could be nothing else but the curiosity of seeing ' a burnt or drown'd Country, that mov'd you to ' undertake a Journey hither. But now you have an opportunity of being undeceiv'd, for I and my 'warlike Retinue come to assure you, that the 'Tsonontouans, Goyogouans, Onnontagues, On'noyoutes and Agnies, are not yet destroy'd. I ' return you thanks in their name, for bringing into their Country the Calumet of Peace, that your 'Predecessor receiv'd from their hands. At the same time I congratulate your Happiness, in having left under Ground* the bloody Axe, that has been so often dy'd with the blood of the French. 'I must tell you, Onnontio, I am not asleep, my 'Eyes are open; and the Sun that vouchsafes the light, gives me a clear view of a great Captain at 'the head of a Troop of Soldiers, who speaks as if he were asleep. He pretends that he do's not approach to this Lake with any other view, than to smoak with the Onnotagues in the great Calumet; but the Grangula knows better things, he sees 'plainly that the Onnontio mean'd to knock 'em on the Head, if the French Arms had not been so 'much weaken'd.

I perceive that the Onnontio raves in a Camp ' of sick People, whose lives the great Spirit has sav'd by visiting them with Infirmities. Do you hear, Onnontio, our Women had took up their 'Clubbs; and the Children and the old Men, had visited your Camp with their Bows and Arrows, if our Warlike Men had not stop'd and disarm'd "'em, when Akouessan your Ambassadour appear'd before my Village. But I have done, I'll talk no 'more of that.

'You must know, Onnontio, we have robb'd no 'French-Men, but those who supply'd the Illinese

* Burying the Axe signifies Peace.

' and the Oumamis (our Enemies) with Fusees, with < Powder, and with Ball: These indeed we took care of, because such Arms might have cost us our 'life. Our Conduct in that point is of a piece with 'that of the Jesuits, who stave all the barrels of Brandy that are brought to our Cantons, lest the People getting drunk should knock them in the Head. Our Warriours have no Beavers to give in exchange for all the Arms they take from the French; and as for the old superannuated People, they do not think of bearing Arms.

This Colier comprehends my word.

We have conducted the English to our *Lakes, ' in order to traffick with the Outaouas, and the Hu'rons; just as the Algonkins conducted the French to our five Cantons, in order to carry on a Com'merce that the English lay claim to as their Right. 'We are born Freemen, and have no dependance "either upon the Onnontio or the † Corlar. We have a power to go where we please, to conduct who we will to the places we resort to, and to buy ' and sell where we think fit. If your Allies are your Slaves or Children, you may e'en treat 'em as such, and rob 'em of the liberty of entertaining any other Nation but your own.

This Colier contains my word.

'We fell upon the Illinese and the Oumamis, because they cut down the trees of Peace that serv'd 'for limits or boundaries to our Frontiers. They came to hunt Beavers upon our Lands; and contrary to the custom of all the Savages, have car

* They pretend to the property of the Lakes.

+ Corlar is the Title of the Governor of New-York.

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'ried off whole Stocks, both Male and Female. They have ingag'd the Chaouanons in their inte' rest, and entertain'd 'em in their Country. They 'supply'd 'em with Fire-Arms, after the concerting ' of ill designs against us. We have done less than 'the English and the French, who without any right, have usurp'd the Grounds they are now possess'd of; and of which they have dislodg'd 'several Nations, in order to make way for their 'building of Cities, Villages, and Forts.

This Colier contains my word.

'I give you to know, Onnontio, that my Voice 'is the Voice of the five Iroquese Cantons. This is their Answer, pray incline your Ear, and listen to what they represent.

The Tsonontouans, Goyogouans, Onnontagues, 'Onnoyoutes, and Agnies declare, that they in'terr'd the Axe at Cataracouy, in the presence of your Predecessor, in the very center of the Fort; and planted the Tree of Peace in the same place, 'that it might be carefully preserv'd; that 'twas then stipulated, that the Fort should be us'd as a place of retreat for Merchants, and not a refuge 'for Soldiers; and that instead of Arms and Ammunition, it should be made a Receptacle of only 'Beaver-Skins, and Merchandize Goods. Be it 'known to you, Onnontio, that for the future you

ought to take care, that so great a number of Mar'tial-Men as I now see, being shut up in so small a 'Fort, do not stifle and choak the Tree of Peace. 'Since it took Root so easily, it must needs be of 'pernicious consequence to stop its growth, and

Among the Savages, 'tis a capital Crime to destroy all the Beavers of a Setlement.

+ Interring the Axe, signifies the making of a Pease; and the digging of it up imports a Declaration of War.

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'hinder it to shade both your Country and ours 'with its Leaves. I do assure you, in the name of 'the five Nations, that our Warriours shall dance 'the Calumet Dance under its branches; that they • shall rest in Tranquility upon their* Matts, and 'will never dig up the Axe to cut down the Tree of Peace; till such time as the Onnontio and the 'Corlar, do either joyntly or separately offer to in'vade the Country, that the great Spirit has dis'pos'd of in the favour of our Ancestors.

This Colier contains my word; and the other comprehends the power granted to me by the five Nations.

Then the Grangula address'd himself to Mr. le Moine, and spoke to this purpose.

'Akouessan, take Heart, you are a Man of sense; 'speak and explain my meaning; be sure you forget nothing, but declare all that thy Brethren and thy Friends represent to thy chief Onnonto, by 'the voice of the Grangula, who pays you all Ho'nour and respect, and invites you to accept of this 'Present of Beavers, and to assist at his Feast immediately. This other present of Beavers is 'sent by the five Nations to the Onnontio,'

* This Phrase signifies keeping the Peace,

APPENDIX. Nc. II.

Speech of the Mohawk Chiefs to the Magistrates of Albany, on the 25th of March, 1689-90, after the destruction of Schenectady.

'Brethren,

“THE Murder of our Brethren at Schenectady by 'the French grieves us as much, as if it had been done to ourselves, for we are in the same chain; ' and no doubt our Brethren of New-England will 'be likewise sadly affected with this cruel action ' of the French. The French on this Occasion 'have not acted like brave Men, but like Thieves ' and Robbers. Be not therefore discouraged. We 'give this Belt to wipe away your Tears.

'Brethren,

' of

'We lament the Death of so many of our 'Brethren, whose Blood has been shed at Schenec'tady. We don't think that what the French 'have done can be called a Victory, it is only a 'farther proof of their cruel deceit. The Governor of Canada'sends to Onondaga, and talks to us peace with our whole House, but war was in 'his heart, as you may now see by woeful experi" ence. He did the same formerly at Cadarackui, and in the Senecas Country. This is the third ' time he has acted so deceitfully. He has broken open our House at both Ends, formerly in the Senecas Country, and now here. We hope however to be revenged of them. One hundred of

our bravest Young Men are in pursuit of them, they are brisk fellows, and they will follow the