1685, and having brought a Reinforcement of Soldiers with him, refolved to recover the Honour. the French had loft in the last Expedition, and revenge the Slaughter the Five Nations continued to make of the Twihtwies and Chicaghicks, who had put themselves under the French Protection; for the Five Nations having intirely fubdued the Chittaghicks *, after a fix Years War, they refolved next to fall upon the Twihtwies, and to call them to an Account for the Disturbance. they had given fome of their People in their Bever Hunting. The Five Nations have few or no Bever in their own Country, and for that Reason are obliged to hunt at a great Distance, which often occafions Difputes with their Neighbours about the. Property of the Bever. The Bever is the most valuable Branch of the Indian Trade, and as the Twihtwies carried their Bevers to the French, the English encouraged the Five Nations in these Expeditions, and particularly, in the Beginning of the Year 1687, made the Five Nations a Present of a Barrel of Powder, when their whole Force was preparing to go against the Twibtwies. The English were the better pleased with this War, because they thought that it would divert the Five Nations from the Virginia Indians: But the French were refolved to fupport their Friends more effectually by a powerful Diverfion, and to change the Seat of the War.

For this Purpofe Mr. de Norville fent, in May 1687, great Quantities of Provifion to Cadaruckui Fort, and gathered the whole Force of Canada to Montreal. His Army confifted of fifteen hundred French of the regular Troops and Militia, and five hundred Indians that lived near Montreal and Quebeck. He fent likewife Orders to the Commandant at Missilimakinak to, assemble all the Na

* Called Illinois by the French.

tions

tions living round him, and to march them to Oniagara, in order to join the Forces of Canada defigned against the Senekas, and the other Officers pofted among the Indians Weftward had the like Orders.

The Twibtwies received the Hatchet with Joy. from the Hands of the French Officer. The Outagamies, Kikabous, and Maskuticks, who were not used to Canoes, were at firft perfuaded to join' the Twihtwies, who were to march by Land to Teuchfagrondie, were there was a French Fort, at which they were to be fupplied with Ammunition. But after the French Officer left them, the Utagamies and Mafkuticks were diffuaded by fome of the Mahikander Iadians, who happened to be with a neighbouring Nation at that Time.

The Putewatemies, Malhominies, and Puans offered themselves willingly, and went to the Rendezvous at Miilimakinak; where they were received by the Utawawas with all the Marks of Honour ufually paid to Soldiers. Though the Utawawas had no Inclination to the prefent Enterprize; they could not tell however how to appear against it, otherwife than by inventing what Delays they could, to prevent their March..

In the mean while a Canoe arrived, which was fent by Mr. de Nonville, with his Orders to the Officers. This Canoe, in her Paffage, difcovered' fome English, commanded by Major Mac Gregory, in their Way to Teidonderaghie. The English thought (after they had an Account of the new Alliance their King had entered into with the French) that the French would not disturb them in profecuting a Trade with the Indians every where, and that the Trade would be equally free and open to both Nations. With thefe Hopes à confiderable Number of Adventurers went out, under the Conduct of Major Mac Gregory, to trade with

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the

the Indians that lived on the Banks of the Lakes; and that they might be the more welcome, perfuaded the Five Nations to fet all the Dionondadie Prifoners at Liberty, who went along with the English, and conducted them towards Miffilimakinak, or Teiodonderaghie; but the English found themselves miftaken, for the French Commandant at Teiodonderaghie, as foon as he had Notice of this, fent three-hundred French to intercept the English.

* The Utawawas and Dionondadies having like. wife an Account of the English, defigned to fupport their own Independency, and to incourage the English Trade. The Return of the Dionondadie Prifoners made that Nation very hearty in favouring the English, they therefore marched immediately off, with Defign' to join Major Mac Gregory; but the Utawawas were divided in their Inclinations, their chief, with about thirty more, joined the French, the reft remained in fufpence, and stood

neuter.

The Utowawas thus wavering, difconcerted the Measures of the Dinondadies, for they began to fufpect the Utawawas, and therefore immediately returned to fecure their Wives and Children that they had left near the French Fort with the Utawawas. The English and their Effects were feized without any Oppofition, and were carried to the French Fort at Teiodonderaghie.

The English brought great Quantities of Rum with them, (which the Indians love more than their Lives) and the French being afraid, that if the Indians took to Drinking, they would grow. ungovernable, did what they could to keep them from it. They were moft concerned that the Putewatemies (who had no Knowledge of the English,

*Hiftoire de le Amerique Septentrionale, par Mr. de la Poterie, Tome ii. Cap. 16.

or

or of that bewitching Liquor, and were firmly attached to the French) fhould not taste it.

The Utawawas ftill contrived Delays to the March, and having got fome of the Putewatemies privately by themfeives, they offered them a Cag of Rum, and faid: We are all Brethren, we ought "to make one Body, and to have one Soul. The "French invite us to War against the Five Nations, "with Design to make us Slaves, and that we "fhould make ourselves the Tools to effect it. As "foon as they fhall have deftroyed the Five Nations, they will no longer obferve any Measures with us, but ufe us like those Beasts they tie to their "Ploughs. Let us leave them to themselves, and "they will never be able to accomplish any thing against the Five Nations."

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But the Putewatemies had entertained fuch No"tions of the French, as made them deaf to the "Politicks of the Utawawas.

The French however grew jealous of these Caballings, and therefore refolved to delay their March no longer, and would not stay one Day more for the Utawawas, who defired only fo much Time to pitch their Canoes, and went away without them.

Mr. Tonti, Commandant amongst the Chicagbicks, met with another Party of the English of about thirty Men, in Lake Erie, as he marched with the Chicktaghicks, and Twihtwies, and other neighbouring Nations, to the general Rendezvous. He fell upon the English, plundered them, and took them Prifoners. The French divided all the Merchandize among the Indians, but kept the Rum to themselves, and got all drunk. The Deonondadie Prisoners, that conducted the English, joined with the Mihikander Indians that were among Mr. Tonti's Indians (who had privately diffuaded about twenty of the neighbouring Nations from going with Tonti) and endeavoured to persuade all the Indians

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Indians to fall upon the French, while they were drunk, and destroy them; faying, the French are a proud, impious, covetous People, that fell their Goods at an extravagant Price; the English are a good-natured honeft People, and will furnish you with every Thing at reasonable Rates. But thefe Arguments were to no Purpose, for thefe far Indians had entertained an extraordinary Opinion of the French Power, and knew nothing of the English...

The French and Putewatemies being gone from Teiodonderaghie, the Utawawas began to be afraid of the French Refentment, and therefore, the better to keep up the Colour they had put on their Delays, marched over Land, with all poffible Expedition, to the general Rendezvous near Oniagara, where all the French Force, both Chriftians and Indians, was to meet.

The Five Nations being informed of the French Preparations, laid afide their Design against the Twibtwies, and prepared to give the French a warm Reception. Upon this the Prieft at Onondaga left them, but the Priest at Oreydo had the Courage to fay, The Senekas came to Albany to provide Ammunition, and the Commiffioners made them à Present of a confiderable Quantity of Powder and Lead, befides what they purchased. They were under a great deal of Concern when they took Leave of the Commiffioners, and faid, "Since 66 we are to expect no other Affiftance from our "Brethren, we must recommend our Wives and "Children to you, who will fly to you, if any Mil

fortune fhall happen to us. It may be we shall 66 never fee you again; for we are refolved to behave fo, as our Brethren fhall have no Reason " to be ashamed of us."

We must now return to Monfieur de Nonville's Army.

Monfieur