messenger we sent to Fort _Duquesne_, is returned, and tells us, there
are eight different nations there, who want to hear your message; we will
conduct you there, and let both the _Indians_ and _French_ hear what our
brothers, the English, have to say.”
I protested against going to Fort _Duquesne_, but all in vain; for they
insisted on my going, and said that I need not fear the _French_, for
they would carry me in their bosoms, i. e. engage for my safety.
23d.—We set off for Fort _Duquesne_, and went no farther this night than
Log’s town, where I met with four _Shawanese_, who lived in _Wyoming_
when I did. They received me very kindly, and called the prisoners to
shake hands with me, as their countryman, and gave me leave to go into
every house to see them, which was done in no other town besides.
24th.—They called to me, and desired that I would write to the general
for them. The jealousy natural to the _Indians_ is not to be described;
for though they wanted me to write for them, they were afraid I would, at
the same time, give other information, and this perplexed them.
We continued our journey to the fort; and arrived in sight, on this side
the river, in the afternoon, and all the _Indian_ chiefs immediately came
over; they called me into the middle, and king _Beaver_ presented me to
them, and said, “Here is our _English_ brother, who has brought great
news.” Two of them rose up and signified they were glad to see me. But an
old deaf _Onondago Indian_ rose up and signified his displeasure. This
_Indian_ is much disliked by the others; he had heard nothing yet, that
had passed, he has lived here a great while, and constantly lives in the
fort, and is mightily attached to the _French_; he spoke as follows, to
the _Delawares_:
“I do not know this _Swannock_;[36] it may be that you know him. I, the
_Shawanese_, and our father[37] do not know him. I stand here (stamping
his foot) as a man on his own ground;[38] therefore, I, the _Shawanese_
and my father do not like that a _Swannock_ come on our ground.” Then
there was silence awhile, till the pipe went round;[39] after that was
over, one of the _Delawares_ rose up, and spoke in opposition to him that
spoke last, and delivered himself as follows:
“That man speaks not as a man; he endeavours to frighten us, by saying
this ground is his; he dreams; he and his father have certainly drunk
too much liquor; they are drunk; pray let them go to sleep till they are
sober. You do not know what your own nation does, at home; how much they
have to say to the _Swannocks_. You are quite rotten. You stink.[40] You
do nothing but smoke your pipe here. Go to sleep with your father, and
when you are sober we will speak to you.”
After this the _French_ demanded me of the _Indians_. They said it was a
custom among the white people when a messenger came, even if it was the
Governor, to blind his eyes, and lead him into the fort, to a prison, or
private room. They, with some of the _Indians_ insisted very much on my
being sent into the fort, but to no purpose; for the other _Indians_ said
to the _French_; “It may be a rule among you, but we have brought him
here, that all the _Indians_ might see him, and hear what our brothers
the English have to say; and we will not suffer him to be blinded and
carried into the fort.” The _French_ still insisted on my being delivered
to them; but the _Indians_ desired them, to let them hear no more about
it; but to send them one hundred loaves of bread; for they were hungry.
25th.—This morning early they sent us over a large bullock, and all
the _Indian_ chiefs came over again, and counselled a great deal among
themselves; then the _Delaware_, that handled the old deaf _Onondago_
Indian so roughly yesterday, addressed himself to him, in this manner;
“I hope, to day, you are sober. I am certain you did not know what you
said yesterday. You endeavoured to frighten us; but know, _we are now
men_, and not so easily frightened. You said something yesterday of the
_Shawanese_; see here what they have sent you,” (_presenting him with a
large roll of tobacco_.)
Then the old deaf _Indian_ rose up, and acknowledged he had been in the
wrong; he said, that he had now cleaned _himself_,[41] and hoped they
would forgive him.
Then the Delaware delivered the message, that was sent by the _Shawanese_
which was, “That they hoped the _Delawares_, &c. would be strong,[42] in
what they were undertaking; that they were extremely proud to hear such
good news from their brothers, the _English_; that whatever contracts
they made with the _English_, the _Shawanese_ would agree to; that they
were their brothers, and that they loved them.”
The _French_ whispered to the _Indians_, as I imagined, to insist on
my delivering what I had to say, on the other side of the water. Which
they did to no purpose, for my company still insisted on a hearing on
this side the water. The _Indians_ crossed the river to council with
their Fathers.[43] My company desired to know whether they would hear
me or no. This afternoon three hundred _Canadians_ arrived at the fort,
and reported that six hundred more were soon to follow them, and forty
battoes laden with amunition. Some of my party desired me not to stir
from the fire; for that the _French_ had offered a great reward for
my scalp, and that there were several parties out on that purpose.
Accordingly I stuck constantly as close to the fire, as if I had been
chained there.
26th.—The Indians, with a great many of the _French_ officers, came over
to hear what I had to say. The officers brought with them a table, pens,
ink and paper. I spoke in the middle of them with a free conscience, and
perceived by the look of the _French_, they were not pleased with what I
said; the particulars of which were as follows; I spoke in the name of
the government and people of _Pensilvania_.
“Brethren at Allegheny, We have a long time desired to see and hear from
you; you know the road was quite stopt; and we did not know how to come
through. We have sent many messengers to you; but we did not hear of you;
now we are very glad we have found an opening to come and see you, and to
speak with you, and to hear your true mind and resolution. We salute you
very heartily.” A string, No. 1.
“Brethren at Allegheny, Take notice of what I say. You know that the bad
spirit has brought something between us, that has kept us at a distance
one from another; I now, by this belt, take every thing out of the way,
that the bad spirit has brought between us, and all the jealousy and
fearfulness we had of one another, and whatever else the bad spirit might
have poisoned your heart and mind with, that nothing of it may be left.
Moreover let us look up to God, and beg for his assistance, that he may
put into our hearts what pleases him, and join us close in that brotherly
love and friendship, which our grandfathers had. We assure you of our
love towards you.” A belt of eleven rows.
“Brothers at Allegheny, Hearken to what I say; we began to hear of you
from _Wellemeghihink_, who returned from _Allegheny_. We heard you had
but a slight, confused account of us; and did not know of the peace,
we made twelve months past, in _Easton_. It was then agreed, that the
large belt of peace should be sent to you at _Allegheny_. As these our
two old friends from _Allegheny_, who are well known to many here, found
an opening to come to our council fire, to see with their own eyes,
to sit with us face to face, to hear with their own ears, every thing
that has been transacted between us; it gives me and all the people of
the province great pleasure to see them among us. And I assure all my
brethren at _Allegheny_, that nothing would please me, and all the people
of the province better, than to see our countrymen the _Delawares_ well
settled among us.” A belt.
“Hearken, my brethren at _Allegheny_. When we began to make peace with
the _Delawares_, twelve months ago, in behalf of ten other nations,
we opened a road, and cleared the bushes from the blood, and gathered
all the bones, on both sides, together; and when we had brought them
together, in one heap, we could find no place to bury them: we would not
bury them as our grandfathers did. They buried them under ground, where
they may be found again. We prayed to God, that he would have mercy on
us, and take all these bones away from us, and hide them, that they might
never be found any more; and take from both sides all the remembrance
of them out of our heart and mind. And we have a firm confidence, that
God will be pleased to take all the bones and hide them from us, that
they may never be remembered by us, while we live, nor our children, nor
grand children, hereafter. The hatchet was buried on both sides, and
large belts of peace exchanged. Since we have cleared every thing from
the heart, and taken every thing out of our way; now, my brethren at
_Allegheny_, every one that hears me, if you will join with us, in that
brotherly love and friendship, which our grandfathers had, we assure you,
that all past offences shall be forgotten, and never more talked of, by
us, our children and grand children hereafter. This belt assures you of
our sincerity, and honest and upright heart towards you.” A belt of seven
rows.
“Hearken, brethren at _Allegheny_. I have told you that we really made
peace with part of your nation, twelve months past; I now by this
belt open the road from _Allegheny_ to our council fire, where your
grandfathers kept good councils with us, that all may pass without
molestation or danger. You must be sensible, that unless a road be
kept open, people at variance can never come together to make up their
differences. Messengers are free in all nations throughout the world,
by a particular token. Now, brethren at _Allegheny_, I desire you will
join with me in keeping the road open, and let us know in what manner we
may come free to you, and what the token shall be. I join both my hands
to yours, and will do all in my power to keep the road open.” A belt of
seven rows.
“Now, brethren at _Allegheny_, Hear what I say. Every one that lays hold
of this belt of peace, I proclaim peace to them from the _English_
nation, and let you know that the great king of _England_ does not
incline to have war with the _Indians_; but he wants to live in peace
and love with them, if they will lay down the hatchet, and leave off war
against him.”
“We love you farther, we let you know that the great king of _England_
has sent a great number of warriors into this country, not to go to war
against the _Indians_, in their towns, no, not at all; these warriors
are going against the _French_; they are on the march to the _Ohio_, to
revenge the blood they have shed. And by this belt I take you by the
hand, and lead you at a distance from the _French_, for your own safety,
that your legs may not be stained with blood. Come away on this side of
the mountain, where we may oftener converse together, and where your own
flesh and blood lives. We look upon you as our countrymen, that sprung
out of the same ground with us; we think, therefore, that it is our duty
to take care of you, and we in brotherly love advise you to come away
with your whole nation, and as many of your friends as you can get to
follow you. We do not come to hurt you, we love you, therefore we do not
call you to war, that you may be slain; what benefit will it be to you
to go to war with your own flesh and blood? We wish you may live without
fear or danger with your women and children.” The large peace belt.
“Brethren, I have almost finished what I had to say, and hope it will
be to your satisfaction; my wish is, that we may join close together in
that old brotherly love and friendship, which our grandfathers had; so
that all the nations may hear and see us, and have the benefit of it;
and if you have any uneasiness, or complaint, in your heart and mind, do
not keep it to yourself. We have opened the road to the council fire,
therefore, my brethren, come and acquaint the Governor with it; you will
be readily heard, and full justice will be done you.” A belt.
“Brethren, One thing I must bring to your remembrance. You know, if any
body loses a little child, or some body takes it from him, he cannot be
easy, he will think on his child by day and night; since our flesh and
blood is in captivity, in the _Indian_ towns, we desire you will rejoice
the country’s heart, and bring them to me; I shall stretch out my arms to
receive you kindly.” A string.
After I had done, I left my belts and strings still before them. The
_Delawares_ took them all up, and laid them before the _Mingoes_;[44]
upon which they rose up, and spoke as follows:
“_Chau_, What I have heard pleases me well; I do not know why I go to war
against the _English_. _Noques_, what do you think? You must be strong.
I did not begin the war, therefore, I have little to say; but whatever
you agree to, I will do the same.” Then he addressed himself to the
_Shawanese_, and said, “You brought the hatchet to us from the _French_,
and persuaded us to strike our brothers the _English_; you may consider
(laying the belts, &c. before them) wherefore you have done this.”
The _Shawanese_ acknowledged they received the hatchet from the _French_,
who persuaded them to strike the _English_; that they would now send the
belts to all the _Indians_, and in twelve days would meet again.
Present at this council, three hundred _French_ and _Indians_. They all
took leave, and went over again to the fort, but my companions, who were
about seventy in number.
_Shamokin Daniel_, who came with me, went over to the fort by himself,
(which my companions disapproved of) and counselled with the Governor;
who presented him with a laced coat and hat, a blanket, shirts, ribbons,
a new gun, powder, lead, &c. When he returned he was quite changed, and
said, “See here, you fools, what the _French_ have given me. I was in
_Philadelphia_, and never received a farthing;” and, directing himself
to me, he said, “The English are fools, and so are you.” In short, he
behaved in a very proud, saucy and imperious manner. He further said,
“The _English_ never give the _Indians_ any powder, and that the _French_
would have given him a horseload, if he would have taken it; see that
young man there, he was in _Philadelphia_ and never got any thing; I will
take him over to the _French_; and get some cloathing for him.”
Three _Indians_ informed me, that as soon as the _French_ got over, they
called a council, with their own _Indians_, among whom there happened
accidentally to be a _Delaware_ captain, who was privately invited by one
of his acquaintances to hear what the French had to say; and when they
were assembled, the _French_ spoke, as follows:
“My children, now we are alone, hearken to what I have to say. I perceive
the _Delawares_ are wavering; they incline to the _English_, and will be
faithful to us no longer. Now all the chiefs are here, and but a handful,
let us cut them off, and then we shall be troubled with them no longer.”
Then the _Tawaas_ [Ottawas] answered, “No, we cannot do this thing; for
though there is but a handful here, the _Delawares_ are a strong people,
and are spread to a great distance, and whatever they agree to must be.”
This afternoon, in council, on the other side of the river, the _French_
insisted that I must be delivered up to them, and that it was not lawful
for me to go away; which occasioned a quarrel between them and the
_Indians_, who immediately came away and crossed the river to me; and
some of them let me know thet _Daniel_ had received a string from the
_French_, to leave me there; but it was to no purpose, for they would not
give their consent; and then agreed that I should set off before day the
next morning.
27th.—Accordingly, I set out before day, with six _Indians_, and took
another road, that we might not be seen; the main body told me, they
would stay behind, to know whether the _French_ would make an attempt to
take me by force; that if they did, they, the _Indians_, would endeavour
to prevent their crossing the river, and coming secretly upon me. Just
as I set off the _French_ fired all their great guns, it being Sunday
(I counted nineteen) and concluded they did the same every Sabbath. We
passed through three _Shawanese_ towns; the _Indians_ appeared very
proud to see me return, and we arrived about night at _Sawcunk_, where
they were likewise very glad to see me return. Here I met with the two
captains, who treated me so uncivilly before; they now received me very
kindly, and accepted of my hand, and apologized for their former rude
behaviour. Their names are _Kuckquetackton_ and _Killbuck_.[45] They
said,
“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?”