On the supposed Welch- Indians. 85 



After proceeding with them four or five clays' jour- 

 ney, they came to the village of these white men, 

 where they found, that the whole nation were of the 

 same colour, having all the European complexion. 

 The three men took them through their village, for 

 about the space of fifteen miles, when they came to the 

 council-house, at which an assembly of the king and 

 chief men of the nation was immediately held. The 

 council lasted three days, and as the strangers were 

 not supposed to be acquainted with their language, 

 they were suffered to be present at their deliberations. 



The great question before the council was, what 

 conduct should be observed towards the strangers. 

 From their fire-arms, their knives, and their toma- 

 hawks, it was concluded that they were a warlike 

 people. It was conceived, that they were sent to 

 look out for a country for their nation ; that if they 

 were suffered to return, they might expect a body of 

 powerful invaders ; but that if these six men were 

 put to death, nothing would be known of their coun- 

 try, and they would still enjoy their possessions in 

 security. It was finally determined that they should 

 be put to death. 



Griffith then thought that it was time for him to 

 speak. He addressed the council in the Welch lan- 

 guage. He informed them, that they had not been 

 sent by any nation ; that they were actuated merely 

 by private curiosity, they had no hostile intentions ; 

 that it was their wish to trace the Missouri to its 

 source ; and that they should return to their countrv, 



