AMERICAN ELM. 505 



when we have accounts of minor treaties, between William Penn and the Indians 

 that no historian has any particular detail of this, though so many mention it, 

 and all concur in considering it the most glorious of any in the annals of the world. 

 There are, however, relations in Indian speeches, and traditions in Quaker fam- 

 ilies, descended from those who were present on the occasion, from which we 

 may learn something concerning it. It appears, that though the parties -were to 

 assemble at Coaquannoc, the treaty was made a little higher up, at Shacka- 

 maxon. Upon this site, Kensington now stands, the houses of which may be 

 considered as the suburbs of Philadelphia. There was at ^^hackamaxon, an elm 

 tree of a prodigious size. To this the leaders on both sides repaired, approach- 

 mg each other under its widely-spreading branches. William Penn appeared in 

 his usual dress. He had neither crown, sceptre, mace, sword, halberd, or any 

 insigna of eminence. He was distinguished only by wearing a sky-blue sash 

 round his waist, made of silk net- work, and of no larger dimensions than an offi- 

 cer's military sash, which, except in colour, it resembled. On his right hand was 

 Colonel Markham, his secretary and relative; on his left, his friend Pearson, 

 followed by the train of Quakers. Before him were carried various articles of 

 merchandize, which, when they came near the sachems, were spread upon the 

 ground. He held a roll of parchment, containing the confirmation of the treaty 

 of purchase and amity, in his hand. One of the sachems, who was the chief of 

 them, then put upon his own head a kind of chaplet, in which appeared a small 

 horn. This, according to scripture language, and among the primitive eastern 

 nations, was an emblem of kingly power ; and whenever the chief who had a 

 right to wear it, put it on, it was understood that the place was made sacred, and 

 the persons of all present inviolable. Upon putting on this horn, all the Indians 

 threw down their bows and arrows, seating themselves round their chiefs, in the 

 form of a half moon, upon the ground. The principal sachem then announced 

 to William Penn, by the aid of ai^i interpreter, that the nations were ready to hear 

 him. He then said that the Great Spirit, who made him and them, who ruled 

 the heavens and the earth, and was acquainted with the innermost thoughts of 

 man, knew that he and his friends had a hearty desire to live in peace and 

 friendship with them, and serve them to the utmost of their power. It was not 

 their custom to use hostile weapons against their fellow creatures, therefore came 

 they to this treaty unarmed. Their object was not to do injury, and thus pro- 

 voke the Great Spirit, but to do good. They had met them on the broad path- 

 way of good fliith and good will, so that no advantage was to be taken on cither 

 side, but all was to be openness, brotherhood, and love. After these and other 

 words, he unrolled the parchment, and by means of the same interpreter, con- 

 veyed to them, article by article, the conditions of the purchase, and the words 

 of the contract then made for their eternal union. Among other things, they were 

 not to be molested in their lawful pursuits, even in the territory they had alien- 

 ated, for it was to be common to them as well as to the English. They were to 

 have the same liberty to do all things therein, relating to the improvement of 

 their grounds, and providing sustenance for their families, which the English 

 had. If any dispute should arise between the two, it should be settled by twelve 

 persons, half of whom should be English, and half Indians. He then paid them 

 for the land, and made them many presents beside, i>om the merchandize which 

 was spread before them. Having done this, he laid the roll of parchment on the 

 ground, observing again, that the ground should be conmion to both people. He 

 then added, that he would not do like the inhabitants of Maryland, that is, call 

 them only cliildrcn or brothers; for parents were sometimes unkind to their chil- 

 dren, and brothers would often differ ; neither would he compare the friendship 

 between them to a chain, which the rain might rust, or a tree fall upon and 

 break; but he should consider them as the same flesh and blood with the Chris- 

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