194 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



southern parts of Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties. To 

 their towns we may assign the Massawomekes, so much dreaded 

 in early days in Virginia. In speaking of Lake Erie the Relation 

 adds: 



This lake, named Erie', was formerly inhabited on its southern 

 coasts by certain peoples whom we call the nation of the Cat; 

 who have been obliged to withdraw inland, in order to get away 

 from their enemies, who are more toward the west. These 

 people of the Cat have a number of fixed villages, for they culti- 

 vate the ground, and are of the same language as our Hurons. 



The Andastes went to Onondaga to plead for the Hurons ; but 

 all negotiations failed, and their downfall came rapidly on, all 

 the Iroquois suddenly turning against them and no one taking 

 their part. In July 1648, Teanaustaye', or St Joseph, was attacked 

 and taken, with another frontier village included in the same 

 mission. The principal town had 400 families, but the men were 

 mostly away at the time. There were many Christians there, 

 and, while these were assembled for worship, there was a sudden 

 alarm and universal terror. Some ran to fight and others to fly. 

 Father Antoine Daniel stood where the peril was greatest, encour- 

 aging the Hurons and baptizing many. The assault became 

 more furious and resistance was vain. He went to his church 

 with his flock, going forth alone to meet the enemy when they 

 came on with savage yells. His boldness checked them but for 

 a moment. He was quickly slain and the place destroyed, 700 

 being killed or captured, mostly women and children. A larger 

 number were saved by flying to the strong house of the Jesuits. 



A terrible blow came the following spring. Unknown to the 

 Hurons, about 1000 Iroquois had left home in the autumn of 

 1648, leisurely hunting through the winter as they approached 

 the Huron towns. All the nations were represented in this 

 army and most had firearms. The night before Mar. 16 they 

 came quietly to the walls of Taenhatcntaron, or St Ignace, where 

 they found a strong stockade and a deep ditch. A careful recon- 

 naissance showed one place weaker than the rest, and they broke 

 through this so secretly and quickly that they were masters of 



