AND DISCOVERY OF THE SALT SPRINGS.

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3. He thanked us in the name of the Seneca Iroquois for having drawn five of their tribe out ofthe fire. Two more belts. Ejaculations from the whole assembly follow each present.

Another Captain of the Oneida Nation rises : Onnontio, said he—speaking of M. de Lauzon ourGovernor—Onnontio thou art the pillar of the Earth ; thy spirit is a spirit of peace and thy wordssoften the hearts of the most rebellious spirits. After other compliments expressed in a tone ani-mated by love and respect, he produced four large belts to thank Onnontio for having encouragedthem to fight bravely against their new enemies of the Cat Nation, and for having exhorted themnever again to war against the French . Thy voice, said he, Onnontio is wonderful, to produce inmy breast at one time two effects entirely dissimilar ; thou animatest me to war, and softenest myheart by the thoughts of peace; thou art great both in peace and war, mild to those whom thoulovest, and terrible to thine enemies. We wish thee to love us, and we will love the French for thysake.

In concluding these thanks, the Onontaga Chief took up the word. Listen Ondessonk, said he tome; five entire nations speak to thee through my mouth. My breast contains the sentiments of theIroquois Nations , and my tongue responds faithfully to my breast. Thou wilt tell Onnontio fourthings, the sum of all our councils.

1. We are willing to acknowledge Him of whom thou hast spoken, who is the master of our lives,'who is unknown to us.

2. Our council tree is this day planted at Onnontaga—meaning that that would be, henceforth, theplace of their meetings and of their negotiations for peace.

2. We conjure you to select on the banks of our great lake an advantageous site for a French settlement. Fix yourself in the heart of the country, since you ought to possess our hearts. Therewe shall go for instruction, and from that point you will be able to spread yourself abroad in everydirection. Be unto us careful as fathers and we shall be unto you submissive as children.

4. We are engaged in new wars; Onnontio encourages us. We shall entertain no other thoughttowards him than those of peace.

They reserved their richest presents for these last four words ; but I can assure you their coun-tenances told more than their tongues, and expressed joy mingled with so much mildness that myheart was full. What appeared to me most endearing in all this was that all our Huron Christians andthe captive women, lighted this fire which melts the hearts of the Iroquois . They told them so muchgood of us, and spoke so often of the great value of the Faith, that they prize it without being ac-quainted with it; and they love us in the hope that we shall be for them what we have been for theIndians. To return to the Father’s Journal:

The 11th day of August. There is nothing but feasts and rejoicings every where. A misfortuneoccurred, however, at night. A cabin catching fire, no one knew how, an impetuous wind drovethe flames to the others, and in less than two hours more than twenty were reduced to ashes, andthe remainder of the village was in danger of being burnt. God preserved all hearts however inthe joy of the preceding day, and their dispositions as calm towards me as if this misfortune hadnever happened.

The 12th. Our Christian captives wishing to confess before my departure gave me employment,or rather repose which I wished for. I baptized a little girl of four years who was dying. I re-covered from the hands of these barbarians, the New Testament of the late Father Jean de Brebouf,whom they put to a cruel death five years ago, and a small book of devotion which was used by thelate Father Charles Gamier whom they also killed four years ago.

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The 13th. Came the leave taking. Observing the custom of friends on similar occasions, havingconvoked the Council, I made them two presents to console them. And with this view I first

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