Page:Early western travels, 1748-1846 (Vol 1 1904).djvu/209

1758] 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, 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, 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 ————