1758] THE DELAWAllES AND SIIAWANOES. 143 



1757, to meet the provincial delegates ; and here, 

 after much delay and difficulty, a treaty of peace 

 was concluded. 



This treaty, however, did not embrace the Indians 

 of the Ohio, who comprised the most formidable 

 part of the Dela wares and Shawanoes, and who 

 still continued their murderous attacks. It was 

 not till the summer of 1758, when General Forbes, 

 with a considerable army, was advancing against 

 Fort du Quesne, that these exasperated savages 

 could be brought to reason. Well knowing that, 

 should Forbes prove successful, they might expect 

 a summary chastisement for their misdeeds, they 

 began to waver in their attachment to the French ; 

 and the latter, in the hour of peril, found them- 

 selves threatened with desertion by allies who had 

 shown an ample alacrity in the season of prosperity. 

 This new tendency of the Ohio Indians was fos- 

 tered by a wise step on the part of the English. A 

 man was found bold and hardy enough to venture 

 into the midst of their villages, bearing the news 

 of the treaty at Easton, and the approach of 

 Forbes, coupled with proposals of peace from the 

 governor of Pennsylvania. 



This stout-hearted emissary was Christian Fred- 

 eric Post, a Moravian missionary, who had long 

 lived with the Indians, had twice married among 

 them, and, by his upright dealings and plain good 

 sense, had gained their confidence and esteem. 

 His devout and conscientious spirit, his fidelity to 

 what he deemed his duty, his imperturbable cour- 

 age, his prudence and his address, well fitted him 



