Gambar halaman
PDF
ePub

CH'A P." taken Prifoner, and was taken into the Place of X. "the chief Sachem of Onondaga, 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 they had a Vote in the "General Council, and a Right to propofe any Thing. They wrote and read to us the Pur"ports of their Belts, and we have brought their Papers with us, to fhew to our Brethren."

[ocr errors]

'

To fhew the Neceffity they were under of making Peace, speedily he added:

"That two Women, who were Prisoners at Ca"nada, had made their Efcape, on Purpose to in"form them that the French were making great

66

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Preparations of Battoes, and other Neceffaries for "an Expedition; one faid, she had informed one of "the Sachems of the Praying Indians of her Defign, "who sent an Indian with her to advise the Five Na"tions, to prevent the great Danger they were "threatened with by a speedyConclufion of the Peace; "and added, that they had fent one of their People "back with this Praying Indian, to assure 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 haften the Five Nations to conclude the Peace, left the English, if it were delayed, should find Means to prevent it. Then he fhewed the Flag which the Governor of Canada fent them to be carried by their Deputies, that the French might know them. Upon these Refolutions being taken, the Five Nations recalled fix hundred Men, that they had placed along Cadarackui River, to intercept the French, as they paffed to and from Miffilimakinak.

The Jefuit's Papers being read to them, feveral Things were found in them which he had not read to the General Council. To this Decanefera anfwered; "We know that the Prieft favours his own Nation, and deceives us in many Things;

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

" but

1

[ocr errors]

an

0

"but it is not in his Power to alter our Affection CHA P. "to our Brethren, we wish you would bury all X. "Mifunderstandings that you have conceived on << his Account; and we likewife wifh you gave

lefs Credit to the Rum-Carriers, than you do." Here we fee, by this Appellation, what a conPu temptible Character the Traders have among the Indians, and yet the Government of New-York has almoft perpetually trufted the Management of the Indian Affairs to thefe Traders.

you,

Decanefora ended his Conference as follows: "The Governor of Canada's Words, and the Re"folutions of the four Nations are now before "confult therefore what is to be done, and if it be "neceffary for the Brethren to go to our Castles to "advise us farther, be not unwilling; and then he "laid down a large Belt eleven Rows deep, and fe"ven Fathom of Wampum."

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

66

66

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

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]

CHAP. Major Schuyler then afked them again, wheX. ther they promifed to ftop all Correfpondence with the French, either by the Jefuit or otherwise, for seventy Days, and till they fhall have his Excellency the Governor's Answer.

Decanefora answered to this, "I have no Autho"rity to anfwer this Queftion. I shall lay the Belt "down in every one of the Caftles, and tell, that

by it all Correspondence is defired to ftop with "the French; but I cannot promise that this will be complied with."

Major Schuyler on the fixth called the Indians again together: He advised them not to submit to, nor truft fuch a perfidious Nation as the French are, who have upon all Occafions proved themselves fuch. Be not difcouraged, (fays he, giving a Belt) Heaven begins again to favour us. This Day the Forerunners of the Shawonons are come to Town, feven Nations are on their March following them, one Thoufand in Number, including Men, Women 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 Influence than all other Arguments together.

Decanefora, the next Day, called the Magiftrates together, and told them, you have at laft fhut up the Way to Canada, but we have one Thing to afk, after mature Deliberation, which we expect will not be refufed us. Major Schuyler affured them that every Thing fhould be granted, which was either for their Safety or Honour. We defire then, faid he, that you fend a Meffenger along with ours to the Praying Indians at Canada, to tell them that the Prieft is falfe; that we are to - meet Cayenguirago in the Spring, and therefore cannot go to Canada at that Time; and that a further Ceffation of Arms be agreed to, till fuch Time as

we

X.

we can go. We defire at least, that if you will not C H A P. fend a Meffenger, that you put the Meffage in Writing, as a Token of your Affent to it. This laft was agreed to, and the Meffage was put in Writing in the following Words, and tranflated into French.

The Dispatch of three Belts, which two Meffengers of the Five Nations carry to the Caraguifts and Catholick Indians, according to what was refolved by the Agayandres or Sachems of the Five Nations, at Albany, February the ninth 1694.

First Belt.

The Agayandres of the Five Nations cannot go to Canada in the Spring, as they gave Reason to expect by the laft Meffage from Onondaga, because 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.

Second Belt.

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

Third Belt.

The Five Nations, and their Friends, lay down the Hatchet till they fhall have an Answer, which they expect in forty Days. Provided nevertheless, that the Caraguifts and French tye their Hatchets down at the fame Time.

These Belts were accordingly prefented to the. Praying Indians of Cahnuaga, who refufed to receive them but in the Prefence of Mr. de Callieres, M 2 Governor

CHA P. Governor of Montreal. Mr. de Callieres acquaintX. ed the Count de Frontenac with the Contents. After which the Praying Indians, in Prefence of Mr. de Callieres, gave the following Answer.

"We will have no Correfpondence with the "Five Nations, but by Order of the Governor of "Canada our Father, and unlefs Decanefora, and "the other Deputies, come before the Feast of "St. John, the Way will be fhut up for ever after, "and our Father's Ears will be ftopt. We how"ever affure you, that if the Deputies come in "that Time the Path shall be safe both coming " and going."

1

Whether the Accounts given of the coming of the Shawonons was only an Amusement, or whether they were diverted on their March, I know not, for I find no farther Account of them in the Regifter of the Indian Affairs: However it was, the Impreffion, made on the Indians by that News, was not fufficient to withftand the Force of the refolute Answer their Meffenger received from the Praying Indians. Decanefora and the other Deputies went early in the Spring to Canada; the other Sachems met Colonel Fletcher at Albany, the fourth of May 1694. The Indians fpoke firft by Sadakanabtie, an Onondaga Sachem, as follows:

"Brother Cayenguirago,

"Some of our Sachems agreed laft Winter that "we fhould keep no Correfpondence with_the "French; we confefs that we have broke that Pro"mife, and that we have received a Meffenger "from Canada, and have fent our Deputies like"wife thither: The Belt is not yet arrived, by "which we are to acknowledge our Fault in doing

2

"this.

« SebelumnyaLanjutkan »