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The Reader will find a great Difference between fome of the Speeches made at Albany, and thofe taken from the French Authors. The first are genuine, and truly related, as delivered by the Sworn Interpreters, and where Truth only is required; a rough Stile with it, is preferable to Eloquence without it. But I must own, that I fufpect our Interpreters may not have done Juftice to the Indian Eloquence. For, the Indians having but few words, and few complex Ideas, ufe many Metaphors in their Difcourfe, which interpreted by an hefitating Tongue, may appear mean, and ftrike our Imagination faintly, but under the Pen of a skilful Interpreter may ftrongly move our Paffions by their lively Images. I have heard an old Indian Sachem fpeak with much Vivacity and Elocution, fo that the Speaker pleas'd and moved the Auditors with the manner of delivering his Difcourfe; which, however, as it came from the Interpreter, disappointed us in our Expectations. After the Speaker had employ'd a confiderable time in Haranguing with much Elocution, the Interpreter often explained the whole by one fingle Sentence. I believe the Speaker in that time imbellished and coloured his Figures, that they might have their full force on the Imagination, while the Interpreter contented himself with the Senfe, in as few words as it could be expreft."

He that first writes the Hiftory of Matters which are not generally known, ought to avoid, as much as poffible, to make the Evidence of the Truth depend entirely on his own Veracity and Judgment: For this reafon I have often related several Tranfactions in the Words of the Registers. When this is once done, he that fhall write afterwards need not act with fo much Caution.

The Hiftory of Indians well wrote, would give an agreeable Amusement to many, every one might find something therein fuited to his own Pallat; but even then, every Line would not please every Man; on the contrary, one will (b 2) praise

praise what another condemns, and one defires to know what another thinks not worth the Trouble of Reading : And therefore, I think, it is better to run the Rifque of being fometimes Tedious, than to omit anything that may be Useful.

I have fometimes thought that the Hiftories wrote with all the Delicacy of a fine Romance, are like French Dishes, more agreeable to the Pallat than the Stomach, and lefs wholfom than more common and courfer Dyet.

An Hiftorian's Views must be various and extenfive, and the History of different People and different Ages, requires different Rules, and often different Abilities to write it: I hope, therefore, the Reader will receive this first Attempt of the kind, in this Country, with more than usually Favourable Allowances.

The Inhabitants of New-York have been much more concern'd in the Tranfactions which followed the year 1688, than in thofe which preceeded that year. As it requires uncommon Courage and Refolution to engage willingly in the Wars of Cruel and Barbarous Enemies; I fhould be forry to forget any that may deferve to be remembred by their Country with gratitude. The First Part of this Hiftory going abroad by it felf, may give thofe that have any Memoirs of their Friends who have diftinguished themfelves, an opportunity of Communicating them, and may thereby enable the Writer hereof to do fome Justice to their Merit.

They likewife that are better acquainted with the Indian Affairs may, perhaps, find fome Miftakes in what is now Published, and may know fome things which I know not, if they will be fo kind as to Communicate them, I shall gladly Amend and Infert them in what is to follow.

C. C.

XI.

A Short VOCABULARY of fome Words and Names ufed by the French Authors, which are not generally understood by the English that understand the French Language, and may therefore be Ufeful to thofe that intend to read the French Accounts, or compare them with the Accounts now Publifhed.

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Names ufed by the French

HURONS,

ILINOIS, IROQUOIS, LAC HURON

LOUPS,

ΜΑΝΗΑΤΤΑΝ,

MASCOUTECS, MAURIGANS,

MIAMIES,

MICHILIMAKINAK,

ou MISSILIMAKINAK,

MISSISAKES,

NADOUESSIAUX,
ONEYOUTS,
ONNONTIO,

ONTARIO LAC, ORANGE,

The fame are called by the English or Five Nations QUATOGHE. But the French now generally call those of that Nation only Hurons, who live at Miffilimakinack, and who are called Dionondadiks ronoon by the Five Nations. CHICTAGHIKS, The FIVE NATIONS, CANIATARE QUATOGHe or Quatogbe Lake. SCAKHOOK INDIANS. NEW YORK. The Inland on which the City stands was called Manhattan by the In dians, and ftill retains that Name with the old Dutch Inhabitants.

ODISTASTAGHEKS,

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River

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N. B. The Five Nations, as they have severally a Different Dialect, ufe different Terminations, and the French generally distinguish that Sound in the Indian Language by () which the English do by (d) but I have neglected fuch fmall Differences.

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