"had furnished our Enemies with Ammuni"tion; but we are difapointed in our hopes;

for we find that our Enemies are still "fupplied. Is this well done? Yea, he often "forbids us to make War on any of the "Nations with whom he Trades, and at the "fame time furnishes them with all forts of "Ammunition, to enable them to destroy

us.

Now

"Thus far in Anfwer to the Complaints "which the Governor of Canada hath made of "Us to Corlaer. Corlaer faid to us, that "Satisfaction must be made to the French for "the Mifchief we have done them. This "he faid before he heard our Anfwer. "let him that hath Infpection over all "our Countries, on whom our Eyes are "fix'd, let him, ev'n Corlaer judge and de"termine. If you fay it must be paid, we "fhall pay it, but we cannot live without "free Bever-hunting.

"Corlaer, Hear what we fay, We Thank "you for the Dukes Arms which you have given us to be put on our Castles, as a De"fence to them. You command them. Have

we wander'd out of the way, as the Go"vernor of Canada fays. We do not threaten "him with War, as he threatens us. What "fhall we do? Shall we run away, or shall we fit ftill in our Houses? What fhall we

"do?

"do? We speak to him that Governs and "Commands us.

"Now Corlaer and Affarigoa, and all People "here prefent, Remember what we have "anfwered to the Complaints of the Gover"nor of Canada; Yea, let what we fay come "to his Ears." Then they gave a Belt, and faid, there was five Bevers at Onondaga for the Governor.

Monf. De la Barre at this time was gone with all the Force of Canada to Cadaraekui Fort, and order'd the three Veffels to be repaired, which the French had built on that Lake. His defign was to frighten the Five Nations into his own Terms by the Appearance of fo great an Army, which confifted of 600 Soldiers, 400 Indians, and 400 Men that carried Provifions, befides 300 Men that he left to secure Cadarackui Fort." But while he was at this Fort, the Fatigue of Traveling in the Month of Auguft together with the Unhealthinefs of that place (the Country thereabout being very Marshy) where he tarryed six weeks, occafioned fo great a Siknefs in his Army, that he found himself unable to Perform any thing, but by Treaty, and therefore fent Orders to Monf. Dulbut, who was come from Miffilimakinak with 600 men French and Indians, to ftop. He paffed a Cross the Lake with as many men as were able to Travel, and arrived

at

at the River which the French call La Famine, and by the Indians call'd Kaibobage," which runs from the Onnondaga and Oneydo Countrys, and falls into Cadarackui Lakes. There were two Villages of the Five Nations on the North fide of the Lake, about five or fix Leagues from the French Fort, confifting of thofe Indians that had the moft Inclination to the French: They provided the French Army with Provifions, while they remain'd at the Fort; but it is probable, sent an account to their own Nations of every thing that happen'd, which was the Reason of the Ufage they afterwards met with from the French.

When Mr. De la Barre fent to Coll. Dongan, he was in hopes, from the ftrict Alliance that was then between the Crowns of England and France, and from Coll. Dongan's being a Papist, that he would fit ftill till he had reduced the Five Nations. But none of thefe Reasons perImitted that Gentleman to be eafie while the French attempted fuch things, as in their confequence would be to the highest degree Prejudicial to the English Intereft,& put all the English Colonies in America in danger. Wherefore he dispatch'd the Publick Interpreter," with Orders to do every thing in his Power to prevent the Five Nations going to Treat with Mr. De la Barre.

The Interpreter fucceeded in his Defign

with

with the Mohawks, and with the Sennekas, who promis'd that they would not go near the French Governor. But he had not the like Succefs with the Onnondagas, Oneydoes and Cayugas, who had receiv'd the French Priests. For they would not hear the Interpreter, but in Prefence of the French Priest, and of Mr. Le Maine, whom the Indians call Obqueffe" (y) and three other French Men, that Mr. De la Barre had fent to perfwade them to meet him at Kaibobage, ten Leagues from the Onnondaga Caftle. They gave the following Answer to the Interpreter.

Arie, You are Corlaer's Meffenger? Obqueffe "is the Governor of Canada's; and there fits "our Father" (z) Yonnondio acquainted us "fome time ago, that he would speak with "us before he would undertake any thing "against the Sennakas. Now he hath fent for "all the Nations to speak with him in Friendship, and that at a Place not far from Onnon

daga, ev'n at Kaibobage. But our Brother "Corlaer tells us, That we must not meet the "Governor of Canada without his Permif"fion; and that if Yonnondio have any thing "to fay to us, he must first fend to Corlaer for "leave to speak with us. Yonnondio has fent "long ago to us to speak withhim, and he has

"lately

That is, the Partridge. (z) Pointing to the Jefuit.

57

lately repeated that Defire, by Onnissantie,' "the Brother of our Father Twirbaerfira, that "fits there. He has not only intreated us by "our Father, but by two Praying Indians, one "an Onnondaga, the other the Son of an Old "Mohawk Sachem Connondowe. They brought five great Belts of Wampum, not "a Fathom or two only, as you bring. Now "Obque Je has been fent with three French-men: "Yonnondio not content with all this, has like"wife fent Denneboot," and two other Mohawks

to perfwade us to meet him, and to speak "with him of good Things. Should we not <c go to him, after all this Entreaty, when he "is come fo far, and fo near to us, certainly "if we did not, we fhould provoke his Wrath, and not deferve this Goodness. You

fay we are Subjects to the King of England "and Duke of York, but we fay, we are Bre"thren. We must take care of our felves. "Thofe Arms fixed upon the Poft without "the Gate, cannot defend us against the Arms "of La Barre.

"Brother Corlaer, We tell you, That we "fhall bind a Covenant Chain to our Arm, "and to his, as thick as that Poft (Pointing to a Poft of the House) "Be not diffatisfi'd; fhould "we not imbrace this Happiness offer'd to

us, viz. Peace, in the plaee of War; yea, "we shall take the Evil doers, the Sennekas by

"the