Chapter V: Part I (3)

"I know the Governor of _Canada_ dare not enter into the King of
_England_'s Territories, in a hostile Manner, without
Provocation, if he thought the Brethren were the King of
_England_'s Subjects; but you have, two or three Years ago, made
a Covenant-chain with the _French_, contrary to my Command,
(which I knew could not hold long) being void of itself among
the Christians; for as much as Subjects (as you are) ought not
to treat with any foreign Nation, it not lying in your Power,
you have brought this Trouble on your selves, and, as I believe,
this is the only Reason of their falling on you at this Time.

"Brethren, I took it very ill, that after you had put yourselves
into the Number of the great King of _England_'s Subjects, you
should ever offer to make Peace or War without my Consent. You
know that we can live without you, but you cannot live without
us. You never found that I told you a Lye, and I offered you the
Assistance you wanted, provided that you would be advised by me;
for I know the _French_ better than any of you do.

"Now since there is a War begun upon you by the Governor of
_Canada_, I hope without any Provocation by you given, I desire
and command you, that you hearken to no Treaty but by my Advice;
which if you follow, you shall have the Benefit of the great
Chain of Friendship between the great King of _England_ and the
King of _France_, which came out of _England_ the other Day, and
which I have sent to _Canada_ by _Anthony le Junard_. In the
mean Time, I will give you such Advice as will be for your good;
and will supply you with such Necessaries, as you will have Need
of.

"_First_, My Advice is, as to what Prisoners of the _French_ you
shall take, that you draw not their Blood, but bring them Home,
and keep them to exchange for your People, which they have
Prisoners already, or may take hereafter.

"_2dly_, That if it be possible, that you can order it so, I
would have you take one or two of your wisest _Sachems_, and one
or two of your _chief Captains_, of each Nation, to be a Council
to manage all Affairs of the War. They to give Orders to the
rest of the Officers what they are to do, that your Designs may
be kept private; for after it comes among so many People, it is
blazed abroad, and your Designs are often frustrated; and those
chief Men should keep a Correspondence with me by a trusty
Messenger.

"_3dly_, The great Matter under Consideration with the Brethren
is, how to strengthen themselves, and weaken their Enemy. My
Opinion is, that the Brethren should send Messengers to the
_Utawawas_, _Twihtwies_, and the _farther Indians_, and to send
back likewise some of the Prisoners of these Nations, if you
have any left, to bury the Hatchet, and to make a
Covenant-chain, that they may put away all the _French_ that are
among them, and that you will open a Path for them this Way,
they being the King of _England_'s Subjects likewise, tho' the
French have been admitted to trade with them; for all that the
_French_ have in _Canada_, they had it of the great King of
_England_; that by that Means they may come hither freely, where
they may have every Thing cheaper than among the _French_: That
you and they may join together against the _French_, and make so
firm a League, that whoever is an Enemy to one, must be to both.

"_4thly_, Another Thing of Concern is, that you ought to do what
you can to open a Path for all the _North Indians_ and
_Mahikanders_, that are among the _Utawawas_ and further
Nations: I will endeavour to do the same to bring them Home;
for, they not daring to return Home your Way, the _French_ keep
them there on purpose to join with the other Nations against
you, for your Destruction; for you know, that one of them is
worse than six of the others; therefore all Means must be used
to bring them Home, and use them kindly as they pass through
your Country.

"_5thly_, My Advice further is, that Messengers go, in behalf of
all the _Five Nations_, to the _Christian Indians_ at _Canada_,
to persuade them to come Home to their native Country. This will
be another great Means to weaken your Enemy; but if they will
not be advised, you know what to do with them.

"_6thly_, I think it very necessary, for the Brethren's Security
and Assistance, and to the endamaging the _French_, to build a
Fort upon the Lake, where I may keep Stores and Provisions, in
Case of Necessity; and therefore I would have the Brethren let
me know what Place will be most convenient for it.

"_7thly_, I would not have the Brethren keep their Corn in their
Castles, as I hear the _Onondagas_ do, but bury it a great Way
in the Woods, where few People may know where it is, for fear of
such an Accident as has happened to the _Senekas_.

"_8thly_, I have given my Advice in your General Assembly by Mr.
_Dirk Wessels_, and _Akus_ the Interpreter, how you are to
manage your Parties, and how necessary it is to get Prisoners,
to exchange for your own Men that are Prisoners with the
_French_; and I am glad to hear that the Brethren are so united,
as Mr. _Dirk Wessels_ tells me you are, and that there are no
rotten Members nor _French_ Spies among you.

"_9thly_, The Brethren may remember my Advice, which I sent you
this Spring, not to go to _Cadarackui_; if you had, they would
have served you as they did your People that came from hunting
thither; for I told you then, that I knew the _French_ better
than you did.

"_10thly_, There was no Advice or Proposition that I made to the
Brethren, all the Time that the Priest lived at _Onondaga_, but
what he wrote to _Canada_, as I found by one of his Letters,
which he gave to an _Indian_ to carry to _Canada_, but which was
brought hither; therefore I desire the Brethren not to receive
him or any _French Priest_ any more, having sent for _English
Priests_, with whom you may be supplied to your Content.

"_11thly_, I would have the Brethren look out sharp, for Fear of
being surprized. I believe all the Strength of the _French_ will
be at their Frontier Places, _viz_. at _Cadarackui_ and
_Oniagara_, where they have built a Fort now, and at _Trois
Rivieres_, _Montreal_, and _Chambly_.

"_12thly_, Let me put you in Mind again, not to make any
Treaties without my Means, which will be more advantageous for
you, than your doing it by yourselves, for then you will be
looked upon as the King of _England_'s Subjects, and let me
know, from Time to Time, every Thing that is done.

"Thus far I have spoken to you relating to the War."

Then he chid them for their Breach of Faith with _Virginia_. He told them, that he was informed, that last Spring they had killed a fine Gentleman, with some others; and that a Party of the _Oneydoes_ was now there at the Head of _Tames River_, with Intention to destroy all the _Indians_ thereabout. They had taken six Prisoners, whom he ordered them to bring to him, to be restored; and that for the future they should desist from doing any Injury to the People of _Virginia_, or their _Indians_, otherwise all the _English_ would unite to destroy them. But at the same time he freed the _Senekas_ from any Blame, and commended them as a brave and honest People, who never had done any Thing contrary to his Orders, except in making that unlucky Peace with the _French_, three Years ago.

_Lastly_, He recommended to them, not to suffer their People to be drunk during the War: A Soldier thereby (he said) loses his Reputation, because of the Advantages it will give the Enemy over him.

This honest Gentleman earnestly pursued the Interest of his Country; but it seems his Measures were not agreeable to those his Master had taken with the _French_ King; for he had Orders to procure a Peace for the _French_ on their own Terms, and was soon after this removed from his Government. Indeed such an active, as well as prudent Governor of _New-York_, could not be acceptable to the _French_, who had the universal Monarchy in View, in _America_ as well as in _Europe_.

The great Dispute between Coll. _Dungan_ and the _French_ was in this, that Coll. _Dungan_ would force the _French_ to apply to him, in all Affairs relating to the _Five Nations_, and the _French_ would treat with them independently of the _English_. For this Reason Coll. _Dungan_ refused any Assistance to the _French_, till they, by such Application, should acknowledge the Dependance of the _Five Nations_ on the Crown of _England_. But King _James_ ordered him to give up this Point; and that he should persuade the _Five Nations_ to send to _Canada_, to receive Proposals from the _French Governor_; and for this Purpose, forced them to agree to a Cessation of Arms, till their Deputies should go and return from _Canada_; and that they should, in the mean Time, deliver up all the Prisoners they had taken from the _French_; and that no Accident might prevent this, and blast so favourable an Opportunity of making Peace to the best Advantage, Monsr. _De Nonville_ sent his Orders to all his Officers in the _Indian_ Countries, to observe a Cessation of Arms, till the Ambassador of the _Five Nations_ should meet him at _Montreal_, as they had given him Reason to expect they would in a little Time, to conclude the Peace in the usual Form.

In the mean Time, _Adario_, the Chief of the _Deonondadies_, finding that his Nation was become suspected by the _French_, since the Time they had shewn so much Inclination to the _English_, when they attempted to trade at _Missilimakinak_, resolved, by some notable Action against the _Five Nations_, to recover the good Graces of the _French_.

For this Purpose, he marched from _Missilimakinak_, at the Head of a Hundred Men; and that he might act with the more Security, he took _Cadarackui_ Fort in his Way for Intelligence: The Commandant informed him, that Monsr. _De Nonville_ was in Hopes of concluding a Peace with the _Five Nations_, and expected their Ambassadors in eight or ten Days at _Montreal_ for that Purpose, and therefore desired him to return to _Missilimakinak_, without attempting any Thing that might obstruct so good a Design.

The _Indian_ being surprised with this News, was under great Concern for his Nation, which he was afraid would be sacrificed to the _French_ Interest, but dissembled his Concern before the _French_ Officer. He went from _Cadarackui_, not to return home as the Commandant thought, but to wait for the Ambassadors of the _Five Nations_, near one of the Falls of _Cadarackui_ River, by which he knew they must pass. He did not lurk there above four or five Days, before the Deputies came guarded by forty young Soldiers, who were all surprised, and killed or taken Prisoners. As soon as the Prisoners were all secured, the cunning _Deonondadi_ told them, "That he having been informed, by the Governor of _Canada_, that fifty Warriors of their Nation were to pass this Way about this Time, he had secured this Pass, not doubting of intercepting them."

The Ambassadors being much surprised at the _French_ Perfidy, told _Adario_ the Design of their Journey, who, the better to play his Part, seemed to grow mad and furious, declaring against Monsr. _De Nonville_, and said he would, some time or other, be revenged of him, for making a Tool of him, to commit such horrid Treachery. Then looking stedfastly on the Prisoners (among whom _Dekanefora_ was the principal Ambassador) _Adario_ said to them, Go, my Brethren, I unty your Bonds, and send you home again, tho' our Nations be at War: The _French_ Governor has made me commit so black an Action, that I shall never be easy after it, till the _Five Nations_ shall have taken full Revenge.

This was sufficient to persuade the Ambassadors of the Truth of what he said, who assured him, that he and his Nation might make their Peace when they pleased. _Adario_ lost only one Man on this Occasion, and would keep a _Satana_ Prisoner (adopted into the _Five Nations_) to fill up his Place. Then he gave Arms, Powder and Ball to the rest of the Prisoners, to enable them to return.

The Ambassadors were chiefly, if not all, _Onondagas_, and _Oneydoes_, who had been long under the Influence of the _French_ Priests, and still retained an Affection to them; but this Adventure thoroughly changed their Thoughts, and irritated them so heartily against the _French_, that all the _Five Nations_ prosecuted the War unanimously.

_Adario_ delivered the Slave (his Prisoner) to the _French_ at _Missilimakinak_, who to keep up the Enmity between the _Deonondadies_ and the _Five Nations_, ordered him to be shot to Death. _Adario_ called one of the _Five Nations_, who had been long a Prisoner, to be an Eye Witness of his Countryman's Death, then bid him make his Escape to his own Country, to give an Account of the _French_ Cruelty, from which it was not in his Power to save a Prisoner, he himself had taken.

This heightned the Rage of the _Five Nations_ so, that Monsr. _De Nonville_'s sending to disown _Adario_ in this Action, had no Effect upon them; their Breasts admitted of no Thoughts but that of Revenge. It was not long before the _French_ felt the bloody Effects of this cruel Passion, for 1200 Men of the _Five Nations_ invaded the Island of _Montreal_, when the _French_ had no Suspicion of any such Attempt, while Monsr. _De Nonville_ and his Lady were in that Town. They landed on the South Side of the Island, at _La Chine_, on the 26th of _July_ 1688, where they burnt and sacked all the Plantations, and made a terrible Massacre of Men, Women, and Children. The _French_ were under Apprehension of the Town's being attack'd, for which Reason, they durst not send out any considerable Party to the Relief of the Country, only once, when the _Indians_ had blocked up two Forts, Monsr. _De Nonville_ sent out a hundred Soldiers, and fifty _Indians_, to try to bring off the Men in those Forts. The _French_ of this Party were all either taken or cut to Pieces, except one Soldier, and the commanding Officer, who, after he had his Thighs broke, was carried off by twelve _Indians_ that made their Escape. There were above a Thousand of the _French_ killed at this Time, and twenty-six were carried away Prisoners, the greatest Part of which were burnt alive. The _Five Nations_ only lost three Men on this Expedition, that got drunk and were left behind. This, however, did not satiate their Thirst after Blood, for, in _October_ following, they destroyed likewise all the lower Part of the Island, and carried away many Prisoners.

The Consequence of these Expeditions were very dismal to the _French_, for they were forced to burn their two Barks, which they had on _Cadarackui_ Lake, and to abandon their Fort there; they designed to have blown up their Works, when they left that Place; and for that End left a lighted Match where the Powder lay, but were in such a Fright, that they durst not stay to see what Effect it had. They went down _Cadarackui_ River in seven Birch Canoes; and for greater Security, travelled in the Night. One of the Canoes, with all the Men in it, were lost, by their Precipitation, as they passed one of the Falls in that River. The _Five Nations_ hearing the _French_ had deserted _Cadarackui_ Fort, fifty _Indians_ went and took Possession of it, who found the Match the _French_ had left, which had gone out, and twenty eight Barrels of Powder in the same Place, together with several other Stores.

The News of the Success the _Five Nations_ had over the _French_ soon spread itself among all the _Indians_, and put the _French_ Affairs every where into the greatest Disorder.

The _Utawawas_ had always shewn an Inclination to the _English_, and they therefore immediately sent openly four _Sachems_, with three Prisoners of the _Senekas_, which they had, to assure them, that they would for ever renounce all Friendship with the _French_, and promised to restore the rest of the Prisoners. They also included seven Nations, that lived near _Missilimakinak_, in this Peace.

This put the _French_ Commandant there under the greatest Difficulty to maintain his Post; but there was no Choice, he must stand his Ground, for the _Five Nations_ had cut off all Hopes of retiring.

The _Nepairinians_ and _Kikabous_, of all their numerous Allies, only remained firm to the _French_; every one of the others endeavoured to gain the Friendship of the _Five Nations_; and would certainly have done it, by murdering all the _French_ among them, had not the Sieur _Perot_, with wonderful Sagacity and eminent Hazard to his own Person, diverted them.

_Canada_ was now in a most miserable Condition, for while the greatest Number of their Men had been employed in the Expedition against the _Five Nations_, and in trading among the far Nations, and making new Discoveries and Settlements, Tillage and Husbandry had been neglected; and they lost several Thousands of their Inhabitants, by the continual Incursions of small Parties, so that none durst hazard themselves out of fortified Places; indeed, it is hard to conceive what Distress the _French_ were then under, for tho' they were every where almost starving, they could not plant nor sow, or go from one Village to another for Relief, but with imminent Danger of having their Scalps carried away by the sculking _Indians_; at last the whole Country being laid waste, Famine began to rage, and was like to have put a miserable End to that Colony.

If the _Indians_ had understood the Method of attacking Forts, nothing could have preserved the _French_ from an entire Destruction at this Time; for whoever considers the State of the _Indian_ Affairs during this Period, how the _Five Nations_ were divided in their Sentiments and Measures; that the _Onondagas_, _Cayugas_, and _Oneydoes_, under the Influence of the _French_ Jesuites, were diverted from prosecuting the War against _Canada_, by the Jesuites cunningly spiriting up those three Nations against the _Virginia Indians_, and persuading them to send out their Parties that Way: That the _Senekas_ had a War at the same Time upon their Hands with three numerous _Indian_ Nations, the _Utawawas_, _Chicktaghicks_, and _Twihtwies_; and that the Measures the _English_ observed all King _James_'s Reign, gave the _Indians_ rather Grounds of Jealousy than Assistance: I say, whoever considers all these Things, and what the _Five Nations_ did actually perform, under all these Disadvantages against the _French_, will hardly doubt, that the _Five Nations_ by themselves were at that Time an Overmatch for the _French_ of _Canada_.

[Footnote 8: The Word Proposition has been always used by the Commissioners for _Indian Affairs_ at _Albany_, to signify Proposals or Articles in the Treaties or Agreements made with the _Indians_.]

[Footnote 9: A Castle of the _Sennekas_, from whence the _French_ call the _Sennekas Tonontouan_.]

[Footnote 10: Comprehended under the general Name of _Utawawas_.]

[Footnote 11: All _Indians_ make Use of a Hatchet or Axe, as an Emblem to express War.]

[Footnote 12: The Name the _Five Nations_ always give the Governor of _Virginia_.]

[Footnote 13: The _Five Nations_ always express Peace by the Metaphor of a Tree.]

[Footnote 14: The _French Priests_ had, from Time to Time, persuaded several of the _Five Nations_ to leave their own Country, and to settle near _Montreal_; where the _French_ are very industrious in encouraging them. Their Numbers have been likewise increased by the Prisoners the _French_ have taken in War, and by others that have run from their own Country; because of some Mischief that they had done, or Debts which they owed the Christians. These _Indians_ are all profess'd Papists, and for that Reason are commonly called the _praying Indians_ by their Countrymen, and they are called _Cahnuagas_ by the People of _Albany_, from the Place where they live; the _French_ value them on Account of the Intelligence they give in Time of War, and their Knowledge of the Countries.]

[Footnote 15: _New-York._]

[Footnote 16: _Virginia._]

[Footnote 17: _Maryland._]

[Footnote 18: The _Mohawks_ Country is situated between the other Nations and _Albany_.]

[Footnote 19: _Ronoon_ signifies Nation or People, in the Language of the _Five Nations_; they say _Tuihtuih-ronoons, Chichighik-ronoon, Deonondadik-ronoon_, &c.]

[Footnote 20: That is, the _Partridge_.]

[Footnote 21: Pointing to the _Jesuite_.]

[Footnote 22: The _Indians_ commonly gave a new Name to any Person they receive or adapt into their Nation. This is the _Jesuites Indian_ Name, the Interpretation whereof I know not.]

[Footnote 23: Voyages du _Baron de la Hontan_, Tome 1. Letter 7.]

[Footnote 24: The _Calumet_ is a large smoaking Pipe made of Marble, most commonly of a dark red, well polished, shaped somewhat in the Form of a Hatchet, and adorned with large Feathers of several Colours. It is used in all the _Indian_ Treaties with Strangers, and as a Flag of Truce between contending Parties, which all the _Indians_ think a very high Crime to violate. These _Calumets_ are generally of nice Workmanship, and were in Use before the _Indians_ knew any Thing of the Christians; for which Reason we are at a Loss to conceive by what Means they pierced these Pipes, and shaped them so finely, before they had the Use of Iron.]

[Footnote 25: Called _Sawanons_ by the _French_.]

[Footnote 26: Called _Illinois_ by the _French_.]

[Footnote 27: History de le Amerique Septentrionale, par Mr. de la Poterie, Tome ii. Cap. 16.]

[Footnote 28: In the Straights between Lake _Erie_ and _Quatoghie_ Lake.]

THE

H I S T O R Y

OF THE

FIVE Indian NATIONS

DEPENDENT

On the Province of NEW-YORK.