176i, Oct.] SPEECH OF THE DELAWARE ORATOR. 215 



At the appointed hour, the deputation appeared. 

 The most prominent among them were Kiashuta, 

 chief of the band of Senecas who had deserted 

 their ancient homes to form a colony on the Ohio ; 

 Custaloga, chief of the Delawares; and the head 

 chief of the Shawanoes, whose name sets ortho- 

 graphy at defiance. As they approached, painted 

 and plumed in all their savage pomp, they looked 

 neither to the right hand nor to the left, not deigning, 

 under the eyes of their enemy, to cast even a glance 

 at the military display around them. They seated 

 themselves, with stern, impassive looks, and an air 

 of sullen dignity ; while their sombre brows betrayed 

 the hatred still rankling in their hearts. After a 

 few minutes had been consumed in the indispen- 

 sable ceremony of smoking. Turtle Heart, a chief 

 of the Delawares, and orator of the deputation, 

 rose, bearing in his hand a bag containing the belts 

 of wampum. Addressing himself to the English 

 commander, he spoke as follows, delivering a belt 

 for every clause of his speech : — 



" Brother, I speak in behalf of the three nations 

 whose chiefs are here present. With this belt I 

 open your ears and your hearts, that you may listen 

 to my words. 



" Brother, this war was neither your fault nor 

 ours. It was the work of the nations who live to 

 the westward, and of our wild young men, who 

 would have killed us if we had resisted them. We 

 now put away all evil from our hearts ; and we 

 hope that your mind and ours will once more be 

 united together. 



