The History of the Five Indian Nations of Canada Part 19

Brother of _New-York; This is the second Time you have put the Hatchet into our Hands, which we accept, and are ready to go upon Service. You may see that we have but a Handful of fighting Men here at present; however, some of them from each Nation shall be left behind us to follow your Orders._

_When we return to our respective Castles, we shall send down a great Number of our Warriors, and of those of the Nations in Alliance with us, as soon as possible._

_This we a.s.sure you of from the Truth and Sincerity of our Hearts; and we receive, and shall preserve this large Belt_, [holding it up at the same Time] _which you have now given us, as a War-Hatchet_.

Brethren, _This is the Belt of Union with which we are to go Hand in Hand to the Gate of our Enemies, and by it we declare our Intention to conquer or die in the common Cause_.

_There is a Nation call'd the_ Messesagues, _whose Delegates are here present: They consist of five Castles, containing eight hundred Men, who are all determined, and do agree to join us, in this common Cause, against our Enemies the_ French, _and their_ Indians; _and we hope you, and the Commissioners from_ Boston, _will use them in such a Manner that they will go home content and satisfied._

[Gave a Belt of Union, in which the Figures of several Persons join'd Hand in Hand, was wrought.]

The Person who interpreted, returned the _Yo-hah_ at the End of every Paragraph, and having done the same at the Time they declared War, it occasioned Laughter among them; upon which, observing his Mistake, he began the War-Shout, in which all the _Indians_ joined.

The _Messesagues_ are a Nation of _Indians_, living near the Place called _De Troit_ by the _French_, and situate between Lake _Erie_ and the _Huron_ Lake.

After the Speaker had finished, his Excellency told them by the Interpreter, that the King their Father had ordered him to make them a Present on this Occasion; and that the Government of _Virginia_ had on the same Occasion, sent them a Present. The Commissioners from _Boston_ at the same Time told them, that they had a Present from their Government; and as they were soon to return Home, desired the _Six Nations_ to come to their Lodgings to receive it; on which the _Indians_ desired his Excellency to delay his Present to next Day, and they immediately went to receive their Presents from the Commissioners of the _Ma.s.sachusets-Bay_.

The next Day, the Presents from the King being exposed on one Part, and those from _Virginia_ separately near them, it was agreed by the People of _Albany_, who had seen many publick Presents given to the _Six Nations_ on Treaties with them, that this was the most valuable ever given. His Excellency on giving the Presents, said;

"_Brethren_,

"You here see a Token of the Regard the King your Father has for you; and there is a Token of the Friendship of the Government of _Virginia_: But on this Occasion I cannot forbear taking Notice to you, that some of your People being at _Canada_, when the News of the Reduction of _Cape-Breton_ came there, and when the _French_ expected that _Quebec_ would be immediately attacked in Consequence of it, several of them joined with the _French_, and promised them a.s.sistance. This occasioned some Uneasiness to your Brethren, being contrary to the Faith of your Nations, as well as to your Brethren's Expectations; however, you may now, by performing the Promises you Yesterday made in the most solemn Manner, remove all Suspicions; and for ever secure the Friendship of your Brethren, which hitherto has from the Beginning, remained unviolated on their Parts. The Goods now before you, are Presents to the _Six Nations_; and, as we have received the _Messesagues_ into the Covenant between you and us, I expect that they shall share with you. Besides these general Presents now made to your Nations, I have prepared proper Cloathing for your War-Captains, and the Warriors who shall go under their Command; together with Arms, Ammunition and Provisions, which shall be delivered to the several Parties at the Time they shall go out on Service."

What his Excellency said having been interpreted by a _Mohawk_ Sachem, the Sachem added of his own Head, _You now see how you are here treated, really like Brethren; the Governor of_ Canada _does not treat his_ Indians _so; they are set on like his Dogs, and they run on without Thought or Consideration: You see what a n.o.ble Present is made to you; if the Governor of_ Canada _should seize all the Goods in that Country, it would not be in his Power to make such a Present._

The _Onondaga_ Sachem, Speaker of the _Six Nations_, immediately replied,

Brethren of _New-York, New-England_, and _Virginia_;

_We heard, and observe well, what you now and formerly spoke to us; and we beg no mention may hereafter be made of what pa.s.sed last Fall, since we are now heartily enter'd into the War with you, and have promised as many fighting Men from each Castle as can be spared; and likewise to engage as great Numbers of every Nation in Alliance with us, as we can, to join immediately with us in the War against the_ French, _and the Nations who adhere to them._

Brethren of _New-York, New-England_, and _Virginia_,

_You must not suspect that it proceeds from any Backwardness in us, that a greater Number of our People do not at this Instant join with you; the Reason is, our Castles have but few fighting Men in them, many are now Abroad, some hunting and trading with far distant Nations, and others out fighting against our Enemies; all these we shall recall Home as soon as possible, in order to enter with all our Force, into the War against your and our common Enemy._

Brother, _We have no more to say at this Time, but only to tell you, we are sorry that we can so little shew our Hearts by the Presents we now offer; our hunting has been so very poor, that we cannot make you Presents suitable to our Inclinations._

The _Mohawks_ added separately: _We have been employed all Summer in your Service as Out-scouts, to gain Intelligence, or in some Manner or other, and thereby kept from hunting: We have no Furrs to offer you, but we here present our Persons, to serve you wherever you shall command._

That Day was spent in dividing the Presents among themselves. We were told, that these Presents were divided into eight equal Parts, of which they gave two to the _Messesague_ Deputies.

The next Day the War-Kettle was set over the Fire, and towards Evening the _Indians_ in his Excellency's Presence, where many Gentlemen attended him, began the War-Dance, and continued it till late in the Night: They were painted as when they go to War. The Dance is a slow and solemn Motion, accompanied with a pathetick Song. The _Indians_ in their Turns perform this singly, but it is not easy to describe the Particularities of it.

His Excellency call'd several of the chief Sachems who had been useful in the Treaty, to him in private, and gave them Presents severally; neither did he forget the _Messesague_ Deputies: He had a particular Conference with one of them in private, the other was sick of the Small-Pox. At this Conference, this Deputy a.s.sured his Excellency of the good Inclinations of his Nation to the _English_, and their Aversion to the _French_; he said, 'That many of the Nations to the Westward of them, disliked the _French_;' and as an Instance of it, he told, 'That the _French_ lately having pressed a neighbouring Nation to take up the Hatchet against the _English_, they received it; but made Use of it against the _French_ themselves, and kill'd all the _French_ then with them, being sixty in Number, with the Loss of only one Man of their own Nation.' His Excellency made him handsome Presents, and gave him a Belt to carry to his Nation, with an Invitation to join in the War against the _French_; the _Messesague_ received them with a Profession of the most sincere and hearty Friendship; and that he made no doubt of bringing two, three, or four hundred Men of his Nation, to serve this Fall against the _French_. He added, 'That he and several of his Relations would immediately use their best Endeavours, with several other Nations to the Westward of them, who were numerous, to join against the _French_; in which, _he said_, he had great Hopes of Success, because they were dissatisfied with the _French_.'

His Excellency took all possible Care of the sick _Messesague_, had him brought into a House, and ordered him, to be attended by two Physicians; but the poor Man had the Misfortune to die, after he had been above a Fortnight ill. When he found himself near his End, he sent to the Governor, to desire him as his last Request, that his Excellency would send the first _French_ Scalp that should be taken, to his Mother; and when he was told that his Excellency had promised it, he shewed a Contentedness and Resignation to Death. This Misfortune was increased by the Death of the other _Messesague_ Deputy likewise, who was taken ill in his Way Home, and died. The _Six Nations_ took Care of their Wives and Children, who had come with them; and it was not doubted but that they, and all the Presents given them, would be safely conveyed to their own Homes.

Having so far given an Account of what pa.s.sed with the _Six Nations_, it may be proper next to relate the Treaty with the _Mehikanders_, or _River Indians_, _viz._ The several Tribes of _Indians_ living at several Places on each Side of _Hudson_'s River.

On his Excellency's Arrival at _Albany_, having found that there had been a Neglect in sending for the _Esopus_ and _Minissink Indians_, he sent Orders for them to be invited. The _Mehikanders_ being conveened the 21st, his Excellency directed Mr. _Colden_ to speak to them in his Name and Words; which Mr. _Colden_ did; the other Gentlemen of the Council, the Commissioners from _Boston_, the Commissioners for _Indian_ Affairs, and several other Gentlemen being present, in the Words following:

"_Children_,

"I am glad to meet you at this Time, as are likewise the Commissioners from the _Ma.s.sachusets-Bay_, who are now come hither to concur with me upon the present Occasion; and I take this Opportunity to renew the ancient Covenant Chain with you, in Behalf of this and all his Majesty's Governments in _America_, which you know has always been kept bright and clean, without any of the least Stain or Rust, and which by this Belt I strengthen. [_Gave a Belt_.]

"_Children_, My meeting you here, besides renewing the Covenant Chain, is with Intention that you should join your Force with ours, by taking up the Hatchet against our and your common Enemies the _French_, and their _Indians_; who have in a very unmanly Manner, by sculking Parties, murdered in cold Blood, many of your Brethren in this and the Province of the _Ma.s.sachusets-Bay_.

"This Behaviour lays us under a Necessity of making Reprisals on them in like Manner, in which I make no doubt of your a.s.sistance; and we are resolved to take a thorough Revenge of our and your perpetual Enemies, by reducing the Country of _Canada_, that it may not be in the Power of these perfidious, deceitful, and cruel People, to do you or us any Injury for the future: For which Purpose all the neighbouring Colonies, together with many Ships of War and Soldiers from _Great-Britain_, are resolved to unite their Force, and to attack _Canada_ in all Parts, both by Sea and Land; and I make no doubt, you will on this Occasion shew yourselves dutiful Children, in joining heartily with us and the _Six Nations_, in this glorious Enterprize; by which you will not only gain Honour and Renown, but also Safety and Prosperity to yourselves, your Wives, and Children for ever afterwards: And for which End I will furnish your fighting Men with Arms, Ammunition, Cloathing, Provisions, and every Thing necessary for the War." [_Gave a War-Belt_.]

On the 26th they gave their Answer, which was interpreted in the following Words; (the same Persons being present, that were when the Governor's Speech was delivered to them.)

Father,

_We are glad to see you; and we are come to renew the Covenant Chain, and make it fast and bright as ever, and free from Rust, and as a Token thereof we give you this Belt._ [Gave a Belt.]

Father, _You have told us what Mischief the_ French _have done, and what Murders upon the Christians they have committed; therefore we declare from our Hearts, and not from our Lips only, that as you have ordered us to shed the Enemies' Blood in Return for what they have done, we are resolved to live and die with you in the common Cause._

_When you Christians are at War, you make Peace with one another, but it is not so with us, therefore we depend upon you to take Care of us; in Confidence of which, we now take up the Hatchet, and will make Use of it against the_ French, _and their_ Indians. [Gave a Belt with a Hatchet.]

After their Answer they began the War-Dance, and his Excellency ordered a considerable Present in Goods to be publickly given them. None of these are suspected to be under _French_ Influence.

As there was no Advice of the Arrival of the Fleet, and no Plan of Operations agreed on in Case the Fleet did not arrive, the supporting of about seven hundred _Indians_ was a great Expence to his Excellency, for which he had no Allowance from the Province of _New-York_, or for any other Charge attending this Treaty: And as many of the _Indians_, (above twenty) had got the Small-pox, it being impracticable to prevent their going into Town, or conversing with the Town's People, and the _Indians_ becoming uneasy by Reason of the Sickness of many, and Death of some; his Excellency thought it most prudent to dismiss them as soon as possible from this Place, and to give Orders to Mr. _Johnson_, to send out several Parties from _Schenectade_, or his own Settlement near the lower _Mohawk_ Castle, to harra.s.s the _French_ Settlements in _Canada_; and for that Purpose delivered to him Cloathing, Arms and Ammunition, to be given to the fighting Men, as his Excellency had promised them whenever they entered on Service, and impowered him to furnish them with Provisions, and whatever Necessaries they should want.

Before they went, his Excellency sent to them, to desire them to leave their Sick, with a Promise to take all Care possible of them, and that he would order Physicians to attend them. They were very sensible of this Kindness, and acknowledged it; but not above two or three could be prevailed to stay, who were so ill that they could not be removed: All possible Care was taken of the other Sick, in the Waggons which carried them to _Schenectade_.

On the 26th of _September_, the Captains _Staats_ and _Vromen_, brought the _Indians_ living on the Branches of the _Susquehannah_ River; they came in the _Indian_ Order, marching in a single Line one after the other, and as they pa.s.sed the Fort, saluted by a running Fire along the Line; which Salute the Governor ordered to be returned, by a Discharge of some Cannon from the Fort.

On _Monday_ the 8th of the same Month his Excellency spoke to them, telling them the Substance of what he had ordered to be said to the _Six Nations_, and their Answer; and as this has been set forth at Length before, it is needless to repeat what was then said. The Reason of his Excellency's speaking to them in this Manner was, because these Nations living on the _Susquehannah_ River and its Branches, are known to be Dependents on the _Six Nations_.

The next Day they gave their Answer; the Gentlemen of the Council, the Commissioners for _Indian_ Affairs, the Corporation of _Albany_, the Officers of the four Independent Companies, and several Officers of the new Levies, and other Gentlemen being present, as they were when his Excellency spoke to the _Indians_: Their Answer was publickly interpreted as follows;

Brother of _New-York_,

_We live at_ Ohguago; _what News you send to the_ Six Nations _is not truly reported to us, nor what the Governor of_ Canada _sends to them; we have not been properly taken Notice of, nor timely acquainted with your Design to treat with the_ Six Nations, _till near the Time that your Interview with them was over; otherwise we should have readily come along with them, to hear what our Brother had to propose to us; and if we had received earlier Notice, a much larger Number of our fighting Men would have come along with us: Our Settlements are scattering, and some of them at a great Distance from others, and many of our Men are from Home a hunting; we have, however, sent the Belt of Invitation forward to those who live at a greater Distance, that they may be able at the Time appointed, to come and join us in the War, as by your Belt we were desired._

Brother, _You Yesterday informed us of what you had said to the_ Six Nations, _and their Answer; we are grieved that the_ Six Nations _have not already made use of the Hatchet, but have hitherto kept it by them, and have not sent out their young Men to revenge the Murders which have been committed by the Enemy._

_We are resolved to make use of the Hatchet against the_ French, _to revenge the Injuries done to you and your People, our Brethren._

_We have received at Times very different Kind of News from the_ Six Nations, _sometimes it seemed as if the_ French _would be Masters; but it cannot be so, they are a deceitful People, and cannot be trusted; they make fair Promises, and have no Intention to perform them; they flatter themselves with Hopes to be Masters, but they shall be disappointed; for we shall keep the Hatchet firmly in our Hands, and are resolved to make Use of it._

_We know several Roads that lead to_ Canada, _we want to see the Hatchet, that we may take it up._

Upon which his Excellency threw down a Hanger, which the Speaker took up and began the War-Dance, and several others danced the same after him.

After which they desired his Excellency to take Care of them, as he had promised.

His Excellency returned them Thanks for their so readily taking up the Hatchet; he said, that he would presently set the War-Kettle over the Fire, and provide them with every Thing necessary for the War. His Excellency gave them a handsome Present in publick for their Nations in general, and private Presents to their princ.i.p.al Sachems; one of which promised, that after his return Home, he would go round all the _Indian_ Settlements, to invite them into the War against the _French_, and their _Indians_; and that he did not doubt to be able to bring six hundred Men from the _Indian_ Settlements on the _Susquehannah_ River and its Branches, to march at any Time, and to any Place, his Excellency should appoint, in order to join the Forces intended against _Canada_; in the mean Time they would cause a Party of their Men to go out with his Men to scour the Woods, and clear them of the _French_ sculking _Indians_.