USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VIII > Part 20
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Then taking a Belt and three Strings of Wampum, which were. delivered with the Paper, he said he would interpret them, but as all that was said was truly set down in the writing, it was not necessary ; Let it be read.
Then Pisquitomen delivered the Paper with the Belt, and three Strings of Wampum, who, on being asked afterwards to whom they
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were sent, answered, one was sent to the Governor, another to Teedyuscung, and another to Israel Pemberton. The Message was read in these Words :
"The Indians speak now. Brethren, hear what I have to say. " Brethren :
" It is a good many Days since we have seen and heard of you from all sorts of Nations.
" Brethren :
"This is the first Message which we have seen and heard of you; we have not yet rightly heard you.
" Brethren :
"You have talked of that Peace and Friendship which we had formerly with you.
"Brethren :
"We tell you to be strong, and always remember that Friendship which we had formerly.
"Brethren :
"We desire you would be strong, and let us once more hear of our good Friendship and Peace we had formerly.
" Brethren :
"We desire you to make haste, and let us soon hear of you again."
Gave a String.
" Brethren :
"Hear what I have to say; look Brethren; since we have seen and heard of you of all sorts of Nations, we see that you are sorry that we have not that Friendship we formerly had.
"Look Brethren; we at Allegheny are Likewise Sorry that we have not that Friendship with you we formerly had.
" Brethren :
"We long for that Peace and Friendship we had Formerly.
" Brethren :
"It is good that you have held that Friendship which we had formerly amongst our Fathers and Grandfathers.
"Brethren :
"We must tell you we will not let that Friendship quite drop which was formerly between us. Now, Brethren, it is three years since we dropped that Peace and Friendship which we formerly had with you. Now, Brethren, that Friendship is dropped and lies buried in the Ground where you and I stand in the middle between us both. Now, Brethren, Since I see you have digged up and re- vived that Friendship which was buried in the Ground; now you
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have it; hold it fast : Do; be strong, Brethren, and exert your- selves, that the Friendship may be well established and Finished between us.
" Brethren :
" If you will be strong it is in your Power to finish that Peace & Friendship well.
"Now, Brethren, we desire you to be strong, and Establish and make known to all the English of this Peace and Friendship that it, over all, may be well established, as you are of one Nation and one Colour in all the English Governments.
" Brethren :
" When you have made this Peace, which you have begun, known every where amongst your Brethren, and have finished and agreed every where together on this Peace and Friendship, then you will be pleased to send it to me at Allegheny.
" Brethren :
" When you have settled this Peace and Friendship, and Finished it well, and you send it to me, I will send it to all the Nations of my Colour ; when I receive of you. the Answer, and I have looked that every thing is well done, So that I can send it to the Nations of my Colour, they all will join to it, and we all will hold it fast. " Brethren :
" When all the Nations join to this Friendship, then the Day will begin to shine clear over us; when we once hear more of you, and we join together, then the Day will be Still, and no Wind or Storm will come over us to disturb us.
" Now, Brethren, you know our Hearts and what we have to say; be strong. If you do so, every thing will be well, and what you have told, you in this all the Nations agree to join.
"Now, Brethren, let the King of England know what our Minds are as soon as possible you can."
Gives a Belt of eight Rows.
Received the within Speech from the underwritten, who are all Captains and Counsellers, Viz .:
Beaver King, Owahanomin, Macomal,
Shingas, Cockquacaukeheton, Popauco,
Delaware George, Cuhshawmehwy, Washascantant,
Pisquitom, Kekeknapalin, Joh. Hickman,;
Tassacomin, Captain Peter, Kill Buck.
The above names is of Captains and Counsellers. After this was interpreted in the Six Nation Language, and in the Delaware, the Three Strings were delivered to the Governor, Teedyuscung, and Israel Pemberton.
As the Governor was going to close the Conference, Nichas, the
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Mohock Chief, spoke for some Time with great vehemence, pointing to Teedyuscung, and Mr. Weiser was ordered to interpret it, but he desired to be excused, as it was about Matters purely relating to the Indians themselves, and desired Mr. Montour might interpret it. After some pause, he said, perhaps it might be better if it was interpreted to the Governors' Councils and Commissioners in a private Conference. Mr. Weiser was desired to mention this to the Indians, and know of them what they would chuse should be done, whether it should be interpreted now or at a private Conference, and they answered now; but soon after they said, that at the Request of Mr. Weiser, they consented that it should be interpreted in the Morning at a private Conference.
October the 14th, 1758. The Indians declined, meeting to-Day.
At a private Conference with the Indians on the 15th of October, 1758.
PRESENT :
Governor DENNY, His Council, and the Committee of Assembly. Governor BERNARD and the Jersey Commissioners.
Chiefs of the Mohocks, Senecas, and Onondagoes; Chiefs of the Oneidoes, Cayugas, Tuscaroras, Nanticokes, or Conoys, and Tuteloes.
Nichas, the Mohock Chief, stood up, and directing his discourse to both Governors said :
" Brothers :
"We thought proper to meet you here to have some private dis- course about our Nephew, Teedyuscung.
" You all know that he gives out he is a great Man, and Chief of Ten Nations-this to his Constant Discourse. Now I, on behalf of the Mohocks, say we do not know he is such a great Man. If he is such a great Man we desire to know who made him so. Perhaps you have, and if this be the case tell us so. It may be the French have made him so.
" We want to enquire and know whence his greatness arose."
Tagashata, on the Behalf of the Senecas, spoke next. " Brethren :
"I, for my Nations, say the same that Nichas has done: I need no repeat it. I say we do not know who has made Teedyuscung this great man over Ten Nations, and I want to know who made him so."
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Assarandonquas spoke next on behalf of the Onondagoes.
" Brethren :
" I am here to represent the Onondagoes, and I say for them that I never heard, before now, that Teedyuscung was such a great Man, and much less can I tell who made him so. No such thing was ever said in our Towns as that Teedyuscung was such a great Man."
Thomas King spoke next.
" Brethren, the Governors, and all present :
"Take notice that I speak in behalf of Five Nations, who have 1
their Deputies here present, Viz": The Oneidoes, Cayugas, Tus- caroras, Nanticokes, and Conys, who have joined together and now make one Nation, and Tuteloes. We Five are all connected toge- ther, and if any thing is said to one of us it is Communicated to the rest.
" On their Behalf I now tell you we none of us know who has made Teedyuscung such a great Man. Perhaps the French have, or perhaps you have, or some among you, as you have different Governments and are different People. We, for our parts, intirely disown that he has any Authority over us, and desire to know from whence he derives his Authority."
A Belt.
Tokaaio, the Cayuga Chief, spoke :
" Brethren :
" I speak now to you on behalf of the Nations just now men- tioned to you; you may remember that you said the other Day you could not be easy without your Prisoners were returned. We have considered this, and I now assure you that they shall be returned.
" We speak from the Bottom of our Hearts; we will look care- fully into all our Towns for them. You shall have them all. We will keep none. If there be any of them that have gone down our throats we will throw them up again. You told us a Tender Father, Husband, Wife, Brother, or Sister, could not sleep sound when they reflected that their Relations were Prisoners. We know it is so with us, and we will therefore use our Endeavours to make your Hearts Easy, and we give you this Belt as a Promise that we will perform our Words."
A Belt.
Nichas spoke next in behalf of the Mohocks, Senecas, and Onon- dagoes.
" Brethren :
"I speak now on behalf of my own Nation, and my two other Brethren, Deputies of the Senecas and Onondagoes. We remember you desired us to leave nothing in our Hearts, but speak open on every matter, and you said you would do the same to us.
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" You told us, that you could not sleep sound whilst your Pri- soners were detained from you, nor could you have any confidence in the Friendship of those who did detain them. We of these three Nations promise, that we will use our best Endeavours to make you easy; When we return, we will enquire of every Town for the Prisoners ; We will call our Councils, and lay what you have said before them, and make diligent Enquiry for them through all our Towns, and all that we can find you shall sce.
" If any of them are gone down our Throats, we will heave them up again."
A String of Seven Rows.
At a Conference with the Indians on the 16th of October, 1758. PRESENT :
The Governors and the Gentlemen of their Councils, &cª.
The Minutes of the preceding Conferences were read and ap- proved.
Those of Yesterday's private Conference were read, at the par- ticular Desire of the Chiefs of the Eight Nations, and interpreted to Teedyuscung and the Delawares in the Delaware Language by Mr. Stephen Calvin.
The Governors then spoke separately, Governor Denny beginning as follows :
" Brethren, the Mohocks, Onondagoes, Senecas, Oneidoes, Ca- yugas, Tuscaroras, Nanticokes, and Tuteloes :
" In a Conference held with you yesterday, you told me, that we know your Nephew, Teedyuscung, gives out that he is a great Man, and Chief of Ten Nations, and that this was his constant Discourse. By this Belt, therefore, you denied him to be so great a Man, and desired to know of me who made him so, or gave him Authority over you.
" Brethren :
"I will answer you truly, and tell you in a few Words all that I know of the Matter. I have already informed you that after the Delawares had Struck us, you, our good Friends, the United Na- tions, advised them to sit still and do us no more mischief; and that soon after this we invited the Delawares to meet us at a Council Fire kindled at this Place.
" We received an Answer to our Message from Teedyuscung as a Chief among the Delawares. At the Time appointed he came and told us that he represented Ten Nations, amongst which the United Nations were included; that he acted as a Chief Man for the Delawares, but only as a Messenger for the United Nations, who
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were his Uncles and Superiors, to whom he would faithfully carry every thing that should be transacted between us that they might do as they saw Cause.
" We believe what your Nephew told us, and, therefore, made him a Counsellor and Agent for us, and desired him to publish to all Nations of Indians what we did at our Council Fires, and to let them know we were sincerely disposed to be at peace with them. " Brethren :
"I can only speak for myself, and do assure you that I never made Teedyuscung this great Man, nor ever pretended to give him any Authority over you ; and I must do him Justice to declare to you that at our former publick Treaties Teedyuscung never assumed any such Power; but on many Occasions when he spoke of you called you his Uncles and Superiors.
" I never shall attempt to nominate or impose a Chief on any Indian Tribe or Nation, but on all Occasions will pay due regard to those who are chosen by their Countrymen.
"If any others have made Teedyuscung so great a Man as to set himself above you I am sorry for it. It is more than I know, and they who have done it must answer for themselves.
I should be greatly concerned that any uneasiness should arise among you, and hope you will guard against it, and preserve that Harmony which ought to subsist between Friends and Relations. " Brethren :
" By this Belt and String you promised me to make Diligent Search in your Towns for our Flesh and Blood who are Prisoners among you and return them to us.
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" Brethren :
"We have always found you honest and punctual in the per- formance of your Promises. Your Words, therefore, give me great Comfort and fill all our Hearts with Pleasure.
" We rely upon you that no Time may be lost in fulfilling an Engagement on which our Peace and Quiet so greatly depend."
A Belt and String.
The Governor Bernard spoke :
" Brethren of all the Confederated Nations :
" As you proposed your Question concerning Teedyuscung sepa- rately I think it proper to give you a separate Answer thereto.
"I know not who made Teedyuscung so great a Man, nor do I know that he is any greater than a Chief of the Delaware Indians settled at Wioming. The Title of King could not be given him by any English Governor, for we know very well that there is no such Person among Indians as what we call a King; And if we call him so, we mean no more than a Sachem or Chief. I observe in his VOL. VIII .- 13.
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Treaties, which he has held with the Governors of Pennsylvania (which I have perused since our last meeting), he says he was a Woman till you made him a Man by putting a Tomahawk in his hand, and through all those Treaties, especially at the last held in this Town, he calls you his Uncles, and professes that he is de- pendent on you, and I know not that any thing has since happened to alter his Relation to you. I therefore consider him to be still your Nephew.
" Brethren :
"I heartily thank you for your kind Promises to return the Captives which have been taken from us. I hope you will not only do so, but will also engage such of your Allies and Nephews who have taken Captives from us to do the same. That you may be mindful of this, I give you this Belt."
A Belt.
After the Governors had done speaking, and their Answers were interpretted in the Six Nation and Delaware Languages, the Indian Chiefs were asked if they had any thing more to say, upon which Tagashata arose and made a Speech to his Couzins, the Delawares and Minisink Indians, directing his discourse to Teedyuscung :
" Nephews :
"You may remember all that passed at this Council Fire. The Governors who sit there have put you in mind of what was agreed upon last year. You both promised to return the Prisoners. We, your Uncles, put you in mind of this Promise, and desire you will perform it. You have promised it, and you must perform it. We your Uncles have promised to return all the English Prisoners among us, and therefore we expect that you our Cousins and Nephews will do the same. As soon as you come home we desire that you will search 'carefully into your Towns for all the Prisoners among you that have been taken out of every Province, and cause them to be delivered up to your Brethren. You know that this is an Article of the Peace that was made between you and your Brethren, in Confirmation of which you received a large Belt; of which Belt we desire you will give an Account, and let us know what is become of it, and how far you have proceeded in it."
A Belt.
After this was interpretted in the Delaware Language it was ob- served that there was no Minisink Indians Present. The Governors desired Mr. Read and Mr. Peters would procure a Meeting of the Chiefs of the united Nations with the Delawares and Minisinks, and cause the speech of Tagashata to be interpretted to the Mini- sinks in the presence of their Uncles.
Robert White, the Nanticoke Chief, arose and said, he was going to speak in the Behalf of Seven Nations, and, directing his Discourse
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to the Governors, he delivered himself in the English Language as follows :
" Brethren :
"It is now more then two Years past since we heard of our Cousins, the Delawares, taking up the Hatchet against the English. At the first Sir William Johnson sent a Message to the Head Nations, and when they received it, they sent one to us at Otsa- ningo, telling us, that as we lived close by our Cousins, they desired we would invite them to meet at our Town, and accordingly we invited them, and they came to a great meeting at our Town of Otsaningo. We then gave our Cousins a Belt of a Fathom long, and Twenty-five Rows in Breadth, and desired them to lay down the Hatchet that they had taken up against the English, and to be easy with them, and if they would follow this Advice, we told them that they would Live in Peace until their Heads were white with Age, otherwise it might not be so with them.
"Not hearing from our Cousins for some time, What they did in Consequence of this Belt, we sent them two other belts, one of Sixteen, and the other of twelve Rows, desiring them once more to be easy with their Brethren, the English, and not to strike them any more, but still we heard nothing from them. Indeed some time afterwards we understood the Delawares should say that the Indians at Otsaningo had grey Eyes, and were like the English, and should be served as Englishmen ; and we thought we should have the Hatchet struck into our Heads. We now want to know what is become of these Belts; may be they may be under Ground, or they have swallowed them down their Throats.
"Brethren :
" As our Cousins have been loath to give any Answer to these Belts, we now desire they may let us know, in a Publick Con- ference, what they have done with them."
A String.
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October 17th, 1758.
The Indians were in Council all Day, and acquainted the Gover- nors that they could not be ready to meet before morning.
At a Conference held at Easton on the 18th of October, 1758. PRESENT :
The Governors, Council, Gentlemen, and Indians, with the Inter- preters as before.
Mr. Read and Mr. Peters acquainted the Governors, that at a meeting of the Chiefs of the Older and Younger Nations with the
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several Tribes of the Delaware and Minisink Indians on Monday Night, the Speech of Tagashata, delivered that morning in the Pub- lick Conference, respecting the giving up the Prisoners, was inter- preted in the Delaware Language by Stephen Calvin, and another Belt, on the part of the Governor, being joined to Tagashata's Belt, they were both delivered to the Delaware and Minisink Chiefs, to enforce the Matter. When this was done, Tagashata spoke to the . Minisink Chief, Egohohowen, saying, "we were told by you that you had delivered up the English Prisoners, and we believed you. But our Brethren have told us that they were not delivered up, and therefore we earnestly desire that they may be made easy on this Article. You know, Cousins, that their Hearts will always be in Grief till they see again their Flesh and Blood. It is natural that they should be so. It would be so with us if it was our case. We desire you will be extremely carefull to perform this matter fully and soon. Let there be perfect Peace over all the English Country, And now let it be published, that we may all live in Peace, and with Satisfaction, now and for ever. I told you, Egohohowen, when you was in my Town, to bring with you the English Prisoners, and that our Brethren would expect it. I wish you had done it. But, however, do it now with all speed, and it will be well."
Egohohowen answered, "it is true I was at my Uncle's Fire, and I believe he desired me to bring the Prisoners down, but I suppose it was not interpreted to me, for I did not understand it clearly, but I now understand it."
The Minisink and Delaware Indians were desired to collect all their Warriors together, and give them these Belts, and receive from them their answer, it being necessary they should concur heartily in whatever should be concluded.
Nichas, the Mohock Chief, acquainted the Governors, that, as Counsellors, they had finished, having nothing to propose at this present meeting. The Warriors were to speak now, and Thomas King was appointed to deliver their Words, who thereupon arose, and began with an Exhortation, as well to all concerned in Publick Affairs, Governors and their Councils, and Indian Chiefs and their Councils, as to Warriors of all Nations, White People and Indians, desiring all present to attend carefully to what was goin to be related as matters of great Consequence, which would serve to regulate the Conduct of English and Indians to each other. He added, that the Reason going to be made had taken a great deal of Trouble to put it into order, and it was made on Information given by the Several Indians now present, who were acquainted with the Facts. "Brethren, we, the Warriors, have waited some time, in Hopes our Counsellors would have taken this matter in hand; but as they have not done it, we have, at their desire, undertaken it, and they have approved of every Thing. I say, the Counsellors of the Five Younger Nations, as well as the three Older Nations have
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approved of what the Warriors are going to relate; and take Notice, that the Speech is not only the speech of all the Warriors of the elder and younger Nations, but of our Cousins, the Delawares and Minisinks."
This was interpreted in the Delaware Language, and Thomas King then proceeded, directing his Speech to the Governors and all the English upon the Continent.
" Brethren :
"You have been inquisitive to know the cause of this War, you have often enquired among us, but perhaps you did not find out the true Cause of the Bitterness of our Hearts and may Charge us wrong, and think that you were struck without a cause by some of our own Warriors, and by our Cousins; But if you Look a little about you, you Will find that you gave the first Offence; For in Time of Profound Peace, some of the Shawanese passing through South Carolina to go to War with the Enemies, were taken up and put in Prison ; The English knew they were going to War, and that they used to do it every Year; and yet, after they had per- swaded them in a Friendly way into their Houses, they were taken up and put into Prison, and one who was an Head Man of that Nation, lost his Life, and the others were severely used; This first raised ill will in the minds of the Shawanese, and as the French came a little after this happened to settle on the Ohio, the Shawa- nese complained of it to them, and they made an artful use of it, set them against the English and gave them the Hatchet. Being resolved on Revenge they accepted it, and likewise spoke to their Grandfathers, the Delawares, saying, 'Grandfathers, are not your hearts sore at our being used so ill, and at the Loss of one of our Chiefs ? Will not you join us in Revenging his Death?' So by Degrees our young Men were brought over to act against you ; On Searching Matters to the Bottom, you will find that you in this manner, gave the first Offence ; This we thought proper to let you know, It may be of Service for the future; You may be induced by this to take better care in Conducting your Business in Council so as to guard against these Breaches of Friendship, or, as soon as they happen in Corresponding immediately with one another, and with the Indians who are in any wise concerned on such Occasions."
Eight Strings of Black Wampum.
" Brethren :
"This was the Cause of the Shawanese, that I have just now related; another of the like Nature had since happened to the Sen- ecas, who had suffered in the same.
" About three years ago eight Seneca Warriors were returning from War through Virginia, having Seven Prisoners and Scalps with them; at a place called Green Briar, they met with a Party of Soldiers, not less than One Hundred and Fifty, who kindly in-
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vited them to come to a certain Store, and they said they would supply them with Provisions, and accordingly they travelled two Days with them in a Friendly Manner, and when they came to the House they took their Arms from the Senecas; The head men cryed out here is Death, defend yourselves as well as you can, which they did, and two of them were killed on the Spot, and one, a young Boy, was taken Prisoner ; This gave great offence, and the more so as it was upon the Warriors road and we were in perfect Peace with our Brethren. It provoked to such a Degree that we could not get over it.
" Brethren :
"You have justly demanded your Prisoners; it is right; and we have given you an Answer. And therefore as we think this young Boy is alive, and somewhere among you, we desire you will enquire for him. If he be alive return him; if you have swallowed him down your Throats, which perhaps may be the case, let us know it and we will be content. His Name is Squissatego."
Six Strings of White Wampum.
" Brethren :
" We have one Word more to mention of the same Nature, and which was the very cause why the Indians at Ohio left you.
" Brethren :
" When we first heard of the French coming to the Ohio we immediately sent Word to the Governors of Virginia and Pennsyl- vania; we desired them to come, and likewise to supply us with such Things as were proper for War, intending to defend our Lands, and hinder the French from taking the Possession of them; But these Governors did not attend to our Message. . Perhaps they thought there was no foundation for our Intelligence. The French however came and became our Neighbours, and you neither coming yourselves, nor assisting us with Warlike Stores, our People, of necessity, were obliged to Trade with them for what we Wanted, as your Traders had left the Country. The Governor of Virginia took care to settle on our Lands for his own Benefit; but when we wanted his assistance against the French he disregarded us."
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