24th.—They called to me, and desired that I would write to the general for them. The jealousy natural to the Indians is not to be described; for though they wanted me to write for them, they were afraid I would, at the same time, give other information, and this perplexed them.
We continued our journey to the fort; and arrived in sight, on this side the river, in the afternoon, and all the Indian chiefs immediately came over; they called me into the middle, and king Beaver presented me to them, and said, “Here is our English brother, who has brought great news.” Two of them rose up and signified they were glad to see me. But an old deaf Onondago Indian rose up and signified his displeasure. This Indian is much disliked by the others; he had heard nothing yet, that had passed, he has lived here a great while, and constantly lives in the fort, and is mightily attached to the French; he spoke as follows, to the Delawares:
“I do not know this Swannock;[36] it may be that you know him. I, the Shawanese, and our father[37] do not know him. I stand here (stamping his foot) as a man on his own ground;[38] therefore, I, the Shawanese and my father do not like that a Swannock come on our ground.” Then there was silence awhile, till the pipe went round;[39] after that was over, one of the Delawares rose up, and spoke in opposition to him that spoke last, and delivered himself as follows:
“That man speaks not as a man; he endeavours to frighten us, by saying this ground is his; he dreams; he and his father have certainly drunk too much liquor; they are drunk; pray let them go to sleep till they are sober. You do not know what your own nation does, at home; how much they have to say to the Swannocks. You are quite rotten. You stink.[40] You do nothing but smoke your pipe here. Go to sleep with your father, and when you are sober we will speak to you.”
After this the French demanded me of the Indians. They said it was a custom among the white people when a messenger came, even if it was the Governor, to blind his eyes, and lead him into the fort, to a prison, or private room. They, with some of the Indians insisted very much on my being sent into the fort, but to no purpose; for the other Indians said to the French; “It may be a rule among you, but we have brought him here, that all the Indians might see him, and hear what our brothers the English have to say; and we will not suffer him to be blinded and carried into the fort.” The French still insisted on my being delivered to them; but the Indians desired them, to let them hear no more about it; but to send them one hundred loaves of bread; for they were hungry.
25th.—This morning early they sent us over a large bullock, and all the Indian chiefs came over again, and counselled a great deal among themselves; then the Delaware, that handled the old deaf Onondago Indian so roughly yesterday, addressed himself to him, in this manner; “I hope, to day, you are sober. I am certain you did not know what you said yesterday. You endeavoured to frighten us; but know, we are now men, and not so easily frightened. You said something yesterday of the Shawanese; see here what they have sent you,” (presenting him with a large roll of tobacco.)
Then the old deaf Indian rose up, and acknowledged he had been in the wrong; he said, that he had now cleaned himself,[41] and hoped they would forgive him.
Then the Delaware delivered the message, that was sent by the Shawanese which was, “That they hoped the Delawares, &c. would be strong,[42] in what they were undertaking; that they were extremely proud to hear such good news from their brothers, the English; that whatever contracts they made with the English, the Shawanese would agree to; that they were their brothers, and that they loved them.”
The French whispered to the Indians, as I imagined, to insist on my delivering what I had to say, on the other side of the water. Which they did to no purpose, for my company still insisted on a hearing on this side the water. The Indians crossed the river to council with their Fathers.[43] My company desired to know whether they would hear me or no. This afternoon three hundred Canadians arrived at the fort, and reported that six hundred more were soon to follow them, and forty battoes laden with amunition. Some of my party desired me not to stir from the fire; for that the French had offered a great reward for my scalp, and that there were several parties out on that purpose. Accordingly I stuck constantly as close to the fire, as if I had been chained there.
26th.—The Indians, with a great many of the French officers, came over to hear what I had to say. The officers brought with them a table, pens, ink and paper. I spoke in the middle of them with a free conscience, and perceived by the look of the French, they were not pleased with what I said; the particulars of which were as follows; I spoke in the name of the government and people of Pensilvania.