At every Stop where a Belt was given, one of the Sachems call'd out Yo-hay, to which all the rest answered in a Sound which cannot be expressed in our Letters, but seem'd to consist of two Words remarkably distinguished in the Cadence; it seem'd to this purpose; the Sachem calls, Do your hear? The Answer is, We attend and remember, or understand; or else it is a Kind of Plaudit our Interpreters could not explain. At the Close of the Speech, one Sachem of each Nation call'd out severally the Yo-hay, to which the others of the same Nation answer'd severally: But when the War-Belt was thrown down, they gave the War-Shout. We expected but six of these Plaudits, according to the Number of the Six Nations, but eight were distinctly delivered; by which we understood some other Nations were united with them on this Occasion.
After the Speech was delivered, the Sachems of the several Nations had Conferences together; and some time being spent in deliberating, they acquainted his Excellency, 'That they had agreed upon their Answer, which they were ready to give whenever he would appoint a Time to receive it;' and he named the next Day.
Accordingly on the 23d of August, His Excellency being present; the Gentlemen of the Council; the Commissioners from Boston; the Commissioners for Indian Affairs; the Corporation of Albany; and many Gentlemen, as at the Time when his Excellency's Speech was delivered,
An Onondaga Sachem, who had formerly been Speaker for the Six Nations on several publick Occasions, rose up and spoke: What he said was publickly interpreted, in the Hearing of several who understood the Indian Language well, as follows:
Brethren of New-York, and of the Massachusets-Bay,
We the Six Nations are now assembled together as one Man, and we take in the Messesagues for the seventh Nation; and what is now to be spoken by one Mouth, are the joint and sincere Thoughts of every Heart.
We are pleas'd that you follow the Steps of our Fore-fathers, in wiping off the sorrowful Tears from our Eyes, by which the Stoppage of our Throats are opened, and the bloody Bed wash'd clean. [Gave three Strings of Wampum.]
Brethren, The first Time we met together, we only saluted each other by shaking of Hands; we afterwards made a Covenant Chain of Silver, which we mutually have held fast to this Day; should it now slip from either of our Hands, it would prove Destruction to both Sides, since our Enemies have drawn the Sword. [Gave a Belt.]
Brother of New-York; Last Year you gave us the Hatchet to be made Use of against your Enemies, the French, which we accepted and promised to make use of it if they should commit any farther Hostilities upon the English, which they have now done by destroying Saraghtoga, and shedding a great deal of Blood: Hitherto we have made no use of the Hatchet; but as you now call upon us, we are ready, and do declare from the Bottom of our Hearts, that we will from this Day, make use of it against the French, and their Children, (meaning their Indians.)
[N. B. The Question was asked them by his Excellency, Whether by the Words their Children, they meant all the Indians in Alliance with the French? to which they answered, Yes.]