LANCASTER COUNTY. 51 



them, besieged, and have taken, as it is thought, the said 

 Shaonois town. 



On Tuesday, 1st of July, we went to Conestogo, and 

 lay there that night, and the next morning proceeded on 

 our journey and arrived in the evening within three 

 miles of an Indian village, called Peixtan.* The Go- 

 Ternor had received information at Pequehan, that one 

 Nicole, a French Indian trader, was at that place, against 

 whom great complaints had been made to the Governor, 

 of which he acquainted the chief Indian of Peixtan, as 

 also of his design to seize him; who willingly agreed to 

 it, but advised the Governor to be very cautious in the 

 manner; there being only young people at home, who 

 perhaps might make some resistance, if it were done 

 without their first being told of it ; for this reason we 

 lay short of the village that night; but early in the 

 morning we went within one-half a mile of the town, 

 and leaving our horses, marched afoot, nearer the same, 

 from whence the Governor sent Martine to the village, 

 ordering him to tell Nicole that he had brought two kegs 

 of rum with him, which he had left in the wood, for 

 fear any christians were there, and to persuade Nicole 

 to go with him to taste the rum. Martine returned 

 with James Le Tort, and Joseph Jessop, two Indian 

 traders, but could not prevail with Nicole ; upon this, 

 Martine was sent back, with orders to bring down some 

 of the Indians, and Nicole with them ; then we drew 

 nearer the town, and laid ourselves in the bushes, and 

 Martine returned with two Indians, whom the Governor 

 acquainted \y^ith his intent of taking Nicole, telling at the 

 $ame time, he had spoken with the uncle of one of them 



*** Peixtan, spelt Peichtang, Pechetan, &c. in old records, 

 onc&an Indian wigwam, now Harrisburg," R. C. — Lan. InteU. 

 ^ Jour. 



