HISTORY OF THE NEW YORK IROQUOIS 205 



tiful, and henceforth there would be mutual support. It was a 

 time of rejoicing. 



About this time the Dutch had Indian troubles, there being an 

 outbreak near Manhattan, and in October the Dutch at Fort 

 Orange thought it prudent to renew their Mohawk alliance. In 

 November lOO Mohawks came there to say that they were about 

 to attack the Hurons and asked the Dutch to be neutral. 



The Mohawks and Onondagas were often in antagonism. In 

 1656 a Mohawk chief desired the French " to close the door of 

 his houses and his forts to the Onnontagueronnon, who wishes 

 to be my foe, and who broods over thoughts of war against me." 

 A little earlier the Mohawks had killed a Seneca ambassador 

 near Montreal, jealous of his mission to the French. This 

 nearly caused a war between the two nations, going so far that 

 the Mohawks unsuccessfully applied to the Dutch for mediation 

 and aid. This matter was afterward settled at Onondaga, though 

 the two nations " were at the point of entering into war." Their 

 alliance was not old enough to make them thoroughly one. In 

 1653 an Onondaga chief had told the French " that it was very 

 necessary to distinguish between nation and nation ; that the 

 Onnontaeronnons were not unfaithful like the Anniehronnon 

 Iroquois," with like complimentary speeches. 



Chaumonot and Dablon have left notes of their winter at 

 Onondaga, but found the people impatient of French delays. 

 For three years they had talked of founding a colony, but nothing 

 had been done. If they did not act at once, the plan would be 

 abandoned and war might follow. On this Dablon returned to 

 Montreal early in March 1656, crossing Oneida lake on the ice 

 and reaching Montreal after a fearful journey. The emergency 

 was seen, his mission was successful, and the French colony left 

 Quebec, May 17, 1756, escorted by some Onondagas, Senecas and 

 Hurons. There were four Jesuit fathers and two brothers in the 

 party, and between 50 and 60 colonists and soldiers. Soon after 

 starting, they were assailed by a party of Mohawks, who mal- 

 treated some of the Onondagas, but made excuses, fearing war 

 with that people. 



