204 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



accords with the fact that before this they left the shore of Lake 

 Erie to seek homes less exposed to their foes. On the other hand, 

 their warlike character made them dreaded by the Iroquois, who 

 were inclined to the French by this fear. Few or many, they 

 were brave. As the birthplace of a captive to the Oneidas, the 

 name of Gentaieton, the chief Erie town, alone has come down 

 to us. 



In 1655 Le Moyne went to the Mohawks and was well received. 

 Both Seneca and Onondaga ambassadors were in Canada that 

 year, which resulted in the journey of Fathers Joseph Chaumonot 

 and Claude Dablon to Onondaga, where a firm alliance was made 

 and a place selected for a colony, this being changed from Salmon 

 river to Onondaga lake. 



The two missionaries were received with the usual stately 

 Iroquois ceremonies for ambassadors, and they have left graphic 

 accounts of these. As in many other cases, Garakontie', the head 

 chief and always their host, was called by the Onondaga council 

 name. Nov. 7, 1655, " It was told the Father in this assembly, 

 first that [S] Agochiendaguete', who is as the great king of all 

 the country, and Onnontio were equally firm and constant in their 

 decisions." The French superior of missions was called Achi- 

 endase' by the Iroquois, and all the missionaries had Indian 

 names, which were given to others when they died. Curiously 

 enough, Mr J. G. Shea thought Garakontie' was not a principal 

 chief and that he was a nephew of Sagochiendaguete'. This 

 came from a confusion of names. 



Nov. 18 a chapel was built, of which Dablon said, *' For mar- 

 bles and precious stones we had but bark; but the way to heaven 

 is as open through a roof of bark as through fretted ceilings of 

 silver and gold." The mission was named St John Baptist. 



The speeches and songs in the council at this time Avere fully 

 recorded by Dablon, Garakontie' intoning most of the latter. It 

 was a beautiful land which the French were to inhabit. The 

 news of their coming was good and their speech heavenly. Very 

 welcome were these brethren of the delightful voice. Farewell 

 to war and all its horrors. Both parties had been mad, but were 

 now brothers. The great peace was made, everything was beau- 



