A TREATY between his Excellency the Governor of the Province of NewYork, and the Six Nations, and other Indian Nations, depending on faid

I

Province.

T is well known in the Province of New-York, that the Six Nations of Indians depending on

this Province, (called Iroquois by the French) had lately on several Occafions, appear'd diffatisfied and wavering in their Fidelity to the British Crown. No doubt, this was principally occafion'd by the Artifices of the French of Canada, who had conftantly Emiffaries among them: But at the fame Time there is Reafon to think, the fufpicious Behaviour of these Nations, in Favour of their once inveterate Enemy the French, could not have arriv'd to the Pitch it did, otherwise than by fome Neglects or Misconduct of those who were entrusted by the Government of New-York with the Management of the Indian Affairs.

His Excellency the Governor of New-York, having received his Majefty's Commands, to engage the Indian Nations depending on his Government, to join in the Expedition then intended against Canada, and to make them the ufual Prefents on that Occafion; and being fenfible of the great Use these Nations might be to the Succefs of this Enterprize, and likewife of the Difficulties that probably might attend his Endeavours at this Time, was defirous. to have had the Affiftance of as many of the Members of his Majefty's Council as the Circumftances

of

of Affairs would permit; but they all declined to give their Attendance, except Mr. Colden and Mr. Living fton. His Excellency was therefore obliged to act with the smallest Number of Members, which by his Majesty's Commiflion can form a Council, viz. Three; the above two Gentlemen and Capt. Rutherford, who was then at his Poft in Albany.

As foon as his Excellency received his Majesty's Commands, he difpatched from Albany fuch Perfons as, by the beft Information he could receive, had Influence among the Six Nations, to invite them severally to meet him at Albany, on the 20th of July. His Excellency arriv'd at Albany the 21st of July, where having heard, that, befides the SmallPox, (which his Excellency never had) many were fick of a contagious malignant Fever, he continued on board the Sloop which carried him up, to confider where to lodge with the leaft Danger to his Perfon from the Infection of thefe Diftempers; and the next Morning refolved to go into the Fort. He was received at his Landing with the usual Marks of Refpect from the Corporation, the independent Companies of regular Troops then in the Place, and the Militia, under a Discharge of the Cannon of the Fort and Town.

In the Afternoon of the fame Day on which his Excellency came on fhore, three Indians, viz. two Onandagos and an Oneydo, brought two French Scalps and prefented to his Excellency: At which Time the Leader of the Party made a formal Speech to the following Purpose: That having had repeat ed Accounts of the Mischiefs done by the French, and of the frequent Murders committed by them, and that the Mohawks, notwithstanding their • Profeffions of Friendship, fuffered this Bloodfhed to remain unrevenged, his Heart could bear it no longer; he thereupon refolved to open for his Brethren the Path to Revenge: That thefe two Scalps which he now prefented were taken at Noon

、་

day

day in fight of the French Fort at Crown Point.' His Excellency told him how well he took this fpecial Mark of his Fidelity, and affured him, that he would not only now reward him and his Companions, by particular Prefents, but would always remember this Act of Friendship. They had already received the Reward given by 'the Act of Affembly. His Excellency gave each of them four Spanish Dollars; to the Leader a fine laced Coat and Hat, and a filver Breaft-Plate; and to each of the others a Stroud Blanket and lac'd Hat.

These Indians told us, that they lay feveral Days among the Bushes, from whence they could fee every Man that came out of the Fort-Gate. They endeavoured for fome time to take a Prisoner, but observing that none went to fuch a Distance from the Fort that they could hope to carry him off, they refolved to take the first Opportunity for a Scalp Two Soldiers coming out of the Fort, after the Chapel Bell had rung about Noon, one of the Indians, by their Leader's Order, fired with Swan Shot upon them while they were near to each other. It is a conftant Rule among thefe fculking Parties, never to fire without Orders from their Leader. One of the French Men was killed upon the Spot, the other wounded, and fled immediately towards the Fort Gate, the Indian who had fired, purfu'd, and with his Hatchet brought him down within a hundred Steps of the Fort Gate; and, though the French in the Fort rufhed out at the Gate, he took his Scalp off; the others had fcalped the Man that was firft killed, and then they all fled. The French in their Hurry had run out without their Arms, and upon recollecting themselves return'd to arm, which facilitated the Escape of the Indians.

His Excellency being informed, that the Leader of this Party was defirous to be distinguished by his Excellency's giving him a new Name, and that a Name, which in the Language of the Six

Nations

Nations fignified the Path-opener, would be moft acceptable to him; his Excellency honour'd him with that Title; which he accepted very thankfully, and feem'd exceedingly pleafed with it: Whereupon he faid, that the other two Indians having affociated with a Mehikander, or River Indian, were refolved to go out against the Enemy: But as he thought he might be more useful by staying, to affift at the enfuing Treaty, he was refolved to remain here. He added, that in cafe the Interpreter, and others fent to invite the Six Nations to meet here, fail'd in any Part, he would go among the Six Nations, and doubted not to bring many by his Influence, who otherwife might ftay.

In a Day or two after, fix of feven Indians, who had been fent out by the Commiffioners for Indian Affairs to Crown-Point, to take Prisoners, and gain Intelligence, returned and faid, That they had gone to that Place, and that in fight of it they had separated, with Defign thereby to furprize any Stragler that might have come out of the Fort: That while they were thus feparated, two of their Number were fuddenly furrounded and taken by the Enemy: One of these two, after having been detained three or four Days, join'd the others at Saraghtoga. He faid, that he had been threatened with death by the Adirondacks; but that the Cabnuagas interpos'd, and by their Interceffion he was fet at Liberty; and fome of the Cabnuagas conducted him through Lac Sacrement. He reported, that there was a great Number of Men, French and Indians, at Crown-Point. The other Prifoner, an Onondaga, confented to remain with the French, and was fent to Canada.

b

Soon

A Nation of Indians living in Canada, who have always been firm Friends to the French, and formerly were at War with the Six Nations.

A Number of Indians originally of the Five Nations, and Deferters from them, now fettled near Montreal, by whom the illicit Trade between Albany and Montreal was carried on: They are well acquainted with the Country about Albany.