The History of the Five Indian Nations of Canada Part 5

_Aset teywa_, _Asoghqua_, _Maya minickysy_, _Wawyia Beeseny_.

Canestogo _Indians that speak the_ Onayiut's _Language_.

_Tior Haasery_, Chief.

_Tanigh wackerau_, _Karha Cawyiat_, _Kayen quily quo_.

C A N O Y I A S, _or_ N A N T I K O K E S, _of_ Canestogo.

_Des-seheg_, _Ichqua que heck_, _Quesamaag_, _Ayiok-ius_.

D E L A W A R E S _of_ Shamokin.

_Olumapies_, } _Lingehanoah_, } Chiefs.

_Kelly macquan_, _Quitie-yquont_, _Pishquiton_, _Nena chy haut_.

D E L A W A R E S _from the_ Forks.

_Onutpe_, } _Lawye quohwon_, alias _Nutimus_, } Chiefs.

_Toweghkappy_.

_Cornel. Spring_, and others.

C o n r a d W e i s e r, C o r n e l i u s S p r i n g, _Interpreters_.

And a great Number of the Inhabitants of _Philadelphia_.

The Governor having commanded Silence, spoke as follows:

'_Friends and Brethren of the Six Nations_,

'Six Years ago a Number of your Chiefs obliged us with a Visit, when they agreed on Behalf of your Nations, to the Release of certain Lands on both Sides the River _Sasquehannah_, to the Southward of the _Endless-Mountains_, and within the Limits and Bounds of the King's Grant of this Province. In Consideration of which, a certain Quant.i.ty of Goods was agreed on, and delivered as a full Satisfaction for the said Lands, lying on the Eastern Side of the said River: And for the Lands on the Western Side of the said River, you desired the Payment should be deferr'd till another Opportunity. These Goods, which are exactly the same in Quant.i.ty, as those you received the last Time the Chiefs of your Nations were here, have been ready a considerable Time, and kept in Expectation of your coming for them: And now you are come down, fully impowered by your respective Councils to receive them, we are well pleased to deliver them; leaving it to you to make a fair and equal Division of them amongst yourselves. We are sorry for the Absence of our Brethren the _Senecas_, and much more so, that it should be owing to their Distress at Home by a Famine that rages in their Country:--A Famine so great, that you tell us a Father has been obliged to sacrifice one Part of his Family, even his own Children, for the Support and Preservation of himself, and the other Part.--We heartily commiserate their Condition, and do not doubt but you will do them fair and ample Justice in the Disposal of their Part of the Goods, in such Manner as they have instructed you. You shall now hear the List of the Goods read to you.'

Here, by the Governor's Order, the List of the Goods was read over, _viz_.

500 _Pounds of Powder_.

600 _Pounds of Lead_.

45 _Guns_.

60 _Strowd-Matchcoats_.

100 _Blankets_.

100 _Duffil Matchcoats_.

200 _Yards Half-thick_.

100 _Shirts_.

40 _Hats_.

40 _Pair Shoes & Buckles_.

40 _Pair Stockings_.

100 _Hatchets_.

500 _Knives_.

100 _Hoes_.

60 _Kettles_.

100 _Tobacco-Tongs_.

100 _Scissars_.

500 _Awl-Blades_.

120 _Combs_.

2000 _Needles_.

1000 _Flints_.

24 _Looking-Gla.s.ses_.

2 _Pounds of Vermilion_.

100 _Tin-Pots_.

1000 _Tobacco-Pipes_.

200 _Pounds of Tobacco_.

24 _Dozen of Gartering_, and 25 _Gallons of Rum_.

Then the Governor told them that the Goods, of which the Particulars had been just read to them, were in the Meeting-House, and would be sent to whatever Place they would direct.

The Governor then proceeded:

'_B R E T H R E N_,

'You have often heard of the Care that your great and good Friend and Brother _William Penn_, took at all Times to cultivate a perfect good Harmony with all the _Indians_: Of these your Nations have ever been fully sensible; but more especially a Number of your Chiefs, about ten Years ago, when on the Arrival of a Son of your said great Friend _William Penn_, large and valuable Presents were exchanged by us with you; a new Road was made and clear'd; a new Fire kindled; and the Chain of Friendship made stronger, so as to last while the Sun and Moon endure.

'And now we cannot but congratulate ourselves, that your coming should happen at a Time, when we are in daily Expectation of a War being declared between the King of _England_, and the _French_ King, well knowing that should such a War happen, it must very sensibly affect you, considering your Situation in the Neighbourhood of _Canada_. Your coming at this Juncture is particularly fortunate, since it gives us an Opportunity of mentioning several Things that may be necessary to be settled, between People so strictly and closely united as we are.--An Union not to be expressed by any Thing less, than the affectionate Regards which Children of the same Parents bear for each other, as conceiving ourselves to be one Flesh and one People.

'The utmost Care therefore ought mutually to be taken by us on both Sides, that the Road between us be kept perfectly clear and open, and no Lets nor the least Obstruction be suffered to lie in the Way; or if any should by Accident be found, that may hinder our free Intercourse and Correspondence, it must forthwith be removed.

_To inforce this, we lay down a String of Wampum._

'In the next Place, we, on our Part, shall inlarge our Fire that burns between us. We shall provide more Fewel to increase it, and make it burn brighter and clearer, and give a stronger and more lasting Light and Warmth.

_In Evidence of our sincere Intentions, we lay down this Belt of Wampum_.

'In the last Place, considering the Obligations we are mutually under by our several Treaties, "That we should hear with our Ears for you, and you hear with your Ears for us." We shall at Times very willingly give you the earliest and best Intelligence, of any Designs that may be form'd to your Disadvantage.--And if you discover any Preparations that can hurt us, we desire you will immediately dispatch some suitable Person in whom we can place a Confidence, to give us a proper Information.'

_To inforce this Request, as well as to brighten the Chain, we lay down this other Belt of Wampum._

On the Governor's concluding the Speech, the solemn Cry by Way of Approbation was repeated by the _Indians_, as many Times as there were Nations present; and then _Cana.s.sateego_ rose up and spoke.

'_B R E T H R E N_,

'We thank you for your kind Speech: What you have said is very agreeable to us; and To-morrow when we have deliberated on the several Matters recommended to us, we will give you our Answer.

We desire, as our Time will be wholly taken up in Council, you will order the Goods to be carried back to the Proprietaries to prevent their being lost, and that they may continue there till we call for them.'

At a C o u n c i l held in the Meeting-House, _July_ 7, 1742.

P R E S E N T,