PASSAMAQUODDY DOCUMENTS. 371 



doubtedly the Mcguyiks or Mohawks, who, on the slightest 

 provocation, would send bands to harry them and destroy their 

 crops. The Mohawks invariably treated their prisoners with 

 the most merciless severity, showing no pity even to the women 

 and children. A favorite torture which they frequently prac- 

 ticed was to build a large fire of hemlock coals, into the flames 

 of which they drove their captives, compelling them to walk 

 back and forth over the glowing coals until relieved by death. 

 No case is on record where a brave of the Wabanaki nation 

 succumbed to the pain. Their warriors would always pace the 

 fiery path with undaunted resolution and without uttering a 

 sound until nature put an end to their agony. Tortures of 

 this sort were practiced by all the tribes, but the Mohawks ex- 

 ceeded the others in cruelty.^" 



The cause of the strife was an hereditary dispute about hunt- 

 ing grounds. Besides the enmity which they nourished in 

 common against the Six Nations, the Wabanaki had also in- 

 ternal disputes. Thus, the Penobscots were at feud with the 

 Maliseets and the Micmacs with the Passamaquoddies. 



The first war between the last mentioned tribes was brought 

 about by the quarrel of two boys, sons of chiefs. On this occa- 

 sion the Passamaquoddies were on a friendly visit to the Mic- 

 macs, during which the sons of the Passamaquoddy and Micmac 

 chiefs went shooting together. They both shot at a white sable, 

 killing the animal by their joint effort, but each lad claimed it 

 as his game. Finally, the Passamaquoddy boy, becoming en- 

 raged, killed the son of the Micmac chief The latter on hear- 

 ing of the murder could think only of vengeance and positively 

 refused to listen to the Passamaquoddy chief's attempt at con- 

 ciliation. The latter even offered the life of his own son who 

 had been guilty of the murder, but all to no purpose. In con- 

 sequence of this unfortunate occurrence the celebrated "great 

 war" was then declared which lasted many years. 



The Micmacs, although more numerous than their enemies, 

 were inferior warriors, so that the victory was always {sic) won 

 by the Passamaquoddies. So great was the hostile spirit that 

 the two tribes fought whenever they met, paying no heed to the 



