CHAP. V.

The English Attempt to Trade in the Lakes, and Mr. De Nonville Attacks the Sennekas.

Monfieur Le Marquis de Nonville having

fucceeded Mr. De la Barre, in 1685. and having brought a confiderable Reinforcement of Soldiers with him, he resolv'd to Recover the Honour the French had loft in the laft Expedition, and to Revenge the Slaughter that the Fivo Nations continued to make of the Twibtwiks and Chictaghiks, who had put themfelves under the Protection of the French; for the Five Nations having entirely fubdued the Chicktagbiks, (e) after a fix years War, they refolv'd next to fall upon the Twihtwies, and to call them to an account for the Disturbance they had given fome of the Five Nations in their Bever-hunting. The Five Nations have few or no Bevers in their own Country, and are for that reafon obliged to hunt at a great distance, which often occafion'd Disputes with their Neighbours about the Property of the Bever, in fome parts of the Country.

(e) Called Ilinois by the French.

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The

The Bevers are the most valuable part of the Indian Trade. And as the Twibtwies carried their Bever to the French, the English favour'd the Five Nations in thefe Expeditions, and particularly in the beginning of the year 1687, made the Five Nations a Prefent of a Barrel of Powder, when their whole Force was preparing to go against the Twibtwies. The English were the better pleas'd with this War, because they thought it would divert their Thoughts from the Indians that were friends to Virginia:" But the French were refolv'd to Support their Friends more effectually by a powerful Diverfion, and to change the Seat of the War.

For this purpofe Mr. De Nonville fent, in May, 1687, great Quantities of Provifions to Cadarackui Fort, and gather'd the whole Force of Canada to Montreal. His Army confifted of 1500 French of the Regular Troops & Militia, and 500 Indians that lived near Monreal and Quebeck.

He fentlikewife Orders to the Commandant at Miffilimakinak to affemble all the Nations round him, and to March them to Oniagara, in order to joyn the Forces of Canada defign'd against the Sennekas. And the other Officers pofted among the Indians Weftward, had the like Orders.

The Twibtwies receiv'd the Hatchet with joy, from the hands of the French Officer, against

against the Five Nations. The Outagamies (f) Kikabous, and Maskoutubs," who were not us'd to Cannoes, were at firft perfwaded to joyn the Twibtwies, who were to march by Land to Teuchfagrondie, where there was a French Fort, at which they were to be supply'd with Ammunition: But after the French Officer left them, the Utagamies and Maskuticks were diffwaded by fome of the Mahikander Indians, who happen'd to be with a neighbouring Nation at that time.

The Putewatemies, Malbominies and Puans offer'd themselves willingly, and went to the Rendevouze at Miilimakinak, where they were receiv'd by the Utawawas with all the Marks of Honour ufually paid to Soldiers, tho' the Utawawas had no inclination to the present Enterprize; they could not tell, however, how to appear against it, otherwise than by inventing what Delays they could to prevent their Marching."

In the mean while, a Cannoe arriv'd, which was fent by Mr. De Nonville with his Orders to the Officers. This Cannoe in her Paffage discover'd fome English commanded by Major McGregory, in their way to Teiodondaraghie. The English thought (after they had an account

(f) The Outagamies, Kikabons, Malhominies and Puans live on the Weft fide of Lake Michigan.

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of the new Alliance their King had enter'd 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 these hopes a confiderable Number of Adventurers, went out under the Conduct of Major M' Gregory to Trade with the Indians living on the Banks of the Lakes; and that they might be the more wellcome, perfwaded the Five Nations to fet all the Dionondadie Prifoners at Liberty, who went along with the English and conducted them towards MiffilimakinakorTeiodondoraghie. But the English found themselves mistaken, for the French Commandant at Teiodondoraghie, as foon as he had Notice of this, fent 300 French to intercept the English."

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g) The Utawawas and Dionondadies having likewife an account of the English, defigned to fupport their own Independency, and to encourage 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 joyn Major M' Gregory, but

(g) Hiftoire de Le Amerique Septentrionale par Mr. De la Peterie, Tome 2. Chap. 16.

the

the Utawawas were divided in their Inclinations, their Chief," with about thirty more joyn'd the French, the reft remain'd in fufpence and ftood Neuter.

The Utawawas thus wavering, difconcerted the Measures of the Deionondadies, for they began to fufpect the Utawawas, and therefore immediately return'd to fecure their Wives and Children they had left near the French Fort with the Utawawas. The English and their Effects were seized without any Oppofition, and were carried to the French fort at Teiodondoragbie.

The English brought great Quantities of Rum with them, (which the Indians love more than their Life) 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 most concerned that the Putewatemies, (who had no knowledge of the English, or of that bewitching Liquor, and were firmly attached to the French) should not taste it.

The Utawawas still contrived delays to the March, and having got fome of the Putewatemies privately by themselves, they offered them a Cag of Rum, and faid, "We are all "Bretheren, we ought to make one Body, "and to have one Soul. The French invite us

to War against the Five Nations, with design

to