88

DE BARRe’s EXPEDITION TO HUNGRY BAY.

master of their land and conduct towards you; that they belonged to the King of England andthe Duke of York, and that their Council fires were lighted at Albany and that he absolutelyforbad them talking with you.

Two words which we whispered in the ears of your pensioner, La Grande Gueule, causedus to see at once how unreasonable, in his opinion, was so strange a proceeding as that of Mr. Don-gan, after having himself exhorted the Iroquois to give us satisfaction in order to avoid a disastrouswar which would have very bad [consequences.] When M. le Moine and I shall have the honourto see you, we shall give you the particulars of these things, and how La Grande Guelue came to highwords against this Messenger, exhorting all the warriors and chiefs not to listen to the proposalsof a man who^seemed to be drunk, so opposed to all reason was what he uttered.

We being two or three day’s journey from here, the said Messenger produced three Belts ofWampum. The first and second are from the Mohawks and Oneidas, who have promised Mr.Dongan that they should not go to meet us; the third was for the Onnontagu^s to exhort themto give their wampum belt also, as assurance of the same thing. They answered by La GrandeGueule, that they esteemed themselves too highly honored by your having granted to them theembassy of M. Le Moine and by your having placed the affairs of the peace in their hands, tocommit so cowardly an action and so grave a fault as that which he seemed willing they shouldperpetrate. After many disputes, the Onnontagu^s councilled among themselves, and concludedto enquire of M. le Moine if he would not wait the permission which Mr. Dongan wished theIroquois to have from him to talk with you, and if he would not tarry ten days more, and youremain at the Lake, to learn Mr. Dongan’s final will. This is a piece of Iroquois cunningnot to embroil themselves with Mr. Dongan, and to follow entirely what M. le Moine shouldsay, whom they well knew would not wait so long, matters having advanced to the point atwhich they are, and knowing, moreover, that delay was directly contrary to your instructions.The Iroquois requested M. le Moine himself to communicate their opinion to the Cavalier, whichhe certainly did in an excellent manner, and which you will be glad to learn when he will givean account of his negotiation.

He has thought proper to send you one of his canoes at once to inform you hereof, and to assureyou that as soon as the Onontagu6 deputies shall have arrived here, he will endeavour to despatchthem hence at the earliest moment to conduct them to you. If not he will leave with the Senecaswho are here. Tegannehout acted his part very well and harangued strongly against Mr. Dongan’smessenger and in favor of Onnontio. Good cheer and the way you regaled him was a strengtheningmedicine which sustained his voice when it might perhaps have failed in another who had notexperienced proofs of your friendship such as you did him the honour to give him. He will returnwith M. le Moine.

The Cavalier says that before returning to his Master, he wishes to speak to the Senecas who areexpected here. I caress somewhat Tegannehout in order that he may win those of his Nation overto his opinion and not to suffer them to yield to the solicitations of Sieur Arnaud to whom theOnnontagues have given two wretched belts to say to Mr. Dongan that they could not do other thanwhat he himself had urged them to do; to wit, to settle matters peaceably with you, and to soothehis spirit if he were dissatisfied with them for not going to AJbany whence they had returned veryrecently. A letter is sent you which he has given to M. le Moine.

Whatever Sieur Arnaud may say, we have not neglected to send for the Oneida deputies whomwe expect to-morrow. Monsieur le Moine will use the greatest possible diligence to return to you,inasmuch as this delay is not very agreeable to him.

I am always, my Lord,

Your very humble and very obedient servant,

J. DE LAMBERVILLE.