After that they grouped together apart in nations and tribes. calling to them a Mohawk who by good luck was there They consulted together for the space of two hours longer. Finally they called me among them and seated me in an honorable place

The Chief who is the tongue of the country, repeats faithfully as orator the substance of all my words. Then all set to singing in token of their gratification; I was told to pray God on my side, which I did very willingly. After these songs he spoke to me in the name of his Nation. 1. He thanked Onnontio for his good disposition towards them, and brought forward for this pur pose two large belts of wampum.

2. He thanked us in the name of the Mohawk Iroquois for having given their lives to five of their allies of the Mohegan Nation. Two other belts for that.

3. He thanked us in the name of the Seneca Iroquois for ha'ving drawn five of their tribe out of the fire. Two more belts. Ejaculations from the whole assembly follow each present.

Another Captain of the Oneida Nation rises: Onnontio, said he-speaking of M. de Lauzon our Governor-Onnontio thou art the pillar of the Earth; thy spirit is a spirit of peace and thy words soften the hearts of the most rebellious spirits. After other compliments expressed in a tone animated by love and respect, he produced four large belts to thank Onnontio for having encouraged them to fight bravely against their new enemies of the Cat Nation, and for having exhorted them never again to war against the French. Thy voice, said he, Onnontio is wonderful, to produce in my breast at one time two effects entirely dissimilar; thou animatest me to war, and softenest my heart by the thoughts of peace; thou art great both in peace and war, mild to those whom thou lovest, and terrible to thine enemies. We wish thec to love us, and we will love the French for thy sake.

In concluding these thanks, the Onontaga Chief took up the word. Listen Ondessonk, said he to me; five entire nations speak to thee through my mouth. My breast contains the sentiments of the Iroquois Nations, and my tongue responds faithfully to my breast. Thou wilt tell Onnontio four things, the sum of all our councils.

1. We are willing to acknowledge Him of whom thou hast spoken, who is the master of our lives, who is unknown to us. 2. Our council tree is this day planted at Onnontaga-meaning that that would be, henceforth, the place of their meetings and of their negotiations for peace.

2. We conjure you to select on the banks of our great lake an advantageous site for a French settlement. Fix yourself in the heart of the country, since you ought to possess our hearts. There we shall go for instruction, and from that point you will be able to spread yourself abroad in every direction. Be unto us careful as fathers and we shall be unto you submissive as children.

4. We are engaged in new wars; Onnontio encourages us. We shall entertain no other thought towards him than those of peace.

They reserved their richest presents for these last four words; but I can assure you their countenances told more than their tongues, and expressed joy mingled with so much mildness that my heart was full. What appeared to me most endearing in all this was that all our Huron Christians and the captive women, lighted this fire which melts the hearts of the Iroquois. They told them so much good of us, and spoke so often of the great value of the Faith, that they prize it without being acquainted with it; and they love us in the hope that we shall be for them what we have been for the Indians. To return to the Father's Journal: The 11th day of August. There is nothing but feasts and rejoicings every where. A misfortune occurred, however, at night. A cabin catching fire, no one knew how, an impetuous wind drove the flames to the others, and in less than two hours more than twenty were reduced to ashes, and the remainder of the village was in danger of being burnt. God preserved all hearts however in the joy of the preceding day, and their dispositions as calm towards me as if this misfortune had never happened.

The 12th. Our Christian captives wishing to confess before my departure gave me employment, or rather repose which I wished for. I baptized a little girl of four years who was dying. I recovered from the hands of these barbarians, the New Testament of the late Father Jean de Brebouf, whom they put to a

cruel death five years ago, and a small book of devotion which was used by the late Father Charles Garnier whom they also killed four years ago.

Observing the custom of convoked the Council, I

The 13th. Came the leave taking. friends on similar occasions, having made them two presents to console them. And with this view I first planted in the name of Achiendassé (which is the appellation of the General Superior of all our Society's Missions in these countries) the first post on which to begin a cabin. This is like laying the first stone in France of a house one intends to build. My second present was to throw down the first bark that is to cover the cabin. This evidence of affection satisfied them, and three of their Chiefs thanked me publicly in speeches which one could not be persuaded issued from the lips of men called savages.

Nevertheless they seek me every where to give me my parting feast, all the men and women of consideration being invited in my name into our cabin, according to the custom of the country, in order to do honor to my departure. We part in good company. After the public cry of the Chief, every one vies to carry our little baggage.

About half a league from there we found a group of old men, all Chiefs of the Council, who waited to bid me Adieu hoping for my return for which they ardently testified their wishes.

16th. We arrive at the entrance of a small lake in a large half dried basin; we taste the water of a spring that they durst not drink, saying that there is a Demon in it which renders it fœtid; having tasted it I found it was a fountain of Salt water; and in fact we made Salt from it as natural as that from the sea; of which we carried a sample to Quebec. This lake abounds in fish-in salmon trout and other fish.

17th. We enter their river, and at a quarter of a league meet at the left the Seneca river, which increases this; it leads, they say, to Cayuga (Onioen) and to Seneca in two sunsets. At three leagues of a fine road from there, we leave the River Oneida

(Oneiout) which appears to us very deep.

Finally a good

league lower down we meet a rapid which gives the name to a village of fishermen. I found there some of our Christians and some Huron Christian women whom I had not yet seen.

19th. We proceed on our journey on the same river which is of a fine width and deep throughout, except some shoals where we must get into the water and draw the canoe lest the rocks break it.

20. We arrive at the Great Lake, Ontario, called the Lake of the Iroquois.

21. This lake is in a fury in consequence of the violence of the winds after a storm of rain.

22. Coasting quietly the shores of this Great Lake, my sailors kill with a shot from a gun, a large stag: my companion and I content ourselves looking at them broiling their stakes, it being Saturday, a day of abstinence for us.

23. We arrive at the place which is fixed on for our house and a French settlement. Beautiful prairies, good fishing; a resort of all Nations. There I found new Christians who confessed themselves and furnished me with devotion in their sentiments of piety.

24 and 25. Being windbound, one of our canoes foundered on the 26, our sailors having embarked before the tempest had abated, and we thought we should have perished-finally we cast ourselves on an island where we dried ourselves at our leisure.

27. In the evening a little lull afforded us time to regain the main land.

28 and 29. The chase stops our sailors who are in the best possible humor; for flesh is the paradise of the man of flesh. 30 and last of August. The rain and wind seriously inconvenience poor travellers, who having worked all day are badly provided for at night.

1 day of Sept. I never saw so many deer, but we had no inclination to hunt. My companion killed three as if against his What a pity for we left all the venison there, reserving the hides and some of the most delicate morsels.

will.

2 of the month. Travelling through vast prairies, we saw in divers quarters immense herds of wild bulls and cows; their horns resemble in some respect the antlers of the stag.

3 and 4. Our game does not leave us; it seems that veni

son and game follow us every where. plunge into the water as if to meet us. of amusement, by blows of an axe.

Droves of twenty cows

Some are killed, for sake

5. In one day we travel over the road which took us two long days ascending the rapids and breakers.

6. Our Sault St. Louis frightens my folks. They land me four leagues above the settlement of Montreal, and God gave me sufficient strength to arrive before noon, and to celebrate mass, of which I was deprived during my whole voyage.

7. I proceed and descend to Three Rivers where my sailors desire to go. We arrived at Quebec on the eleventh day of the month of September of this year, 1654.

JOURNAL OF WHAT OCCURRED BETWEEN THE FRENCH AND SAVAGES.

[Relation, &c. 1657 and 1658.]

The word Onnota, which signifies, in the Iroquois tongue, a Mountain, has given the name to the village called Onnontaé, or as others call it, Onnontagué, because it is on a mountain; and the people who inhabit it consequently style themselves Onnontae-ronnons, or Onnontagué-ronnons. These people have for a

long time and earnestly demanded that some priests of our 1655. Society be sent to their country. Finally, Father Joseph Chaumont and Father Claude Dablon were granted to them, in the year 1655. They embarked on the 19th Sept., and arrived at Onnontagué the 5th November of the same year 1655.