43 HISTORY OP 



"Our interpreter told me that they had not done any 

 thing for many years without the counsels of an ancienl; 

 grave woman;' who, I observed, spoke much in their 

 councils ; for as 1' was permitted to be present at it, and I 

 asked, what it was the woman said? He told me, she 

 was an Empress; and they gave much heed to what 

 she said amongst them ; and that she then said to him, 

 <' she looked upon our coming among them to be more than 

 natural, because we did not come to buy or sell, or get 

 gain, but come in love and respect to them — and 

 desired their well-doing both here and hereafter;" and 

 further continued, "that our meetings among them might 

 be very beneficial to their young people" — and related 

 a dream which she had three days before, and interpreted 

 it, viz: "that she was in London, and that London was 

 the finest place that she ever saw — it was like to Phila- 

 delphia ; but much bigger — and she went across six 

 streets, and in the seventh she saw TVilliam Penn 

 preaching to the people, which was a great multitude, 

 both she and William Penn rejoiced to see each other; 

 and after meeting she went to him, and he told her that 

 in a little time he would come over and preach to them 

 also, of which she was very glad. And now she said 

 her dream was fulfilled, for one of his friends was come 

 to preach to them." 



" She advised them to hear us, and entertain us 

 kindly; and accordingly they did. There were two na- 

 tions of them, the Senecas and Shawanesc* 



•The Shawancsc had wigAvams along the bank of the Octto- 

 raro creek, near the present boundary of Chester and Lancas- 

 ter county. When the road, in 1719, to Christiana bridge, &c. 

 was laid, its course was defined— "to the fording place at Oct- 

 toraro, at Old Shawana town, thence over Octtoraro, along the 

 Indian Path, kc.—Caurt Records, at Chcslcr, Avg/rerm, 1119. 



