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fand of the French kill'd at this time, and Twenty fix were carried away Prisoners, the greatest part of which were burnt alive. The Five Nations only loft three Men in this Expedition, that got Drunk, and were left behind. This, however, did not fatiate their Thirst after Blood; for in October following they deftroy'd likewife all the lower part of the Island, and carried away many Prisoners."

The Confequences 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 defign'd to have blown up their Works when they left that place, and for that end left a lighted Match where the Powder lay, but were in fuch a Fright, that they durft not stay to see what effect it had. They went down Cadarackui River, in feven Birch Canoes, and for greater Security travel'd in the Night. One of the Canoes with all the men in it was loft by their Precipitation, as they paffed one of the Falls of that River. The Five Nations hearing that the French had deferted Cadarackui Fort, 50 Indians went and took Poffeffion of it, who found the Match the French had left, which had gone out, and 28 Barrils of Powder in the fame place, together with feveral other Stores."

The News of the Succefs the Five Nations

had

had over the French, foon fpread itself among all the Indians, and put the French Affairs every where into terrible Disorder.

The Utawawas had always fhown an Inclination to the English, and they therefore immediately fent openly four Sachems with three Prisoners of the Sennekas that they had, to affure them, That they would forever Renounce all Friendship with the French, and promised to Reftore the reft of the Prisoners. They alfo included feven Nations that liv'd near Miffilimakinak, in this Peace.

This put the French commandant there under the greatest Difficulty to maintain his Poft; but there was no Choice, he must stand his Ground; for the Five Nations had cut off all hopes of Retiring.

The Nepeciriniens and Kikabous, of all their Numerous Allies, only remain'd firm to the French, every one of the others endeavour'd to gain the Friendship of the 5Nations, and would certainly have done it, by Maffacreing all the French among them, if the Sieur Perot had not with wonderful Sagacity and imminent Hazard to his own Perfon diverted them, for which Canada cannot do too much Honour to that Gentlemans Memory."

Canada was now in a moft Miferable Condition; for while the greatest Number of their Men had been employ'd in the Expeditions

against

against the Five Nations, and in Trading among the far Nations, and making New Discoveries and Settlements, Tillage and Husbandry had been neglected; now they loft feveral Thoufands of their Inhabitants by the continual Incurfions of fmall Parties, fo that none durft hazard themfelves out of the Fortified Places. Indeed, it is not eafie to conceive what Diftress the French were then under; for tho' they were almost every where ftarving, they could not Plant nor Sow, or go from one Village to another for Relief, but with imminent Danger of having their Scalps carried away by the Sculking Indians. At laft the whole Country being laid Waste, Famine began to rage, and was like to have put a Miferable End to that Colony.

If the Indians had understood the method of attacking Forts, nothing could have preferved the French from an entire Destruction at this time. For whoever confiders the ftate of the Indian Affairs during this Period, How the Five Nations were divided in their Sentiements and Measures; The Onnondagas, Cayugas, and Oneydoes, under the Influence of the French Jefuits, were diverted from profecuting the War with Canada, by the Jefuits cunningly fpiriting up those three Nations against the Virginia Indians, and perfwading them to send out their Parties that

way

way: The Sennekas had a War at the same time upon their hands with three numerous Indian Nations, the Utawawas, Chicktaghicks and Twibtwies: And the Measures the English observed with the French all King James's Reign, gave the Indians rather grounds of Jealoufy than Affistance. I fay, whoever confiders all these things, and what the Five Nations did actually perform under all these Disadvantages against the French, will hardly doubt that the Five Nations by themselves were at that time an over Match for the French of CANADA.

The End of the First Part.

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