USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VIII > Part 19
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" Brethren :
" It gives me great pleasure to see so many of you, and of so many different Nations, at this Council fire. I bid you heartily Welcome.
" Brethren :
" With this String I wipe the Sweat and Dust out of your Eyes that you may see your Brethren's Faces and look Chearful. With this String I take all Bitterness out of your Breast, as well as every
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thing disagreeable that may have gathered there, in order that you may speak perfectly free and open to us. With this String I gather the Blood, and take it away from the Council Seats, that your Cloths may not be stained nor your minds anyways disturbed."
Three Strings.
Mr. Weiser interpreted the Substance of this Speech, and saying his Memory did not serve him to remember the Several Ceremonies in, Else on this Occasion, he desired Nihas, a Mohock Chief, to do it for him, which he did, and it was afterwards interpreted by Cap- tain Henry Montour in the Delaware Language to Teedyuscung and the Delawares.
After a short pause Tagashata, the Seneca Chief, rose up, and repeating, as usual, each Paragraph distinctly as spoke by the Gov- ernor, he returned Thanks, and went through the same Ceremonies to the Governor, Council, and People of the Province, adding on the last String, that their Great Grandfathers had told them that they had made a Road for them to travel to their Brethren the English, and that whenever it should be stopped they would become a poor People. They were very glad to find the Road open to their Brethren, and should take care to preserve it so on their side.
Three Strings.
After Mr. Weiser had delivered this in English, and it was in- terpreted in the Delaware Language by Moses Tetamy, Takeaghsado, or Tagashata, proceeded :
"Brother Onas:
"By this Belt you sent an invitation to us to come to Penn- sylvania, which reached our Towns about the time that the Leaves put out last Spring, but we were then so much alarmed by the French, who were near us, that we could not then leave our Country. Some little Time ago we received another Belt from Sir William Johnson, which he informed us was sent to him by you to be for- warded to us, to enquire into the Reasons why we did not Come to you according to your first invitation, and Sir William Johnson de- sired us to come here to meet you in Council, upon which we immediately arose and came as soon as we could to your Council Fire, and now we are here as you see."
Two Belts.
" Brother :
" Here is another Belt, by which we were invited lately to come to a Council fire that was kindled in an Island near the Sea. This surprized us, as we had never heard of a Council fire in an Island .* We know of no Council fires but the Old Council fire a Philadelphia and the great Council fire at Albany."
Here he laid the Belt.on the Table.
Meaning Burlington.
VOL. . VIII .- 12.
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Then taking four other Strings of Wampum, he said, " these were sent to us by Nihas, the Mohock Chief, with a Message that he was arrived in this Province, and desired we would Comply with the Invitation, and come down."
Here he laid the four Strings on the Table.
Nichas having acknowledged the Message, and taken up the Strings, Tægashatæ concluded, saying, "these are your Belts, by which we were invited to this Council fire, and as we are now come, we return them, and desire to see the Belts that were sent by us, particularly one," on which were several Images of Men holding each other by the Hand.
The Governor replied, " that he would enquire for the Belts sent by them, and they should be returned."
The Substance of these last Speeches of Tagashata was Inter- preted to Teedyuscung and the Delawares.
October the 9th, 1758.
This morning his Excellency, Governor Bernard, arrived at Easton, and desired a Meeting of the Indians, in order to make them the usual Complements, but was acquainted by Mr. Weiser, that they were then in Council, deliberating on Matters necessary to be adjusted before the meeting.
October the 10th, 1758.
The Indian Chiefs continued in Council the greatest part of this Day, and desired the Governors would not be impatient.
October the 11th, 1758.
This Morning the Indian Chiefs communicated to the Governors, by Mr. Weiser, the Business they had been consulting upon, and said they had concluded to speak to us this forenoon. The Gover- nors waited till One o'Clock, expecting the Indians to mect them, being told that they were gathering together for that Purpose, but they not coming, and several Messages sent to hasten them, it was agreed to meet punctually at Four o'Clock.
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At a Conference held at Easton with the Indians, Octo". 11th, 1758, P. M.
PRESENT :
Governor DENNY, with his Council, and the Several Pennsyl- vania Gentlemen as before.
Governor BERNARD.
Andrew Johnson, Charles Read,
Jacob Spicer,
John Stevens,
William Foster,
Esqrs., Indian Com- miss's for Jersey.
Tagashata, the Indian Chief, Intending to speak first on behalf of the Indians, had laid some Belts and Strings in order on the Table.
As soon as the Company sat down, Teedyuscung, holding out String, said he had something to deliver, and desired he might be heard first of all, Mr. Croghan requested to know if what he was going to say was the result of the Delaware Council, and if it was their desire it should be spoke first, but no Answer was given him to this. Governor Bernard signifying his desire to bid the Indians welcome and just mention to them the Business he came upon, it was agreed he should speak first, which he did as follows :
"Brethren :
" I am glad to see so many of you met together to cultivate Peace with your Brethren and Old Friends, the English. I heartily bid you welcome, and wish that the good Work for which you are now assembled may prosper in your Hands, and have that Success which your wise Men and all that wish you well may desire, as a thing much to your Advantage.
"The Situation of the Province over which I preside, and the disposition of its People, have hitherto afforded very little Occasion for Treatys with the Neighbouring Indians; but having some Months ago Sent a Message to the Minisinks, I received a Message from our Brethren the Senecas and Cayugas, wherein they take upon them to Answer my Message to the Minisinks, and desire that I would meet them at the Council fire burning at this place.
"It is not usual for the King's Governors to go out of their Pro- vinces to attend Treaties ; but I am glad to have an Opportunity of shewing my good Disposition to establish Peace and Friendship with my neighbours, and therefore I have waved all forms, and am come here according to the invitation I received at Burlington.
" To you, therefore, our Brethren, the Senecas and Cayugas, and your Nephews, the Minisinks, I now speak, and desire that you would take into your most serious Consideration, my Message to . the Minisinks, your Message to me, and my Answer thereto, and let me know what we are to Expect from you.
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"What is past we are willing to forget; but I must remind you that if you are disposed to be our friends for the future, you should give us that Proof of your Sincerity which I have desired in my Answer to your Message, and return us the Captives that have been taken out of our Province, and are now within your Power; this should be one of the first Steps, and will be the best that can be taken towards restoring and confirming that Brotherly Love and Friendship between us, which I am convinced will be for the Mutual Benefit of all Parties."
This was interpreted in the Six Nation Language by Mr. Weiser, and in the Delaware by Mr. Stephen Calvin, the Indian School- master in West Jersey.
Then Teedyuscung spoke :
" Brethren :
"I desire all of you who are present will give Ear to me ; As you, my Brethren, desired me to call all the Nations who live back, I have done so; I have given the Halloo, and such as have heard me are present. Now, if you have anything to say to them, or they to you, you must sit and talk together.
" Brethren :
"I sit by only to hear and see what you to say to one another, for I have said what I have to say to the Governor of Pennsylvania, who sits here; he knows what has passed between us. I have made known to him the Reason why I struck him. Now I and the Governor have made up these Differences between him and me, and I think we have done it, as far as we can, for our future Peace."
A String.
The above speech was interpreted in the Six Nation Language. Tagashata then rose up and spoke :
" Brethren, the Governors, and your Councils :
" It has pleased the Most High that we meet together here with chearful Countenances, and a good deal of Satisfaction; and as publick Business requires great Consideration, and the Day is almost spent, I chuse to speak early to-morrow morning."
The Governor answered, that they should be glad to give all the Dispatch possible to this good Work they were engaged in, and desired the Chiefs would fix the Time of meeting ; but they declined it, saying, they were unacquainted with Hours, but would give Notice when they were ready.
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At a Conference held at Easton, on the 12th of October, 1758. PRESENT :
The Governors.
The Gentlemen of their Council, And others, as before.
Tagashata, the Seneca Chief, taking the Strings and Belts of Wampum, which Governor Bernard gave Yesterday, repeated, ac- cording to the Indian Custom, the particulars of his Speech, and then added :
" Brethren :
" We approve of every Article mentioned to us, yesterday, by the Governor of Jersey-all that he said was very good; we look upon his Message to us as a Commission, and request from him that we should bring Matters to a good Conclusion with our Couzins, the Minisinks. They, themselves, sent for us to do the same thing, on their Behalf; and at their request we came here, have taken it in hand, and will use our utmost Endeavours to bring about the good work which Governor Bernard desires; and do not doubt but it will be done to his entire Satisfaction.
" Brethren :
"I now speak at the request of Teedyuscung and our Nephews, the Delawares, living at Wioming and on the Waters of the River Susquehannah.
" Brethren :
"We now remove the Hatchet out of your Heads that was struck into them by our Couzins, the Delawares; it was a french Hatchet that they unfortunately made use of, by the Instigation of the French; we take it out of your Heads and bury it under ground, where it shall aways rest and never be taken up again ; Our Couzins, the Delawares, have assured us they will never think of War against their Brethren, the English, any more, but employ their thoughts about Peace, and Cultivating Friendship with them, and never Suffer Enmity against them to enter into their Minds again.
"The Delawares desired us to say this for them by this Belt." A Belt.
" Brethren :
" Our Nephews, the Minnisink Indians, and three other different Tribes of that Nation, have at last list'ned to us and taken our Advice, & laid down the Hatchet they had taken up against their Brethren, the English, They told us they had received it from the French, but had already laid it down and would return it to them again.
"They assured us they would never use it any more against you, but would follow our Advice, and entreated us to use our utmost
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Endeavours to reconcile them to you, their Brethren, declaring they were Sorry for what they had done, and desired it might be for- gotten and they would forever cultivate a good Friendship with you; These declarations were made by the principal Warriors of Four Tribes of the Minisink Indians at giving us this Belt.
A Belt.
Then taking Eight Strings of black Wampum, he proceeded.
" Brethren :
"We let you know that we have not only brought about this Union with our Nephews on the Waters of the River Susquehan- nah, but also have sent Messages to our Nephews, the Delawares and Minisinks, and to those likewise of our own Nations, who are on the Ohio under the influence of the French ; We have told all these that they must lay down the French Hatchet, and be recon- ciled to their Brethren, the English, and never more employ it against them, and we hope they will take our Advice; We, the Mohocks, Senecas and Onondagas, deliver this String of Wampum to remove the Hatchet out of your Heads that has been struck into them by the Ohio Indians, in order to lay a Foundation for Peace."
Eight Strings of Black Wampum.
Tagashata sat down and then the Cayuga Chief, Tokaaio, arose and said.
" Brethren :
"I speak in behalf of the younger Nations, part of and con- federated with the Six Nations, Viz": The Cayugas, Oneidoes, Tuscaroras, Tuteloes, Nanticokes, and Conoys.
" A Road has been made from our Country to this Council Fire that we might Treat about Friendship; and as we came down the Road we saw that (by some misfortune or other) Blood has been spilt on it. By these Strings we make the Road wider and Clearer. We take the Blood away out of it, and likewise out of the Council Chamber, which may have been stained. We wash it all away and desire it may not be seen any more, and we take the Hatchet out of of your Heads."
Gave three Strings.
, "Brethren, the Governors, and all the English :
" I now confine myself to the Cayugas, my own Nation.
" I will hide nothing from you, because we have promised to Speak to each other from the Bottom of our Hearts.
"The French, like a thief in the Night, have stolen away some of our Young Men and misled them, and they have been concerned in doing Mischief against our Brethren, the English.
" We did not know it when it happened, but we discovered it since. The Chiefs of your Nation held their young men fast, and
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would not Suffer them to go out of their Sight; but the French came and stole them away from us, and corrupted them to do Mis- schief. We are sorry for it; we ask Pardon for them, and hope you will forgive them. We promise they shall do so no more, and now, by this Belt, we take out of your Heads the Hatchet with which they struck you."
A Belt of Ten Rows.
He added, he had found out that some of their Young People had been concerned in stricking us four times. 1
At a Conference with the Indians held at Easton, Octo". the 13th, 1758.
PRESENT :
Governor DENNY.
Governor BERNARD.
The Same Gentlemen, Indians, Interpreters, &cª-, as before.
As soon as the Indians had taken their seats Governor Denny made the following Speech :
"Brethren, Chiefs and Warriors of the United Nations, and others your Brethren and Nephews now met here:
" Agreeable to your Request at our first meeting, I now return you the Belt which the Young Seneca Indian brought me, with your Answer to the Invitation I gave you to come down to this Council Fire."
Here his Honour returned the Belt.
" Brethren :
" I invited you to come down to the Council Fire kindled at this Place by me and your Nephew, Teedyuscung, with a design to Lay before you Matters of the greatest Consequence to you and us. I am now about to communicate them to you, and to Answer all that has been said by you to me since our meeting together. I, there- fore, by this String, Open your Ears that you may hear clearly and carefully attend to what I shall say to you."
A String.
" Brethren :
" I must first put you in mind, that perfect Peace and Friendship subsisted between you and your Brethren, the English in this Pro- vince, from our first Settlement among you, and that whatever little Disputes happened between your People and ours, they were amica- bly settled and adjusted by our wise Men at our Council Fires, ac- cording to an agreement made by our Proprietary William Penn, and your Fathers.
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" Had this wise Agreement been carefully observed, as it always ought to have been, our late unhappy Differences had never arose. But what is passed cannot be recalled, and shall be forgotten. Let us both resolve never to be guilty of the like Error for the future."
A String.
" Brethren :
" You gave us yesterday these two Belts, in behalf of your Nephews, the Delawares and Minisinks, and joined with them in taking out of our Heads the Hatchets with which we had been struck, acquainting us, that these Hatchets were given to your Nephews by the French, and that they would not use them any more against us, but were heartily disposed to Cultivate Friendship with us for the future.
" Brethren :
" We accept your Belts ; we thank you for the Pains you have taken in enquiring of your Nephews into the true Cause why they struck us.
" Now that the Hatchets are taken out of our heads, and we are reconciled, we desire that your Nephews, the Delawares and Mini- sinks, will conceal nothing from you and us that ever did, or now does, lie heavy on their minds, that the end of this meeting may be answered, which was, with your assistance, to put Matters that have at any time disturbed their Minds on such a just and reasonable footing, that the Peace between us may never be interrupted, but continue firm to the remotest Ages."
Two Belts.
" Brethren :
" By these eight Strings of black Wampum, you, the Mohocks, Senecas, and Onondagoes, told us that You had not only brought about an Union with the Delawares and Minisinks, on the Waters of the River Susquehannah, but had also sent Messages to the Indians now on the Ohio, as well those of these two Nations, as those of the Six Nations, under the French influence, desiring them to lay down the Hatchet, and enter again into Friendship with their Brethren the English, and on their behalf you have taken the Hatchet out of our Heads, so far as to lay a Foundation for a future Peace.
" Brethren, the Mohocks, Senecas, and Onondagoes :
" This was a friendly Part, and we flatter ourselves they will hearken to you, as there are now Deputies here from those Indians on the Ohio, with Messages to us, which will be delivered in Pub- lick.
" We accept your Strings and approve your taking the Hatchet on the behalf of the Ohio Indians, out of our Heads, so far as to make it the Foundation of a future Peace.
Nine Strings.
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" Brethren, the Cayugas, Oneidoes, Tuscaroras, Tuteloes, Nanti- cokes, or Conoys, the younger Nation who are parts of and united with the Six Nations.
" By these strings you say, that as you came down the Road which has been opened from your Country to this Council Fire, you saw Blood lately spilt upon it, and have washed it away, not only out of the Road, but out of the Council Chamber, least that should have been stained."
"Brethren :
" We join by these Strings with you in removing the Blood, we bury it deep in the earth."
Three Strings.
"Brothers, the Cayugas :
" With this Belt you justly Lament the folly of your young Men, who have suffered themselves to be stolen away from you by the French, and then, at their Instigation, to strike us; you take the Hatchet out of our Heads, you ask Pardon for them, and desire we will forgive the Mischief they have done us, and both you and they promise never to Hurt us more.
" Brethren :
"We accept the Belt in their Behalf, and give you this Belt in token of our Friendship and Reconciliation."
A Belt.
"Brethren :
"You may remember that the Day before Yesterday, your Nephew, Teedyuscung, told me by this String, that he had already said to me at our former Meetings, every thing he had to say, and had made me acquainted with the Cause why he had struck us, and that I knew what had passed between us; That we had made up all Differences, and had done it as far as we could, for our future Peace.
" That at my Request, he had given the Halloo, and brought down to this Place you who heard him, and are now present, and that he would sit by and hear what he said together.
" Brethren :
" As there are a great many of you here who were not present at our former Meetings, I think it proper, for your information, to give you a short account of what has passed between your Nephews, the Delawares, and us.
" About three years ago your Brethren, the English, living on the Borders of this Province were struck on a sudden, at a time when they were in profound Peace with you, and following the Business, Suspecting no Danger. Many were killed, and others carried away Captives.
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MINUTES OF THE
" We were surprized, and did not know who struck us, but sent Messengers up the Susquehannah as far as the Six Nation Country, to enquire whence the Blow came, and for what reason.
" On the return of these Messengers, we were informed that the Hatchet had been struck into our Heads by our Countrymen, the Delawares and Shawanese.
"Sometime after this Discovery was made, a Cessation of Hostili- ties was brought about by the Six Nations, at our Request, made to them for that purpose by Sir William Johnson; and upon our Invitation, our Brother Teedyuscung came down, with a Number of Delawares and other Indians, to a Council Fire kindled at this Place, where we have since had several Meetings.
" At one of these Meetings, Teedyuscung told us that the Cause of the War was, their foolish Young Men had been perswaded by the Falshearted French King to strike their Brethren, the Eng- lish; and one reason why the Blow came harder was, that the Proprietaries of this Province had taken from them, by Fraud, the Ground we now stand on, and all the Lands lying between Tohicon Creek and Wioming, on the River Susquehannah.
" At last all blood was Wiped away and buried under Ground, the Peace Belts were then exchanged between us and our Brother Teedyuscung, who then told us he acted in behalf of Ten Nations, and promised to bring in and restore to us all our Fellow Subjects that had been carried off Prisoners by them.
"For the Truth of this short Relation, I refer you to our Bro- ther Teedyuscung, who will confirm it to you, more particularly."
A Belt.
" Brethren :
" To continue our Friendship, it is absolutely necessary to pre- serve Faith, and keep the Promises we make with each other.
" I will speak plainly to you, and from the Bottom of my Heart, as one Friend ought to another, that nothing may lie heavy on my Mind to disturb me hereafter; and I expect the same Openness and Freedom on your Parts.
" I desire, therefore, to know the Reason why our Flesh and Blood, who are in Captivity, and in your Power, have not been de- livered to us, according to the Promise made us by our Brother, Teedyuscung, in behalf of all the Indian he represented ; and what is become of those Belts we gave him to confirm the Peace and that Promise ; for, till that Promise is complied with, we can never sleep in Quiet, or rest satisfied in the Friendship of those we de- tain our Children and Relations from us."
A Belt.
After the Governor had done Speaking, the United Nations gave the usual Shouts of Approbation, with great solemnity, each according to Rank.
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Then Governor Bernard delivered the Belts requested by the. Senecas, Cayugas, and Minisinks, and spoke as follows :
" Brethren :
"The Governor of Pennsylvania has given a particular Answer to what has been said to us both. So far as his answer relates to the Province over which I preside, I confirm what has been said by this Belt."
A Belt.
Previous to what follows, it is necessary to observe that Pisquito- men and another Ohio Indian, having come to Philadelphia last Summer, acquainted the Governor that the Indians in those Parts had not received any account of the late Transactions with this Government; nor any Message from it, and that they might be per- swaded to Lay down their Hatchet; the Governor therefore took that Opportunity to send a friendly Message to those Indians by Pisquitomen, and appointed Mr. Frederick Post, a German, who understood the Delaware Language, to attend him, and acquaint the Indians at the Ohio of the Peace made by the Susquehannah Dela- wares, and other Indians, and the Disposition of this Government to forgive what was past, if they would return to their Antient Al- liance. This Message was accordingly delivered and an answer re- turned by Frederick Post, Pisquitomen, and Thomas Hickman, an Ohio Indian, who having came down together as far as Harris' Ferry, Frederick Post went to wait on General Forbes, and left the two Indians to proceed with the Message, who being now arrived at Easton, Pisquitomen, who had the particular Charge of it, intro- duced it as follows :
"Brethren :
" When I was at Allegheny, the Chief Men sat together as we do here now. I was employed by the Governor, Teedyuscung, and Israel Pemberton, these three men, pointing to them, and the Chief Men told me, that when I should come among the English Inhabi- tants, I must shake hands for them with the Governor, Teedyus- cung, and Israel Pemberton [here he shook Hands with them ], and that what they had to say was written down in a Paper, which he then produced, and said they desired it might be read in Publick. Now, you, Gentlemen, who are Head Men, sent Frederick Post with me, desiring me to take and carry him in my Bosom there, ' and when I came there to introduce him to the Publick Council, I did this, and have brought him back safe again.
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