78 LE FEBVRE DE LA BARRE. [1680-82. 



ber of warriors. They came to invite Frontenac 

 to meet the deputies of the five tribes at Oswego, 

 within their own limits. Frontenac's reply was 

 characteristic. "It is for the father to tell the 

 children where to hold council, not for the chil- 

 dren to tell the father. Fort Frontenac is the 

 proper place, and you should thank me for going 

 so far every summer to meet you." The Iroquois 

 had expressed pacific intentions towards the Hurons 

 and Ottawas. For this Frontenac commended him, 

 but added : " The Illinois also are children of Onon- 

 tio, and hence brethren of the Iroquois. There- 

 fore they, too, should be left in peace ; for Onontio 

 wishes that all his family should live together in 

 union." He confirmed his words with a huge belt 

 of wampum. Then, addressing the flattered deputy 

 as a great chief, he desired him to use his influence 

 in behalf of peace, and gave him a jacket and a 

 silk cravat, both trimmed with gold, a hat, a scarlet 

 ribbon, and a gun, with beads for his wife, and red 

 cloth for his daughter. The Iroquois went home 

 delighted. 1 



Perhaps on this occasion Frontenac was too con- 

 fident of his influence over the savage confederates. 

 Such at least was the opinion of Lamberville, Jesuit 

 missionary at Onondaga, the Iroquois capital. From 

 what he daily saw around him, he thought the peril 

 so imminent that concession on the part of the 

 French was absolutely necessary, since not only 

 the Illinois, but some of the tribes of the lakes, were 

 in danger of speedy and complete destruction. 



1 For the papers on this affair, see N. Y. Colonial Docs., IX. 



