Gambar halaman
PDF
ePub

THE

HISTORY

OF TНЕ

Five INDIAN Nations

Depending on the Province
O F

NEW-YORK

In America.

絲絲

Printed and Sold by William Bradford in

New-York, 1727.

I.

ΤΟ

His EXCELLENCY

VVilliam Burnet, Efq;

Captain General and Governor in

Chief of the Provinces of New-York, New-Jersey, and Territories thereon depending, in America, aud ViceAdmiral of the fame, &c.

SIR;

T

He Indian Affairs of this Province have appear'd to your Excellency of fuch Importance to the Wellfare of the People here, that you have carefully apply'd your Thoughts to them, in which I hope your Excellency will have fuch Success, that not only the present Generation fhall enjoy the Benefit of your Care, but our latest Pofterity likewise may

blefs

bless your Memory under their Happiness, the Foundation of which may be laid under your Excellency's Administration, if the People here, who's Interest is chiefly concern'd, do on their parts fecond your Endeavours, as their Duty requires, towards fecuring the Peace and advancing the Prosperity of their Country.

The following Account of the Five Nations will show what Dangerous Neighbours the Indians have been, what Pains a Neighbouring Colony' (who's Intereft is Oppofit to ours) has taken to withdraw their Affections from Us, and how dreadful the Confequences may be, if that Colony should fucceed in their Designs: and therefore how much we ought to be on our Guard. If we only confider the Riches which a People, who have been and may again be our Enemies, receive from the Indian Trade (tho' we were under no apprehenfions from the Indians themselves) it may be thought imprudent in Us to fuffer fuch People to grow Rich and Powerful, while it is in our Power to prevent it, with much lefs Charge and

Trouble

Trouble than it is in theirs to accomplish their defigns.

Thefe Confiderations are fufficient to make the Indian Affairs deferve the most ferious Thoughts of the Governor of New-York. But I know But I know your Excellency's Views are not confin'd to the Intereft of your own Country only.

The Five Nations are a poor Barbarous People, under the darkest Ignorance, and yet a bright and noble Genius fhines thro’ thefe black Clouds. None of the greatest Roman Hero's have difcovered a greater Love to their Country, or a greater Contempt of Death than these Barbarians have done, when Life and Liberty came in Competition: Indeed, I think our Indians have out-done the Romans in this particular; for fome of the greatest Romans have Murder'd themselves to avoid Shame or Torments, (a) VVhereas our Indians have refused to Dye meanly with the least Pain, when they thought their

(4) This will appear by several Inftances in the second Part of this History.'

Country's

« SebelumnyaLanjutkan »