HEWITT] 



INTRODUCTION 457 



euemy, even though bearing presents, hesitated to open negotiations. 

 But the Rock tribe and many other villages desired the conclusion of 

 peace in the hope that thereby a number of their kin, then captive at 

 Onondaga, would be returned to them. So, after many councils and 

 conferences, it was found expedient by the Hurons to send an 

 embassy to Onondaga in order the better to conclude this matter. 

 For presents the Hurons took valuable furs, while the Onondaga 

 Iroquois used belts of wampum. The Huron embassy was well 

 received at Onondaga, at which place a month was spent in holding 

 councils. Finally the Onondaga resolved to send back a second 

 embassy, headed by Skanawati (Scandaouati), a Federal chieftain 60 

 years of age, who was to be accompanied by 2 other Onondaga and 

 by 15 Huron captives. One of the Huron embassy remained as a hos- 

 tage at Onondaga. This embassy was 30 days on the way, although 

 it was in fact only 10 days' journey. Jean Baptiste, the returning 

 Huron delegate, brought back seven wampum belts of the largest 

 kind, each composed of 3,000 to 4,000 beads. By these belts the 

 Onondaga sought to confirm the peace, assuring the Hurons that they 

 could hope for the delivery of at least 100 more of their captive kin. 



The Onondaga sought this peace not only because the Hurons had 

 spared the life of Annenraes, but also to thwart the Mohawk in their 

 attempts to dominate policies of the League and to hold in check the 

 Mohawk, who had become insolent from their victories and so were 

 overbearing even to their allies, and who might become too much so 

 should the Hurons fa'il at this time to unite all their forces against 

 them, and further because of fear of the active power of the Conestoga. 

 The Cayuga and the Oneida showed deep interest in this Onondaga 

 project of peace, but on the other hand the Seneca would not listen 

 to it, and the Mohawk were still more adverse to it, as they were 

 envious of what had been accomplished by the Onondaga. So, at 

 the end of the winter of 1647-48 the Seneca and the Mohawk sent 

 strong forces to assail the Huron village of St. Ignace. 



The character of some of the chief men and statesmen of the 

 Onondaga appears in the following incident: Early in 1648 the 

 Hurons resolved to send another embassy to Onondaga. This 

 embassy consisted of six men, accompanied by one of the three 

 Onondaga ambassadors then officially in their country, the other two, 

 including Skanawati, the head of the Onondaga embassy, and the 

 fkekeeper of the Federal council, i-emaining as hostages. The new 

 Huron embassy was unfortunate, for its members were captured 

 and killed by a force of more than 100 Mohawk and Seneca who had 

 lurked about the borders of the Huron country. The Onondaga 

 accompanying this embassy was spared, and the two Hurons suc- 

 ceeded in escaping. When this distressing information reached the 

 ears of Skanawati early in April, this proud Onondaga ambassador, 

 19078°— 28 30 



