Page:Early western travels, 1748-1846 (Vol 1 1904).djvu/284

278 desire you to be strong; we wish you would take the same method, and use our people well: for the other Indians will look upon us; and we do not otherwise know how to convince them, and to bring them into the English interest, without your using such means as will convince them. For the French will still do more to keep them to their interest."

I told them, "I would take it to heart, and inform the Governor, and other gentlemen of it; and speak to them in their favour." Then they said, "It is so far well, and the road is cleared; but they thought we should send them another call, when they may come." I told them; "We did not know when they would have agreed with the other nations. Brother, it is you, who must give us the first notice when you can come; the sooner the better; and so soon as you send us word, we will prepare for you on the road." After this we made ready for our journey.

Ketiushund, a noted Indian, one of the chief counsellors, told us in secret, "That all the nations had jointly agreed to defend their hunting place at Alleghenny, and suffer nobody to settle there; and as these Indians are very much inclined to the English interest, so he begged us very much to tell the Governor, General, and all other people not to settle there. And if the English would draw back over the mountain, they would get all the other nations into their interest; but if they staid and settled there, all the nations would be against them; and he was afraid it would be a great war, and never come to a peace again."

I promised to inform the Governor, General, and all other people of it, and repeated my former request to them, not to suffer any French to settle amongst them. ————