LANCASTER COUNTY. 175 



for building a fort at Niagara Falls, but they had since 

 declined it ; he knew not for Avhat reasons ; and they 

 (the French) had sent to his town (the Isanandonas) this 

 last winter a great deal of powder ta be distributed 

 among them, but nothing was done upon it. Being 

 particularly asked whether the French had ever treated 

 with them about any of their lands, or whether the 

 Idians had ever granted the French any. He answered, 

 no ! diat his people knew the French too well to treat 

 with them about lands ; they had never done it, or ever 

 granted them any upon any account whatsoever, and of 

 this he said, we might assure ourselves. Thus the day 

 was spent in such discourses, with a pipe and some 

 small mixed liquors, and the next morning Ghesa.ont, 

 with tlie rest of his company, returning from the Indian 

 town to John Cartledge, took their leaves very affec_ 

 tionately, with great expressions of thankfulness to the 

 Governor and tliis Government for their Idnd reception." 

 Shortly after the treaty held at Conestoga, the Go- 

 vernor received information that tiie Lidians were likely 

 to be disturbed by the secret and underhanded practices 

 of persons, both from Maryland and Philadelphia, who, 

 under the pretence of finding a copper mine, were about 

 to survey and take up lands on the other side of tlie Sus- 

 quehannah, contrary to a former order of Government; 

 Keith determined to prevent this. He nat only sent a 

 special messenger with a writ under the lesser seal, but 

 himself went to the upper parts of Chester county to 

 locate a small quantity of land, for which he purchased 

 an original proprietary right ; on his way, he understood 

 that some persons were actually come with a Maryland 

 right to survey lands upon the Susquehanna, fifteen 

 miles above Conestoga; he pursued his coiu-se directly 

 to that place, and fortunately arrived but a very 



