356 THE MASSACRE. [1763, June. 



" You all well know that, long before the war 

 •began, I adopted him as my brother. From that 

 moment he became one of my family, so that no 

 change of circumstances could break the cord 

 which fastened us together. 



" He is my brother ; and because I am your 

 relation, he is therefore your relation too ; and 

 how, being your relation, can he be your slave 1 



" On the day on which the war began, you were 

 fearful lest, on this very account, I should reveal 

 your secret. You requested, therefore, that I would 

 leave the fort, and even cross the lake. I did so ; 

 but I did it with reluctance. I did it with reluc- 

 tance, notwithstanding that you, Minavavana, who 

 had the command in this enterprise, gave me your 

 promise that you would protect my friend, deliver- 

 ing him from all danger, and giving him safely to 

 me. 



" The performance of this promise I now claim. 

 I come not with empty hands to ask it. You, Min- 

 avavana, best know whether or not, as it respects 

 yourself, you have kept your word ; but I bring 

 these goods to buy off every claim which any man 

 among you all may have on my brother as his 

 prisoner." ^ 



To this speech the war-chief returned a favor- 

 able answer. Wawatam's request was acceded to, 



1 Henry, Travels, 102. The authenticity of this very interesting book 

 has never been questioned. Henry was living at Montreal as late as the 

 year 1809. In 1797 he, with others, claimed, in virtue of Indian grants, 

 a large tract of land west of the River Cuyalioga, in the present State of 

 Ohio. A letter from him is extant, dated in April of that year, in which 

 he oifers this land to the Connecticut Land Company, at one-sixth of a 

 dollar an acre. 



