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Thefe Stories may seem incredible to many, but will not appear to be Improbable to those who know how extreamly Revengeful the Indians naturally are. That they every day undertake the greatest Fatigues, the longest Journeys, and the greatest Dangers, to gratifie that Devouring Paffion, which feems to gnaw their Souls, and gives them no ease till it is fatisfied. All Barbarous Nations have been obferved to be Revengful and Cruel, the certain Confequences of an unbounded Revenge, as the Curbing of these Paffions is the happy Effect of being Civilized.

The Five Nations are fo much delighted with Stratagems in War, that no Superiority of their Force makes them neglect them. They amufed therefore the Adirondacks and their Allies, the Quatoghies, (called by the French, Hurons) by fending to the French, and defiring Peace. The French defired them to receive fome Priests among them, in hopes that these prudent Fathers would by fome Art reconcile them to the French, and engage their Affections. The Five Nations aecepted the Offer, and some Jesuits went along with them. But

after

to flea the Scalp from the Skull of their Enemies, when they have killed them; and fometimes they are fo cruel as to flea the Scalp off, without killing them, or otherwise wounding them, but leave them in this miferable Condition with their Skull bare.

after they had the Jefuits in their Power, they used them only as Hoftages, and by that means obliged the French to be Neuter, while they prepared to Attack the Adirondacks and Quatogbies, and accordingly entirely destroy'd the Quatoghies in a Battel fought within two Leagues of Quebeck, while the French durft not give their Allies any affiftance."

Indeed the French Author fays, That if the Five Nations had known the weakness of the French at that time, they might easily have deftroyed that Colony.'

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The Defeat of the Quatoghies ftruck Terror into all the Allies of the Adirondacks, who were at that time very Numerous, because of the benefit of the French Trade, which they had by their means; for before that time the Indians had not any Iron Tool among them.

The Nipeceriniens, who then lived on the Banks of St. Laurence River, fled to the Northward, in hopes that the extream Coldness of the Climate, and a barren Soil, would free them from the fear they had of the Five Nations." The remainder of the Quatogbies fled with the Utawawas towards the Southwestward, and for their greater Security settled in an Island, which the French still call by their Name, which being further than the Name of the Five Nations had at that time

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reached, they thought themselves fecure by the Distance of the Place."

This Expedition having fucceeded fo well, the Five Nations gave out, that they intended next Winter to vifit Yonnondio (the name they give to the Governor of Canada.) Thefe vifits are always made with much Show. They gather'd together 1000 or 1200 Men, and paffing over Corlaers Lake, they fell in with Nicolet River, where it falls into the South fide of Lake St. Pierre, in St. Laurence River, eight Leagues above Trois Rivieres; Six Scouts marched three Leagues before the Army, who met with Piskaret, as he return'd from Hunting, loaded with the Tongues of wild Cows. As they came near him, they fang their Song of Peace, and Piskaret taking them for Ambaffadors, ftopt, and fung his. It is probable that he having glutted his private Revenge, and his Nation having been long haraffed with a Cruel War, he too greedily fwallow'd the Bait: Peace being what he and all his Nation earnestly defir'd. He invited them therefore to go along with him to his Village, which was but two or three Leagues further: and as he went, he told them, that the Adirondacks were divided into two Bodies, one of which hunted on the North fide of St. Laurence

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River at Wabmache, three Leagues above Trois Rivieres, and the other at Nicolet. One of the Scouts had on purpose staid behind, this Man followed Piskaret, and coming up behind him, knockt him on the Head with his Hatchet. Then they all returned to their Army with Piskaret's Head." The Five Nations immediately divided likewife into two Bodies, they furprized the Adirondacks, and cut them in pieces.

Thus the most War-like and Polite Nation of all the Indians in North-America was almost entirely Destroy'd by a People they at first despised, and by a War which their Pride and Injuftice brought upon them. Immorality has ever ruin'd the Nations where it abounded, whether they were Civilized or Barbarians, as Juftice and ftrict Discipline has made others Flourish and grow Powerful.

A very few Adirondacks now remain in fome Villages near Quebeck," who still waste away and decay, by their drinking Strong Waters, tho' when the French firft fettled Quebeck, 1500 Men of them lived between that and Silleri, which are only a League diftant," befides those that lived at Saguenay, Trois Rivieres, and fome other places. After this Battle the Adirondacks have never been confidered as of any confequence, either in Peace or War.

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The Quatogbies and Utawawas foon began to be in want of the European Commodities, and their defire to make themselves confiderable among their new Friends, fet them upon attempting to return to trade at Quebeck, by which means the place of their retreat was discovered to the Five Nations, who not having their Revenge fatiated, fo long as any of that Nation remain'd, refolved at all hazards to march through these vast unknown Deserts, to fatisfy their cruel Paffion. The Quatoghies had the good Fortune to discover them time enough to make their Escape, and fled to the Putewatemies, who liv'd a days Journey further, where they and all the Neighbouring Nations fecur'd themselves in a large Fort. The Five Nations followed, but being in want of Provisions, they could not attempt a Siege, and therefore propos'd a Treaty to the Putewatemies, which was accepted. The Putewatemies agreed to a League of Friendship, in which they acknowledged the Five Nations to be the Master of all the Nations round them, applauded their Valour, and promised to fupply them with Provifions, but would not truft themselves out of their Fort. The Putewatemies accordingly fent them out a fupply of Provifions, but with defign to effect,

Treachery, what they durft not attempt

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