CHA P.to it. He told them, there was no Poffibility of X. preventing it, but by the Indians being affured of

more effectual Affistance, than they had hitherto received, and advised them to fend Commiffioners for that Purpose to Albany in Auguft, at which Time he intended to meet the Five Nations there, after the Return of their Meffengers from Canada. Accordingly, Andrew Hamilton, Efq; Governor of New-Jerfey, Colonel John Pinchon, Samuel Sands, Efq; and Major Pen Townsend, Commiffioners from Maffachufet's Bay, and Colonel John Hauley and Captain Stanley, Commiffioners from Connecticut, waited on Colonel Fletcher at Albany, who carried with him likewife a Part of the Council of NewYork.

Thefe Gentlemen having met the Indians at Albany the fifteenth of Auguft, Decanefora rofe up first, and defired Leave to fing a Song or two of Peace, before they began on Bufinefs. Then Rode, a Mohawk Sachem, rofe up, and addreffing himself to the other Sachems, faid, we have great Reason to rejoice, feeing fo many of thofe, who are in our Chain, are now met, to confult together on the general Weal; after which they fang two or three Songs.

Sadakanabtie being chofen Speaker for that Day, rofe up, fpoke much to the fame Purpofe as he had done to Colonel Fletcher in May laft; giving a metaphorical Account of their League with the Englih, how it began, and by what Steps it had been inlarged and ftrengthened; how the other Colonies had thrust their Arms into this Chain, but had given little or no Affiftance against the common Enemy. "Our Brother Cayenguirago's Arms (fays he) "and ours are stiff, and tired with holding faft the

Chain, whilft our Neighbours fit ftill and fmoak "at their Eafe. The Fat is melted from our Flesh, and fallen on our Neighbours, who grow fat

"while we grow lean: They flourish while we de- CHAP. σε cay.

"This Chain made us the Envy of the French, "and if all had held it as faft as Cayenguirago, it << would have been a Terror alfo. If we would "all heartily join and take the Hatchet in our "Hand, our common Enemy would foon be de

ftroyed, and we should for ever after live in Peace "and Eafe. Do you but your Parts, and Thunder " itself cannot break our Chain."

Then he mentioned fome Jealoufies they had entertained of New-England, by their fuffering the Chevalier D'O to escape to Canada, which they fufpected 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 set at "Liberty by the English, and that it was in vain "that the Five Nations warred against the French, "while the English favoured them." On this Occafion he fhewed them a Fish painted on Paper, which the Commiffioners of New-England had given them, when they firft entered into the Chain, as a Seal to the League.

He finished by telling them, that they would next Day give all the Particulars of their Negotiation in Canada.

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The next Day Decane fora proceeded to the Account of his Negotiation, as follows: "The Governor 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 Propofals.

"Father, if we do not conclude a Peace now, "it will be your Fault; for we have already taken "the Hatchet out of the Hands of the River Indi"ans (Hudjon's River) whom we incited to the

"Wars

X.

CHAP." War. But we must tell you, that you are an ill "Man, you are inconftant and not to be trufted; "we have had War together a long Time, and

X.

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though you occafioned the War, we never hated "the House of Ogheffa, (a Gentleman living at "Montreal) let him undertake the toilfome Journey to Onondaga; for if he will he fhall be wel

❝come.

"Father, we are now fpeaking of Peace, and "therefore I muft fpeak a Word to the Praying In

dians, and firft to thofe of Cahnaaga (chiefly Mo"hawks) you know our Customs and Manners, "therefore make Onondio acquainted therewith, and "be affifting in the profecuting of this good Work. Then to the other Caftle, called Canafjadaga,

(chiefly Onondagas) you are worfe than the French "themselves, you deserted from us, and fide with "our Enemies to destroy us; make fome amends "now, by forwarding Peace.

"You have almoft eat us up, our best Men are "killed in this bloody War; but we now forget

what is paft. Before this we once threw the "Hatchet into the River of Kaibobage, but you "fifhed it up, and treacherously surprised our Peo' ple at Cadarackui. After this you sent 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 Purpose, by the Deftruction of your People and Houfes in the Island of Montreal.

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"Now we are come to cover the Blood from our 66 Sight, which has been fhed by both Sides during "this long War.

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

"Onon

Onondio, we have been at War a long Time, we CHA P. "now give you a Medicine to drive away all ill X. Thoughts from your Heart, to purge it and make "it clean, and reftore it to its former State.

"Onondio, we will not permit any Settlement at "Cadarackui; you have had your Fire there thrice "extinguished; we will not confent to your rebuilding that Fort, but the Paffage through the "River fhall be free and clear. We make the Sun "clean, and drive away all Clouds and Darkness, "that we may fee the Light without Interrupti

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<< on.

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"Onondio, we have taken many Prisoners from one another, during the War. The Prisoners we "took have been delivered, according to our Cuf"tom, to the Families that have loft any in the "War. They no longer belong to the Publick, "they may give them back if they pleafe, your "People may do the fame. We have brought "back two Prisoners, and restore them to you.

"After I had finifhed what I had to fay,continued he, "the Governor of Canada told me, that he would "not make Peace with Cayenguirago. To this I anfwer"ed, these Words difpleafe me much, you fhall keep Peace with him. Onondio faid again, I muft

fight with Cayenguir ago, it is not in my Power to "make Peace; this can only be done by my Ma❝fter, who lives over the great Water. To this. I

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replied, I cannot bear this Difcourfe; if you

fhould fight him now, and not ftay till I get "Home, all the Country will look on me as a Tray"tor; I can treat with you no longer. The Argu"ment on this Subject lafted three Days, at last the "Governor of Canada affured me, that he would not "undertake any Enterprize against Cayenguirago "this Summer, but would wait to hear what he "wou'd say.

"The

CHA P.
X.

"The Governor of Canada infifted three Days to "have Hoftages left, which I refufed, but two a"greeing of their own accord to ftay, they were " left, viz. one an Onondago, another a Seneka.

"Then the Governor of Canada made the follow"ing publick Answer;

"1. I accept of Peace as you offer.

"II. Son, bring all the Prifoners back that you "have taken from me, and yours fhall have Liber"ty to return Home, if they please.

III. Children, erect my Fire again at Cada"rackui, and plant there the Tree of Peace.

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

"Children of the Five Nations, if Cayenguirago "fhall employ you to do any Service for him, do not accept of it, let him fend 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 Sachems of the "Dionondadies were prefent; after I had finished "my Speech, they faid; May what you have now "faid be from your Hearts; we fufpect you are not "fincere; let us no longer feel the Smart of the "Hatchet, and gave this Belt which I now lay down.

"The Praying Indians next faid, Brethren, "our Father Onondio has told you to bring Home "all the Prisoners, do not fail in this; giving twọ "Belts.

"Brother Cayenguirago, you will find what I have "now faid confirmed by this Paper, which the Go

66 vernor