110 LA BARRE AND THE IROQUOIS. [1G&L 



drew to his tent, where, according to La Hontan, 

 he vented his feelings in invective, till reminded 

 that good manners were not to be expected from 

 an Iroquois. Big Mouth, on his part, entertained 

 some of the French at a feast which he opened in 

 person by a dance. There was another session in the 

 afternoon, and the terms of peace were settled in 

 the evening. The tree of peace was planted anew ; 

 La Barre promised not to attack the Senecas ; and 

 Big Mouth, in spite of his former declaration, con- 

 sented that they should make amends for the 

 pillage of the traders. On the other hand, he 

 declared that the Iroquois would fight the Illinois 

 to the death ; and La Barre dared not utter a word 

 in behalf of his allies. The Onondaga next de- 

 manded that the council fire should be removed 

 from Fort Frontenac to La Famine, in the Iroquois 

 country. This point was yielded without resistance ; 

 and La Barre promised to decamp and set out for 

 home on the following morning. 1 



Such was the futile and miserable end of the 

 grand expedition. Even the promise to pay for 

 the plundered goods was contemptuously broken. 2 

 The honor rested with the Iroquois. They had 

 spurned the French, repelled the claims of the 

 English, and by act and word asserted their inde- 

 pendence of both. 



La Barre embarked and hastened home in ad- 



i The articles of peace will be found in N. Y. Col. Docs., IX. 236. 

 Compare Memoir of M. cle la Barre regarding the War against the Senecas, 

 ibid , 289. These two documents do not agree as to date, one placing 

 the council on the 4th and the other on the 5th. 



2 This appears from the letters of Denonville, La Barre's successor. 



