78
DE LA BARRE’s EXPEDITION TO HUNGRY BAY.
might occur; I have not forgotten this word, and in obedience to it, I request you to tlnw into thatditch the Seneca robbery, and that it may disturb neither our country nor yours.
Answer. That ditch is well cut, but as your young men have no sense, and as they may make thisa pretext for committing acts of hostility anew, after having cast the Seneca robbery into that ditch,as you desire; arrest, then, your young men, as I shall restrain mine. I cover it up forever.
4 th Word. I set up again the tree of peace, which we planted at Montreal , in the conference wehad the honor to have with you last summer.
Jlnswer. It is not I who think of throwing it down : it is your nephews who have seriously shakenit. I strengthen it.
5 th Word. I exhort you, Father, to sustain it strongly, in order that nothing may shake it.
6 th Word. I again tie up (je rattache') the Sun which was altogether obscured : I dispel all theclouds and mists that concealed it from our view.
7 th Word. The robbery committed by the Senecas on your nephews, is not a sufficient motive tomake war against them. Where has blood been shed! I promise you that satisfaction shall beafforded you for the loss the French have experienced by the pillage of their merchandize.
Jlnswer of Onontio. It is good that you promise me satisfaction: deceive me not. The first thingthat I expect of you is, that you restore me the two prisoners of Etionnontate who are with theSeneca, and a third who remains at Cayuga.
8 ‘i> Word. Onontio, my father, I feel uneasy and cannot pluck up courage, whatever kindnessesyou have the goodness to show me. What disquiets me, is to behold Soldiers, hear drums, etc. Ipray you return to Quebec , so that your children may sleep in peace.
Jlnswer. I depart to-morrow and quit this country, to show you what deference I pay to yourdemands.
9 th Word. The fires of peace and the halls of our Councils were at Frontenac or at Montreal .The former is a poor country where the Grasshoppers prevent me sleeping, and the second is faraway for our old men. I kindle the fires of peace on this spot, which is the most agreable that wecan select, where there is good fishing, hunting, &c.
Jlnswer. I accept the selection you have made of this place for our conferences, without, however,extinguishing the fire which I keep burning at Montreal .
10 th Word. Our warriors have, as well as our other chiefs, accepted the peace. I bear their wordsby this belt.
Jlnswer. You need not doubt the obedience of my soldiers; endeavour to make yourselves obeyedby your own. To prove to you that I maintain uphold the tree of peace, I sent to Niagara to causethe army to return which was coming from that direction.
11 th Word. You told us, last summer, to strike the enemy no more. We heard your voice. Weshall not go to war again in that quarter.
Jlnswer . Remember that the Maskoutenek is brother to the Oumeami. Therefore strike neitherthe one nor the other.
12 th Word. He has killed some, this spring, in divers rencounters, but as you bound my arms Iallowed myself to be beaten, without defending myself.
Jlnswer. That’s good; you need not pursue the Oumeami who struck you ; I shall send him wordnot to commit any more acts of hostility.
13 th Word. Regarding the Illinois , I am at war with him; we shall, both of us, die fighting.
Jlnswer. Take heed, in firing at the Illinois , not to strike the French whom you meet on yourpath and in the neighbourhood of Fort St. Louis.
14 th Word. Restore to us the Missionaries whom you have withdrawn from our villages.
Answer. They shall not be taken from you who are our mediators; and when the Senecas shallhave commenced to give me satisfaction,they shall be restored to them as well as to the other nations.