84
DE LA BARRe’s EXPEDITION TO HUNGRY BAY.
I do not believe that you will derive any advantage this year from war, if you wage it; for notonly will almost the whole of the Iroquois prosecute the war in Canada , but you will not find theSenecas in their villages, in which they give out they will not shut themselves up, but conceal them-selves in the grass and prepare ambuscades every where for you. Regarding your declaration to theIroquois that you had no ill will except against the Senecas, they convoked a general Diet here,where they will conclude to league themselves against you, if you will not accept the propositions ofpeace for which the Onontague wishes to obtain the consent of the Seneca who has already placed insecurity the old grain, and made a retreat in the woods for the children, women and old men, ofwhich you will be ignorant.
The Warriors are to prowl every where, killing without if possible being killed. If their Indiancorn be cut, it will cost much blood and men—You must also resolve to lose the harvest of theFrench grain to which the Iroquois will set fire. As for the French settlements, the Iroquois sup-pose that they are all abandoned and that the people have retired within the forts ; otherwise, theywould be a prey to the enemy. It is the opinion that if you begin the war, it will be of longduration, and that to feed those in Canada you will have to bring provisions from France . TheIroquois believes that he will destroy the Colony in case of war, for he will never fight by ruleagainst us and will not shut himself up in any fort in w r hich he might be stormed. Thus they areunder the impression that, no person daring to come into unknown forests to pursue them, they canneither be destroyed nor captured, having a vast hunting ground in their rear, towards Merilandeand Virginia, as well as places adjoining their villages, wholly unknown to the French . If winterwere not so cold in this country, that would be the time to wage war, for one can then see all around,and the trail cannot be concealed; but every thing must be carried—provisions, arms, powder andlead. You can not believe, Sir, with what joy the Senecas learned that you would, possibly, deter-mine on war; and from the report the savages make them of the preparations apparent at Kataros-kouy, they say, that the French have a great desire to be stript, roasted and eaten; and that theywill see if their flesh, which they say is salt on account of the salt they make use of be as good asthat of their other enemies whom they devour.
The envoy of the Governor of New York who is here promises the Iroquois goods at a considerablereduction; 7 a 8 lbs. of powder for a Beaver ; as much lead as a man can carry for a Beaver , and sowith the rest.
Every tiring considered, Sir, if you will be content with a satisfaction which we will endeavor toobtain for you from the Senecas, you will prevent great evils which must fall on Canada in case ofwar; you will divert from it famine and many misfortunes, especially will you avoid much confusionand great suffering to the French who will fall into the hands of the Iroquois , who, as you are aware,exercise the most cruel and shameful cruelties towards their captives. Independent of there beingno profit in fighting with this sort of banditti whom you, assuredly, will not catch and who willcatch many of your people who will be surprised in every quarter.
The man called Hannatakta and some others of influence told me they pitied you. These aretheir words they besought you not to force them to wage war against you; that the five Nationswould be obliged to unite against you; that the French and the Iroquois being so near the one to theother, the war would be too disastrous to you, because, say they, our mode of fighting, of harassing,of living, of surprising and flying to the woods will be the ruin of the French who are accustomedto fight against towns capable of defence or against armies who appear in the plains; if there bemisunderstanding it ought to be settled. AH the Iroquois are persuaded that before going to waryou will try the ways of mildness and tell the Senecas to appease your anger for what they haveplundered; that if you begin by a desire to wage war and will not act as a father towards yourchildren, they have already declared beforehand that they will all unite against you.