Six Strings White Wampum,
{TN: Icon of hand pointing to right} "Pointing to this country." When you first came from that country to ask my protection, and when you told me you had escaped from the heat of a great fire that was like to scorch you to death, I took yon by the hand and under my protection, and told you to look about for a piece of land to hunt on and plant for the support of yourselves and families in this country, which the Great Spirit had given for our mutual benefit and support. I told you at the same time that I would watch over it, and when anything threatened us with danger, that I would immediately speak to you; and that when I did speak to you, that it would behoove you to be strong and listen to my words.
Delivered six Strings White Wampum.
The Spaniard then, addressing himself to all the nations who were present, said,—
Children, These were my words to all the nations here present, as well as to your grand-fathers, the Delawares. Now, Children, I have called you together to communicate to you certain intelligence of a large force assembling on the Shawanoe river to invade our country. It has given me very great satisfaction to observe the strong confederacy formed among you, and I have no doubt of your ready assistance to repel this force.
"Children, You see me now on my feet, and grasping the tomahawk to strike them.
"Children, We will strike them together. I do not desire yon to go before me, in the front, but to follow me. These people have too long disturbed our country, and have extinguished many of our council fires. They are but a trifling people compared to the white people now combined against them, and determined to crush them for their evil deeds. They must by this time be surrounded with enemies, as all the white nations are against them. Your French Father also speaks through me to you on this occasion, and tells you that those of his subjects who have joined the Big-knives, are only a few of his disobedient children who have joined the disobedient in this country; but as we are strong and unanimous, we hope, by the assistance of the Great Spirit, to put a stop to their mischievous designs.
Delivered a bunch Black Wampum.
Children, Now I present you with a war-pipe, which has been sent in all our names to the Musquakies, and all those nations who live toward the setting of the sun, to get upon their feet and take hold of our tomahawk; and as soon as they smoked it they sent it back, with a promise to get immediately on their feet to join us and strike this enemy. Their particular answer to me was as follows:
"Father, We have long seen the designs of the Big-knives against our country, and also of some of our own color, particularly the Kaskaskies, who have always spoke with the same tongue as the Big-knives. They must not escape our revenge; nor must you, Father, endeavor to prevent our extirpating them. Two other tribes of our color, the Piankishaws and the Cayaughkians who have been strongly attached to our enemies the Big-knives, shall share the same fate with the Kaskaskies."