Brethren of New-York, New-England, and Virginia,
You must not suspect that it proceeds from any Backwardness in us, that a greater Number of our People do not at this Instant join with you; the Reason is, our Castles have but few fighting Men in them, many are now Abroad, some hunting and trading with far distant Nations, and others out fighting against our Enemies; all these we shall recall Home as soon as possible, in order to enter with all our Force, into the War against your and our common Enemy.
Brother, We have no more to say at this Time, but only to tell you, we are sorry that we can so little shew our Hearts by the Presents we now offer; our hunting has been so very poor, that we cannot make you Presents suitable to our Inclinations.
The Mohawks added separately: We have been employed all Summer in your Service as Out-scouts, to gain Intelligence, or in some Manner or other, and thereby kept from hunting: We have no Furrs to offer you, but we here present our Persons, to serve you wherever you shall command.
That Day was spent in dividing the Presents among themselves. We were told, that these Presents were divided into eight equal Parts, of which they gave two to the Messesague Deputies.
The next Day the War-Kettle was set over the Fire, and towards Evening the Indians in his Excellency's Presence, where many Gentlemen attended him, began the War-Dance, and continued it till late in the Night: They were painted as when they go to War. The Dance is a slow and solemn Motion, accompanied with a pathetick Song. The Indians in their Turns perform this singly, but it is not easy to describe the Particularities of it.
His Excellency call'd several of the chief Sachems who had been useful in the Treaty, to him in private, and gave them Presents severally; neither did he forget the Messesague Deputies: He had a particular Conference with one of them in private, the other was sick of the Small-Pox. At this Conference, this Deputy assured his Excellency of the good Inclinations of his Nation to the English, and their Aversion to the French; he said, 'That many of the Nations to the Westward of them, disliked the French;' and as an Instance of it, he told, 'That the French lately having pressed a neighbouring Nation to take up the Hatchet against the English, they received it; but made Use of it against the French themselves, and kill'd all the French then with them, being sixty in Number, with the Loss of only one Man of their own Nation.' His Excellency made him handsome Presents, and gave him a Belt to carry to his Nation, with an Invitation to join in the War against the French; the Messesague received them with a Profession of the most sincere and hearty Friendship; and that he made no doubt of bringing two, three, or four hundred Men of his Nation, to serve this Fall against the French. He added, 'That he and several of his Relations would immediately use their best Endeavours, with several other Nations to the Westward of them, who were numerous, to join against the French; in which, he said, he had great Hopes of Success, because they were dissatisfied with the French.'
His Excellency took all possible Care of the sick Messesague, had him brought into a House, and ordered him, to be attended by two Physicians; but the poor Man had the Misfortune to die, after he had been above a Fortnight ill. When he found himself near his End, he sent to the Governor, to desire him as his last Request, that his Excellency would send the first French Scalp that should be taken, to his Mother; and when he was told that his Excellency had promised it, he shewed a Contentedness and Resignation to Death. This Misfortune was increased by the Death of the other Messesague Deputy likewise, who was taken ill in his Way Home, and died. The Six Nations took Care of their Wives and Children, who had come with them; and it was not doubted but that they, and all the Presents given them, would be safely conveyed to their own Homes.
Having so far given an Account of what passed with the Six Nations, it may be proper next to relate the Treaty with the Mehikanders, or River Indians, viz. The several Tribes of Indians living at several Places on each Side of Hudson's River.
On his Excellency's Arrival at Albany, having found that there had been a Neglect in sending for the Esopus and Minissink Indians, he sent Orders for them to be invited. The Mehikanders being conveened the 21st, his Excellency directed Mr. Colden to speak to them in his Name and Words; which Mr. Colden did; the other Gentlemen of the Council, the Commissioners from Boston, the Commissioners for Indian Affairs, and several other Gentlemen being present, in the Words following: