Chapter III (2)

“Brother, we, in behalf of the people of _Sawcunk_, desire that you will hold fast what you have begun, and be strong.[46] We are but little and poor, and therefore cannot do much. You are rich, and must go on and be strong. We have done all in our power towards bringing about a peace: we have had a great quarrel about you with the _French_; but we do not mind them. Do you make haste, and be strong, and let us see you again.” The said _Killbuck_ is a great captain and conjurer; he desired me to mention him to the Governor, and ask him if he would be pleased to send him a good saddle by the next messenger; and that he would do all in his power for the service of the English.

28th.—We set out from _Sawcunk_, in company with twenty, for _Kushkushkee_; on the road _Shingas_ addressed himself to me, and asked, if I did not think, that, if he came to the English, they would hang him, as they had offered a great reward for his head. He spoke in a very soft and easy manner. I told him that was a great while ago, it was all forgotten and wiped clean away; that the English would receive him very kindly. Then _Daniel_ interrupted me, and said to _Shingas_, “Do not believe him, he tells nothing but idle lying stories. Wherefore did the _English_ hire one thousand two hundred _Indians_[47] to kill us.” I protested it was false; he said, G—d d—n[48] you for a fool; did you not see the woman lying [in] the road that was killed by the _Indians_, that the _English_ hired? I said, “Brother do consider how many thousand _Indians_ the _French_ have hired to kill the _English_, and how many they have killed along the frontiers.” Then _Daniel_ said, “D—n you, why do not you and the _French_ fight on the sea? You come here only to cheat the poor _Indians_, and take their land from them.” Then _Shingas_ told him to be still; for he did not know what he said. We arrived at _Kushkushkee_ before night, and I informed _Pisquetumen_ of _Daniel’s_ behaviour, at which he appeared sorry.

29th.—I dined with _Shingas_; he told me, though the _English_ had set a great price on his head, he had never thought to revenge himself, but was always very kind to any prisoners that were brought in;[49] and that he assured the Governor, he would do all in his power to bring about an established peace, and wished he could be certain of the _English_ being in earnest.

Then seven chiefs present said, when the Governor sends the next messenger, let him send two or three white men, at least, to confirm the thing, and not send such a man as _Daniel_; they did not understand him; he always speaks, said they, as if he was drunk; and if a great many of them had not known me, they should not know what to think; for every thing I said he contradicted. I assured them I would faithfully inform the Governor of what they said, and they should see, as messengers, other guise _Indians_ than _Daniel_, for the time to come; and I farther informed them, that he was not sent by the Governor, but came on his own accord; and I would endeavour to prevent his coming back. _Daniel_ demanded of me his pay, and I gave him three dollars; and he took as much wampum from me as he pleased, and would not suffer me to count it. I imagined there was about two thousand.

About night, nine _Tawaas_ past by here, in their way to the _French_ fort.

30th and 31st.—The _Indians_ feasted greatly, during which time, I several times begged of them to consider and dispatch me.

September 1st.—_Shingas_, King _Beaver_, _Delaware George_, and _Pisquetumen_, with several other captains said to me,

“Brother, We have thought a great deal since God has brought you to us; and this is a matter of great consequence, which we cannot readily answer; we think on it, and will answer you as soon as we can. Our feast hinders us; all our young men, women and children are glad to see you; before you came, they all agreed together to go and join the _French_; but since they have seen you, they all draw back; though we have great reason to believe you intend to drive us away, and settle the country; or else, why do you come to fight in the land that God has given us?”

I said, we did not intend to take the land from them; but only to drive the _French_ away. They said, they knew better; for that they were informed so by our greatest traders; and some Justices of the Peace had told them the same, and the _French_, said they, tell us much the same thing,—“that the _English_ intend to destroy us, and take our lands;” but the land is ours, and not theirs; therefore, we say, if you will be at peace with us, we will send the _French_ home. It is you that have begun the war, and it is necessary that you hold fast, and be not discouraged, in the work of peace. We love you more than you love us; for when we take any prisoners from you, we treat them as our own children. We are poor, and yet we clothe them as well as we can, though you see our children are as naked as at the first. By this you may see that our hearts are better than yours. It is plain that you white people are the cause of this war; why do not you and the _French_ fight in the old country, and on the sea? Why do you come to fight on our land? This makes every body believe, you want to take the land from us by force, and settle it.[50]

I told them, “Brothers, as for my part, I have not one foot of land, nor do I desire to have any; and if I had any land, I had rather give it to you, than take any from you. Yes, brothers, if I die, you will get a little more land from me; for I shall then no longer walk on that ground, which God has made. We told you that you should keep nothing in your heart, but bring it before the council fire, and before the Governor, and his council; they will readily hear you; and I promise you, what they answer they will stand to. I further read to you what agreements they made about _Wioming_,[51] and they stand to them.”

They said, “Brother, your heart is good, you speak always sincerely; but we know there are always a great number of people that want to get rich; they never have enough; look, we do not want to be rich, and take away that which others have. God has given you the tame creatures; we do not want to take them from you. God has given to us the deer, and other wild creatures, which we must feed on; and we rejoice in that which springs out of the ground, and thank God for it. Look now, my brother, the white people think we have no brains in our heads; but that they are great and big, and that makes them make war with us: we are but a little handful to what you are; but remember, when you look for a wild turkey you cannot always find it, it is so little it hides itself under the bushes: and when you hunt for a rattle-snake, you cannot find it; and perhaps it will bite you before you see it. However, since you are so great and big, and we so little, do you use your greatness and strength in compleating this work of peace. This is the first time that we saw or heard of you, since the war begun, and we have great reason to think about it, since such a great body of you comes into our lands.[52] It is told us, that you and the _French_ contrived the war, to waste the _Indians_ between you; and that you and the _French_ intended to divide the land between you: this was told us by the chief of the _Indian_ traders; and they said further, brothers, this is the last time we shall come among you; for the _French_ and the _English_ intend to kill all the _Indians_, and then divide the land among themselves.”

Then they addressed themselves to me, and said, “Brother, I suppose you know something about it; or has the Governor stopped your mouth, that you cannot tell us?”

Then I said, “Brothers, I am very sorry to see you so jealous. I am your own flesh and blood, and sooner than I would tell you any story that would be of hurt to you, or your children, I would suffer death: and if I did not know that it was the desire of the Governor, that we should renew our old brotherly love and friendship, that subsisted between our grandfathers, I would not have undertaken this journey. I do assure you of mine and the people’s honesty. If the _French_ had not been here, the _English_ would not have come; and consider, brothers, whether, in such a case, we can always sit still.”

Then they said, “It is a thousand pities we did not know this sooner; if we had, it would have been peace long before now.”

Then I said, “My brothers, I know you have been wrongly persuaded by many wicked people; for you must know, that there are a great many Papists in the country, in _French_ interest, who appear like gentlemen, and have sent many runaway Irish papist servants[53] among you, who have put bad notions into your heads, and strengthened you against your brothers the _English_.

“Brothers, I beg that you would not believe every idle and false story, that ill-designing people may bring to you against us your brothers. Let us not hearken to what lying and foolish people may bring to you, against us your brothers. Let us not hearken to what lying and foolish people say, but let us hear what wise and good people say; they will tell us what is good for us and our children.”

Mem. There are a great number of _Irish_ traders now among the _Indians_, who have always endeavoured to spirit up the _Indians_ against the _English_; which made some, that I was acquainted with from their infancy, desire the chiefs to enquire of me, for that they were certain I would speak the truth.

_Pisquetumen_ now told me, we could not go to the General, that it was very dangerous, the _French_ having sent out several scouts to wait for me on the road. And further, _Pisquetumen_ told me, it was a pity the Governor had no ear,[54] to bring him intelligence; that the _French_ had three ears, whom they rewarded with great presents; and signified, that he and _Shingas_ would be ears, at the service of his honour, if he pleased.

2d.—I bade _Shingas_ to make haste and dispatch me, and once more desired to know of them, if it was possible for them to guide me to the General. Of all which they told me they would consider; and _Shingas_ gave me his hand, and said, “Brother, the next time you come, I will return with you to _Philadelphia_, and will do all in my power to prevent any body’s coming to hurt the _English_ more.”

3d.—To-day I found myself unwell, and made a little tea, which refreshed me: had many very pretty discourses with _George_. In the afternoon they called a council together, and gave me the following answer in council; the speaker addressing the Governor and people of _Pennsylvania_:

“Brethren, It is a great many days since we have seen or heard from you.[55] I now speak to you in behalf of all the nations, that have heard you heretofore.

“Brethren, it is the first message which we have seen or heard from you. Brethren, you have talked of that peace and friendship which we had formerly with you. Brethren, we tell you to be strong, and always remember that friendship, which we had formerly. Brethren, we desire you would be strong, and let us once more hear of our good friendship and peace, we had formerly. Brethren, we desire that you make haste, and let us hear of you again; for, as yet, we have not heard you rightly.” Gives a string.

“Brethren, hear what I have to say: look, brethren, we, who have now seen and heard you, we, who are present, are part of all the several nations, that heard you some days ago; we see that you are sorry we have not that friendship, we formerly had.

“Look, brethren, we at _Allegheny_ are likewise sorry we have not that friendship with you, which we formerly had. Brethren, we long for that peace and friendship we had formerly. Brethren, it is good that you desire that friendship, that was formerly among our fathers and grandfathers. Brethren, we will tell you, you must not let that friendship be quite lost, which was formerly between us.

“Now, brethren, it is three years since we dropt that peace and friendship, which we formerly had with you. Brethren, it was dropt, and lay buried in the ground, where you and I stand, in the middle between us both. Brethren, I see you have digged up, and revived, that friendship, which was buried in the ground; and now you have it, hold it fast. Do be strong, brethren, and exert yourselves, that that friendship may be well established and finished between us. Brethren, if you will be strong, it is in your power to finish that peace and friendship well. Therefore, brethren, we desire you to be strong and establish it, and make known to all the _English_ this peace and friendship, that it may embrace all and cover all. As you are of one nation and colour, in all the _English_ governments, so let the peace be the same with all. Brethren, when you have finished this peace, which you have begun; when it is known every where amongst your brethren, and you have every where agreed together on this peace and friendship, then you will be pleased to send the great peace belt to us at _Allegheny_.

“Brethren, when you have settled this peace and friendship, and finished it well, and you send the great peace-belt to me, I will send it to all the nations of my colour, they will all join to it, and we all will hold it fast.

“Brethren, when all the nations join to this friendship, then the day will begin to shine clear over us. When we hear once more of you, and we join together, then the day will be still, and no wind, or storm, will come over us, to disturb us.

“Now, brethren, you know our hearts, and what we have to say; be strong; if you do what we have now told you, and in this peace all the nations agree to join. Now, brethren, let the king of _England_ know what our mind is as soon as possibly you can.”[56] Gives a belt of eight rows.

I received the above speech and belt from the underwritten, who are all captains and counsellors.

BEAVER, KING,
DELAWARE GEORGE,
PISQUETUMEN,
TASUCAMIN,
AWAKANOMIN,
CUSHAWMEKWY,
KEYHEYNAPALIN,
CAPTAIN PETER,
MACOMAL,
POPAUCE,
WASHAOCAUTAUT,
COCHQUACAUKEHLTON,
JOHN HICKOMEN, and
KILL BUCK.

_Delaware George_ spoke as follows:

“Look, brothers, we are here of three different nations. I am of the Unami nation:[57] I have heard all the speeches that you have made to us with the many other nations.

“Brothers, you did let us know, that every one that takes hold of this peace-belt, you would take them by the hand, and lead them to the council fire, where our grandfathers kept good councils. So soon as I heard this, I took hold of it.

“Brother, I now let you know that my heart never was parted from you. I am sorry that I should make friendship with the _French_ against the _English_. I now assure you my heart sticks close to the English interest. One of our great captains, when he heard it, immediately took hold of it as well as myself. Now, Brother, I let you know that you shall soon see me by your council fire, and then I shall hear from you myself, the plain truth, in every respect.

“I love that which is good, like as our grandfathers did: they chose to speak the sentiments of their mind: all the _Five Nations_ know me, and know that I always spoke truth; and so you shall find, when I come to your council fire.” Gives a string.

The above _Delaware George_ had in company with him,

CUSHAWMEKWY,
KEHKEHNOPATIN,
CAPTAIN PETER,
JOHN PETER,
STINFEOR.

4th.—Present, _Shingas_, King _Beaver_, _Pisquetumen_, and several others. I asked what they meant by saying, “_They had not rightly heard me yet._” They said,

“Brother, you very well know that you have collected all your young men about the country, which makes a large body;[58] and now they are standing _before our doors_;[59] you come with good news and fine speeches. Brother, this is what makes us jealous, and we do not know what to think of it: if you had brought the news of peace before your army had begun to march, it would have caused a great deal more good. We do not so readily believe you, because a great many great men and traders have told us, long before the war, that you and the _French_ intended to join and cut all the _Indians_ off. These were people of your own colour, and your own countrymen; and some told us to join the _French_; for that they would be our fathers: besides, many runaways have told us the same story; and some we took prisoners told us how you would use us, if you caught us: therefore, brother, I say, we cannot conclude, at this time, but must see and hear you once more.” And further they said,

“Now, brother, you are here with us, you are our flesh and blood, speak from the bottom of your heart, will not the _French_ and _English_ join together to cut off the _Indians_? Speak, brother, from your heart, and tell us the truth, and let us know who were the beginners of the war.”

Then I delivered myself thus:

“Brothers, I love you from the bottom of my heart. I am extremely sorry to see the jealousy so deeply rooted in your hearts and minds. I have told you the truth; and yet, if I was to tell it you a hundred times, it seems you would not rightly believe me. My _Indian_ brothers, I wish you would draw your hearts to God, that he may convince you of the truth.

“I do now declare, before God, that the _English_ never did, nor never will, join with the French to destroy you. As far as I know, the _French_ are the beginners of this war. Brothers, about twelve years ago, you may remember, they had war with the English, and they both agreed to articles of peace. The _English_ gave up _Cape Breton_ in _Acadia_, but the _French_ never gave up the part of that country, which they had agreed to give up; and, in a very little time, made their _Children_ strike the _English_. This was the first cause of the war. Now, brothers; if any body strike you three times, one after another, you still sit still and consider: they strike you again, then, my brothers, you say, it is time, and you will rise up to defend yourselves. Now, my brothers, this is exactly the case between the _French_ and _English_. Consider farther, my brothers, what a great number of our poor back inhabitants have been killed since the _French_ came to the _Ohio_. The French are the cause of their death, and if they were not there, the _English_ would not trouble themselves to go there. They go no where to war, but where the French are. Those wicked people that set you at variance with the _English_, by telling you many wicked stories, are papists in French pay: besides, there are many among us, in the _French_ service, who appear like gentlemen, and buy Irish papist servants, and promise them great rewards to run away to you and strengthen you against the _English_, by making them appear as black as devils.”

This day arrived here two hundred _French_ and _Indians_, on their way to fort _Duquesne_. They staid all night. In the middle of the night king _Beaver’s_ daughter died, on which a great many guns were fired in the town.

5th.—It made a general stop in my journey. The _French_ said to their Children, they should catch me privately, or get my scalp. The commander wanted to examine me, as he was going to _fort Duquesne_. When they told me of it, I said, as he was going to _fort Duquesne_, he might enquire about me there: I had nothing at all to say, or do with the _French_: they would tell them every particular they wanted to know in the fort. They all came into the house where I was, as if they would see a new creature.

In the afternoon there came six _Indians_, and brought three German prisoners, and two scalps of the _Catabaws_.

As _Daniel_ blamed the _English_, that they never paid him for his trouble, I asked him whether he was pleased with what I paid him. He said, no. I said, “Brother, you took as much as you pleased.” I asked you, whether you was satisfied; you said, yes. I told him, I was ashamed to hear him blame the country so. I told him, “You shall have for this journey whatever you desire, when I reach the inhabitants.”

6th.—_Pisquetumen_, _Tom Hickman_ and _Shingas_ told me,

“Brother, it is good that you have stayed so long with us; we love to see you, and wish to see you here longer; but since you are so desirous to go, you may set off to morrow: _Pisquetumen_ has brought you here, and he may carry you home again: you have seen us, and we have talked a great deal together, which we have not done for a long time before. Now, Brother, we love you, but cannot help wondering why the _English_ and _French_ do not make up with one another, and tell one another not to fight on our land.”

I told them, “Brother, if the _English_ told the _French_ so a thousand times, they never would go away. Brother, you know so long as the world has stood there has not been such a war. You know when the French lived on the other side, the war was there, and here we lived in peace. Consider how many thousand men are killed, and how many houses are burned since the _French_ lived here; if they had not been here it would not have been so; you know we do not blame you; we blame the _French_; they are the cause of this war; therefore, we do not come to hurt you, but to chastise the _French_.”

They told me, that at the great council, held at _Onondago_, among the _Five Nations_, before the war began (_Conrad Weiser_ was there, and wrote every thing down) it was said to the _Indians_ at the _Ohio_, that they should let the _French_ alone there, and leave it entirely to the _Five Nations_; the _Five Nations_ would know what to do with them. Yet soon after two hundred _French_ and _Indians_ came and built _Fort Duquesne_.

King _Beaver_ and _Shingas_ spoke to _Pisquetumen_.

“Brother, you told us that the Governor of _Philadelphia_ and _Teedyuscung_ took this man out of their bosoms, and put him into your bosom, that you should bring him here; and you have brought him here to us; and we have seen and heard him; and now we give him into your bosom, to bring him to the same place again, before the Governor; but do not let him quite loose; we shall rejoice when we shall see him here again.” They desired me to speak to the Governor, in their behalf, as follows:

“Brother, we beg you to remember our oldest brother, _Pisquetumen_, and furnish him with good cloathes, and reward him well for his trouble; for we shall look upon him when he comes back.”

7th.—When we were ready to go, they began to council which course we should go, to be safest; and then they hunted for the horses, but could not find them; and so we lost that day’s journey.

It is a troublesome cross and heavy yoke to draw this people: They can punish and squeeze a body’s heart to the utmost. I suspect the reason they kept me here so long was by instigation of the _French_. I remember somebody told me, the _French_ told them to keep me twelve days longer, for that they were afraid I should get back too soon, and give information to the general. My heart has been very heavy here, because they kept me for no purpose. The Lord knows how they have been counselling about my life; but they did not know who was my protector and deliverer: I believe my Lord has been too strong against them; my enemies have done what lies in their power.

8th.—We prepared for our journey on the morning, and made ourselves ready. There came some together and examined me what I had wrote yesterday. I told them, I wondered what need they had to concern themselves about my writing. They said, if they knew I had wrote about the prisoners, they would not let me go out of the town. I told them what I writ was my duty to do. “Brothers, I tell you, I am not afraid of you, if there were a thousand more. I have a good conscience before God and man. I tell you I have wrote nothing about the prisoners. I tell you, Brothers, this is not good; there’s a bad spirit in your heart, which breeds that jealousy; and it will keep you ever in fear, that you will never get rest. I beg you would pray to God, for grace to resist that wicked spirit, that breeds such wicked jealousies in you; which is the reason you have kept me here so long. How often have I begged of you to dispatch me? I am ashamed to see you so jealous; I am not, in the least, afraid of you. Have I not brought writings to you? and what, do you think I must not carry some home, to the Governor? or, shall I shut my mouth, and say nothing? Look into your hearts, and see if it would be right or wrong, if any body gives a salutation to their friends, and it is not returned in the same way. You told me many times how kind you were to the prisoners, and now you are afraid that any of them should speak to me.”[60]

They told me, they had cause to be afraid; and then made a draught, and shewed me how they were surrounded with war. Then I told them, if they would be quiet, and keep at a distance, they need not fear. Then they went away, very much ashamed, one after another. I told my men, that we must make haste and go; accordingly we set off, in the afternoon, from _Kushkushkee_, and came ten miles.

9th.—We took a little foot-path hardly to be seen. We left it, and went through thick bushes, till we came to a mire, which we did not see, till we were in it; and _Tom Hickman_ fell in, and almost broke his leg. We had hard work before we could get the horse out again. The Lord helped me, that I got safe from my horse. I and _Pisquetumen_ had enough to do to come through. We passed many such places: it rained all day; and we got a double portion of it, because we received all that hung on the bushes. We were as wet as if we were swimming all the day; and at night we laid ourselves down in a swampy place to sleep, where we had nothing but the heavens for our covering.

10th.—We had but little to live on. _Tom Hickman_ shot a deer on the road. Every thing here, upon the _Ohio_, is extremely dear, much more so than in _Pennsylvania_: I gave for one dish of corn four hundred and sixty _wampum_. They told me that the Governor of _fort Duquesne_ kept a store of his own, and that all the _Indians_ must come and buy the goods of him; and when they come and buy, he tells them, if they will go to war, they shall have as much goods as they please. Before I set off, I heard further, that a _French_ captain who goes to all the _Indian_ towns[61] came to _Sacunck_, and said, “Children, will you not come and help your father against the _English_?” They answered, “Why should we go to war against our brethren? They are now our friends.” “O! Children,” said he, “I hope you do not own them for friends.” “Yes,” said they, “We do; we are their friends, and we hope they will remain ours.” “O! Children, said he, you must not believe what you have heard, and what has been told you by that man.” They said to him, “Yes, we do believe him more than we do you: it was you that set us against them; and we will by and by have peace with them;” and then he spoke not a word more, but returned to the fort. So, I hope, some good is done: praised be the name of the Lord.

11th.—Being Monday, we went over _Antigoc_:[62] we went down a very steep hill, and our horses slipt so far, that I expected, every moment, they would fall heels over head. We found fresh _Indian_ tracts on the other side of the river. We crossed _Allegheny_ river, and went through the bushes upon a high hill, and slept upon the side of the mountain, without fire, for fear of the enemy. It was a cold night, and I had but a thin blanket to cover myself.

12th.—We made a little fire, to warm ourselves in the morning. Our horses began to be weary with climbing up and down these steep mountains. We came this night to the top of a mountain, where we found a log-house. Here we made a small fire, just to boil ourselves a little victuals. The _Indians_ were very much afraid, and lay with their guns and tomhocks on all night. They heard somebody run and whisper in the night. I slept very sound, and in the morning they asked me, if I was not afraid the enemy _Indians_ would kill me. I said, “No, I am not afraid of the _Indians_, nor the devil himself: I fear my great Creator, God.” “Aye, they said, you know you will go to a good place when you die, but we do not know that: that makes us afraid.”

13th.—In the afternoon we twice crossed _Chowatin_, and came to _Ponchestanning_,[63] an old deserted Indian town, that lies on the same creek. We went through a bad swamp, where were very thick sharp thorns, so that they tore our cloaths and flesh, both hands and face, to a bad degree. We had this kind of road all the day. In the evening we made a fire, and then they heard something rush, in the bushes, as though they heard somebody walk. Then we went about three gun-shot from our fire, and could not find a place to lie down on, for the innumerable rocks; so that we were obliged to get small stones to fill up the hollow places in the rocks, for our bed; but it was very uneasy; almost shirt and skin grew together. They kept watch one after another all night.

14th.—In the morning, I asked them what made them afraid. They said, I knew nothing; the _French_ had set a great price on my head; and they knew there was gone out a great scout to lie in wait for me. We went over great mountains and a very bad road.

15th.—We came to _Susquehanna_, and crossed it six times, and came to _Catawaweshink_, where had been an old _Indian_ town.[64] In the evening there came three _Indians_, and said they saw two _Indian_ tracks, which came to the place where we slept, and turned back, as if to give information of us to a party; so that we were sure they followed us.

16th and 17th.—We crossed the mountain.

18th.—Came to the _Big Island_, where having nothing to live on, we were obliged to stay to hunt.

19th.—We met 20 warriors, who were returning from the inhabitants, with five prisoners and one scalp; six of them were _Delawares_, the rest _Mingoes_. We sat down all in one ring together. I informed them where I had been, and what was done; they asked me to go back a little, and so I did, and slept all night with them. I informed them of the particulars of the peace proposed; they said, “If they had known so much before, they would not have gone to war. Be strong; if you make a good peace, then we will bring all the prisoners back again.” They killed two deer, and gave me one.

20th.—We took leave of each other, and went on our journey, and arrived the 22d at _fort Augusta_, in the afternoon, very weary and hungry; but greatly rejoiced of our return from this tedious journey.

There is not a prouder, or more high minded people, in themselves, than the Indians. They think themselves the wisest and prudentest men in the world; and that they can over-power both the _French_ and _English_ when they please. The white people are, in their eyes, nothing at all. They say, that through their conjuring craft they can do what they please, and nothing can withstand them. In their way of fighting they have this method, to see that they first shoot the officers and commanders; and then, they say, we shall be sure to have them. They also say, that if their conjurers run through the middle of our people, no bullet can hurt them. They say too, that when they have shot the commanders, the soldiers will all be confused, and will not know what to do. They say of themselves, that every one of them is like a king and captain, and fights for himself. By this way they imagine they can overthrow any body of men, that may come against them. They say, “The _English_ people are fools; they hold their guns half man high, and then let them snap: we take sight and have them at a shot, and so do the _French_; they do not only shoot with a bullet, but big swan shot.” They say, the French load with a bullet and six swan-shot. They further say, “We take care to have the first shot at our enemies, and then they are half dead before they begin to fight.”

The _Indians_ are a people full of jealousy, and will not easily trust any body; and they are very easily affronted, and brought into jealousy; then afterwards they will have nothing at all to do with those they suspect; and it is not brought so easy out of their minds; they keep it to their graves, and leave the seed of it in their children and grand children’s minds; so, if they can, they will revenge themselves for every imagined injury. They are a very distrustful people. Through their imagination and reason they think themselves a thousand times stronger than all other people. _Fort du Quesne_ is said to be under-mined. The _French_ have given out, that, if we over-power them, and they should die, we should certainly all die with them. When I came to the fort, the garrison, it was said, consisted of about one thousand four hundred men; and I am told they will now be full three thousand _French_ and _Indians_. They are almost all _Canadians_, and will certainly meet the general before he comes to the fort, in an ambush. You may depend upon it the _French_ will make no open field-battle, as in the old country, but lie in ambush. The _Canadians_ are all hunters. The _Indians_ have agreed to draw back; but how far we may give credit to their promises the Lord knows. It is the best way to be on our guard against them, as they really could with one thousand over-power eight thousand.

Thirty-two nights I lay in the woods; the heavens were my covering. The dew came so hard sometimes, that it pinched close to the skin. There was nothing that laid so heavy on my heart, as the man that went along with me. He thwarted me in every thing I said or did; not that he did it against me, but against the country, on whose business I was sent: I was afraid he would overthrow what I went about. When he was with the _English_ he would speak against the _French_, and when with the _French_ against the _English_. The _Indians_ observed that he was a false fellow, and desired me, that I would not bring him any more, to transact any business between the _English_ and them; and told me, it was through his means I could not have the liberty to talk with the prisoners.

Praise and glory be to the _Lamb_, that has been slain, and brought me through the country of dreadful jealousy and mistrust, where the prince of this world has his rule and government over the children of disobedience.

The Lord has preserved me through all the dangers and difficulties, that I have ever been under. He directed me according to his will, by his holy spirit. I had no one to converse with but him. He brought me under a thick, heavy, and dark cloud, into the open air; for which I adore, praise, and worship the Lord my God, that I know has grasped me in his hands, and has forgiven me for all sins, and sent and washed my heart with his most precious blood; that I now live not for myself, but for him that made me; and to do his holy will is my pleasure. I own that, in the children of light, there dwells another kind of spirit, than there does in the children of this world; therefore, these two spirits cannot rightly agree in fellowship.

CHRISTIAN FREDERICK POST.

THE JOURNAL OF CHRISTIAN FREDERICK POST, ON A MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR OF PENNSYLVANIA, TO THE INDIANS ON THE OHIO, IN THE LATTER PART OF THE SAME YEAR.

_October 25th, 1758._—Having received the orders of the honourable Governor _Denny_,[65] I set out from _Easton_ to _Bethlehem_, and arrived there about three o’clock in the afternoon; I was employed most of the night, in preparing myself with necessaries, &c. for the journey.

26th.—Rose early, but my horse being lame, though I travelled all the day, I could not, till after night, reach to an inn, about ten miles from _Reading_.

27th.—I set out early, and about seven o’clock in the morning came to _Reading_, and there found Captain _Bull_, Mr. _Hays_,[66] and the _Indians_ just mounted, and ready to set out on their journey; they were heartily glad to see me; _Pisquetomen_ stretched out his arms, and said, “Now, Brother, I am glad I have got you in my arms, I will not let you go, I will not let you go again from me, you must go with me:” and I likewise said the same to him, and told him, “I will accompany you, if you will go the same way as I must go.” And then I called them together, in Mr. _Weiser’s_ house, and read a letter to them, which I had received from the Governor, which is as follows, viz.

“To _Pisquetomen_ and _Thomas Hickman_, to _Totiniontenna_
and _Shickalamy_, and to _Isaac Still_.[67]

“Brethren, Mr. _Frederick Post_ is come express from the general,
who sends his compliments to you, and desires you would come by
the way of his camp, and give him an opportunity of talking with
you.

“By this string of wampum I request of you to alter your intended
rout by way of _Shamokin_,[68] and to go to the general,[69] who
will give you a kind reception. It is a nigher way, in which you
will be better supplied with provisions, and can travel with less
fatigue and more safety.

“WILLIAM DENNY.

“_Easton, October 23d, 1758._”

To which I added, “Brethren, I take you by this string,[70] by the hand, and lift you from this place, and lead you along to the general.”

After which they consulted among themselves, and soon resolved to go with me. We shook hands with each other, and Mr. Hays immediately set out with them; after which, having with some difficulty procured a fresh horse, in the king’s service, I set off about noon with captain _Bull_; and when we came to _Conrad Weiser’s_ plantation, we found _Pisquetomen_ lying on the ground very drunk,[71] which obliged us to stay there all night; the other _Indians_ were gone eight miles farther on their journey.

28th.—We rose early, and I spoke to _Pisquetomen_ a great deal; he was very sick, and could hardly stir; when we overtook the rest, we found them in the same condition; and they seemed discouraged, from going the way to the general; and wanted to go through the woods. I told them, I was sorry to see them wavering, and reminded them, that when I went to their towns, I was not sent to the _French_, but when your old men insisted on my going to them, I followed their advice, and went; and as the general is, in the king’s name, over the provinces, in matters of war and peace, and the _Indians_, at _Allegheny_,[72] want to know, whether all the _English_ governments will join in the peace with them; the way to obtain full satisfaction is to go to him, and there you will receive another great belt to carry home; which I desire you seriously to take into consideration. They then resolved to go to _Harris’s_ ferry, and consider about it as they went;—we arrived there late in the night.[73]

29th.—In the morning, the two _Cayugas_ being most desirous of going through the woods, the others continued irresolute;[74] upon which I told them, “I wish you would go with good courage, and with hearty resolution,” and repeated what I had said to them yesterday, and reminded them, as they were messengers, they should consider what would be the best for their whole nation; “consult among yourselves, and let me know your true mind and determination;” and I informed them, I could not go with them, unless they would go to the general, as I had messages to deliver him. After which, having consulted together, _Pesquitomen_ came and gave me his hand, and said, “Brother, here is my hand, we have all joined to go with you, and we put ourselves under your protection to bring us safe through, and to secure us from all danger.” We came that night to _Carlisle_[75] and found a small house without the fort, for the _Indians_ to be by themselves, and hired a woman to dress their victuals, which pleased them well.

30th.—Setting out early, we came to _Shippensburg_,[76] and were lodged in the fort, where the _Indians_ had a house to themselves.

31st.—Set out early; in our passing by _Chambers_ Fort,[77] some of the _Irish_ people, knowing some of the _Indians_, in a rash manner exclaimed against them, and we had some difficulty to get them off clear. At fort _Loudon_ we met about sixteen of the _Cherokees_, who came in a friendly manner to our _Indians_, enquiring for _Bill Sockum_,[78] and shewed the pipe[79] they had received from the _Shawanese_, and gave it, according to their custom, to smoak out of, and said, they hoped they were friends of the _English_. They knew me. _Pesquitomen_ begged me to give him some _wampum_, that he might speak to them: I gave him 400 white _wampum_, and he then said to them:—“We formerly had friendship one with another; we are only messengers, and cannot say much, but by these strings we let you know we are friends, and we are about settling a peace with the _English_, and wish to be at peace also with you, and all other _Indians_.”—And informed them further, they came from a treaty, which was held at _Easton_, between the _Eight United Nations_ and their confederates, and the _English_; in which peace was established; and shewed them the two messengers from the _Five Nations_, who were going, with them, to make it known to all the _Indians_ to the westward. Then the _Cherokees_ answered and said; “they should be glad to know how far the friendship was to reach; they, for themselves, wished it might reach from the sun-rise to the sun-set; for, as they were in friendship with the _English_, they would be at peace with all their friends, and at war with their enemies.”

Nov. 1.—We reached fort _Littleton_,[80] in company with the _Cherokees_, and were lodged, in the fort; they, and our _Indians_, in distinct places; and they entertained each other with stories of their warlike adventures.

2d.—_Pesquitomen_ said to me, “you have led us this way, through the fire; if any mischief should befal us, we shall lay it entirely to you; for we think it was your doing, to bring us this way; you should have told us at _Easton_, if it was necessary we should go to the general.”

I told him, “that I had informed the great men, at _Easton_, that I then thought it would be best not to let them go from thence, till they had seen the general’s letter; and assured them that it was agreeable to the general’s pleasure.”

3d.—_Pesquitomen_ began to argue with captain _Bull_ and Mr. _Hays_, upon the same subject, as they did with me, when I went to them with my first message; which was, “that they should tell them, whether the general would claim the land as his own, when he should drive the _French_ away? or, whether the _English_ thought to settle the country? We are always jealous the _English_ will take the land from us. Look, brother, what makes you come with such a large body of men, and make such large roads into our country; we could drive away the _French_ ourselves, without your coming into our country.”

Then I desired captain _Bull_ and Mr. _Hays_ to be careful how they argued with the _Indians_; and be sure to say nothing, that might affront them; for it may prove to our disadvantage, when we come amongst them. This day we came to _Rays-town_,[81] and with much difficulty got a place to lodge the _Indians_ by themselves, to their satisfaction.

4th.—We intended to set out, but our _Indians_ told us, the _Cherokees_ had desired them to stay that day, as they intended to hold a council; and they desired us to read over to them the governor’s message; which we accordingly did. _Pesquitomen_, finding _Jenny Frazer_ there, who had been their prisoner, and escaped, spoke to her a little rashly. Our _Indians_, waiting all the day, and the _Cherokees_ not sending to them, were displeased.

5th.—Rose early, and, it raining smartly, we asked our _Indians_, if they would go; which they took time to consult about.

The _Cherokees_ came and told them, the _English_ had killed about thirty of their people, for taking some horses, which they resented much; and told our _Indians_ they had better go home, than go any farther with us, lest they should meet with the same. On hearing this, I told them how I had heard it happened; upon which our _Indians_ said, they had behaved like fools, and brought the mischief on themselves.

_Pesquitomen_, before we went from hence, made it up with _Jenny Frazer_, and they parted good friends; and though it rained hard, we set out at 10 o’clock, and got to the foot of the _Alleghenny_, and lodged at the first run of water.

6th.—One of our horses went back; we hunted a good while for him. Then we set off, and found one of the worst roads that ever was travelled until _Stoney creek_.[82] Upon the road we overtook a great number of pack horses; whereon _Pesquitomen_ said, “Brother, now you see, if you had not come to us before, this road would not be so safe as it is; now you see, we could have destroyed all this people on the road, and great mischief would have been done, if you had not stopt, and drawn our people back.”—We were informed that the general was not yet gone to fort _Duquesne_, wherefore _Pesquitomen_ said, he was glad, and expressed, “If I can come to our towns before the general begins the attack, I know our people will draw back, and leave the _French_.”—We lodged this night at _Stoney creek_.

7th.—We arose early, and made all the haste we could on our journey; we crossed the large creek, _Rekempalin_; near _Lawrel hill_. Upon this hill we overtook the artillery, and came, before sun set, to _Loyal Hanning_.[83] We were gladly received in the camp by the general, and most of the people. We made our fire near the other _Indian_ camps; which pleased our people. Soon after some of the officers came, and spoke very rashly to our _Indians_, in respect to their conduct to our people; at which they were much displeased, and answered as rashly, and said, “they did not understand such usage; for they were come upon a message of peace; if we had a mind to war, they knew how to help themselves; and they were not afraid of us.”

8th.—At eleven o’clock the general called the _Indians_ together, the _Cherokees_ and _Catawbas_ being present; he spake to them in a kind and loving manner, and bid them heartily welcome to his camp, and expressed his joy to see them, and desired them to give his compliments to all their kings and captains:—He desired them that had any love for the _English_ nation, to withdraw from the _French_; for if he should find them among the _French_, he must treat them as enemies, as he should advance with a large army very soon, and cannot wait longer on account of the winter season. After that he drank the king’s health, and all that wish well to the _English_ nation; then he drank king _Beaver’s_, _Shingas_; and all the warrior’s healths, and recommended us (the messengers) to their care; and desired them to give credit to what we should say. After that we went to another house with the general alone; and he shewed them the belt, and said, he would furnish them with a writing, for both the belt and string; and after a little discourse more, our _Indians_ parted in love, and well satisfied. And we made all necessary preparations for our journey.