told him how well he took this fpecial Mark of his Fidelity, and affured him, that he would not only now reward him and his Companions, by particular Presents, but would always remember this Act of Friendship. They had already received the Reward given by the Act of Affembly. His Excellency gave each of them four Spanish Dollars; to the Leader a fine laced Coat and Hat, and a filver Breaft-Plate; and to each of the others a Stroud Blanket and a lac'd Hat.

These Indians told us, that they lay feveral Days among the Bushes, from whence they could fee every Man that came out of the Fort-Gate. They endeavoured for fome Time to take a Prisoner, but obferving that none went to fuch a Distance from the Fort that they could hope to carry him off, they refolved to take the firft Opportunity for a Scalp Two Soldiers coming out of the Fort, after the Chapel Bell had rung about Noon, one of the Indians, by their Leader's Order, fired with Swan Shot upon them while they were near to each other. It is a conftant Rule among thefe fculking Parties, never to fire without Orders from their Leader. One of the Frenchmen was killed upon the Spot, the other wounded, and fled immediately towards the Fort Gate. The Indian who had fired, purfu'd, and with his Hatchet brought him down within a hundred Steps of the Fort Gate; and, though the French in the Fort rufhed out at the Gate, he took his Scalp off; the others had fcalped the Man that was first killed, and then they all fled. The French in their Hurry had run out without their Arms, and upon recollecting themselves, return'd to Arms, which facilitated the Escape of the Indians.

His Excellency being informed that the Leader of this Party was defirous to be diftinguished by his Excellency's giving him a new Name, and that a Name, which, in the Language of the Six

Nations,

Nations fignified the Path-opener, would be moft acceptable to him; his Excellency honour'd him with that Title; which he accepted very thankfully, and feem'd exceedingly pleafed with it: Whereupon he said, that the other two Indians, having affociated with a Mehikander, or River Indian, were refolved to go out against the Enemy: But as he thought he might be more useful by ftaying, to affift at the enfuing Treaty, he was refolved to remain here. He added, that in case the Interpreter, and others fent to invite the Six Nations to meet here, fail'd in any part, he would go among the Six Nations, and doubted not to bring many by his Influence, who otherwife might ftay.

In a Day or two after, fix of feven Indians, who had been sent out by the Commiffioners for Indian Affairs to Crown-Point, to take Prifoners, and gain Intelligence, returned, and faid, That they had gone to that Place, and that in Sight of it they had feparated, with Defign thereby to furprize any Straggler that might have come out of the Fort: That while they were thus feparated, two of their Number were fuddenly furrounded and taken by the Enemy: One of these two, after having been detained three or four Days, join'd the others at Saraghtoga. He faid, that he had been threatened with Death by the Adirondacks; but that the Cahnuagas interpos'd, and by their Interceffion he was fet at Liberty; and fome of the Cahnuagas conducted him through Lac Sacrement. He reported, that there was a great Number of Men, VOL. II. French

G

A Nation of Indians living in Canada, who have always been firm Friends to the French, and formerly were at War with the Six Nations.

+ A Number of Indians originally of the Five Nations, and Deferters from them, now fettled near Montreal, by whom the illicit Trade between Albany and Montreal was carried on: They are well acquainted with the Country about Albany.

French and Indians, at Crown-Point. The other Prifoner, an Onondaga, confented to remain with the French, and was fent to Canada.

Soon after this, fixteen Mohawk Indians came to the Town, who had been sent out from the lower Mohawk Caftle by Mr. Johnson, to gain Intelligence near Crown-Point, and to take Prisoners. They reported that they had discovered fo great a Number of French and Indians at Crown-Point, that they had no Hopes of being able to bring off any Prifoners, and thought it adviseable to return fpeedily, and inform of the great Danger they thought this Place was in. His Excellency invited them to go thither again, in order to defcry the Motions of the Enemy: And as a farther Encouragement to them, to either fcalp or take Prisoners, he offered every Perfon of the said Party that should take a Scalp or Prifoner, a Piece of Stroud, and a Suit of laced Clothes, befides the Bounty; but they, being frightened with the Apprehenfions of Danger, declined going back, and faid, They must return Home, and acquaint their Friends and Relations, with what they had heard and feen. Several other Indians likewife alarmed the Mohawks, by telling them that the French had a great Force at Crown-Point, and that they would certainly attack either Albany or Schenectade, or the Settlements on the Mohawks River, or perhaps feveral Places at the fame Time.

Mr. Johnson, and the commanding Officer of the Garrison of regular Troops in the Mohawks Country, by their Letters to his Excellency, confirm'd thefe Reports; and added, the Mohawks had entertain❜d Apprehenfions of the French Force at Crown-Point, which was like to have a bad Effect. On this, his Excellency wrote to Mr. Johnson, that all these Stories of the French Force at Crown-Point were only Artifices of the French

to

to intimidate the Indians, or to amuse them, with Defign to fruftrate the Treaty which he intended to have with them; and that he was to affure the Indians, that they could be in no Danger from the French: However, that they might fee that he would omit nothing which they might think neceffary for their Security, he had ordered a Lieutenant of Militia, with thirty Men, to reinforce the lower Castle, and had likewife ordered the Captain of Militia near the upper Caftle, to affift the Indians there in fortifying their Castle, and to hold himself in Readiness to support them on any Emergency.

One John Colan, a Frenchman, who fome Years fince had removed from Canada, and fettled and married at Schenectade, and who has fince that Time lived in good Reputation there, was fent by Major Glen to inform his Excellency, that one Aaron, a noted Mohawk Sachim, who, with several others of the Six Nations, had been laft Spring in Canada to treat with the Governor there, did then entertain two Cahunaga Indians. This Man, John Colan, acquainted his Excellency, that having difcovered the Cahnuaga Indians, he told them he was a Frenchman, and was defirous of returning to his own Country, on which they began presently to propose to him Methods for his Escape; at which Time, this Aaron coming near them, he exprefs'd his Fears of being difcovered by him. They answered, that he need not fear Aaron, for he was their Friend, and defigned to go with them. As they proposed to him to escape privately by himself, and to meet them at a Place they named, he told them of his Fears, in that Cafe, of meeting with the French Indians while he was alone. They answered, that if he drefs'd himself like an Indian, the French Indians would do him no Hurt, without first calling to him; upon which, if he stopp'd and call'd

G 2

call'd out Maria, the French Indians would be fo far from hurting him, that they would immediately come up to him, and take him by the Hand. From this, and several other Incidents, which it would be tedious to relate, his Excellency was convinced of fome fecret Understanding between the Six Nations and the Cahnuagas, or French Indians: And that, however any Party of our Indians might be induced to fall upon the French, they would not at that Time moleft the French Indians, nor prevent the Mischiefs which the Inhabitants received from their fculking Parties.

For this Reason, his Excellency endeavoured to send out again the Company of Rangers, which had formerly been employed against the fculking Indians: But, as the Affembly had made no Provifion for this Expence, they refused to go, unless he gave his perfonal Bond for their Pay, at three. Shillings a Day for each private Man, befides their Provifion; and would not be fatisfied with the Promises that he, by the Advice of the Council, made them of recommending their Service to the General Affembly, and the Affurances he gave them of their being rewarded as they defired.

On their continuing obftinate, his Excellency was of Opinion, that no confiderable Service could be expected from Men, who were moved by no other Principle but that of exceffive Wages: And he had Reason afterwards to be confirmed in this Opinion, when Captain Langdon, and afterwards Captain Thebout, voluntarily went with their Companies of the new-levied Troops, to fcour the Woods, and took fome of these Albany Men with them as Guides; who, whenever they apprehended themselves in Danger, by the Discovery of recent Tracts, fome one or other of them could not be kept from firing their Guns, or making fome Noife,

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