"The inhabitants from this town came 

 out with clubs and tomahawks, struck, beat, 

 and abused us greatly. One of my two 

 companions they seized, and, having strip- 

 ped him naked, blacked him with coal and 

 water : this was the sign of being burnt ; 

 the man seemed to surmise it, and shed tears. 

 He asked me the meaning of his being 

 blacked ; but I was forbid by the enemy, 

 in their own language, to tell him what was 

 intended. In English, which they spoke 

 easily, having been often at Fort Pitt, they 

 assured him he was not to be hurt. I know 

 of no reason for making him the first object 

 of their cruelty, unless it was that he was 

 the oldest. 



" A warrior had been sent to the greater 

 town to acquaint them with our coming, 

 and prepare them for the frolic ; for on our 

 coming to it, the inhabitants came out with 

 guns, clubs, and tomahawks. We were 

 told that we had to run to the council- 

 house, about three hundred yards. The 

 man that was blacked was about twenty 



