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to their Law, by force of Arms. The Five Nations apprehending their Power, retired to the Southward of Cadarackui Lake," where they now live, and defended themselves at first but faintly against the Vigorous Attacks of the Adirondacks. But afterwards becoming more expert, and more used to War, they not only made a brave Defence, but likewife made themselves Mafters of the great Lakes, and chafed the Shawanons from thence.

While the two Nations were at War, the French arrived and fettled in Canada, and the Five Nations having forced the Adirondacks to leave their own Country and retire towards Quebeck, the French thought themselves obliged to affift their New Allies, the Adirondacks, without examining into the Reafons of the

War.

Thus began a War and Hatred between the French and the Five Nations, which coft the French much Blood, and more than once had like to have occafioned the entire Deftruction of their Colony. The War had driven the Adirondacks to Quebec, and the defire of Trading with the French, had drawn likewise all their Allies that way, who agreed with them joyntly, to make War against the Five Nations, and to attack them in their own Country.

Mr. Champlain defiring to give his Allies. Proof of his Love, and the Valour of the

French

French Nation, put himself at the Head of a Body of Adirondacks, and paffed with them into Corlars Lake, which from thistimetheFrenchhave called by Mr. Champlain's name."

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They had not long been in the Lake before they discover'd a Body of the Five Nations going to War. As foon as they saw each other, Shouts and Crys began on both Sides. Mr. Champlain made his men keep their Canoes at some distance; The Five Nations in the mean time landed, and began to intrench themselves, by cutting down the Trees round them; The Adirondacks ftopt their Canoes near the Enemy, & fent to offer them Battel, who answer'd, That they must stay till Morning, when both fides would have the Advantage of the Day Light: The night paffed in Dancing and War Songs, mixed with a thousand Reproaches against each other. Mr.Champlainhad putfome Frenchineach Canoe, and order'd them not to show themselves, that their appearance might be the greater furprize to the Enemy, in the time of the Battel. As foon as day light appeared, the Adirondacks landed, in order of Battel, & the Five Nations to the Number of 200 Men marched out of their Intrenchments, and put themselves in order, with three Captains in the Front, having large Plumes of Feathers on their Heads, and then advanced with a grave Air and flow Pace. The Adirondacks gave a great Shout and open'd

to

to the Right and Left, to give room for Mr. Champlain and the French to advance: This new Sight furprized the Enemy, and made them halt, to confider it, upon which the French firing, the three Captains were killed This more furpriz'd the Five Nations; for they knew that their Captains had a kind of Cuirafs made of pieces of Wood join'd together, that was Proof against Arrows, and they could not perceive in what manner the Wound was given, by which they fell fo fuddenly. Then the Adirondacks gave a terrible Shout, and attacked the Enemy, who received them bravely, but a fecond Volley from the French, put them into fuch Confufion (having never before seen fire Arms) that they immediately fled. The Adirondacks took twelve Prisoners, and as the Cuftom of the Indians is, burnt one of them alive, with great Cruelty; His Torment had continued much longer than it did, if Mr. Champlain had not in Compaffion & abhorrence of fuch Barbarity, Shot the poor Wreth thro' the Head."1

The Adirondacks having their Numbers thus very much encreased, and their fire Arms giving them new Confidence, propofed nothing lefs to themselves, than the entire Deftruction of the Five Nations, by open Force; And upon this their Young Warriors became Fierce and Infolent, and could not be kept

under

under any Discipline, Order or Subjection to their Chiefs or Captains, but upon all Occafions rafhly attacked the Enemy, who were oblig'd to keep themselves upon the Defenfive, and to make up what they wanted in Force, by Stratagems, and a skillful management of the War. The Young Men of the Five Nations foon perceived the Advantages they gain'd by this Conduct, and every day grew more fubmiffive to their Captains, and diligent in executing any Enterprize, while the Adirondacks confiding in their Numbers and their fire Arms, thought of nothing but of Conquering by meer Force.

The Five Nations fent out fmall Parties only, who meeting with great Numbers of the Adirondacks, retired before them, with seeming Fear and Terror, while the Adirondacks purfued them with Fury, and without thought, till they were cunningly drawn into Ambufcades, where most of their men were kill'd or taken Prisoners, with little or no lofs to the Five Nations.

By these means and their being frequently furprized by the Five Nations, while they remain'd confident in their Number, the Adirondacks wafted away, and their boldest Soldiers were almost entirely deftroyed, while the Number of the Five Nations rather encreased

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by

by the addition of the Prisoners which they took from the Shawanons.

It has been a conftant Maxim with the Five Nations, to fave the Children and Young Men of the People they Conquer, to adopt them into their own Nation, and to educate them as their own Children, without Diftinction; These young People foon forget their own Country and Nation,; and by this Policy the Five Nations make up the Loffes which their Nation fuffers by the People they loose in War. The wifeft and beft Soldiers of the Adirondacks when it was too late, discovered that they muft imitate and learn the Art of War from thofe Enemies, that they at first Despised. Now five of their Chief Captains endeavour to perform by themfelves fingly, with Art and by Stratagem, what they could not perform by Force at the Head of their Armies; but they having no longer any hopes of Conquering their Enemies, their thoughts were only fet on Revenge."

The Five Nations had taken one of the chief Captains of the Adirondacks, and had burnt him alive. This gave Piskaret, who was the chief Captain of the Adirondacks fo deep a Refentment, that the Difficulty or Danger of the most desperate Attempt made no Impreffion upon his Spirit, where he had the hope of Revenge.

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