206 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM ■ 



At Montreal they embarked in 20 canoes, leaving there June 

 8. A large flag of white taffeta, with the name of Jesus, floated 

 over one of these. Some Mohawks were encountered, whom the 

 Onondagas, their kindred, reviled and plundered. Hunger 

 pressed the party sorely, July 3, but they hoped for relief at 

 Otiatonnehengue', the fishing village at the mouth of Salmon 

 river. No one was there, the fishing season being over, and 

 from their distress the place was long known as La Famine. 

 Charlevoix connected this name with De la Barre's camp there, 

 but it appeared before that time. 



Out of 14 Indians but five remained with them, and the party 

 struggled on, contending with the waves of the lake and the 

 rapids of Oswego river, hungry and faint all the way. At 

 Oswego Falls there came welcome relief. Salmon filled the 

 river and the Onondagas sent them food. Brimming kettles were 

 set over the fires. They reveled in their abundant supplies and 

 rejoiced, for " one fair day effaces the memory of ten which are 

 bad." Pleasantly they ascended the broad and beautiful stream, 

 entering Onondaga lake, July 11, firing their five small cannon and 

 advancing in ranks of four canoes. They were joyfully received 

 by the assembled multitudes, and the fortified mission of St Mary 

 of Gannentaa was soon built on the eastern shore of the lake. 



The colonists of New York and Canada differed in the appro- 

 priation of land. The former purchased land at a nominal price, 

 the latter took what they wanted. In the allied documents of 

 Burrows's edition of the Jesuit Relations is a translation of a 

 deed given by Governor Lauson to the Jesuits at this time. There 

 was granted and given to them : ji 



Ten leagues of space in every direction — that is to say, ten 

 leagues front and ten leagues depth, — and where they shall 

 choose to establish themselves in the country of the Upper Irocois 

 called Onondageoronons, be it in or near the village of Onnon- 

 dage, or at Gannentae, or as is said, in that place where they 

 shall judge most convenient to them, the said space and extent 

 of ten leagues square is to be possessed by the said reverend 

 Jesuit fathers, their successors and assigns, in freehold forever. 



The Onondaga town lay within this space, and its people 



