7 



502 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



suffered severely by the severity of the weather, 

 and the want of provisions. The Mohawks 

 found about thirty of the French, v\hich had 

 been slain ; such was their hunger and rage, 

 that thev roasted their bodies, and eat them for 

 provisions. The French, in their turn, were so 

 reduced that they eat up tlxeir shoes before they 

 arrived in Canada.* 



For several years after this period, the war 

 W"as continued w'vAi much activity and animosity. 

 Scouting and ravaging parties of Indians were 

 frequently making inroads upon the English and 

 French settlements, many 'were slain on both 

 sides, and much injury was done to the advan- 

 ced settlements of both countries. Frontenac 

 was also much engaged in erecting forts, and 

 making excursions in the Indian country, to 

 restrain and bridle the five nations. But as 

 these expeditions were at a distance from lake 

 Champlain, they do not come within the propos- 

 ed limits of this narration. Nor did the war 

 cease on the frontiers of Canada, New York, or 

 New England, till the peace of Ryswick, Sep- 

 tember 20, 1697. The treaty between the two 

 crowns of England and France, by putting an 

 end to the European wars, restored tranquility 

 to the Indians, and to the American provinces. 



The tranquility of the provinces, however 

 was to be of but a short duration. Upon the 

 death of James II. the kinsr of France did not 

 admit the prince ^vho was in possession of the 

 English throne, and acknowledged by the Eng- 

 lish nation, to be their rightful sovereign ; and 



* Smith's Hist, of New York, p. 95. 



