After we travelled two miles farther, we met with an Indian, and one that I took to be a runagade English Indian trader; he spoke good English, was very curious in examining every thing, particularly the silver medal about Pisquitumen’s neck. He appeared by his countenance to be guilty. We enquired of them where we were, and found we were lost, and within twenty miles of fort Duquesne. We struck out of the road to the right, and slept between two mountains; and being destitute of food, two went to hunt, and others to seek a road, but to no purpose.
11th.—We went to the place where they had killed two deers, and Pisquetumen and I roasted the meat. Two went to hunt for the road, to know which way we should go: one came back, and found a road; the other lost himself.
12th.—The rest of us hunted for him, but in vain; so, as we could not find him, we concluded to set off, leaving such marks, that, if he returned, he might know which way to follow us; and we left him some meat. We came to the river Conaquonashon [Conequenessing Creek], where was an old Indian town. We were then fifteen miles from Kushkushkee.
There we stopt, and sent forward Pisquetumen with four strings of wampum to apprize the town of our coming,[24] with this message:
“Brother,[25] thy brethren are come a great way, and want to see thee, at thy fire, to smoak that good tobacco,[26] which our good grandfathers used to smoak. Turn thy eyes once more upon that road, by which I came.[27] I bring thee words of great consequence from the Governor, and people of Pennsylvania, and from the king of England. Now I desire thee to call all the kings and captains from all the towns, that none may be missing. I do not desire that my words may be hid, or spoken under cover. I want to speak loud, that all the Indians may hear me. I hope thou wilt bring me on the road, and lead me into the town. I blind the French, that they may not see me, and stop their ears, that they may not hear the great news I bring you.”
About noon we met some Shawanese, that used to live at Wyoming. They knew me, and received me very kindly. I saluted them, and assured them the government of Pennsylvania wished them well, and wished to live in peace and friendship with them. Before we came to the town, two men came to meet us and lead us in. King Beaver shewed us a large house to lodge in.[28] The people soon came and shook hands with us. The number was about sixty young able men. Soon after king Beaver came and told his people, “Boys, hearken, we sat here without ever expecting again to see our brethren the English; but now one of them is brought before you, that you may see your brethren, the English, with your own eyes; and I wish you may take it into consideration.” Afterwards he turned to me and said,
“Brother, I am very glad to see you, I never thought we should have had the opportunity to see one another more; but now I am very glad, and thank God, who has brought you to us. It is a great satisfaction to me.” I said, “Brother, I rejoice in my heart, I thank God, who has brought me to you. I bring you joyful news from the Governor and people of Pennsylvania, and from your children, the Friends:[29] and, as I have words of great consequence I will lay them before you, when all the kings and captains are called together from the other towns. I wish there may not be a man of them missing, but that they may be all here to hear.”
In the evening king Beaver came again, and told me, they had held a council, and sent out to all their towns, but it would take five days before they could all come together. I thanked him for his care. Ten captains came and saluted me. One said to the others; “We never expected to see our brethren the English again, but now God has granted us once more to shake hands with them, which we will not forget.” They sat by my fire till midnight.
14th.—The people crowded to my house; it was full. We had much talk. Delaware George[30] said, he had not slept all night, so much had he been engaged on account of my coming. The French came, and would speak with me. There were then fifteen of them building houses for the Indians. The captain is gone with fifteen to another town. He can speak the Indian tongue well. The Indians say he is a cunning fox; that they get a great deal of goods from the French; and that the French cloath the Indians every year, men, women and children, and give them as much powder and lead as they want.
15th.—Beaver king was informed, that Teedyuscung had said he had turned the hatchet against the French, by advice of the Alleghany Indians; this he blamed, as they had never sent him such advice. But being informed it was his own doing, without any persuasion of the Governor, he was easy on that head. Delaware Daniel prepared a dinner, to which he invited me, and all the kings and captains; and when I came, he said, “Brother, we are as glad to see you among us, as if we dined with the Governor and people in Philadelphia. We have thought a great deal since you have been here. We never thought so much before.”[31] I thanked them for their kind reception; I said, it was something great, that God had spared our lives, to see one another again, in the old brother-like love and friendship. There were in all thirteen, who dined together.