A

'COUSINS,'Let this Belt of Wampum serve to chastise you. You ought to be taken by the Hair of the Head and shaked severely, till you recover your Senses and become sober. You don't know what Ground you stand on, nor what you are doing. Our BrotherOnas's Cause is very just and plain, and his Intentions are to preserve Friendship. On the other Hand, your Cause is bad; your Heart far from being upright; and you are maliciously bent to break the Chain of Friendship with our BrotherOnas, and his People. We have seen with our Eyes a Deed sign'd by nine of your Ancestors abovefiftyYears ago for this very Land, and a Release sign'd, not many Years since, by some of yourselves and Chiefs now living, to the Number of fifteen or upwards.—But how came you to take upon you to sell Land at all? We conquered you; we made Women of you; you know you are Women, and can no more sell Land than Women; nor is it fit you should have the Power of selling Lands, since you would abuse it. This Land that you claim is gone thro' your Guts; you have been furnished with Cloaths, Meat, and Drink, by the Goods paid you for it, and now you want it again, like Children as you are.—But what makes you sell Land in the Dark? Did you ever tell us that you had sold this Land? Did we ever receive any Part, even the Value of a Pipe-Shank, from you for it? You have told us a blind Story, that you sent a Messenger to us to inform us of the Sale, but he never came amongst us, nor we never heard any thing about it.—This is acting in the Dark, and very different from the Conduct ourSixNations observe in the Sales of Land; on such Occasions they give publick Notice, and invite all theIndiansof their united Nations, and give them all a Share of the Present they receive for their Lands.—This is the Behaviour of the wise united Nations.—But we find you are none of our Blood: You act a dishonest Part, not only in this, but in other Matters: Your Ears are ever open to slanderous Reports about our Brethren; you receive them with as much Greediness as lewd Women receive the Embraces of bad Men. And for all these Reasons we charge you to remove instantly; we don't give you the Liberty to think about it. You are Women. Take the Advice of a wise Man, and remove immediately. You may return to the other Side ofDelawarewhere you came from: But we do not know whether, considering how you have demean'd yourselves, you will be permitted to live there; or whether you have not swallowed that Land down your Throats as well as the Land on this Side. We therefore assign you two Places to go, either toWyomenorShamokin. You may go to either of these Places, and then we shall have you more under our Eye, and shall see how you behave. Don't deliberate; but remove away, and take this Belt of Wampum.'

'COUSINS,

'Let this Belt of Wampum serve to chastise you. You ought to be taken by the Hair of the Head and shaked severely, till you recover your Senses and become sober. You don't know what Ground you stand on, nor what you are doing. Our BrotherOnas's Cause is very just and plain, and his Intentions are to preserve Friendship. On the other Hand, your Cause is bad; your Heart far from being upright; and you are maliciously bent to break the Chain of Friendship with our BrotherOnas, and his People. We have seen with our Eyes a Deed sign'd by nine of your Ancestors abovefiftyYears ago for this very Land, and a Release sign'd, not many Years since, by some of yourselves and Chiefs now living, to the Number of fifteen or upwards.—But how came you to take upon you to sell Land at all? We conquered you; we made Women of you; you know you are Women, and can no more sell Land than Women; nor is it fit you should have the Power of selling Lands, since you would abuse it. This Land that you claim is gone thro' your Guts; you have been furnished with Cloaths, Meat, and Drink, by the Goods paid you for it, and now you want it again, like Children as you are.—But what makes you sell Land in the Dark? Did you ever tell us that you had sold this Land? Did we ever receive any Part, even the Value of a Pipe-Shank, from you for it? You have told us a blind Story, that you sent a Messenger to us to inform us of the Sale, but he never came amongst us, nor we never heard any thing about it.—This is acting in the Dark, and very different from the Conduct ourSixNations observe in the Sales of Land; on such Occasions they give publick Notice, and invite all theIndiansof their united Nations, and give them all a Share of the Present they receive for their Lands.—This is the Behaviour of the wise united Nations.—But we find you are none of our Blood: You act a dishonest Part, not only in this, but in other Matters: Your Ears are ever open to slanderous Reports about our Brethren; you receive them with as much Greediness as lewd Women receive the Embraces of bad Men. And for all these Reasons we charge you to remove instantly; we don't give you the Liberty to think about it. You are Women. Take the Advice of a wise Man, and remove immediately. You may return to the other Side ofDelawarewhere you came from: But we do not know whether, considering how you have demean'd yourselves, you will be permitted to live there; or whether you have not swallowed that Land down your Throats as well as the Land on this Side. We therefore assign you two Places to go, either toWyomenorShamokin. You may go to either of these Places, and then we shall have you more under our Eye, and shall see how you behave. Don't deliberate; but remove away, and take this Belt of Wampum.'

This being interpreted byConrad WeiserintoEnglish, and byCornelius Springinto theDelawareLanguage,Canassategotaking a String of Wampum, added further.

'After our just Reproof, and absolute Order to depart from the Land, you are now to take Notice of what we have further to say to you. This String of Wampum serves to forbid you, your Children and Grand-Children, to the latest Posterity for ever, meddling in Land-Affairs; neither you, nor any who shall descend from you, are ever hereafter to presume to sell any Land: For which purpose, you are to preserve this String, in Memory of what your Uncles have this Day given you in Charge.—We have some other Business to transact with our Brethren, and therefore depart the Council, and consider what has been said to you.'

Canassategothen spoke to the Governor and Council:

'BRETHREN,'We called at our old FriendJames Logan's, in our Way to this City, and to our Grief we found him hid in the Bushes, and retired, thro' Infirmities, from publick Business. We press'd him to leave his Retirement, and prevailed with him to assist once more on our Account at your Councils. We hope, notwithstanding his Age, and the Effects of a Fit of Sickness, which we understand has hurt his Constitution, that he may yet continue a long Time to assist this Province with his Counsels. He is a wise Man, and a fast Friend to theIndians. And we desire, when his Soul goes toGOD, you may chuse in his Room just such another Person, of the same Prudence and Ability in counselling, and of the same tender Disposition and Affection for theIndians. In Testimony of our Gratitude for all his Services, and because he was so good as to leave his Country-House, and follow us to Town, and be at the Trouble, in this his advanced Age, to attend the Council, we present him with this Bundle of Skins.'

'BRETHREN,

'We called at our old FriendJames Logan's, in our Way to this City, and to our Grief we found him hid in the Bushes, and retired, thro' Infirmities, from publick Business. We press'd him to leave his Retirement, and prevailed with him to assist once more on our Account at your Councils. We hope, notwithstanding his Age, and the Effects of a Fit of Sickness, which we understand has hurt his Constitution, that he may yet continue a long Time to assist this Province with his Counsels. He is a wise Man, and a fast Friend to theIndians. And we desire, when his Soul goes toGOD, you may chuse in his Room just such another Person, of the same Prudence and Ability in counselling, and of the same tender Disposition and Affection for theIndians. In Testimony of our Gratitude for all his Services, and because he was so good as to leave his Country-House, and follow us to Town, and be at the Trouble, in this his advanced Age, to attend the Council, we present him with this Bundle of Skins.'

'BRETHREN,'It is always our Way, at the Conclusion of a Treaty, to desire you will use your Endeavours with the Traders, that they may sell their Goods cheaper, and give us a better Price for our Deer-Skins. Whenever any particular Sort ofIndianGoods is scarce, they constantly make us pay the dearer on that Account. We must now use the same Argument with them: Our Deer are killed in such Quantities, and our Hunting-Countries grown less every Day by the Settlement of white People, that Game is now difficult to find, and we must go a great Way in quest of it; they therefore ought to give us a better Price for our Skins; and we desire you would speak to them to do so. We have been stinted in the Article of Rum in Town. We desire you will open the Rum-Bottle, and give it to us in greater Abundance on the Road.'

'BRETHREN,

'It is always our Way, at the Conclusion of a Treaty, to desire you will use your Endeavours with the Traders, that they may sell their Goods cheaper, and give us a better Price for our Deer-Skins. Whenever any particular Sort ofIndianGoods is scarce, they constantly make us pay the dearer on that Account. We must now use the same Argument with them: Our Deer are killed in such Quantities, and our Hunting-Countries grown less every Day by the Settlement of white People, that Game is now difficult to find, and we must go a great Way in quest of it; they therefore ought to give us a better Price for our Skins; and we desire you would speak to them to do so. We have been stinted in the Article of Rum in Town. We desire you will open the Rum-Bottle, and give it to us in greater Abundance on the Road.'

To inforce our Request, about theIndianTraders,we present you with this Bundle of Skins.

'BRETHREN,'When we first came to your Houses, we found them clean and in Order; but we have staid so long as to dirty them; which is to be imputed to our different Way of Living from the white People: And therefore, as we cannot but have been disagreeable to you on this Account, we present you with some Skins to make your Houses clean, and put them into the same Condition they were in when we came amongst you.'

'BRETHREN,

'When we first came to your Houses, we found them clean and in Order; but we have staid so long as to dirty them; which is to be imputed to our different Way of Living from the white People: And therefore, as we cannot but have been disagreeable to you on this Account, we present you with some Skins to make your Houses clean, and put them into the same Condition they were in when we came amongst you.'

'BRETHREN,'The Business theFiveNations transact with you is of great Consequence, and requires a skilful and honest Person to go between us; one in whom both you and we can place a Confidence.—We esteem our present Interpreter to be such a Person, equally faithful in the Interpretation of whatever is said to him by either of us, equally allied to both; he is of our Nation, and a Member of our Council, as well as of yours. When we adopted him, we divided him into two equal Parts: One we kept for ourselves, and one we left for you. He has had a great deal of trouble with us, wore out his Shoes in our Messages, and dirty'd his Clothes by being amongst us, so that he is become as nasty as anIndian.'In Return for these Services, we recommend him to your Generosity; and on our own Behalf, we give himFive Skinsto buy him Clothes and Shoes with.'

'BRETHREN,

'The Business theFiveNations transact with you is of great Consequence, and requires a skilful and honest Person to go between us; one in whom both you and we can place a Confidence.—We esteem our present Interpreter to be such a Person, equally faithful in the Interpretation of whatever is said to him by either of us, equally allied to both; he is of our Nation, and a Member of our Council, as well as of yours. When we adopted him, we divided him into two equal Parts: One we kept for ourselves, and one we left for you. He has had a great deal of trouble with us, wore out his Shoes in our Messages, and dirty'd his Clothes by being amongst us, so that he is become as nasty as anIndian.

'In Return for these Services, we recommend him to your Generosity; and on our own Behalf, we give himFive Skinsto buy him Clothes and Shoes with.'

'BRETHREN,'We have still one more Favour to ask. Our Treaty, and all we have to say about publick Business, is now over, and to-morrow we design to leave you. We hope, as you have given us Plenty of good Provision whilst in Town, that you will continue your Goodness so far as to supply us with a little more to serve us on the Road. And we likewise desire you will provide us with Waggons, to carry our Goods to the Place where they are to be conveyed by Water.'

'BRETHREN,

'We have still one more Favour to ask. Our Treaty, and all we have to say about publick Business, is now over, and to-morrow we design to leave you. We hope, as you have given us Plenty of good Provision whilst in Town, that you will continue your Goodness so far as to supply us with a little more to serve us on the Road. And we likewise desire you will provide us with Waggons, to carry our Goods to the Place where they are to be conveyed by Water.'

To these several Points the Governor made the following Reply.

'BRETHRENof the Six Nations,'The Judgment you have just now pass'd on your Cousins theDelawares, confirms the high Opinion we have ever entertained of the Justice of theSix Nations. This Part of your Character, for which you are deservedly famed, made us wave doing ourselves Justice, in order to give you another Opportunity of convincing the World of your inviolable Attachment to your Engagements. These unhappy People might have always liv'd easy, having never receiv'd the least Injury from us; but we believe some of our own People were bad enough to impose on their Credulity, and engage them in these wrong Measures, which we wish, for their Sakes, they had avoided.'We hoped, from what we have constantly given in Charge to theIndianTraders, that they would have administred no just Cause of Complaint: If they do you Wrong, it is against our Inclinations, and contrary to our express Directions. As you have exhibited no particular Charge against them, we shall use our best Endeavours to persuade them to give you as much for your Skins as they can possibly afford; and to take Care that their Goods which they give in Exchange for Skins, be of the best Sort. We will likewise order you some Rum to serve you on your journey home, since you desire it.'We wish there had been more Room and better Houses provided for your Entertainment; but not expecting so many of you, we did the best we could. 'Tis true, there are a great many Houses in Town, but as they are the Property of other People, who have their own Families to take care of, it is difficult to procure Lodgings for a large Number of People, especially if they come unexpectedly.'We entertain the same Sentiments of the Abilities and Probity of the Interpreter as you have express'd. We were induc'd at first to make use of him in this important Trust, from his being known to be agreeable to you, and one who had lived amongst you for some Years, in good Credit and Esteem with all your Nations; and have ever found him equally faithful to both. We are pleas'd with the Notice you have taken of him, and think he richly deserves it at your Hands. We shall not be wanting to make him a suitable Gratification, for the many good and faithful Services he hath done this Government.'We have already given Orders for Waggons to carry your Goods, and for a Supply of Provisions to serve you on the Road in your Return home, where we heartily wish you may arrive in good Health.'

'BRETHRENof the Six Nations,

'The Judgment you have just now pass'd on your Cousins theDelawares, confirms the high Opinion we have ever entertained of the Justice of theSix Nations. This Part of your Character, for which you are deservedly famed, made us wave doing ourselves Justice, in order to give you another Opportunity of convincing the World of your inviolable Attachment to your Engagements. These unhappy People might have always liv'd easy, having never receiv'd the least Injury from us; but we believe some of our own People were bad enough to impose on their Credulity, and engage them in these wrong Measures, which we wish, for their Sakes, they had avoided.

'We hoped, from what we have constantly given in Charge to theIndianTraders, that they would have administred no just Cause of Complaint: If they do you Wrong, it is against our Inclinations, and contrary to our express Directions. As you have exhibited no particular Charge against them, we shall use our best Endeavours to persuade them to give you as much for your Skins as they can possibly afford; and to take Care that their Goods which they give in Exchange for Skins, be of the best Sort. We will likewise order you some Rum to serve you on your journey home, since you desire it.

'We wish there had been more Room and better Houses provided for your Entertainment; but not expecting so many of you, we did the best we could. 'Tis true, there are a great many Houses in Town, but as they are the Property of other People, who have their own Families to take care of, it is difficult to procure Lodgings for a large Number of People, especially if they come unexpectedly.

'We entertain the same Sentiments of the Abilities and Probity of the Interpreter as you have express'd. We were induc'd at first to make use of him in this important Trust, from his being known to be agreeable to you, and one who had lived amongst you for some Years, in good Credit and Esteem with all your Nations; and have ever found him equally faithful to both. We are pleas'd with the Notice you have taken of him, and think he richly deserves it at your Hands. We shall not be wanting to make him a suitable Gratification, for the many good and faithful Services he hath done this Government.

'We have already given Orders for Waggons to carry your Goods, and for a Supply of Provisions to serve you on the Road in your Return home, where we heartily wish you may arrive in good Health.'

After the Governor had concluded, Mr.Loganreturn'd an Answer to that Part ofCanassatego's Speech which related to him, and said, 'That not only upon the Account of his Lameness, of which theIndiansthemselves were Witnesses; but on Account of another Indisposition, which about three Years since had laid him under an Incapacity of expressing himself with his former usual Freedom, he had been obliged to live retired in the Country. But that our first Proprietor, the HonourableWilliam Penn, who had ever been a Father and true Friend to all theIndians, having above forty Years since recommended them to his particular Care, he had always, from his own Inclination, as well as from that strict Charge, endeavoured to convince all theIndians, that he was their true Friend; and was now well pleased, that after a Tract of so many Years, they were not insensible of it. He thanked them kindly for their Present, and heartily joined with them in their Desires, that this Government may always be furnished with Persons of equally good Inclinations, and not only with such, but also with better Abilities to serve them.'

And thenCanassategosaid, he had forgot to mention, thatShickcalamyandCaxhaynhad been employ'd on several Messages to this Government, and desir'd they might be consider'd on that Account.

The Honourable

GEORGE THOMAS

, Esq; Lieutenant-Governor.

James Logan

, }

Clement Plumsted

, }

Samuel Hasell

, }

Robert Strettell

, } Esqrs;

Samuel Preston

, }

Thomas Lawrence

, }

Abraham Taylor

, }

Mr.

Richard Peters

The Board taking into Consideration the Regulation of the necessary Expences of theIndianstravelling down hither, and returning; and upon an Estimate made byConrad Weiser, amounting to aboutone hundred Pounds, it appearing that the said Sum of 100l.will be necessary to be advanced toConrad Weiserto defray those Expences, Mr.Logan, on the Proprietaries Behalf, proposes to advance 40l.and the Treasurer declaring he had no publick Money in his Hands, and that if he had, he would not advance Money without the Assembly's Order; it is recommended to Mr.Prestonand Mr.Lawrence, to confer with Mr.Kinsey, and know whether he, as Speaker of the Assembly, and Trustee of the Loan-Office, will advance the other 60l.

And theIndianshaving requested that they might have a small Quantity of Rum, to be added to their Provisions, to comfort them on the Road: The Board is of Opinion, that there be added to the said Estimate for twenty Gallons of Rum for the aforesaid Use. And in Return for their Present of Skins, at requesting that theIndianTraders be enjoin'd to sell their Goods cheaper, the Board directs that two Strouds be presented. And thatfive Poundsbe given toCaxhaynon the Account of the Province, for his Services; and toShickcalamythe like Sum.

A just Copy, compared by

PATRICK BAIRD, Secr.

The Honourable

GEORGE THOMAS

, Esq; Lieut. Governor of the Province of

Pensylvania

, and Counties of

Newcastle, Kent

and

Sussex

, on

Delaware

The Hon

ble

Thomas Lee

, Esq; } Commissioners

Colonel

William Beverly

, } of

Virginia

The Hon

ble

Edm. Jennings

, Esq; }

Philip Thomas

, Esq; } Commissioners

Colonel

Robert King

, } of

Maryland

Colonel

Thomas Colville

, }

The Deputies of the

Onandagoes, Senecas, Cayogoes, Oneidas

and

Tuscaroraes

Conrad Weiser

, Interpreter.

The Governor and the Commissioners took some of theIndianChiefs by the Hand, and, after they had seated themselves, the Governor bid them welcome into the Government; and there being Wine and Punch prepared for them, the Governor and the several Commissioners drank Health to theSix Nations; andCanassatego, Tachanoontia, and some other Chiefs, returned the Compliments, drinking the Healths ofOnas[1],Assaragoa[2], and the Governor ofMaryland.

After they were all served with Wine, Punch, Pipes and Tobacco, the Governor told theIndians, that as it was customary, and indeed necessary, they should have some Time to rest after so long a Journey, and as he thought three Days would be no more than sufficient for that Purpose, he proposed to speak to them onMondaynext; after which, the honourable Commissioners would take their own Time to deliver what they had to say.

CANASSATEGOanswered the Governor: We thank you for giving us Time to rest; we are come to you, and shall leave it intirely to you to appoint the Time when we shall meet you again. We likewise leave it to the Governor ofMaryland, by whose Invitation we came here, to appoint a Time when he will please to mention the Reason of his inviting us. As to our BrotherAssaragoa, we have at this present Time nothing to say to him; not but we have a great deal to say toAssaragoa, which must be said at one Time or another; but not being satisfied whether he or we should begin first, we shall leave it wholly to our BrotherOnasto adjust this between us, and to say which shall begin first.

The Honourable

GEORGE THOMAS

, Esq; Governor, &c.

The Honourable the Commissioners of

Virginia

The Honourable the Commissioners of

Maryland

The Deputies of the

Six Nations

Conrad Weiser

, Interpreter.

TheGovernorspoke as follows.

Honourable Gentlemen, Commissioners for the Governments ofVirginiaandMaryland,and Brethren, Sachims, or Chiefs of theIndiansof theSix Nations.

At a Treaty, held by me two Years ago, in Behalf of the Government ofPensylvania, with a Number of the Chiefs of theIndiansof theSix Nations, I was desired by them to write to the Governor ofMarylandconcerning some Lands in the back Parts of that Province, which they claim a Right to from their Conquests over the ancient Possessors, and which have been settled by some of the Inhabitants of that Government, without their Consent, or any Purchase made from them. It was at that time understood that the Claim was uponMarylandonly; but it has since appeared, by some Letters formerly wrote by Mr. PresidentLoganto the late Governor ofMaryland, that it related likewise to some Lands in the back Parts ofVirginia. The Governors of those Colonies soon manifested a truly equitable Disposition to come to any reasonable Terms with theSix Nationson account of those Lands, and desired, that for that End a Time and Place might be fixed for a Treaty with them; but before this could be effected, an unfortunate Skirmish happened in the back Parts ofVirginia, between some of the Militia there, and a Party of theIndianWarriors of theSix Nations, with some Loss on both Sides. Who were the Aggressors is not at this time to be discussed, both Parties having agreed to bury that Affair in Oblivion, and the Government ofVirginiahaving, in Token of the Continuance of their Friendship, presented theSix Nations, through my Hands, with Goods to the Value of One Hundred Pounds Sterling. To prevent further Hostilities, and to heal this Breach, I had, before the Present was given, made a Tender of my good Office; which both Parties accepted, and consented, on my Instances, to lay down their Arms: Since which the Faith pledged to me has been mutually preserved, and a Time and Place has been agreed upon, through my Intervention, for accommodating all Differences, and for settling a firm Peace, Union and Friendship, as well between the Government ofVirginiaas that ofMaryland, and theIndiansof theSix Nations[3]. The honourable the Commissioners for these two Governments, and the Deputies of theSix Nations, are now met at the Place appointed for the Treaty. It only remains therefore for me to say, that if my further good Offices shall be thought useful for the Accomplishment of this Work, you may rely most assuredly upon them.

But I hope, honourable Gentlemen Commissioners, it will not be taken amiss if I go a little further, and briefly represent to you, how especially necessary it is at this Juncture, for his Majesty's Service, and the Good of all his Colonies in this Part of his Dominions, that Peace and Friendship be established between your Governments and theIndiansof theSix Nations.

TheseIndians, by their Situation, are a Frontier to some of them; and, from thence, if Friends, are capable of defending their Settlements; if Enemies, of making cruel Ravages upon them; if Neuters, they may deny theFrencha Passage through their Country, and give us timely Notice of their Designs. These are but some of the Motives for cultivating a Good Understanding with them; but from hence the Disadvantages of a Rupture are abundantly evident. Every Advantage you gain over them in War will be a weakening of the Barrier of those Colonies, and consequently be, in effect, Victories over yourselves and your Fellow Subjects. Some Allowances for their Prejudices and Passions, and a Present now and then for the Relief of their Necessities, which have, in some Measure, been brought upon them by their Intercourse with us, and by our yearly extending our Settlements, will probably tie them more closely to theBritishInterest. This has been the Method ofNew-YorkandPensylvania, and will not put you to so much Expence in twenty Years, as the carrying on a War against them will do in one. TheFrenchvery well know the Importance of these Nations to us, and will not fail by Presents, and their other usual Arts, to take Advantage of any Misunderstanding we may have with them[4]. But I will detain you, Gentlemen, no longer. Your own superior Knowledge will suggest to you more than I can say on this Subject.

Friends and Brethren, Sachems, or Chiefs of theIndiansof theSix Nations:

These, your Brethren ofVirginiaandMaryland, are come to enlarge the Fire, which was almost gone out, and to make it burn clearer; to brighten the Chain which had contracted some Rust, and to renew their Friendship with you; which it is their Desire may last so long as the Sun, the Moon and the Stars, shall give Light. Their Powers are derived from theGreat KingofEngland, your Father; and whatever Conclusions they shall come to with you, will be as firm and binding as if the Governors of these Provinces were themselves here. I am your Brother, and, which is more, I am your true Friend. As you know, from Experience, that I am so, I will now give you a few Words of Advice. Receive these your Brethren with open Arms; unite yourselves to them in the Covenant Chain, and be you with them as one Body, and one Soul. I make no doubt but the Governor ofCanadahas been taking Pains to widen the Breach between these your Brethren ofVirginiaand you; but as you cannot have forgot the Hatred theFrenchhave always borne to your Nations, and how kindly, on the contrary, you have been treated, how faithfully you have been protected by theGreat KingofEnglandand his Subjects, you will not be at a Loss to see into the Designs of that Governor. He wants to divide you from us, in order the more easily to destroy you, which he will most certainly do, if you suffer yourselves to be deluded by him.

As to what relates to the Friendship established between the Government ofPensylvaniaand your Nations, I will take another Day to speak to you upon it.

To enforce what had been said, theGovernorlaid down a Belt of Wampum;upon which theIndiansgave theYo-hah[5].

After a short Pause, the Governor ordered the Interpreter to tell theIndians, that as they had greatly exceeded their appointed Time for meeting the Commissioners, he recommended to them to use all the Expedition possible in giving their Answer to what had been said, that they might forthwith proceed to treat with the respective Commissioners on the Business they came about.

ThenCanassategorepeated to the Interpreter the Substance of what the Governor had spoke, in order to know if he had understood him right (a Method generally made use of by theIndians) and when the Interpreter told him he had taken the true Sense,Canassategoproceeded to return the Thanks of theSix Nationsfor the Governor's kind Advice, promising to follow it as far as lay in their Power; but as it was their Custom when a Belt was given to return another, they would take Time till the Afternoon to provide one, and would then give their Answer.

The Honourable

GEORGE THOMAS

, Esq; Governor, &c.

The Honourable the Commissioners of

Virginia

The Honourable the Commissioners of

Maryland

The Deputies of the

Six Nations

Conrad Weiser

, Interpreter.

Canassatego'sAnswer to the Governor's Speech delivered in the Morning.

BrotherOnas,

You spoke in the Presence ofAssaragoaand the Governor ofMarylandto us, advising us to receive them as our Brethren, and to unite with them in the Covenant Chain as one Body, and one Soul. We have always considered them as our Brethren, and, as such, shall be willing to brighten the Chain of Friendship with them; but since there are some Disputes between us respecting the Lands possessed by them, which formerly belonged to us, we, according to our Custom, propose to have those Differences first adjusted, and then we shall proceed to confirm the Friendship subsisting between us, which will meet with no Obstruction after these Matters are settled.

Here they presented theGovernorwith a Belt of Wampum, in return for the Belt given them in the Morning by theGovernor;and the Interpreter was ordered to return theYo-hah.

Then theGovernor,in Reply, spoke as follows:

I receive your Belt with great Kindness and Affection; and as to what relates to the Governments ofVirginiaandMaryland, the honourable Commissioners, now present, are ready to treat with you. I shall only add, that the Goods for the Hundred Pounds Sterling, put into my Hands by the Governor ofVirginia, as a Token of his good Dispositions to preserve Friendship with you, are now in Town, and ready to be delivered, in consequence of what was told you byConrad Weiserwhen he was last at Onandago.

Then the Governor, turning to the Commissioners ofVirginiaandMaryland, said, Gentlemen, I have now finished what was incumbent upon me to say by way of Introduction to theIndians; and as you have a full Authority from your respective Governments to treat with them, I shall leave the rest intirely to you, and either stay or withdraw, as you shall think most for your Service.

The Commissioners said, They were all of Opinion, it would be for their Advantage that the Governor should stay with them; and therefore they unanimously desired he would favour them with the Continuance of his Presence whilst they should be in Treaty with theIndians: Which his Honour said he would at their Instance very readily do, believing it might expedite their Business, and prevent any Jealousy theIndiansmight conceive at his withdrawing.

The Commissioners ofMarylandordered the Interpreter to acquaint theIndiansthat the Government ofMarylandwas going to speak to them, and then spoke as follows:

Friends and Brethren of the unitedSix Nations,

We, who are deputed from the Government ofMarylandby a Commission under the Great Seal of that Province, now in our Hands (and which will be interpreted to you) bid you welcome; and in Token that we are very glad to see you here as Brethren, we give you this String of Wampum.

Upon which theIndiansgave theYo-hah.

When the Governor ofMarylandreceived the first Notice, about seven Years ago, of your Claim to some Lands in that Province, he thought our good Friends and Brethren of theSix Nationshad little Reason to complain of any Injury fromMaryland, and that they would be so well convinced thereof, on farther Deliberation, as he should hear no more of it; but you spoke of that Matter again to the Governor ofPensylvania, about two Years since, as if you designed to terrify us.

It was very inconsiderately said by you, that you would do yourselves Justice, by going to take Payment yourselves: Such an Attempt would have intirely dissolved the Chain of Friendship subsisting, not only between us, but perhaps the otherEnglishand you.

We assure you, our People, who are numerous, courageous, and have Arms ready in their Hands, will not suffer themselves to be hurt in their Lives and Estates.

But, however, the old and wise People ofMarylandimmediately met in Council, and upon considering very cooly your rash Expressions, agreed to invite their Brethren, theSix Nations, to this Place, that they might learn of them what Right they have to the Land inMaryland, and, if they had any, to make them some reasonable Compensation for it; therefore the Governor ofMarylandhas sent us to meet and treat with you about this Affair, and the brightening and strengthening the Chain which hath long subsisted between us. And as an Earnest of our Sincerity and Good-will towards you, we present you with this Belt of Wampum.

On which theIndiansgave theYo-hah.

OurGreat King ofEngland, and his Subjects, have always possessed the Province ofMarylandfree and undisturbed from any Claim of theSix Nationsfor above one hundred Years past, and your not saying any thing to us before, convinces us you thought you had no Pretence to any Lands inMaryland; nor can we yet find out to what Lands, or under what Title you make your Claim: For theSasquahannah Indians, by a Treaty above ninety Years since (which is on the Table, and will be interpreted to you) give, and yield to theEnglishNation, their Heirs and Assigns for ever, the greatest Part (if not all) of the Lands we possess, fromPatuxentRiver, on the Western, as well as fromChoptankRiver, on the Eastern Side of the Great Bay ofChessapeak. And, near Sixty Years ago, you acknowledged to the Governor ofNew-YorkatAlbany, "That you had given your Lands, and submitted yourselves to the King ofEngland."

We are that Great King's Subjects, and we possess and enjoy the Province ofMarylandby Virtue of his Right and Sovereignty thereto; why, then, will you stir up any Quarrel between you and ourselves, who are as one Man, under the Protection of that Great King?

We need not put you in mind of the Treaty (which we suppose you have had from your Fathers) made with the Province ofMarylandnear Seventy Years ago, and renewed and confirmed twice since that time.

By these Treaties we became Brethren; we have always lived as such, and hope always to continue so.

We have this further to say, that altho' we are not satisfied of the Justice of your Claim to any Lands inMaryland, yet we are desirous of shewing our Brotherly Kindness and Affection, and to prevent (by any reasonable Way) every Misunderstanding between the Province ofMarylandand you our Brethren of theSix Nations.

For this Purpose we have brought hither a Quantity of Goods for our Brethren theSix Nations, and which will be delivered you as soon as we shall have received your Answer, and made so bright and large a Fire as may burn pure and clear whilst the Sun and Moon shall shine.

We have now freely and openly laid our Bosoms bare to you; and that you may be the better confirmed of the Truth of our Hearts, we give you this Belt of Wampum.

Which was received with theYo-hah.

After a little TimeCanassategospoke as follows:

Brother, the Governorof Maryland,

We have heard what you have said to us; and, as you have gone back to old Times, we cannot give you an Answer now, but shall take what you have said into Consideration, and, return you our Answer some Time to Morrow. He then sat down, and after some Time he spoke again.

Brother, the Governor ofMaryland,

If you have made any Enquiry intoIndianAffairs, you will know, that we have always had our Guns, Hatchets and Kettles mended when we came to see our Brethren. BrotherOnas, and the Governor ofYorkalways do this for us; and we give you this early Notice, that we may not thereby be delayed, being desirous, as well as you, to give all possible Dispatch to the Business to be transacted between us.

The Commissioners ofVirginiaandMarylandsaid, since it was customary, they would give Orders to have every Thing belonging to them mended that should want it.

The Honourable

GEORGE THOMAS

, Esq; Governor,

&c.

The Honourable the Commissioners of

Virginia

The Honourable the Commissioners of

Maryland

The Deputies of the

Six Nations.

Conrad Weiser

, Interpreter.

CANASSATEGOspoke as follows:

Brother, the Governor ofMaryland,

When you invited us to kindle a Council Fire with you,Conedogwainetwas the Place agreed upon; but afterwards you, by BrotherOnas, upon second Thoughts, considering that it would be difficult to get Provisions and other Accommodations where there were but few Houses or Inhabitants, desired we would meet our Brethren atLancaster, and at his Instances we very readily agreed to meet you here, and are glad of the Change; for we have found Plenty of every thing; and as Yesterday you bid us welcome, and told us you were glad to see us, we likewise assure you we are as glad to see you; and, in Token of our Satisfaction, we present you with this String of Wampum.

Back to Index Next