
manded there, thought it proper to retire, and return
to Canada with many of his Men.

We are for thefe Reafons well afTured, that tl is
Year there will be more Beaver exported for Great-
Britain, than ever was from this Province in one
Year -, and that if the Cuftom-houfe Books at
London be looked into, it will be found, that there
will be a far greater Quantity of Goods for the In-
dians, (Strouds efpecially) fent over next Spring,
than ever was at any one Time to this Province j for
the Merchants here tell us, that they have at this
Time, ordered more of thefe Goods, than ever was
done at any one Time before.

Thefe Matters of Facl: prove beyond Contradic-
tion, that this AS: has been of the greateft Service
to Ntw-York, in making us acquainted with many
Nations of Indians, formerly entirely unknov/n and
Strangers to us ; in withdrawing them from their
Dependence upon the French, and in uniting them
to us and our Indians by means of Trade and mu-
tual Offices of Friendfnip. Of what great Confe-

quence

( 236 )
quence this may be to the Britijk Inter eft in general,
as to Trade, is apparent to any Body. It is no lefs
apparent likewife, that it is of the greateft Confe-
quence to the Safety of all the Britijh Colonies m
North America. We feel too fenfibly, the ill
Effects of the French Intereji in the prefent War
betwixt New-England, and only one Nation of In-
dians fupported by the French. Of what difmal
Confequences then might it be, if the French mould
be able to influence in the fame Manner, fo many
and fuch numerous Nations, as lie to the Weft-
ward of this Province, Penfylvania and Maryland ?
On the other Hand, if all thefe Nations (who afTert
their own Freedom, and declare themfelves Friends
to thofe that fupply them beft with what they want)
be brought to have a Dependance upon the Englifh
(as we have good Reafon to hope, in a fhort
Time they will) the French of Canada, in cafe of a
War, muit be at the Mercy of the Englijh.

To thefe Advantages muft be added, that many
of our young Men having been induced by this
Ail to travel among the Indians, they learn their
Manners, their Languages, and the Situation of all
their Countries, and become inured to all Manner
of Fatigues and Hard mips, and a great many more
being refolved to follow their Example ; thefe
young men, in Cafe of a War with the Indians,
will be of ten Times the Service that the fame
Number of the common Militia can be of.

The Effe&s of this Act have likewife fo much
quieted the Minds of the People, with Refpect to
the Security of the Frontiers, that our Settlements
are now extended above thirty Miles further Weft
towards the Indian Countries, than they were be-
fore it pa/Ted.

The only Thing that now remains to anfwer,
is an Objection which we fuppofe may be made,
What can induce the Merchants of London to peti-
tion

( 237 )

tion again/1 an Acl, which will be really fo much for
their Inter eft in the End ? The Reafon is in all
Probability, becaufe they only confider their pre-
fent Gain ; and that they are not at all concerned
for the Safety of this Country, in encouraging the
moft neceiTary Undertaking, if they apprehend ^their
Profit for two or three Years may be lefTened by it.
This Inclination of the Merchants has been fo no-
torious, that few Nations at War with their Neigh-
bours, have been able to reftrain them from fup-
plying their Enemies with Ammunition and Arms.
The Count D'Eftrade, in his Letters in 1638,
fays, That when the Dutch were befieging Ant*
werp, one Beiland, who had loaded four Fly-
boats with Arms and Powder for Antwerp, beino-
taken up by the Prince of Orange's Order, and
examined at Amfterdam, faid boldly, That the
Burghers of Amfterdam had a Right to Trade every
where : That he could name a Hundred that were
Faclors for the Merchants at Antwerp, and that
he was one. That Trade cannot he interrupted, and
that for his Part he was very free to own, that if to
get any Thing by Trade it were necejfary to pafs
through Hell, he would venture to burn his Sails.
When this Principle fo common to Merchants, is
confidered, and that fome in this Place have o-ot
Eftates by trading many Years to Canada, it' is
not to be wondered that they have acted as Fac-
tors for Canada in this Affair, and that they have
tranfmitted fuch Accounts to their Correfpondents
in London, as are confident with the Truft repofed
in them by the Merchants of Canada.

In the lair Place, we are humbly of Opinion,
that it may be proper to print the Petition of the
Merchants of London, and their Allegations before
the Lords of Trade, together with the Anfwers
your Committee has made thereto, in Vindication
of the Legiflature of this Province, of which we

have

(238 )

have the Honour to be a Part, if your Excellency
fhall approve of our Anfwers : That what we have
faid may be expofed to the Examination of every
one in this Place, where the Truth of the Matters
of Fact, is beft known ; and that the Correfpon-
dents of thefe Merchants may have the molt pub-
lick Notice to reply, if they fhall think it pro-
per, or to difown in a publick Manner, that they
are the Authors of fuch groundlefs Informations.

All which is unanimouily and humbly fubmitted
by

Tour Excellency's

Mojl obedient humble Servants,

R. Walter,
Rip Van Dam,
"John Barberie,
Fr. Harrifon,

Cadwallader Colden%
fa. Alexander,
Abraham Van Horn.

A Memorial concerning the Furr-Trade of the
Province of New- York.

Prefented to his Excellency William Burnet, Efq;
Captain-General and Governor, &c. by Cadwal-
lader Colden, Surveyor-General of the faid Pro-
vince, the 10th of November 1724.

IT has of late been generally believed, that the
Inhabitants of the Province of New-Tor k are fo
advantageoufly fituated, with Refpe<5t. to the Indian
Trade, and enjoy fo many Advantages as to Trade
in general, that it is in their Power not only to
rival the French of Canada, who have amofl: en-
tirely engrailed the Furr-Trade of America, but
that it is impofTible for the French to carry on that

Trade

( 239 )

Trade in Competition with the People of this
Province. The enquiring into the Truth of this
Proportion, may not only be of fome Confequence,
as to the Riches and Honour of the Britjjb Nation
(for it is well known how valuable the Furr- Trade
of America is) but likewife as to the Safetv of all
the Britijh Colonies in North-America. New-France
(as the French now claim) extends from the Mouth of
the River Mifrjippi, to the Mouth of the River St.
Lawrence, by which the French plainly fhow their
Intention of enclofing the Britijb Settlements, and
cutting us off from all Commerce with the nume-
rous Nations of Indians, that are every where fet-
tled over the vaft Continent of North- America.
The EngliJJ? in America have too good Reafon to
apprehend fuch a Defign, when they fee the French
King's Geographer publifh a Map, by which he has
fet Bounds to the Britijh Empire in America, and
has taken in many of the Englijh Settlements both
in South-Carolina and New-York, within thefe
Boundaries of New-France. And the good Ser-
vices they intend us, with the Indians, but too
plainly appears at this Day, by the Indian War
now carried on againft New-England.

I have therefore for fome Time part, endeavour-
ed to inform myfelf, from the Writings of the
French, and from others who have travelled in Ca-
nada, or among the Indians, how far the People
of this Province may carry on the Indian Trade,
with more Advantage than the French can ; or
what Difadvantages they labour under, more than
the French do. As all Endeavours for the good
of one's Country are excufable, I do not doubt but
my Intention in this will be acceptable to your Ex-
cellency, though I be not capable of treating the
Subject: as it deferves.

I mall begin with panada, and confider what
Advantages they have either by their Situation, or

other-

( 240 )

otherwife. Canada is fituated upon the River of

St. Lawrence , by which the five great Lakes (which
may properly be called, The Five Inland Seas of"
North- America) empty themfelves into the Ocean.
The Mouth of this great River is in the Lat. of
50 Degrees, over-againft the Body of Newfound-
land. It rifes from the Cataracui Lake, (the Eafter-
moft of the five great Lakes) about the Lat. of 44
Degree, and runs from thence about North- Eaft
to the Ocean, and is about nine hundred Miles in
Length, from that Lake to the Ocean. The five
great Lakes which communicate with each other,
and with this River, extend about one thoufand
Miles Weftward, further into the Continent. So
far the French have already difcovered, and their
Difcoveries make it probable, that an Inland Paf-
fage may be found to the South-Sea, by the Rivers
which run into thefe Lakes, and Rivers which run
into the South-Sea.

The Method of carrying Goods upon the Rivers
of Nsrth- America, into all the fmall Branches, and
over Land, from the Branches of one River to the
Branches of another, was learned from the Indians,
and is the only Method practicable through fuch
large Forefls and Deferts as the Traders pafs thro',
in carrying from one Nation to another, it is this ;
the Indians make a long narrow Boat, made of
the Bark of the Birch-tree, the Parts of which they
join very neatly. One of thefe Canoes that can
carry a Dozen Men, can itfelf be eafily carried
upon two Mens Shoulders ; fo that when they have
gone as far by Water as they can (which is further
than is eafily to be imagined, becaufe their loaded
Canoes don't fink fix Inches into the Water) they
unload their Canoes, and carry both Goods and
Canoes upon their Shoulders over Land, into the
neareft Branch of the River they intend to follow.
Thus the French have an eafy Communication with

all

( Hi J

all the Countries bordering upon the River of St.
Lawrence, and its Branches, with all the Coun-
tries bordering upon thefe Inland-Seas, and the
Rivers which empty themfelves into thefe Seas,
and can thereby carry their Burdens of Merchan-
dize thro' all thefe large Countries, which could
not by any other Means than Water-carriage be
carried thro' fo vaft a Tracl of Land.

This, however, but half finifhes the View the
French have, as to their Commerce in North'
America. Many of the Branches of the River
MifiJJippi come fo near to the Branches of feveral
of the Rivers which empty themfelves into the
great Lakes, that in feveral Places there is but a
fhort Land-Carriage from the one to the other. As
foon as they have got into the River Mifjfippi^
they open to themfelves as large a Field for Traf-
fick in the Southern Parts of North- America, as was
before-mentioned with refpecl: to the Northern
Parts. If one confiders the Length of this River,
and its numerous Branches, he mull: fay, That by
Means of this River, and the Lakes, thi re is open to
his View Juch a Scene of inland Navigation as
cannot be parallel* d in any other Part of the IVorld.

The French have, with much Induftry, fettled
fmall Colonies, and built flockaded Forts at all the
confiderable PafTes between the Lakes, except be-
tween Cataracui Lake (called by the French On-
tario) and Lake Erie, one of our Five Nations of
Indians, whom we call Sennekas, (and the French
Sonontouans) having hitherto refuied them Leave to
erect any Buildings there.

The French have been indefatigable in makino*
Difcoveries, and carrying on their Commerce with
Nations, of whom the Englijh know nothing but
what they fee in the French Maps and Books. The
Barrennefs of the Soil, and the Coklnefs of the
Climate of Canada, obliges the greatefl Number of
Vol. I. M the

{ 242 )
the Inhabitants to feek their living by travelling
among the Indians, or by trading with thofe that
do travel. The Governor, and other Officers,
having but a fcanty Allowance from the King, and
could not fubfift were it not by the Perquilites they
have from this Trade ; neither could their Priefts
find any Means to fatisfy their Ambition and
Luxury without it : So that all Heads and Hands
are employed to advance it, and the Men of beft
Parts think it the fureft Way to advance them-
felves by travelling among the Indians, and learn-
ing their Languages ; even the Bigotry and Enthu-
ilafm of fome hot Heads has not been a little ufeful
in advancing: this Commerce : for that Govern-
ment having prudently turn'd the Edge of the Zeal
of fuch hot Spirits upon converting the Indians,
many of them have fpent their Lives under the
greateft Hardfhips, in endeavouring to gain the
Indians to their Religion, and to love the French
Nations, while, at the fame Time, they are no
lefs induftrious to reprefent the Englijh as the Ene-
?nies of Mankind, So that the whole Policy of
that Government, both civil and religious, is ad-
mirably turn'd to the general Advancement of this
Trade. Indeed the Art and Induftry of the French,
efpecially that of their religious Millions, has fo
far prevail'd upon all the Indians in North- America^
that they are every where directed by French Coun-
fels. Even our own Five Nations, (the Iroquois) who
formerly were mortal Enemies of the French, and
have always liv'd in the ftri&efr. Amity with the
Englijh, have, of late, (by the Practices of the
French Priejls) been fo far gain'd, that feveral of
the Mohawks , who live neareft the Englijh, have
left their Habitations, and are gone to fettle near
Montreal in Canada ; and ail the reft difcover a
Dread of the French Power, That much of this
is truly owing to the Priejlsy appears from many

of

( 243 )

of the Sachems of the Ir equals wearing Crucifixes
when they come to Albany : And thofe Mohawk
Indians that are gone to Canada, are now com-
monly known both to the French and Engllfi,
by the Name of The Praying Indians, it being cuf-
tomary for them to go through the Streets of
Montreal with their Beads, praying and begging
Alms. to

But notwitManding all thefe Advantages, the
French labour under Difficulties that no Art or In-
duftry can remove. The Mouth of the River
of St. Lawrence, and more efpecially the Bay of St,
Lawrence, lies fo far North, and is thereby fo
often fubjecT: to tempeftuous Weather and thick
Fogs, that the Navigation there is very dangerous,
and never attempted but during the Summer Months.
The Widenefs of this Bay, together with the many
ftrong Currents that run in it, the many Shelves
and funken Rocks that are every where fpread over
both the Bay and River, and the want of Places
for anchoring in the Bayy all increafe the Danger
of ^ this Navigation ; fo that a Voyage to Canada
is juftly efteem'd much more dangerous than to any-
other Part of J?nerlca. The many Shipwrecks
that happen in this Navigation, are but too evident
Proofs of the Truth of this, particularly the Mif-
carriage of the laft Expedition againft Canada. The
Channel is fo difficult, and the Tides fo ftronn-,
that after their Shipping get into the River, they
never attempt to fail in the Night, tho' the Wind
be fair, and the Weather good. Thefe Difficul-
ties are fo con/iderable, that the French never at-
tempt above one Voyage in a Year to Europe, or
the Weft Indies, tho' it be really nearer Europe
than any of the Englijh Colonies, where the Ship-
ping that conftantly ufe the Trade, always make
two Voyages in the Year.

M 2 . The

( 244 )

The Navigation between £hiebeck and Montreal is
likewife very dangerous and difficult : The Tide
Fifes about 1 8 or 20 Feet, at Quebeck, which occa-
ilons fo ftrong a Stream, that a Boat of fix Oars
cannot make way againft it : The River in many
Places very wide, and the Channel at the lame time
narrow and crooked ; there are many Shelves and
iunken Rocks, fo that the beft Pilots have been
deceived ; for which reafon the VefTels that carry
Goods to Montreal^ are always obliged to anchor
before Night, tho' both Wind and Tide be fair.
The Flood goes no further than Trots Rivieres.,
half way to Montreal^ and about ninety Miles
from ghtebeck : After they pafs this Place they
have a ftrong Stream always againft them, which
requires a fair Wind and a ftrong Gale to carry
the VefTels againft the Stream. And they are
obliged in this Part of the River, as well as under
the Trois Rivieres^ to come to an anchor at Night,
tho' the Wind be good. Thefe Difficulties make
the common Paflages take up three or four Weeks,
and fometimes fix Weeks ; tho' if they have the
chance of a Wind to continue fo long, they may
run it in five or fix Days.

After they pafs Montreal, they have a ftrong Stream
againft them till they come near the Lakes j fo
that in all that, which is about one hundred and
fifty Miles in Length, they force their Canoes for-
ward with fetting Poles, or drag them with Ropes
alono- (hore ; and at five or fix different Places in
that way, the River falls over Rocks with fuch Force,
that they are obliged to unload their Canoes, and
carry them upon their Shoulders. They never-
make this Voyage from Montreal to Cataracui in
lels than twenty Days, and frequently twice that
Time is necefiary.

Now we are come fo far as the Lake, my De-
ficit leack me no further, for at this Lake all the

2 far

( 245 )
far Indians, that go to Canada, mufl pafs, by our
Traders. And from thence the Road to the Indian
Countries is the fame from Albany that it is from
Montreal.

Befides thefe Difficulties in the Tranfportation,
the French labour under greater in the purchafing
of the principal Goods proper for the Indian Mar-
ket ; for the moft coniiderable and moft valuable
Part of their Cargo confifrs in Strouds, Duff is,
Blankets and other Woollens, which are bought at
a much cheaper Rate in England than in France.
The Strouds (which the Indians value more than any
other Cloathing) are only made in England, and muff
be tranfported into France, before they can be
carried to Canada. Rum is another conhderable
Branch of the Indian Trade, which the French have
not, by reafon they have no Commodities in Ca-
nada fit for the Wejl- India Market. This they
fupply with Brandy, at a much dearer Rate than
Rum can be purchafed at New-Yerk, tho' ot no
more Value with the Indians. Generally, all the
Goods ufed in the Indian Trade, except Gun-Pow-
der, and a few Trinkets are fold at Montreal for
twice their Value at Albany. To this likewife
muft be added, the Neceiiity they are under of
laying the whole Charge of fupporting their Go-
vernment on the Indian Trade. I am not par-
ticularly informed of their Duties or Imports, but
I am well allured, that they commonly give
fix or k\en hundred Livres for a Licence for one
Canoe, in Proportion to her Largenefs, to go with
her Loading into the Indian Country to trade.

I mall next confider the Advantages the Inhabi-
tants of New-York have in carrying on this Trade.
In the firji place, the Ships that conftantly ufe the
Trade to England, perform their Voyage to and
from London twice every Year ; and thofe that go
to Brijlol (the Port from whence the greateft part

M 3 of

( 246 J
of the Goods for the Indian Trade are exported)
frequently return in four Months. Thefe Goods
are bought much cheaper in England than in France:
They are tranfported in Ids Time, with lefs Charge,
and much lefs Rifque, as appears by the Premio for
Infurance between London and New-York, being
only Tkvo per Cent. Goods are eafily carried from
New-Tor k to Albany, up Hud forts- River, the Dif-
tance being only 140 Miles, the River very ftrait
all the way, and bold, and very free from Sand-
banks, as well as Rocks ; fo that the VefTels always
fail as well by Night as by Day, and have the Advan-
tage of the Tide upwards as well as downwards,
tlie Flood flowing above Albany. It may therefore be
iaitly concluded, that all Sorts of Goods can be car-
ried to Albany at a cheaper Rate than they can be to
Quebec k, which is alfo three times further from the
Indian Country than Albany is. To put the Truth of
this out of all difpute, I need only obferve what i-s
well known both at New-York and Albany, viz.
That almofl all the Strouds carried by the French
into the Indian Countries, as well as large Quantities
of other Goods, for the Ufe of the French them-
felves, are carried from Albany to Montreal. There
has been an Account kept of nine hundred Pieces
of Sttouds tranfported thither in one Year, beiides
other Commodities of very conliderable Value. The
Diitance between Albany and Montreal is about two
hundred Miles, all by Water, except twelve Miles
between Hudfon s River and the Wood-Creek, where
they carry their Bark Canoes over Land, and about
fixteen Miles between Chambly and La Praire, over-
agatnft Montreal. And tho* the Paflage be fo fhort
and eafy, thefe Goods are generally fold at double
their Value in Albany.

But as this Path has been thought extremely pre-
judicial to the Intereft of this Colony, I fhall leave
it, and go on to another that leads directly from

Albany

( 247 )
Albany into the Cataracui or Ontario Lake, without
going near any of the French Settlements.

From Albany the Indian Traders commonly carry
their Goods fixteen Miles over Land, to the Mo-
haivks River at Schenechtady, the Charge of which
Carriage is Nine Shillings New-Yor kyioney , or Five
Shillings Sterling each Waggon-Load. From Sche-
nechtady they carry them in Canoes up the Mchavjks
River to the Carrying-place between the Mohawks
River, and the River which runs into the Oneida
Lake ; which Carrying-place between is only three
Miles long, except in very dry Weather, when they
are obliged to carry them two Miles further. From
thence they 2:0 with the Current down the Onondaga

JO # ■ C>

River to the Cataracui Lake. The Diilance be-
tween Albany and the Cataracui Lake (this Way) is
nearly the fame with that between Albany and Mont-
real-, and likewiie with that between Montreal and
the Cataracui Lake, and the PafTage much eafier
than the laft, becaufe the Stream of the Mohawks
River is not near fo flrong as the Cataracui River
between the Lake and Montreal, and there is no
Fall in the River, fave one fhort one ; whereas
there are (as I have faid) at leaft five in the Cata-
racui River, where the Canoes muft be unloaded.
Therefore it plainly follows, that the Indian Goods
may be carried at as cheap a Rate from Albany to
the Cataracui Lake, as from Albany to Montreal,
So that the People of Albany plainly fave all the
Charge of carrying Goods two hundred Miles
from Montreal to that Part of the Cataracui Lake,
which the French have to carry before they bring
them to the fame Place from Montreal, befides
the Advantage which the Englijh have in the Price
of their Goods.

I have faid, That when we are in the Cataracui
Lake, we are upon a Level with the French, be-
caufe here we can meet with all the Indians thaf

M 4 defi^

( H8 )

defign to go to Montreal. But befides this PafTage
by the Lakes, there is a River which comes from
<he Country of the Sennekas, and falls into the
Onondaga River, by which we have an eafy Car-
riage into that Country, without going near the Ca-
taracui Lake. The Head of this River goes near to
Lake Erie, and probably may give a very near Paf-
fage into that Lake, much more advantageous than
the Way the French are obliged to take by the great
Fall of Jagara, becaufe narrow Rivers are much
fafer for Canoes than the Lakes, where they are
obliged to go amore if there be any Wind upon
the Water. But as this PafTage depends upon a
further Diicovery, I mall fay nothing more of it at
this Time.

Whoever then confiders thefe Advantages New-
York has of Canada, in the fir ft buying of their
Goods, and in the fafe, fpeedy, and cheap Tranf-
portation of them from Britain to the Lakes, free
of all Manner of Duty or Imports, will readily
agree with me, that the Traders of New-Tor k may
fell their Goods in the Indian Countries at half the
Price the People of Canada can, and reap twice the
Profit they do. This will admit of no Difpute
with thofe that know that Strouds (the Staple Indian
Commodity) this Year are fold for Ten Pounds apiece
-at Albany, and at Montreal for Twenty-five Pounds,
notwithftanding the great Quantity of Strouds faid
to be brought directly into ^uebeck from France, and
the great Quantities that have been clandeflinely
caried from Albany. It cannot therefore be denied,
that it is only necefTary for the Traders of New-
York to apply themfelves heartily to this Trade, in
order to bring it wholly into their own Hands ;
for in every thing befides Diligence, and Induftry,
and enduring Fatigues, the Englijh have much
the Advantage of the French. And all the Indians

will

( 249 )
will certainly buy, where they can, at the cheap-
eft Rate.

It mutt naturally be objected, That if thefe things
are true, how is it pojjibk that the Traders of New-
York Jhould negletl fo confiderable and beneficial Trade
for fo long time?

In anfwering this Objection, I mall fhew the Dif-
ficulties New-York has labour'd under, by giving a
fhort Hiftory of the Country, fo far as it relates to
this Trade. Which Method, I think, can be liable
to the leaft Objection, and put the whole in Sie
trueft Light.

When this Country (the Province of New-York)
came firft under the Crown of Great-Britain, our
Five Nations of Indians were mortal Enemies of the
French at Canada, and were in a continual War with
them, and all the Nations of Indians round the
Lakes; fo that then it was not fafe for the EngUJh to
travel further than the Countries of the Five Na-
tions ; nor would our Indians permit the far Indians
(with whom they had confTant War) to pafs thro*
their Countries to Albany. Befides, the Five Nations
of Indians were at that time fo numerous, (confifting
of ten times the Number of fighting Men they now
do) tb.it the Trade with them alone was very con-
fiderable for fo young and fmall a Colony, in the
latter End of King Charles's Reign, when the Dttke
cf York, and Popijh Councils prevail'd, the Gover-
nor of New-York (who was likewife a Papiji) had
Orders to ufe all his Endeavours to make up a Peace
between our Nations (the Iroquois) and, the French ;
and that he mould perfuade the Five Nations to ad-
mit French Priejls among them, in order to civi-
lize them. The Confequence of which was, that
the French thereby obtained a free Commerce upon
the Lakes, and obtained leave to build Cataracui
Fort upon the North-fide of Cataracui Lake, and have
two Veflels of Force upon the fame Lake. From

M 5 this

( 250 }
this Time, during all King James's Reign, the
French, whenever they had any Differences with
our Five Nations, threaten'd, that the Englijb of
New-Tor k would join with them, and deifroy the
Five Nations ; by which, and the Practices of the
French Priejis, our Five Nations became very much
alienated in their Affections from the Englijh, and
look'd upon them as a People depending upon the
French. The Confequences of this appeared fo dan-
gerous to Colonel Dungan, the Governor of New-
Tork (though, as I have faid, a Papij?) that he
again and again complained to his Mailer of the ill
Offices the French Priefis did the Englijh among our
Nations. When the Englijh had thus procur'd a
Peace for the French , they thought they might juftly
reap fome Advantage from it •, and it is hardly to be
doubted, but that they had Promifes of that kind.
They were therefore encouraged to fend forty Men,
with great Quantities of Goods, into the Lakes y
under the Command of Major r/FGrcgory, to trade
with the far Nations. At this time Mr. Denonviiler
Governor of Canada, was gathering together all the
Force of Canada, and of the Indians, (Enemies of
the Five Nations) in order to furprize the Five Na~
tions, and deftroy them, at the Time they thought
themfejves fecure by the Peace fo lately made. Ma-
jor /^Gregory, and his Company, were met by a
French Officer on Lake Erie, coming with a great
Number of Men to the general Rendezvous of the
French, and he, with all the Engljjh, were made
Prisoners. They were ufed with fuch Severity as
has never been pra£tis'd between Chrijltan Nations,
in open War, tho' the two Crowns, at that time,,
were not only at Peace, but under the ftricleff Ties:
of mutual Friendihip y for the French ufed thefe.
People as Slaves in building Cataraqui Fort, and
a, poor Frenchman that had conducted them, was
vpubILckly (hot to Death, as if he had brought an

Enemy

( **> )

Enemy into their Country. Such was their Appre-
henfions then of the Engiijb getting any Footing
among the Indians.

The French Governor furprized a Village of the
Five Nations, who on the French Faith, liv'd in
great Security, but feven or eight Leagues from
the French Fort, and fent thefe miferable People to
the Gallies in France. He afterwards fell upon
the Sennekas, and burnt their Villages, but without
any Advantage to 'the French, they having loft more
Men than the Indians did. This renew'd the War
with greater Fury than ever, between the French
and our Indians. For fome time afterwards, our
Indians, in a great Body, fell upon the Ifland of
Montreal^ while Mr. Denonviils was in the Town :
They burnt and deftoyed all the Villages and Houfes
round Montreal^ and killed fome hundreds of Men,
Women, and Children. Afterwards they came
into the open Fields before Montreal, and there de-
fy'd the French Governor, who did not think it
proper to fight them. And when they had done
all the Mifchief they could, they retir'd without
any Lofs.

About this Time the Revolution happened in
Great-Britainy which was fucceeded by a War
between Great-Britain and Francs. In- February
1689-90, a Party of three hundred Men, confifr-
ing of equal Numbers of French and Indians, fur-
prized Scheneclady in the Night-Time, when the
poor People were in their Beds, in the greateft Se-
curity, where they barbaroufly murdered fixty-three
Men, Women, and Children, in cold Blood, laid
the Village in Ames, and then retir'd, without
reaping any other Advantage befides this cruel Re-
venge on innocent People, for the Mifchief our In-
dians had done them. This rais'd a cruel War
between the two Colonies, in which, there was

1 much

( 252 )

much Mifchief done, and Blood fhed, without
any Advantage to either fide.

In Time of this War, the mofl Chrijlian King's
Governor of Canada was fo much provoked, that
he thought fit to follow the Example of our barba-
rous Indians , and burn his Indian Prifoners alive,
in the mofl cruel Manner, in fight of all the Inha-
bitants of ^ucbeck, and to deliver up the Englijh
Prifoners to the Fre?ich Indians, who indeed had
more Mercy, for they kill'd none of them.

King William's Peace put an End to this War;
but the Peace lafted fo fhort a while, that the Peo-
ple of this Province hardly had time to re-fettle
their Farms on the Frontiers, which they had de-
ferted in the Time of the War, much lefs to ad-
venture trading in the Indian Countries, fo lately
the Scene of fo much Cruelty. But both Colo-
nies having now an Abhorrence of the Cruelties
of the laft War, agreed on a kind of Neutrality
for the Indians, during Queen Anne's War, in
which Time we loft much Ground with our own
Indians : For the French having learn'd, by dear
Experience, that it was not poffible for them to
conquer our Five Indian Nations, refolved to try all
Means to gain their Affeclions, and in this Art
the French are always more fuccefsful than in that
of War ; and the Englijh failing in two ill-con-
certed Expeditions againft Canada, the Indians loft
much of the Opinion they had of the Englijh Power
and Valour.

In Time of this laft War, the clandeftine Trade to
Montreal began to be carried on by Indians, from
Albany to Montreal. This gave Rife to the Kah-
nuaga, or Praying Indians, who are entirely made
up of Deferters from the Mohawks and River-In-
dians, and were either enticed thither by the French
Priejls, or by our Merchants, in order to carry

Goods

( 253 )

Goods from Albany to Montreal, or run away for
fome Mifchief done here. Thefe Indians, now
confift of about eighty fighting Men, and live about
four Leagues above Montreal : They neither plant
nor hunt, but depend chiefly upon this private
Trade for their Subfiftence. Thefe Indians in time
of War, gave the French Intelligence of all De-
figns here againft them : By them likewife the French
engaged our Five Nations in a War with the Indians
Friends of Virginia, and from them we might ex-
pect the greater! Mifchief in Time of War, feeing
every Part of the Province is as well known to
them as to any of the Inhabitants, But if this
Trade was entirely at an End, we have reafon to
believe, that thefe Indians would return to their
own Tribes, for they then could not long fubfift
where they now are.

As foon as the Peace was proclaim'd, an open
Trade with Montreal was carried on with fuch Ear-
neft, that Montreal was filled with Indian Goods^
and Albany exhaufted ; by which means Montreal
became the principal, if not the only Indian Mar-
ket, and the Indians depended entirely on the French
for what they wanted.

Our Merchants were fond of the Canada Trade,
becaufe they fold large Quantities of Goods with-
out any Trouble, the French taking them from their
Door ; whereas the Trade with the Indians is car-
ried on with a great deal of Toil and Fatigue ;
and as to the Intereft of the Country, they either
never thought any thing about it, or if they did,
had no Regard to it.

Now I have brought this Account to the Time
your Excellency arrived j what has happen'd fince,
your Excellency knows better than I can by any
means inform you. From the whole it feems

plain,

( m )

plain, that any Difficulties and Advantages this
Province has been under, have only proceeded
from the Wars, which have continued fince the
firft fettling of the Province, to the Beginning of the
laft general Peace. But now, that not only this
Province, but likewife our fix Nations of Indians
are at Peace, and in Amrty, both with the French,.
and all the Indian Nations with whom we cart
have any Commerce, thefe Difficulties are all re-
xnov'd, and we now enjoy the mod favourable
Time, that at any Time can be hoped for, in
order to extend the Briiijh Commerce in North-
America, while the French not only labour under
the Difficulties which I have (hewn to be infepara-
ble from the Situation of their Colony, but likewife
under another Difad vantage, (not before taken
notice of) by the Furr-Trade of Canada being
reftrain'd to one Company. This Company is
obliged to pay heavy Duties in France upon the
.Importation of Beaver, or any other Furr ; for
which Reafon they always fix a Price upon Beaver,
and their other Furrs in Canada ; and the Pridian
Traders of Canada being reftrain'd from felling to any
but the Company's Agents there, they cannot raife
the Price of Indian Goods as the Price of European
rife, or as their Profit on the Goods they fell to
the Indians is leflen'd.

The Merchants of New-York allow our Indian
Traders double the Price for Beaver, that the French
Company allow their Indian Traders, the Price
eftablifhed by the Company for Beaver, in Canada,
being two Livres, or eighteen Pence Sterling, the
Pound-weight ; and the current Price of Beaver in
New-York being five Shillings New-York Money,
or three Shillings Sterling the Pound-weight. There-
fore it plainly follows, that our Indian Traders
could under- fell the French Traders, tho' they were

( *5S )
to give as great a Price for European Goods as the
French do, and did tranfport them at as great Charge,
becaufe of the double Price they have for their
Furrs in New-York.

But as our Indian Traders not only have a dou-
ble Price for their Indian Goods, but likewife buy
the Goods they fell to the Indians, at half the
Price the French Indian Traders do, the French
Traders muft be ruin'd by carrying on this Trade,
in Competition with the EngliJJ) of New-York.
And the French Indian Traders had been ruin'd be-
fore now, if they had not found Means to carry
their Beaver, to Albany, where they got double the
Price they muft have fold for in Canada.

It may be objected, againft this Argument, That
the Canada Company as foon at they find that the
Traders cannot fell at their efuiblijhed Fries, will
allow a greater Price, But if we confider the Du-
ties the French Company is obliged to pay to the
King, they cannot allow fo great a Price as the
Englijh can at New-York. And if it fhould be
infifted, That the French Company ??iay obtain a
Remijjion of thofe, yet if the clandestine Trade with
Albany be entirely ilopt, the French Traders will be
ruin'd before fuch Remiffion can be obtain'd, and
their Trade will be at an end.

My Inclination hd me to mow what Advantages
not only the Indian Trade would reap by extending
our Frontiers as far as the Lakes, but likewife the
Britifo Trade in fome other Branches, which the
Parliament of Great-Britain feem to have much at
Heart, viz. Naval Stores j for the Soil on both
Sides of the Mohaivks River being as rich as it is
poffible (I believe) for any Land to be, will be
found the moft proper for raifing of Hemp, of
any Part of America, and the whole Country round

it

( 256 )

it being full of the largeft Pines, the Royal Navy is
as likely to be well provided with Masts there,
and at as cheap a Rate as any where elfe. But I
have already too far prefum'd on your Excellency's
Patience.

Cadwallader Colden,

To this it may not be improper to add the
following Original Letter.

From J. A. Efq\ to Mr, P. C. ^/"London, Jhewing
the Succefs of the Meafures taken at that Time,

SIR, New-York, 1740.

IF you fhould be at the Pains to read thefe printed
Papers, it will be a Pleafure to you to hear of
the Succefs of the Meafures taken by Governor
Burnet for redeeming the Indian Trade out of the
Hands of the French, He has fucceeded far above
our Expectations.

Governor Burnet^ through his earneft Applica-
tion, and at firfl chiefly with his Money, Credit,
and Rifque, erected a Trading-Houfe and Fortifi-
cation at the Mouth of the Onondarues River,
called Ofneigo, where the Province of New-York
fupports a Garrifon of Soldiers, confuting of a
Lieutenant and twenty Men, which are yearly
relieved.

At this Place a very great Trade is carried on
with the remote Indians^ who formerly ufed to go
down to the French at Montreal^ and there buy our
Englijh Goods, at fecond Hand, at above twice the
Price they now pay for them at Ofneigo-, whilft, at

the

( 257 )
the fame Time, the French were chiefly fupplied by
one Gentleman at New-Tor k , who almoft entirely
engrofled the hidian Trade of this Province, and
thereby acquired a very great Eftate and Influence.
But the prudent Steps taken by our late worthy
Governor, to open a free Trade, was the Caufe

of the EngrofTer's lofing his. The Probability of

doing this, was the principal Motive of our apply-
ing to the King, which is fhewn by thefe printed
Papers;

The Indian Trade, to the great Advantage of
this Province, is now divided into feveral hundred
Hands, and there have been for many Years paft
upwards of one hundred young Men of this Pro-
vince, who have gone yearly among the Indians, to
fupply them with our Goods.

By this Means, at a modeft Efttmate, I am af-
fured, that the Indian Trade of this Province is
now far above fiveTimes as much as when Gover-
nor Burnet began to put his Scheme in Execution.

And this is not all the Advantages reaped there-
by, but a much more confiderable one to this, and
all the other Englijh Colonies is, that not only our
own- fix Nations, but alfo many far and remote
hidian Nations are drawn off from their Depen-
dance on the French, and made, by Trade and In-
tercourfe, dependant on the Englijh ; by this Means
a great Security and Protection is acquired by the
Englijh, in cafe of a War with France ; and by
this Trade our Settlements in this Province are
extended up to the Onondagues Carrying-place,
which is now well attended with Waggons, for the
more commodious tranfporting of Goods to trade
in the Lakes.

And they are now fettling on the Branches of
Sajquehanab River ; and from the weftern Branches
of this River, there is but a fmall Land-Car-
riage to Allegheny, a Branch of that great River

MJif-

( 258 )

Mifijfippi ; which Branch extending a thoufand
Miles from its Mouth, where it enters the faid
River ; and which joins (o near to our Settlements,
as is above taken Notice of, opens us a Trade to
that vafl: Country, called by the French Louifiana^
which they pofTefs on the Mlfijfippu

I am,

S I R,

Tour humble Servant,
J. A.

( 259 )

VOCABULARY

O F

Some Words and Names ufed by the French Authors
who treat of the Indian /fairs, tvhicb are diZ
ferent from the Names of the fame People or
Places, ufed or underload by the En olifh and
may therefore be ufeful to thofe who inUnd to read
the French Accounts, or compare them with the
Accounts now publijhed.

Names ufed by the The fame are ctilledb'y theEng;-
French. lift, or by the Five Nation*

A

Benaguies,

|\Wenagunga^j or New-

England Indians, and
arefometimes called the Ea-
ftern Indians.
Adirondacks.

Dionondadies, tfrTuinonda-
deks, a Branch or Tribe of
the Quatoghies.
Mohawks, called likewife

Maquas.
Enitajiche.
Caneraghik.
Corlaer, or Corlard. Schene&ady. But the Five

Nations commonly call the
Gove?'-

Algonkins.
Amihouis.

Aniez.

Bay des Puans.

Chigagou.

a6o A VOCABULARY, &c.

Names ufed by the The fame called by the Eng-
French. lim, or Five Nations.

Governor c/*New-York by
this Name, and often the
People of the Province of
New-York in general.
Teuchfagrondie.
Quatoghie.
Chictaghicks.
The Five Nations.
Caniatare, crQuatoghe lake.
Scahkook Indians.
New-York City.
Odiflaftagheks.
Mahikander, or River Indi-
ans, living on Hudfon'i"
River below Albany.
Twightwies.
Teiodondoraghie.
Achfifaghecks.
Oneydoes.
Cadarackui Lake.
Albany.

Quackfies and Scunkfiks.
Utawawas, or Dewagunhas.
Quakfies.
Eftiaghicks.
Satan as.
Todericks.
Scunkfik.
Erighecks.
Senekas.

Detroit.

Hurons.

Hinois.

Iroquois.

Lac Huron.

Loups.

Manhattan.

Mafcoutecs.

Mourigan.

Miamies.

Miffilimakinak.

Miffiiakies.

Oneyouts.

Ontario lac.

Orange.

Outagamies.

Outawas.

Renards.

Sauiteurs.

Shaouonons.

Tateras.

Terre rouge.

Tongorias.

Tfonontouans.

The End of the First Volume.

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