Papers Relating to an Act of the Assembly of the Province of New-York / For encouragement of the Indian trade, &c. and for prohibiting the selling of Indian goods to the French, viz. of Canada

by Cadwallader Colden; Great Britain. Board of Trade; Great Britain. Privy Council; New York . Council

The Deputies of the

Six Nations

.

Conrad Weiser

, Interpreter.

The three Governments entertained the Indians, and all the Gentlemen in Town, with a handsome Dinner. The Six Nations, in their Order, having returned Thanks with the usual Solemnity of Yo-ha-han, the Interpreter informed the Governor and the Commissioners, that as the Lord Proprietor and Governor of Maryland was not known to the Indians by any particular Name, they had agreed, in Council, to take the first Opportunity of a large Company to present him with one; and as this with them is deemed a Matter of great Consequence, and attended with Abundance of Form, the several Nations had drawn Lots for the Performance of the Ceremony, and the Lot falling on the Cayogo Nation, they had chosen Gachradodow, one of their Chiefs, to be their Speaker, and he desired Leave to begin; which being given, he, on an elevated Part of the Court-House, with all the Dignity of a Warrior, the Gesture of an Orator, and in a very graceful Posture, said that:

"As the Governor of Maryland had invited them here to treat about their Lands, and brighten the Chain of Friendship, the united Nations thought themselves so much obliged to them, that they had come to a Resolution in Council to give to the great Man, who is Proprietor of Maryland, a particular Name, by which they might hereafter correspond with him; and as it had fallen to the Cayogoes Lot in Council to consider of a proper Name for that chief Man, they had agreed to give him the Name of Tocarry-hogan, denoting Precedency, Excellency, or living in the middle or honourable Place betwixt Assaragoa and their Brother Onas, by whom their Treaties might be better carried on." And then, addressing himself to his Honour the Governor of Pensylvania, the honourable the Commissioners of Virginia and Maryland, and to the Gentlemen then present, he proceeded:

"As there is a Company of great Men now assembled, we take this Time and Opportunity to publish this Matter, that it may be known Tocarry-hogan is our Friend, and that we are ready to honour him, and that by such Name he may be always called and known among us. And we hope he will ever act towards us according to the Excellency of the Name we have now given him, and enjoy a long and happy Life."

The honourable the Governor and Commissioners, and all the Company present, returned the Compliment with three Huzza's, and, after drinking Healths to our gracious King and the Six Nations, the Commissioners of Maryland proceeded to Business in the Court-House Chamber with the Indians, where Conrad Weiser, the Interpreter, was present.

The honourable the Commissioners ordered Mr. Weiser to tell the Indians, that a Deed, releasing all their Claim and Title to certain Lands lying in the Province of Maryland, which by them was agreed to be given and executed for the Use of the Lord Baron of Baltimore, Lord Proprietary of that Province, was now on the Table, and Seals ready fixed thereto. The Interpreter acquainted them therewith as desired, and then gave the Deed to Canassatego, the Speaker, who made his Mark, and put his Seal, and delivered it; after which, thirteen other Chiefs or Sachems of the Six Nations executed it in the same Manner, in the Presence of the honourable the Commissioners of Virginia, and divers other Gentlemen of that Colony, and of the Provinces of Pensylvania and Maryland.