IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) h A I/.. V 1.0 i.l ■"iH 111 L25 nil 1.4 m 1.6 <^ Vi -^^v*' ^ ^1 '/ Hiotographic Sciences Corporation 33 WIST MAIN STREFT WEBSTER, NY. M580 (716) 873-4503 .ury.caurt\ and J. Ward in Cornbill, oppofitt; the Royal-Exchange, ""liTbccLvT" 1 ) -Jt,„ . 1 i \ r ^ ^ H i, t r A >-. .* A V \J 99 I7C 7 /75S u .i'» f ^1 #'■ r^ ^ 4 •■ • » I V 11*^ 1 ' * .. i.TA*>i, « . V, F. J tf ' \ •■» M ■ » ■ / >5 ^ \ \V I ■ ■ -f A .if ^'v**! '<.» .'» — » * — > W k 1 -♦^ « ..« A 4 -*^ ,y . ; I i ►O' Q, /»^ / 1 ••*' ( "i) TO THE HONOURABLE GENERAL \\ ■ti O GLETHORPE. ;i ItK )i-. N*l, > , , .Ci >r{t ...... *i SIR, THE Jr«^V^« 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 lateft Pofterity blefs your Memory for that Happinefs, the Foundation of which was laid under your Care, provided that the People here, whofe Duty and Intereft 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 r ( iv ) The following Account of the Frue Indian Nations, will fliew wliat dange- rous Neighbours tlie Indians have once been ; what Pains a neighbouring Co- lony (whofe Intere fl; is oppofite to ours) has taken to withdraw their AfFedions 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 Apprehenfions from the Indians themfelves) it wou' ' be highly impru*^ dent in us to fufFer zh People to grow Rich and Powerful, while it ij in our Power to prevent it, with much lefs^ Charge and Trouble, than it is in theirs; to accomplifli their Defigns. Thefe Confiderations alone are fuffi- cient to make the Indian Affairs dcfcrvd. the moft fcrious Thoughts of every Gover-^ nor in America. But I well know, be^ fides, that your Excellency's Views arc! not confined to the Intereft of one Country only. i ' The Five Nations arc a poor, and ge-» nerally called, barbarous People, bred under * ur a I th( Re Lc ten fiai in hd Par bay avoi Jian with tbeii Stak dies, men they fiftc( ibiuc great tueSj this t * 7 second Five nge- oncc Co- ours) lions ht to ifider iceive e are ndians grow n our theirs I fuffi- icfcrvo over«^ , be- s are f one I (V ) under the darkeft Ignorance ; and yet a bright and noble Genius (hines through thcfc 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 j 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 fhew, as they faid, that the Five Nations con- fifted of Men, whofe Courage and Re^ \ folution could not be fhaken. They I greatly fully, however, thofe noble Vir- Itues, by that cruel Paflion, Revenge^ I this they think is not only lawful, but t .. ., ^ .. a A o , honour- .' 1 It" ind g€* , bred under * This will appear by feveral Iiiftances in the Second Part of this Hiftory. III! i.; 'I U' ■( t I. I, If ( Vi) honourable, to exert without Mercy on their Country's Enemies, and for this only it is that they can defer vc the Name of Barbarians . • > • • 1 '> » i * •/ . • But what, alas! Sir, have we Chrif- tians done to make them better? Wc have indeed Reafon to be afliamed, that thefe Infidels, by our Converfation and Neighbourhood, are become worfe thaa they were before they knew us. Inftead^ of Virtues we have only taught them; Vices, that they werd intircly free from» before that Time. The narrow Views of private Interefthave occalioned this; and will occafion greater, even publickl Mifchiefs, if the Governors of the People do not, like true Pati-idts, exert thcm-^ felves, and put a Stop to^thefe grbwing^ Evils. If thefe Praftice^ be winked at, inftead of faithful Friends, • that have manfully fought our Battles . for us, the Five Nations: Vf\\\ become faitbfefs Thieves and Robbers, and join with. every B^ nemy that can give them any Hopes of Plunder. > ii ' • /■» ' I ■.M. ... I£ H in( thi y on this ? Wc , that >n and e than ;nftead- themi 5 from* Views id thisy nibliclo People- thcm-^ rbwi'ng^ ked at, t have us, the Thievas 'ery E**- !opes of ( vii ) If Care were taken to plant and cul- tivate in them that general Benevolence to Mankind, which is the true firfi Principle of Virtu-^, it would effedually eradicate thofe horrid Vices, occafioned by their unbounded Revenge ; and then they would no longer deferve the Name of Barbafians, but would become a Peo- ple, whofe Friendfliip might add Ho- nour to the Britijh Nation. The Greeks and RcmanSf Sir, once as much Barbari^s as oUr Indians now are, deified the Heroes that firft taught them thofe Virtues, from whence the Grandeur of thofe renowned Nations wholly proceeded j s^ good Man, how- eVef , 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- M \rr w ■ I ( viii ) Patronage j and on thefe only it is that I prcfumc to oflFer my beft Endeavours in this, who am, with the grcatcfl Refpcift, . 3ii*^^ >-. . :: '/ » '••>/ 1'? . sjT. Uv' J iT'Jv il.i . 4'. f 1 ''''•'»•• .) . » 5 2 jR, . T^ '} J ; •s,' I 1 » t » • . .;• .'. , Tour mojl obedient. ■\ ■ , t J •« » r • » ': -^ and mofi htmbJe Servant. .1 » . / iniiii c%-: ji.I^ L. i.] /io/^^i^' ',: V , ^-.' ^ .*. :i^ jr'!H»i/jv.f;M - f!": . : ";n avcfi ^ •>i>*^oi' '^•i.j. i! I ') i III I »i J, - 1 I Cadwalkder Coldeiu /V: *"-^ it f'lt.^^i i O . ^ M Ij-'c \ > t .• t U..iu .1 that TOUTS' latefl 1 1 ( ix ) > •» . ,. '>^r%^^^ »,»^»H ill. *ll » A * •» I 'r%i#vr\ 1 V » THE ' I.'. '« i. ^ . lull PREFACE i k .. »•' \ ■' r- ['..r .:. » vant,. >: Lac tv. ' ^ . ..« a. deiu To the First Part. .\ * i \ ,• rHOUG H every one that is in the leaji ac» quainted with the Affairs tf/" North- America, knows of what Confequence the Indians, com^ monly known to tbt People of New- York by the Name of the Five Nations, are^ both in Peace and IVar \ I know of no Accounts of them^ publljhed in Englifh, but what are very tmperfeHy and indeed meer Tranjlations of French Authors, who themfelves know little of the Truth. Thisfeems to throw fome RefieSijons on the Inhabitants of our Province, as if we wanted Curiofuy to enquire into our own Affairs, and were willing to reji fat is fed with the Accounts the French give us of our own Indians, notwith^ Jianding that the French in Canada are always in a different Interefi, and fometimes in open Hojiility with us. This Conftderation, I hope, will jujlify my attempting to write an Hijhry of the Five Nations at this Time ; and having had the Perufal of the Minutes of the Commiffioners for Indian Affairs, / have hieh enabled to coiled many Materials for this Hijlory, which are not to he found any where elfe ; and cannot but think, that a Hifiory of this- Kind will be of great life to all the Britifh Colonies in North-America, Jince it may enable them to learn Experience at the Expence of others : And if I can con^ /*Tr ' I l\ 'I li; i I \i • il n !| 1 11 ( X ) ^tntribute any Thing tofo good a Purfafef Ijhall n9t ^bink my Labour loft, » ? ' It will be mcejfary for me here to fay fomethtng in Excuje of two Things in the following Performance^ which ^ I am afraid^ will naturally be found Fault with in it, 7 he fir ft is y the filling up Jo great Part of the JVork with the Adventures of Jmall Parties^ and fometimes with thofe of one fingfe Man : And thg fecond iSf the infer tingfo many Speeches at Length, As to the firji^ the Hijlory of Indians would be very lam^ without an Account of thefe private Ad" ventures ; for their warlike Expeditions are alrnoji always carried -m by furprifing each other ^ and their whole Art of PP^ar confifls in managing fmall Parties, 7%e whole Country being one continued Foreji, gives, great Advantages to thefe fculking Parties^ and has obliged the Chrlftldns to imitate the Indians in thit Methodof making War among them,. Andfome wouid^. douhilefs^ be defirous to know the Mafiners and Cuf* toms of the Indians, in their public k Trjeaiies efpeci^ ally^ who could riot he fatlsfied without taking Notice of fever al minute Circumftancss^ and Things otherwlfe tf no Confequence, IVe are fond of fearclAng into, remote Antiquity y to know the Manners of our ear- liefi Progenitors ; and^ if I am not mtjlaken^ the \x\^\2l\\^ are living' Images of them, . i My Defigrit ihereforey in the fecond was^ that thereby the Genius of the Indians /night appear. An. Hiftarian may paint Mens Actions In lively Colours^ of in faint Shades y as he likes bejiy and In both Cafes freferve a perfect Llkenefs ; but It will be a difficult Tafk to ft>ew the Wit y Judgment y Ai'ty Simplicity y and Ignorance of the fever al Parties y managing a Treaty^ in other IVords than their own. As to my Party I thought myfelf incapable of doing jV, without depriving. thejudiclousObferverofthe Opportunity of dlfctiverlng much of the Indian Genius, by my contrasting or pa-- raphrafing their Harangues y and without committing of. *v ]ll n9t mg in \tance-i Fault t Part artiesj tnd thi gth. mid be te Ad- almojr id their ^artiis, and Jjns In thit wouidy fid Cuf- s efpeci' r Notice therwife 'ng into, our ear^ keriy the.^ ct 4 that An. Colours^ th Cafes difficult ity^ and Treaty-^ Party 1 kpriving. fctivering ig or pa- mmitting (*i ) I vftert groft Mtjtaket. For, on theft Occajions, a JhiU 'I Jul Manager often talks confufedly, and ohfcurely^ ivith Defign ; which if an HiJIorian fiould endeavour to amende the Reader would receive the Hijhry in a falfe Light. -; • ^ -^^ ' - 'v v > The' Reader will fnd 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 hy the fworn Interpreters^ of tuhom Iruth only is riqui- red', a rough Stile^ with Truths is preferable to EIo^ quence without it : This may he f aid in ^ujlification of the Indian Espreffiony though I muji own^ that I ff- peSf our Interpreters may not have done ft^Jiice to the Indian Eloquence, For the Indians having but few IVords^ and few complex Ideas ^ ufe many Metaphor i in their Difcourfe, which interpreted by an unfkilfid Tongue^ may appear mean, and Jirike our Imaginu^ ihn faintly ; but under the Pen of a fkilful Reprcf en- ter, might Jlrongly move our Pafftons by their lively Images. I have heard an old Indian Sachem, Jpeak with much Vivacity and Elocution, 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 tn our Expe^ations, After the Speaker had employed a conft- \ derable Time in haranguing with much Elocution, the ] Interpreter often explained the whole by one fingle Sen" ; tenee, I believe the Speaker in that Time, embellifh^ I ed ayid adorned his Figures, that they might have • their full Force on the hnagination, while the Inter" * prefer contented himfelf with the Serfe, in as few ;;; IVords as it could be exprejfed, . * ] He that firfl writes the Hijlory of Things, which ^ are not generally known, ought to avoid, as much as pofftble, to nutke the Evidence of the Truth depend in^ I tirely on his ownVcracity and judgment \ and for this I Reafon I have related fevcral Tranfa£lions in the IVords kl ■i: 1*t ;i ti i :^ ^ \l U ( Jfii ) Tf^orjs of the RegifterSj whtn this is dtice dont^ he that J})all write afterwards^ need not adi with Jq much Caution, . - The Hijlory of thefe Indians, / promt fe my f elf will give an agreeable Amufement to many 3 almojl every one will find fomething in it fuited to his own Palate \ but every Line will not pleaje every Man ; on the contrary^ one will naturally approve, what ano" ther condemns^ as one defires to know what another thinks not ivorth the Trouble of reading ; for which Reafon^ I thinks it is better to run the Rijque of be- ing Jometimes tedious to certain Readers^ than to omit any thing that may be ufeful to the World. I have fometimes thought^ that Hif lories wrote with all the Delicacy of a fine Romance^ a^e like French Dijhes^ more agreeable to the Palate than the Stomachy and lefs wholfome than more common andcoarfcr Diet* An Hif Orion's Views mufl he curious and extenftve^ and theHiflory of different People and different Ages requires different Rules ^ and often different Abilities to write it ; / hope therefore the Reader ivilly from thefe Confulerations^ receive this firfl Attempt of this kind with more than ufual Allowances, The Ifihabitants of New- York have been much more concerned in the Tranfaclions^ which followed the Year 1688, than in thofe which preceded it. And as it requires uncommon Courage and Refolution to crigage willingly in the Wars againft a cruel and barbarous Enemy ^ I fijould be forry to forget any that might deferve to be remembred by their Country with Gratitude on that Occafton. \ « --ti *. v .iJ* »i.;r . Vi^ .' ' 1' /;=..•■••• THE G IHI I T »i1 Ofh c V)en tion thek yfthi tioni .' \\ A VocabuV ry of Words and Names us'd by the French Authors, who treat of the Indian Affairs, is inferted at the End of this Volume. J^Ionf abli jf , he th Jo nyfelf, almojt is own I an 9 on It ano' i another • which e of bC' : to omit ote with French Stomachy Ir Diet. :xtenftvc and^ of th^r Laws and Cufioms,, •^- pag, i. PART L CHAP. I. Of the Wars of the Five Natious, with the Adiroiv- 4acks and QUatoghiesu . . 21 r-i^r' C H A P. IT. ft p^e Wars and Tridties: of Peace of the Five Na* tions With the French, from 1665 to 1683, and' thear Affairs witk New-York ifi thai time. 31. » V € H A P. in. ■•-* w 9f the TranfaSfiom of the In^m^of the Five Na^ , ^ Uqva with the neigbouringl^ti^^ Colonies. 36, THE t - .: . . ., I . ..CHAP. lAT. ..l^, ^. ; idonfDcl^'B&n'c's Expedition^ and fome remarka^ d by the | able Tranfa^ions u\if)S^. 60 V C H A P. VoiL. I. -1 The CONTENTS. CHAP. V. 7^/ Engllfti attempt to trade in the Lakes^ and the PVendi attack the Seiiiekas. . j . u »^ 71 C H A p. VI. Colonel Dongan'/ Advice to the Indians, Adario'J Enterprize^ and Montreal facked by the Five Na- tions. — ' _— 82 -'I - d 4i d t ■ ! "iVt "A'^t PART IL 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 Mnflachufets-Bay, New-Plymouth and Conne£licut, atid the Sa- chems of the Five Nations at Albany. 106 ..,,-■■- -^.-CHAP. ni. ''"^^^-.^''^ An Account of a general Council of the Five Na- tions at Onondaga, to confider of the Count De ^' FrontQn^c^s Me^gt, ; - i. ■ / ■ ■ xi^ Ai CHAP. IV. y 7 he French furprize Schene£lady. The Mohavi^ks **'' Speech of Cond^knce on that Oaafion. v. . i20 ■"■*•"' '^' ^.^■ CH A P. |: '^- -"^ ^^^ -^ •> f '' . 'j i \<. Thi The CONTENTS. and t^^ Adario'* FiveNa- 82 anada, at Britain. 97 ufets-Bay, nd the Sa- 106 ; Five N2- ? Count De f^ Mohawks CHAP.' C H A P. V. The Five Nations continue the War with the French. i'he Mohawks incline ti9 Peace. Their Conferences with the Governor 0/ 'StMf'Yorlc. ■ 129 CHAP. VT. The Englifli attaci Montreal hy Land^ in Conjunc- iion with tfxe Indians, an4 (Rebeck by Sea. 134 CHAP. VII. Vi~'4' ( The French, and the Five Nations, continue the fVar all Winter with various Succe/s. The French '/ hum a Captain of the Five Nations aliye^ 139 C HA P. VIII. The Five Nations treat with Cap. Ingoldfby, 145 CHAP. IX. • ' ■ ^ m .- ^V\ ^^■■'[' \ rt' •] r»> ' Tie French furprixe^ and take three Mohawk CaJlUs. " • ' •' 150 ,y !■- ■ 1 CHAP. X. i- 1 J^ Treaties and Negotiations of the Five Nations with //;tf Englifh ^«^ French, 1693, 1694. J59 ^fJ^^A CHAP. XI. The War continued. The French repojfefs them-- felves of Cadarackui Fort ; and find Afeans to break off the Treaty between the Five Nations and '' Dionondadies. ' _- ig^ CHAP. I I iii:i; i^.(; .|!' H ■'i I !1 Th« CONTENTS. CHAP- XII. . 7h CffHut ]>o Vronttn^c aitacSs Onondaga In Pei^ J^n \uitk (hi wh^ii f'^•• .1 *-:'-' * ■i/,< » f4 ^ 4 . .H>^'^ J I f ^. " - i « i *>^ ^ ' n'r » . t^ ^ — I jifli V^v* . ifV ♦ ■♦ * ) t ;. :: J R Jljh th Cu ( t ) \e Five h, and • 197 t.3 -^? '^^ 205 inie'ni of fcltih^ of s • '' \\. '. ',k\. \l' •:.i. . 1 H t iv» INTRODUCTION, BEING A fhort View of the Form of GovermefU of the Five Nations, and of their Laws^ CufiomSy &c. . IT is iiecefTary to know fomething of the Form of Govcrnroeiit of the People, whofe Hiftory one is about to know, and a few Words will be. fufficient to give the Rcadi r a Conception of that of the Ft';. Nations j bccaufc it itill remains |imdcr origi-nal Sitiiplicity, and free from thole com- *plicated Contrivances, which have become ne- lix'irary to the Nations, where Deceit and Cunning Ihave increafcd as much as their Knowledge and Wifdom. f The Five Nations (as their Name denotes) con- iVfl of Co many Tribes ov Nations, joined together 'hy a League or Confederacy, like the United Pro- minceSy and without any Superiority of the one over She other. This Union has continued fo long, Ihat the Chriftians know nothing of the Original of : : The People in it are known by the EngHjh ndcr the Names of Mohaivksy Oncydoes^ Onondu- [/?;, Cayugas^ and Sennekas^ Each of thefe Nations is again divided int» ree Tribes or Families, who diftinguilh them- Ives by tliree different Arms or Enfii^ns, the "^rtoifcy thrked out of the lafide of the great Cooq^ues into the B z Form '51 m \ ^ ::li ( 4 ) make War nor Peace, without the Confent of the Afo^ haivks. Two old Men commonly go about every Year or two, to receive this Tribute ; and I have MtQn had Opportunity to obfer^"^ what Anxie-. cv the poor Indians were undf /hile thefc two 'Ikl Men remained in that Pait of the Country ^here I was. An old Mohawk Sachenij in a poor Blanket and dirty Shirt, may be ktn ifluing his Orders with as arbitrary an Authority, as a Roman Didlator. 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 feek 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 xn^i with, though but too little minded, That it is in the Power of the Rulers oi 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 Bravery in Battle, and their Conftancy in enduring Torments, equal the fortitude of the moft renowned Romans, I ihall finifli their general Charadler by what an Form of a Bead, and perforated, to ftring on Leather ; the Purple is worked out of the Infide of the Mufclc Shell ; they are wove is 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 Friendlhip, for lefl'er Matters a fingle String is given. Every Bead is of a known Value, and a Belt of a Lefs Number, is made to equal one of a greater, by fo many a5 is wanting faflenfd to the Belt by a String. I Ene all :hc Mo- it every i I have Anxie-- efc two Country n a poor iiing ^is a Roman utc how- ; Notions ftrongly r they go hey think rreatcr or Jhe Senti- conduce fics a Say- I too little le Rulers or Little ; onour and he People, )eir Rulers )ve of Li' Jravery in pTorments, ;d Romans, >y what an Ion Leather ; the Mufclc I, and ahout [ive and re* ^endlhip, for rery Bead is [Number, " many a? is (5) Kncmy, a Frenchman^ fays of them, Monjjeur De la Potericj in his Hiftory of North yfmertca, *• When we fpeajc (lays he) of the Five Ka* •' iiom in France^ they are thought, by a common " Miftakc, to be mere Barbarians, always thirftiny; «* after human Blood ; but their true Chara«Slcr is «' very different. They are indeed the ficrcelt ** and moft formidable People in North Jmerlcuy ♦< and, at the fame Time, arc as politick and ju- «• dicious, as well can be conceived ; and thij ap- •* pears from the Management of all the .JFairs «* which they tranfadt, not only with the French and *« Englljh^ but likcwife with almoft all the Indian ** Nations of this vaft Continent." Their Matters of Confequence, which concern all the Nations, are tranfa(fted in a general Meet- ing of the Sachems of each Nation. Thefe Con- ventions are commonly held at Onnondago. which is nearly the Center of their Country ; but ,hey have fixed on Albany for the Place of treating widi the Briiijh Colonies, They ftri£lly 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 hive fub- dued any People, after they have fatiated their Re* I venge by fome cruel Examples, they adopt the I reft of their Captives ; who, if they behave well, become equally efteemed with their own People j fo that fome of their Captives have afterwards be- come their greateft Sachems and Captains, The TuJkaroraSy 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, thouirh they |fiill retain the old Name of the Five Nations amoi/o- the Englijh, The Ccwetas alfo, or Creek- IndianT^ arc in the fame Friendfhip with them. Bi The 1 fi ir ( 6 ) The Tui'JrrOiis^ fincc they came miJcrthc Pro- vince of Niw 1'orL, behave thcmiclvcs well, and remain peaceable and quiet i and by this may be Teen the Advantage of ufing the Indiam well, and [ belic\ e. If they were (HI! better ufed, (as there is Room enough to do it) they would be propor- llonably more ufeful to us. 'I'he Cruelty the Indians ufe in their Wars, to- wards thofc that do not or cannot rcfifl*, fuch as Women and Children, and to their Prifoners, after they have them in their Power, is dcfervcilly 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 Refpeifl. Does ylchiile5\ Behaviour to He^fors dead Body, in Horner y appear Icfs favage? This Cruelty is alfo not peculiar to the Five NationSj but cquallv prac- iU'ed by all other Indians, It is wonderful, how Cuftom i nd Education are able to foften the mofl horrid Actions, even among a polite and learned People ; witnefs the Carthaginians and Phanicians burning their own Children alive in Sacrifice ; and fbveral Paflages in the Jewijh Hijiory ; and wit- lie fs, in later Times, the Chriftians burning one a]iothcr 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 £n- terprize igainfl their Enemy, they at firft commu- nicate their Defign to two or three of thelrmoft in- timate Friends; and if they come into it, an Invi- tation is made, in their Names, to all the young Men of the Caflle, to feaft on Dog*s Flefh ; but Av bother this be, becaufe Dog's Flefh is moft agree- nble to Indian Palates, or whether it be as an Em- blem of Fidelity, for which the Dog is diflinguifh- cd by all Nations, that it is always ufed on this Occafion, I have not fufRcient Information to de- iCtS . aggej m»* the Pro- xU, ami s may be (as there » propor- ^ars, to- , fuch as lers, after rvcdly in- reads the ind them, ^. Does Body, in Ity is alfo lallv prac- rful, how n the mod nd learned ^hanicians •ifice; and and wit- irnlng one ationshave lin a Repu- otableEn- ■ft commu- elrmoftin- it, an Invi- the young Hefh; but moft asree- as an Em- diftinguilh- ifed on this •mation to de- 4 ( 7 ) determine. When the Company is met, the Pro- moters of the Enterprise fet forth the Undertaking in the bed 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 Flefli, thereby inlift themfclves. The Night before they fet out, they make a grand Fealt, to this all the noted Warriors of the Nation arc 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 "^Furn, and fings the great Aiits he has himfelf performed, and the Deeds of his Anceftors ; and this is always accompanied with a Kind of a Dance, or rather Adlion, repre- fenting the Manner in which they were performed; and from I'ime to Time, all prefent join in a Chorus, applauding every notable A6t. 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 wariike Enthufiafm. I have fomctimes perfuaded fome of their young hi- dians to a6t thefe Dances, for our Diverfion, land to fhcw us the Manner of them ; and even, jon thefe Occafions, they have work'd thcmfelves up »to fuch a Pitch, that they have made all prefent un- |eafy. Is it not probable, that fuch Defigns as thefe |have given the firft Rife to Tragedy? \ They come to thefe Dances with their Faces ppainted in a frightful Manner, as they always are Uvhen they go to War, to make tliemfelves terri- ^e to their Enemies ; ard in this Manner the IrJight is (pent. Next Day they march out with jnuch Formality, dreiled iV their fineft: Apparel, fnd^ in their March, obfeive a profound Silence, ""n Officer of the regular Troops told me, that B 4 while !V., f! *.. ':-':i H liili! ( s ) while he wa* Commandant of For f- Hunter^ tfi-e Afohawhy on one of thefe Occafions, told him, that they expedted the ufual military Honours as tl^y pafled the Garrifon. Accordingly he drew out his Garriion, the Men prefented their Pieres as the Indians pafled, and the Drum beat a Marcb; and with lefs Refpedib, the Officer laid, they would have bee'j diiTatisfied. The hidiatis pafled in a fingle Row, one after another, with great Gravi- ty and profound Silence ; and every one of them, as he pafled the Officer, took his Gun from his Shoulder, and fired into the Ground near the Offi- cer's Foot : They marched in this Manner three *)i- four Miles from their Caf^le. The Women^ on thefe Occafjons, 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, w^here 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 lafling ; upon the fmooth 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 againfi 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 defigned, as far as they can* After the Expedition is over,, they flop at the fame Place in their Return, and fend to their Callle, to in- form their Friends of their Arrival j that they may be prepared to give them afolemn Reception,.fuited to the Succefs they have had. In the mean Time, they reprelent on the fame, or fome Tree near it, the Event of the Enterprizc, and now the Canoes art painted. I thei ^ iter^ tFr« old him, incurs as he drew fir Pieces a March; r:cy would iflecl in a at Gravi- e of them, i from his rtheOifi- • inner three ; Women, I with their ni their Fi- the Caftle. where they )eel a large they com- upon the ir red Paint, lome, with ing, which nimal, as a ition againft limed at the lavel in Ca- the Country ed, as far as >p at the fame :uiHe, to in- lat they may tion,fuitedto n Time, they : near it, the e Canoes ar« paints^- ( 9 ) painted with their Heads turned towards the Caftle * the Number of the Enemy killed, is reprefcnted 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 arc 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 Atchievcments, The folemn Reception of thefe Warriors, and the Acclamations of Applaule, which they receive at their Return, cannnot but have in the Hearers the fame EfFccfb, in raifing an Emulation for Glory, 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 them(elves, than fuffcr theiu to want ; and I have been always afTured, tliat there is not one Inftance,, of their offering the leaft: Violence to the Qiafh'ty of any Woman that was their Captive. Hut notwithftianding this, the poor Prifoners afterwards undergo levere Punifliment* 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 fubject to them, which He near the Road ; and thefe, to fhew their Affedtion to the Five Nations^ and their Abhoirence of their Enemies, draw up in two Lines, through which the poor Prifoners, fliark naked, muft 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 prcfentcd to thofe that have loft any Relation in that or any former Enterprize. If the Captives be accepted, I there is an End to their Sorrow from, that Momcnti I they are drcficd as fine as they can make them; B 5 they u M ^"^ i! r h:- I i i t ( 10 ) they are abfolutely free (except to return to their own Country) and enjoy all the Privileges the Per- fon hadj in whofe Place they are accepted ; but if other wife, 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 Caftles are generally a Square furrounded with Palifadoes, without any Baftions or Out*^ works ; for, fmce the general Peace, their Villa- ges lie all open. Their only Inftruments of War are Mufquets, Hatchets, and long fharp-polnted Knives ; thefe they always carr)'^ 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- redling and regulating the Motion, fo that though the Hatchet turns round as it flies, the Edge always fticks in the Tree, and near the Place at which they aim it The Ufe of Bows and Arrows are now intirely laid afide, except among th^^ Boys, who are f^ill very dexterous in killing Fowls and other Animals with them. They ufe neither Drum nor Trumpet, nor any Kltid of mufical Inflrument in their Wars ; their Throats ferve them on all Occafions, where fuch are ncccfiary. Many of them have a furprifing Faculty of raifmg their Voice, not only in inarti- culate Sounds, but likewife to make their Words linderflood at a great Diltance •, and we find the ikxmc was pradifed by Horner's Heroes, Thrice n to their s the Per- 2d ; but if atiate the Place of a ren of the one may fuch a Boy furroundcd J or Out-^ heir Villa- Mufquets, ives •, thefe ir Hatchet, die behind ike of this terousWay often prac- o a Tree at Art of di- Lhat though . ;dge always ; at which Arrows are th<'. Boys, ^ Fowls and et, nor any Vars ; their where fuch i furprifing ily in inarti- :heir Words we find the Thrice ( " ) Thrice to its Pitch his lofty Voice he rears^- O Friend ! UlyfTes Shouts invade 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 A£t of the Nation, but every fmgle 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 afTume 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; but when about ten or Twelve Years afterwards, mv 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 Anfwcr, 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. I was adopted, at that Time, into the Tribe o. the Bear, and, for that Reafon, I often afterwards had I the kind Compliment of Brother Bear, B 6 The ■ i m !'!!'i' ii|. H i! ( 1-2 ) The Hofpitality of thcfe InJiaffS is no I'cfs re- markable, than their other Virtues ; as foon as any iSlJtranger comes, they are furc to offer him Vidliials*. If there be fcveral in Company, and come from a-far,, one of their beft Houfes ivS cleaned and given up for their Entertainment. Their Complaifancc, on thefc Occafions, goes even farther than Chrif- tian Civility allows of,, as they have no other Rule for it, than the furnifhing their Gueii with every Thing they thijik will be agreeable to him ; for this Reafon, fomc of their prettied Girls arc always ordered to wafh thcmfelves, and drefs in their bed Apparel, in order to be prefcnted to tJie Stranger, ibr his Choice ; and the young Lady,, who has the Honour to be preferred on thefc Occafions,. per*- forms all the Duties of a fond Wife, during the Strangcr^s Stay : But this laft Piece of Hofpitality is now cither laid afide by the. Alohaivkiy or, at lead, they never offer it to any Chriffian. This Narlon, indeed,, has laid afide many of its ancient Cuftoms, and fo likewife have tlie other Nations^ with whom we are bcft acquainted j. and. have adopted many of ours ; fo that it i:. notca{y, now to diftinguifh their- original, and r;tnuine Manners, ft"om thofe which they have latt^y acquired ; and for this Reafon It is,, that thcv now feldom offer Yi(2:uals to- Pcrfons of wivj. Diftindlion,., becaufe they know, that their Food and Cookery* is not agreeable to our delicate Palates. Their. Men. value thcmfelves,, in having all Kind of Food, in equal EfteemK, A Mohaivk Sischcfn told me wuh a Kind «*f Pride, That a Man cats every Thing without \)\{\inQi\onjBears^.C4Citi^ Dogs, Snakes, Frogs, &c. intirnating,, that it is Womanifh, to have any De- licacy in the Choice of Food. I can,, however,, give two ftrong Inflances of the Hofpitality of the Afahawks,. which fell under my »wji-0tifeivatioii5 and which ihew>, tliat they have tshe 1 3 Icfs rc- lon as any Vidlimls*. ome from and given iplaifance, I an Chrif- )thcr Rub nth every him ; for arc always . their bell ) Stranger, ho has the fions,. per* during the Hofpitality j/iSy or, at an. This its ancient r Nations^ and. have afy. now to Manners, uired j and idom ofFer (n,, becaufe eery* is not Men. value d. in equal \ath a Kind ing without ve any De- mces of the I under my It they have ths f 13 ) t!ic very (vimc Notion of Hofpitality, wiiich we find in the ancient Poets. When I was laft in the Mohawks Country, the Sachems told rnc, 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 anfwcred, wc never fcrve any Man fo, who puts himfclf under our Protection, On this I infiftcd on the Injury they did thereby to his Mafter ; and they allowed it might be an 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 'n 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 fufficient 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 ia old Times. Polygamy is not ufual among them ; and' indeed,, ill 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 banifhed from the Countries of the Five Hationsy fo they keep themfelv.es free alfo from.the Bondage of Wedlock.;, and when, either of the Parties becomes difgufted, they feparate without Formality or Ignominy to either,, urdefs it be occafioned by fome fcandalous Offence iaone of them. And in Cafe of Divorce, tlie Children, according to the natural Courfe of all Animals, fbllow the Mother. The Women here bring forth their Children with as much Eafe as other Aiiiznals^ and without the Help of a Mid- wife,. ill) i i 1 f 1 « 1 \ ; i ■ I t i ■ ' ■ ^ ill < t ( H ) wife, and, foon after their Delivery, return to (liclr ufual Kmploynicnt. They alone alfo perform all the Drudgery about their Houfcs, they plant their Corn, and labour it, in cvciy refpei^, till it is broup;ht to the Tabic : T^hcy likcwifc cut all their Fire-wood, and bring it Home on their Backs, and in their MarchcvS bear the Burdens. The Men difdain all Kind of Labour, an'l employ themfclves alone in Hunting, as the only proper Bufmefs for Soldiers. At 1 imes, when it is not proper to hunt, one finds the o/ri Mi*n in Compa- nies, in Converfation ; the young Men at their Exercifes, (hooting at Marks, throwing the Hatchet, WrefHing, or Running, and the Women all bufy at Labour in the Fields. On thefc Occafions, the State of Lacedamon ever occurs to my Mind, which that of the Five Na- tions^ in many Refpcff^s, 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 fliould be fo among all Indians^ fince they have no Locks, but thofc of their Minds, to prefcrve their Goods. There is one Vice which tne Indians have all fallen into, fince their Acquaintance with the ChriJIians^ and of which they could not be guilty before that Time, that is, Drunkciuicfs : It is ftrange, how all the Indian Nations, and almoll every Pcrfon among them, Male and Female, are infatuated with the Love of flrong Drink ; they know no Bounds to their Defire, while they can (wallow it down, and then indeed the greatefi^ Man among them fcarcely defer vcs the Name of a Brute. They never have been taught to conquer any FaiTion, but by fome contrary Paffion ; and the leaders, with whom they chiefly converfc, arc fo far and n to tliclr rform all lant their till it is it all their ir Backs, MS. The I'l employ nly proper I it is not n Compa- i at their c Hatchet, ;n all bufy iamon ever Fife Na- \cir Laws, render the A^ar. ni ; and it liansy fmcc Minds, to ;; have all with the It be guilty icfs : It is and ahnoll em ale, are >rink; they le they can the greatei^ z Name of onquer any I ; and the erfc, arc fo far f. ( >5 ) far from giving them any Abhorrence of this VIcr, that they encourage it all they can, not only for the Profit of the Li(|uor they fell, hut that they may have an Opportunity to impofe upon them. And this, as thry chiefly drink Spirits, has dc- flroyed greater Numbers, than all their Wars and Difcafes put together. 'J 'he People of the Five Nations arc mtich given to Spcfch-waking^ ever the natural Confecjuencc of a perfect Republican Govcrrunent: Where no fui- rlc Perfon has a Power to compel, the Arts of 'erfuafion alone muft prevail. As their heft Speak- ers diltinguifh themfelves in their publick Councils and Treaties with other Nations, and thereby gain 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- crcife, in a great Meafure. It is impofTible 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 Eiucncy of Words, and much more Grace in their Manner, than any Man could expe£t, among a People intirely ignorant of lall the liberal Arts and Sciences. I am informed, that they arc veiy nice in the Turn of their Expreffions, and that few of them- felves are (o far Mafters of their Language, as jicver to offend the Ears of their Indian Auditory, by an unpolite P^xpreifion. 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 refpedt, at meeting and parting, are made in Harangues. They have fome Kind of Elegancy in varying and compounding their Words, to which, not many :«'' 'ii' k ') ii «! I; Ifll 'f 1 . i I , i 4 ' 1 i '; \ .( ^ '' \- , i \ , I ;l ' i ' ■ 'n' i » . !| ' (i6) many of themfelves attain^ and this principally diC- tinguifhes their beft Speakers. I have endeavoured to get fomc Account of this, as a Thing that might l>e acceptable to the Curlouii ; but, as I have not met with any one Ferfon who underflands their Language, and alfo knows any Thing of Gram- mar, or of the learned Languages, I have not been able to attain the leaft Satisfa£lion, Their prcfent 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 it was done ; and even fufpedls that every Verb has a peculiar Mode ! They have but few radical Words^ but they compound their Words without End; by this their Language becomes fufficiently copious, and leaver 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 Wme Oneharadefe^ hoengtfcragherie, as to fay, a Liquor made of the Juice of the Grape, The Words exprefling Things lately come to their Knowledge are all Compounds ; They have no Labeals in their Language, nor can they pronounce perfedlly any Word wherein there S3 a Labeal; and when one endeavours to teach them to pronounce thefe Words, they tell one, they think it ridiculous that they muft ihut their Lips to fpeak. Their Language abounds with Gutturals and ftrong Afpirations, thefe make it very fonorous and bold ; and their Speeches abound with Metaphors, after the Manner of the Eaflern Nations, as will befli appear by the Speeches that I have copied. As to,' what rdi'gious Nstions they, have, it is difficult to judge of them ; becaufe the Indians^ that fpeak any Englijk, and live near us, have learned many Things of us ; and it is not eafy to diflin- guifh. the Notions they had? originally among them** 4. U% Ipally dif- deavoured hat might have not mds their • :)f Gram- have not 1. Their bs are va- thc Gt-eek vhat Rulie very Verb 2W radical ds without fufficiently )eal of Art one Word ion of the neharadefe* ade of the ing Things impounds ; e, nor can erein there rs to teach tell one, {hut their )unds with lake it very les abound the Eaftern jches that I have, it is ndiansn^ that ave learned y to diftin- niong them*- ^ ( U ) fclvcs, from thofe they have learned of the Chrif-* tians. It is certain they have no Kind of publick Worfhip, and I am told that they have no radical Word to exprcfs God^ but ufe a compound Word, fignifying the Prcferver, Suftainer, or Mafter of the Univerfe ; neither could I ever learn what Sen- timents they have of a future Exiftence. Their funeral Rites fecm to be formed upon a Notiort 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 over, and thereby keep the Body free from being prefled j they then raife the Earth in a round Hill over ir. They always dre(s the Corps hi 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 vifit it with Lamentations : But whether thefe Things be done only as Marks of Refpe£t to the De- ceafed, or from a Notion of fome Kind of Exiftence after Death, muft be left to the Judgment of the Reader. They are very fuperftitious in obferving Omens and Dreams ; I have obferved them fhew a fuper- ftitious Awe of the Owl, and be highly difpleafed with fome that mimicked the Cry of that Bird in the Night. An Ofticer of the regular Troops has informed me alfo, that while he had the Command of the Garrifon at Ofwego^ 3: Boy of one of the far Weftward Nations died there ; the Parents made a regular Pile of fplk Wood, laid the Corps upon it,, and burnt it j while the Pile was burning, they ftood gravely looking on, without any Lamenta- tion, but when it was burnt diown, they gathered up the Bones with many Tears, put them into a. Boxj and carried th^iu away with them ; and this Mi M il M ^ r ( i8 ) Inclination, whiih all ignorant People have to Stv perflition ami anuifing Lncnionics, gives tlic Popifli Pricds a great Advantage in reconinicnding their Religion, beyond what the Regularity of the Pro- tenant Dodrine allows of. Qiicen Jnufi fent over a MifTionary to rcfule aniono; the Mohawksy ami allowed him a liifKcient Suhfirtence from the privy Purfe ; flic ient Furni- ture lor a Chapel, and a valuable let of Plate for the Comnninion Table ; and (if I am not niif- taken) the like Furniture ar.J IMate for each of the other Nations, though that of the Afohaivks was only applied to the Ufc defigncd. The common Prayer, or at i^ail a confiderablc Part of it, was tranflatcd alio int'* their Language and printed ; fome other Pieces were likcwilc tranflated for the Minirter's Ufc, viz. An Expofuion of the Creed, Decalogue, Lord's Prayer, and Church Catcchifm, and a Difcourfc on the Sacraments. But as that Minlfler 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. Thcfe 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 fuft intirely igno- rant of their Language, and had no Interpreter, except one of the IndianSy who undcrftood a little Englijh^ and had, in the late Millionary's Time, learned to read and write in his own Language. He 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 ; and they made (urprifmg Proficiency, con- lidering their Mafter did not underfland their Lan- guage, I happened to be in the Mohawk Country, and 4 fcnt (omi icm then forjT man they Fear on 1 they that ceivc fioriji of h II of/] •* D •* I *' of •* w «« di .«* fo :«' fli cc p, ** tu «' fr " th •« B ..« I^, ?*' V\ !«' th " of ^' ve *' D «' er ivc to Siv tlic Popifli iliiig their f the Pro- to rcfult' I fufiicicnt cut Fuini- riatc for not niif- ach of the (iiuls was c common :)f it, was 1 printed j cd for the the Creed, Datcchifm, Jut as that ' tolerable > naturally ; and his th, he left from that at a young voluntarily ircly igno- nterprcter, 3od a little y's Time, Language, the Words adc for the il, to teach own Lan- eiicy, con- their Lan- k Country, and ( «9) and faw fcvfral of their IVrform.inccs ; I wa<5 pre- Tent at their Woifliip, where they went thrmijrh lome I'art of the Cornnuui Prayer with rrcat Dc- icncv. I was Hkcwife prcfcnt, fc veral 'rinirs, at thnr private Devotions, which fome of thcjn per* formed duly, Morning and Evening. I had ;il|(» many Opportunities of ohferving the great Regard they had for this young Man; fo far, that the Fear of his leaving them made the greateft Rclfraint on them, with which he threateficd them, after they had been guilty of any Ott'ence. Soon after that 'J'ime, this Cientleman went to J'jigiam/y re- y| ceived Orders, and was fent by the Society, Mif- ■ fionary to J/Zuiny^ with Liberty to fpend fomc Part ^C)f his Time among the Alo/unuh. ^ I had lately a Letter from him, dated the fcventh I f)f December*, 1 64 1, in which he writes as follows : { •* Drunkertncfs was fo common among them^ that •' I doubt, whether there was one grown Perfort *' of either Sex free from it ; feldom a Day paflbd *' 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 •' fhould leave them, which 1 made Ufe of to good •' Purpofe ; daily threatnhig them with my Depar- ** ture, in Cafe they did not forfakc that Vice, and •' frequently requiring a particular Promife from '** them fingly ; by which Means (through God's ;•* BIcffing) there was a gradual Reformation ; and •' I know not that 1 have {{^cn above ten or twelve ;** Perfons drunk among them this Summer. The *' Women are almoft 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 Prifojiurs, and b^YC, in f\ grc.'f,t i*' Meafurc, left oiF going a fightings which 1 find ** tiie t, i ;,:1 It; 'ill If ir cc C( ti i« ( 10 ) the mod difficult, of all Things, to difTuadc them from. They feem alfo pcrfuaded of the Truths ot' Chriftianity. The greatcll Inconvenicncy f *' labour under, is the Want of an Interpreter, *' which could I obtain, for two or three Years, I (hould hope to be tolerably Mafter of their Lan- guage, and be able to render k eafier to my •' Succellbr." This Gentleman's uncommon Zeal deferves, I think, this publick Tellimony, that it may be a Means of his receiving fuch Encouragement, as may enable him to purfue the pious Purpofes he has in View. The Mohawks^ were they civilized, may be ^feful to us many Ways, and, on many Occafions, more than any of our own People can be ; and this well deferves to be confidered. There is one Cuflom their Men conftantly ob- ferve, which I muft not forget to mention ; That if they be fent with any Merfage, though it demand the greateft Difpatch, or though they bring Intelli- gence of any imminent Danger, they never tell it at their firft Approach ; but fit down for a Minute or two, at leaft, in Silence, to recoiled^ them- felves, before they fpeak, ^uat they may not fhew any Degree of Fear or Surprize, by an indecent Expreflion. Every fudden Repartee, in a public Treaty, leaves with them an Impreflion of a light inconliderate Mind ; but, in private Convcrfation, they ufe, and are delighted with brifk witty An- fwers, as we can be. By this they fhew the great Difference they place between the Converfations of Man and Man, and of Nation and Nation ; and in this, and a thoufand other Things, migh" well be an Example to the- European Nations. THE ll^^ii iiade them :he Truths ivenicncy f ntcrprcter, e Years, I their Lan- fier to my dcferves, I may be a ^ement, as ofes he has I, may be Occafions, ) ; and this iflantly ob- :ion; That I it demand ing Intelli- lever tell it a Minute le6l them- y not (hew in indecent in a public of a light Mivcrfation, witty An- iw the great rerfations of ation ; and migh?" well THE 1 { 21 ) THE HISTORY OF THE Five INDIAN Nations, DEPENDING On the Province of NEW-YORK, PARTI. '^e Hijlory of the Five Nations, from the Time the Chrijlians firfi knew any Thing of them^ i9 thai of th< Revolution in Great-Britain. i C H A P. I. Of the Wars of the Five Nations w'tih the Adiron- dacks and Quatoghies. H E firft Settlers of Neuo-Tork having been little curious in inquiring into the Indian ^jffairsy further than what related to Trade; or, 'j^ leaft, having negledted to tranfmit their Difco- ^iveries to Pofterity, it is much more difficult to give a juft Hiftory of thefe Nations before, than fmcc the Time of their being under the Croivn cf England, JVhat we can Icarn of Certainty, however, is this, he French fettled at Canada ia the Year 1603, fix Years T ■•3 I i, i 1i !i';: ^'' »/l I , ;:i:.,! ! [ i! iH li ( , Years before the Dutch pofTeiTed themfelves of New- Netherlands y now called New-York^ and found the Five Nations at War with the Adirondacks^ which, they tell us, was occafioned in the follow- ing Manner. The Adirondacks formerly lived three-hundred Miles above Trois Rivieres., where now the Vtawa- was are fitiiated ; at that Time they employ 'd themfelves wholly in Hunting, and the Five Nations made planting of Corn their Bufmefs. By this Means they became ufeful to each other, by ex- changing Corn for Venifon. The Adirondacks., however, valued themfelves, as delighting in a more manly Employment, and defpifed the Five Nations, in following Bufuiels, which they thought only fit for Women, But it cnce happened, that the Game failed the Adirondacks, which made them dcfire fome of the young Men of the Five Nations to aflift them in Hunting. Thefe young Men foon became much more expert in Hunting, and able to endure Fatigues, than the Adirondacks ex- pe6led 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 Adirondacks, of the Inhumanity of this A6tion; but they contented themfelves with blaming the Murderers, and or- dered them to make fome fmall f Prefents to the Relations, of the murdered Perfons, without being apprehenfive 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 fomo Means, to be revenged ; and the Adirondacks being informed \ It is dill a Cuftom among the Indians, to expiate Murdsr by Prefents to the Relations of the Perfon killed. ;-^- nfelves of and found HrondackSy ^e follow- e-hundred be Utawa- employ'd ve Nations By this sr, by ex- iirondacks^ iting in a I the Five ey thought cned, that nade them ve Nations )ung Men [iting, and ndacks ex- jealous of the young ie Nations jcks^ of th« contented ;, and or- ents to the lout being Five Na' Men not Nations to by fome iach being informed , to expiate the Perfon I ( ^3 ) Unformed of their Defigns, thought to prevent them by reducing them with Force to their Obedience. The Five Nations then lived near where Mcnt Real nowftands ; they defended themfelves at firft but faintly lagainftthe vigorousAttacksof the Adirondacks^ and s were forced to leave their own Country, and fly to the iBanks of the Lakes where they live now. As they iwere hitherto Lofers by the War, it obliged them ! to apply themfelves to the Exercife of Arms, in which ^they became daily more and more expert. Their . Sache?nsy in Order to raife their People's Spirits, turned them againft the * Satanas^ a lefs warlike Na- jtion, 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 Adirondacks, I'he Five Nations foon fubdued the Satatias^ and Jdrove them out of their Country ; and their People's .^jpourage being thus elevated, they, from this Time, not only defended themfelves bravely againft |he whole Force of the Adirondacks^ but often carried fhe War into the Heart of the Adirondacksh Coun- try, and, at lad, forced them to leave it, and to fly to that Part of the Country, where .^wr^^j/^ is now built. There are more Inilances than one in Hiftory, of poor difpirited Nations, that by fome fignal Af- front or Abufe have had their Spirits lb raifed, that riiey have not only performed notable Things on a fiidden, but, if they happened, at the fame Time, to ie led and governed by wife Men, have fo far kept up Ind 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, tod carefully cultivated in the People. In this chiefly They are called ShaouononSf by the French, and live w on one of the Banks of the Mijiffipi, 'tn con- ^i 'r A m i.i* i:i1 ■:i\ II rC iiJS;- ;•'.! :|i.:i r ' conftftsthe Art of making a Nation glorious, or the Crime of debafmg them into Servitude or Slavery. It vras from the I^otions 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 a Terror 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 meaneil and leaft feared Nation on the Earth. The Hiftory of the Five Nations will readily fliew, how far the ancient Roman Principles have been cultivated among them. Soon after this Change of the People of thefe Nations, the French arrived at Canada^ and fettled at ^uebeck ; and they thinking it advifeable to gain the Efteem and F. iendfhip of the Adir'ondacks, in whofe Country they fettled, Monfieur Champlain, the firft Governor of Canada, joined the Adiron* dacks, in an Expedition againft: the Five Nations, They met a Party of two-hundred Men of the Five Nations in Corlar\ Lake, which the French, on this Occafion called by Monfieur Champlain\ Name, and both Sides went afhore to prepare for Battle ; which proved to the Difadvantage of the Five Nations. The French, in fhort, kept them- felves undifcovered, till the Moment they began to join Battle ; and their Fire-arms furprifed the Five Nations fo much, that they were immedi- ately put into Confufion; for, before that Time, they had never feen fuch Weapons. The Trade with the French, foon after this, drew moft of the neighbouring Nations to ^deck, and they all joined in the War againft the Five Natiojis, The Adirondacks having their Numbers thus in- ceafed, and their Fire-arms giving them new Con- iidence, propofed nothing lefs to themfelves, than the entire Deftrue Nations, en of the fie French^, :hamplain\ prepare for II ij* Ki;< . I m w ■) i; 1 Mi ( ^6) Captains of ^reateft Fame among the Adirondach . This bold Man, with four other Captains, fet out for Trois'RivieresinonQ Canoe, each of them being pro* vided with three Muflcets, which they loaded with two Bullets apiece, joined with a fmali Chain ten Inches long ; they met with five Canoes in Screi River, each having ten Men of the Five Nations on Board, Pijkaret and his Captains, as loon as thofe of the Five Natiovs drew near, pretended to give them- felves up for loft, and fung their Death Song, *thcii fuddenly fired upon the Canoes, which they re- peated with the Arras that lay ready loaded, anc tore thofe Birch VefTels betwixt Wind and Water, The Men of the Five Nations were fo furprifeJ that they tumbled out of their Canoes, and gav Pijharet and his Companions the Opportunity c knocking as many of them on the Head as the pleafed, and favedthe others, to feed their Reven^ which they did, by burning them alive with the mo cruel Torments. This howeverwasfo far from glut ing Pijkart t\ Revenge, that it ieemed rather to gi: ^ a keener Edge to it 5 for he foon after undertook an( ther Enterprize, in which none of his Countrym • durft accompany him : He was well acquainted wi; .\ the Country of the //V^ AWowj, and fet out abo the Time the Snov^ began to melt, with the Pi caution of putting the hinder Part of his Sik w Shoes forward, that if any fliould happen upon} Footfteps, they might think he was gone the cc trary Way j and for further Security, went ak the Ridges and high Grounds, where the ^\i was melted, that his Track might be often It when he came near one of the Villages of the/ Nations^ he hid himfelf till Night, and then : • ^% reft tf ^ * It is a Cuftom among the Indian Prifoners of V when led to Death, to fing an Account of theirc- Exploits ; and this they are hardy enough to cont^ even in the Midil of Tortures. llrondacks ; let out for I being pro- ed with two 1 ten Inche* :(rel River\ 15 on Board, thofe of the give them- 5ong, * then ch they re- loaded, anc and Water, fo {^arprifed >s, and gav pportunity c [ead as tk heir Reven^ with the mo far from glut ( 27 ) ttred a Cabin, while cvciy Bodjr was faft aflfeep, - murdered the whole FamiJy, and 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- «d likewifc in vain for the Murderer ; but the third I Nigkt a Watch was kept in every Houfc. Pijka^ ^ ret in the Night bundled up the Scalps he had taken |j*the two fornner Nights, to carry, as tke Proof of -'hh Vi6lory, and then, ftole privatclyfrom Houfe to IIHoufe, till at laft he found an /W/V//Z nodding, who »|^as upon the Watch in one of the Houfes ; he inockt this Man on the Head ; but as this alarmed the reft, he was forced immediately to fly. He 'as however under 110 great Concern from the Pur- uit, being more iWift of Foot than any Indian then living. He let his Purfacrs come near him ^rom Time to Time, and then would dart from %hcm. This he did with Dcfign to tire them out rather to gr >%ith the Hopes of overtaking him. As it bc"e Art, re- igage their ^ accepted iviththem: >wer, they obliged the lared to at- ndtheyde- Lttle fought Nations had they might • Settlements, ho were at before that long them. >n the Banks the North- Idnefs of the the fecureil 'ive Natiom, led with tht le greater Se^ further thar [hen reached ace, and tb ( .■ ;ded fo well. Intended nev Winter ill II ft 'if i II M , 'it I ;" ■■ ■■'! '■■1 ! -i ! it in ( 30 ) this Means the Place of their Retreat was discovered to the Five Nations ; and they not having their Revenge fatiateJ, while the ^otoghies had a Be- ing, foon convinced them, that no Extent of Coun- try could fet Bounds to that Paflion, when it rages in the Hearts of the Five Nations-^ for they foon after attacked them in their new Settlement. The ^UQtogkies had the good Fortune to difcover the Five Natious Time enough to make their Efcape, and fled to the Putewatettiies^ who lived a Day's Journey further, where they, and all tlie Neigh- hourlng Nations, fecured themfelves in a large Fort, The Five Nations rollowcd, but, being in Want of Provifion, they could not attempt a Siege, and therefore propofed a Treaty with the Piitewa- temieSy which was accepted. The Putewatemies sicknowledged the Five Notions as Matters of all the Nations round them, applauded their Valour, and promifed them their Friendihip, and to fupply thexn with Provifions 5 they would not, however, truft themfelve* out of their Fort, but fent out a Supply ; and even this they did, only with Defign to do that by Treachery, which they durft not at* tempt by Force ; for the Provifions were poifoned. The Treacheiy was difcovcred however to the Five Nations^ by an old ^uatoghie^ who had a Son Pri- foner among them j his Affe£i:ion for his Son over- coming even his Hatred to his Cbuntry's Enemies. This Treachery highly enraged the Five Nations againft t^e Putewatemies, and the neighbouring l^ople 5 but Famine obliging them to retire at this Time, they divided their Armies into Parties, the better to providr for their Subfillence, bv Hunting j oxie of tlicfe Parties in their Chace fell in with a Village of the Chicktaghicks (called by the French Flinois) and furprizcd the old Men, Women and Children, when the young Men were abroad Hunt- ing 3 but the young Men, upon their Return, ga» thenng difcoverecf Lving their had a Be- : of Coun- cil it rages they foon mt. The ifcover the ir Efcape, ed a Day's iie Neigh- n a large t, being in ipt a Siege, le Piitewa- itewatemies \cxs of all eir Valour, d to fupply I however, t feflt out a ith Defign irft not at- e poilbned. to the Five a Son Pri- son over- Enemies, ve Nations ighbouring Etire at this arties, the f Hunting; 1 in with a the French /"omen and road Hunt- Leturii, ga» theruig C3' ) llherfng together all the reft of the Villages, purfued this Party of the Five Natiom^ and recovered the fprifoners. I This was the firft Time that the Five Nations |)iad been feen in thofe Parts, but their Name was Vbecome fo terrible, that the Chicktaghicks^ not" fwithftanding this Advantage, left their Countiyy land fled to the Nations that lived weft ward, till the Xjcneral Peace was lettlcd by the French^ and iiot till on that Occafion returned to their owr^ Country. V C H A p. U. ^'he iVars and Treaties of Peace of the Indians of * the Five Nations with the French, from 1665 to 4= 1683, and their Affain tmth New-York ni that \ Time, • - •' N June 1665, Monfteur De Traft, appointed _ Fice-Roy of America by the French King^ arrived t ^ebecky after he had viflted ttie French IJJands the Wejl-lndics^ and brought widi him four Com- anies of Foot ; and in September of the fame Year, Mr, Courfel arrived Governour-General of Canada ; jpe brought with him a Regiment and feveral Fa- Inilies, with all Things neceflary for eftablifhrng of I Colony. Their Force being now thus confide- ifably augmented, the French Governour refolyed io chaftife the Infolence of the Five Nations ; and For that Purpofc, in the Winter, fent r,ut a Party ainft the Mohawks^ but thefe by the Cold, and eir not knowing the Ufe of Snow Shoes, fuffered ;^ry much, without doing any Thing againft th^ nemy. This Party, however, fell in with * SkeneSfady^ fmall Town which Corlcar a (confiderable Man C 4 . among * The French call this Town Corlear, from the Per- n's Name who iirlt fettled there. It is fuaate on the lobaivkj River fixteen Miles from Albany, ki"h i' i t '■', m m ( 3^ ) among the Dutch) had then newly fettled. When they appeared near Skene^lady^ they were almoft dead with Cold and Hunger ; and the Indians, "who were then in that Village, had entirely deftroyed them, if Corlear (in Compaffion to his Fellow- Chiiftians) 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-Tor k 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 Provifions and other Neceflaries to carry them back. The French Governour, in order to re- vv'ard 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- fet, and he was drowned ; and from this Accident that I^ake has ever fmce been called Corlear*^ Lake^ by the People of New-Tcrk, There is a Rock in this Lake, on which the Waves da(h and fly up to a great Height ; when the Wind blows hard, the Indians bt'.eve, that an old Indian lives under this Reck, who has the Power of the Winds ; and therefore, as they pafs it in their Voyages over, they always throw a Pipe, or fbme other fmall Pre- fent to this old Indian, and pray a favourable Wind. The Englijh that pafs with them fome- times laugh at them, but they are fure to be told of Corlear' % Death. Your great Countryman Cor- lear Hay they) as he pafied by this Rock, jefled at our t athcrs making Prefents to this old Indian, and ' in I- f tneir f T |Supe I. When ere almoft dianSy who r deftroyed is Fellow- cape. He ; and it is Merit, that Corkar by limfelf was dians^ that \rmy come as gone di- was necef- nce of their :lieved, and tdians were )plied them • carry them rder to re- to Canada \ which lies e was over- is Accident lear\ Lake^ s a Rock in id fly up to s hard, the s under this V"inds ; and yages over, r fmall Pre- favourabk hem fome- e to be told ryman Cnr- k, jefted at ndian^ and in C33) in Derifion turned up his Backfide, but this AfFront coft him his Life. In the following Spring, the Vice-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 deftroy this Nation, which by their Wars not only prevented their Commerce with the Weftern Indians^ but I ike wife often put t their Colony in Danger. It certainly was a bold ' Attempt, to march above 700 Miles from ^lebeck r throug;b '^aft 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, I and to murder fome old Sachems that (like the old i Roman Senators) chofe rather to die than to defert f their Houles. * .* The French were fo conceited before, of their . ^Superiority over the Indians in their Skill of War, land their Weapons, that they thought they could not efcape, but the little Honour or Advantage ihey got by this Expedition, leflened their Vanity, ^and made them defirous of Peace; and the Five ^Nations remaining fearful of the French fire Arms, %t was without much Difficulty concluded in the fV'ear 1667. The Five Nations, however, being naturally rery enterprizing and haughty, one of their Par- lies fome Time after met with .bme French in their unting, and quarrelled with them. The Indians iiad the Advantage, they killed feveral of the French, land carried one Prifoner into their own Country. ^onfieur deCourfei fent on this to threaten the Five ^ations with War, if they did not deliver up thefe Turderers ; and the ^Five Nations, to fhew their lublick Difpleafure at this Breach of Peace, fent igariata, the Captain of the Company that did C 5 the If-' 1 \* ( 34 ) the Mifchlef, with forty others, to be^ Pardon ; but Monfieur Courfel was refolved to make an Ex- ample of Agariata^ and ordered him to be hanged in Sight of his Countrymen ; and the French think that this Severity was a great M^^ns of prefcrving the Peace till the Year 1683. The Dutch^ who fettled in the New^Nether* landsy now called New-Tor k^ in 1609, entered in* to an Alliance with the Five Nations^ whi^.h con- tinued without any Breach on either Side, till the EngUJI) gained this Country. The Dutch gained the Hearts of the Five Natipnt 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 tYitEngVJh^ ihey likcwife immediately entered into a Friend- Ihip with the Five Nations^ wliich has continued without the leaft Breach to this Day; and Hii- tory, I believe, cannot give an Inftance of the mod Chriftian or moft Catholick Kings obferving a Treaty fo fl^ridlly, and for lb long a Time as thefe Barbarians, as tney are called, have done. ^ r> - The Englijh and French (Peace being every where fettled) new endeavoured to extend their Commerce and Alliances among the Indian Nations^ that live to the weft ward of New-Tor k. The French^ however, in their Meafures, difcovered always a Defjgn of conquering and commanding ; for wiih this View Air, de FronUnac^ who had iucceeded in the Government of Canada^ in th*? Year 1672, perfuaded the Five Nations to allow }iim to build a Fort on the north Side of Cadarackui Lake, under Pretence of a Store for Mgrchandije^ and the Security of his Traders, and under the fame Pretence built fevera! other Forts at fonje other confiderable Places far in the Country. .^^ -' .M j v, i 4 The eg Pardon ; ake an £x« > be hanged "French think prefcrving entered in- ivhi^.h con- ide, till the utch gained cind Ufage, ?, in faving the Cruehy the Engl'ijh^ a Friend- \ continued J and Hii- of the niofl ibferving a tne as thefe eing every Ktend their an Nations^ 'ork. The difcovered amanding ; , who had da, in the s to allow Cadarackui Wchandife^ under the : at fonje ttry. . \ .**" \. .\ The ^m I $ 5?i if. fri m .» « ^ 1 ^ iS f ^ e^sA!f^ . 1 c ILiT erf ^/le Coft?f/rt/ of //le FJVJ^. N-.^TIOJVS, /'e/on\ 3< jHi/^i) miiniiii "Tinniim T//e c/t/f^ TtvtT^if wt//t me^r Lffof/^t /t^/tetv d/teu rtuuf-ci// /i4t^^> ^^ /rmuin/j ratiai/it . ♦'I )i ■■ I A i: ' I \ .. • ' »| * I i II J ^^ '^^" ''Y ft ,, -I -^ ^ n T o JF \ #•' ; . ►..•■■.,r, , ill I " ;a r; ( 35) The EngUjh and Dutch^ on the contrarv, pro- secuted thctf Meafures only with the Arts ot Peace, by fending People among the Indians to gain their Afl«6tions, and to perfuade them tc come to Al- hany to trade ; but the War with the Dutch^ which happened about this Time, prevented even thefe honeft Defigns from having the Succefs they other- 'Vfife might have had; for in the Year 1673, Neiu* York being furprifed by the Dutch, and reftored the next Year to the En^lijh, the Alterations of Government, and of Mafters; obftru£ted very much •any Meafures that could have been taken for the Ipublick Good. Their Trade was likewife conft- ^ilerab^y hindered by the War which the Five Na^ fiofts had at that Time with the* River Indians^ which forced many of thofe Indians to feelc Shel- ter among the Utawawas, who fell under the French ^Government at laft ; however, the Englijh^ Dutch and French, having all made Peace in Eurspe, and the Government of New-York likewife having ob- tained a Peace between the Five Nations and Muhi^ •kindars or River Indians, both the Englijh and French were at full Liberty to profecyt? their De- signs of extending their Commerce among the /«- ^dians, which both did with very connderable Suc- ccfs and Advantage to the Inhabitants of their re- me^ive Colonies. .. ' / ^ But this Juftice muft be done to the French, that 7 far exceeded the Engli/h in the daring At- ipts of fome of their Inhabitants, in traveliin'r ry far among unknown Indians, difcovering new wntries, and every where fpreading the Fame the French Name and Grandeur. The Sicur rr^/ travelled in the Year 1667, as far as the Fall ' ; ' C6 St. 5J :' fl 1-J ,1- I .•V •* The Jftdians living on the Branches of Hudfon\ ivcr, within or n^zx^^' Englijfj Seitlements at tliat ime. < 'I I I . . |: ilr ( 36 ) St, Mary beyond Alijftlimakinak^ and having learn- ed thofe Indians Language, gained them over to his Country's Interefl-. 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-Tork are chiefly left to the Management of a few Traders with the Indians^ who have no Care for, or Skill in publick Affairs, suid only mind their private Intereft. m T to as ex . i: % \ CHAP. in. Of the TranfaSfions of the Indians of the Five • Nations with the neighbouring Englifh Colonies. f'jj 1 H E Five Nations being now amply fupplied JL 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 attacked, commonly fled to thofe that were fiirther ofF, and the Five Isatiom 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 Maimers, as to be abfolutely directed by them in ail Affairs of Peace and War with their Neighbours, made !i .i vmg learn- em over to y of thefe :he French; nd fay it is that pufhes >rizes, that lad lived in Keafon, In having (o t the Indian ! Governor , who have yr; v^hereas left to the :he Indians, ick AiFairsi )f the Five Colonies. ply fupplied nd Ammu- jenius, and ey had at ations that The near- monly fled ive Natiom Defire they ing all the or to ac- ► far their them in ail feighbours, made (37) made them over-run great Part of North- America^ They carried their Arms as far South as Carolina^ to the northward of Ntw-England^ and as far Weft as the River Mijfifftpi^ 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 dejtroyed many Na- tions, of whom there are now no Accounts re- maining among the £«f///^. Thefe Warlike Expeditions oftei: proved trou- blefome to the Colonies oi Virginia and Maryland j 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 reft- „ lefs 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-Tor k were ordered, by the Duke »f Torky 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 fufpedled and as mean as pofHble in their Eyes. They waited likewife for every Op- portunity to breed a Quarrel between the &ngltjh ' and the Indians^ and to withdraw the Five Nations from fighting with thofe Nations that traded to Ca* \ntda. For thefe Purpofes thefe Priefts were inftru- Ihental in turning the Refentment of the Five Na^ tions againft the Indians^ that were in Friendfliip with Virginia and Maryland, The Governor pf Afaryland^ on the other Hand, to prevent the ill Confcquences that might happen by Wars between Nations 'n If k'^j If ■f ^1 4 'h: hi m tP !f!f T ' 1 1 ! 1 1 . ! 1 '1 1 ■' 1 1 I'l 1' 1 > 1 ■ 1 I* r- t III 1 1 ( 1 11; i Y' .Ml 1 1 H , li t ■ ' ■ i 1 1 1 ■ - i ■ 1;. "' 1 ' i ': ■ i i 1 1 1 ti i 1 : i ' ■ I ' '. i^). " 1 ■1 1 \ii\4\ (3? ) Nations that were la Friend/hip widi the EngUjh^ and lived in their Neighbourhood, fent Colantl Cour* fey^ in 1677, to Albany^ to increafe the Friend*. ihip between Virginia and Maryland on the one Part, and the /Vw Natims on the other j and) accordindy, both Sides gave mutual Promiies at Aihany : 6ut this good Underftanding was foon ihaken by fome Parties of the Oneydoes^ Ononda^ gas^ and Semkas^ who were out when this Treaty was made, and were ignorant of it. One of them met with the Sufguehana Indians^ who were in Friendftiip with Maryland^ and fell upon them ; they killed four of tiie Sttfguchattas^ and took fix Prifoners, Five of thefe Prifoncjfs fell to the Share of the Senekas^ who, as foon as they arrived in their own Country, fent them back with Prefents, to {hew that they kept their Promifes with Mary- land ; but the Oneydoes detained the Prifoner they had. Another Part}', that went agninft the Canageje Indians (Friends of Virginia) were furprifed by a Troop of Horfe, who killed one Manv and took a Woman Prifoner. The Indians^ in Revenge, kil- led four of the Inhabitants, and carried away their Scalps, with fix Chriftian Prifoners. The Mohawks^ all this while, kept ftri1< *1M tie tft m > we wijl not t Words were of the chief " What wo Corher^ did vas fpokjcn by £r mor« care- 1 iibncrs j and hen you coiv- Anfwer, ami , or any Belt hen we make Cj that, if ic and not made irmly to our itions.'* n, That th« ;htB«Its, de- W'ar with the r againft the North-weft- J them to fet arry tliem to ver ftill to be lent, in Sep* iam Kendall^ ny^ to renew ^^irgmia aiid i^ays ufed by anyy to fignify r Agreements ice t\it French fame of Utiu the ( 43 ) ^ /^/w Naiiens, Colonel Littleton died at Alhany^ to^re the Indians arrived ; and Colonel Kendall fflDke firft to the Oneydoes^ and told them in a let &|^ech, '* I'hat their People had taken away and **ft Virgifda, However, through the great Re- • lone! Thomas Dongarty Governor of New^Tork^ Mi the Magiftrates oi Albany, The Senekas being i^ off, were not then arrived, n . .- .;•: ^ it 1^ ]^opofals made by the Right Honourable Francre .f^Lord Howard of EfHngham, Governor-general of i^his Majejiy's Dominion of Nixg\m?i, • %p the Mohawks, Oneydoes, Onnondagas, and j^ Cayugas. . . . ; ., ^ T T is now about feven Years, faid he, fince you *lkf j[ (unprovoked) came into Virginia^ a Country ••f belonging to the great King of England^ and KS committed feveral Murders and Robberies, car- ♦% rying away our Chriftian Women and Children %.Prifoners into your Caftles. All which Injuries *n, w ^ not at all mind lavc every Yeai in a war-lil(( htjng with o]f )urs5 which yoi ^nt having in. ace. You m \ of them Pri I and bunrt ou 1 and Tobacco, led oiir Horfe« 3ut to let then s you did, whe: I you faid yoi :er the Pretenc: Houfcs at th ley have bee: Pole, and hav le P'ort ; upo; r Friends, hav: icir Forts, an: nk, what thi had refrefhe , as they wen ing Men corn- plundered the oying all tht uid what ellv y went awav, jep with theiTi, Calf, and let! id flunr about, id in Derificii lany more In- juries i f 47 ) if< juries that yoa have done us, have caufed me to #« raife Forces, to fead to the Heads of our Rivers, |< to defenil our People from thefe Outrages, till i* I came to New-York,, to Colonel Thomas Dongan^ J* your Governor-general, to dcfire him, as we are gf* all one Khig's fubjedts, to aiRft nre in warring ^* againft you, to revenge the Chriftian Blood that #* you have {i^^ and to make you give full Satis- 4^« fadion for all tlie Goods that you have deftroyed : >* But by the Mediation of your Governor, I ani ** now come to Albany^ to fpeak with you, and to «' know the Reafon of your breaking theCovenant- tl' chain, not only with us and our neighbour In~ *' dians^ but with Maryland^ who are great King #« C/;jrA'/s Subjeds ; for ovx Jddtam have given : I* King Charles their Land ; thercforc I, the Go- f * vernor of Virginia^ will prote^ them, as your ** Governor, under the great Duke of York and f * Albany^ will henceforth you, when the Chain of I' Friendfhip is made between us all. " Now I have let you know, that I am feniible J* of all the Injuries you have done us, and by the I** Defire of your Governor-General, I am willing ,*' to make a new Chain with you for Virgtniay ♦* Maryland^ and our Indians^ that may be more ** (Irong and lading, even to the World's End ; fo 4* that we may be Brethren, and great King *' Charles's Children. I *'• 1 piopole to you, />/?, That you call out of |f« our Countries of Virginia and Maryland^ all ll** your young Men or Soldiers that are now ;^*' there. <' Secondly^ That you do not hinder or moleft oui- friendly Jndia7is from hunting in our Moun- tains, it having been their Country, and none of yours ; they never go into your Country to diflurb any of you. ^* Thirdly^ ^ivers, there being no Bever-hunting there; ; only by the «< ^r we (hall not for the future, though you lay i« at a vaft w^own your Arms as Friends, ever truft you more^^ our Welfare, u j^ou have fo often deceived us." edge, I have ,4 •" .*--^*- • - ^ * '-^ '' ^ on this Con. . ^The next Day the Mohawks anfwcr'd firft by ^r Speaker, faying: • >^ '^ " '' " *' ^ . ; # We muft, in the firft Place, fay fomething tq Ae other three Nations, by Wsy of Reproof,' lor living among ny Incurfions ig among us, - ^^ „„.^, , _, ^-,_-, ._. their not keeping the former Chain, as they he fame, and •tfsfuoht ; and therefore we defire you, great 5^- r be lafting, I « ^jem of Virginia^ and you Corlaer, and all here buried, as a «i Afefent to e;ive Ear, for we will conceal nothings I Jarrings be- c^f^llf the Evifthcy have done." [Then turning to^ I our Indians^ ^j other Nations] *' You have heard Yefterdajr fis united to- a ^ that has been faid ; as for our Parts^ wp^ or pretended «« ff^e free of the Blame laid on us ; we have al- , or thofe of «« i|rays been obedient to Corlaer^ and haVc fteadily «* ^pt our Chain with Virghiia^ AJaryland^ and, ing for Con- U'''kojhH ; but ye arc ftupid and brutifh, and have ve are willing <\io Underftanding, we mull flamp Underfland- rnsy with an « iliginto you. Let the pew Chain made Yefter- Time, that i'<^^y he carefully preferved for the future. This^ you here, in «4 ^ earneftly recommend to you, for -we are ready nay fee and *i tj cry for Sb.ame of you i let us be no more ** Irfhamed on your Account, but be obedient, and tweenus, in <^'ijike this Beit, to keep what wc fay in your^ of your Go- « Memory. , erformed on ^*^ Hear hciw, now is the Time to hearken n ours; and <*''||te Covenant chain had verv near flint by our of the Co- ** irfot keeping it firmly. Hold it faft now, when rour People's •* *^ former Evils are buried in the Pit. you march * -w You Oneydoes^ I fpcak to you as Children j be longer childifh, or void of Underftaiidin (T. OL. 1. D (C You ; 'I* ?il \ : ^ vi 'it-' i {I \ ki m 31 t yii '§ 1 M I'li' If I'll m (I.I I- (50 ) . *^ 'You- O/Jomiagary our Brethren, you are lil f deaf People, that cannot heai\ your .Senfcs a ** covered with Dirt and Filth. ♦* You CayugaSy do not return into your fo *' mer Ways. There are three Things we m ** all obferve. *' Firji^ The Covenant with Corlear. Second, V the- Covenant with Virginia and'. Mary lar •' Thirdly, With Bo/ion, We muft Aamp Umk *' (landing into you, that you may be obedien *' and take this Belt for a Remembrancer/' Then Cadianne^ the fame Mohawk Speaker, tur ing to my Lord, faid : » ^ . . '* We are veiy thankful to you, great Sack •' of Virginia, that you are periuaded by CorlcG *< our Governour, to forgive all former Fau!; *^ We are very glad to hear you, and fee yo ** Heart foftened. Take thefe three Beavers as *< Token. . , *' We thank the great Sachem of Virginia for h <^ ing, that the Axe fhall be thrown into the P *' Take thefe two Beavers as a Token of our J( *' and Thankfulnefs. . ... ^:.. -. . ..,-,^•.. *' We are glad th:xt JJJarigoa * will bury inti ^ <* Pit what is paft. Let the Earth be trod ha *< over it ; or rather, let a ftrong Stream run uni *< the Pit, to waih the E\^l away out of our Sk *' and Remembrance, and that it may never; *f diEiicd up a^ain. ■ : .. -; <' AlJartgoa, you are a Man of Knowledge ai << Underftanding, thus to keep the Covcnant-ck <^ bright as Silver ; and now again to renew it, ai '* make it ftronger. (Then pointing to the tlir «« other Nations, faid,) But they arc Chain-bra ait ii u '^tt II' * The Name t\iQ Five Nations always give the G, ▼ernor of Virginia, f^ ,i '! ?*''t'^5? I, you are lii your 4Seiilcs a: ( 5 i» .' . into your fo hings we nrn ,'. . . ♦'-*.. riear, Seconi and' jMarylai ft llap^p Uiidc ly be obedicn: rancer.*' i Speaker, tur u, great Sach; ided by Cork- former Fau!: I, and fee yc ee Beavers as Ft r^ini a ford' m into the P iken of our J( will bury in ti :th be trod ha ream run uni out of our Sii! may never; Knowledge a: Covenant-cb to renew it, a: iiig to the tlir; i Chain-bmi all ers. I lay down this as a i c 'en, that^e M;n *' You /propofcd Yefterday, that if we wer# •I defirous to fee the Indians of Virginlay you arc '^ willing to fend fome of their Sachems next Sum- ^il^mcr, about this Time, to this Place. This --fl. Propofal plcafcs me very much, thcfooner they % come the better, that we may fpeak with thtm i,5||in this Houfe, which is appointed for our fpeak- M ing with our Friends ; and give two Belts to ^t confirm it. Ji,^*« You have now heard what Exhortation we X;-*^ have made to the other three Nations ; we have *.* taken the Hatchet out of their Hands ; we now o!|^; therefore pray, that both your Hatchets may -^Uikevvife be buried in a deep Pit. Giving tWQ ih. Bevers. '.^ *' Ajjarlgoa^ fome of us Mohatvks are out a^infl ,3l«* our Enemies, that lie afar off, they will do you ^, no Harm, nor plunder, as the others do. Be 'if| kind to them, iF they fhall happen to come to Sany of your Plantations ; give them fome To- bacco and fome Victuals ; for they will neither y^^ rob nor fteal, as the Oneydoes^ Onnondagaiy and Cayiigas have done. ys give the G; i^^ ^^^^ ^'"^ t^ations always exprefs Pcaw by the Me-» tfphor of a 1 rce* D 2 k. k you, great to lay down )Ut of all thcL' he has madj rht and clean, : any one pull the yfl«r Na- :ake the Omy ; Chain ftronj Iren, Givesj *rs, as a Satis- le Lord Baiti- » difchafged ci hat they wouk Baltimore^ tc ied. Hole might bt Behalf of Vir- ehalf of Mary wndagas^ Oney faid, there wa< ccount, forth? them, an Onnond(i^(^^ ^ Virginia^ tha; rot the Injuri-^i for pur Parts, :he new Chain, Axe to be bu- le Nations, ani we defire maj . . - «» bi ( 53 ) the kept clean and bright like Silver. Gives a " Wc defire that the Path may be open for the Indians under y^r/^^fl's Protection, to come fafcly and freely to this Place, in order to confirm the Peace. Gives fix Fathom of Wampum." f. Then the Axes were buried in the South-eaft id of the Court-yard, and the Indians threvtr Earth upon them ; after which the Lord ^oivard told them, fince now a firm Peace is conf- ided, we fhall hereafter remain Friends, and ^rginia and Maryland will fend once in two or ree Years to renew it, and fome of our Sa^ . mi fliall come, according to your Defire, to con* fm it. Lad of all the Oney does ^ the Onnondagas^ and fvugas^ jointly fang the Peace-Song, with Demon- Tations of much Joy ; and thanked the Governor ]Niw-Tork for his eiFei^ual Mediation with the )vernor of Firginia in their Favour. ; . .. Colonel Dungan F^ad gained t)>e AfFe«Sttons cf the ivf Natimsy and they efleemed him much. They defired the Duke pf Tork's Arms to put ^ m their Cajllesy whicbi from the Sequd of their |)ry, we may fupppfe they wietre toJd would fave *m from the French, Cplonel Dungan defired to call Home thofe of their Nations that had ttled in Canada,'^ To which they anfwcred, C^r-» ,„ ;.. D 3^ J ; K..: L^yy lear ■ ■) ♦ The French Pricjls had, from Time to 'Time, per- ided ftveral of the Fi've Nations to leave their own untry, and to fettle near Montreal; where the Fnnc^ very induftrious in encouraging them. Their Num- rs have been likewife increaled by the Prifoners the f^ch have taken in War, and by others that have run from their own Country ; becaufc of feme Mifchicf that ^y had done, or Debts which they owed the Chrif- glns. Thcfe Indians are all profefs'd Papifts, and for that 4 1^ 1 'lit If; , ■ I 1.'^ Mi ' ! ill M' hW- ii M ■1 ( 54 ) ^t^ar keeps a Correrpondence and Fricndfliip w'nji Canada^ and therefore he can prevail more than we c.^.n. Let Corlear ufe his Endeavours to draw our Indians Home to their ownCountrj'. The Government of the Majjachufcti Bay hnc' appointed Colonel Stfiphanus Cortland^ one of the Council of Neiv-Torky their Agent at this Time, to renew their Friendship likevvife with the Fiu Notions ^ \nd to give them fome fmall Prefentsj "wh V 6 accordingly done. . 'i >:e \ - \'ernor of New-York^ Colonel Dungan, conclu.;<£;d \ ' h this Advice to them : Keep a gooii Underftanding among vourfelves ; if any Difference liappert, acquaint me with it, and I will compofe it. Make no Agreement with the French^ or any other Nation, without my Knowledge and Appro- l)ation. Then he gave the Duke's Arms to be put up at each of their Caftles, in Hopes it might deter the Frmch from attacking them, (as thev were threatened from Canada) by this fo manifdi a Declaration of their being under the Protection of the Crown of England^ when the two Crownj were in the ftridleft Friendfhip j but it is probable the French chofe this very Time to attack them, to bring them ofF from th^t Confidence they fcemed to have in the Englijh. ' ■ , • ' * '* - ' V4^\x. may be proper^ before I proceed, to infert here alfo a remarkable Speech made by the Onnondagai and Cayugas to the two. Governors, on the fccoiid Day of Auguft^ viz. If that Reafon are commonly called the praying Mians b/ their Countrymen, and they are called Cahnuagas by tk People of Albany, from the Place where they live ; tlie French value them on Account of the Intelligence th«) give in Time of War, and their Knowledge of thj Countries. u-\ %.-, ^^< Brsth(r ^ icndfhip vith more than we 5 to draw onr ^tifcts Bay hat' i^ one of the at this Time, w\t\\ the Fix[ nail PrcTents; one! Dungan^ Keep a goo: tny DifFercnct will compofe "^rench, or any re and Appro- \.rmS to be put opes it might lem, (as they lis fo manifdl e Proteftion of two Crowns it is probable attack them, :e they fcemed to infert here le Onnondagai on the fccoiii aying Indians by ahnuagas by the ; they live ; tlie telligence th») iwledge of the << Brsthir ( 55 ) . • , i <« Brother Corlear, if* Your Sachem is a great Sachem, and wcarc ••^•%iit a fniall People ; but when the Englijh came •%;firft to Manhatah^* to AragiJke-\ and to I'ij^^^- ^rnnagaryX't they were then but a fmall People, ** and we were great. Then, becaufe wc found *^vyou |a good People, we treated you kindly, and •• gave you Land ; we hope therefore, now that ••*^ou are great, and we imall, you will protect •*Ujs from the French, If you do not, wc (hall •I^Jofc all our Hunting and Be vers : The French ••l^iil get all the Bevcrs. The Reufon they re ^4fnow angry wi^'h us is, becaufe we carry lu ^^Bever to our Brethren. •^^^ We have put our Lands and ourfelves u-^^-er ^ \ ^ We underftand what you-faidpf the great Saj hem^ that lives on the otlie;- .^ide t$e great ^ater. , '/ .,'"./-.. . You tell us, that the Cahnawaas will come hi- M'.|her to ftrengthenthe Chain. Let them not make «• j|uiy Excufc, that they are old and feeble, or that "heir Feet are fore. If the old Sachems cannot, etthe young Men come.. .We iliall not fail to ome. hither, tho* we live fartheil off, and then ' e new Chain will be ftronger and brighten We underftand, that becaufe of the Mifchief *^ that has been done to the People and Caftles of ^^ Virginia and Maryland^ wemuft notcomc near *^^hc Heads of your Rivers, nor near your Planr «« ^tions, but keep at the Foot of the Mountains ; "for tho* we lay down our Arms, as Friends, *^we fhair not be trulted for the future," but look- ^ S " ed ^i i n W i' I .1 i'lt'i ( 58 ) •< cd on as Robbers. We agree however to t\\.\ •* Propofrtion, and fhall wholly (lay away frur ** Virginia : And this we do in Gratitude to Cch •* iear, who has been at fo great Pains to per- *• fuade you, great Governor of Virginia^ to Icr •* get what is paft. You arc wife in giving Kan •* Corhar's good Advice, for we fhall novV go ; •* Path which was never trod before. * •* We have now done fpcaking to Corlcar^ ar; •* the Governor of Virginia ; let the Chain he to ** ever kept clean and bright by him, and we fha •* do the fame. *• The other Nations from the Mohoivks Coiin- ^ fry to the Cayugas^ have delivered up the Sufqu, •' hana River, and all that Country, to Corlem •* Government. We confirm what they have doin *♦ bv giving this Belt." Cfoll. Bird^ one of the Council of /^/V^//7/^,aa Edmonds Jennings Efq ; Attorney General of th: Province, came with four Indian Sachems^ (accon- ingto the Lord Howard's Fromife) to renew aiK confirm the Peace, and met the Five Nations t 'Albany in ^eptt/nher 1685. Coll. Bird accufed them of having again brok' their Fromife, by taking an Indian Girl from a; Englifl) Man's Houfe, and foi^r Indian Boys Pn foncrs. » They excufed this, by its being done by the Par tics that were out when the Peace was concluded who knew nothing of it ;' which Accident they hai provided againft m their Articles* They fiiid, tb four Boys were given to the Relations of thofe Me that were loll ; and it would be difficult to obtai their Reiloration \ But they at laft promifed to Jiver them up. The Senakas and A^lohawks declared themfek (fee c^ any Blame, and chid the othov Nations. ^ Ci It4 ow€vcr to th bay away frur atitude to O.h Pains to per. ^ (59) 'pSo that we mavftillobfene the Influence which th« Pffgnch I'riefts had obtained over thofe other Na- tions and to what ChrllHan like Purpofc they ufcd rginia^ to fu ' JfThe M?/>/7tcy Speaker f^ Where (hall I feck in giving Eart' - • ^' • hall now go ; re. to Corlcar^ a:.: he Chain be to n, and we (ha VIohmuks Conn. d up the Sufquv ry, to Corlear t they have doot of Virgip'ta^ an; General of th: ichemSy (accori' i) to renew are uve Nations 21 « ing again brok' firJ from a; 7///fV« Boys Pii Jone by the Par was Goncludci ccident they hai They fiiid, th ns of thofe Me ifficuk to obtiii promifed to ti: lared thcmfcht thi^r Nations. ff^the Chai« of Peace ; Where (hall I find it but w^upon our ♦ Path r And whither doth our Path ^lead us, but into this Houfe ; This is a Houfe ^ot Peace ;" after this he fang all the Links of the Chain over. He afterwards fang by Way of Admo- ili^on to the Ortnondagasy OneydoeSy and CayugaSi aad concluded all with a Song to the f^irginia /w- ^^pThe French Pnefis however ftill employed their IMuence over the OnnondagaSy CayugaSy and Oncy-* S^ ; and it was cafy for them to fpirit up the //»- Mns (naturally revengeful) agatnft their old Ene- ntks. A Party of the Oncydoes went out two ^ftbrs after this againfl: the IVoyanoack Indians^ Friends of Vtrgimay and killed fome of the People WbtVlrginiay who afTilled thofe Indians, They Ifgk fix Prifoners, but reftored them at Albany^ Imh an Excufe, that they did not know they were Kllends of Virginia, But Coll. Dungan on this Qccafion told them, that he only had kept all the E^glijh in North' America from joining toc^ether to doftroy them ; that if ever he fhould hear of the ^ Vtft Complaint, he would dig up the Hatchet, and JIJI with the reft of the Englijh to cut them off HlfOt and B anch ; for there were many Complainti ^de of him to the King by the Englijhy as well as the Goveniar of Canada^ for liis favouring of 'm, J ,^ , iWe have now gone throuo;h ihe material Tranf- ons which the Five Nations had with the En-- » » » The A/^«v^, Country is fitwated between the other i rn ■! If 11 1, I iii i ■!!!■ >' I ( 60 ) ^>y^, in which we find the Englijh. purfuing no- thing but peaceable and Chriflian-like Meafures and the Five Nations (tho* Barbarians) living witi the People of New-York^ like good Neighbours aiic faithful Friends, and generally with all the Englj, alfo, except when they were influenced by thi Jefuits 'y at the fame Time one cannot but admin the Zeal, Courage and Refolution of thefe Jefuits, that would adventure to live among Indians at Wj, 5vith their Nation j and the better to carry theii Purpofes, to comply with all the Humours an; Manners of fuch a wild People, fo as not to be dif. tinguifhed by Strangers from meer Indians. Out o^ them, named Mikt, remained with the Oneydct till after the Year 1694; he was advanced to tlis Degree oi ^ SacJ?em^ and had fo great an Influence over them, that the other Nations could not pre- vail with them to part with him. While he \\m with them, the Oneydoes were frequently turnec againft the Southern /W{^«i (Friends of the Englip /buthern Colonies) and were always wavering ir. their Reiblutlons againft the French at Canada. '. We {hall now (ee what Effedi the Policy of the Trench h3idy who purfued very different Meafures ^ir om the Englijh, ;,» -. '■,: , . r l,,''':^.... c it A p. IV. ' ^..T': ■'• Mr, De la Barrels Expeditisn^ and fome remark' . -4 nbh Tranja^tions in 1 684. HE French^ m the Time thfe]^ Were at .Pea' '3. i -r^ 6"' %\ ki 1^1 i r-^i ■1 i I t: jli :j iii' ( 62 ) Mr. De la Borre (Governor of Canacla) fciit a MclVeiigcr to Coll. Du,\(^af/, to complain of the Injuries the 6Vw/Xv/j had done to the Fntich^ and lo Ihew the Necelhtv he was under to bring the Fivt Nations to Rciifon by Force oF Arms. This Mcf- fenger happening; to arrive at the'J'imc the Indiam met the Lord Howard at Aihany^ Coll. Duncan told the ^cfwkui tlie Complaints that the French Governor made of them. To which they gave him the following Anfwer, in Prefence of Mr. De la Borre ^ Mcflengcr, on the 5th of Augujl^ 1684. ** We were fent for, and are come, and have *" heard what you have faid to us, that Corlear «* hath great Complaints of us, both from Virginia ** and Canada, What they complain of from Ca* *♦ ?uida may poflibly be true, that fomc of our <* young Men have taken fome of their Goods, *' but Yomietidio the Governor of Canada .^ is the ** Caufe of it. He not only permits his People to «' carry Ammunition, Guns, Powder, Lead, and ** Axes to the Tiuhtuih-ronoons * our Enemies, .n but fends them thither on Purpofe. Thdc *\ Guns which he fentts knock our Bevcr Huntcn «' on the Head, and our Enemies carry the Be- ** vers to Canada that we would have broughtto •' our Brethren. Our Bcver-Huntcrs are Soldiers, »* and, could bear this no longer. They met ** fprti^J Frcmb jn their Way to our Enemies, *f and very near them, carrying Ammunition, *« which our Men t ok from them. This is •* agreeable to our Cuftoms in War \ and we <<• may therefore openly own it, tho^ we know • ' nut whether it be pra(Slircd by the Chiillians .* wc cannot live without free Bever Hunting. * *' Corlear^ hear what we fay, we thank you for •** the Duke's Arms, which you have given us to *' be put in our Caftles, as a Defence to them. J' You commatid them, Huve we wandered out: ''i:y l-i-.l s.*« r%. I ^ I i ¥ I : im I I ^:v"i'^r ( 64) *' of the Way, as the Governor of d.naaa fa)(s! ** We do not threaten him v *th AVir, as he ^* threatens us. What fliall we do ? Shx\\ wc •* run 3way, or fhal'i we fit full in cur iivjufesi *« What fhall we do ? we fpeak to him that go. •« verns and commands us. *' Now Corlear^ and AJfarigoa^ and all People •* here prefent, remember what we have anfwcreii *' to. the Complaints of the Governor o{ C'inada\ «* yea, we wifli that what we here faid may come " to his Ears." Then they gave a Belt. Monfieur De la Barre at this Time was gone, with a!I the Force of Canada^ to Cadarackui Fort^ and ordered the three Vcllels to be repahed which the French had built on Cadarackui Lake : Hi} Defign was to frighten the Five Nations into his own Terms, by the Appearance of the Frencli Army, which confifted of 600 Soldiers of the re- gular Troops, 400 Indians^ and 400 ^len thai carried Provifions, befides 300 Men that he left to fecure Cddarackui -F/ ,., ,: . I " Aricy you are Corlear's MeJJengcr] * Obquejp ^ {Mon(r, la Maine) is the Governor of C/zw^rt'r/s ; % and there f fits our Father j Tonnondio acquaint- ed us fome Time ago, that he would fpei , with' #' That is, the Partridge, f Pointing tothe Jifuite, f J.-. '^' m m^' m Mk ■*■'♦'»» ftC m m „.n . ill I'l'' n |!iil )•'-■■ i 1 li 1 i; ij 11 1 I "•'I'll 'iii^'iiil: i^i-Siiv i I 'if hi ( 66 ) •* US, before lie would undertake any Thing againft •* the Senekas, Now he hath fent for all the N:i- ** tions to fpeak with him in Fricndfhip, and that •' at a Place not far from Onmndaga^ even at KaU V hohage. But our Brother Ccrlear tells us, that ^' we muft not meet the Governor of Canada with- «• out his Pcrmiflion ; and that if Tonnondio have any •* Thing to fay to us, he muft (w^ fend to Cor/ear ^ for Leave to fpeak with us. Tonnondio has fcnt long ago to us to fpeak with him, and he has lately repeated that Defire by OnniJfantJe the *' Brother of our Father j Twirhaerfira that fits * there ; he not only has entreated us by our Father, •* but by two praying Indians^ one an Onnondagu^ •' the other the Son of an old Mohawk Sachcw^ *^ Connondowe, They brought five great Belts of ** Wampum, not a Fathom or two only, as you ** bring. Now OhqueJJe has been fent with three <4 Frenchmen j Tonnondio not being content with ** all this, has likewi^? fent DennehoSfy and two "** other Mohawks^ to perfuade us to meethirti, 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 itiot, we fhall provoke his Wrath, and not dcferve his Goodnefs. You fay we are Sub- *' jetfls to the King of England and Duke of Tork^ but we fay we are Brethren, We muft take Care of ourfelves, Thofe Arms fixed upon the Foite., without the Gate, cannot defend us ag^ini the Arms of la Barre. Brother Corlear^ we tell you, that we (hall bind a Covenant- ** Cialn to our Arm, and to his, as thick as that ■if. «( «4 C« M •«■ ttr X The Indians commonly gave a new Name to any Perfon they receive or adapt into their Nation. This is the Je/tdtes Indian Name, the Interpretation whereof I know not. Poll. ii rhingagainft >r all the Na- tiip, and that even ztKui- tclls us, that Canada with- ndio have any lid to Corleur ond'io has fent , and he has mtiffant'^e the yfira that fits )y our Father, n Onnondiiga^ awk Sachcw^ 2;reat Belts of only, as you nt with three :ontent with Sfy and two leethirti, and Should we when he is ertainly if we ath, and not f^Q are Sub- ^uke of York^ ^e muft take xed upon the t defend us •thcr Corlear^ 3. Covenant- thick as that Name to any [ation. This ation whereof «' Poll, I ( 67 ) ••' Fort, (pointing to a Poft of the Houfe) be not •♦ vdirt'atisfied ; (hould we not embrace this Happi- •* ncfs offeied us, viz. Peace, in the Place of «* War, yea, we fhall take the Evil Doers, the ^ Sentkas^ by the Hand, and /// Z?/7rr^ like wife, 0" and their Axe and his Sword fhall be thrown ••^ into a deep Water. We wifh our Brother Cor^ **• tear were prefent, but it feems the Time will •«' not permit of it." * Accordingly Garangula^ one of the chief Sa- thtms of the Onnomiaga's, with thirty Warriors, went with Mr. /a Mai^ie, to meet the Governor 0$ Canada at Kaihohage, After he had been two Days in the French Camp, Monfr. la Barre fpoke t^ him as follows^ (the French Officers making a (5|mi-circle on one Side, while Garangula^ with i^ Warriors, compleattd the Circk on the other, i ' f ♦ Monfr, De la Barre'j Speech to Gafangula. \ v I** The King, my Maftcr, beir 3 informed that •<^ the Five Nations have often infringed the Peace, •♦( has ordered me to come hither with a Guard, •Hand to fend Ohgueffe to the Onnondagas^ to bring ^*3tlie Q\(\^i Sachem to my Camp. The Intention Hiof the great King is, that you and I may fmoke «%^the Calumet \ of Peace together, but on this •- 1^ . '< Con- .^ Voyages du Baron de la Hontan^ Tome i. Let- 't+ The Calumet is a large fmoaking Pipe made of Sirble, moll commonly of a dark red, well poliftied, ped fomewhat in the Form of a Hatchet, and adorn- «with large Feathers of feveral Colours. It is ufcd M^all the 7W/^« Treaties with Strangers, and as a Flag dp. Truce between contending Parties, which all the Jtidiatjs think a very high Crime to viohtc. Thefe Ca» kmets are generally of nice Workmanfhip, and were in Ufc i ':: m m M ip! n: il^ii' ]V. :'|-i '•'1 :| 1 !t!! i^ ( 68 ) Cont)Itton, that you promife me, in the Kanj of the SenekaS^ Cayugas^ Onoridagas^ and M. hawksy to give intire Satlsfaj^lori and Repar; tion to his Subje h\ the Nam agas, and M, n and Repar; future never : iagas, Oneydct d abufed all t^ the Illinois z :ions, the Ch, aded, on the ty of Peace wii therefore tod them, that Ing us any mor declare \Vi The Warm K^led the £«|/i :o the King, r. ^lifi) among r to deftroyt: withdraw the carried the E ings, :ure, [ainft you. Tl ir Warriors ha' Ins on the ///i« :red Men, V/s idemany of the t themfelves fi hr grieved if my Words do not produce the Ef- ffel w^hich I exped: from them ; for then I fhall obliged to join with the Governor of New-^ \rk, who is commanded by his Mafter to aflift ISie, and burn the Caftles of the Five Nations^ d deftroy you. This Belt confirms my Words, rangula was very mnch furprifed to find the ords of the 'Jefuit, and of the Governor's ngers, turned to fuch threatening Language.^ was defigned to ftrike Terror into the Indians ; bu^ Garangula having good Information from thofe HE of the Chrit <>f ^e Five Nations living near Cadarackui Fort, of fs to conceived aU ^^e Sicknefs and other Misfortunes which af- and (haped tk fli^d the French Army, it was far from producing ron. rtic defigned EfFedl. All the Time that Monfteur «i di'k Barre fpoke, Garangula kept his Eyes fixed on > J .*« '■ 1^^) if " 1^ f . ,,. ii, 1 I' 1 i 1 .i ii a' 11 1 1 1 ■ j ! 11 •| ii 1 M ill ' •J 1, r • If: 1 i i III 1 '1 ": ■ lilf',. ^A. iv«': if- 'I Uii ( 70 ) on the End of his Pipe ; as foon as the Govern) had done ipcaking, he role up, and having walkt five or fix Tii.ncs round the Circle, he returned : his Phice, where he fpokc Handing, while Mo':j% di' la Bam kept his Klbow-Chair. ' Garangula's Jnfiver, - '. <* Tonnonclio^ ** I honour you, and the Warriors that arc wi ** me all like wife honour you. Your Interpret: *' has finiflied your Speech ; I jiow begin niiii ** My Words make hafte to reach your Ear *' hearken to them. *^ Tonnoridio^ you muft have believed, when yr ** left ^ebi'ck^ that the Sun had burnt up all t^ *' Forcfts which render our Country inaccclfihle «' the French^ or that the Lakes had lb far ovt «"* flown their Banks, that they had furroundcd c. ^'^ Caftles, and thut it was impoflible for us too <* out of them. Yes, Yonmndlo^ furcly you mi *^ have dreamt fo, and the Curiofity of feeing *' great a Wonder has brought you fo far. No <« you are undeceived, fmce that I and the "VV' We knock'd the Twihtwies and ChUleghicks ^* on the Head, becaufe they had cut down the i . ' " Treei A>; <:»■ ' ii w \^ 1^. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1.25 US S*^ lis Hiotographic Sciences Corporation ^.^ V «^ [\ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4S03 K^ h >' ; I i| ! I?i' f' It' ! t? : (! i. «1; ' . il !*liii (•7a ) «< Trees of Peace, which were the Limits of or <* Country. They have hunted Severs on our w «( ]L!iQds: They have a(^ed contrary to the Cudoms *^i <« of all Indians \ for they left none of the Beven *«*] «« alive, they killed both Male and Female. They <«f| *' brought the Satanas * into th^^lr 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 To many Indian Nations, and chafed *' Hear, Tonnondio^ take Care for the future, ** that fo great a Number of Soldiers, as appear ^* there, do not choak the Tree of Peace planteJ *i' in fo fmall a Fort. It will be a great Lois, *^ if after it had fo eafily taken Root, you (hould ** ftop^ its Growth, and prevent its covering your '1 *' Country and ours with its Branches^ I alTurt ** you, in the Name of the /^^« I* E 1685, iU "if ^'1 i-i ' I. m m m ";4 ' !■' ]•; > ( 74) l^^Sr ?ind,h^vpg brought a Reinforcement of Sol. though but their But this It, wlien I Stop to jxtend it- ts Confe- ny began i SeneJasy itry Man le Indian Hans J the e regular dy. The without outs ad- n of the gh they SenekaSy d repafs French take the |they no )n as the I Quarter '^ of (8i ) pf a Lci' 3ue from the Village, the Semkas fuddcnly 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 ConfuTion, fired upon one another. When the Senekas perceived their Diforder, they fell in among them pell-mell, till the French Indians y 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 y and about fourfcore Senekas killed, in this Rencounter. Monfieur de Konville was fo difpirited with the Fright that his Men had been put into, that his /«- dians could not perfuade him to purfue. He halted the Remainder of that Day. The next Day he marched on with Defign 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 Afhes before they retired. Two old Men only were found in the Caftle, who were cut into Pieces and boiled to make Soup for the French Allies. The French ftaid five or fix Days to deflroy their Corn, and then marched to two other Villages, at two or three Leagues diflance. After they had performed the like Exploits in thofe Places, they returned to the Banks of the Lake. r':-/ ,. *. Before the French left the Lakes, they built a Fort of four Baftlons at Qniagara^ on the South-fide of the Straights, between Lake Erie and Cadarackui Lake, 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 feven or eight, who were acci- cidentally relieved by a Party of French Indians, E 5 The ^411 J » m M I 'I .;iii!; m i'ii I |i, , ; kl I- ( 81 ) The weftem Indians^ when they parted from the French GeneraU made their Harangues, as ufual, in which they told him, with what rleafure they faw 1 Fort fo well placed to favour their Defigns againft the Five Nations^ and that they relied on his never finifhins the War, but with the Deftrudion of the Five Nations, or forcing them to abandon their Country. He afllired them, that he would a6l with fuch Vigour, that they would foon fee the Five Nations driven into the Sea. ♦ He fent a Detachment of Soldiers to Teiodonde* rag h ley and in his Return to Canada , which was by the North Side of the Lake, he left a fufficient Number of Men, and a Quantity of Provifions, at Cadaraciui Fort. v,-* * • The French having got nothing but dry Blows by this Expedition, fent thirteen of the Indians y tV at they furprifed at Cadarackuiy to Francey as Trophies of their Vi£^ory, where they were put into the Galleys, as Rebels to their King. ii > C H A P. VI. ' » Colonel Dongzn* s yfdvice to the Indians. AdarioV Enterprizey and Montreal Jacked by the Five Nations. Colonel Dongany who had the Indian Affairs very much at Heart, met the Five Nations at Many as foon as poflible after the French £xpe* diti«n. and fpoke to them on the fifth oiAugufty in the following Words, viz, ** Brethren y ** I am very glad to fee you here in this Houfe, and am heartily gla^ that vou have fuflained no greater Lofs by 3ie French y though I believe it was their Intention to deflroy you all> if they could have furprifed you in youx CafWes. a .. - «*As 4< C( <( ( 8.1 ) " Ai foon as T heard their Dcfign to war with «* you, I gave you Notice, and came up hither " myfelf, that I might be ready to give all the <• Affiftance and Advice that lo fhort a Time <* would allow me, <* I am now about fendinz a Gentleman to ** En^/andy to the King, my Matter, to let him " know, that the French have invaded his Terri- " ritories on this Side of the great Lake, and «* warred upon the Brethren his Subjedls. I therc- ** fore would williiigly know, whether the Brethren *' have given the Governor of Canada any Provo- <« cation or not ; and if they have, how, and in *< what Manner j becaufe I am obliged to give a «' true Account of this Matter. This Bufinefs ** may caufe a War between the King of England «* ana the French Kin^, both in Europe and here, *< and therefore I muff know the Truth. *' I know the Governor of Canada dare not enter *< into the King of England^s Territories, in a «' hoftile Manner, without Provocation, if he thought the Brethren were the King of England^ & Subje<5ls ; but you have, two. or three Years aq;o, made a Covenant-chain with the Fre?ich, contrary to my Command, (which I knew could not hold long) being void of itfelf among the Chriftians ; for as much as Subjedls (as you are) ought not to treat with any foreign Nation, it not lying in your Power, you have brought this Trouble on *' yourfelves, and, as I believe, this is the only " Reafon of their falling on you at this Time. *' Brethren, I took it very ill, that after you had put yourfelves into the Number of the great King of Enghnd^s Subjedls, you fhould ever offer to make Peace or War without my Confent. You know that we can live without you, but you cannot live without us. You never found that I told you a Lye, and I offered you the E 6 *' Amilaiicc 4( <( u cc cc cc cc (C c« cc {( ^"V.; '^. '% I '*1 Itl •ffi r { »4 ) Afliftance you wanted, provided that yoa would be advifed by me ; for I know the French better than any of you do. u ' .i; .^^,, ** Now fince there is a War begun upon ycu by ** the Governor of Canada^ I hope without any Provocation by you given, I defire and command you, that you hearken to no Treaty but by my Advice ; which if you follow, you mall 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 JIn- *< thony le Junard, In the mean Time, I will give you fuch Advice as will be for your good ; and will fupply you with fuch Necellaries, as you will have Need of. " ' ^'. - ' v *' ** Firjf^ My Advice is, as to what Prifoners of *^ the French you /hall take, that you draw not their Blood, but bring them HomCj and keep them to exchange for your People, which they have Prifoners already, or may take hereafter. " 2^/k, That if it be poflible, that you can order it fo, I would have you take one or two of your wifcft Sachems^ and one or two of your chief Captainsy of each Nation, to be a Council \o manage all Affairs of the War. They to ^^ive Orders to the refl of the Officers what they arc to do, that your Defigns may be kept private ; for after it comes among {o many People, it is blamed abroad, and your Defigns are often fruftrated ; and thofe chief Men fhould ktep a Correfpondence with me by a trufty MefTenger. " 3^6'' '^^^^ great Matter under Confideration with the Brethren is, how to ftrengthen them- felves, and weaken their Enemy. My Opinion that the Brethren fhould fend Meuengcrs to C« the* tho French have '< been admitted to trade with them ; for all tHtt «' i}^Q French have in CtfWtfitz, they had it^of tht *' 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 againft the *' Frenchy and make fo nrm a League^ that who- " ever is an Enemy to one, muft be to both. *' ^thly^ Another Thing of Concern is, that yoti " ought to do what you can to open a Path for all " the North IndianSy and Mahikanders^ that are " among the Utawawas and further Nations : I " will endeavour to do the fame to tring them " home J for, they not daring to return Home " your Way, the French keep theiji there on pur- •* pofe to join with the other Nations againft you, *' for yowr Deftru£tion ; for you know, that one " of then) is worfo 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. ,.i .^ ;>, a^ji., t^sv: . ; ; • " 5^^/y> My Advice further is, that MefTengers " go, in behalf of all xYio. Five Nationsy to the *' Chrijiian Indifins 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. r n.i. " bthly^ I think itvery neceflary, for the Brethren's Secui:ity and Ailiilance, and to the endamaging the French^ to build a Fort upon the Lake, where I may keep Stores and Eroyifions, in Cafe of " Nc^ In I 1 ti I .i I ■ ' J ■I ■ 'I ■»■. ;'K t 'i m. .'•} fU \m I 'ii': ''. C€ i< «( «€ (86) ^ Neceffitjr ; and therefore I w6uld hai^e i tife «< Brethren let me know what Place will be moft •* convenient for it, > ^ vjwi ^nr jj.,j -.'-.0.1 r ** 7/)&/)'» I would not have the Brethren keep *• their Com in their Caftles, as I hear the Onon- " dagas do, but bury it a greit Way in the ^1* Woods, where few People may know Where It is, for fear of fuch an Accident as has happened to the SeneJias, I ' ^ ^ .rrr^^^ to :?fj^:i Ji-ii - ■'' <* Sthiy^ I have given my Advice in your General Aflembly by Mr. Dirk U^ejfels^ and Akus l^e In- terpreter, how you are to manage your Parties, and how neceffary it is to get Prifoncrs, to ex- change for your own Men that are Prifoners with •* the French ; and I am glad to hear that the *< Brethren are fo united, as Mr, DirkWeffeh tells ** me you are, and that there aretio rotten Members «* nor French Spies among you. ** ()thly^ The Brethren may remember my Ad- ** vice, which I fent you this Spring, nOt to go to '** Cadarackui 5 if you had, they would have ferved •* you as they did your People that CMne from ** hunting thither; for I told you then, that I ** knew the French better than you did* «« lothfy. There was no Advice or Propofition ** that I made to the Brethren, all the Time that ** the Prieft lived at Onondaga^ ^ut what he wrote ** to Canada ^'2iS I found by one of his Letters, ** which he gave to an Indian to cai-ry to Canada^ but which was brought hither; therefore I defire the Brethren not to receive him or any French Priefc any mbre, having fent for Englijh Priejis^ ii with whom you may be fupplied to your Content. "^ ^" ^* ' ' ** iithly^ I would havie the Brethren look out <* (haip, for Fear of being furprized. I b^lifeve all •< tht Strength of the French vA^iiJ be at their ** Frontier Places^ vi%, at Cadarackui and Omagara, ** where (87 ) «* where they have built a Fort how, and at Trciet •< Rivieres^ Montreal^ and Ohambly* ** I2thly^ Let me put you in Mind again, not t6 «< make any Treaties without my Means, which «< will be more advantageous for you, than your «« doing it by yourfclves, for dien you will be ** looked upon as the King of England*^ Subje6Wj «< 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 w'as informed, that laft Spring they had killed a fine Gentleman, with fome others; and that a Party of the Oneydots was now there at the Head of Taines River, with Intention to deftroy all the Indians thereabout. They had taken {\x Prifoners, whom he ordered them to bring to him, to be refi-ored ; and that for the future they (hould defift from doing any Injury to thd People of Virginia^ or their Indi'ansy 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 Thing contrary to his Orders, except in making that un- lucky Peace with the French , three Years ago. Lajily, 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 honeft Gentleman earheftly purfued the In- tereft of his Country ; but it feems his Meafures were not agreeable to thofc his Mafter had taken with the French King ; for he had Orders to procure a Peace for the French on their own Terms, and N- was '1 i i , ,1. I 1 .i l\ ,>i ( 88 ) was foon -after this removed from his Government. Indeed fuch an a£live, as well as prudent Governor of New-York, could not be acceptable to the French ^ who had the univerfal Monarchy in View, in jfmerica as well as in Europe^ j ^ ^ .. 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 refufcd any Aflilknce to the French, till they, by fuch Application, fhould acknowledge the Dependance of the Five Natiom on the Crown of England, But King y antes ordered him to give up this Point ; and that he fhould 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 Ceffation of Arms, till their Deputies fhould go and return from Canada ; and that they fhould, in the mean Time, deliver up all the Priioners they had taken from the French, and that no Accident might prevent this, and bjaft fo favourable ah Opportunity of making Peace to the befl Advantag2, Monfr, De Nonville (ent his Orders to all his Officers in the Indian Countries, to obferve a CefTation of Arms, till the AmbafTador of the Five Nations fhould meet him at Montreal, as they had given him Reafon to expedl they would in a little Time, to conclude the Peace in the vifual Form. In the mean Time, Adario, the Chief of the Deomondadies, finding that his Nation was become fufpe£led by the French, fince the Time they had fhewn fo much Inclination to the Englijh, when they attempted to trade to MiJJilimakinak, refolved, by fome notable Adlion againfl the Five Nations, to recover the good Graces of the Frenchj^ I*. ;'l iment, vernor ^renchy ;w, ill ind the d force iting to at with Reafon French^ jwledge I Crown L to give the Five *als from , forced :ill their ia ; and er up all ]chi and bjaft fo : to the Orders obferve of the as they lid in 11 : ^ifual of the Ibecome ley had > when folved, 'ationsy For ( 89 ) For this Purpofe, he marched from MiJJtltma^ kiuaky at the Head of a hundred Men ; and that he might a6t with the more Security, he took Ca^ darackui Fort in his Way for Intelligence : The Commandant informed him, that Monfr. De Non- ville was in Hopes of concluding a Peace with the Five Nations y and expelled their Ambafladors in eight or ten Days at Montreal for that Purpofe, and therefore defired him to return to MiJJilimakinak^ without attempting any Thing that might obftru<5t io 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 diflembled his Concern before the French Officer. He went from Cadarackui^ not to return Home, as the Commandant thought, but to wait for the Am* baflfadors 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 pays, 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 Deononc(adi told them. That he having been informed, by the Governor oi Canada y that fifty Warriors of their Nation were to pafs this Way about this Time, he had fecured this Pafs, not doubting of intercepting them." The AmbafTadors being much furprifed at the French Perfidy, told Jdario the Defign of their Journey, who, the better to play his Part, feemed to grow mad and furious,, declaring agijinft Monfrv De Nonvilicy and fai4 he would, foirje Time or other, be revenged of hi^n, for njakir^g a Tool of him, to commit fuch horrid Treachery. Then looking ftedfaftly on the Prifoners (among whom Dekanefora was the principal Ambaflador) A^arig fuid <( (( -:n \^ ^% i Uu . > III! ( 90) faid 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 fhall never be eafy after it, till the Five Nations ihall have taken full Revenge. * !'.v:T'»''a> >o > -. 1 .^.o'.'-^tu. ' This was fuilicient to perfuade the AmbafTadors of the Truth of what he faid, who aflured him, that he and his Nation might make their Peace when they pleafed. Mario loft only one Man on this Occalion, and would keep a Satana Frifoner (adopted into the Five Nations) to fill up his PHace. 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- 4agas^ and Oneydoes^ who had been long under the Influence of the French Priefts, and ftill retained an AfFedtion 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 unanimoufly. Jdario delivered the Slave (his Prifoner) to the French zt Mifftlimakinak^ who to keep up the En- mity between the Deonondadies and the Five Na- tionsy ordered him to be fhot to Death. Jdario called one of the Five Nations^ who had been long ^ 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 fo, that Monfr. De NonvilWs fending to difown Adario in this A6Hon, had no EflFe<£t upon them ; their Breafts admitted of no Thoughts but that of Re- venge. It was not long before the French felt the bloody EflFedls of this cruel Paflion, for 1 200 Men of the Five Nati&m invaded the Ifland of Montreal ^ • «. '. when Bonds, ions be e com- be eafy ten full afladors im, that :e when on this Prifoner lis Pkce. the reft ;r) to the p the En- Five Na" Mario leen long Country- ape to his e French IPower to (91 ) Mrhen the French had no Sufpicion af any fuch At* tempt, while Monfr. De Nonvilli and his Lady were in that Town. They landed on the South Side of the Ifland, at La Chint^ on the 26th of July 1688, where they burnt and facked all the Plantations, and made a terrible MafTacre of Men^ Women, and Children. The French were under Apprehenfion of the Town's being attacked, 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. Ds Nonville fent out a hundred Soldiers, and fihy Indians^ to try to bring ofF the Men in thofe Forts. The French of this 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 Prifon ?rs, the greateft Part of whiCi* 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 OSfober following, they deftroyed likewife all the lower Part of the Ifland, and carried away many Pri- loners. :js.« i ii,:,\ .1. /*. »» The Confeqiience of thefe Expeditions were very difmal to the French^ for they were forced to burn their two Barks, which they had on Cadarackui Lake, and to abandon their Fort there ; they de- figned to have blown up their Works, when they left that Place ; and for that End left a lighted ]\latch where the Powder lay, but were in fuch a Fright, that they durft not ftay to fee what EfFedl it had. They went down Cadarackui River in feven Birch Canoes 5 and for greater Security, travelled in the Night. One of the Canoes, with all the r. . V. Men Ji 'I i u . 4 li n I': % '<• '<' ■ 'I i m "i . i 1 :f;-f t! -n \M' 1 j' ' i) 1 ;ii| 1 1 ' ■■<■ A" '!•' (9» ) Men in it, were loft, by their Precipitation, zn they paiTed one of the Falls in that River. The Five Nations hearing the French had deferted Ca- darackui Fort, fifty Indians went and took Fof- feflion 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 feverai 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 greateft Diforder. The Utawawas had always fhewn an Inclina- tion to the Englijhy and they therefore immediately fent openly four Sachems^ with three Prifoners of the Senekasy which they had, to afllire them, that they would for ever renounce all Friendfhip with the French, and promifed to reftore the reft of the Prifoners. They alfo included fevcral Nations.^ that lived near MiJJtiimakinak, in this Peace, i This put the French Commandant there under the greateft Difficulty to maintain his Poft j Jljut there was no Choice, he muft ftand 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 \ cverj' one of the others endeavoured to gain the Friendfliip of the Five Nations ; and would cer- tainly have done it, by murdering all the French among them, had not the Sieur Perots with won- derful Sagacity and imminent Hazard to his own Perfon, diverted them. i. - , Canada was now in a moft miferable Condition, . for while the greateft Number of their Men had been employed in the Expedition againft the F'm Nations, and in trading among the far Nations, and making new Difcoveries and Settlements, Tillage and ion> zn The ted Cfl- ►k Pof- nch had Barrels i feveral tons had all the y where Inclina- nediately oners of em, that [hip with ;ft of the ions.«. that jre under »ofti J?ut Ground, )e8 of re- their nu- French \ gain the >uld cer- French rith won- his own Condition, [en had the F'm tions, and Tillage and (93 ) and Hufbandry had been negle6led ; and they loft feveral Thoufands of their Ii^iabitants, by the con- tinual Incurfions of fmall Parties, fo that none durft hazard themfelvcs 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* ricd away by the fcuiking Indians ; at laft the whole Country being Ir'd 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 Deftrudlion at this Time; for whoever confiders the State of the Indian Affzks during this Period, how the Five Nations were divided in their Sentiments and Meafurcs ; that. the Onondagas^ Cayngas^ and Oneydoes^ under the In- fluence of the French Jefuites, were diverted from profecuting the War againft Canada^ by the Je- liikes cunningly fpiriting up thofe three Nations againft the Virginia Indians^ and perfuading them to fend out their Parties that Way : That the Se^ nekas had a War at the fame Time upon their Hands with three numerous Indian Nations, the Utaivawas^ Chicktaghich^ and Twihtwies; and that the Meafures the Englijh obferved all King Jameses Reign, gave thie Indians rather Grounds of Jealoufy than Affiftance : I fay, whoever con- ftders all thefe Things, and what the Five Nations did actually perform, under all thefe Difadvantages againft the French^ will hardly doubt, that the Five Nations by . themfelves were at that Time an Overmatch for the French of Canada. PART t.i* 4qi if «. J 11 1. 11. J.k ^f^ ■ 1 jj •■^^^^^^^^ ^ ( 94 ) - • t . •■. - '.i k\ .'^v. . t.'i ; • r( • t 1 .-: - •/ «» 1 1 ■'■■■' ■' « f ■ \iA ) A R T II. •» • t • ■ ' ' •» . .\» , ' 7* *' i-' • • «»t « y • ■ •v« ^ fl- ♦fMf *>»T 'r-- - »»■ '' »' •»* ..1 •y- , 1 D ' 51 t-if v^^-" 17 ,^i< ^ r It' «hy ■^ Y » f'j # - • • it » If*' I i* 5 i h' .' I* I .i"rl; 1 |f:i rHE former Part of this Htjiory was written at New- York in the Tear 1727, on Occafton 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 Intereji of the People he was Jet over, and of making them ufeful to their Mother Country^ than Plantation Governors ufually do^ took the Trouble of perujing all the Regijiers of the Indian Affairs on this Occafon, He from thence conceived of what Confequence the Fur Trade with the Weftern Indians was of to Great-Britain ; that as the Englifh had the Fur Trade to Hudfon's Bay given up to them, by the Treaty of Utrtcht, fo, by the Advantages which the Province of New- York has in its Situa^ tiony they might be able to draw the whole Fur Trade in the other Parts of America to themfelves, and thereby the Englilb engrofs that Trade, and the Ma- nufa£tortes depending on it. For this Purpofe he thought it necejfary to put a Stop to the Trac? between New- York and Canada, by which the French fupplied themf elves with the moji valuable and necejfary Commodities for the Indian Market 'i and to fet the Inhabitants of the Province en ' f II E. written Occafion ween the Tchants. \r Trade ittd were iV-York. informed •, and of ryy than rouble of fairs on of what \\ Indians rlifti had \to thenty \uantage5 5 Situa' r Trade jes, and the Ma- \to put a Canada, themojl Indian *rovifi^^ in (95) on trading direifly with the Indians. Befides the ConJideratiiH ef Profit and Gain^ he conjidered what Influence this Trade had on the numerous Nations of Indians living on the vaji Continent of North Ame*^ rica, and who furround the Britilh Colonies ; of what Advantage it might be of^ if they were influenced by the Englifh in Cafe of a IVar with France ; and how prejudicial on the other Hand^ if they were directed by French Counfels, , The Legiflature of New- York was foon convinced of the jfujinefs of the Reafoning^ and taffed an ASf^ prohibiting the Trade to Canada, and for encouraging the Trade directly with the Indians. They were like^ wife at the Charge of building a fortified trading lioufe at Ofwego, on Cadarackui Lake, and have ruer fence maintained a Garrifon there. As this ASf did in its Confequence take a large Profit from one or two confiderable Merchants^ who had the Trade to Canada intirely in their Hands, tl 7 endeavoured to raife a Clamour againfl it in the Province, and pre» fented likewife Petitions to the King, in order to get the A61 repealed. Upon this Occafion Mr, fiucnet gave me the Perufal of the Public k Regifler of Indian Affairs, and it was thought the Publication of the Hifeory of the Five Nations might be of Ufe at that Time, I Jhall only add, that Mr, Burnetts Scheme has had its defer ed EffeSi : The Englifh have gained the Trade which the French, before that, had with the Indians to the Wejlward ^ New- York \ andwhere* as, before that Time, a very inconfederable Number of Men were employed in the Indian Trade Abroad, now above three hundred Men are employed at the Trading Houfe at Ofwego alone j and the Indian Trade has fence that Time yearly increafed fo far^ that fever al Indian Nations come now every Summer to trade there, whofe Names were not fo much as known by /Z>^ Englifh before. , ^ This n . .tt I!* 'tk \f «j '< 41 : ( 96-) This Hiflory^ from New- York, foon wmt U England, an J I havi ban informid^ that a Public catioriy wUh a Cetttinuance ef that IVork^t would p f dffept/ ihlc th^'r ^ ^(Tf-r the mon ch ear fully com^ plied with this hlot V/, becaufe of the War threateved from France, believing that a Publication of this Kind may be ufeful^ whether the prefent Inquietudes between the two Nations end in a War or in a Treaty, The French have encouraged feverul Publications of this Sort at Paris, and certainly fuch may be mort ufeful in a Britifh Government^ where the People have Jo great a Share in it^ than it can be in a French Government^ intirely dire£led by the Will of their Prince, v ^ o . • ? tv / now continue this HifioVy to the Peace of Ref- Wjck, and if 1 find this acceptable^ and that afar* ther Continuation of it he dtfired^ I Jhall^ f *^y Life and Health be preferved^ carry it down farther ; but as I have too much Reafon to doubt my own Ability^ to givr that Pleafure and Satlsfa£fion which the Pub* lick may expe£f in Things thusfubmitted to their View ^ J think it notjujiifiable to trouble than with too much at once, \ "v» ^ • ; /> v *i'\n*\ •* . : v. .i^u"^**\, *i < v^i \ ;^ , • , , •",•*« . •'. ' ^^ '" -* ' ,.,. r ii-.'-ii %i»' '. '.' "*- '! ■ - ; V 1 . V • . i * . i -I . • THE nt to would f corn- ate ft ed f this ietudes treaty, ions 0, e mon U have French f their j/*Ref- a far' my Life er ; but Ability, he Pub. irVieWj 00 much »».,-. !»,;' ■ ' V'^ '■> ■. «kn: ',;■■» ki i|.r^ .^'11' '^! iiii ( 100 ) \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 firft Governor after the Revolution, happened to die foon after his Arrival, when fteady, as well as refolute Meafures, were moft neceflary. 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 Jmerica wanted able Hands Xft manage them ; they think that the Miniflry 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 hanHfome Eflates, befides the great Loffes they occafioned to the Subjects. . The greatefl Number of the Inhabitants of the Province of New-York being Dutch ^ Hill retained an AflecSlion to their Mother Country, and by their Averfion to the E^glijh weakened the Admi- niftration. The common People oi Albany^ who are all Dutch^ could not forbear giving the Indium fome ill Impreffions of the Englijh ; for the Mo- hawks^ in one of their publick Speeches, exprefled themfelves thus : " We hear a Dutch Prince reigns now in England^ why do you fuft'er the Englijh Soldiers to remain in the Fort ? put all the En- *' glijh out of the Town. When the Dutch held *' this Country long ago, we lay in their Houfes ; ** but the Englijh have always made us lie without ** Doors." It is true, that the Plantations were firft cc ( 101 ) fird fettled by the meaneft People of every Nation, and fuch as had the leaft Senfe of any Honour. The Dutch firft 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 Inilances of this. The People of NlW- England were engaged in a bloody War at this Time with the Owenagungasy OuragieSy and Ponacoks^ the Indians that He 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 lludfon's River that runs towards Canada, The People of New-England were jealous of the Scahkook Indians^ that they remembring the old Difference thev had with the People of Nczv- England^ and the Relation they bore to the Eaji em Indians^ did countenance and aflift thefe Indians in the War againft Nciv- England, They had Reafoii for thefe Jealoufies, for the Scahkook Indians received privately fome Owenagunga MefTengers, and kept their comino- among them fecret from the People of A'lbany ; and fome Scahkooks had gone privately to the Owena^ gungas. They were afraid likewife, that the Mo- hawks might have fome Inclination to favour thofe Indians^ becaufe fome of the Eajiern Indians had fled to the Mohawks^ and v/ere kindly received by them, and lived among them. Notwithftaiiding aH thefe Failures of good Po-. licy, in the (jovernment of New-York^ the French had not gained fo great Advantages, if they had not carefully obferved a different Conduct, which it )S now necelTary to confukr. Canada was at this Time in a very diflrefled Condition, the Country and our Plantations burnt 'f' 3 and « iii" I m f .4. I:' i^ ( 102 ) and deftroyed, their Trade intirely at a ftand, 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 fuch Misfortunes happen to a Countr}% under any Adminiftration, though in Truth the Condudt of Affairs be not to be blamed, it is cften prudent to change the Minifters ; for the common People ne- ver fail to blame them, notwithftanding their hav- ing adled with the greateft Wifdom, and therefore cannot fo fo6n 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 M.u de Nonville^ but rewarded him for his Services, by an honourable Employment in the Houfhold, The Count de Front enac was fent ki his Place. This Gentleman had been formerly Governor of that Country, and was perfedlly ac- quainted with its Intereft j of a Temper of Mind fitted to fuch defperate Tinges, of undaunted Cou- rage, and indefatigable, though in the fixt) -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 Impreffion 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 A New-Plymouth, and ConnecSlicut, and the Sa- chems of the Five Nations, at Albany, in the Tear 1689. ABOUT the Beginning of September 1689, Colonel John Pynchon^ Major John Savage^ and Captain Jonathan Bidl^ Agents for the Colonies of Majfachufet'^ Bay^ New- Plymouth, and Con- ne^icut, arrived at Albany^ to renew the Friendfhip with the Five Nations, and to engage them againft the Eajiern Indians, who made War on the Englijh of thofe Colonies, and were fnpported by the French, The Five Nations had received four MelTengers from the Eajiern Indians, which gave the People of New-England fome Apprehenflons, and they were therefore defirous to know what Reception thefe MefTengers 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 defured them to be attentive to the Anlwer now to be made to them. They commonly repeat over all that has been faid to them, before they return any ( 107 ) any Aniwer, and one may be furprlzed at the Ex- aftnefs of thefe Repetitions. They take tlie fol- lowing Method to affift 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 finifhed any one Article of his Speech, this Sachem gives a Stick to another Sachem^ who is particularly to remember that Article 5 and fo when another Article is iinifhed, 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 addreifing himfelf to the Agents, faid : ' *' Brethren^ ** You are welcome to this Houfe, which is ap- *' pointed for our Treaties and publick Bufmefs " with the Chriftians j we thank you for renewing " the Covenant-chain. It is now no longer of Iron " and fubje£l: to Ruft, as formerly, but of pure " Silver, and includes in it all the King's Subjects, "^from the Senekas Country eaftward, as far as any ** of the great King's Subjects live, and fouthward, " from New- England to Virginia, Here he gave " a Bcver. , " We are glad to hear of the good Succefs our great King has had over the French by Sea, in taking and fmking fo many of their Men of War.> You tell us in your Propofals that we are one " People, let us then go Hand in Hand together, to ruin and deftroy the French our commoiL Enemy. Gives a fiever. ** The Covenant-chain between us 15 ancient (as. you tell us) and of long ftanding, and it has been r 6 « kept <( (C i.rtf f.'i. !! III' II m i! >tJ S' ! ■ i ^Si^it: "m m '!■ tit 4H '' «< ( io8 ) kept inviolably by us. When you had Wars fome time ago with the Indians^ you defired us to help you ; we did it readily, and to the Pur- *' pofe ; for >ye purfued them clofely, by which we *' prevented the EfFufion of much of your Blood. *' This was a certain Sign that we loved truly and ** fincerely, and from our Hearts. Gives a Belt. *' You advife us to purfue our Enemies, the •* French^ vigoroufly ; this we afTure you we are ** refolved to do to the utmoft of our rower : But *' fmce the French are your Enemies like wife, we ** defire our Brethren of the three Colonics to fend ** us an hun-lred Men for the Security of this Place, •* 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 refent the In- *' juries we had fo long fuffered ; but now he is ** undeceived. We afliire you, that we are refolved ** never to drop the Axe, the French never (liall *' fee our Faces in Peace, we (hall never be recon- ** ciled as long as on^ Frenchman is alive. We fhall ** never make Peace, though our Nation fhould 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 Owenagungm *' and UrageeSy we anfwer : That we were never (o ** proud and haughty, as to begin a War without ** juil Provocation. You tell us that they are ** treacherous Rogues, we believe it, and that they ♦* will undoubtedly affift the French, If they fhall ** do this, or fhall join with any of our Enemies, * " either ( 109 ) " either French or Indians^ then we will kill and " dcftroy 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 Beit. 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 wi(h that the Sun may always Ihine in Peace over all our Heads that are comprehended in this Chain. We give two Belts, one for the Sun, the other for its Beams. We make fad the Roots of the Tree of Peace and Tranquillity, 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 by the Motion of its Roots, which extend into our Country : But we " truft it v/ill not be in the Governor of Canada's Power to fhake this Tree, which has been fo. firmly and fo long planted with us. Gives two Bevers." . >> .. • Lajily^ He defired the Maglftrates of Albany to remember what he had faid, and gave them a Bever. •. • ♦ - ' But the Agents perceiving, that they had not j^nfwered any Thing about the Owenagunga Mef- fengers, and had anfwered indiftindtly 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 y for they have done us no Harm *. Never- theJefs our Brethren of Neiv^England may be af- fured, that we will live and die in Friendfhip with ** them. f ' C( (( (C (( C( (( (( (( (( (C (( i( (C ■'A '•» M. ■ f ( m .1 (:; m i>f II > }.• ( no ) <* them. When wc took up the Axe againft the *' French and their Confederates, we did it to re- ** venge the Injuries they had done us ; we did not ** make War with them at the Perfuafions of our " 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 hud feparatcd, the Sachems fent to the New- £ng /an J Agents^ dcfiring 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 AfFediion to the Owcnagungas ; and we were afraid, that they would difcovcr or hinder our Defigns. Now we afiure our Brethren, that we are refolvcd to look on your Enemies as ours, and that we will firft fall on the * Owaragees ; and then on the Owenagungasy and laftly on 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^ to guard them, who have Orders to view the Counrry of the Owaragees^ to difcover in what Manner it can be attacked with the moft Advantage. This we alv, ,/s 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^ b) giving Belts. It is probable, that the Sachems a^ed with fome Art on this Occafion, for they really had favourable Inclinations towards the Owenagungasy and they had Reafon not to incr^afe the Number of their Enemies, by making War on the Eajlern Indians^ who avoided • Called by the People of Nevj England Pamcok Indians t^ " / doing ( I" ) doing them any Injury. The People of Albany Ilkc- vvifc have always been averfe to engage our Indians ' in a War witl the Eajlern Indians y left it fhould change the Scat of the War, and bring it to their own Doors. On the 25th the Magiftrates oi Albany had a private Conference with the Sachems of the Fivi Nations^ and defired to know their Refolutions as to the War with Canada^ and the Meafures they rcfolved to follow. In this Conference the Indians faw that the People o^ A II any v/ere fo much afraid of the French^ that their Spirits were funk under the Apprehenfions of the approaching War ; and for this Reafon made the following Aiifwcr. " We have a hundred and forty Men out-fkulking " about Canada ; it is impoffible for the French to '•' attempt any Thing, without being difcovered and '* harafled by thefe rarties : If the French fhall at- " tempt any Thing this Way, all the Five Nations *' fhall come to your AfTiftance, for our Brethren «' and we are but one, and we will live and die <*' together. We have defired a hundred Men of *' our Brethren of Bojion to affift us here, becaufe *' this Place is moft cxpofed ; but if the Governor " of Canada is fo ftrong, as to overcome us all '* united together, then he muft be our Mafter, 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 Ncife " in the Heavens, and have feen Heads fall down " upon Earth, which we look upon as a certain Prcfage of the Deftrudion of the French : Take Courage ! On this they all immediately joined in finging and crying out. Courage ! Courage I CHAP. If 'll. At -^ ;♦! v:t .rt '* • CHAP III. An Account of a general Council of the Five Nations at Onondaga, to confider the Count De Fronte- nacV Meffage, ON the 27 th 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 y 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 ^reat Confequence ; for they were refolved to do nothing without the Knowledge and Confent of all thofe that were in- cluded in the Chain with them. The fame Mefl'enger told them, that fome Letters were fent to the Jefuit at Oneydo ; and that they would neither burn, nor fufFer thole Letters to be opened, till the Brethren fhould firft fee them. All that the MagLftrates of Albany did on this important Cccafion, was to fend three Indians with Inftrudiions in their Name, to difluade the Five Nations from entertaining any Thoughts of Peace, or yielding to a Ceflation of Arms. . . . On the 4th of yanuary one of the chief Mohatvk Sachems came to Albany^ to tell the Magiftrates, that he was to go to Onondaga^ and denred the Brethren's Advice how to behave there ; on which the Magiftrates thought it neceflary to fend likewife the pubTick Interpreter, and another Perfon to aflift at the general Meeting, with written Inilru6lions ; but ( "3 ) but no Perfon of Note, that had any Influence on the Indians^ went. When the MelTengers 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 impoflible 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 Oneydoy becaufe of the Af-, fiftance they expected the Jefuit, that relided 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 ^ confifting of eighty Sachems ; in the firft Place, Sadekanaghtie^ an Onondaga Sa^ chem, rifing up, addrefled himfclf to the Meflenger oi Albany^ faying. Four Meflengers 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 Frontenac^ who had been formerly Governor there j that he had brought back with him Tmverahet a Cayuga Sachem^ and twelve Prifoners, that had been carried to France ; then taking the Belt of If^arnfmn in his Hand, and holding it by the Middle, he added, what I have fald relates only to one half of the Belt, the other half is to let us know, that he intends to kindle again his Fire at Cadarackui next Spring, and therefore in- vites ^ s ( 114 ) vitcs his Children, and Dekanafora an Omndaga Captain in particular, to treat there with him about the old Chain. Then Adarahta the chief Sachem of the praying Indians ftood up, and faid, with three Belts m his Hand, I advife you to meet the Governor of Canada as he deftres; agree to this, if you would live, and gives one Belt of ff^ampum. 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 Tonondioy if you defire to live. This third Belt is from * Thurenfera^ f Ohguejfcy and % Ertel^ 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 Meffage Word for Word, as he had received it, without omitting the leaft Article. The Inter- preter, while the Indian was fpeaking, read over a Paper, on which the Meflage 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 Ivagunha MefTengers, (one of the Uta- * Thurenfera fignifies the Dawning of the Day, and was the Name given by the Indians to the Jefuit Lam' ber'villef ivho had formerly refided at Onondaga, f Monfr, ie Morne, the Word fignifies a Partridge. % Erfel fignifies a Rofe, the Name of fome other French Gentleman, for whom the Indians had an Eileein. wawa I !. ("5) wawa Nations) who had concluded a Peace for themfelves, and (tvtn other Nations, to which the other four Nations were defired to agree, and their Brethren of New-Tork to be included in it. He faid the Propofals made in feveral Propofitions were as follow. 1 . We are come to join two Bodies into onej Delivering up at the fame Time two Prifoners. 2. We are come to learn Wifdom of you Senekas, and of the other Five Nations^ and of your Brethrea 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 Yomndh put into our Hands, by this third Belt. 5. Let the Sun, as long as he fhall endure, al- ways ihine upon us in Friendfhip. Here he gave a red Marble Sun as large as a Plate. 6. Let the Rain of Heaven wafh away all Hatred^ that we may again fmoke together in Peace, giving a large Pipe of red Marble. 7. Tonondio is drunk, but we wafh our Hands clean from all his Actions. Giving a fourth Belt. 8. Now we are clean wafhed by the Water of Heaven, neither of us muft defile ourfeives by hearkening to Tonondio, 9. We have twelve of your Nation Prifoners, who {hall be brought Home in the Spring; there he gave a Belt, to confirm the Promife. I %\ * 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 isexpreffed by a Word, which fignifics a Fair fighter. 10. We I'i^ m C ii6 ) 10. We will bring your Prifoners when the Strav/berries (hall be in bloflbm *, at which Time we intend to vifit CorlcMr^ and fee the Place where the Wampum is made. (New-Tork.) . The Speaker added, we will alfo tell our Friends the other Utawawa l^ztionSi and the DiononclaJiesy who have eleven of your People Prifoners, what we have now done, and invite them to make Peace with you. ... vs He faid further, we have fent three Meflengers back with the Wagunhas^ 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 Meffengers as their Share. -' » The Belt of Wampuin fent from Alhany was in like Manner hanged up, and afterwards divided, New-England^ which the Indians call KtnJJjon (that is, a Fifli) fent like wife the Model of a Fifh, as a Token of their adhering to the general Cove- nant. This Fi(h was handed round among the Sacheffis^ and then laid afide to be put up. After thefe Ceremonies were over, Sadekanahtle^ an Onondaga Speaker, ftood up, and faid. Brethren, we muft ftick to our Brother ^ider, and look on Tottondio as our Enemy, for he is a Cheat : By ^ider they meant Peter Scheyler the Mayor of Albany^ who had gained a confiderable Efteem among themj as they have no Labeals in their Language, they pronounce Peter by the Sound ^ider. w . * The Indians in this Manner diftinguifli the Seafons of the Year, as the Time of planting Corn, or when it is ripe, when the Chefnuts bloiTom, i^c. The ( "7 ) The Meflenger fromCanadn had brought Letters, ?nd fome medicinal Powder, for the Jefuit ^/7f/, who refided at Oneydo, Thele Letters and the Powder were delivered to the Interpreter irovn 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 delired 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 .nany Soldiers fiom England, That the King of England had declared War againft France^ and that the People ol New-England yj^x^ fitting out Ships againft Canada, He advifed them, that they ftiould 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 elfe. After this they had Confultations for fome Time together, and then gave the following Anfwer by their Speaker. v-\-^ •^' '. Brethren, our Fire burns at Albany, We will not fend Dekanafora to Cadarackui, We adhere to our old Chain with Corleari we will profecute the War with TonondtOj 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 dtifign to fend Sol- diers to the eaftward againft the Indians there ; but we advife you, now 16 many are united againft the French^ to fall immediately on them. Strike at the Root, when the Trunk fhall be cut down, the Branches fall of Courfe. Corlear and Kinjhon^ Courage ! Courage ! In the Spring to ^ebeck^ take that Place, and you'll have your W:t' m i''t ( ri8 ) your Fc€t on the Necks of the French^ and all tlieir r riends in America, After this they agreed to the following Anfwer to be fent to the Governor of Canada, 1. T$nondio^ 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 dcfire us to meet you at Cadarackui next Spring, to treat of the old Chain ; but Tonondioy how can we tnaft you, after you have a£led deceit- fully fo often ? Witnefs what was done at Cada- rackui ; the Ufage our Meflengers met with at Uta- wawa^ and what was done to the Senekas at Vta- wawa. This was their Anfwer j however, they fent .1 Belt with this, which always fhews a Difpo- fition to treat. 2. Therhanfera^ Oghuejfe and Ertel^ do you obfervc Friendfhip with us, if you have not, how come you to advife us to renew Friendfhip with Tonondio, they fent them likewife a Belt ? 3. Tawerahety 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. Tonondio y you defire to fpeak with us at Ca- darackui : Don't you know that your Fire there is extinguifhed ? It is extinguiflied with Blood, you muft fend Home the Prifoners in the firft Place. 5. We let you know that we have made Peace with the PVagunhas, 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 fliall continue the War till our Countrymen return, 7. When our Brother Tawerahet is returned, then will v/e fpeak to you of Peace. As in 1 ( ''9 ) As foon as the Council broke up, their Refolu^ tlons were made publick to all their People, by the Sachems of their feveral Nations. Two Sachems were fcnt to Albany y by their ge- neral Council, to inform their Brethren there of their Refolutions, and to bring back the Contents of the Letters fent from Canada to the Jefuit. As foon as they arrived, one of the Mohaijuks^ that had been fent from Albany to the Council, de- livered the Wagunha Belt, and repeated over di- ftindUy all the Articles agreed to with that Nation, and referred to the Onondaga Speaker ^ being one of thofe fent by the Council oi Albany y to recite the Anfwer to the Governor of Canada, He rifing up, repeated over the whole, as before fet down, 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 a6l for the future. Time only can difcover. Then he aiTured the Brethren, that the Five Nations were refolved to profecute the War, in Token whereof he prefented * ^iider 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 thelnfluence of the Jefuit Milety who lived among them intirely, according to their Manner of Life, and was adopted by the OneydoeSy and made one of their Sachems, The Letters from Canada to him were read j they contained nothing but common News and Com- pliments. The Mohawk MefTengers, 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 Couiicil, and gave the Indians a mean Opinion of the People oi Albany y and particularly of i 1 r| ' ! ^ 1:1 1 k-.r K% * Peter Schyler, Mayor of Many, Peter |ii fif ( 120 ) Peter Schyler \ for it is exceedingly fcandalous among the Lidians^ to employ a Merchant in pub- liclc Affairs j 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, confidef every Thing with that private View. As this made a Noife at Albany^ by its giving the Jefuit an Opportunity of fetting the MefTengers from Albany in an ill Light, Peter Schyler cleared himfelf by Oath, of his having any Intereft diredlly or indirectly in thofe Goods, and fent a Belt back with his publick Juftification. The Mohawk MefTengers had refufed to take the Goods, as being fcandalous to the Bufmefs they went on ; but were perfuaded, by being told that the Goods belonged to ^tt/Vifr. ' The Magiftrates 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. ' CHAP. IV. The French furprife Schene6lady. The Mohawks Speech of Condoleance on that Occafion, THE Count De Frontenac 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 Englijl) Colonies, in Hopes thereby to lefTen the Confidence which the Five Nations had in the Englijh Affiftance, now that England had declared War againft France, The Party fent againft New-Tork was commanded by Monfr. ialous \ pub- s with s, and ^o by I Profit private by its the Peter 'g ( 121 ) Motifr. De Htrville^ and was ordered to attempt the i'urprifing of ScheneSfady^ the neareft Village to the Mohawks : It confifted of 150 French Bujhf hpers or Indian Traders, and of as many Indians^ the nioft of them French Converts from the Mo^ hawks ^ comn^only called the Praying Indians y fettled at a Place near Montreal^ called Cahnuaga, They were well acquainted with all that Part of the Country round ScheneSfady ; and came in Sight of the Place the 8th of February 1689-00. ^ Tbe People of Schene£fadf were at that Time La the greateft Security, notwithftanding that they had Information from the Indians^ of a Vsirtyof French^ and French Indians being upon their March that Way. They did not think it pradicable, 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 poflible, tha'. Men could make fuch a March through the WiW dernefs in the fevereft Frofts,, without any Covering from the Heavens, or any Frovifioii, except what they carried on their Backs. ; _ t 1 /-).; hi; voj. i Tho' the People of Schenei^fadf were Informtd in the Evening before the Place v/as furprifed, that feveral fculking Indians were ktn near the Place, they concluded, that they could be only fome-of the neighbouring Indians ; and as they had no Of- ticer of any Efteem among them, not a fmgle Man could be perfuaded to watch in fuch fevere. Wea-j ther, tho', as the French owned afterwards, if they had found the lead Guard or Watch, .they would not have attempted the Place, but have furrendered themfelves Prifoners ; they were fo exceedingly diftrefl'ed with the Length of tlieir March, an4 with Cold, and Hunger: But finding the Place III fatal Security, they marched into the Heart of che Village, without being difcovercd. by any onq Perfon ; then they raifed their War Shout, entered Vol. I. \G : tho V ■ (J •fi h it'i iti i|-« ( 122 ) tht HoufcSj 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 nmning out naked into the Woods in this terrible Weather : And feverftl hid themfeJveSy till the firft Fury of the Attack was over ; but thefc were foon driven from their lurk- ing Places by the Fire, and were all made Pri- Captain jHesander Glen^ at this Time, Jived at a Diftance by himfelf, on the other Side of the lUver, and was the moft noted Man in the Place. He had at fevcral Times been kind to the French^ who had been taken Prifoners by the Mohawks^ and had faved feveral of them from the Fire. The trench were fenfible what Horror this cruel fhcking of a defcncelefs Place, and murdering People in Cold Blood, mufl ralfe in Alens Minds; and to ieflen this, they refolved to fhew their Gratitude to Captain Glen, They had pafled 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, aflured him, that they defigned him no Injury. They perfuaded him to come to the French Officer, who refh)red to him all his Relations that v/ere Prifoners. Some MohG'wh being alfo found in the Village, the French difmiiled them, with AlTurance, that they defigned them no Hurt. This Conduct was not only necefTary to pro- mote the Peace which the Count De Frontetiac with fo much Earneflnefs defired, but likewife to ftture their Retreat, by making the Mohawks 1^% eager to purfue them. The French marched back, without reaping any vifible Advantage from this barbarous Enterprize, befide$ the murdering fixty-three innocent Perfons (( 1 thi 1 " on 1 " /or 1 '^ 1 azv 1 (I. 1 0f( 1 " Sch 1 . , , I, in '' Fre " onW " Qo\ *' to ** was '' per[ '' rack ( 1=^3) in cold Blood, and carrying twcnty-fevcn of them away Prifoners. The Care the French took to Tooth the Mohrrjuh had not intirely its EfFedl, for as fooa as thevhc !ti of this Adion, a hundred of their readieft /ounr Men purfued the French^ fell upon their Rear, and killed ajid took twenty-five of them. This Aftion frightned the Inhabitants in and about Albany fo much, that many refolved to de- fert the Place, and retire to New-Tor k. 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 Mibfortune befais them. I (hall give their Speech on this Occafion, as it will be of IJfe to the Reader, in order to his forming a true No- tion of the Indian Genius, They fpoke the ivrtntj" ^i\\\oi March s^s folJows. • , " Brethren, the Murder of our Brethren at " Schene^ady 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 oiu- Brethren of <' NeW'EnglaridWiW be like wife fadly affecSled with " this cruel A6lion of the French, The French '' on this Occafion have not acted like brave Men, *^ but like Thieves and Robbers. Be not there- ^' fore difcQuraged. We give this Belt to wipe " azuay your Tears, '-■ v ;; . • •< '" Biethren, we lament the Death of fo many " of our Brethren, whofe Blood has been fhed at Schenelfady, We don't think that what the French have done can be called a Vi£lory, it 19 " only a farther Proof of their cruel Deceit. The " Governor of Canada fends to Onondaga^ and talks *• to us oi 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- uukui^ and in the Senekas Country. This is G 2 « the (t u «- >l . : I ^;' f)"'' '^> ( 124 ) " the third Time he has aded 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 braved young Men arc in *' Purfuit of them, they are briik Fellows, and *< they will follow the French to their Doors. We <« will befet them fo clofely, that not a Man in *< Canada fhall dare to flep out of Doors to cut a *' Stick of Wood ; But now we gather up our *' Dead to bury them^ by this fecond Belt. *^ Brethren, we came from our Caftles with <' Tears in our Eyes, to bemoan the Blood/hcd ''at Schene£fady by the perfidious French, While *' we bury our Dead murdered at SchcneSiady^ v/e " 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 5 and therefore %ve come to bury our " Brethren at Schenedlady 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 Difafler or '' Misfortunes happens to any in our Chain. Take «' this Bill of Vigilance, that you may be more «' watchful for the future. //^^ give our Brethren <« Eye-Water to make them iharp-fighted, giving *' a fourth Belt. • i' mh .; :.;/^ry-.y j V ci We are now come to the Houfe where we «' ufually renew the Chain ; but alas ! we find the *' Houfe polluted, poIlu^ed with Blood, All, the '^ Five Nations have heard of this, and we are " come to wipe away the Blood, and clean the *' Houfe. We come to invite Corlear^ and every *' one of you, and ^ider (calling to every one of *' the principal Men prefcntby their Names) to bi *' revenged of the Enmy^ by this fifth Belt. ■ " Bic- ( 125 ) « Brethren, be not difcouraged, we arc flrong " enough. This is the Beginning of your War, ** and the whole Houfe have their Eyes fixed upon " you at this Time, to obferve your Behaviour. " They wait your Motion, and are ready to join " in any refolute Meafures, " Our Chain is a ftrong Chain, it is a Sil- " ver Chain, it can neither ruft nor be broken. *' We, as to our Parts, are refolute to continue *' the War. " We will never defifl, fo long as a Man of us " remains. Take Heart, do not pack up and go *' away, * this will give Heart to a daflardly *< Enemy ; We are of the Race of the Bear, and a *« Bear you know never yields, while one Drop *< of Blood is left. fFe miiji all he Bean j giving « a fixth Belt. " Brethren, bf^ patient, this Difafler is an Af- " fli : .. :^ . • -1*4 -. * This was fpoke to the Englijb, who were about removing from i5^/^»» ( 129 ) .*. .* -»?€ HAP. V. llje Five Nations continue the War with the French 5 the Mohawks incline to Peace ; their Conferences with the Govern©- of New-York. 1 ■ V* _. - --^ - * ■»■ TH E Governor of Canada received Hopes that the Five Nations inclined to Peace, by their returning an Anfwer to Thera'iuaet*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 fome others, went ; but they had a much warmer Re- ception than they expelled, being forced to run the Gauntlet through a long Lane of Indians, as they entered their Caftle, and were afterwards delivefed up Prifoners to the Englifl), ■ - • . • The Five Nations kept out at this Time fmall Parties, that continually haraffed the French, The Count de Frontenac fent Captain Louvigni to Mif-' fdimakinak, to relieve the Gafifon, and he had Orders, by all Means, to prevent the Peace which the Utowawas 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 niiit in Cadarackui River, at a Place called the Cats^ by a Party of the Five Naiions, who fell vi^oroufly orr their Canoes, killed feveral of the French, and' I'Oade them give Way j but Louvigni, by putting his Men afhore, at laft got the better, after a Imart Engagement, in which the Indians had feveral Men killed, and two Men, and as many Women, taken Prifoners. I am obliged to rely on the Frcrich Account of thefe Skirmifliesj they do not men- G 5 tioi> n, !. m '!'! Il jiffl i 11' ( 130 ) tlon the Number of the Indians in this Rccounter, but I fufpedt them to h»ve been much fewer than the French *y for when the Enemy are equal in Number, or greater, they feJdom forget to tell it. One of the Indian Prifoners was carric3 by them to MiJJiHmakinak^ to confirm this Vidlory, and was delivered to the Utawawas^ who eat him. The Lieutenant carried the other back with him. He was given to Iherawaet, To revenge this Lofs, the Five Nations fent a Party ag;wnft the IJJand 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 5 Another Party carried ofF fifteen or fixteea Piifoncrs from Riviere Puante^ over-againft Trots 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 ^e- heck^ 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 Forty 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 AfKftance of the Englijhy as the Magif- tyatej; of Albany had promifed the Mohawks^ when they came to condole, after the furprifing of Sche- nettady ; but the Englijh were fo far from perform- ing thefe Promife^, that many of the Inhabitants retired from Albany to New-York \ and they who had the Admin '>%ation of AfFairo, were fo inr.ent OTi their Party- Qiiarrcis, that they intirely neglected fhe Indian AfFairs. Indeed the People of New- (131 ) York have too often made large Promifes, and have thereby put the Indians upon bold Enterprizes, when no Meafures wiere 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^ Vno lived neareft the Eriglijhy were moft fenfible of thefe Things, and entertained Notions prfejudicial to the Opinion they ought to have had of the Englijh Prudence and Condu6l ; it is even probable, thefe Indiam began to entertain a mean Opinion of both the Englijh Courage and Integrity. It is not ftrange then, that the Mohawks at llaft gave Ear to the afliduous Application of their Countrymen, the prayitig Indians y who, with French Arguments, perfuaded them to make Peace as foon as poflible, without trufting longer to the EngUJl)^ who had fo often difappointed or de- ceived them. The Mohawh fent one of their Sachems y Odiga* cegCy to the praying Indians^ who introduced him to the Count de Ffontenac, The Count made him welcome^ and told him, that he was fony for the Injuries his Predeceflbrs had done them ; hut that he would treat them like Friends, if their future Condudt did not prevent him, and gave him a Belt, with Propcfals of Peace to his Nation. • • ''■ - Colonel Slaughter^ v/ho was then Governor of NeW'Torky being informed that the Five Nations were like to make Peace with the French, b) their having loft much of their Confidence in the Engl'Jh Ailiftance, found it neceiTary 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 Sache?ns, He renewed the Covenant with them, and gave them Prefents. The Mo^jawks having entered into a Treaty with , the French, did not join with the othef- four Na- tions in their Anfwer. G 6 On ^ Mi '1 if' ii : ] ■: m fl' m iAf ( 13^ ) 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 learned from their Anceftors, that the firft Ship which arrived in this Country furprized them ex- ceedingly J that, they were curious to know what vpas in its huge Belly. They found Chriftians in it, and among them one Jacques^ with whom they made a Chain of Friendfhip, which has been pre- ferved to this Day. By that Chain it was agreed, that w^hatever Injury was done to the one, ihould be deemed, by both Sides, as like wife 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 Affairs, 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 fald : Our Tree of Peace, which grows in this Place, has of late been much fhaken, we muft now fecure and faften its Roots ; we muft frequently manure and drefs it, that its Roots may fpread far. j./u • They allured the Governor, that they were re- folved 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. They iibhor thofe tliat do otherwife, and defired 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 j do you but your Parts, lay alide 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 diftin6t Part of their Anfwer* , • ^. r-- • On the fourth the Mohawks fpoke to the Go- vernor, in Prefence of the other four Nations: 'rhcy confefied the Negotiatioios they had with the fraying ( 133 ) praying Indians^ Jtnd with the Governor of Canada^ and that they had received a Belt from him. Then they reflored one of the Prifoners taken at Sche- neSfady^ as the Fruit of that Negotiation. They defired the Governor' ' Advice, and the Advice of the whole Houfe, what.Anfwer to return to the Governor of Canada ; and laftly, defired the Senegas to releafe the Prifoners they had taken from the praying Indians, . Colonel Slaughter checkM the Mohawks for en- tering into a feparate Treaty with the Enemy, and faid 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 aflured them of his Afliflance, and then added, You muft keep the Enemy in perpetual Alarm. The Mohawks thanked him for his Af- furance of Affiftance ; but took Notice of his faying, Tou muft keep the Enti.iy 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 EngUJh 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 Peac^ 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 Country. In the laft Place, the four Nations anfwered the Mohawks, " Mohawks y our Brethren, in anfwer to your *' Propofals from the Governor oi 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 K 1 Alii kd ii' '^ if C( '^i\ at \\ i I* C 134) «5 at the fame Time fell upon ScheneSfady^, and cut «< that Place off. We tell you, that the Belt fent <* by the French Governor is Poifon ; we fpew it <« out of our Mouths, we abfolutely reject it, and ** arc rcfolved to profecute the War as long as « we live." Then tliey left the Belt lying on the Ground. ^ » CHAP. VI. The Englifh attack Montreal by Land^ in Con^ jun^fion with the Indians, and Qiiebeck by Sea, IT was now evident that the Indians could no longer be amufed with Words, and that, unlefs the Englijh entered foon upon A6lion, the French would carry their Defign of making Peace with the Five Nations^ and the Englijh be left to carry on the War in America by themfelvesi Certainly a more proper Opportunity of doing it with Succefs could not be expected, than at prefent, while the French in Canada had neither recovered their Spirits, nor the Strength they had loft, by the terrible Incuffions of the Five Nations. A joint Invafion on Canada was concerted with New- England', they were to attack Rebeck by Sea, while New-Tor k attacked Montreal hylu2indL, The Governor therefore pro- pofed to the Indians to join with him in attacking Canada^ for which Purpofe he told them, that he defigned to fend a considerable 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 defigned to fend, that they might join a fuitable Number of their Mert. 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 Difcovcries ( 135) Dircoverics that were laft Year made to the French by that Means. It was at lad aereed, that the Mohawks fhould join with the Chriftians that were to march fr^m New-York diredtly againft Montreal^ and that the other four Nations ihould fend a confiderable Party down Cadarackui Lake^ and join them before Montreal. M^or Peter Schuyler^ the fame whom the Indians call ^ider^ commanded the Party fent from NeiV'^ Torky which confifted of three hundred Men, one half Chriftians, the other Mohawks and Scahkook Indians, He fet out from Many about Midfummer. As he was preparing his Canoes to pafs Corlear*^ Lake, he was difcovered by the French Indians^ who immediately returned to Montreal^ to give Information of what they had feen. 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 ofUtawawas trading at that Time at Montreal : Mr. de Colliere, in Order to engage 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 confifted of twelve hundred Men, crois the River, and en- camped on the fouth Side, at /a Prairie de la Mag^ deleine, together with a great Number of Utaivawas^ the praying Indians^ ^nd othtr French Indians, The famous Thei'awaet being now entirely gained by the Ca. r? [ ' "1 ' si?! P' J ( '36 ) Carefles of the Count tie Frontenac^ made one of the Number. They encamped round the Fort, which flood on a fteep rifing 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 fuddcnly upon the Militia, who were foon put into Confufion, and many of them, and of the Utawaivas^v^ho were polled with them, were killed. He purfued them as they fled to the Fort, which he attacked brifkly, but was 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 lofl feveral Officers and many Men, they retired. Major ScLuylcr finding the Number of the Enemy much greater than was ex- pedled, and being informed that a confiderable Party of the Enemy had marched fouthward, he began to apprehend, that this Party was fent to cut ofF his Retreat, by deflroying his Canoes. It was refolved therefore immediately to follow this Party v he overtook them, and they covering themfelvcs behind fome large fallen Trees, he attacked them> and m.ade his Way through them, but with con- fiderable Lois. In this Attack the Mohawks fignalized them- felvcs, but the Scahkook Indians did not behave themfelves well. The Mohawks^ upon no Oc- cafion, yielded an Inch of Ground, till the EngliJI) iirft gave Way. The French y by their own Ac- counts, lofl, 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- tecn ( ^37 ) tccn Men killed, and eleven wounded. They re- turned to yllbany the eleventh o^ AugujL After the Englijh under Major Schuyler had re- tired, an Owenagunga Indian came from New^ England^ with an Account of the Preparations made there againft Canada^ and that they had actually failed. '— ' This Fleet, which was commanded by Sir William Phips^ was difcovered in St, Laurence Bay^ while the Count de Frontenac remained 2X Montreal'-, and thereupon he made all poffible Halls to ^ebeckj and carried three hundred Men with him. The Fleet, which confided of thirty Sail, did not reach ^uebeck till the feventh of OSfober, Sir ^/7- liam fpent three Days in nothing but Confultation, while the French made all poffible Preparation for a Defence, and, by this Means, fuffered them to get over the Fright and Condernation, . into which the firft Appearance of the Fleet had thrown them ; 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 anAhfwer as his CondmSt de- ferved. The Englijh 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 Diflances, 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 A6lion, fay, that the Men, though they appeared to be as little difciplined as Men' could be, behaved with great Bravery, but that Sir JVilliamh Conduct was luch, that, if he had been in Concert with them, he .; .. *. . could M 'I lcrccnt was to ill managed, that the EngUJh got on Board again in the Night, with the Lois 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 moft 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 Rebeck make an annual Proceilion, in Commemoration of this De- liverance. Sir tVilliam cannonaded the Town for fomc Time with little Execution, and then returned in Hail?, Winter approaching; indeed that Seafon was already fo far advanoedy that he loft eight VefTels in his Return » The Five Nationt continued their Incurfions all along St, Laurence River^ from Montreal to ^ebeck^ 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 iaformed two other Cabins, which the French had not dtfcovered, and they returned with their Companions, and killed the Captain and Lieutenant, and one half of the Men. Notwithftanding that the French prefervcd their Country, thefe warlike Expeditions, and the Ne- ceffity 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 occailoned a Famine in Canada^ and, to in- creafe the Mifery of the poor Inhabitants, they were forced to feed the Soldiers gratis^ while their own Children wanted Bread. In ~w ( 139 ) In OSiohir the Onondagas^ CayugaSy and Oney/ioes came to Albany ^ to condole with the Englijh^ for th^ 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 V i6lory. They at the fame Time, as they ha \ often done before, com- plained of the Dearnefs of Powder: Why, fay they, do you call us your King's Soldiers, when )'ou will not fell us Powder at the ufual and leafon- able Rates ? *' ^^' • > •" r^'-' - * - -'.li. . ^ And inanfwerto a Complaint, of their not being a fufficient Number of Englijh 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 la tha t Expedition . s^.u y* CHAP. VIL T^he 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 Englijh and Indians had neither weakened him, nor frightened him from carrying on the War with as much Vigour as before. It was abfolutely neceflary that the Utawawas and other WeJ}ern Indians^ who came to Montreal to trade, fhould return fafe to their own Country, otherwife there would be an End to the French Trade -with thofe Nations, upon which the Being of Canada depends \ for it is only by the Fur^irade with thelb Na- . U' il Mi' f 140 ) Nations, that they make Returns to Europe j and if thefe Nations did not return in Time, all the IVeJlern Indians would look on the French as loft, and confequently would make Peace with the Five Nations, and perhaps join in the Deftrudion of Canada, Captain la Foreji, with one hundred and ten Men, was fent to condu£l the Utawawas Home ; he carried with him confiderable Prefents fent by the King of France, to confirm thefe -Nations in the French Litereft. . . v Two Indian Prifoners, taken at la Prairie, were given to the Utawawas, and carried with them, to confirm the Stories they were to tell of their Suc- cefTes againft the Englijh and Five Nations, Thefe poor Men were there burnt alive ; and if I ihould add, that it was done by the French Infligation, what I fhall 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. j ^ ^ ^ ' . , The Five Nations continued their Incurfions all Winter on Canada, Forty of the Mohawks 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 JBe- 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 fent 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 ( HI ) 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 obliged fifteen to return, with fome old Indians^ that could not bear the Fatigue ; and it was with much Dif- ficulty that BeaucQur could perfuade the reft to con- tinue their March. After a March to a furprizing DIftance, at that Seafon of the Year, they furprifed eighty of the Five Nations, who notwithftanding made a brave Defence, and did not run before they left moft of their Men dead on the Spot. Three Women were made Prifoners, w\i\\ whon; the French immediately turned back to Montreal, Some ftragling Parties went towrtrds Albany^ but did no more Mifchief than killing two or three ftragling Perfons, and alarming the Country. .^ '-^^-^ • '*'' The Trade to Mljfilimakinak being ftill intlrely flopt, by the Parties of the Five Nations inverting Cadarackui River ^ by which, and Cadarackui Lake^ the Paflage in Cancis is made to the IVeJiern In^ diansy Captain la Noue, with a Command of the regular Troops, was ordered early in the Spring to guard the Traders through that Paifage ; but when he reached the Fails de Caluniette^ he dif- covered the Enemy, and returned fafter than he went. La Noue had Orders a fecond Time to attempt this Pafllige, and went as far as. the River du Lievre (thirty Leagues from Montreal) without any Ob- ftrud:ion ; but there difcovering feveral Canoes of the F'rje Nations ^ * > VJvf^rH^vfilr^^-V • Some charitable Perfon threw a Knife into the Prifon, with which one of them difpatched himfelf: 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 finging, that he was a Warrior brave and without Fear ; that the moft cruel Death could not fhake his Courage; that the moft cruel Torment fliould not draw an inde- cent Expreffion from him ; that his Comrade was w Coward, a Scandal to the Five Nations^ who had killed himfelf for fear of Pain ; that he had the Comfort to rcfled^, that he had made many French- men fuffer as he did now. He fully verified his Words I H5 ) Words, for the moft vu >.♦: Torment could not force the lead Complaint '"' n him, though his Executioners tried their utmolt Skill to do it. They firft broiled his Feet between two red hot Stones ; then ey put his Fingers into red hot Pipes, and though he had his Arms at Liberty, he would not pull his Fingers out ; they cut his Joints, and ta- king hold of the Sinews, twifted them round fmali Bars of Iron. All this while he kep'- fmging and recounting his own brave Actions againflthe 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-rrace given, and I be- lieve {he thereby likewife obtained a Favour to every Reader, in delivering him from a further Continuance of this Account of French Cruelty. Notwithftanding this Cruelty, which the French Governor manfeftcd towards the Five Nations^ and thereby his Hatred of them, he found Peace with them fo neceffary to Canada^ that he ilill purfued it by all the Means in his Power. For this Purpofc the Praying Indians (who, as I obferved before, are Mohawksy and have always kept a Correfpondence with their own Nation) were employed to bring it about, and to endeavour a Cefl'ation of Arms, that the Governor might have an Opportunity of fliew- ing what kind Things he had in his Heart towards the Five Nations y but without Succefs. Ym J*' Vmm I y '! 1 CHAP. VIIL The Five Nations treat with Captain Ingoldlby. THE Governor of iVnt^-3''^r^, Colonel Slaugh- ter's Death, foon after his Arrival, was very prejudicial to the Affairs of Neiu-Tork-, for Captraii I'lgolijhy^ who had no other CommifTioii but that of Captain of one of the independent C^mpujiics of Vol. L H Foot, I ii i^?. 't:ffel ( 146 ) 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 v/as 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 J^lbo- fty^ the fixth of June 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 Rivery to join them that went from Albany agalnft Afontrfai,2nd fortheirCarelefsnefs infufFering them" felves to be furprifed laft Winter in their Hunting, tte 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 ftill ufing; their wont- cd Artifices of amufuig them with Offers of Peace; but the former Proceedings of the French fufficiently demonftrates, 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 fhews the Perfidy and Rancour of their Hearts. It is in rain, faid he, to think of any Ceflation of Arms, much lefs of a Peace, whrle the two Kings are at War at Honfie. He added, Firginia is ready to affift us, and only waits the King's Orders, which are daily expeded, and tnen renewed the Chain for Firginia, In tH« laft Place he told them, that he heard the DiorwA dadas had fent two Prifoners Home, with a View thereby to procure Peace ; and advifed them by all Means to maice Peace with that Nation. The Five Nations anfwered by Cheda, an Oncj- 4q Sachem : - <' Broiltr jcute the ing (ac- idarackui ny againft ing them* Hunting. perpetual into the »ly Notice Lcxt Place, lieir wont- of Peace; ufEciently that while ir Hearts, \ren, after erftdy and faid he, h lefs of n at Home. ?JL\^ only expe^ie^S a. In the [he Dionoh ithaView :hem by all «c ( U7 ) *' Brother Corlear, The Sachems of the Five Nations have with great Attention heard Corlear fpealc 5 we fhall make a {hort Recital, to (hew you with what Care we have hearkened. After the Recital he continued. We heartily thank Corlear^ for his coming 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 Severs 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 Mohaivks our Brethren that were killed at the fame Time. You take nqb Notice of the great LdlTes we have fufFered, Wc 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 Bevers, four Otters, and one Belt, as ? Gift of Condolence. Brother Corlear^ we are all Subjects of one great King and Queen, we have one Head, one Hearty one intereft, and are all ingaged in the fame War. You tell us, that we muft expedl 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 afTure you we have no Thoughts of Peace. We are refolved to carry on the War, though wc 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 lofe in this Wax, wc do our utmoll H 2 to I !i 111, -1 I ■f • V < ^''EUlllki; J'ttI' a il ifi ( 148 ) to deftroy the Enemy; but how flrange does it fcem to us ! How unaccountable I that while our great King is fo 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 negled Jbunting ; and we cannot hunt and carry on the War at the fame Time : We expert, that this Evil we lb juftly complain of be immediately re- Ta&^'*^^* Giving nine Bevers. i; rct^H Corlear^ you defire us to keep the Ene- my i ^ r-etual Alarm, that they may have no Reft, nil tl are ?n their Graves ; Is it not to iecure your own Frontiers ? Why then not one Word of your People that are to join us ? We aflure you we fhall continue to carry on the War into the Heart of the Enemies Country. Giving eight Bevers. Wc the Five Nations^ Mohawks^ OneydoeSy 0- Tiondagasy Cayugas^ and Senekas^ renew the Silver Chain whereby we are linked faft with our Bre- thren of AJfarigoa (Firginia) and we promife to preferve it as long as the Sun fhall fhine in the Heavens. Giving ten Bevers. Biit 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- 'uer^ 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. Etas 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, ftiouid make War againft the French alone ? Pray make plain to us this Mjilery? How can they and we be f H9 ) be Brethren, and make different Families ? How can they and we be Subjed^s 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 tliv fame Thoughts ? How comes it, that the Enemy burns and deftroys the Towns in New-England^ and they make no Refiftaneie ? 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 I^ake to join, the Deftruclion of the Enemy would not make one Summer's Work. • You need not warn us of th^ Deceit " id Trea- chery of the French^ who would probabj^^ '\r nuate Thoughts ot Peace; but Brethren, y. ? n. v.d not fear us, we will never hearken to the..^ : Tho' at the fame Time, we muft own, that wt have not been without Thoughts of your beir 'iclincd to Peace, by Reafon of the Brethrens Backwardnefs in pufhing on the War. The French fpread Re- ports among us to this Purpofe, and fay, that they, had in a Manner concluded the Matter with you. We rejoice to be now affured of this Falfhood. We ihall never defift fighting the French as long as we lliall 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 tranfa6ted 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 chains uoon us, for he fupplies .^3 his ;fi ; I mm 91 ' V At 4 > ).] .i 'i-'r* ^m ( '50 ) ills Indians with Guns as well as with Powder j he Supplies them plentifully with every Thing that can hurt us. Giving five Otters, As to the Dionondadas fetting two of our Nation at Liberty, we muft tell you that it was not the Ad^ of that Nation, but the private Acl of on^ 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, dcfirc! a private Conference with the Governor, and told him, that they were exceedingly diflatisfiud, that the other Englijh Colonies gave no Affiftance, and that it might prove of ill Confcquence. Captain hi^oldjly promifed to write to them, and hoped it would have a good Effe(5t. \A ^<\ CHAP. IX. The Yxench furprife and take three Mohawk CaJlUs, TH E Praying Indians promifed their Endea- vours to reconcile their Brethren the Mo- hawks to the French^ on whom the French ex- pecS^ed they would have much Influence ; but t)ieir Endeavours proving ineffedlual, their Correfpon- dence began to be fufpe6ted. I'he 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 Frontenac thought it therefore abfolutely necefTary to undertake fome bold Enterprize, to ihew the Five Nations^ that they had to do with an Enemy flili able to a6l oftenfively : An Attack on the Mohawks he thought would be moft efFedual for this Purpofe, becaufe it would fhew, at the fame Time, that the Englijh would not protedl their ( 15X ) their neareft Neighbours. As this was dcfiirncd to be cl<5nc by Surprize, the Winter Scafon was cho»ep for this Purpofe, as leafl: to be fufpedted at fuch a Time ; and when the Enemy could not, without great Hardfhip, keep Scouts abroad to difcovcr them, or the EngUJh give any AfTiftance. The Body of the French defigned for this Expe- dition was put under three Captains of the regular Troops, and thirty Subalterns, and confifted of picked Men of the regular Troops of the common Militia of the Country of the Prmfing Indians^ the ^atoghies of Loretto^ jidirotidacksy and Sohokies, who live to the Eaflwnrd of Bojlon^ making in all about fix or k^QW hu!idrcd Men, fo that a great Part of the Force of Canada was employed in it. They were well fupplied with all Sorts of Ammu- nition, Proviiion, Snow-Shoes, and fuch Conve- iViencies for Carriage, as were practicable upon the Snow, and through fuch grc^t Forefts as they had to pafs. The French at Canada have a Kind of li<^ht Sledges made with Skins, and are drawn by large Dogs on the frozen Snow, They fet out from la Prairie de MogdaUine the 15th of January 1692-3, after having endured what might have been thought unfurmountable Hard- fhips ; they palFed by ScheneSfadj 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 Schene£fady Intelligence of the French^ who by an Exprefs, immediately informed the Commandant of Albany, The Militia was expe- ditioufly raifed, and a Lieutenant with fifty-five Horfe was immediately difpatched to Schene^ady ; but no Care was taken to give the Mohawks No- tice, which might have been done v/ithout much Danger, by fending up the South Side of the Ri- ver, whilft the French marched on the North. The H 4 French, i?1 ' ■'1 % '''ti » £ 1 T' M: ff »lf • ll m m ( 152 ) French^ on the 8th at Night, reached the fijft AMawk Caftle, where there were only five Men, and feme Women and Children in great Security, their oi\\f*r 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. ScheneSfady being the neareft Englijh Settlement to the Mohowks^ 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 aflift their Nation ; fbme were fent therefore out the next Day, to gaia Information of the Enemy, and to give the Mo- hawks Notice i but they returned without doing their Duty. The French went on to the next Mohawk Fort, which was the largeft ; and coming to that in the Night, they heard fome Noife, and fufpe£led they were difcovered : But this Noife was only occa- fioned by a War Dance, forty of the Indians de- iigning to go next Day upon fome Enterprize. The French approached the Caftle filently, and finding the Indians no Way on their Guard, opened the Cjate, and entered before they were difcovered j but notwlthftanding 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 whom one hundred were fighting Men. I have no Account of the Number of Mohawks killed, but no Doubt it was very confiderable. r.i When ( 153 ) When the Account came to Albany^ how much the Mohave ^j, who were at SchtneSiady^ were en- raged, that no Afliflance 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 Affiftance. He went himfelf im- mediately to ScheneSfady, and fent to difcover the Enemy : His Scouts brought him Intelligence, firft, that the French were in Pofleflion of the two fmalleft Forts, afterwards, that they had heard great firing at the largeft Forts 3 and at laft, that it was taken* Having received 200 Men, partly regular Troops, but moft of the Militia, he began his March on the 12th in Queft of the Enemy ; but hearing foon after, that fix hundred Men of the upper Caftles were on their March, 'tis probable he tbd not endeavour to be up with the French fo fooa 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 and 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- Guit everv Man had in his Pocket. On the 1 6th he was informed by an Indian^ vi^ho pretended to be a Deferter, that the French had built a Fort, where they dtiigned to wait for him, and fight him ; whereupon he fent an Exprefs to Coll. Ingoldejbyy then Commandant at Albany^ to haften more Mea to join him, with fufficient Provifion for the whole. He found afterwards, that this Indian was lent 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 i4 it: .' •^1 «3 * if I •! mt them he did not go on ftreight towards them, for Fear of Ambufcaues, 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 aflift them, which 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- mifties was over, the Major fent back an Exprefs, to hafben the Men that were to reinforce him, and were to bring Provifion, fome of the Men having had no Provifton for two Days. The Major then fecured 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- iue and retard their March, till the Reinforcement ihould come up, but the Men refuied to march without Provifion. The Officers, with about 60 Men, and a Body of Indians^ followed the Enemy till Night, when they began to fecure themfelves, by fortifying their Camp. The Officers wanting a fufficient Number to fecure themfelves in like Manner, or to tight the Enemy, jcturaed, leaving about if 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, ff they fhould be attacked. The Enemy pafied the North Branch of Iludfon^ River upon a Cake of Ice, which very opportunely for them, fluck 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 A4en, 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 firfl up with the French^ to fummon them to fuirender; 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 very probable, that the French obferving the Want of Conduct and Difcipline, were encouraged. It is true, the EngliJJ) were in great Want of Provifions at that Time. The Indians eat the Bodies of the French that they found. Coll. Schuyler (as he told me H 6 I.imlLif it i it.. C 156 ) himfelf) going among the Indians at that Time, was invited to eat Broth with them, which fume of them had ready boiled, which he did, till thev, 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 fafl 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 A^Ian 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 poflible for Men to march feveral hundred Miles in the Wildernefs, Mobile the Ground is every where covered with Snow, two or three Feet deep at leaft ; but the ibrcmoft march on Snow Shoes, which beat a iirm Track for thofe that follow. At Night, when they reft, they dig a Hole in the Snow, throvv^ing the Snow up all round, but higheft towards that Side ijoni whence the Wind blows, fo large, as to contain as many Men as can lye -found a Fire : They make the Fire in the Middle, and cover tho 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 SchentSJady^ an Exprefs was fent to New-Tor k to Coll. Fletcher then Governor there 5 the Exprefs reached Ncw-Torky an hundred and fifty Miles from . ( 157 ) from Albany^ the 1 2th at ten in the Night. 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 Refolution.in Defence of their Country ; but the Misfortune is,, they are under noDifcipline, and have been fcldom led by Men that knew their Duty. The Governor order an hundred and fifty Voluntiers for this Ser- vice, and as many more from Long-TJland^ The River then happened to be open by ?. fudden Thaw, which does not, at that Time of the Year, happen once in twenty Years. He embarked three hundred Men in five Sloops, by four in the Afternoon of the 14th, and arrived at Albany the 17th at nine in the Morning. The fame Day the Governor went to ScheneSiady^ 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 Albayiy^ particularly Mr. Lanflear^ a Gen- tleman of the beft Eftate there, went out Volun- tiers under Major Schuykr^ 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 EngliJJ) were their Friends heartily, by the Number of Men he had marched to their AfTiftance in a very little Time, upon the firft Notice. He promifed to wipe away their Tears in the Spring, by confi- derable Prefents j and that he would, in the mean while, take Care of their ^jubflftciice, by providing HoiivS '" -■— T ^ r \ ■ If;:; 1 1 1 \- ii !.■■ 4'i I' ( IS8 ) Houfes and Victuals for them. He told thzm, he doubted they had fome falfe Brethrep -"woiy^ h*.in, that grave the French Information, and frivourtd their Defigns ; and in the laft Place, adviiea me^a to convince x\\q French^ that they had not loll their Courage with this Misfortune. The Mohaivksy in their Anfwer, called Coll. Fletcher by the Name of Cayenguirago ; and hev^as called fo by the Indians always after this. It figni- fies a great fwift Arrow^ as an Acknowledgement of the Speed he made to their AilifLance. But they appeared in their Anfwer, to be quite diflicartned ; they had not, in the Memory oi LUcy Man, re- ceived fuch a Blow. They faid their Strengdi was quite broke, by the Continuance of the War ; but they added, if all the Englijh Colonics would join, they could flill eafily take Canada : Their being fo ill armed, was the Reafon (they faid) that the French had now cfcaped. The Frendo^ continued they, arm their Indians complcatly, and furnifh them with every Thing neceflary for War, as we find every Time we meet with them. The French had got a great Qiiantity of Furs, and other Peltry, at M}'::''makinak^ by their Trade with the htdiaiiS ; but th 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 H.^pes fent a Lieutenant, with eighteen Canadians^ and twenty praying Indians^ to open the PafTage to Mijfilima- klnak 5 but this Party fell in with another of the Five Nation-^ who entirely routed them, fo that a fcv; efcaped only, to give an Account of their Misfortune > at laft ^^oo Canoes, loaded with Furs from ( 159 ) from. Mlfftlunakinak^ arrived at .Montreal^ Hhlch giive as univerfal a Joy to Canada^ as the Arrival of the Galleons give in ^pain. C H A P. X. The Treaties and ^Negotiations the Five Nations had with /^^Englifti 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 Scienc !s in which we value ourfelves, manage their Intereft with the moft learned, and nioft polite, and artificial Nation m 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, v/hile th^y had been amufed by the EngUJh with great Hopes, and very little real Afliftance, made the Oneydoes at laft yield to the Solicitations of the Jefuit Milcty to fend a Meflage to the French for Peace. It is probable he had the Art to influence the Peo- ple at Albany to favour his Defigns, oy giving 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 promlfed, at the Time the Sap begins . j run in the Trees^ by Reafon of his having received a Commif- fion ' =.)'> ■t," Si 1 r '^ -^ fW i 1"^ li (( <( a cc (IC C i6o ) fion to be GovemoY of Penjiivamay to which Place he was obliged at that Time to go. He put them in Mind with what Speed he came to their Aflift- ance laft Winter, and how effedtual, in all Proba- bility, it would have been, had they only retarded th^ Enemy's March till he could have reached them : He advifed them to guard againft being drunk, and fhewed 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 i iClined to Peace with the E.nemy ; and am af- '* fured, that fuch Thoughts mufi; arife from the '* Inftigation of the Jefuit Mllet^, whom fome or " the Brethren have fufFered to live fo long amon^!; 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- iG\'tn Hatchets, four Grofs of Knives, befides a confiderable Q^tantity of Cloathing and Provifions. This Pi efent, he told them, their King and Queen had fent them, and renewed the Covenant for all the EngUJh Colonies. The King ufually fends them a confiderable Pre- fent with every new Governor fent to New-Tor k^ v/i.icl. ii. not always applied as it is defigned. it this Prek nt had been made fooner, it had been of much more Ufe to the EngUJh^ as well as to the Five Nations, The Five Nations the next Day fpoke as follows. Brother Cayenguirago^ •' We are involved in a bloody War, which " makes us fit in Sorrow and Grief ^ and being '' about .■*^3^t3c« i^^ 1 1 Ci l( C( (C ( i6i ) about to fpeak of Matters of Impormnce?, vrc in the firft Place, clear the Mouth and Throat of our Interpreters, by giving her thefe three Bever Skins. Then they repeated his Excellency's Speech, in Anfwer to which they faid, *' Brother Coye?iguiragOy we rejoice, that the great King and Qiieen of England^ take fuch Notice of us, as we find, by the large Prefent fent us ; we return hearty Thanks for the Am- munition efpeciaily. " We are glad that our Brother Cayenguirago renews the Chain, not only between us and this Government, but likewife with New-England^ yirginia^ Maryland and Penfilvania ; it fhall be kept inviolable by us the Five Nations^ as long as the Sun fhines. We pray our Brother Gayen- gttirago to have % watchful Eye, that none of the other Colonies keep any Correfpondence with the Enemy, but ufe their Endeavours to de- flroy 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- fefs, that the Prieft fent an Indian to Canada with Letters, which has furprifed us very much. " Brother Cayenguirago^ you are our great Tree, whofe P.oots 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 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 fufpedl the Chevalier Z)' O. did ; and that he was fent with Letters to Canada by fome ov our Brethren. (He made his Efcape from Bojlon,) Brothel Jijl ■' , (( (( (i (( <( (( (( (( C( (C (( (( (4 (( ((. (fc (i u C( (( (< (( ii' 5 ■ill l->i 4\ m ?ftl [rm 1.1 ,?j? [t^-: ( 162 ) ** Brother Caenguirago^ In former Times our *' Propofitions to one another were only Difcourfes '' of Peace and PViendihip, and in giving Prefcnts ; *' 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 eur " Parts, we will keep clofe to the War to the laft '' Drop of our Blood j 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. '* Brother Caenguirago^ we were told in our own Country, not only that the King had made you Governor of Penftlvania^ but likewife that you *' were preparing a Fleet to take Canada, O ! what ** joyful News this was to our young Men. Sadaga-" *' rus^ the great Sen^ka Captain, was to command *^ th?m. Now they faid, we need only make one ** hearty Pu(h while the Fleet is before Rebeck, *' Now there will be an End to this bloody War, *' and all our Troubles ; But alas, now we are come *' here, we hear not one Word of this Defign. " Brother Cayenguirago^ you are that flourifhing *' Tree that covers us; you keep the Chain bright; '' we have one Requeft to make to you, that you *' may ftay with us, and not return to England'^ for you know our Ways and Manners. If you have any Thing to tell the King and Qiiecn, write it to them, for the King knows you to be a ** wife Alan, and will therefore believe you. . " Brother Cayenguirago^ we are very glad to ** hear that Penfdvania is come under your Go- *' vernment, bring their young Men here, with '' their Bows and Arrows and Hatchets in their **' Hands, for this is the Place of Adion. We are *' plcafed that the Shciuomns or Satanas^ who arc " our Enemies, have applied to you for Prote6lion ; " and that you fent them to us to endeavour a Peace, 4( cc mj r^- « u i( it a u (( ( «63 ) Peace, and that you fent Chriftians with them, *' to coiiclu6l them back again. Wc wifh they were come to affift us agaiaft the comoiOn K* jiemy. " Brother Cayenguirago^ now we have done, 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 greateft Need of them; and becaufe there is fuch Unity among the Brethren/* They made the Governor ^ confiderable Prefent of Furs, to fhew their Refpe£t 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 Milet 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 dcfire 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 Mefl'engcr returns all his Pa» pers fhall be taken from him, and be forthwith brought to our Brother Cayenguirago^ 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 till we bring the Prieft, which ftiall be as foon as the Meflenger fhall return." But he gave no Belt or other Prefent to confirm this Promife. He added. Brother u u (( (( u u (( C( u cc (( u u m . 'i' ;(; ■ 1 IllaftH f 164 ) *' Brother Caycngulrago^ we now acquaint you that it is propofed by all the Five Nations^ to inake Peace with the Dionondadics. a Nation of Indians near in Alliance with the French of Ca- nada. This will both flrengthen us and weaken the Enemy. The Senekas^ who live neareft them, have undertaken this Treaty, and take Belts of Wampum from, the other Nations, to confirm the Peace. We defire your Approbation, that 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. Notwithftanding what the Speaker of the Five Nations had promifed to the Governor, to bring all the Papers the Oneydo Mefiengcr fhould bring from Canada^ before the Jefuit Mikt fhould have Li- ber^v 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 Omn- clago^ where all fuch Matters had been formerly tranfadted 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 aflift at the general Council. The Englijh ufed what Arguments they could to diiTuade 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, notwithftanding 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 firfl be communicated to the EngliJ}) and Mohawks^ and their Advice received thereon ; 'i^i which mm}^ ( i65 ) which Purpofe, feveral Sachems were fcnt to Atbam 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 Eyiglijh: 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 oi the World. His Pcrfon was tall and well made, and his Features to my thinking, refembled much the Bufto*s of Cicero, I fhall give an Account of thefe Negotiations from Decanefora's Mouth, becaufe his Narration agrees in the main with the Account the French give of them, and carries along with it as il-rong 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- for a had to make an Account of an Affair lefs dif- agreeable to Englijh Ears, which had been under- taken againft their Advice, and contrary *o their Intereft. Decanefora fpoke to Major Schuyler (^uider) and the Magiftrates of Albany^ the fecond of February 1693-4. as follows. " Brother Cayengutrago *, we are come to ac- quaint you, that our Children the Oneydoes hav- ing of themfelves fent a MefTenger to Canada^ " he has brought back with him a Belt of Peace *' from the Governor of Canada, C( <^^^ iffii ' '■' '■^' ; '^1 [ iJ^H m * 19 ( i66 ) ** As foon as Tan ha (the Meflcnger) arrived at *' Cat?aeia^ he was afked, where the fix hundrcU •* Men were that were to attack Canada^ as they ** had been informed by Cariokeje a Mohawk Dc- ** ferter ? He afllired them there was. no fii<:h *« Defign. ** He was carried to ^ebeck^ where he deliver- ** cd his Belt, with the following Propofitions. •' Onondio^ if you would have Peace, go to Albany^ •* and alt it there, for the Five Nations will do ** nothing without Cayenguirago, The Governor ** of Canada was angry at this, and faid, he had •* nothing to do with the Governor of New- •* Torky he would treat only with the Five Na- ** tions ; the Peace between the Chriftians muft *' fee 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 mc I rrfuft go to Albany^ is to defire of me what I can by no Means do. You have done veiy ill, •• to fuffer the People of New-Tor k to govern you ** fo far, that you dare do nothing without their ** Con(i^nt. I advife you to fend two of each Na- *' tion to me, and let Decanejora 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 ** : j; "'i '1 !' i; I m * This, in the Indian Idioin, fignifics a trifling Excufe •f an unwilling Pcrfon. «* the ( i68 ) *« 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 *' Propofitions. <* I. Onondioy 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 Rcafon of it. Then laying down «' the fiift Belt, I am to afk his Confcnt 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 arc 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 with our ** Brethren of Cayenguirago^ but I muft tell you, **• that we arc infeparable, v/c can have no Peace *' with you fo long as you arc at War with them ; ** we muft ftand and fall with them ; which I am <* to confirm, by laying down the third Belt. *' When this was concluded the Jefuit Miht^ ** and another French Gentleman (who had been *' taken Prifoner, and was taken into the Place of ** the chief Sachem of Onondagay formerly loft in **^ the War, and thereby became a Sachem) de- ** fired Leave to add two Belts to the other three. *' By their being Sachems tlicy had a Vote in the ** General Council, and a Right to propofe any ** Thin^. They wrote and read to us the Pur- *' I'orts ( i69 ) « ports of their 3elts, and we have brorg'it thcif " Papers with us, to (hew to our Brethren." To fhew the Ncceflity they were under of mak- ing Peace, fpeedily he added : ** That two Women, who were Prifbners at << Canada, had made their Efcape, on Purpofe to " inform them that the French were making great " Preparations of Battoes, and other Necef^ries '' for an Expedition ^ one faid, fhe had informed '* one of the Sachems of the Praying Indians of her *^ Deflgn, who fent an Indian with her to advife " the Five Nations, to prevent the great Danger " they were threatned with by a fpeedy ConcJufion " of the Peace j and added, that they had font one " of their People back with this Praying Indian, *' to aflTure them that Deputies would certainly go *' to Canada in the Spring to treat of Peace." I make no Doubt, this was only an Article to haftcn the Five Nations to conclude the Peace, left the Englijhj if it were delayed, fliould find Means to prevent it. Then he fliewcd the P'lag which the Governor of Canada fent their, to be carried- by their Deputies?, that the French might know them. Upon thefe Kefolutions bcuig taken, the Five Na^ tions recalled fix hundred Men, that they had placed along Cadarackui River, to intercept the French, as they pafl'ed to and from MijfiUmakinak, The Jefuits Papers being read to them, fcvcral Things were found hi them which he had iiot read to the General Council. To tl^is Decauefora au- tvvcrcd ; " We know that the Pricft favours hig ^^ own Nation, and (deceives us in many Thir)gs ; '^ but it is not in his Power to alter our Affedion to our Brethren, we wifli you would bury all Mifundeillandings that you have conceived on his Account ; and we likcwile wiih you gave Jefs Credit to the Rum-Carriers than you do." Here we fee, by this Appellation, what a coji- Vol, L 1 tcnipribie ^k it w. ki "? t|i I III . 11 «c <( cc Ci <( (ft ( 17^ ) tcmptiblc Chara£ler riie Traders have among tlie Iniiianiy and yet the Government of ^ru'-ycr/th.n almoU perpetually trufted the Management of the Jrulitm Affairs to thcfe Traders. Decamfora ended his Conference as follows: The Ciovernor of Canada^ Words, and the Rc^. folutions ot the four Nations are now before you, confult therefore what is to be done, and if it be ncceflary for the Brethren to go to our Caftlcs to advife us i^arther, be not unwilling ; and then he laid down a large Belt eleven Rolls deep, and feven Fathom of Wampum." The next Day Major Schuyler told them that he could confcnt to no Trcatv with the French ; but propofed to them to meet the Governor here in fcvcnty Days, and that Decanejora in particular ihould return at that Time, and gave a Belt. They agreed to meet the Governor at that Time ; *• But as for myfelf (fays Decanefora) I cannot •* promifc ; 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 expert to hear fuch pofitivc ** 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 afkcd them again, whc' tker they promifcd to ftop all Correfpondence with the Frevch^ cither bv the Jefuit or otherwife, for fcvcnty Days, and till they fliall have his Excellency tlic Governor b Anfwer. ■ Deciirffora aniVered to this, *' I have no Au- thority to anfwer this Qiicftion. I Ihall lay the Belt cc <( 4i fc( i( «€ ■"f ( '7' ) ** down in every one of the Caftlcs, and tell, that •« by It all Correspondence is defired to ftop with *♦ 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 ail Occafions proved themfclves fuch. fie not difcouraged, (fays he, giving a Belt) Heaven begins again to favour us. This Day the Forerunners of tne Shawonom 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 laft fhut up the Way to Canada^ but we have one Thing to a(k, after mature Deliberation, which we expeft will not be refufed us. Major Schuyler ail'ured them that every Thing fhould be granted, which was either for their Safety or Honour. We defire then, fald he, that you fend a Meflenger along witli ours to the Fraying Indians at Canaday to tell them that the Prieit is falfe -, that v/e are to m^ttCayenguirago in the Spring, and therefore can- not go to Canada dtWvdi 1 ime ; and that a further Cell'ation of Arms be agreed to, till fuch 7'ime as we can go. We defire at Icaft, that if you will not fend a Meflenger, that you put the Meflage in Writing, as a Token of your Aifcnt to it. This Lift was agreed to, and the Meflage was put in \\'riting in the following Words, and tranflated into French, 1 I 2 The M ''x ( '72 ) ! -ff -.-^ r :" rt f^r The Difpatch of three Belts, which two Mef- fcngers of the Five Nations carry to the Caro' guiyis and Catholick Indians, according to what was refolved by the jigayandres of Sachems of the Five NationSy at Albany y February the ninth 1694. '•'"* - • • Firji Belt. ' The Agoyandres of the Five Nations cannot go to Canada in the Spring, as they gave Reafon to expe(fl by the laft MefTage from Onondaga^ becaufe Cayenguirago has called all the Five Nations^ and other Indians^ to meet him at Albany^ in the Month of April next, to which the Five Nations have agreed. . ; . ., .. Secj> Belt, K the Caraguijlsy or ^.nchy have any Thing to propofe to the Five Nations^ they may fafely corae into our Country. This Belt opens the Path, and fecures it to them both coming and going. .- s.*-. ;«i. Third Belt. The Five Nat ions ^ and their Friends, lay down the Hatchet till they {hall have an Anfwer, which they expeft in for^ Days. Provided neverthelefs, that the Caraguifis and French tie their Hatchets down at the fame Time. >*• •, n . -fir ■,f.v*.\ \ ■• Thefe Belts were accordingly prefentcd to the Praying Indians of Cahnuageiy who refufed to re- ceive them but in the Prefence of Mr. de CalliereSy Governor of Montreal. Mr. de Callieres acquaint- ed the Count de Frontenac with the Contents. Af- ter which the Praying Indians^ in Prefence of Mr. dt Callieresy gave the foUowiiig Anfwer. * . .♦. «* We ( 173 ) *' We will have no Corrcfpondence with thr Five hations^ but bv Order oF the Governor of •* Canada our Father, and unlefs Decanefora^ and " the other Deputies, come before the Fcaft of ** St. 'Johv^ the Way will be (hut up for ever after, *' and our Father's Ears will be flopt. Wc how- *' cwr allure you, that if the Deputies come in ** that Time the Path fhall be fafe both coming ,,! \ «( ♦* and going." <%\ i *f jV • i Whether the Accounts given of the coming of the Shawonom was only an Amufement, or whe- ther thev were diverted on their March, I kni)W not, for I find no farther Account of them in the Regifter of the Indian Affairs : However it w.us the Impreflion, made on the Indiana by that News, was not fufficient to withftand the Force of the je- folate Anfwer their Meflcnger received from the Praying Indians, Decanefora and the other Depu- ties went early in the Spring to Canada \ the other Scahems met Colonel Flttchtr at Albany^ the fovnth of May 1694. The Indians fpoke hrii by Sadaka» nahtiey an Onondaga Sachem^ as folio v.s : ■'if* i C( ic •' Colonel Fletcher told them, he would give no Anfwer 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' dagOy and that he had made i^eace with the Dt- wagunhas and Satanas^ without their Confent and Concurrence. .... To this the Speaker the next Day anfwered ; ** I was fick, and ablent when the Affairs you *^ mention were tranfatSled, and 1 was at a Lofi how to excufe our fending to the French conti a-< ry to your Advice ; but fevcral Sachi*ms being ** arrived fince I fpoke, I have been belter inform- •* ed by them, who were prefent at thofe Tranf- •• awtionsf. Wc find it, in every Circumftance, . ** as our Brother Cayeftguirago fays j that you *' did not obftru(St our keeping General Council* '^ at Onondaga y but only cautioned us in hearken- *^ ing to the Fallacies of the French y and in hold- ** ing Meetings on that Occaflon. We afilire yoa •' we will never feparate from you, we ftill have ^' one Head, one Blood, oijie Soul, and one Heart ^' with you ; and as a Confirmation of this, I give •' tnis Belt feven deep. *' As to the Dewagunhas and Shawononsy we are *' confident Cayenguirago will not admit them into *' his Government, till they have made Peace with *' us, which we fliall willingly grant. When our ^^ Enemies are humbled, and beg Peace, why fhould *' they not have it ? Let them come and live with *' us, it will ftrengthen our Country. '* Brother CaenguiragOy when the Chriftians firft ^' arrived in this Country, we received them kind- I 4 «ly Hi; y If r* ~: ! ': I n f I f 1 y I ( '76 ) •« ly. When they were but a finall People, wc m- •* tcrcd into a League with them, to guard them •* from all Enciiiics whatfoevcr. We were fo fond of their Society, that wc tied the great Canoe which brought thcin, not with a Rope made of Baric to a Tree, hut with a rtrong iron Chain faftcned to a great Mountain. Now bcforr the •* Chriftians arrived, the General Council of the *' Fwe Nations was hrld at Onondaga, where there h:is, from the Beginnings a continual Fire been kept burning ; it is made of two great Lo^;s, whole Fire never cxtinguifhes. As foon as the Hatchet-makers (their general Name for Chriftl- ** ans) arrived, this General Council at Onondaga planted this Tree at Albany, whole Roots and branches have fmce fpread as far as New-Eng- land, Conne6iicut, Penjilvania, Alary land din^M^ir* " ginia ; and under the Shade of this Tree all thefc Englijh Colonies have frequently been fheltered. Then (giving feven Fathom of Wampum) he re- newed the Chaiji, and promifed as they likewife ** expected, mutual AfHftance, in Cafe of an At- '* tack from any Enemy. *' The only Reafon, to be plain with you, con- ** tinued he, of our fending to make Peace with ** the French^ is the iow Condition to which we *' are reduced, while none of our Neighbours fend *' us the Icaft Afliftance, fo that the whole Bur- *' then of the War lies on us alone. Our Brc- <* thren of New- England, Conneiiuut^ Penfilva- <' nia. Alary land and Virginia ^ of their own ac- ** cord thruft their Arms into our Chain ; but ** fince the War began we have received no Af- *' fidance from them. We alone cannot continue «' the War againft the French^ by Reafon of the " Recruits they daily receive from the other Side the great Lake. 1 ' ^^ - ' .J .. *. w .. Brother 44 «( c< 44 C4 4< C4 44 (i ( »77 ) *' Brother Caytnguiragoy fpeak from your Hearf> ** arc you refolvcd to profecute the War vigoroufly *' againft the French^ and arc your Neighbours of *' l^irginia^ Maryland ^ Penftlvania^ Conned icut and •• NeW'Englandy refolvcd to affift us ? If it be *• fo, wc aiTure you, notwlthdanding any Treat- ** ty hitherto cntrcd into, wc will profecute the ** War as hotly as ever. But if our Neighbours *' will not ailift, we muft make Peace, and we fub- ** mit it to your Confideratlon, by giving this great ** Belt, fifteen deep. ** Brother Cayenguirago^ I have truly told you <* the Reafons which have induced us to offer •' Peace to the French j wc (hall llkcwife from the ** Bottom of our Hearts, inform you of the De- ** fign wc have in this Treaty. When the Go- ** vernor of Canada fhall have accepted the nine ** Belts, of which I have juft now told you, then we (hall have fomethin,'^ more to lay by two large Belts, which lie (till hid in our Bofom. We (hall lay down firft one and fay, Wc have *'a Brother CayenguiragOy with whole People v/c have been united in one Chain from the Begin- ning, they muft be included in this Tteuty j wi cannot fee them involved in bloody War, while we (it in eafy Peace. If the Governor oi' Ca- ** nada anfwer, that he has made a feparate Pcr.cc " with us, and that he cannot make any Ptracc *' with CayengutragOy becaufe the War is fiora " over the great Lake j then we fhall Jay dv)Vv;i " the fecond great broad Belt, and tell the Gu- '* vernor of Canada y if you will not include Cujen- '* guirago^s People, the IVeaty will become the if - •* by void, as if it had never bec;i nuicle ; and U ** he perfifts, we will abfolutdy leave him." **' WWlc the Sachems were at AWar.y^ Dtcan^ftra and the other AmbafTadurs arrived at the C.iitic of the Preying Indians ^ near the Fulls above ^'Joiirtitl. 1 5 liny «< 4i % /: . : v ^■i . Vii-: I ( 178 ) They were conduced from thence, by the Supe- rior of the Jcfuits, to !^ebeck. They had their Au- dience of the Governor of Canada with great So- jemnity, in the Prefence of all the Ecciefiaflicks ^nd Officers of Diftiu6lion, and of the moft con- fiderable Indians then in the Place. They were every Day, while they ftaid in the Place, enter- tained at the Governor's Table, or at the Tables of the moft confiderable Officers. Decanefora on his Side made a good Appearance, being cloathcd in Scarlet trini'd with Gold, and with a laced Be- vcr Hat on his Head, which had been given him by Colonel Fletcher before he went. The Jefuit MUet had by Letter, informed the Governor of every Thing in their Cpmmiffion, and though he was thereby enabled to have anr fvvered them immediately, he confulted three Days^ after the Ambafl'adors had delivered what they h id 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 defpife thofe that do, though their Anfwer be never fo much to the purpofe. I choofe to give an Account of this from Decanefora^ Mouth, as I did of the former, and for the fame Reafon. The Ac- count given of it by the Indians agrees, in all tlie material Points, with that publiflied by the French^ and I am confident it is not lefs genuine, -i'.- Colonel Fletcher being fenfible of what Confe-^ quencc this Treaty between the French and Five Nations might be of to all the Englift) Colonies, gave tlieui Notice of it, and informed them of the Rcafcns which had induced the Indians to enter ijto it. He told them, there was no Poffibility of preventing it, but by the Indians being alFured of n>ore etfcdual Affiflance, than they had hitherto ijceivcd, and adviled them to fead Commiffioners fox c '79 ; for that Purpofc to Albany m Augujl^ at which Time he intended to nriqet the Five hia lom there, after the Return of their Meflengers from Canada, Ac- cordingly, Andrew Hamilton^ Efq; Governor of New-^irfey^ Colonel ^ohn Plnchony Samuel Sar-ds^ Efq; and Major Pr« Townfend^ Commiffioners from Majfachufet* i Bay^ and Colonel John Haulty and Captain Stanley^ Commiflioners from Cmne^flcut^ waited on Colonel Fletcher at Albany^ who carried with him like wife a Part of the Council of Netu^ Tork, '. • , . Thcfe Gentlemen having met the Indians at Alba- ny the fifteenth of Augujl^ Decanefora rofe up firft, and defired Leave to fing a Song or two of Peace, before they began on Bufinefe. Then Rode^ 2l Afo- hawk Sachem^ rofe up, and addrcfling himfelf 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 conlUIt together on the general Weal j after which tliey fang two oi- tliree Songs. Sadakanahtle being chofen Speaker for that Day, rofe up, fpoke much to the fame Purpofe as he hai done Xo Colonel Fletcher in May lalli givinj^ a me- taphorical Account of their League with the £'«^- UJhy how it began, and by what Steps it hud beeri inlarged and ftrengihened; how the other Colonies had thruit their Arms into this Chain, but had giv- en little or no Affillance againf} the common Ene- my. ** Our Brother Cayenguiragj'^ Arms (fays he) *' an4 ours are itifF, and tired with holding fad the " Chain, whilft our Neighbours fit flill and fmoak " at their Eafe. The Fat is melted from ourFltib, ** and fallen on our Neighbours, who gro-.v fat «c while we grow lean : They flouriih while we decay. *' This Chain made us the Envy of the Frerjch^ and if all had held it as fafl as d-yaiguira^.'j ii I 6 "^ would %' i 1 i « 11 1- li. '^l l|B:l (& iC ( 1^0 ) ** would have been a Terror alfo. If we woulJ all heartily join and take the Hatchet in our Hand, our common Enemy would foon be de- ftroyed, and wc fhould for ever after live in Peace and Eafe. Do you but your Parts, and •* Thunder itfelf cannot break our Chain.'* Then he mentioned fome Jealoufics they had en- tertained of New-Englandy by their fufFering the Chevalier /)' O to efcape to Canada^ which they fuf- pedled 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 that the Five Nations warred againft the French^ while the Englijh favoured them." On this Occafion he fhewcd them a Fifti painted on Paper, which the Commiflioners of New-England had giv- en them, when they firft entered into the Chain, as. a Seal to the League. He finilhtd by telling them, that they would next Day give all the Particulars of thei^ Negotia- tion in Canada, The next Day Decanefora proceeded to the Ac- count of his Negotiation, as follows : " The Go- *' 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- pofals. - . ', J ■ *' Father, if we do not conclude a Peace now, it v,'ill be your Fault ; for we have already ** taken the Hatchet out of the Hands of the Rt- *' va-Indians (Hudfon^s River) whom we incited ** to the War. But we mult tell you, that you *• are an ill Man, you arc inconftant and not to «* be ti ufteu ; we have had War togr^iier a long ** 'J\u\^'i and thougl) you occafioncd the War, vw ** never «h i( ( »8i ) •* never hated the Houfe of Oghejfa^ (a Gentlc- •* man living at Montreal) let him undertake the •< toilfome Journey to Onondoga ; for if he will ♦< he (hall be welcome. ** Father, we are now fpeaking of Peace, and ** therefore I muft fpeak a Word to the Praying In-r •< dians^ and firft to thofe of Cahnwjga (chiefly Mo- ^* hawks) you know our Cuftom^ and Manners, •' therefore make Onondio acquainted therewith, *' and be aflifting in the profecuting of this good *< Work. Then to the other Caftle, called Ca* *« naffadagay (chiefly Onondaga s) you are worfc ** than the French themfelves, you deferted from «< us, and fide with our Enemies to deftroy «* us ; make fome Amends now, by forwarding « Peace. ** You have almoft eat us up, our beft Men «* are killed in this bloody War ; Lut we now ** forget what is paft. Before this we once threw *« the Hatchet into the River of Kolhcage^ * but " you fifhed it up, and treacheroufly furprifed our « People at Cadarackui, After this you fent to «' us to have our Prifoners reftored ; then the «' Hatchet was thrown up to the Sky, but you *' kept a String faftened to the Helve, and pulled *< it down, and fell upon our People again. This *^ we revenged to fome Purpofc, by the De- *' ftrucStion of your People and Houfcs in the Ifland " of Montreal, ** Now we are come to cover the Blood from *< our Sight, which has been (bed by both Sides *' during this long War. *' Onondio^ we have been at War a long Time, *' we now give you a Medicine to drive away all ill ♦ The French call it la Fa7nine, near Obfwego, The Treaty with Mr. de la Bar was made there. •'*•' • ••• » • -' Thoughts H 1 I 1; J ;1 ■I .1 i ,1^ t^ ( l82 ) «* Thoughts from your Heart, to purge It and make *• it clean, and rellcvre it to its former State. , '^ ** Onondlo^ we will not permit any Settlement at «' Cadarackui ; you have had your F*irc there thrice <* extinguilhed ; we will not confcnt to your rc- «« buildii>g that Fort» but the PalTage through «* the River fhall be free and clear. We make the *' Sun clean, and drive away all Clouds and Dark-^ *« nefs, that wc may fee the Light without Inter- ^* ruption. ** Onondioj we have taken many Prifoners from «' one another, during the War. The Prifoners «* we took have been delivered, according to our ** Cuftom, to the Families that have loft any in •* the War, they no longer belong to the Publick, ^* thpy may give them back if they pleafe, your ** People may do the fame. We have brought «' back two Prifoners, and reftorc them to you. << After I had fmifhed what I had to fay, conti- ** tinued he, the Governor of Canada told mc; ** that he would not make Peace with Cayengui- •* rago. To this 1 anfwered, thefe Words dif- ** pleafe me much, you Ihall keep Peace with ** him. Onondio faid again, I muft fight with Cay- ** enguiragOy it is not in my Power to make Peace ; *' this can only be done by my Mafler, who ♦' Jives over the great Water. To this I replied^ ** I cannot bear this Difcourfe ; If you fhoiild " fight him now, and not flay till I get Home, ** all the Country will look on me as a Traitor ; ** lean treat with you no longer. The Argu- ** ment on this Subjedl lafted three Days, at lail ** the Governor of Canada aflured mc, that he ** would not undertake any Knterprize againft 6'^?;'- ** enguirago this Summer, but would wait to hear ** what he would fay. - ->--* ' ** The Govt rnor of Canada infifted three Days *' to have Hoftages left, which I refufed ; but two " agreeing ! 'H - { 183 ) <* agroerng of thtir own accord to ftay, they wert *' left, viz, one an Onondaga^ 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 yoii •* have taken from me, and yours (hall have Li- «* berty to return Home, if they plcafc. " III. Children eredt my Fire again at Cada- M rackuiy 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 feid, defire Cayenguirago to fend a wife ♦* Man to me, and he fhall have Protection ** according to the Cuflom of Chriftians ; and «« added, " Children of the Five Nations^ if Cayeriguirago ** fhall employ you to do any Service for him, do •* not accept of it, let him (end his own People.** Decanefora added, that the Governor of Canada had fixed eighty Days for a Return to this Belt. He continued and faid, '' The Sachemt of the •* Dionondadies were prefent j after I had finifhed •* my Speech, they faid ; May what you have now ** faid be from your Hearts ; we fufpedi you are *' not fincere ; let us no longer feel the Smart of ** the Hatchet, and gave this Belt which I now ** lay down. ^i ' ' *' The Praying Indians next faid, Brethrenji •' our Father Unondio has told you to brin^ Home *' all the Prifoners, do not fail in this ; giving two " Belts. ' ; ' ' ' *' Brother Cayenguirago^ you will find what I ** have now faid confirmed by this Paper, which *' the Governor of Canada gave me. I brought ** Letters likewiie for the Jefuit Milct^ who was " to • ''I "r 1 „ 1' s J - s\ i"> * ii\] ( 184) *< 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 Decamfora here tells, the French Accounts fay, that he brought two Belts under- ground (that is privately) from thrat Onondaga Sa- €htmsy to afl'ure the Governor of Canada of their particular Ail'edlion, which the Governor of Canada anfwered, by a private Belt to them. As foon 2i'&Dt'cauefora had donefpeaklng, Colonel Fhtcher reje£^cd the Belt font by the Governor of Canada^ faying ; If the Governor of Canada have any Thing to fay to me, let him fend fome cr his People to Albany^ and they Ihall have Pro- te87 a look «n rt as an abfotute Breach of the Chain with If tht Fnncb attempt it give me Notice, and us I will march the whole Force of my Government to your Aifiihince. We fhall find afterwards, how- ever, that the Government of Ntw-York was far from making good this Promiie. The Governor told them, that they had loft much of their Honour in creeping to the Frtnch \\\ fuch an abject Manner ; for, fays he, the Go« vernor of Qanadd*% Paper, which you brought with you, fays, that you caiiie in the moft humble and penitent Manner, and begged Peace. To which they anfwered, the Governor of Canada has no Reason to make fuch Reflexions, we have many of bis Belts to ihcw, 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, th^ replied, but becaufe he calls u^^i^hildren* Thefe Names lignify nothings s» ♦ u^ r*f^*-5? ii i« '"ij I A. Hif ( i88 ) Care of thcmfclvcs feparately, in Breach of the moft 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 thei^ pinions ; the Cayuga iy and Pait of the Sefjekr4 v^rere moft fa- vourable to the French Propofals j but the major Part was abfolutely a2;ainft allowing the French to rebuild a Fort at Caaarackui^ 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 moft 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 thiFteien I'rifoners with them, and delivered them up. The Jefuit Milet was of this Number, who had been taken in the Year 1689, and one Jonfcairey who had been long a Prifoner among the Senekas : He had been delivered up to a Family of the Senekas y 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 preferved 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 Fivs Nations^ and to this Day they ftiew their Regard to his Fa- mily and Children. " ■''* ^'^ , -.w ..i. .. : 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 Forty and the including of •all the French Allies in the Peace. Whereupon he difmifTed them with Prefents, and made them many ( >89 ) many fair Promifes, in Cafe of their Compliance ; but threatened them with utter Deftrudion, in Cafe of their refufmgthe Terms he had offered. Many of the French Indian Allies were prcfent, 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 fhew for the Intereft of their Allies, is a Piece of Policy which^ upon all Occafions, proves ufeful to them ; v *~ercas, the Negk'idt 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 eaiy for a weak State to keep up its Honour in fuch Cafes, as it is for a.powerful Prince. . , , ., yj- > CHAP. XL : t V '\H . . s t»)f ■;■« '1 7'he IVar renewed* The French repojfefs themfelves of Cadarackui Fort, and find Means to break off the Treaty between the Five Nations and Dionondadies. 'ti V TH E Five Nations refufmg to come to the Governor of Canada's Terms, he refolved to force them ; and as he fufpedted that they continued obftinate, by the Advice of the EngUflj^ and the Confidence they had of the Englijh Afliftance, he thonght he would moft efFedually leflen that Con- fidence, by attacking and deftroying the remainder of the Mohawks^ who liv'd adjoining to the EngUJh Settlements. For thisPurpofe 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 EngUJh were 2 \^- pre- %\' \: i prepared to receivo them, Ttich an EntcrprizewnuM only lead thofe engiageii in it to certain Dcilnt^on. He then Tent three hijndred Men into the Neck of Land between LnJte Erit and Catiarackui Lake^ the ufiial hunting Place of the Five Natlofis^ in Hopes of rurprifing them while they hunted carclefily there, and at the fume Tims to view the otd Fnnck Fort theroi to obferve in what Condition it re- mained. Thi« Party met with three or four Men, who defended thcmfelves obdmately, till they all foil dead on the Spot. They furprifed likcwilc a Cabin, where they took fomc Men and Women Prifoncrs ; and four of them were publickly burnt alive at Alon^ treat. So far the Count dt Fnuttnac thought it more proper to imitate the Indians in their molt favage Cruelties, than to inflrudl them, by his Ex- ample, in t.iC Companion of the Chriflian Doc- trine. A Party of one hundred and fifty of the Five Naticns fell upon the Detuagunhas^ in their Way to Canada^ and entirely routed them. Ten Prifoncrs were taken, nine of which were burnt alive, in Revenge of the f;mie Fate the four Men of the Five Nations had received at Montreal, • This Year alfo fomc fculking French Indians murdered fomc People near Many and Sche- neiiady, * ^ "''" - ^- - ^'^ ' The Party fcnt to view Cadarackki Fnrt found it in a better Condition than they expected, the In- dians having negle<5led to demolifli and level the Billions, and probably they had not Inftrumcnts fuflicient to do it. The Count de Frentenac there- fore, in the Summer of the Year 1695, fent a coii- iidcrable Body of Men, both French and Indians^ thither, to repair tlie Fortifications, and to cover thofe that (hould be at work. The Five Natiovsy in Augujl^ fent Mcfllngers to Albany^ to acquaint the ( »9i ) Ihc Rftgitjh thar the Punch had taken PolTcfRon of Ckt^rackui^ and were repairing of it. 7'hcy de- iiiAndcdy in Confciiucncc of tlic Promifc Colonel Flfuhtr had given them, the AHiflance of five hundred Men nnd fomc Canon, which they pro- niifed they would draw over Land, where they could not fee carried by Water. At the fame Time they defired, that the People of New- England might he toM, that mnny of the ihuenagungaa were gone with the Frimh to Cadarackniy and that this was a proper Time to fall upon thofe that remained, and to dcllroy them, and the Women and Children. Coll. Flt'tchiT came to Jlhatiym Siptemhcr\ there, in a Speech to the Five Nations^ he blamed them for being aflecp, when they fufFcrcd the French to take Poflcflion of Cadarackui ; it would have been much cafier, he faid, to have prevented their get- ting the Poflcflion, than to drive them out, now they are in it, efpecially as now you yourfelvcs are convinced, that it is impofliblc to carry Cannon thither from this Place. All, fays he, I can now do, is to advifc you to inveft the Place with your Parties, (o as to prevent their receiving any Supply of Provifions : By this Means you may force them to dcfcrt it. Then he gave them looo Pound of Powder, two thoufand Pound of Lead, 57 P'ufccs, one Hundred Hatchets, three Hundred and forty- eight Knives, and two Thoufand Flints, bcfidcs Cloathing, b'r. But in my Opinion, the Go- vernment of NcxU'Tork have, on all Occafions, been exceedingly to be blamed, in not having fome Men of Experience among the Five Nations to ad- vifc and dirc6l them on all Emergencies of Impor- tance. The Froiih are very careful of this, and the Officers of the ree;ular Troops arc obliged to take their Tours among their Indians^ while the Cap- h ii i i m mk. I ( 192 ) 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- feffing this Place, as it is of great Security to their Traders, in their paffing between Montreal and JidiJJiiimakinak, 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 Alontreal and the Country ot 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" filimakinak^ 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 Montr ealy and at their Retarn forwarded the Peace, that thereby they might be at Liberty to go to Albany j 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 fo 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 iis the Lands of Canada barely produce fufficient for the Subfiftence of its Inhabitants, the only Means they have of purchafmg Cloatbing and other Ne- ceflaries is by their Trade with the Indians, The French likewife had been in Danger of greater Mif- chief by the Peace, for thefe Natioiij^ being at War with the Five Nations^ and laying on the Back of them, obliging the Five Nations to keep always a very 'ii' ( 193 ) very coufulerable Part of their Force at home, to dctend themfclves againft tliefe Nations, and to revenge the Injuries they received from them ; but if the Peace had been concluded with thefc Na- tions, the Five Nations could have turned their whole Force againft Canadoj and probably might have perfuaded thefe Nations to ha\'c joined witli them in warring on the French, The French Commandant at AliJJilimakinak had his Hands full at this Time 5 and if he had not been a Man of great Abilities, he mull have funk under the Difficulties he had to go through ; in the firft Place, to contradiiSt the Stories brought from Montreal^ he ordered the Stores of his Fort to be. fold to the Indians at tlie cheapeft Rate, and af* fured them, that great Quantities were every Day e\[)c6led from France, which were only detained by contrary Winds ; and after thefe Goods fhal! ariivc, faid he, they will be fold cheaper than ever they have been. He told them likewife, that the Count de Frontenac would never make Peace with the Five Nationsy but was rcfolved to extirpate them; for which Purpofe he was now rebuilding' Ciidarackui Fort, At the fame Time he took all pofTible Methods to extinguifh the Beginnings of Friendfliip, which appeared between the Five Na- tions and Dionondadies, ,:;:.!.. . . • ; The Dionondadies durft not avow their treating^ with the Five Nations to the French^ neither durft 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 7 reaty by Means of Prifoners which they took from one another. The Civility with which the Diononda- dies treated thefe Prifoners, their difmifling tliem, and their receiving again Prifoners which had been taken by the Five Nations^ gave the Commandant luflicient Ground to fufpe^l what was doing. The Vol. I. K Dionon^ I 1 1 ...r *i:j Ml ^! %^L ^ lili.'' lim L .: ( '94 ) Dionondadies at lail took feven Men of the Phe Nations Prifoners, and carried them to Mifftlima- iinak. The French perceiving, by their Manner of bringing them in, that the Dionondadies in- tended to treat them with the Civility they had lately lifed to others, murdered two of them with their Knives as they ftept afhore. On this the Dionon- dadies immediately took to their Arms, favcd the other Five, and carried them fafe to their Caftle; and continuing in Arms, threatened Revenge for the Infult they had received. ' The French were forced in like Manner to Hand to their Armsy and as there are always many dif- ferent Nations at Mijftlimakinak trading, fome of which were inveterate Enemies of the Five Nations y they joined with the French, The Utawawas flood neuter. This gave the Commandant Means of ending the Difpute by Compofition. He in the firft Place aflured them, that the Chrifllans abhor- red all Manner of Cruelty, and then told them, tliat as the French fhared with the Dionondadies m all the Dangers and Lofles fuftained by the War, they ought 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 aboutto relate, 1 think, gives Room to charge the French with a Piece of Policy, not only incon- iiftent with the Chriftian Religion, but likewife with the Charafter 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 fcaft on the Soup to be made on this Pri- foner, and, in a more particular Marnier, invited the Utawawas to the Entertainment. The C '95 ) The Prifoner being firft made fall to a Stake, fo as to have Room to move round it, a Frenchman began the horrid Tragedy, by broiling the Flcfhr 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, wnen he cried out. Fire is ftrong and too powerful j 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 twa Hours without ceafing. An Utawawa being de- firous to outdo the French in their refined Cruelty, fplit a Furrow from the Pri(oner*s Shoulder to his Garter, and filling it with Gunpowder, fet fire to it. This gave him exquifite Pain, and railed 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 lafl* his Strength falling, an Utaivaiva flead off his Scalp, and threw burning hot Coals on his Scull. Then they untied him, and bid him run for his Life : He began to run, tumbling like a drunken Man ; they (hut 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 thele Frenchmen^ who thus glory in tills horrid Cruelty, Kfa to ■' .t 1^ n 'V ■ ■ '>1 «)i ■ a n rm I ': !< f »0^' ) (o ;\lk them, whether they ilid iin< hkewiTe ie});;\lo ihcii icvcngctui Appetites with a Shaiv or this iiv- luman I'eaa ? 'l'ho\ig,h 1 have havl iVequcnt OecaHons fo n^rn- tlon ihde haiharous inluiitiaii Cmehies, tranliu^lnl by the hi/iwns^ yet I have nvoiiU'l to relate tho particular Ciiv»imllanee<^ of them, hecaute I helicvc few civihzeil Kars i an boar the reaihtni i>l th \rm without Horror. Hut when thev arc perpctr.itnl hv CliriiVians, aiul to lar P,lorictl in, a^ to be recordcil ill theii own H>(K>r\% I ax\\ wilHu!; to (hew it to my Countrvmen in its proper Colours. 'I'his Xwii Pii\c of Fteftih Hiilory is taken iVom Hi/ioif*' P /i/ff:rrt . ^uf Septtntriou^iif^ piir Mof^fr. At la P.iicru'y "p\jh- lilhed at Varh with the Royal I licence, and recom- mended to the Puhlick by M(M\t'. VoutcKduy Vol. ii. I'hovijih this cruel Av5.l had its defzitnrd KilVvl, in hreakinir of^'this Metlunl ol nejv^ti.uimv hetwccn the Thu' Av?j';jw.v and l)ir,}K.nuii(Uci^ it vlid not pre- wnt the Peace j and it h:ul very near railed a civil War with their own Ir.d'nm^^ which was or.lv prevented by (he dextrous Conduct ot' the Frrnch C'^flicers, who in ;iU Kind of Artiiic, have alvv.ns been Tuperior to the huiidfis. But let me t>h(crve on tliis Occaljoiu tlvat the avoiding any Misl^M - tin\e, bv ativ bale or wickod Action, is con\n\only the Can To of i^reatiM Milchiefs than what is therehv uNoidcd j iiud of ih^ i\umcious Examples mny be ^»vcn, . C H A P. .». f''»n ( J'-'V C: n A P. xrr. 7/j<- C^k;// tic Frontcnac attuih ( )iioiula^a /« /Vr- Joh^ li ith tl.h' ivhnli' Fom iff C'aniula. 7/^r I' iv« Nations iontint4e thf. U\ir with i/jt Frcntli, and ' f/uiAC Pi'iueivith ibt! Dionoiidailics. r I MI K Count it away their Women and Children. The Heneka 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 moft advifeable K 4 to '1 "?i 4 m ; '*.»■ 1 ! m ( 2C0 ) to retire, leaving their poor P'ort and Bark Cotta- ges all in Flames. After the General had an Account of this, he inarched 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 hlmfelf on the Left, confifted of two Battalions of tlie Inhabitants in the Center, and a Battalion of the regular Troops on each Wing. The Ar- tillery followed them. Moft of the hidlaus of this Divilion were upon the right, who continual- ly fent out Scouts. The fecond Line was com- manded by the Chevalier de Vaudrcuily compofed of the fame Number of Battalions, and in the fame Order. The Count de Frontenac was carried in a Chair diredlly after the Artillery. But it was impoiEble for them to keep their Order, in pailing through thick Woods, and in paffiT^g Brooks. In thip 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 furprifmg Evennefs of Mind, and with that Refolutlon which becomes a Sachem of the Five Nations, He told his Tormentors to remember well his Death, when his Countrymen fhould come to take terrible Vengeance of them. Upon which, one ftabbing him fevcral 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- dianSy their Allies, you Dogs of Dogs, think of me, when you fhall be in the like State. Thus this old Sachsm^ under all the Wcakncfs of old Age, lU^r; Moi '1 tach the ( fron Rcfi moll then and the their the Prifc Gov Onoi ( 2^^I ) Age, })rcrcr\ L'll a Grcatnefs of Sopl, and a due . Regard for the Honour of his Countr) , to the lait Moment of his Breath. ThcClievalicr de I'tiudreu'il was fent with a De- tachment of fix or feven hundred Men to deltroy the Oncydoes Coui, who llv'd hut a fmall Dillance from Onondoga^ which he performed without any Refinance. I'hc Jefuit Mild had hved for the molt Part with the Oneydocs ; he had infufed into ihcm the moil favourable Sentiments of the French^ and they had been the nioft inclined to Peace on, the French Terms. Thirty five of ihem flaid in their Caftle to make the French welcome ; but the only Favour they obtained, was to be made Prifoners, and carried to Montreal, The French Governor declared his Refolutions to extirpate the Onondagas^ and for that Reafon gave Orders to give no Q^iarter. The Difficulty of fupporting fo many Men in thefe Dcfarts, made it neceflary for the Count de Frontenac to return as fpeedily as poHible. Though the French Army was much an Overmatch for the Onondagas^ both in Number of Men and in their Arms, the Onondagus were not fo fiir difpirited, as not to follow them in their Return. They found Opportunities to revenge themfelves in fome Mea- fure, by cutting ofF every Canqc that happened at a.ny Time to be at a Diftance from the main B{)dy. This obliged the Count to haftcn his* March, fo that he returned to Montreal th^ tenth of AugujL The Onondagas fuffcred nothing by this charge- able Expedition, but the Lofs of their Corn, and their Bark Cottages. They lofl not one Man, but the old Sachem^ who rclblved to die a Martyr to his Country's Honour. The French fuftcred cou- ficlerably by its Confcquences ; for all the Planters being taken off fr qm their Labour, either in this K 5 Expedition, ( \\ :i3 ^ 'I r< '"11 '\ ■ i llw ^:;l % ( 207 ) E^peclitlon, or in watching afid fccurlng their Forts and Country, a Famine cnfued ; and this 1 find has tA'tcn happened in Canadu^ where all the Men fit to bear Arm?, have been employed in I'uch like Ex- peditions, ir the Oneydoes had not timely iurren- dered thcmfelvcs, 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 Jeiuit Mllet had obtain- ed over the Oneydoes^ was fuch, that fomc Time af- ter this, thirty of them deferted to the French^ and dcfired that he might be appointed their Paftor. In the following V/inter, the Mohawks^ with the Governor of Nnv-Tork^^ Privacy, font one to the Praying Indians with two Belts, and he carried two Prifoners with him. By the firft Belt, ht afked, whether the Path was entirely fhut up between their two Countries ; and, by the fecond, demanded k.ie Reftitution of a Prifoner the Praying Indians haa 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 ttill retained an AflfetSlion to their Countrymen ; for which Reafon the Count de Frontenac entertain- ed a Jealoiify of thefe Intercourfes, and threatened to put to Death any that fhould come in that Man- lier again ; but the Meffenger had the Satisfa->; -> .< - » I C H A \\ ppmg while Corn- Lies, other, him 1 con- n the y, tlic was, an the CO ar- d that J near arty of icnccd bv the oil the :d that 'Ihe f/, ^ the to be ? burnt ner ot' )ni the ; A p* ( 205 ) . .., .i .. C H i» p. Xlil. *. . \. 77;t' Caudut^ which the Englifh ^W French olfcr-jtd^ In regard to the Five Nation^, immediately after the Peace of Rcfwick. • ' ' ' * SOON after the News of the Peace of Refwick reached New-York^ the Governor fent an £x- prcfs to Canada^ to inform the Governor there of it, that Hollilities might ceafc. The Five Nations having an Account of the Peace earlier than they had it in Canada^ took Advantage of it, in hunting Bever near Cadaraekui Fort, The (jovernor of Canada bcin2: informed of this, and believlnf»: that the Five Nations thought themfelves fecure by the general Peace, rcfolveu to take his lafl Revenge of them. For this Purpoie he fent a confidcrablc Party ef Adirondacks to furprife them, which they did, and killed feveral, but not without Lois of many of their own Men. The Lofs of one of their greatcft Captains at that Time gave the Five Na- tions the greateft Affliction. After he was mortally wounded, he cried out : *' Muft I who have made *' the whole Earth tremble before me, now die <* by the Hands of Children ? " for h^ dcfpifcd the Adirondacks, -v • ' A Difpute at this Time arofe, between the Go- vernment of New-Tor k and Canada^ about ihz French Prifoners which the Five Nations had in their Hands. The Earl of Bellamont^ then Go- ^'ernor of New-Tor k would have the French re- ceive thofe Prifoners from him, and diredted the Five Nations to bring them to Albany for that Pur- pofe. The French^ on the other Hand, refufed to own the Five Nations as fubje6l 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. ,, -i \ \\ ■'t 1] «i ';5t ( 206 ) there. The Count de Frontenac fent fomc of the Praying Indians with a Meflage to this Purpofe, and to have all the French Allies included in the general Peace. The MefTenger 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 Utawawas were exceed- ingly difcompofed at hearing this, and the Count, to recover their Spirits, alFured them, that he ne- ver would make Peace without including all his Allies in it, and v/ithout havmg all their Prifoners reftored. 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, fcnt Captain John Schuyler (of the Militia) to tell the Count, that he had the Intereft of the King his Mafter too much at Heart, to fuffer the French to treat the Five Nations like Enemies, after the Conclufion of the general Peace ; for which Rea- fon he had ordered them to be on their Guard,, and had furniflied them with Arms and Ammu- ^tion 5 that he had ordered the Lieutenant-Go- vernor, in Cafe they were attacked, cither by the French^ or their Allies, to join them with the re- gular Troops 5 and that if he found it neceflary, he would raife the whole Force of his Government in their Defence. This put a Stop to the French Threatening, and \ )th Sides made Con>plaint to their Mufters. The two Kings ordered their refpe£live Governors to "be afTifting to each other, in making the Peace ef- fedlual to "both Nations, and to leave the Difputes, as to the Dependency of the Indian Nations^ to be determined by Commiflioners, to be appointed burfuant to the Treaty of Refwiik^ 1 It w\< of the urpofe, in the Count, , that of his njiiries ixceed- Count, he ne- all his ifoners repara- whole 3f this, to tell e King French ter the h Rea- Guarcf,. Vmmu- nt-Go- by the the re- :eflary, rnment ig, and !. The nors to *ace ef- ifputes, om^ to pointed 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 Conceflion, 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 Icfiprudence, 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 Refwick^ 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 Prieft, while I explained to him the PalTion 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 Montrealy three confide r able Men of the Praying Indians came to Albany ; they had fine laced Coats given tliem, 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- fed to communicate the PropofaU to their old Men^ and would bring back an Anfwer in the Fall. I find nothing more of this in th^ Regifter of Indian jlffairs^ 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 fddom purflxed by the Englijh with that I ( 208 ) that Care and AiTiJuity, with whicli they arc by the Freyich, Wh ile Captain 5<:/;«y/<'r was \n Canada, he enter- ed into fome indifcreetDifcourfc with Monficur J/r?- r'tcour, for whom the Five Nations had a particular Efteem, and call Siowtowijfe, Captain Schuyler, 'n\ aflerting the Dependency of the Five Nations oil New-Tor k, faid, that thofe Nations were their Slaves. yit, Maricour told this Difcourfe to an Onondaga, with all the Aggravations he could, and added, that it was intirely owing to the ^nglijh that the Peace was not abfolutely concluded, and that Captain Schuyler prevented their Prifoners being reflored, becaufc he would have them fent to Albany, as be- ing Slaves to the Englijh, That the French had no Difpute with the EngUJh, but for the Independen- cy of the Five Nations. T^his indifcreet Conduct of Captain Schuyler was fo much refented by th^ Five Nations, that a Deputation of the mod con- fidcrable Sachems was lent to Albany in June 1699, to complam of it j and they fent at the fame Time Deputies to Canada to conclude the Peace, inde- pendently of the EngUJh, 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 EngUJh, than to have only the French Faith for their Security, that they immediately dif- patchcd a Meffenger after their Deputies that were gone to Canada, Though this Meflenger reached th«m too late to flop their Proceeding, it con* vinced the Deputies fo far of its being for their In- tereft to be joined with the EngUJh in the Peace, as they had been in the War, that they infifted that the Exchange of Prifoners be made 2X Albany* At the fame Time the Meffenger was fent after their Deputies to Canada, Coloucl Pet^r Schuyler ■ ■"' -^ . - •' ^ ' ^ '■• ■ " ■ ■' was ». * ( 209 ) was fent with others to Onondaga^ to remove the Prejudices they had received there. The Count de Frontenac died while thefe Dif- putes continued. Monfteur de CalUereSy who fuc- ceeded him, put an Ejid to them, by agreeing to lend to Onondaga to regulate the Exchange of Prifoners there ; for which Purpofe Monfieur Ma^* ricour^ loncaire^ and the Jefuit Bruyas^ were fcnt. When the French Commiflioners were come within lefs than a Mile of Onondaga Caftle, they put themfelves In Order and marched with the French Colours carried before them, and with as much Show as they could make. Decanejlra met them without the Gate, and complimented them with three Strings of Wampum. By the firft he wiped away their Tears for thie French that had been flain in the War. By the fecoiid he opened their Mouths, that they might fpeak freely ; that isj promifed them Freedom of Speech. I^y 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 P'ort, and were fainted with a ge- jieral Difcharge of all the Firc-Arms. They were carried to the beft Cabin in the P'ort, and there en- tertained with a Feaft. The Deputies of the fe- veral Nations not being all arrived, the Jefuit, and Motifieur Maricour^ palled the Time in vifiting and coiwerGng with the French Prifoners. The General Council being at lad met, the Jefuit made the fol- lowing Speech, which I take from the Relation tlie Five Nations afterwards made of it to the Earl of BcUamont, \^ iyi )«!>' >iiii .iJ '^:! # ,''!ii Hv m \ f! (C I. I am 2;lad to fee the Five Nations, and that " fome of them went to Canada^ notvvithfbndini^ '* Corlear forbid tliem : I am lorry for the Lofs of " your People killed by the remote Indians ; I " condole I,' '■ill. (( ii*i: ( 2rc ) ** 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 Onotidaga, ** 4. Keep faft the Chain you have made with ** Corliur^ for now we have one Heart and one ** Intereft with them j but why is Corlear againft •* your correfponding with us, ought we not to ♦* converfe together when we are at Peace and in " Friendfhip ? ** 5. Deliver up the French Prifoncrs you have, •* and we (hall deliver not only thofe of your Na- ** tion we havcy but all thofe likewife taken by M amy of our Allies \ and gave a Belt. ** 6. I offer myfclf (o you, to live with you at f « Onondaga^ to inftrummon Inhabitants of New-York do. No Arguments, no Intrcaties, nor Tears of their Friends and Relations, cou'd perfuade many of them to leave their new Indian Friends and Ac- quaintance ; fcveral of them that were by the Ca- rciHiigs of their Relations perfuaded to come Home, in a little Time grew tired of our Manner of liv- ing, and run away again to the hidians^ and ended their Days with them. On the other Hand, Indian Children have been carefully educated among the Encrlinjy cioathed and taught, yet, I think, there W ,■ A3, ( 213 ) Is not one Inltance, that any of thefe, after they had Liberty to go amdng their own People, jmd were come to Age, would remain with the Englljh^ but returned to their own Nations, and became as fond of the Indian Manner of Life as thofe that knew nothing of a civilized M^jnner of Hying* What I now tell of Chriftian Prifoners among In- dians^ relates not ordy to what happened at the Conclulion of this War, but has been found true on many other Occafions, i .V *. - v v.. •>f. . ' ? f •> '..1 " i , '. , . , • ' ' -, , * V .•<... > . ...I . ^ .^v ,in< ^v?;^ "i< i . ^ '4 If''.-; j{^)' . .^ i^ i .1... 5 ,.\ h»v» ■ 4.- .-•• • » • ;/ .; u: I / >< • 'IX- . ./ ,-f; I 'k l?i I % I M V i" ■'■• »» • 1 •- •• PAPERS .1 r^ .V !n; il ■,fi\ I' ^is III PAP E R S RELATING TO An ACT of the Assembly O F T H E I , Province of NE W^YORK, P O R Encouragement of the Indian frade^ &c. and for prohibiting the felh'rig of Indian Goods to the French^ viz. of CANADA. 1.1 I. A Petition of the Merchants of London to His Majefty againft the faid Acl. II. His Majesty's Order in Council, referring the Petition to the Lords Commiflioners of Trade and Plantation, III. Extract of the Minutes of the faid Lords, concerning fome Allegations of the Merchants before ♦hem. JV. The Report of the faid Lords to his Majefty on the Merchants Petition, and other Alle- gatiojis. V. The Report of the Committee of Council of the Province of New-Tor k^ in Anfwer to the faid Petition. VI. A Memorial concerning the Furr-Trade of NeW'Torky by C. Golden, Efqj ( ais ) 1 11 TO THE ' King's Moft Excellent Majcfty in Council, / The Humble Petition and Reprefentation of Sa^ muel B(^ket\ Samuel Storke^ J°^^ Bayeuxy JK/- ch • . -^ »- Upon which Occafion, your Petitioners humbly beg Leave to reprefent to your Majefty, That the i ^ i James Vernon, n ExiradJ of the Minutes of the Right Honourable the Lords Commijfioners for Trade and Plantar' tions^ the jth of July 1724. MR. Sharp attending as he had been defired, with feveral New-Tor k Merchants, their Lordlhips took again into Confideration the O der of Council of the 30th of Aprils mentioned in the Min bites of the fuft of May laft, referring to the L 2 Board ^m hiv ( 2120 ) Board their Petition againft their renewing an A61 pafled in New-7'ork^ in November 1720, entitled. An Acl for the Encourngement of the Indian Trade ^ and rendering of it more cffeSiUal to the Inhabitants cf this Province^ and for prohibiting the felling of Indian Goods to the French. And Mr. Sharpy in behalf of tde fevcral Merchants, acquainted their Lordfhips, That lie conceived this AcSl, tho' its Intention of gaining the Indians to the Englijh In- terefl might be good, would have quite a contrary Eficdi, bccaufc, if the Trade with the French was prevented, and the Merchants fhould difcontinue that with the Indiansy[;\.s he was informed they would) the French might lay hold of this Oppor- tunity to furnifh themfelves with Goods from nu- ropCy and fupply the Five Nations of Indians^ and tiiereby gain them to their Intcreft : And this, by r :afon of their Situation, would not be in the Power of the Englifi to prevent : That they were two or three hundred Leagues diftant from Albany^ and that they could not come to trade with the Englifl) 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 h^vinfj; made Settlements along the faid River, it would be in their Power, whenever they pleafed, to cut off that Commu- nication. That this A£t had been fo great a Difcourage- ncnt 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 {met the pafiing the faid Adt, as there was be- fore ; nor half the Quantity of European Goods . exported. ^ u • * • n- ^" That feveral Merchants who had fent over to New-York confiderabie Quantities of European Goodsy had received Advice from their Correfpon- lents, ( 221 ) dents, That fhould another A(fl of the like Nature be pifTed, 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 Ai\ of the like Nature for the future. «( To the King's Moft Excellent Majedy. f May it pleafe your Majejly ; 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 Nevj-Torii'^ fetting forth " That the great Difcouragement^ ** that have been brought upon the Britijh Trade by an Adl palTed in Neiv-Tork the 19th of Aa- *' vember 1720, entitled, Jn Aci for tkeEvcouroge" <* ment cf the Indian Trade, atid 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 is nuv/ ** expired, the faid Merchants are informed th.» '* Government of New-Tor k either have, or arc about palling an Act to revive and continue the fame j and therefore pray, that a flop may bo put thereto." We humbly take leave to reprc- fent to your Majefty, That we have been attended by the Petitioner •, who informed us, that they have found this Ac^t, by Experience, to be fo great a Difcouragement to the Britijl) Trade^ that there has not been, by far, fo confiderable a Quantity of Beaver, and other Furs, imported into Great-Britain^ from Neiv- Torky fince the palling the faid Ad, as heretofore, nor half the Quantity of European Goods exported L 3 thither j iC cc (C H&tiii i4 I? If V ' Si * Ml ( 222 ) thither; in Confequence whereof the Price of Furs is raifed Five and Tiventy and Thirty per Cent, to the great Prejudice of feveral Britijh Manufafturers. They likewife affirmed, that it was impra<5llca» ble to hinder the French from fuppjying the In- dians with European Goods : For tho* Nezv-Tork iliould not furnifli them, the French would find another Way to be fupplied therewith, either from fome other of his Majefly's Plantations, or, it might be, diredlly from Europe, That it was of dangerous Confequence to force this Trade into a new Channel, many of the Goods which the In- d'ans want, being as eafy to be had dire6lly from France or Holland^ as from Great-Britain, They further added. That it was not likely th« A(L>, in queftion, Ihould produce the Effects ex- pected from it, more particularly that of fecuring the Five Indian Nations lirmly to the Britijh Inte- refl: ; becaufe, if the French fhould once get a Sup- ply of the Goods neceflaiy for the Indian Trade, from any other 'Place, as the Five Indian Nations are fettled upon the Banks of the River of St, Laiv- rence^ diredlly oppofite to ^uebeck^ two or three hundred Leagues diftant from the neareft Britijh Settlement in New-York^ the Vicinity of the French would furnifh them with the Means of fupplylng even the Five Nations with thefe Goods, and con- fequently of alienating their AfFeclions from the Britijh Interefl. And that there was no Profpcdl of obtaining a Trade with the French Indians by this Means, becaufe the I remh would always be able to prevent their Pafiage crofs the Lakes and River of St, Lawrence to our Settlements. Thefe were the moil material Objections made by the Merchants againft the Bill. On nee of uriy per Britijh the In- ild £iid er from or, it was of e into a the In- ^Jy from cely th« 'ds ex- fecuring fh Inte- : a Sup- Trade, N^ations ^ Lazv- r three Britijh French pplying id con- am the 'rofpcdl tf^/j by ^ays be ^es and i made On ( 2^3 ) On the other hand, the Preamble of the A^ 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 almoit wholly engrofled the Indian Tra le, but had in great Meafure, withdrawn the AffeiStions 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 Minds of the faid Indians^ which would prove of dangerous Confequence to the Englijh Intereft in America. Anfl Mr. Burnet.^ your Majefty*s Governor of Nt'^^'Tork^ informs us. That, fince the pafling of this A6^, 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 likewife Intel- ligence of more far Indians that defign'd to come to Alhat?y^ which he conceives to have been a good EiFedt proceeding from this Adt : And liicewlfe 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 fenii- 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 Fa6ts alledged by the Merchants, and confidering how far the Britijh Trade may be afFedted by this A61, on the one hand j and how much the Secu- rity and Intereft of your Majefty's Colonies in Ame^ rica may be concerned, on the other, we are hum- bly of Opinion, That no Dire are fettled. i*,.. 1 .. i . 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 niight feem needlefs to trouble your Excellency with any further Remarks, were it not to fhew with what Earneflnefs they are promoting the French hiterejl to the Prejudice of all his Ma- jefly's Colonies in North America, and that they are not afhamed of afTcrting any Thing for that End, even in the Royal Prefcnce. F'lrft, They fay, " That by the kOi pafled in this Province, entitled. An A51 for Encourage- ment of the Indian Trade, &c. All Trade what- foever is prohibited in the ftridleft Manner, and *' under the feverell Penalties, between the Inha- *' bitants of New-York Government, and the " French of Canada, - • ' • >** This is not true, for only carrying Goods to the French, which are proper for the Indimi Trade, is prohibited. The Trade as to other Things, is left in the fame State it was before that A61 was made, as it will appear to any Perfoa that fhall read it : And tlierc are yearly large Q^iantities 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 A^, they are found infufficient to deter fome from carrying Goods clandeftinely to the French ; j.rJ the Legiflaturc 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 SubjctSls of North America in the grcateft Danger. Their next Aiicrlion is, Ail the Lidian Goods have hy th's yki, hfj-i raifed 25 1. to 30I. per Cent, This is the only Allegation in the whole Petitjpn, that there is any Ground for. Neverthelefs, though the common C ^^9 ) common Channel of Trade cannot be altered with- out feme Detriment to it in the Beginning, we are affurcd from the Cuftom-houfe Books, that there has been every Year, fmce the pafling of this A6^, more Furs exported from New-Tor k^ than in the Year immediately before the pafling of this Adt. It ?s not probable, that the greatefl Difference be- tween the Exhortation any Year before this A61, and any Year fmce, could fo much alter the Price of Beaver, as it is found to be this laft Year, Beaver is carried to Britain from other Parts befides New^ Torky 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- ftons 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, TVhcreas on the other Hand^ this Branch of the New- York Trade^ by the Difcouragements brought upon it by this A5f^ is almoji wholly engrojfed by the French, who have already by this Jd^ been encouraged to fend proper European Goods to Canada, to carry on this Trade^ fo that Jhould this A£l be continued^ the New- York Trade which is very corf tder able ^ muji be wholly loji to us^ and center in the French —— T7;^«^Vj New- York y^5«/i not furnijh them^ the French would find another Way to be fuppUed therewith^ either from fome other of his Majejifs Plantations^ or it might be diretlly from Europe. Many of the Goods which the Indians want being as eafy to be had dire^ly from France or Holland, as from Great- Britain. > '"■'■.' ■ ' ' This is eafily anfwered, by informing your Exr cellency, that the principal of the Goods proper •- for 1 •? '11 ' m. m i::j| "n J" , » I g« ' ft ( 23^ ) for the Indian Marht are only of the ManufacStures of Great-Britoin^ or of the Britijh Plantations^ viz, Strouds, or Stroud- Waters, and other Woollens, and Rum. The French mull be obliged to buy all their Wodllens (the Strouds efpecially) m England^ and thence carry them to France^ in order to their Tranfportation to Canada, The Voyage to ^iebeck through the Bay of St, Lawrence^ is well known to be the moft dangerous of any in the World, and only pra£licable in the Summer Months. The French have no Commodities in Canada^ by reafon ©f the Cold and Barrennefs of the Soil, proper for the IVeji -India Markets, and therefore have no Rum but by Veflels from France^ that touch at their Iflands in the Weft ^Indies, New-York has by Rea- fon of its Situation, both as to the Sea and the /«- dians^ every Way the Advantage of Canada, The New-Tor k Veflels make always two Voyages in the Year from England^ one in Summer and another in Winter, and feveral Voyages in a Year to the IVeJi^ Indies. It is manifeil 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- To'k, But to put this out of all Controvert, we need only obferve to your Excellencv, That Strouds (without which no confiderable Trade can be car- ried on with the Indians) are fold at Albany for 10 /. a Piece : They were fold at Montreal before this A61 took Place, at 13/. 2 J. 6//. and now they are fold there for 25/. and upwards : Which is an evi- dent Proof, that the French have not, in thefe four Years Time, (during the Continuance of this A61) found out any other Way to fupply themfelves with Strouds, and likewife that they cannot trade without them, feeing they buy them at fo extrava- gant a Price. It f n^ ) *' It Iikewift rfpptfars, that none of the neighboar-* inz 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 muft carry their Goods ten Times further by Land than we need to do. - We are likewife afTured, 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- pe6l, that thefe Merchants (at leaft fome of them) have been pra£lifed upon by the French Agents ifi London 'y for no doubt, the French will leave no Method untried to defeat the prefent Defigns 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 withdrawing the Affec- tions of the Five Nations of Indians frotn the Englifli Intereft, than the Continuance of the faid yl£l^ which in its Effects rejlrains thetnfi'om a free Commerce with the Inhabitants of New- York, and may too probably ejirange them from the Englifh Intereft, whereas by Freedom of Commerce^ and an encouraged Intercourfe of Trade with the French and their Indians, the Englifh Intereft might in Time^ he greatly improved and ftrengthened. It feems to us a ftrange Argument to fay, that an Aft, 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 EfFedts) would on the contrary, reftrain them from a free Commerce with the Inhabitants of New-Tor k, and may I '! % • * i m 1 ft II , i ( 232 ) may too probably eftrange them from the EngliJJj IntereJ} j and 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 exadlly true, in the Opinion of our /'/i;^A^/2//W; who in all their pub- lick Treaties with this Government, have repre- fentcd 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 Jlbany^ would certainly increafe both the Englijh hiierejl and theirs, among all the Nar tions to the Weft ward of them ; and that the car- ryi]ig the Indian Market to Montreal in Canada^ . > draws all the far Indians thither. The lafl: Thing we have to take Notice is, what the Merchants atterted before the Lords of Trade, vi%, That there has not been half the ^iantity of Eu- ropean Goods exported ftnce the pajjlng of this A^y that ufed to be, ■ , We are well afllired, that this Is no better ground- ed than the other Facls they aflert with the fame Pofitivenefs. For it is wcil known almolt to every Pcrfon in NvW-lork^ that there has not been a lefs, but rather a greater Qiiantity of European Goods imported into this Place, fince the palling of this A6^, than was at any Time bcfoic it, in the lame Space of Time. As this appears by the Manil'tds in the Cuftom-houfe here, the fli:iie may likewiic be eafily proved by the Cutlom-houfe Books in Lor.doyi, As all the Arguments of the Merchants run upon the ill EfFedls this A<51: has had upon the Trade and the Minds of the Indians^ every one of which we have fliewn to be alTerted without the lealt I-'oun- dation to fupport them, there nothing no>v remain?, but ( 233 ) but to (hew the good EfFedls thl.., To thefe Advantages muft be added, that many of our. young Men having been induced by this Adi to travel among the Indians^ they learn their Manners, their Languages, and the Situation of all their Coufitries, and become inured to all Manner of Fatigues and Hardfliips, 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 Effects of this A(5l 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 pafied. The only Thing that now remains to anfwer, is an Objedtion which we fuppofe may be made, If^bat can induce tht Merchants of London to peti- tion I- iiuch tt to Lents eft be- fwer, lade, \peti' tion { 3137 ) tion QgaiYift an ASf^ which will he really fo much for their Inter ejl in the End ? The Reafon is in all Probability, becaufe they only confidcr their pre- fent Gain ; and that they are not at all concerned for the Safety of this Country, in encouraging the moft neceflary 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^EJirade^ in his Letters in 1638, fays. That when the Dutch were befieging Ant' wcrpy one Beiland, who had loaded four Fly- boats with Arms and Powder for Antwerp^ being taken up by the Prince of Orange'% Order, and 'examined at Amjierdam^ faid boldly, That the Burghers 5/* Amfterdam had a Right to Trade every where : That he could hatne a Hundred that were Favors for the Merchants at Antwerp, and that he was one. That Trade cannat be interrupted^ and that for his Part he was very f'^ee to oivn, that if to g-'t any Thing by Trade it were neccffary to pafs through Hcll^ he would venture to burn his Sails, When this Principle fo common to Merchants, is confidered, and that fomc in this Place have got Eftates by trading many Years to Cannda^ it is not to be wondered that they have a6led as Fac- tors for Canada in this Affliir, and that they have t.anfmitted fuch Accounts to their Correfpondents in London^ as are confident with the Truft repofid in them by the Merchants of Cauadci, In the lafl Place, we are humbly of Opinion, that it may be proper to print the l-'etition of the Merchants of LonHon^ and their Allcj-ations before the Lords of l>ade> to!::ether with the Anfwers yrur Committee has made thereto, in Vindication of the Legiflature of this Province, of Which we have '\\ n V^ ( a3« ) have the Honour to be a Part, if your Excellency ihall approve of our Anfwers : That what wc 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 Corrcfpon- dents of thele Merchants may have the moft 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 groundlcfs Informations. All which is unanimoufly and humbly fubmitted by ^ Tour Excellenrfs Mojl obedient humble Servants.^ R. Walter y Rip Van Dam^ John Barberie, Fr, Harrifon^. Cndwallader Colden^ ya, Alexander y Abraham Van Horn, n^ A Memorial concerning the Furr-Trade of the Province of New-York. Prefented to his Excellency WiUiam Burnet, Efq-^ Captain-General and Governor^ &c. by Cadwal- lader Coldcn, Surveyor-General of the faid PrO" vincej the loih of November 1724. IT has of late been generally believed, that the Inhabitants of the Province of New-York are fo advantageoufly fituated, with Refpe(Sl: to the Indian %'adey 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 amoft en- tirely engrofled the Furr-Trade of America^ but that it is impoiUble for the French to carry on that Trade 'r<9- the e io dian rade r to en- but that ade Trade in Competition with the People of this Province. The enquiring into the Truth of this Propofition, may not only be of fome Confequence, as to the Riches and Honour of the Briitjh Nation^ (for it is well known how valuable the Furr-Trade of Ajnerica is) but like wife as to the Safety of all the Britijh Colonies in North- America, New-France (as the French now claim) extends froi.i the Mouth of the River Mififftppi^ to the Mouth of the River St, Lawrence^ by which the French plainly (how their Intention of enclofing the Britijh Settlements^ and cuttinii; us ofFfrom all Commerce with the nume- rous Nations of Indiam^ that are every where Set- tled over the vaft Continent of North- America^ The Englijh 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 h?s 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 (hall begin with Canada^ and confider what Advantages they have either by their Situation, or other- ^i ;v.i -1 '? il i; ( 240 ) othcrvvifc. Cfjtiadii Is fitiiatcd upon the River of tV/. Ldwrevuf^ by which the five great Lakes (which ina y properlv erlv be callcil, ^Ihe Five hiUnul S, as ot North- Jineiuii) empty thenifclvcs into the Ocean. The Mouth of this ^\rcat River is in the I.at. of I o Degrees, over- agai nil the IJotly of Nnvjound vjc iifuL It lilcs from the 6\//<«7v/<7// /.f;/r, (the Kaller- mofl ot the live great Lakes) about the f^at. of 44 Degree, and runs from thence about Noith lOall to the Ocean, and is about nine hundred Miles in Length, from that Lake to the Ocean. The five great Lakes whicli communicate with each other, and with tl.is River, extend about one thouland Miles W^elhvartl, further into the Continent. So far tiu* French luive aheady difcovered, and their I Dilcoveries make it probable, that an Jnl.uul Paf- fagc may be found to tlie SoutL^-Sca^ by the Rivers which rui\ into thefc Lakes, and Rivers whicli lua into the South-Sen, The Method of canyirig Goods upon the Rivers of K$rtJ^- America^ iiUo all the fmall Branches, and over Land, from the Branches oi one River to the Branches of another, was learned from the Indians^ and is the only Method pra^ilicablc through lucli large Foreils and ])eferts as the 7'raders pa("s thro'. in carr) nig from one Nation to another, it is tins ; tlie buiififis make a long narrow Boat, made of the Bark of the Birch-tree, the Parts of which they icin very neatly. One of tliefe Canoes that can Ciiiry a D<3zen Men, can itfelf be eafily carried upoTi two Mens Chouldcrs ; fo that when they have gcme as far by AVater as they cin (which is further than is eafilv to be imagined, becaufe their loadeil Cances tlon't link f'.x Inches into the Water) they unload their Canoes, and carry both Goods and Canoes upon their Shnuldcis over Land, into the r.rauil r^.^nch of tlic River tlicy intend to follow, 1 bus the Fi\Hih have an eafy Ccmiuunicauoii with all .1 the luch no', iiis i c of ihcy can iricd .IV c ihcr J.'.k1chI (ihcy and the low. ith ( 241 ) 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 whitii empty thcmfelvcs into ihcfc Seas, and can thereby carry their Burdens of Merchan- dise thro* all thefc large Countries, which could not by any other Means than Water-carriage be carried thro' fo vaft a Tra£l of Land. This, however, but half ftnifhes the View the French have, as to their Commerce in North* Jmerica, Many of the Branches of the River Mijiffippi come fo near to the Branches of feveral of tnc Rivers which cmptv thcnifelves into the great Lakes, that in feveral Places there is but «i ihort Land-Carriage from the one to the other. As foon as they have got into the River Miftj^pi^ they open to thcmfelves as large a P'ield for Traf- fick in the Southern Parts of North- /^miricay as was before-mentioned with rcfpedl to the Northern Parts. If one confiders the Length of this River, and its numerous Branches, he inuft fay. That by Alcans of this River ^ and the Lakes^ there is open to his View Juch a Scene of inland Navigation as cannot he paralliTd in any other Part of the IVorld, The French have, with much Induftry, fettled fniall Colonics, and built ftockaded Forts at all the confiderable PaiTes 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 SennekaSy (and the French Sonontouans) having hitherto refufcd them Leave ta ereft any Buildings there. The French have been indefatigable in making Dilcoveries, and carrying on their Commerce with Nations, of whom the En^lijh know nothinc*^ but what they fee in the French Maps and Books. The Barrennefs of the Soil, and the Coldnefs of the Climate of Canada^ obliges th^, (^reatefl Number of Vol. I. ' M the hi i!i Hi ( 242 ) tlic Inhabitants to feek their livihg 'fcy fravtffin^ among the Inaians^ or by trading with thofe that do travel. The Governor, and other Officers, having but a fcanty Allowance from the Khig, and could not fubfift were it not by the Pcrqurfitcs they have from this Trade ; neither could their Priefts find any Means to fatisfy thcfr Antbirion and Luxury without it : So that all Heads and Hinds are employ ^ I :, udvancc ft, and the WLtn of beft Parts thinK ii xh^ fareft Way to advaficte them- iclves by trav.airrg - mong the />/^l^7«x, and learn- ing their Languages ; even the Bigotry and Enthu- fiafm of fome hot Heads has not been a Httle ufeful in advancing this Commerce ; for that Govern- ment having prudently^turn'd the Edge of the 2eaf ©f fuch hot Spirits upon converting the Irtdransy many of them have fpent their Lives under the greateft Hardfhip:, 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 represent the Englijh as the J?»^- mles of Mankind, So that the whole PoHcy 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 Miffions, has io far prevail'd upon all the Indians in North- America^ that they are every where directed by French Conn- fels. Even our own Five Nations ^ (the Iroquois) who formerly were mortal Enemies of the French^ and have always liv'd in the ftri£teft Amity with the Englijh^ have, of late, (by the Pradtices of the Frejtch Priejfs) been fo far gain'd, that feveral of the Mohawks^ who live neareft the Englijhy have left their Habitations, and are gone to fettle near Montreal in Cinada -^ and all the reft difcover a Dread of the French Power, That much of this is truly owing to the Priejis^ appears from mzny of tfiat cers, and they 'riefts and i^nds F beft them- le'arn- inthu^ ufeful overn- e Seal rfdrarsy ler the ain the French arc no ^cEne- Wty of is ad- of this French^ has fo bnericay \h Conn- \ls) who \ch^ and With, the of the jvcral ot ?, have tie near Ifcover a of this many ot" of the Sachems of the Iroquois wearing Grudifixes when they come to Albany : And thole Mohawk Indians that are gone to Canada ^ arc now com- monly known both to tlie French and Englijh^ hy the Name of The Praying Indians^ it being cuf- tomary for them to go through the Streets of ^ontrtal with their Beads, praying ahd begging Ain)s# .♦/,;'•* .1.,! t ^"cv! wli 3Ci: o ,?jjKy>l .ft":^Mil • But notwithfbmding all thefe Advantages, the French labour under Difficulties that no Art or In- duftry can remove. The Mouth of the Rivet of6V. Lawrence^ and more efpeciaily the B* c ' 9.% Laivrence, lies fo far North, and is rthf eb fci often /ubjedl: to tempeftuous Weather ' us^ and never attempted but during the Summ^ • Months* The Widenefs of. this Bay, together with iht* many llrong 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 Bay, all increafc the Danger of this Navigation ; fo that a Voyage to Canada b }uftly efteem'd much more dangerous than to any other Part of Amer^ica, 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 Cam4a* The Channel is fo difficult, and, the Tides fo flrongy 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 co^ifiderable, that the French never at- tempt above one Voyage in a Year to Europe^ or the fVeJl Indies y tho* it be really nearer Europe than any of the Englijh Colonies^ where the Slip- ping that conftantly ufc the Trade, always make two Voyages in the Year. . « , , >, , .,- 'Ut| m m ' IP II. tr«i <■ I,.. M 2 I'he i J ll 11 ., • , ( 244 ) ''film • 1 > The Navigation between ii^ucheck antl A^fontt'en!\% Ijkcwire very dangerous antl difficult : The Tide lifcs about i8 or 20 Fcrt, at i^trheck^ which occa- lions I'rt (Irong a Stream, that a Boat oF fix Oars canjiot make wAy againft it : The River in many Waccs very wide, and the Channel at the fame time narrow and crooked j there arc many Shelves and Sunken Rocks, fo that the beft Pilots have been tleccivcd ; for which reafon the Veflels that carry Goods to Montreal^ are always obliged to anchor befoie Night, tho' both Wind and Tide be fair. I^hc Flood goes no further than Trois Rivieres^ half way to Montreal^ and about ninety Miles from ^ucheck : After they pafs this Place they have a Itrong Stream always againft thcm^ whicn requires a fair Wind and a llrong Gale to carry the A^cfl'cls againfl the Stream. And they arc obliged in this Part of the River, as well as under the 7r«;j Riviires^ to come to an anchor atNigJit, tho* the Wind be good. Thcfe Difficulties make the common Paflages t;ike up three or four Weeks, and fometimcs fix Weeks j 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^ th^y have a {Irong Stream againft them till they come near the Lakes ; fo that in. all that, which is about one hundred and ' fifty Miles in Length, they force their Canoes for- ward with fetting roles, or drag thtrn with Ropes along fhore ; 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 Caiaracui in left than twenty Days, and frequently twice that « Time is necefTary. — - ,-- ;^.> ': Now we are come fo far as the Lake, my De- ficrii leads me no lurther, for at this Lake all ihc 2 pr t ( 245 ) far Jndians^ that go to Canada^ miift pafs,' bv uur Tr^iilcrs. Alul from thence the Road to the Indif^u Countries is the fame from Albany that it ift from MmtreaL - ■• ■ Befides thcfe Difficulties in the Tranfportation, the French labour under greater in the ptirchaii'ig of the principal (joods proper for the Irtdtan Mur^ ket \ for the moft conhderable and moft valuable Part of their Cargo confifts in Strcuds, Duffiity Blankets and other fVoollens^ which arc bouj;ht ^t H much cheaper Rate in England than in Franci\ The Strouds (which the Irtdram value movt than any otticrCloathing) are only made in England^ and muft be tranfportod into France^ before they can be carried to Canada, Rum is another confid^rable Branch of the Indian Trade ^ which the ///Wi:/) have not, bv reafon they have no Commodities in 6^- ida m for the Ire/I" India Market. This thev tUi fupply with Brandy, at a much dearer Rate than Rum can be purchafed at Nrw^Tork^ tho' ot no more Value with the Indians, Generstlly, all the Goods ufed in the Indian Trade^ cUccpt Gi/n^Pow- der^ and a few Trinkets are fold at Montreal for twice their Value at Albany, To this likcwife mufl be added, the Ncceflity they^ are under of laying the whole Charge of fupporting their Go- vernment on the Indian Trade. 1 am not par- ticularly informed of their Duties or Impofts, but I am Well afTured, • that they commonly g4vc fix or feven hundred Livres for a Licence for one Canoe, in Proportion to her Largenefs, to go wit^i ,ber Loading into the Indian Country to trade. ■ I (haH next confider the Advantages the Inhabi- tants of New-Tor k have in carrying on f this Trade* In the firjl place, the Ships that coniia'rrtly ufe the Trade to England, perform their Voyage to and from London twice every Year ; and thofc that go to Brijiol (the Port from whence the grcatefl part M 3 of ( 2+6 .) of thcGkiods for the Imllun Trade :irc exported*) frequently return in four Months. Thcfe Goods are bought much cheaper in England than in France i They are tranfpoited in lefs Time, with Icfs Charge, and much lefs Rifque, as appears by the Premio for Infurance ; between London and New^^ork^ being only Ttc/j per Cent, Goods are eafily carried from New-TprA to Aiharry^ up HudfotC s- River ^ the Dif- jance being only J40 Miles, the River very ftrait all the way,- and bold, ^nd very free from Sand- banks, as well as Rocks ; fo that the Veflels always fail as well hyiNigbt as by Day, and hayc the Advan- tage of the Tide upvirards as well as downwards^ the Flood flowing abiovje Albany, It may therefore be iafely concluded, that all Sorts of Goods can be car- ried to Albany at a cheaper Rate than they can be to ^tebeck^ which is alfo three times further from th« Indian Country than Albany is. To put the Truth of this out of all difpute, I need only obferve what is well kraoM/ix both at New-Tork ancj Albany^ viz. 'I'hat! alm^oft all the Strouds carried by the French into ^fi htS an Gauntries^ as well as large Quantities of other Goods, '^ot the Ufe of the French them- felves, are carried from Albany to Montreal. I'hcrc has been an Account kept of nine hundred Pieces of StiQuils tranfported thither in one Year, bcfides other Commodities of very confiderable Value. The Dijftanccv betwieen Albany, and Mantre^al is about two hujidred Miles^, )all by Water, fexcept twelve Miles betweeh HudJtuH svRiixer and the TVood-Creek^ where they cafr)5 their B)ark Canoes over Land, and about fixteen Miles between Chambly and La Praire^ over- ^igainft McmiteaL And tho' the Paflage be fo fhort and eafy^athefe Goods* are generally fold at double their V^ttei:lh l^h-ny.''( i . .-.• *-■ • ; , . ' - - - : . But as tiijs. Path has been thought extVemely prd- judiciaJ toitlie Inter^ft of this Colony, I fhall leav- iti and ga on to aaather,. that leads diretStly from .::'• , :. Jlba?!y . i'.'. ( 247 ) Albany Into the Cataracul or Ontario Lakey without going near any of'ftic French Settlements. From Albany the In^iariTradQTS commonly carry their Goods fixteen Miles over Land, to the Mo- hawks River at ^chenechtady^ the Charge of whiv:l> Carriage is Nine Shillings New-Tor h Money, or Five Shillings Sterling each Wagf;on-L()ad. From SJv- nechtady they carry them iji Canoes up the Mohawks River to the Carrying-place between the Mohaxvks River^ and the River which runs into the OntuUt Lake \ which Carrying-place between is only three Miles long, except in very dry We ither, when they are obliged to carry them two Miles further. From tkence they go with the Current down the Onondaga River to the Cataracui Lake. The Diflance be- twsen Albany and the Cataracui Lake (this Way) 13 nearly the fame with that between Albany and Mont- real'y and likewife with that between Moutreal and the Cataracui Lake^ and the PafTage much eafier than the laft, becaufc the Stream of the Mohawf^s River is hot near Co ftrong as the Cataracui River between the Lake and Montrealy 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 y 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 Lakcy 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 Lak^y which the French have to carry before they bring them to the fame Place from Montreal ^ h'^C\d.K,6 the Advantage which the Euglijl) have in the Pri^e of their Goods. I have faid, That when we are in the Calaracul Lakcy We are upon a Level with the French^ bc- caiife'b^re we can meet with all the Indians thaf ^4 defig/3, :lt •II' U f ' ( 2+8 ) c^rfign to go to Montreal, But befides this Pkflage by the Lakes^ there is a River which comes from the Country of the Sennekas^ and falls into the Omndaga River^ by which we have an eafy Car- riage into that Country, without going near the Ca^ tar^cui Lake, The Head of this River goes near to Lah 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 Jogara^ becaufe narrow Rivers arc much faffcr for Canoes than the Lakes, where they are obliged to go afhore if there be any Wind upon the Water. But as this PafTagc depends upon a further Difcovery, I fhall fay nothing more of it at this I ime. ' ' Whoever then confidcrs thefe Advantages New- Tork has of Canada^ in the fiift 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 Impofts, will readily agree with me, that the Traders of New-York 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 ihofe that know that Strouds (the Staple Indian Commodity) this Year are fold for Ten Pounds apiece at Albany^ and at Montreal for Twenty- five Founds^ notwithftanding the great Quantity of Strouds faid' to be brought directly into ^eheck from France^ and' the great Qviantities that have been clandeflinely caried from Albany, It cannot therefore be denied, that it is only necelTary for the Traders of Nav- York to apply themfclves heartily to this Trade, m order to bring it wholly into their own Hands; for in every thing befides Diligence, and Induflry,' and enduring Fatigues,, the Englijh have much the Advantage of the French, And all the Indians - . wHl' r ■■•t PkfTage IS from ito the y Car- :he Ca- near to ar Par- is than e great much ley are 1 upon ipon a )f It at New- f their Tranf- j, free readily 'k may alf the ice the )irpute Indian apiece h fa id r^5 and" flinely enied, Nczv- dc, in ands ; iuilry; much ndianr will ( 249 ) will certainly buy, where they ran, at the cheap- efl Rate. It muft naturally beobje(5led, TIj^I if thefe things are true^ how is it pojftble that the leaders of New- York ftjould negleSi fo conftderabk and beneficial Trade forfo long time? In anfwering this Obje^lion, I fliall jQiew the Dif- ficulties New-Tork has kbour'd under, by giving a fhoit Hiflory of the Country, fo far as it relates to this Trade. Which Method, I think, can be liable to the lead Objedion, and put the whole in the trucft Light. • . _. When this Country (the Province of New-Tork) came firft under the Crown of Great-Britain^ our Five Nations of Indians were mortal Enemies of the French at Canada y and were in a continual War widi them, and all the Nations of Indians round the Lakes j fo that then it was not faf c for the EngVjh to travel further than the Countries of the Fhe Na- tions ; nor would our Indians permit ih^far Ind'ar,s, (with whom they had conflant War) to pafs ihn/ their Countries to Albany, Befides, the Five Nations of Indians were at that time fo numeroiit;, (coniilKng of ten times the Number of fighting Men they new do) lb.it the Trade with them alone w.'is very con- fiderable for fo young and fmall a Colony. In tae^ latter End of King Charleses I^elgn, when the Duke cf Tork^ and Poprjh Councils prevail'^, the Govt-r-- nor oi New-Tork (who was likewife a Papjl) had Orders to ufe all his Endeavours to make up a Pciice between our Nations (the Iroquois) and the French 5 and that he fliould perfuade the Five Nations to ^ii- m\t French Priejls among them, in order to civi- h'ze them. The Confequence of which was*, thitt the French thereby obtained a free Commerce upon the LakeSy and obtainned leave to build Cataracui Fort upon theNorth-fideofC^/jr^fK/A-r.vi., and have two Vcfieis of Force upon the fame Lake* Fron> M 5 Uiis '•■•••f-' i; r. h i m 4 1 tilis 7'inic, <^'-»^i'l;^ i»H King y^//;;tfi\s Rtlgn, th-: I^rench^ whenever tlK'y had any DilFcrciKth with our Five Nations.^ threatcnM, that the Efiglijh ot' Niui-Tork Would p\\\ with them, and deftroy the Five Nations ; by which, and the Practices pf the French Priejh^ our Five Nations became very much alienated in Uieii' Affedious from the Englijh^ and look'd upou them a^ a People depending upon the, French, The Confcquences of this appeared lb daji- fcroiis to Colonel Dnngan^ the Governor of New- "ork (though, as I have (aid, a Papiji) that he again and again complained to his Mailer of the ill (^iEces the French Pricjis did the Englijb among our Nations. Wlien the Englifi had thus procured a Peace for the French^ they thought they might jullly reap fome Advantage from It ; and it is hardly to bo doubted, but that they had Promifcs of that kuuL 'rhcy were therefore encouraged to fend forty Men, with great Quantities of Goods, into the Eake y. under the Command of Major AI^Gregory^ to trade with the far Nations, At this time Mr. Denonvillcy Governor of Car^ada^ was gathering together all the Force of Canada^ and of the Indians^ (Enemies o£ the Five Nations) i^i order to furprize the Five Na'^ tions, and deftroy them, at the Time they thought theinfelves fecure by the Peace fo lately made. Ma- jor Al^'Gregoryy a^id his Company, were met by a. French OiScer on Lake Erie^ coming with a great, Number of Men to the general Rendezvous of the French^ and he, with all the Englijhy were made Prifoners. They were ufed with fuch Severity as. . has never been pra^^is'd between Cbrijlian Natiom- in open War, tho' the two Crowns, at that time^ were not only at Peace, but under the ftriAeftTies. of mutual Friendfliip 3 for the French ufed thefe. People as Slaves in building Caiaraq^i Forty and ^ poor Frenchman that, had condudled them, was BMblikckly fliot tQ Dtatiij as if he had bxought anj v&i with Jh ot Enemy into tlfctr Qountry. Such w;^s their Appro-r henfions then of the Engl'tfti getting an/ Fpotijig^ among the Indians, 'f he French Governor furpvi^^ed a Village of thes Five Nations y who on the French Faith, hv'd in, treat Sccurhy, but ieven of ei^ht Leagues froni^ the French Fort, and lent thdc miferabje Pevgie tof ^he Gal lies in France. Wfi. afterwards fcU upon, tjhe SennekaSy and burnt their Vilh'.ges, byt witho^. any Advantage to the French^ they bi^ving loft n}or^ Men than the Indians did. T\iis rcncwM the War with greater Fury than ever, Vetwecn the French and our Indians^ For fonie tlt>ic afterwards, our JndiafiSy in a great Body, fert upon the Ifland pf Montreal, while Mr. p,c;ionvjHs.v/^'. \f\ the Town ; They burnt and dcik)ycd all the Villages and |loW;fe& tound Moutrealy and killed lome hiMidreds v>f Mon^ W^onien, and Children. Afterwards they came into the open Fields hdoxQ Mantre^tl^ and there de- fy'd the Fnench Governor, wiio did not think it propjcr to fight them. And when they had done all the Pvliii^hief they (^o'4^^ tlie^f .fe^if'd' witlwu.i ^ny Lqfs. ■ ' - .• . . -^ About this Time the Revolution, happened in, Qreat-^Britqirtj which was fucceeded by a^ Waj5 between Great-Britain and France, In ^ehniary^ 1689-90, a Party of three hundred Men, confifV-r kig of equal Nunibers, of French and Indians^ fur-, TgHJZQdSche/ie^adyi h} the Night-Tim^j wli^i>r thti poor People were in their Beds, in the greateft Se-; (purity, wliere they barbarou(iy murdered, fL3c,C)vthfee Men, Women, and Children, incjold Blocfd, laict. tiie Village in Afhes, and then r^tir'd, without reaping any other Advantage befides thi^ cruel Re- 'ienge on innocent People, for the Mifchief our In- dians had donp thi^m- This raised; ^ cruel Wa^; l^tweei^j tlie twp Colonies, in W)hiicb tjxere wa^ ,, . * 1 much ■ill ■.r:*,.NM».#^«3ife,«^vi^;,. ' \ 9H m'4 li* .'f ' fl ( 252 ) much Mifchief done, and Blood fhed, wJ-houf: ?,nv Advanu*""e to either fide. \n Time o»^ this War, the ?no/i Chrifiian Kinf^ xjovernor if Canada was fo much provoked, that l!c thought fit to follow the Example of our barba- rous />7^;^ffj, and burn his Indian Prifoners alive, in the moft cruel Manner, in fight of all the Inha- bitants of ^jieheck^ and to deliver up the EngUJh Prifoners to the French Indians^ who indeed had more Mercy, for they kilPd none of them. King Wtlliam^s Peace put an End to this War ; but the Peace lafted fo fhort a while, that the Peo- . pie 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 Cclo- nies having now an Abhorrence of the Cruelties of the laft War, agreed on a kind of Neutralitf - 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 pofTible for them to conquer our Five Indian Nation.;^ re olved to try all Means* to gain their Afredlioiv^^ und in this Art the French are ahvays more fuccefsful than in that : of War j and the Englijh failing m two ill-con- certed Expeditions againft Canada^ the Indians loft much of the Opinion they had of the Englijh Power and Valour. ' •*'- * ' ' \ ' i . • "^i InTime of this laft War, tlie clandeftine Trade to Montreal began to be carried on by Indians^ from j^ It pry to Montreal, This gave Rife to the Kah- nuai^y or Fraying Indians^ who are entirely made u^ of Dcferters frorn .he Mohawks and River^In^ /V ,, iv.id wciii either enticed thither by the French P^'iHi. ^r by our Merchants, in order to carry . 'X Ouous Goods from Albany to MQntrea\ or nm «wr.y for fome Mifchief done here. Thefe Indians^ now confift of about cight\ fighting Men, and live about four Leagues above Montreal : They neither plant nor hunt, but depend chiefly upon this private Trade for their Subfiftcnce. Thefe Indiatis in time of War, gave the French Intclh'gence of all Dc- figns here againft them: By them likewifctheiv^/zf^ engaged our Five Nations in a War with the InJia7is Friends of Virginia^ and from them v^e might ex- pert the greateft 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 thi§ 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 fubfifl where they now are. As foon as the Peace was proclaim'd, an ofcn Trade with Montreal was carried on with fitch Ear- ' neft, that Montreal was filled v/lth Indian Goods ^ And Albany exhaufted j by which means Montreal became the principal, if not the only Indian Mar^ kety and the Indians depended entirely on the French for what thejr wanted. ^ ' Our Merchants were fond of the Canada Traded becaufe they fold large Quantities of Go is with- out any Trouble, the French taking them lionqttheir 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 cither never thought any thing about it, or if they did, had no Regard to it. ■,'•■■*■ ■ «, • ; 1 t: Now I have brought this Account to the Time your Excellency afrived ; what has hapj v nM iince, » your Excellency knows better than I can by ^ny * means inform you. From the whole it feems plaia, :.9 '^ m m ( ii4 ) plain, that any DifEculties and Advantages this province has been under, have only proceeded from the Wars, which have continued lince the firft fettling of the Province, to the Beginning of the laft general Peace. But now, that not only this Province^ but likewife pur Jim Nations of Indians are at Peace, and in Amity, both with the French^ find all the Indian Nct'ions with whom we can Jiave any Commerce, thefe DifficiJties are ali re-r mov*d, and we now enjoy the mod favourable Time, that at any Time can be hoped for, ii^ order to extei^d the Britijh Commerce m North-- ^tnerica^ whil'e the French not only labour under the OifBculties which I have fhewn to he infepara^* hie froqi the Situation pf their Colony^ but likewif^ iinder another Difad vantage, (not before takeij notice of) by the P'urr-Trade of Canada being j-eftraij^'d to one Company* This Company is obliged to pay heavy Duties in France upon tl^c Importation , of Beaver^ or any other Furr ; fo^ whicK-JSlearor they always fix a Price upon Beavei^^ and theii* other Furrs in Canada j and the Indian Trader's o^ Canada being reflrain'd from felling to any but the Company's Agents there, they cannot raiie the Price of Induin Goods as the Price of European rife, or" as their Profit on the Goods they fell tp the Indians Is lell^n'd, ; ; "~ -. . • .'.^ The Merchants of New-York allow our Indian Traders double the Price for Beaver, that the French Company ?Jlo\v their Indian Traders, the Price eflablifheJ by the Company for Beaver, in Canada^ being two Livics, ov eighteen Pence Sterlings the Pound-weight ; and the current Price of Beaver in Newr-Tork belrir fiyc Shillings Neiv-Tork Money, o^ three Shillings Sterling the Pound-weight. There- fore '\l plainly follows, that our Indian Traders ld for in Canada, .\ . i^ It may be objedbed, againft.this Argument, That the Canada Company as foon at they find that the Traders cannot fell at their ejiahlijhed Pr{cei '^i^^ allow a greater Price, But if we confider the Du- ties the French Company is obUged to pay to tHp King, they cannot allow fo great a Price as tli^ Engtijh can at Neiv^Tork, A Bib if it (hould be infifted. That the French Oornp^^?^ n%ay obtain ei Remijpon of thofe^ yet if the clandeftine Trade with Albany be entirely ftopt, the French Traders will be ruin'd before fuch Remiflion can be obtained, and their IVade will be at an eiid. , - - ^ • >• , ^ tit , ■ >,. » - ^\. . i ^Mit .tl-'i.' i •ii. ^ ^' -*J My Inclinatiion led me to fhow what Advantage* not only the Indian Trade would reap by extending our Frontiers as far as the Lakes, but likewife the Britijh Trade in fome other Branches, which the Parliament of Great-Britain feem to have nwioh/aX Heart, viz. Naval Stores ; for the Soil on both Sides of the Mohawks River being as rich as it is pofIit>Ie (I believe) for any Land to be, will be found the moil proper for raifing of Hemp, oi any Part of America^ and the wt\olc Country round it tl 'rf i ( 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; .. t'fo vi' v.-'i'^^^n u ^- iciHi.a-ia ^rU li/U Ladwaiiader Colden, 7 .-c >5"i \- ty\^ '.ni ^: '. ..: c/i ^'i j. Vm a 'iiv* .yfifr -.ntr-' To this it may not be improper to a^q the -,!.;./:- foHowiiog Original Letter.^ ^^,.^ ,,,^^. FVc;» J. A. E/qi i9 Afr, P. C. of London, Jhewin^ ? />6^ Siucifs of tht AUofurti takm at that Tiuu* - ? s / ie^-^'^- '> • ' :- ■ JWw-nr/f, 1740. I.F you flaoujd be at the Pains to read the fe printed Papersi, it will be a Pleafure t^ you to, hear of the Succefs of i ti^ Meafures taken by Governor Burnet for red^pming the Indian Trade out of Che Hands cC the French* He has fucceeded far above -,—^- '■»■■■■ .,1 our Expedations, • , ' - - ,. , ,' Governor Burnet^ through his earned Applica- tion, and at firft chiefly with his Money, Credit, and Rifque, eredled a Trading-HouCe and Fortifi- cation at the Mouth of the On^ndarues River, called OfnsigOy where the Province of Neiv-Tork Aipports a Garrifon of Soldiers, confiding of a Lieutenant and twenty Men, which are yearly i:^lieved. At this Place a very great T4:ade is carried on with the remote Indians^ who formerly ufed to go dawn Jo 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 ( "^Sl ) the fame Time, the French were chiefly fupplied by one Gentleman at New-Tor k^ who almoft entirely engrofled the Indian Trade of this Province, and thereby acquired a very great Eilate and Influence. But the prudent Steps taken by our late worthy Governor, to open a free Tracfe, was the Caufe of the Engrofl'cr's lofing his. The Probability of doing this, was the principal Motive of our apply- ing to the King, which is (hewn by thefe printed Papers. The Indian Trade, to th? great Advantage of this Province, is now divided \z^to feveral hundred Hands, and there have been for riany Years pad upwards of one hundred young Men of this Pro- vince, who have gone yearly among the Indians^ to fupply them with our Goods. ^y this Means, at a modeft Efl:imate, I am af- fured, that the Indian Trade of this Province is now far jibove fiveTimes as much as when Gover- nor B Timet 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 Indian Nations are drawn oflF 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 Prote£li©n is acquired by the Englijhy in cafe of a War with France ; and by this Trade our Settlements in this Provimie 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 Sajquehanah 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 Mi/,/. , a 258 ) Jl^i/iffppt ; V/hkh Branch cxtcntling a thoufand IVliles from its Mouth, where it enters tho faid River ) and which joinsr fo near to our Settlements, as is above taken Kotice of, opens us a Trade to , {,f i , : . . v ) \) »•.[>». ; M !?r.;i' I Ci'i.^fv C^: ■. ' I ►";!-. Tour Imnbie Servant ' I. w )>,> .1 1 tot ^ -^ ( ,< './.,.. f I 1 . . ' * . ' • r j»^ .»- . « 'lie • . I . ' . ^ ; • .: *•» J. ■ I j i . . I i. , ; . . J * . .11; , » «» . • » '» . ' 4. 4. -'»■., ^ -I • . )i^ ;i'- '■■' ■ I ^f - -; .: >\ ' •:;.'/ ' ;/ « »• * _ . : ■* ' • "■ ;. .'..•:/ -;^r '" r 1 . > J il f. > J^f t ( ^rt 1 C7\ "s ■a>m* III.* >liiiiitHI il^i •*^ ilM. , t «*^ ilaii I, ii 1 1 . ,. ».i»<^-» ii** * I V O C A B U L A R Y OF, ^ome Words and Names ufed by the French Author s^ , ^%Juho treat of the Indian Affairs^ which are dif-' fercnt from the Ndrties of the fame People of Places^ ufed or underflood by the Eirglilh, and may therefore be ufeful to thofe who intend to read the French Accounts^ or compare them with tht Account i now publijhed. Names ufid by the French. A Benaguies. Algonklns. Amihouis, Aniez. The fame are called by ti^el^ng' lifli, or by the Five Nations. ) Bay des Puans. Chigagou. Corlaer, or Corlard. OWenagungas^ or New* England Indians, and ar^ fometimes called the Ka-» ftern Indians. ; , , i Adirondacks. * Dionondadies, crTuInonda- deks, a Branch or Tribe of the Quatoghies. Mohawks, called likcwife Maquas. Enitajiche. Caneraghik. Schenc6lady. But the Five Nations commonly call the Cover- ■> IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) k A {./ ^ >. ^ 4b^ V. 1.0 I.I 1!^ U£ IL25 i 1.4 2.0 1.6 Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. MS80 (716) 872-4S03 \ iV ■1>^ \ :\ V ^\^\ 26o A rOCABULART, &a. Names ufed by the The /ami called ly the Eng- French. r' ^I Detroit. Hurons. Hinois. Iroquois. Lac Huron. Loups. Manhattan. Mafcoutecs. Mourigan. Miamies. MiiTilimakinak. MifHfakies. Oncyouts. Ontario lac. Orange. Outagamies. Outawas. Renards. Sauiteurs. Shaouonons. Tateras. Terre rouge. Tongorias. Tfonontouans. '>\ lifli, or Five Nations, Governor ^New-York by this NanUy and often the J People of the Province of New- York in general. Teuchfagrondie. Quatoghie. Chidtaghicks. The Five Nations. Caniatare, ^rQuatoghe lake. Scahkook Indians. - New- York City. ' •• '^ Odiflaftagheks. Mabikander, or River Indi- ans, living on Hudfon'x River below Albany. Twightwies. Teiodondoraghie. Achfifaghecks. Oneydoes. Cadarackui Lake. .^ ^ Albany. Quackfies and Scunkfiks. * Utawawas, or Dewagunhas. Quakfies. Eftiagbicks. Satanas. • Todcricks. Scunkfik. Erighecks. Senekas. \ The End of the First Volume. »g- -w '■• ^.: -;-im-^0 4^ b^ " 'I Wf,