152 .V/42 ■iiiliilii iliil Qass. Book -J- .^r^ 1 NARRATIVE OF A JOURNEY FROM TULPEHOOKEiS^ IN PEISTISrSTLYAl^IA, TO ONON DAGO THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE SIX NATIONS OF INDIANS, MADE IN 1737 •t-; r ZBY ^ y \^ COiNEAD WEISEK. PHILADELPHIA, JOHN PENNINGTOX. No. 10 S FIFTH STREET. 1853. \ \^ vN 1 A o^- COLLECTIONS OP THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA. I. — Copy of a Family Register in tlic liandwriting of Conrad Weiser, now in (lie possession of Daniel Womehdorf of Womelsdorf Berks County. Translated from the German hy Hiester H. Muhlenberg, M. D., of Reading, Pa. In the year 1606, on the 2d November, T, Conrad Weiser, was born in Europe, in the land of Wirtemburg, in the county (amt) of Herren- burg, the village is called Astael, and was christened at Kupingen near by, as my father has informed me. I say, I was born on the second of November, sixteen hundred and ninety-six. My father's name was John Conrad Weiser, my mother's name was Anna Magdalena, her family name was Uebele. My grandfather was Jacob Weiser, my great grand- father also Jacob Weiser. He was magistrate (schuUheiss) in the village of Great Astach, in the county (amt) of Backnang, also in the land of Wirtemburg. In this latter village my ancestors from time immemorial were born, and are buried there as well on my father's as my mother's side. In the year 1709, my mother passed into eternity on the last day of May, in the 43d year of her age, while pregnant with her sixteenth child, leaving children, Catrina, Margareta, Magdalena, Sabina, Conrad, George Frederick, Christopher, Barbara, John Frederick, and was buried there by the side of my ancestors. She was a woman fearing Clod, and much beloved by her neighbors. Her motto was, Jesus Christ I live for you, I die for you, thine am I in life and death. In the year above mentioned, namely in 1709, my father moved away from Great Astach on the 24th June, and took eight children with him. My eldest sister Catrina remained there with her husband, Conrad Boss, with whom she had two children. My father sold them his house, fields, meadows, vineyard and garden, but they could only pay him 75 gulden, the remainder 600 gulden was to be paid to my father at a subsequent period, which was never done, so it was made a present to them. In Vol. I.— No. 1. about two months we reached London in England, along with several thousand Germans whom Queen Ann, of glorious remembrance, had taken in charge, and was furnishing with food. About Christmas day we em- barked, and ten ship loads with about 4000 souls were sent to America. The loth June, 1710, we came to anchor at New York in North America, and in the same autumn were taken to Livingston's manor at the expense of the Queen. Here in Livingston's, or as it was called by the Germans Loewenstein's manor, we were to burn tar, and cultivate hemp, to* repay the expenses incurred by the Queen in bringing us from Holland to England, and from England to New York. We were directed by several commissioners, viz., John Cast, Henry Meyer, Kicbard Sey- kott, who were put in authority over us by llobert Hunter, Governor of New York. But neither object succeeded, and in the year 1713 the peo- ple were discharged from their engagements and declared free. Then the people scattered themselves over the whole province of New York. Many remained where they were. About 150 families determined to re- move to Schochary,* (a place about forty English miles to the west of Albany.) They therefore sent deputies to the land of the Maquas to consult with the Indians about it, who allowed them to occupy Schochary. For the Indian deputies who were in England at the time the German people were lying in tents on the Blackmoor, had made a present to Queen Ann of this Schochary, that she might settle these people upon it. Indian guides were sent to show the Germans where Schochary was. My father was the first of the German deputies. In November, 1713, when the above mentioned deputies had returned from the Maqua country to Livingston's manor, the people moved the same autumn to Albany and Schenectady, so as to be able to move in the spring to Schochary. Bread was very dear, but the people worked very hard for a living, and the old settlers were very kind and did much good to the Germans, although some of a different disposition were not wanting. My father reached Schenectady the same fall, where he remained with his. family over winter with a man named John Meyndert. A chief of the Maqua nation named Quaynant visited ray father, and they agreed that I should go with Quaynant into his country to learn the Maqua language. I accompanied him and reached the Maqua country in the latter end of November and lived with the Indians : here I suffered much from the excessive cold, for I was but badly clothed, and towards spring also from hunger, for the Indians had nothing to eat. A bushel of Indian corn was worth five to six shillings. And at this period the \ Indians when drunk were so barbarous, that I was frequently obliged to hide from drunken Indians. 1714. In the spring my father removed from Schenectady to Scho- chary, with about 150 families in great poverty. One borrowed a horse here, another there, also a cow and plow harness. With these things they united and broke up jointly so much land, that they nearly raised enough corn for their own consumption the following year. But this year they suffered much from hunger, and made many meals on the wild potatoes and ground beans which grow in great abundance at that place. • Scoharie. The Indians called the potatoes Ochna-nada, the ground beans Otacli- ragara. When we wished for meal we had to travel 35 to 40 miles to get it, and had then to borrow it on credit. They would get a bushel of wheat here, a couple at another place, and were often absent from home three or four days before they could reach their suffering wives and child- ren crying for bread. The people had settled in villages, of which there were seven. The first and nearest, Schenectady, was called Kneskern-dorf;* 2d. G-erlacho- dorf; od. Fachsen-dorf; 4th. Hans George Schmidts-dorf; 5th. Weisers- dorf, or Erunnen-dorf ; 6th. Hartman's-dorf; 7th. Ober Weissers-dorf. So named after the deputies who were sent from Livingston's manor to the Maqua country. Towards the end of -July I returned from among the Indians to my father, and had made a considerable progress, or had learned the greater part of the Maqua language. An English mile from my father's house there liveil several ]Maqua families, and there were always Maquas among us hunting, so that there was always something for me to do in inter- preting, but without pay ! There was no one else to be found among our people who understood the language, so that I gradually became com- pletely master of the language, so far as my years and other circumstances permitted. Here now this people lived peaceably for several years without preachers or magistrates. Each one did as he thought proper. About this time I became very sick and expected to die, and was willing to die, for my stepmother was indeed a stepmother to me. By her influence my father treated me very harshly ; I had no other friend, and had to bear hunger and cold. I often thought of running away, but the sickness mentioned put a bit in my mouth; I was bound as if by a rope to remain with my father to obey him. I have already mentioned that my father was a widower when he left Germany, and landed in 1710 with eight children, in New York, where my two brothers, Greorge Frederick and Christopher were bound by the Governor, with my then sick father's consent, over to Long Island. The following winter my youngest brother, John Frederick, died in the sixth year of his age, and was buried in Livingston's hu&li, as the expression then was, and was the first one buried where now the Reformed Church in Weisers-dorf stands. In the year 1711 my father married my stepmother, whom I have mentioned above, It was an unhappy match, and was the cause of my brothers and sisters' all becoming scattered, At last I was the only one left at home, except the three children he had by my stepmother, viz., John Frederick, Jacob, and Hebecca. Everything went crab-fashion; one misfortune after another happened to our family, of which I always was partaker. I frequently did not know where to turn, and learned to pray to God, and his word became my most agreeable reading. But to return to Schochary. The people had taken possession without informing the Governor of New York, who after letting them know his dissatisfaction, sold the land to seven rich merchants, four of whom lived *Dorf means village. in Albany, the other three in New York. The names of those in Albany were Myndert Shyller, John Shyller, Robert Livingston, Peter Van Brugken; of those in New York were George Clerk, at that time Secre- tary, Doctor Stadts, Rip Van Dam. T^pon this a great uproar arose both in Schochary and Albany, because many persuns in Albany wished the poor people to retain their lands. The people of Schochary divided into two parties; the strongest did not wish to obey, but to keep the land, and therefore sent deputies to England to obtain a grant from George the first, not only for Schochary but for more land in addition. But the plans did not succeed according to their wishes, for in the first place the deputies had to leave secretly and embarked at Philadelphia in 1718. As,soon as they got to sea they fell into the hands of pirates, who robbed them as well as the crew of their money, but then let them free. My father, who was one of the deputies, was three times tied up and flogged, but would not confess to having money ; finally, William Scheif, the other deputy, said to the pirates, this man and I have a purse in common, and I have already given it to you, he has nothing to give you, upon which they let him go free. The ship had to put into Boston to purchase necessaries for the crew and passengers, in place of those taken by the pirates. When they i-eached England they found times had changed, and that there was no longer a Queen Anne on the throne. They still found some of the old friends and advocates of the Germans, among whom were the Chaplains at the King's German Chapel, Messrs. Bohn and Roberts, who did all in their power. The affairs of the depu- ties finally reached the Lords Commissioners of Trade and Plantations, and the Governor of New York, Robert Hunter, was called home. In the meanwhile the deputies became in debt; Walrath, the third deputy, became homesick, and embarked on a vessel bound to New York, but died at sea. The other two were thrown into prison ; they wrote in time for money, but, owing to the ignorance and over confidence of the per- sons who had the money to transmit which the people had collected, it reached England very slowly. In the meanwhile, Robert Hunter had arrived in England, had arranged the sale of the Schochary lands in his own way, before the Board of Trade and Plantations. The opposite party was in prison without friends or money. Finally, when a bill of exchange for seventy pounds sterling arrived, they were released from prison, petitioned anew, and in the end got an order to the newly arrived Governor of New York, William Burnet, to grant vacant land to the Germans who had been sent to New York by the deceased Queen Anne. Towards the end of the year 1720, this William Burnet arrived in New York. In the commencement of the year 1721, I was sent to New York with a petition to Governor Burnet. He appeared friendly, and stated what kind of an order from the Lords"of Trade and Plantations he brought with him, which he was resolved to comply with, but deputies were yet in England, not content with the decision, but could get nothing more done. In the last named year, viz., 1721, William Schtfi" returned home, having quarrelled with my father; they both had hard heads. At 5 last, in the month of November, 1723, mj father also returned. Seheff died six weeks after his return. Governor Burnet gave patents for land to the few who were willing to settle in the Maqua country, namely, in Stony Arabia, and above the falls, but none on the river as the people hoped. They therefore scat- tered, the larger part removed to the Maqua country or remained in Scho- chary, and bought the land from the before-named rich men. The people got news of the land on Suataro and Tulpchocken, in Penn- sylvania; many of them united and cut a road from Schochary to the Sus- quehanna river, carried their goods there, and made canoes, and float 3d down the river to the mouth of the Suataro creek, and drove their cat- tle over land. This happened in the spring of the year 1723. From there they came to Tulpehocken, and this was the origin of Tulpehocken settlement. Others followed this party and settled there, at first also without the permission of the Proprietary of Pennsylvania or his Com- missioners ; also against the consent of the Indians, from whom the land had not yet been purchased. There was no one among the people to govern them, each one did as he pleased, and their obstinacy has stood in their way ever since. Here I will leave them for a time, and describe my own circumstances. In 1720, while my father was in England, I married my Ann Eva, and was given her in marriage, by the Keverend John Fredrick Ileger, Reformed Clergyman, on the 22d of November, in my father's house in Schochary. In 1722, the 7th of September, my son Philip was born, and was bap- tized by John Bernhart von Diihren, Lutheran clergyman ; his sponsors were Philip Brown and wife. The 13th of January, 1725, my daughter Anna Madlina was born, was baptized by John Jacob Q*]hl, Beforraed Clergyman, her sponsors were Christian Bouch, Junior, and my sister Barbara. In 1727, ray daughter Maria was born on the 24:th June, and was baptized by William Christopher Birkenmeyer, Luthern Clergyman. Her sponsors were Nicklas Feg and wife. In 1728, December 24th, my son Frederick was born, was baptized by John Bernhart von Diihren, Lutheran Clergyman ; his sponsors were Nicklas Feg and wife. These four were born to me at Schochary. Afterwards, nameJi/, in 1729, I removed to Pennsylvania, and settled in Tulpehocken, where the following children were born to me, namely :— 1730, the 27th February, my son Peter was born, and in 1731, the 1.5th February, I had two sons born, who were called Christopher and Jacob; the first lived 15 weeks, the latter 13 weeks, when they were released from the evils of this world and taken to a happy eternity. 1732, the 19th June, my daughter Elizabeth was born. 1734, the 28th January, my daughter Margaret was born. The 25th April, 1735, my son Samuel was born. Tho 18th July, 1736, I had again a son born to me. I called him Benjamin; when he was three months old, the care of the Almighty God took him away; the same year my daughter Elizabeth followed him. A G merciful God will give them all to me again, to the honor of his hap- piness. The 11th August, 1740, another sou was born ; I called his name Jabez. The mercy of God removed him from the evil of these days, when he was 17 days old. The 27th of February, 1742, another daughter was born ; I called her name Hanna ; the following 11th August she went into a happy eternity. The IGth of March of this year, my dear daughter Madlina, went from time to eternity, through an easy death, after a long and todious illuess. Her faith, consolation, and refuge was in the crucified Saviour, Jesus Christ, whom she had vowed herself to in days of health, with soul and body. The 12th August, xinuo 1744, my son Benjamin was born. My father died July 1.3th, 1760. My mother went from time to eternity, on the 10th June, 1781. II. — Narrative of a journey, made in the year 1737, hy Conrad Wei- ^er, Jndia)i Agent and Provincial Interpreter, from Tulpeliocken* in t]ie Procinee of Pennsylvania to Onondatjo, the head quarters of the allied Six Nations, in the province of New York. Translated from the German hy HiESTER H. Muhlenberg, M. D., of Reading, Pa. In the year 1736, Governor Gooch, of Virginia, requested of the go- vernment in Philadelphia that it should make known to the so called Six Nations, by a regular embassy, that he, Gooch, was desirous of establish- ing a peace between the allied Six Nations living to the north, and the so called Cherikees and Cataubas to the South. And that he, Governor Gooch, had already so arranged, that the latter tribes would send depu- ties by next spring ; to which place the chiefs of the allied Six Nations should also be invited j and in the mean time a truce should be proclaim- ed by them for a year long, to which the others had already agreed. I was required to perform this duty, and received regular instructions from James Ljgan, Escj., at that time President. 17o7. On the 27th February, I left liome for Onontarjo, which is the place where the allied Six Nations hold their council. It is situated in the centre of these nations, on a river which empties into the great lake Onontario, from which the great St. Lawrence flows. I took with me as travelling companions Stoffel Stump, a white man, and an Onontager Indian who had been lying sick here since last summer, but had now re- covered. His name was Oiois-gera. * The Tnlpehocken lands, comprisins part of Berks ami Lebanon counties, were settled in 1723, by Germans from Schohary, in New York, who penetrated the forests to the head waters of Susquehanna, where they built themselves canoes, and floated down the river to the mouth of the Swntara, on the head waters of which, and of the Tulpehocken, they settled, on lands which belonged to the In- dians. These lands were purchased by Thomas Penii of the Indians, in 1732. These were then the frontier settlements. — H. H. M. The Q8th we remained at Tulheo* on account uf the bud weather, and to procure some necessaries for the journey. The 1st March we started from ToUteo, which is the last place in the inhabited part of Pennsylvania, and the same day we reached the top of the Kldifanni/ mountain. The snow was about a foot deep. The 2nd and 3d, we found nothing but ice under the new fallen snow on the north side of the mountain, which caused dangerous falls to our- selves and horses. The 4th we reached >SIiomo/icn,f but did not find a living soul at home •who could assist us in crossing the Snsqu('h<()in<( river. The 5th we lay still ; we had now made about eighty miles. The Gth we observed smoke on the other side of the river, about a mile above our camp; we went up opposite the place and saw a small hut. An Indian trader was induced by the repeated firing of our pieces to come over, who took us across safely in two trips, but not without great danger, on account of the smalluess of the canoe, and the river being full of floating ice. We were here obliged to leave our horses behind, as it was impossible to get them across. We again lay still today. The 7th, we started from here along one branch of the river. The main stream comes from the north-east, we went to the north-west. We found that we had commenced our journey at the wrong time ; all the streams were filled with water and swollen, particularly those we had to cross. An old Shmraiio, by name Jenoni'oiv((iia , took us in his eanoe across the creek ai Zillij-Sqiuu luw."^^ I presented him with some needles and a pair of shoe strings; he was very thankful, and behaved as if he thought he had received a great present. On the 8th we reached the village where Shikelimu^ lives, who was appointed by the President to be my companion and guide on the journey. He was, however, far from home on a hunt. The weather became bad and we lay by ; the waters rose still higher, and no Indian could be in- duced to seek Shikelinio until The r2th, when two young Indians agreed to go out in search of him. On the 16th they returned with word that Shikelimo would return by the next day, which so happened. The waters had again risen by rea.sou of the warm wind and rain, which melted tlie snow in the forests. Seve- ral Indians arrived by water from the Si.x Nations, who reported that the snow was still waist deep in the forests, and that it was not possible to proceed without snow shoes. * Tolheo was a gap in the Blue mountain, where the big Swatara breaks throuiih, in Lebanon county, as stated in a letter from Conrad Weiser to Gover- nor Morris, dated Oct. 27, 1755, to be I'ound in Rupp's History of Berks and Leba- non counties, pa^e 44. Thfie was subsequ-^ntly a block house erected at this point, in the old Fiench and Indian war ol 1751, which was ii;arrisoned by a com- pany under Captain Busse,a part of the Penna. battalion of nine companies under Lieut. Col. Weiser, raised for defence ol' th^ frontiers. This name Tolheo, has since degenerated into " T/ie Hole," as the Hole creek. — H. H. M. . f Now Sunbury.— H. H. M. \ Chislisquake creek. — H. H. M. § This ifillage I suppose to have been about Milton or near it. Shikelimo was the lather of Logan, whose speech to Lord Dunmore on the murder of his family by Colonel Cresap is so well related in JefTerson's notes on Virginia. — H. H. M. The Indians at this place were out of provisions ; our little stock was soon exhausted, as there was a nuoierous family in the house where we lodged. We had expected on leaving home to supply ours'^lves with pro- visions at this place, in which we were entirely disappointed. I saw a uew blanket given for ab?ut one-third of a bushel of Indian corn. Here we began already to suffer the pangs of hunger, and other troubles forced themselves on us. It was with great difficulty that I procured a small quantity of corn meal and a few beaus for the joui'ney. The 21st we ventured to proceed on our journey to Onontago. There were now five of us, as Shikelimo acccompanied me, and we were joined by a warrior who had been on a war expedition to Virginia, and was go- ing home in the same direction as we were travelling. In the forenoon we reached the large creek* Camtwrago; it was very high ; we were taken over in a canoe, not without great danger. The next day two English traders attempted to cross, and their canoe was overturned by the the force of the current, one of them was drowned, and the other only escaped by swimming. To day we passed a place where the Indians in former times had a strong fortificationf on a height; it was surrounded by a deep ditch, the earth was thrown up in the shape of a wall, about nine or ten feet high and as many broad. But it is now in decay, as from appearance it had been de- serted beyond the memory of man. The 22d we came to a village called O/stuago, from a high rock which lies opposite. However, before we came in sight of the village, we reached a large creek]; which looked more dreadful than the one of yes- terday. After repeated firing of our guns, two Indians came from the village to see what was to be done ; they brought at our request a canoe from the village and took us across. We quartered ourselves with Ma- dame Montour, a French woman by birth, of a good family, but now in mode of life a complete Indian. She treated us very well according to her means, but had very little to spare this time, or perhaps dared not let it be seen on the account of so many hungrj' Indians about. She several times in secret gave me and Stoffel as much as we could eat, which had not happened to us before for ten days ; and showed great compassion for us, saying that none of the Indians where we were going had anything to eat, except the Onontagers, which my Indian fellow travellers refused to believe, until we found it true by experience. The 2od we lay still on account of rainy weather. Two Indians arriv- ed by water in a canoe made of elk skins, who said that in the high wil- derness the snow was still knee deep. I received from Madame Montour some provisions for the journey. We have now advanced one hundred and thirty miles. The 24th we proceeded on our journey from here, and in the forenoon found the snow two feet deep, but as it had been very cold during the * TheMiincy creek?— H. H. M. t From the description this fortification appears to be of the same nature to those I'oLUul in the Western States, showing that the builders of those great works also resided in Pennsylvania long previous as he remarks, it had been apparently at that early period, deserted long before. — H. H. M. t The Loyalsock creek?— H. H. M. previous night it was frozen so hard that we could walk over the sur- face without often breaking through the crust. In the afternoon we came to a thick forest where the snow was three feet deep, but not frozen so hard, which made our journey fatiguing. We were between two high and steep mountians, a small creek* flowed through the valley in an oppo- site direction to our course. The valley was not broader than the bed of the stream, and on both sides were frightful high mountains and rocks overgrown with carell or palm wood. The passage through here seemed to me altogether impossible, and I at once advised to turn back. The Indians, however, encouraged me to persevere, stating that in a little dis- tance the mountains were further apart, and that we could easily proceed. I agreed at last to go on, the Indians took the lead, and clambered with hands and feet along the side of the mountain, we followed after. I had a small hatchet in my hand with which I broke the ice to give us foot- hold. There was considerable danger of freezing our feet, as we were often obliged to cross the stream and had no space to keep our feet warm by exercise. After clambering in this way we reached a point where the valley began to widen and become more spacious. We made a fire, and waited for our Onontager Indian who was far behind, because he was still weak from the illness he had undergone. In those three hours we had not advanced over one mile. The wood was altogether of the kind called by the English, Spruce, so thick that we could not generally see the sun shine. After we had warmed ourselves and taken some food, we proceed- ed onward, and in the evening made our camp under the Spruce trees. We broke branches to cover the snow whore we lay down, and this con- stituted our beds. We made a large fire on the top of the snow which was three feet deep; in the morning the fire had burned down to the ground, and was as if in a deep hole. We slept soundly after our hard day's journey, but were all stifi" in the morning from the cold, which dur- ing the night had been excessive. We prepared breakfast, which con- sisted of a little Indian corn and beans boiled in water. The 25th, after breakfast, we proceeded on our journey, the snow was no deeper, and before noon we reached a stream which is a branch of the Otzmachsonf river, which we had left yesterday. The stream we are now on, the Indians call Dia-daclda^ (the lost or bewildered,) which in fact deserves such a name. Wo proceeded along this stream between two terrible mountains; the valley was however now about a half mile in width, and the stream flawed now against this and then again against the other mountain, among the rocks. Here we held a long council as to the best mode of procedure, whether to remain in the valley and con- sequently be obliged to cross the stream repeatedly, or to endeavor to proceed along the sides of the mountains as we had done yesterday. As it was very cold to wade the creek often, we determined to try the mountain's side. As we were clambering along the mountains, before we had proceeded a quarter of a mile Shikelimo had an uulucky fall * Quere, wa? it Trout run ? fThe West branch of Susquehanna. The orthography of these Indian names I find to vary in different portions of this journal, as if the writer were governed by the ear alone. |The Lycoming creek. 10 •which nearly cost him his life. He had caught hold of a flat stone, sticking in the root of a fallen tree, which came loose, and his feet slip- ping from under him, he fell at a place which was steeper than the roof of a house. He could not catch hold of anything, but continued slipping on the snow and ice for about three rods, when his pack, whigh he car- ried in Indian fashion with a strap round his breast, passed on one side of a sapling and he on the other, so that he remained hanging by the strap, until we could give him assistance. If he had slipped a half a rod further, he would have fallen over a precipice about 100 feet high upon other craggy rocks. I was two steps from him when he fell. We were all of us tull of terror, but were obliged to proceed until we reached a place where we could descend into the valley, which did not take place for a quarter of an hour. When we reached the valley Shikelimo look- ed round at the height of the steep precipice on which he had fallen. We looked at him; he stood still in astonishment and said, I thank the great Lord and Creator of the world that he had inercy on me, and wished me to continue to live lonfjer. We soon came to the before mentioned water which had a strong -cur- rent, we therefore cut a pole 12 or 15 feet long, of which we all took hold, and .«o waded together, in case that if any one should lose his foot- ing, he could hold on to the pole. The water reached to the waist, but we crosed safely. We had to suifer from excessive cold, because the hard frozen snow was still 18 inches deep in the valley and prevented us from walking rapidly, neither could we warm ourselves by walking, because we had to cross the stream six or seven times. The wood was so thick, that for a mile at a time we could not find a place of the size of a hand, where the sunshine could penetrate, even in the clearest day. This night we prepared a place to sleep in the same manner as last night. During the night it began to storm, and the wind blew terribly, which seemed to me strange. The Indians say that in this whole valley, which is about sixty miles long, it storms in this manner, or snows, every night. It is such a desolate region that I often thought I must perish in this frightful wilderness. The 26th, we passed the whole day in travelling along the stream; the mountains continue high, and we were obliged to wade over the creek many times, but it began to diminish in size, so that we could cross it several times on fallen timber. To day Tavagerat fell with such vio- lence from one lug ou anotiicr, that he fainted and lay in that state for a considerable time. We became very mucli fatigued to day, from so often wading the creek in such cold weather ; we also became very hungry ; the provision was poor and little of that. This night we built a hut of branches, because it again became cloudy ; it stormed again terribly and snowed at times as if it wished to bury us, but it never lasted long, and in the morning there was little snow on the ground. The Indians believe that an OtJton, (an evil spirit) has power in this valley, that some of them could call him by name and brought him sac- rifices, by which he could be appeased. I asked if any of our party could 11 do this, or knew his name. They answered no, that but few could do this, and they were magicians. The 27th, we followed up tli^ valley and creek; the hills became lower as we continued to ascend, because we had been following up this water from the time we left Madame Montour's. At noon we reached the summit of the mountain. Before we had quite reached the summit, we saw two sculls fixed on poles, the heads of men who had been killed there a long time before, by their prisoners, who had been taken in South Car- olina. The prisoners, who were two resolute men, had found themselves at night untied, which, without doubt, had been done by the Otkon, and having killed their captors and taken possession of their arms, had re- turned home. One of the wonders* of nature is to be seen here. The creek already mentioned, is flowing as if on a summit or height of land ; runs with a rapid current towards or against a linden tree, where it divides into two streams, the one stream becomes the water"}" up which we have been tra- velling for three days, and flowing to the South empties not far from the Indian villiage Ohtuaya, into the Quuiachson'^ river. The other stream§ flows to the North and empties into the SusqtieJiauna river, two hundred miles above Shomoken. Both streams finally again unite their waters at Shomoken, where the Otqiiuiachsoii river empties into the Sus- quehanna. The stream flowing to the north, is called the Dawantaa, (the fretful or tedious.) We travelled down this stream, and towards evening reached a place where the snow had entirely disappeared, in a grove of white oak trees. The south wind blew very warm, and the weather was pleasant; it seem- ed as if we had escaped from hell ; we lay on the dry ground. I cook- ed for supper as much as I thought would give us plenty to eat, as we hoped soon to reach the Susquehanna river where our Onontager had persuaded us that we would fiud provisions in plenty. The 28th we eat our last meal for breakfast, as we believed that by evening at farthest we would reach the river, and started immediately after. The warm South wind was still blowing, and the sun shining. We left the Dawantaa to the right hand, and about ten o'clock reached a water called Oscohu,\\ (the fierce.) Tliis is a rapid impetuous stream, because it flows among the mountains, and because the wind has melted the snow in the high forests. We first cut down a long pine tree, but it did not reach the other shore, and was carried away by the current. The Indians advised that we should wnde through, holding to a long pole, but I would not agree to that because the water was too deep. We knew not what to do ; while we were cutting down the tree the water had risen a foot. As we could not agree upon what was to be done, and were irrita- ♦The beaver dam at the head waters of the Lycoming and Towanda Creeks, at the point where the lines of Bradford, Tioga, and Lycoming Counties meet. H. H. M. fThe Lycoming Creek. H. H. M. j The West Brach of the Susquehanna. H. H. M. § The Towanda Creek. H. H. M. II This was Sugar creek, as he speaks afterwards of the Indians at the mouth of this creek feeding on the juice of sugar trees. — H. H. M. 12 ble from hunger, the Indians began to abuse Stoffel^ who they said was to blaaie. that I had not fullowed their advice. When I took his part they treated me the same way, called uie a coward who loved his life, but must die of hunger on this spot. I said it is true, we Europeans love our lives, but also those of our fellow creatures; the Indians on the contrary loved their lives also, but often murdered one another, which the Europeans did not do, and therefore the Indians were cruel creatures, whose advice could not be followed in circumstances like the present. They then wished to make a raft and thus cross to the other shore, which it was impossible to do at this place on the account of the rapidity of the current, and the rocks in the bed of the stream. I said to them that I had so fiir followed their advice, but I now required them to follow mine, and to follow the stream downwards until we reached a quiet place, even if we had to go to the Susquehanna river, because on level land the water was not so rapid as among the hills and mountains. Shikelimo answered that I did not know how far it was to the Susquehanna river; they knew it better than I did ; it was an impossibility. This he said to frighten me, but I knew it could not be more than a short day's journey by following the course we were travelling, because I examined the compass several times every day; I could also tell it by the mountains on the right hand side of the stream as we descended, which appeared to become lost, whereas up the stream they appeared much higher, from which a sound judgment would infer, that a man had not far to go to find the current lessen or cease. Shikelimo retorted that he was the guide, as being a person who had trav- elled the route often, while I had never done so; he would cross there ; if I refused I must bear the blame if I lost my life by hunger or any other accident. He would also complain to the Governor, Thomas Penn and James Logan, of my folly, and excuse himself. The others spoke much to the same purpose, particularly Tairayarat. who was returning from the wars, who said openly, that he was too proud to obey a European. I answered them all, and in particular Shikelimo; it is true, he was ap- pointed by the Governor to be my guide, but not my commander, and since he would not guide me on the path I wished to go, namely, down the creek, and wished to be my master, I set him free from his duty; he might go where he pleased. I intended to be my own guide, and posi- tively to take my own course with my fellow traveller Stoffel, but I would still advise him to obey me this time, whicli I did as a friendly request at parting. T then took my pack and moved off, the Onontager followed me immediately, Shikelimo did not hesitate long after he saw that I was in earnest, and soon followed. Tawagaret remained behind, because, as he said, he w;is too proud and obstinate to follow me. We had gone more than a mile down stream, when I observed that nature had provided every- thing requisite for a safe crossing, the current had ceased entirely, and there was much dry pine timber, which is the lightest wood that can be found for such purposes. Here I threw down my pack and ordered my companions to do the same. On their inquiring the reason, I said we would cross here. When Shikelimo observed the fine opportunity, he was glad, fired off his gun, and shouted to make our companion who remained behind hear. We went to work, and in an hour and a half we had a raft 13 of the dry pine timber mentioned, ready, and passed over safely. Stoffel and the Onontager crossed again to fetch two hatchets which we had for- gotten, and all was done without any danger. We turned again up stream until we struck our path. My Indian companions thanked me for my good council, and for resisting their wishes so boldly. We travelled rapidly for the purpose of reaching the Susquehanna river this evening, where some Indians resided, and when we came in sight of it we sat down to rest, yet we were in trouble for our obstinate Tawayarat who had re- mained behind. After we had been sitting there for half an hour, we heard a shout, and soon appeared Tawagarat at full speed but very wet. On his questioning us as to how we had crossed, the Onontager related the mode, at which he was surprised, and stated that he had tied several pieces of wood together and pushed off iato the water, but was so hurried away by the current (in spite of his efforts with a pole) that he reached a small island which was just above the place we crossed at, where the raft separated, and he was obliged to wade the remaining distance with the water up to his arm-pits. I reproved him for his pride and obstinacy ; he acknowledged that he had acted foolishly, that he had heard our firing, but was already engaged in making his raft. We proceeded on our jour- ney, well pleased that we were all together again, and the same evening reached some Indians living on the Susquehanna river, where we, how- ever, found nothing but hungry people, who sustained life with the juice of the sugar trees. We, however, procured a little weak soup made of corn meal. I had a quantity of Indian trinkets with me, but could pro- cure no meal. My only comfort this evening was, that whoever labors or is tired will find sleep sweet. The 29th we proceeded on our journey at an early hour, but without breaksfast ; reached a dangerous place where the path on the bottom land was overflowed by the river which was very high, and we had to cross a very high mountain which was not much better than the one where Shikelimo had met with his fall. We passed safely, and toward evening we were also safely ferried in a canoe over the great branch of the Sus- quehanna river. All the streams are very high, for the streams had been uncommonly deep this winter. This water is called * Bin-agon, and comes from the region of the Slnlrhcr\ and Gaiaclzcrs.\ There are many Indians living here, partly Gaiuckers, partly Maliikanders.% We went into several huts to get meat, bat they had nothing, as they said, for themselves. The men were mostly absent hunting; some of the old mothers asked us for bread. We returned to our quarters with a Mahikander, who directed his old grey headed mother to cook a soup of Indian corn. She hung a large kettle oFit over the fire, and also a smaller one with potash, and made them both boil briskly. Wliat she was to do with the potash was a mystery to me, for I soon saw that it was not for the purpose of washing, as some of the Indians are in the practice of doing, by making a lye, and washing their foul and dirty clothes. For the skin of her body was not unlike the bark of a tree, from the dirt which had not been washed off for a long time, and was quite dried in •The Tio^a river. — H. H. M. fSenecas. — H. H. M. iCayugas.— H. H. M. §Mohegans.— H. H. M. Vol. 1.— Xo. 1. 2 14 and cracked, and her finger nails were like eagles' claws. She finally took the ash kettle off the fire and put it aside until it had settled, and left a clear liquor on top, which she carefully poured into the kettle of corn. I enquired of iny companions why this was done, and they told me it was the practice of these and the Shaicanos, when they had neither meat nor grease, to mix their food with lye prepared in this man- ner, which made it slippery and pleasant to eat. When the soup was thus prepared,* the larger portion was given to us, and out of hunger I quietly eat a portion, which was not of a bad taste. The dirty cook and the unclean vessel were more repulsive. After I had eaten a little and quieted the worst cravings of hunger, I took some of my goods and quietly left the hut without being noticed by my companions, and went into another hut, gave the old grey headed mother 24 needles and six shoe strings, and begged her to give me some bread made of Indian corn, if it were only as much as I could eat at one meal. She immediately gave me five small loaves of about a pound weight, of which I and Stoffel eat two the same evening. The Indians eat so much of the soup that they became sick. We had intended to have had a day of rest here, if we could have procured meat, but had to be content to proceed on our journey. The 30th we proceeded on our journey without any Ihing to eat except the remaining loaves, which were divided among us five. We passed a dangerous creek by wading in the shallow water, and passing the stream on a half fallen tree which hung across the water. The current was frightful. An Indian from the last village, who was to help us over the water, and show us the path, fell into the water so that we saw neither hide or hair, but soon rose and saved himself by swimming to the oppo- site shore to the one we were trying to roach. Towards evening we ar- rived at the branch Owego; the Indian village was on the other side of the river about a mile off. All the bottom land between us and the village was under water, and the current was rapid. We fired our guns three tin e i, but no one would hear or show himself. If we had not seen the smoke of the huts, we would have thought the village was deserted. We be- gan to prepare a fire and wood for a camp, and having made a long day's journey with hungry stomachs, were about to retire to sleep in that con- dition, and had already lain down, when a great storm came up from the west, with thunder and lightning, and such a violent rain that it was al- most incredible. We could not find a place to lie down, but stood the whole night around the fire. Towards morning it became very cold, and ice formed in every direction; the day before having been very warm, and succeeded by the thunder storm of which it was the cause. At dawn we again commenced firing our pieces, on which a canoe with some women at last came from the villiage, to take us across the river, as we supposed. But they only came over the bottom land to the edge of the river, where they called to us that there were no men in the village, and the women could not venture to cross the raging flood ; which was of so unusual a height, that bottom land was flooded, which had not been the case for many years, and in particular as their canoe^was so small. Tawwjarat, •Quere, homony ? 15 whose home was there, called to thera to venture. When they heard that it was Tawagarat they came across in safety, and stepped on shore; one of them spoke not a word, but wrapped her face in her blanket. The others gave the canoe to the Indians to ferry us across, and after- wards to bring the women. All which was done in three times crossing backwards and forwards, but not without great and imminent danger. One party was landed here, the other there, ia dry places, but still had to pass sundry hollows and ditches in water up to the breast, for the land is very uneven. I went first in the canoe; four of us, of whom two In- dians, went back with the canoe. I had new reasons to praise the pro- tection of Grod, who had rescued us from such imminent peril; the water flew between the trees like arrows from a bow, where if we had struck one, of which there were so many, we must have perished. The Indians gladly received us into their huts, and showed us their compassion. Some of them were old acquaintances of mine from Schohary; they gave us food repeatedly, but each time only a little, so as not to injure our health. They were Gaiuckers. All the men were absent hunting, ex- cept a couple of old grey headed men, who had lodged at my house in Schohary some fifteen or sixteen years ago, and had shown me many fa- vors according to their ability. Tawagarat remained here, and lodged in the hut of his mother-in-law; the woman who had hidden her face was his wife, and did so from modesty. Such is the custom among the virtuous women of the Indian tribes. We remained here to-day to re- cruit ourselves a little, and also to procure provisions for the further pro- gress of our journey. April the 1st, we still remained here ; by my reckoning we are now 280 miles from home. April the 2nd, we started about noon on our journey and reached the water called Oiioto, and were immediately taken across in a canoe. Several families of Onontagers live here, with one of whom, an old ac- quaintance, we took up our lodgings, and were well treated. The 3d we reached the village Osteninky, inhabited by Onontagers and Shaicanos. I was at this place in the year 1726, but find my old acquaintances of that period partly absent, partly dead. We had still five days journey according, to the report of these Indians, from here to Oaontwjo, the object of our tiresome journey, as we could not take the nearest route by reason of the numerous creeks, and must keep upon the hills. The family with whom we lodged had not a mouthful to eat. The larger part of this village had been living for more than a month on the juice of the sugar tree, which is as common here as hickory in Pennsyl- vania. We shared our small stock of provisions with sundry sick and children, who stood before us in tears while we were eating. From the time we left Madame Montour's, I generally gave to each one of us his daily portion ; if I gave of my own portion a part to these poor creatures, I met with no sour looks, but if I took from the capital stock to give to them, my companions showed great disatisfaction. But this did not hinder a thief from stealing, while we were asleep, the remainder of our stock of bread, which was but small. This was the first misfortune that happened to us ; the second was, that we hoard the snow was still kqee deep in the direction we were to travel, and that it was impossible to 16 proceed ; the third was, that the rainy weather in which we had arrived was turned to snow, of which eighteen inches fell in one night; the worst was that we had nothing to eat, and our bodily strength began to fail from many trials both of hunger and cold. Here we were obliged to remain and to pass the time in distress. I could, to be sure, purchase with needles and Indian shoe strings sugar made from the juice of the tree already mentioned, on which we sustained life, but it did not agree with us; we became quite ill from much drinking to quench the thirst caused by the sweetness of the sugar. My companion StoflPel became impatient and out of spirits, and wished himself dead. He desired me to procure a canoe in which to float down the streams until we reached Pennsyl- vania, which might have been done in six or eight days, but not without provisions and not without considerable danger, as the Susquehanna was very high and rapid, and we did not know the channel in such a swollen state of the water. But I was now determined on no account to return home without ac- complishing the object of my mission, in particular as I knew the danger of the river. Two weeks before I would gladly have turned back, as I foresaw all the difficulties we must undergo and conquer, but no one would then turn back, or see the difficulties I feared. Stoflfel wished he had followed my advice at that time. I was now, however, so resigned to misery, that I could have submitted to the greatest bodily hardships with- out resistance, since I had been relieved from the tortures of the mind by the wonderful hand of God. I had at a previous period of my life wished that I had never heard of a God, either from my parents or other people, for the idea I had of him had led me away from him. I thought the atheists more happy than those who cared much about God. Oh, how far man is removed from God, yes inexpressibly far, although God is near, and cannot impart the least thing to corrupt man until he has given himself up without conditions, and in such a manner as cannot be explained or described, but may be experienced in great anguish of body and mind. How great is the mercy of the Lord and how frequent ; his power, his goodness, and his truth are every where evident. In short our God created the heavens; the gods of the heuthen are idols. But to return to our affairs. I called the Indians together, represented to them the importance of my errand, stated what I was commanded to do by both the governments of Virginia and Pennsylvania, and required of them as faithful allies of the English, and particular friends of the government of Pennsylvania, to furnish me with provisions for my party so that I could reach Onoutago, the end of my journey. Because the business related especially to the allied Six Nations, for whose sake their brother Thomas Penn had taken such an interest in the affair, and had sent me such a journey at an inclement time of year, for the purpose of preventing fui'ther bloodshed unnecessarily and out of mere revenge, and that they might possess their lands and raise their provisions in peace. In the next place I required them to send out two messengers on snow shoes as soon as possible, in advance, who should make known my ap- proach, so that the councilmen of all Six Nations could be called together, which would require three weeks. There was an old war chief from 17 Onontago present, by whose interference both points were agreed to, only no one knew where to procure provisions for us, or for the two Indian messengers. By general consent a hut was broken into, whose occupants were far absent on a hunt, and so much corn was taken asi was judged sufficient to enable us to reach Onontago. The two runners leceived a i-hare, and the balance, about one third of a bushel, was given to us,which we thankfully received. I had it pounded at the house we occupied, which was not done without loss. Hunger is a great tyrant, he does not spare the best of friends, much less striDgers. KaJopinij, a Frenchman, who had been taken captive when a boy, but now an Indian in appear- ance, if not worse, together with another young Indian, were sent off to notify my arrival to the council at Onontago. The last fall of snow was rapidly disappearing as the weather had again become warm. The 6th April the runners started. In the meanwhile an Indian had the kindness to invite me privately to supper. I took Stoffel with me ; he gave us to eat by night on two occasions. A third time, another old acquaintance presented me with four small loaves one evening, which I immediately divided among my companions and the surrounding hungry children. These Indians often came to my lodgings, or invited me to their huts for the purpose of talking, (they are very inquisitive,) and thus we passed the hungry hours away, in relating old or new events or traditions and smoking tobacco, which they have in plenty. Among other things I asked them how it happened that they were so short of provisions now, while twelve years ago they had a greater supply than all the other Indians; and now their children looked like dead persons and suffered much from hunger. They answered that now game was scarce, and that hunting had strangely failed since last winter; some of them had procured nothing at all. That the Lord and Creator of the world was resolved to destroy the Indians. One of thoir seers, whom they named, had seen a vision of God, who had said to him the following words : You inquire after the cause lohi/ (jariie has become scarce. I will tell you. You kill it for the sake of the skins, ichich yo%i give for strowj liquor and drown your senses, and kill one another, and carry on a dreadftd debauchery. Therefore have I driven the xvild animals out of the country, for they are mine. If you will do good and cease from your sins, I will bring them back; if not, I will destroy you from off the carth."^ I inquired if they believed what the seer had seen and heard. They answered, yes, some believed it would happen so, others also believed it, but gave themselves no concern about it. Time will show, said they, what is to happen to us; rum will kill us and leave the land clear for the Europeans without strife or purchase. The Indians living here are on an arm of the Susquehanna which comes out of high mountains, and is a rapid stream. I saw the children here walking up and down the banks of the stream along the low land, where the high water had washed the wild potatoes or ground acorns out of the ground. These grow here on a long stem or root about the size * This remarkable language Weiser has put into his journal in large letters, by way of calling attention to it. — H. H. 31. 18 of a thick straw, and there are frequently from five to ten hanging to such a root, which is often more than six feet long. The richer the soil, the longer they grow, and the greater the quantity in the ground. The largest are of the size of a pigeon's egg, or larger, and look much in size and shape like black acorns. I thought of the words of Job, chapter xxxi. 3 — 8, while these barbarians were satisfying their hunger with these roots, and rejoicing greatly when they found them in large numbers and dug them up. On the 7th we agreed to leave this place at once, and again to pass through a great wilderness to reach the end of our journey. We started at 8 o'clock in the morning from this miserable place, where more mur- ders occur than in any other nation. It is called by the Indians in par- ticular a den of murderers, where every year so many are swallowed up. About noon we met our messengers returning, who said it was impossible to proceed on account of the deep snow in the mountains, which was more than knee deep. We debated long, and it was decided by a majority of voices to postpone the journey until better weather and roads. The before mentioned old war chief had accompanied us, because he was a leading man in the war council at Onontago, and wished to accompany me for the purposee of advancing my business to a favorable termina- tion. He was a grey headed man of seventy years, as he showed by cir- cumstantial proofs. He advised me confidently to proceed on the journey, and promised to guide us by such a route, that if we used our best efforts, we would by to-morrow evening reach a country where the snow had disappeared by reason of the open forests. After two days of fatigue and trouble, said he, you will be better off than by turning back with your business undone, after having already undergone so many hard- ships from cold, snow, high water, and hunger. I was pleased with his well meant advice, (for he often called me his son and child,) and bade him lead on ; for he was much interested in the object of my mission. We proceeded on our journey; rainy weather set in, and before night we were in snow up to the knees. We made a hut this evening of the bark of the linden trees which we pealed off. It rained the whole night with a warm south wind which converted the snow into slush. The 8th we travelled from early in the morning until evening with great rapidity, in constant rain, through a dreadful thick wilderness, such as I had never before seen. We frequently fell into holes and ditches, where we required the assistance of the others to extricate ourselves. We all lost courage. This was the hardest and most fatiguing day's journey I had ever made; my bodily strength was so exhausted that I trembled and shook so much all over, I thought I must fall from weariness and perish. I stepped aside, and sat down under a tree to die, which I hoped would be hastened by the cold approaching night. When my companions remark- ed my absence, they waited for me some time, then returned to seek me, and found me sitting under a tree. But I would not be persuaded to proceed, for I thought it beyond my power. The entreaties of the old chief and the sensible reasoning of Shikelimo (who said that evil days were better for us than good, for the first often warned us against sins and washed them out, while the latter often enticed us to sin) caused me 19 alter my resolution, and I arose. But I could not keep up with the old man who was the leader and a good walker. He often waited for the whole party. We slept on the snow again that night 3 it rained the whole night, but not violently. The 9 th, we prepared breakfast before day, and set out early in cloudy weather. Before noon we got out of the thick forests into scattered groves where the snow had disappeared, as the old man had assured us. We seemed to have escaped out of all our troubles in this delightful re- gion, especially as the sun broke through the clouds and cheered us with his warm rays. If the snow and the forests had remained the same as yesterday, we must all have perished before reaching Onontago. But hun- ger was still pinching us ; to eat a little corn meal soup was of no benefit, for it was only meal and water ; the wheat bread and good meal had not only left the stomach, but the limbs also. We were now on high moun- tains, and to-day we passed the first waters flowing into the great lake Onontarioj or the Saiat Lawrence, out of which the famous river Saint Lawrence flows, which passes through New France or Canada. From all appearances this is the most elevated region in North America; wc passed several small runs on the left hand, which join the lake just mentioned. To the right were others which joined the Susquehanna; a day's journey from here, there are waters emptying into the Hudson to the east, and to the west at some distance are the waters joining the Meshasippia. We reached several small lakes and ponds, at one of which the Indians said an evil spirit in the shape of a great snake resided, who was frequently visible. The Indians refused to drink here. The 10th we left our camp quite early, as we hoped to reach the end of our journey this day. About noon we passed the hill on which, by Indian tradition, corn, pumpkins and tobacco first grew, and were disco- vered through an extraordinary vision. As we felt sure of reaching Onon- tago, we cooked the balance of our meal in a great hurry, and hastened onward. It began to rain hard. To-day we made forty miles, the timber was principally sugar trees. This evening we reached the first village of Onontago to our great delight. Not a soul remained in the houses, all came running out to see us ; they had been made acquainted with our coming by the old chief a quarter of an hour previously, who had prece- ded us for that purpose. They came in crowds to the house we occupied. I found here several acquaintances, but they were surprised at my misera- ble aspect ; one said it is he ; another said no, it is another person alto- gether. It is not the custom among these people, for a stranger who has come from a distance to speak until he is questioned, which is never done until he has had food set before him, and his clothes dried, in which things they did not allow us to want. Honor and praise, glory and power be given to the Almighty God who rescued us from so many and various evils and dangers, and saved us from death and destruction, from doubt and despair, and other hazards. When on enquiry by the assembled males, I answered that I was sent to them by their brethren, Onas (Thomas Penn) and James Logan, with an extraordinary commission ; a messenger was immediately sent to the chief village, about four miles off", to make known my approach, and to 20 ascertain the wishes of the council, whether I should remain here, or was to go forward. At midnight the messenger returned, with advice that a house was prepared for me at the main village, where my arrival was anxiously awaited. The 11th of April we were accompanied at an early hour to the vil- lage, and to the house which had been prepared for us ; it was that of a man named Anuioar-ogon, a relative of one of the chiefs, who received us kindly. After we had been left to ourselves, and had eaten some- thing, the head man or chief came in, gave me a string of wampum ac- cording to the law and custom of their country, said I was very welcome on account of the message I was commissioned by brethren Onas and James Logan to deliver to their council. That I could deliver it as soon I wished. I thanked them for their good will, and delivered a string of wampum in token of the greeting from their brethren Onas and James Logan, with a request that the whole council of the Six Nations might be called together as scon as possible, for the objects of the embas- sy I was sent on related to the whole of them, and were of great impor- tance. They answered that of each nation, there were some chiefs present except of the CauJncA-os, which need be no obstacle. Those present were fully empowered to transact affairs of importance. The following day was therefore appointed to give me an audience. The 12th April they assembled at my lodgings to the number of about forty men, who all entered with great gravity and pride. When they were all collected to hear me, their President said to mc that they were ready to hear me. I arose and delivered my message in the Ma(jua language which I spoke with the most facility, and which they all understood. After each principal subject, of which there were two, I delivered to them a belt of wampum and a string of eight Mufter long in the name of the Grovernor of Virginia, and Thomas Penn, proprietor of Pennsylvania. They resolved to give me an answer in two days to the part relating to the truce, and to the congress at Williamsburg. After all was over, a feast was prepared. The food was brought in by other chiefs and set down in the middle of the house in a variety of vessels. Each one brought his own dish and spoon, and helped himself to as much as he chose. After the feast was over, the discourse turned on the events of our journey. At a signal from the sjieaher they all went away, to allow us to retire to rest. I received in the evening al- ready an intimation of the answer, which was full and satisfactory. The 13tb, Shikelimo was very sick, and also Stoffel, which was pro- bably caused by imprudence in eating, but in two days they were again well. The 14th, the council again assembled, together with all the males who were at home, and the whole of my message was repeated by the upcaker, and I was asked if it was correctly stated in all points. On my answering yes, the speaker proceeded, and their answer was given at large, with the remark that I should comprehend it fully, so as to be en- abled to report it correctly to the Governor of Virginia and Onas. They agreed to the truce, but decided against Williamsburg, and chose Albany 21 as the place of the congress, all which can be seen in my English jour- ral more at large, with all the speeches and incidents. These Indiiins wished me to remain with them a month, until my strength should be restored ; they showed every possible kindness to me, and we had no scarcity of food. I became very sick, so that I expected to die ; for half an hour I could neither hear nor see. My host gave me medicine after I had recovered my senses and could tell him to what cause I attributed this sudden at- tack ; the medicine made a strong impression on my stomach and bowels, succeeded by a violent vomiting. After taking the medicine I was or- dered to walk briskly until it operated, which took place in about half a mile from the village, where I lay until I became insensible. Towards evening I was found by several Indians, who led me home where a bed had been provided. At midnight I was well ; other medicine was then given to me, and in the morning I arose perfectly restored, except that I felt weak. I went with my host and another old friend to see a salt spring, of which there are great numbers, so that a person cannot drink of every stream on account of the salt water. The Indians boil handsome salt for use. These Indians, who are otherwise called Onontcujtrs (people of the hills,) are the handsomest, wisest, and the bravest of the Six Nations. They live in huts made of bark, which are very convenient ; some of them are 50, 60 to a 100 feet long, generally about 12 or 13 feet wide. In this length there are generally 4 to 5 fires and as many families, who are looked upon as one. The country is hilly, but there is a small val- ley which is very fertile, and yields almost incredible crops of corn, which is plentiful about here. The Europeans from Oswego, as well as Niagara, often come here for corn. These Indians did all in their power to detain me longer, but I could not be content. I M'as tired of the Indian country and affairs. At my request they procured provisions for my return journey, and also a man to carry them and my pack. On the 18th we took leave, (with my Stoffel and Shikelimo) for the purpose of returning home, if it should please the Supreme Being. The gods of the heathen are idols, the God of Israel created the heavens; he has a strong arm, but is patient, merciful, of great kindness, and is found by those who seek him. He is God. This evening we reached the place where the Indians make bark ca- noes, on a creek passing by the village of Otsen-inky, of which we have already spoken. We peeled a chesuut tree and made a canoe. Cax- haycn, who accompanied us, understood this work very completely. The weather set in bad, so that we had to lie by under a bark shelter. Snow fell a foot deep. On the 22nd, we embarked in our newly made bark canoe, and pushed off; Caxhayen returned home. The first day we met many obstacles from fallen timber. This creek* is about the size of the Titlpcnpm- hacken. We had to unload the canoe several times to mend her. We crossed several lakes, and before night we reached a more rapid stream"]' * Quere, was it Otsetic creek? f Quere, was it Tiontoga creek? 22 wliicli flowed among the hills with such rapidity as can hardly be de- scribed. We shot several ducks which are very plenty, and missed a deer and a bear. On the 23rd we reached deeper water, a river which comes from Oftc«V/o,* joins it at this point; the water was very high and rapid. tSaristaqua of Osfcn-inki/ who was hunting, fired his gun on seeing us, and called to us. We turned to shore, which we reached in a few min- utes, but had been carried down a mile since he had fired. He joined us, and I related what had taken place in Onontago, at which he was pleased. We left him, entered our canoe again, and by night reached Otsen inky. Fired at a bear and missed. The 24th we pushed off early, in half an hour reached the Susquehan- na river, passed to-day Onoto, Owego, down to the Dia-ogon. We found that at the last village we had forgotten our Onontago salt. The 25th we embarked early, got a companion, a relative of Shikeli- mo, but who was of little use, except to help us eat. We passed the spot which we first reached after leaving the desolate wilderness, the mouth of Oshcalui and Dawantaa. Shot several ducks and a turkey. Passed several fine bodies of land, partly level, partly timbered. The 26th we reached Sr((hanto-wano,-\ where a number of Indians live, Shawanos and Mahickanders. Found there two traders from New York, and three men from the Maqun country who were hunting land; their names are Ludwig Rasselman, Martin Dillonbach, and Pit de Ni- ger. Here;}; there is a large body of land, the like of which is not to be found on the river. Oq the 27th we embarked; about noon we met some Pennsylvania traders, who gave us some rum. On the 28th we reached Shomoken, here Shikelimo took leave of us and went home. Stoffel accompanied him, to brirjg the things we had left in his care, as saddles and bridles, and returned this evening on horseback. In the meanwhile I had paddled down the river on this side, to enquire after my horse of the Indians who were now encamped here. When I went on shore and looked into the forest, the first object I saw was my horse, about 20 rods off, and in fact not far from the spot where I had left him, when going up. Stoffel's horse could not be found at this time. The 29th we set ofi" over the country, on the 30th we reached ToJheo, and on the 1st day of May reached home in safety. Honor and praise, power and glory, be given to Almighty God for ever and ever. [Here follows a German Hymn. — H. H. M.] •Quere, was it Chenango river? fQ^^re, the Lackawannoch river? JQuere. Wyoming valley ? 23 III. — Copy of a Journal of the proceedings of Conrad Weker, in Jiis Journey to Ohio, with a message and present frorn the Government of Pennsi/lvania, to the Indians there. Avgust tlie Will, 1748. Set out from my house,* came to James Galbraith that day, 30 miles. The 12th, came to George Croghan's,"j' 15 miles. The 13th, to Robert Duuning's, 20 miles. The 14^h, to Tuscarora\ path, 30 miles. The 15th, lay by on account of G. Croghau's men coming back sick, and some other affairs hinderins^ us. The I7th, crossed Tuscarora hill; came to the Black Log lodging place, 20 miles. The 18th, had a great rain in the afternoon ; came to within two miles of the Standing Stone, 24 miles. The 19th we travelled but 12 miles, and were obliged to dry our things. The 20th, came to Frankstown, but saw no houses or cabins. Here we overtook one half of the goods,§ because four of George Croghan's men fell sick ; 20 miles. The 21st lay by; it rained all day. The 22nd, crossed Allegemi\\ hills ; came to the clear fields,^ 16 miles. The 28d, came to the Shawnee cabins, 34 miles. The 24th, found a dead man on the road who had killed himself by drinking too much whiskey. The place being very stony we could not dig a grave, and he snielled very strong; we laid him between two old logs, and covered him with stones and wood, and cut a great many sap- lings over him and went on our journey. Came to the 10 mile lake;** made 32 miles. The 25th, crossed Kishyminity river ; came to Ohio that day, 20 miles. The 26th, hired a canoe, paid 1000 black wampum for the loan of it to Loystown ; our horses being all tired we went by water, and came that niglit to a Delaware town ; the Indians used us very kindly. The 27th, set off again in the morning early by rainy weather. Dined * Near Womelsdorf in Berks county. — H. H M. t In P.^niisboro, Cumbpiland County. Croshan was an Indian trader, who was to guide Weiser, and forward tne goods. — H. H. M. X The Tu*carora path seems to have led from the upper end of the Cumberland valley, piobably from near Shippensburg to the Standing Stone, now the town of Huntii.gdon.— H. H. M. § Accordiu;; to Gordon's History of Pennsylvania, page 257, goods to the value of one thousand pounds were sent as a present, and the instructions to Weiser are also t:iven.— H. H. M. II At Blair's gap, where the Indian path crossed the Allegheny mountain. — H. H. M. ir Qiiere, the head waters of Clearfield creek, one of the head waters of the West Branch of the Susquehanna ?— H. H. M. •* Quere, Ten Mile Lick ?— H. H. M. 24 in a Sinicker town, where an old Sinicker* woman reigns with great au- thority; in her house we dined, and they used us all very well. At this and the last mentioned Delaware town they received us by firing off a great many guns, especially at this last place. We had saluted the town by firing off four pair of pistols. Arrived that evening in Loystown,f we saluted the town as before, and the Indians fired above one hundredd guns, and great rejoicing appeared in their countenances. From the place where we took water, that is from the old Shawano's town, commonly called Chartierstown, to this place, it is above 60 miles by water, but about 35 or 40 by land. The Indian council met this evening to shake hands with me, and to show their satisfaction at my safe arrival. I desired of them to send a couple of canoes to fetch down the goods from Chartier's old town, where we had been obliged to leave them because of our horses being all scalled on their backs, and tired. Gave them a string of wampum to enforce my request. The 28th lay still. The 29th, the Indians set off in three canoes to fetch the goods. I expected the goods would, by the time they could land at Chartier's old town, all have come from Frankstown, as we met about twenty horses of Gr. Croghan's at the Shawano cabins, in order to fetch them. This day news came to the town, that the Six Nations were on the point of declaring war against the French, for the reason some of the French had imprisoned some of the Six Nations' chiefs who came to them as deputies. A council was held and all the Indians acquainted with the news, and it was said the Six Nations' message was by the way to give all the Indians notice to make ready to fight the French. That day my companions went to Caskasky, a large Indian town, about thirty miles off. The 30th I went to Beaver creek, an Indian town about eight miles off, chiefly Delawares, the rest Mohocks, to have some belts of wam- pum made. This afternoon rainy weather set in which lasted about a week. Andrew Montour came back from Caskasky with a message from the Indians there, to desire me the ensuing council might be held at their town. We both lodged at this town at George Crogan's trading house. The 31st, sent Andrew back to Caslcasl-ij with a string of wampum, to let the Indians there know that it was an act of their own that the en- suing council must be held at Loystown ; they had ordered it so last spring when George Crnghan was up, and at the last treaty in Lancaster the Shawanos and Tw'chtweesX were told so, and they stayed according- ly for that purpose. Both would be offended if the council was to be held at Caskasky. Besides this, my instructions bind me to Loystown, and I could not go further without giving offence. September the 1st. The Indians at Loystown having heard of the message from Caskasky, called a council, and sent for me to know what I * Queen Aliquippa. — H. H. M. t Loystown was about 12 or 14 miles below Pittsburg, on tiie right bank of the river — H. H. M. t The Miami nation, I believe.— H. H.M. 25 was resolved to do, and told me the Indians at Caskasky were no more chiefs than themselves ; and last spring they had nothing to eat, and ex- pecting they would have nothing at my arrival ordered the council should be held here; now their corn is ripe they think to remove the council, but they ought to stand by their word ; we have kept the Tweechwees here and our brethren the Shawanos from below on that account. I told them of the message I had sent by Andrew and they were content. The 2d the rain continued ; the Indians brought us a good deal of venison. The 3d. Set up the Union flag on a long pole; treated all the com- pany with a dram of rum. The king's health was drunk by Indians and white men. Towards night a great many Indians arrived to attend the council. There was great firing on both sides. The strangers first saluted the town at 'about a quarter of a mile distance, and at their entry the town people fired furiously, also the English traders, there were about twenty of them. At night I was taken sick with the colic ; got bled. The 4th was obliged to keep my bed all day, and was very weak. The 5th I found myself better. Scaylmhadi/ came to see me; had some discourse with him about the ensuing council. The 6th, one canoe with goods arrived, the rest did not come to the river. The Indians that brought the goods found our casks of whiskey hid by some of the traders; they had drunk two and brought two to the town. The Indians all got drunk to night, and some of the traders along with them. The weather cleared up. The 7th being informed the Wantats had a mind to go back again to the French, and had endeavored to take the Delawares along with them to recommend them to the French, I sent Andrew to Beaver Creek with a string of wampum to inform himself of the truth of the matter. They sent a string in answer to let me know they had no correspondence that way with the Wantats, and the aforesaid report was false. The 8th had a council with the chiefs of the Wantats, inquired their number, and what made them come away from the French, what corres- pondence they had with the Sis Nations, and whether or no they ever had any correspondence with the Grovernor of New York. They in- formed me that their coming away from the French was owing to the hard usage they received from them; they would always get their young people to go to war against their (the French) enemies, and would use them as their own people, that is, like slaves, and their goods were so dear, they (the Indians) could not buy them. That there were one hundred fighting men came over the lakes to the English; seventy were left behind at another town a good distance off. They hoped they would follow them. That they had a very good correspondence with the Six Nations these many years, and are one people with them ; that they could wish the Six Nations would act more briskly against the French. That above fifty years ago they made a treaty of friendship with the Grovernor of New York at Albany. They showed a large belt of wam- pum they received then by the said Governor as from the King of Grreat Britain. The belt was 25 grains wi'de and 265 long, very curiously wrought ; there were seven images of men holding one another by the Vol. I.— No. 1. 3 26 hand; the first signifying the Governor of New York, (or rather as they said the King of Great Britain,) the second the Mohacks, the third the Oneiders, the fourth the Cayuckers, the fifth the Onontagers, the sixth the Sinickers, the seventh the Wantats, and two rows of black wampum under their feet through the whole length of the belt, to signify the road from Albany through the five nations to the Wantats. That six years ago they had sent deputies to Albany with the same belt to renew the friendship. I treated them with a quart of whiskey and a roll of tobacco. They signified their good wishes to King George and all his people, and were mightily pleased that I looked upon them as brethren of the English. This day I desired the deputies of all the nations of Indians on the waters of the Ohio to give me a list of all their fighting men, which they promised to do, A great many of the Indians went away to-day because the rest of the goods did not come, and the people in this town could not find provision enough, the number was too great. The following is the number of every nation's fighting men, given to me by their several deputies in council in so many little sticks tied up in a bundle. The Sinickers, " Shawanos, " Wantats, '' Zisagechroanu, . " IMohacks, (among whom are 27 French Mohacks,) " Mahickans, " Onontagers " Cayuckers, " Oneiders, '' Dela wares, Total, 789 The 9th, I had a council with the Sinickers; gave them a large string of wampum, black and white, to let them know that I had a charge from the President and Council in Philadelphia, to make inquiry who took the people prisoners, lately taken in Carolina, one thereof being a great man, and that by what discovery I had already made, I had found it was some of the Sinickers did it. I therefore desired them to give me their rea- son for so doing; and, as they had struck their hatchet into their brethren's body, they could not expect that I could deliver my message with a good heart before they gave me satisfaction in that respect. For they must consider the English, though living in several provinces, are all one people, and doing mischief to one is doing mischief to the other. Let me have a direct and plain answer. The 10th, a great many of the Indians got drunk; one Henry Nolling had brought near thirty gallons pf whiskey to the town. This day I made a present to the old Shawano chief, Cackkawatchiky, of a stroud watchcoat, a blanket, a common matchcoat, a shirt, a pair of stockings, 163 162 100 40 Ioh< icks,) 74 15 35 . 20 15 . 165 27 and a large twist of tobacco. I told him the President and Council at Philadelphia remembered their old and true friend, and would clothe his old body once more, and wished that he might wear out these clothes, and live so much longer, as to give them an opportunity to clothe him again. There were a great many of the Shawano Indians present; among others, the Big Huming and the Bride, being two of them that went off with Peter Chartier, but protested against our traders. Cackca- watchiky returned many thanks, and some of the Six Nations did the same, and expressed their satisfaction to see that a true man was taken notice of, although he was now grown childish. The 11th, I staved, in concert with Greorge Croghan, an eight gallon cask of whiskey, belonging to the aforesaid Henry Nolling, who could not be prevailed upon to hide it in the woods, but would sell it and drink himself. I desired the Indians in council to send some of their young men to meet our people with the goods, and not come back until they heard of or saw them. I begun to be afraid they had fallen into the hands of the enemy; so did the Indians themselves. Ten warriors from Niagara came to town by water. We suspected them very much, and feared that some of their parties went to meet our people, by hearing of them com- ing down the river. The 12th, two Indians and Robert Callender, went out to meet our people with the goods ; had orders not to come back before they saw them, or to go to Frankstown where we left the goods. The same day the Indians made answer to my request concerning the prisoners taken in Carolina. Thaiiat/ieson, a Sinicker, spoke to the fol- lowing purport, out of doors, in the presence of all the deputies of the other nations. The speaker directed his discourse to the English in general, had a string of wampum in his hand, and said, Brethren, you came a great way to visit us, and many sorts of evil might have befallen you by the way, which might have been hurtful to your eyes and your inward parts ; for the woods are full of evil spirits. We give you this string of wampum to clear up your eyes and minds, and to remove all bitterness of your spirits, that you may hear us speak in good cheer. Then the speaker took the belt of wampum in his hands and said, Brethren, when we and you first saw one another at your first arrival at Albany, we shook hands together, and we became brethren, and we tied your ship to the bushes, and after having had more acquaintance with you we loved you more and more, and perceiving a bush would not hold your ship, we then tied it to a big tree, and ever since good friendship continued between us. Afterwards, you, our Brethren, told us a tree may happen to fall down and the rope rot wherewith the ship was tied; you then proposed to make a silver chain, and tie your ship to the great mountain in the Five Nation's country, and that chain was called the chain of friendship. We were all tied by our arms together with it, and we, the Indians of the Five Nations, heartily agreed to it, and ever since a very good correspondence has been kept between us ; but we are very sorry that, at your coming here, we are obliged to talk of the acci- dent that lately befell you in Carolina, where some of our warriors, by 28 the instigation of the Evil Spirit, struck their hatchet into our own body, for our brethren, the English, and wo, are of one body, and what was done we utterly abhor as a thing done by the Evil Spirit himself. We never expected any of our people would do so to our brethren, we there- fore remove our hatchet, which by the Evil Spirit's order was struck into your body, and we desire that our brethren, the Grovernor of New York, and Onas,* may use their utmost endeavors that the thing may be buried into the bottomless pit, that it may never be seen again ; that the chain of friendship, which is of so long standing, may be preserved bright and unhurt. (Gave the belt.) Then the speaker took up a string of wampum, mostly all black, and said. Brethren, as we have removed our hatchet out of your body, or, properly speaking, out of our own, we now desire that the air may be cleared up again, and the wound given may be healed, and every thing put in a good understanding, as it was before, and we desire you will as- sist us to make up every thing with the Governor of Carolina. The man that has been taken prisoner we now deliver up to you, he is yours. (Laid down the string and took the prisoner by the hand and delivered him into my hand.) By the way of discourse, the speaker said that the Six Nation warriors often met Englishmen trading to the Catawbas, and often found that the English betrayed them to their enemy, and some of the English traders had been spoken to by the said speaker last year in the Cherokees coun- try, and told them not to do so. That the speaker and many others of the Six Nations had been afraid a long time, that such a thing by some of their warriors at one time or another would be done. The same day had a council with the Sinickers and the Onontagers about the Wantats, to receive them into our union. I gave a large belt of wampum, and the Indians gave two, and every thing was agreed upon that should be said to the Wantats. The same evening a full council was appointed and met accordingly. A speech was made to the Wantats as follows, by AsscrharJm, a Siuicker. Brethren, the Jonontaty Hages, last spring you sent this belt of wampum to us (having the belt then in his hands,) to desire us and our brethren, the Shawanos, and our cousins the Delawares, to come and meet you in your retreat from the French, and we accordingly came to your assistance and brought you here, and we received you as our own flesh. We desire you will think you are now joined to us and our brethren, the English, and you are become one people with us ; then he laid that belt by, and gave them a very large string of wampum. The speaker took up the belt and said. Brethren, the English our brethren, bid you welcome, and are glad you escaped out of captivity; you have been kept as slaves by Onontio,"}" notwithstanding he called you all along his children, but now you have broke the rope wherewith you have been tied and become freemen, and we, the United Six Nations, receive you to our council fire, and make you members thereof, and we will secure your dwelling place to you against all manner of danger. (Gave the belt.) ♦Penn, or the Government of Pennsylvania, f The French. 29 Brethren we the united nations and all our Indian allies, with our breth- ren the English, look upon you as our children, though you are our brethren; we desire you will give no ear to the Evil Spirit that spreads lies and wickedness. Let your mind be easy and clean, and be of the same mind with us, whatever you may hear: nothing shall befall you but what of necessity must befall us in the same time. (Gave the belt.) Brethren, we the Six united Nations and all our Indian allies, with our bethren the English, are extremely glad to see you here, as it hap- pened just at the same time when our brother Onas is with us, we joint- ly by this belt of wampum embrace you about your middle, and desire you to be strong in your mind and heart; let nothing alter your mind but live and die with us. (Gave the belt and the council broke up.) The 14th, a full council was summoned, and every thing was repeated by me to all the Indians, that had passed in Lancaster at the last treaty with the Twichwees. The news was confirmed by a belt of wampum from the Sis Nations, that the French had imprisoned some of the Six Nations' Deputies, and thirbr of the Wan tats, including women and children. The Indians that were sent to meet our people with the goods, came back and did not see anything of them, but they had been no further than the Shawanos' old town. The 15th, I let the Indians know that I would deliver my message to morrow, and the goods I had, and they must send deputies to me on my returning homewards, and wheresoever we should meet the rest of the goods I would deliver them to them, if they are not taken by the enemy, to which they agreed. The same day the Delawares made a speech to me, and presented a bea- ver coat and a string of wampum and said. Brother, we let the President and Council of Phihidelphia know, that after the death of our chief man, OlumapieSj our grand children the Shawanoes came to our town in order to condole with us over the loss of our good King, your brother, and they wiped off our tears and comforted our minds; and as the Delawares are the same people with the Pennsylvanians, and born in one and the same country, we give some of tlie present our grand children gave us, to the President and council in Philadelphia, because the death of their good friend and brother must have effected these as well as us. (Gave the beaver coat and a string of wampum.) The same day, the Wantats sent for me and Andrew, and presented us with seven beaver skins, about ten pounds weight and said, they gave us that to buy some refreshment for us after our arrival in Pennsylvania, wished that we might get home safe, and lifted up their hands and said that they would pray God to protect us and guide us the way home. I desired to know all their names; they withal behaved in every respect like people of great sense and sincerity, for the most part were grey headed men; their names are as follows : — Totornibiadases, Taganayiosy, Sonachqua, Wanduny, Taruchiorus their speaker. The chiefs of the Delawares that made the above speech are Shawanapon and Achaman- tama. I now made answer to the Delawares and said, Brethren, tlie Dela- 3* 30 wares, it is true wliat you said, that the people of Pennsylvania are your brethren and countrymen ; we are very well pleased at what your child- dren the Shawanos did to you. This is the first time we had public no- tice given us of the death of our good friend Oluraapies. I take this op- portunity to remove the remainder of trouble from your hearts, to enable you to attend in council at the ensuing treaty, and I assure you the President and council of Pennsylvania condole with you over the loss of your king, our good friend and brother. (Gave five strouds.) The two aforesaid chiefs gave a string of wampum, and desired me to let their brethren the President and council know they intended a journey next spring to Philadelphia, to consult with their brethren over some affairs of moment. Since they are now like orphan children, they hoped their brethren would let them have their good advice and assist- ance, as the people of Pennsylvania and the Delawares were like one family. The same day the rest of the goods arrived. The men informed me that they had ten days rain, and the creeks rose, and that they had been obliged to send one sick man back from Frankstown to the inhabi|ants, with another that attended him. The neighboring Indians being sent for again, the council was appoint- ed to meet to-morrow. It rained again. The 17th it rained very hard, but in the afternoon it held up for about three hours; the Deputies of the several nations met in council, and I delivered to them what I had to say from the President and council of Philadelphia. Brethren, you that live off in Ohio, I am sent to you by the President and council of Pennsylvania, and I am now going to speak to you on their Honors' behalf. I desire you will take notice and hear what I shall say. (Gave a string of wampum.) Brethren, some of you were in Philadelphia last fall, and acquainted us that you had taken up the English hatchet, and that you had already made use of it against the French, and that the Frenchmen had very hard heads, and your country afforded nothing but grass and sticks, which were not sufficient to break them. You desired your brethren would assist you with some weapons sufficient to do it ; your brethren the President and council promised you then to send something to you next spring by Tliarachiauayon, but as some other affairs prevented his jouruey to Ohio, you received a supply by George Croghan, sent to you by your brethren. But before George Croghan came back from Ohio, news came from over the great lake that the King of Great Britain and the French King had agreed upon cessasion of arms for six months, and that a peace was very likely to follow it. Your brethren, the President and council, were then in a manner at a loss what to do; it did not become them to act contrary to the command of the King, and to war against the French, but as your brethren never missed in fulfilling their promises, they have on a second consideration thought proper to turn their intended supply into a civil and brotherly present, and have accordingly sent me with it ; and here are the goods before your eyes, which I have by your breth- ren's order divided into five shares, and laid into five different heaps, 31 one heap thereof your brother Assaryquoh* sent to you to remember his friendship and unity with you, and as you are all of the same nation with whom we English have been in league of friendship, nothing need to be said more than only this, that it is a present from your brethren the President and council and Assaryquoh, and shall serve to strengthen the chain of friendship between us, the English, and the several nations of Indians to which you belong. A French peace is a very uncertain one, they keep it no longer than their interest permits, then they break it without provocation given them. The French King's people have been almost starved in old France for want of provision, that made them wish and seek for peace ; but our wise people are of opinion that after their belly is full, they will quarrel again and raise a war. All the nations in Europe know that their friendship is mixed with poison, and many that trusted too much on their friendship, have been ruined. I now conclude and say that we the English are your true brethren at all events, in to- ken whereof, receive this present. The goods being then uncovered, I proceeded, *' Brethren, you have of late settled the river of Ohio for the sake of hunting, and our traders followed you for the sake of hunting also; you have invited them your- selves. Your brethren, the President and council, desire you will look upon them as your brethren, and see that they have justice done. Some of your young men have robbed the traders, but you will be so honest as to compel them to make satisfaction. You are now become a people of note, and grow very numerous of late years, and there are without doubt some wise men among you. It becomes you to act the part of wise peo- ple and be more regular than you have been for some years, when only a few young hunters lived here. (Gave a belt.) Brethren you have of late made frequent complaints against the traders for bringing so much rum into your towns, and you desired it might be stopped, and your brethren the President and council made an act accord- ingly, and put a stop to it, and no trader was to bring any rum or strong liquor into your towns. I have the act here with me, and shall explain it to you before I leave you, but it seems it is out of your power to stop it entirely. You send down your own skins by the traders to buy rum for you ; you go yourselves down and fetch horse loads of strong liquor. But the other day, an Indian came from this town out of Maryland with three horse loads of liquor, so that it appears that you love it so well that you cannot be without it. You know very well, too, that the country near the Endless mountain aifords strong liquor, and the minute the tra- ders buy it they are gone out of the inhabitants and are travelling to this place without being discovered. Besides this, you never agree about it ; one will have, the others won't have it, (though very few of them) a third says we will have it cheaper. This last we believe speaks out of your heart, (here they laughed.) Your brethren, therefore, have ordered thai every cask of whiskey shall be sold to you for five booksf in your towns, and if the traders offer to sell whiskey to you and will not let you have it at that price, you may take it from them and drink it for nothing, • Who is intended ? H. H. M. t Quere, Buckskins ? 32 (Gave a belt.) Brethren, here is one of the traders whom you know to be a very so- ber and honest man ; he has been robbed out of the value of 300 books, and you all know by whom. Let therefore satisfaction be made to the trader. (Gave a string of wampura.) Brethren I have no more to say." I delivered the goods to them having divided them before into five shares ; gave a share to the Sinikers, a share to Kayuckers, Onontagers, Oneiders, and Mohacks, the third share to the Delawares, the fourth to the Wantats, Zisagechroanu, and Mahickans, the fifth to the Shawnoes. The Indians signified great satisfaction and joy, and were well pleased with the cessation of arms ; the rainy weather hastened them away with the goods into some houses, and night coming on, the speech was delivered to the Delawares in their own language by Andrew Montour, in my pre- sence and some of the traders. I acquainted the Indians I was resolved to leave them to-morrow and return homewards. The 19th Scahuhad//, Tanughrhhon, and Oniadagnrehra, with a few more, came to my lodging and spoke to the following purport. Brother Onas, we desire you will hear what we are going to say to you in behalf of all the Indians on the Ohio. Their deputies have sent us to you; we have heard what you have said to us and we return you many thanks for the kindness in informing us of what passed between the king of Great Britain and the French King. In particular, we return you many thanks for the large presents ; the same we do to our brother As- sariquoh who joined our brother Onas in making us a present. Our brethren have indeed tied our hearts to theirs; we at present can but re- turn thanks with an empty hand till another opportunity serves. To do it sufficiently we must call a great council and do everything regular, in the meantime look upon us as your true brethren. Brother, you said the other day in council, if anything befell us from the French we must let you know of it; we will let you know if we hear anything from the French, be it against us or yourselves. You will have peace, but it is most certain that the Six Nations and their allies are upon the point of making war against the French. Let us keep up a true cor- respondence, and let us hear always of one another. (They gave a belt.) Scahuhady and the half king with two others had informed me that they often must send messengers to Indian towns and nations, and had nothing in their council bag (as they being beggars) either to recompense a messenger or to get wampum to do their business ; and begged I would assist them with something. I had saved a piece of strouds and a half barrel of powder, one hundred pounds of lead, ten shirts, six knives, one pound of Vermillion, and gave it to them now for the aforesaid use. They returned many thanks and were mightily pleased. The old Siiiicker Queen from above, already mentioned, came to inform me some time ago that she had sent a string of wampum of three fath- oms to Philadelphia by James Dunnings, to desire her brethren would 33 send her up a cask of powder and some small shot to enable her to seud out the Indian boys to kill turkeys and other fowls for her, whilst the men are gone to war against the French, that they may not be starved. I told her I had heard nothing of her message, but if she had told me of it be- fore I had parted with all the powder and lead, I could have let her have some, and promised I would make inquiry ; perhaps her messenger had lost it on the way to Philadelphia. I gave her a shirt, a Dutch wooden pipe and some tobacco. She seemed to have taken a little affront because I took not sufficient notice of her in coming down. I told her she acted very imprudently not to let me know by some of her friends who she was, as she knew very well I could not know by myself. She was satisfied, and went away with a deal of kind expressions. The same day I gave a stroud, a shirt and a pair of stockings to the young Shawano, King Capechque, and a pipe and some tobacco. The same day, about 12 o'clock, we set out for Pennsylvania, and tra- velled about twelve miles ; rainy weather. The 20tli, left a horse behind that we could not find. Came to the river; had a great rain ; the river not rideable. The 21st, sent for a canoe about 6 miles up the river to a Delaware town. An Indian brought one, we paid him a blanket, got over the river about 12 o'clock. Crossed Kiskaminity creek, and came that night to the round hole, about twelve miles from the river. The 22d, the weather cleared up ; we travelled this day about 35 miles, came by the place where we had buried the body of John Quen, but found the bears had pulled him out and left nothing of him but a few naked bones and some old rags. The 23rd, crossed the head of the West Branch of the Susquehanna ; about noon come to the Chcasts. This night we had a great frost, our kettle standing about four or five feet from the fire, was frozen over with ice thicker than a brass penny. The 24th, got over Allegheny hill, otherwise called mountains, to Frankstown, about 20 miles. The 25th, came to the Standing Stone; slept three miles at this side; about 31 miles. The 26th, to the forks of the wood about 30 miles ; left my man's horse behind as he was tired. The 27th it rained very fast ; travelled in the rain all day ; came about 25 miles. The 28th, rain continued ; came to a place where white people now begin to settle, and arrived at George Croghan's in Pennsbury, about an hour after dark ; came about 35 miles that day, but we left our baggage behind. The 29th and 30th, I rested myself at George Croghan's, iu the mean time oYhich possessed some merit ; liy having recourse to his papers, manu- scripts, &c., they no doubt can be procured. No history of any of our towns or townships, or of our county, has been published, or materials collected for such purpose as far as known. About the year 17152, the inhabitants undertook to build a church for the Presbyterian denomination. Tbey raised it one story, when they were driven away by the Indians. Four years elapsed before their re- turn ; they then found it damaged, and threw it down and erected one on a larger scale. It was built near the Cedarspring and denominated the " Cedarspring church." It is now in ruins. In the year 1773, at the earliest period known to the writer, a Mr. Kennedy otficiated as stated pastor; they had erected a dwelling house near the church, and in which he lived. On some misunderstanding's taking place, he did not stay long, and about the year 1777, the congregation prepared a call for a Mr. Hugh Magill, and he accepted. He continued his labors till about the year 1707 ; being worn down by age, he declined. A call was then prepared for Mr. Matthew Brown, who began his ministry in the year 1801, and continued three years and left. In 1804 a call was accepted by Rev. John Hutchison who continued to officiate 39 years ; he died the 10th day of November last. The congregation being large, for the sake of convenience a separation was made and two churches erected, one at Mifflintown and the other near Mc'AUistersville ; a charter was obtained by the style of the " Presby- terian Congregation of Cedarspring, composing the Congregations of Mifflin and Lost Creek " and so it remains. A congregation of " The as- sociate reformed " Presbyterians have existed here since about the year 1775, when William Logan became its Pastor. They erected a church, which is still in good preservation, about the year 1794, having previous nothing but a tent to assemble at. It is still a' respectable congregation 68 under the Pastoral Charge of a Mr. Shields. Not aware of any inscrip- tions either on or about any of the churches other than the orJinary raonuraeiital notices. Have no knowledge of the dockets in the offices at the seat of Justice. A professor of the law will be best able to satisfy in that case. The same answer. There were three mounds known to the writer at the early history of this country. One at the junction of the Aughwick creek and the Juni- ata river near the tuwii of Newtnn-hamilton, in Mifflin county ; one at the junction of the Kishicoquillas, at or near Lewistown in the same county; and one at the junction of the Cocolaumaus near Millcrstown, in Perry county. The tradition of the country is, that a war existed be- tween the Delawares and the Tuscaroras, that a pitched battle ensued at the former phice, at which the latter tribe was defeated, when they re- tired down the river to the mouth of the Kishicoquillas, and there made a second stand, and were again defeated. Thoy retired again to the lat- ter place, made a third stand, and were a third time defeated, which last conflict so much weakened the Tuscaroras that the nation became ex- tinct, not being afterwards able to raise any more warriors. There is not any person now living here who was contemporary with the Indians. Have not any knowledge of Indian relics in this place. The writer has read many eopjecture.'i relative to their origin. Such as their being sprung from the ancient Hebrews, on account of their proneness to offer sacrifices to their deities, in which there is much similarity, together with the structure of the language of some of the tribes. Some historians have been convinced of the fact; but sfill it is vague conjecture after all that has been said : with respect to the Indian names of rivers, mountains &c., those names have all some peculiar meaning in the Indian dialect, for instance, the Alleghany, Ohio, and Mississippi, all mean the same thing in three diff"erent dialects, and signifies iclute icatrr. There are not any soldiers of the revolution now living in this neigh- bourhood. The writer of this article recollects it distinctly. The sub- ject of the revolution is matter of history, and has been generally read; the inhabitants of this county were all ]fhi(/s^ and the writer well re- members the fearful forbodings which took possession of many of our most staunch whigs on the receipt of some unfavorable news. The first troops that marched from here were those who joined the army of General Montgomery, destined for Quebec. The writer had a first cousin on that expedition, belonging to the company of the brave Hendricks, who fell at the head of his company fighting at "The barriers ; " but the fate of those worthy men is well known in the history of our country.* The next troops that marched were two companies of volunteers, each com- pany containing 80 men besides their officers ; the one commanded by Captain Gibson, the other by Captain Purdy. They repaired to the camp in the beginning of the year 1776, and performed a tour of two months ; afterwards the troops marched agreeably to their draught, which Older was continued. The writer also well recollects the enthusi- • See the narrative of John Joseph Henry, of the expedition against Quebec. 69 astic joy manifested on tbe capture of Cornwallis, and the patriotic songs of those days are still familiar. No doubt need be entertained that the documents alluded to in the foregoing, can be had, (copies at least) if not the original. A SONG OF THE REVOLUTION ON THE EVENT OF A VICTORY. Hark ! Hark ! The joyful news that's come, Sound, sound the trumpet beat the drum, Let manly joys abound. Let Freedom's sacred ensigns wave, Supported by the virtuous brave, Our victory is crowned. From East to West from South to North The brave American sons stood forth, All terrible in arms. Their rights, their freedom to maintain. Undaunted tread the bloody plain, And smile at war's alarms. Montgomery claims our just applause ; He to assert fair freedom's cause Domestic peace forsook ; The sword he grasped and boldly on, Till ebbing lite was fairly aone, His valor never shook. Kind Providence our troops inspires With more than Greek and Roman fires, Therefore our cause prevails ; Preserved by Heaven, a virtuous few Tyrannic legions shall subdue, For Justice seldom fails. Let brimful bumpers flow around, And songs to their just praise resound, Who have their bravery shown. To Mercer and Montgomery, To Mifhin, Gates, and Green so free, And Glorious Washington. Thus I have very imperfectly sketched a few of the reminiscences of this country, agreeably to the questions proposed, hoping that it may not be altogether uninteresting, however imperfectly executed. They are some few of the results of my observation during a period of 72 years ; all which is respectfully submitted. Andrew Banks. Fermanagh township, Juniata County, Penn'a. 70 IX. — A Sermon preached on the eve of the Battle of Brandy wine (^Sep- tember 10, 1777,) hy the Rev. Joah Trout, to a large portion of the American Army. (Communicated by Mr. John H. Lick of Fredericksburg, Lebanon County.) " They that tale the sword shall iierish hy tiie sword .'^ Soldiers and Couatrymen, — We have met this evening, perhaps for the last time. We have shared the toil of march, the peril of fight, and the dismay of the retreat; alike we have endured the cold and hunger, the contumely of the internal foe and the courage of foreign oppression. We have sat, night after night, beside the camp-fire ; we have together heard the roll of tlie reveille which called us to duty, or the beat of the tattoo which gave the signal for the hardy sleep of the soldier with the earth for his bed and knapsack for his pillow. And now, soldiers and brethren, we have met in the peaceful valley on the eve of battle, while the sunlight is dying away behind yonder heights, the sunlight that, to morrow morn, will glimmer on scenes of blood. We have met amid the whitening tents of our encampment, in time of terror and gloom, have gathered together, God grant it may not be the last time. It is a solemn moment. Brethren, does not the voice of nature seem to echo the sympathies of the hour? The flag of our country droops heavily from yonder stafi"; the breeze has died away along the green plains of Chadd's Ford — the heights of the Brandywine arise gloomily beyond yonder stream — all nature pauses in solemn silence, on the eve of to-morrow. " They that take the sword shall perish by the sword." And have they not taken the sword ? Let the desolated plain, the blood-trodden valley, the burned farm- house, the sacked village and the ravaged town, answer — let the whiten- ing bones of the farmer strown along the fields of his homestead answer — let the starving mother with her babe clinging to the withered breast that can afford no sustenance — let her answer with the death-rattle ring- ing with the murmuring tones that mark the last struggle of life — let the dying mother and her babe answer. It was but a day past and our land slept in the quiet of peace. War was not here — wrong was not here. Fraud and war, misery and want dwelt not among us. From the eternal solitude of the green woods, arose the smoke of the set- tler's cabins, golden fields of corn looked forth from amid the waste of the wilderness and the glad music of human voices awoke the silence of the forest. Now, behold the change. Under the shadow of a pretext, under the sanctity of the name of Grod, invoking the Redeemer to their aid, these foreign hirelings slay our people. They throng our towns, they darken our plains, and now encompass our post on the lovely plain of Chadd's Ford. 71 ''They that take the sword shall perish by the sword." Brethren' think me not unworthy of belief when I tell you the doom of the British is near, when I tell you that beyond the cloud that now enshrouds us, I see gathering, thick and fast, the darker cloud and the blacker storm of Divine retribution. They may conquer us to-morrow; might and wrong may prevail, and we may be driven from this field — but the hour of God's own vengeance will come. Aye, if in the vast solitudes of eternal space, if in the heart of the boundless universe, there throbs the being of an awful Grod, quick to avenge and sure to punish guilt, then will George of Brunswick feel the vengeance of the eternal Jehovah. A blight will be upon his life, a blight will be upon his children and upon his people. Great God, how dread the punishment ! A crowded populace, peopling the dense towns where the man of money !hrives, while the laborer starves, want striding among the people in all its forms of terror; an ignorant and God-defy- ing priesthood chuckling over the miseries of millions, a proud and merci- less nobility adding wrong to wrong and heaping insult upon robbery and fraud; crime and want linked hand in hand and tempting men to deeds of woe and death — these are a part of the doom and retribution that come upon the English throne and the English people. Soldiers, I look around upon your familiar faces with a strange inter- est. To morrow morning we will all go forth to battle, for I need not tell you that your unworthy minister will march with you, invoking God's aid in the fight — we will march forth to battle! Need I exhort you to fight the good fight, to fight for your homesteads, for your wives and children ? I might urge you by the galling memories of British wrong ; I might paint all this again in the vivid colors of the terrible reality, if I thought your courage needed such wild excitement. But I know you are strong in the miglit of the Lord. You will march forth to battle on the morrow with light hearts and determined spirits, though the duty of avenging the dead may rest heavy on your souls. And in the hour of battle, when all around is lit by the lurid cannon- glare, and the piercing musket-flash, when the wounded strew the ground and the dead litter your path, then remember that God is with you j God the awful and infinite fights for you and will triumph. You have taken the sword, but not in the spirit of wrong and ravage. You have taken the sword for your homes, your wives, your little ones ; for truth, for justice and right, and to you the promise is. Be of good cheer, your foes have taken the sword in defiance of all that man holds dear; they shall perish by the sword. And now farewell ! Many of us may fall to-morrow : God rest the souls of the fallen ! Many of us may live to tell the story, and in the memory of all will ever linger the quiet scene of this autumnal night. Solemn twilight advances over the valley, the woods of the opposite heights fling their long shadows over the green of the meadow; around us are the tents of the Continental host, the suppressed bustle of the camp, the hurried tramp of the soldiers too and fro among the tents, the stillness and awe that mark the eve of the battle. 72 When we meet again, may the shadows of twilight be flung over a peaceful land. God in heaven grant it. Let us pray : A PRAYER. Grreat Father, we bow before thee, we invoke thy blessing, we depre- cate thy wrath, we return thee thanks for the past, we ask thy aid for the furure ; for we are in times of trouble, Lord, and sore beset by foes, merciless and unpitying. The sword gleams over our land, the dust of the sod is dampened with the blood of our neighbors and friends. God of mercy, we pray thy blessing on the American arms. Make the man of our hearts strong in thy wisdom ; bless, we beseech thee, with renewed life and strength, our hope and thy instrument, even George Washington. Shower thy counsels on the Honourable the Continental Congress. Visit the tents of our host, comfort the soldier in his wounds and afflictions ; nerve him for the fight and prepare him for the hour of death. And in the hour of defeat, O God of hosts, do thou be our stay, and in the hour of triumph be thou our guide. Teach us to be merciful. Though the memory of galling wrongs be at our hearts knocking for admittance, that they may fill us with the desire of revenge, yet let us, Lord, spare the vanquished, though they never spared us. In the hour of death do thou guide us to the abode prepared for the blest. So shall we return thanks to thee through Christ our Redeemer. God Prosper THE Cause. Amen. / 6 /S2. >^^, c