246 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



joining the Iroquois, and it sccnicd necessary to strike tliat 

 people. Frontenac held a council with the ( )ttawas July 18, 

 and others followed. They liad made peace with the Iroquois, 

 but they were induced to break this, and they treacherously 

 attacked and defeated one of their parties. Some of the pris- 

 oners were Hurons, but the French no longer feared peace 

 between the Iroquois and Ottawas. Some of the latter were 

 recalled by Frontenac to roast and eat an Iroquois prisoner, 

 but he died before they could torture him, so they cut ofT his 

 head for a feast and departed. 



Speaking of some depredations below Montreal this year, it 

 was said, '' These blow^s were struck by some Alohaw^ks and 

 Oneidas, as we discover by their tomahawks, wdiich they left 

 sticking in the ground, according to their custom." There are 

 many references to this. 



In Aquendara's speech at Onondaga in 1695, he commented 

 severely on European pretensions, and said : 



We, warriors, are the first and the ancient people, and the 

 greatest of you all. These parts and countries were all inhabited 

 and trod upon by us, the warriors, before any Christian. (Then 

 stamping hard with his foot on the ground, he said) We shall 

 not suffer Cadaracqui to be inhabited again. 



All that summer 700 men were repairing that fort, preparing 

 for the coming year. In 1696 a plan to attack the Mohawks was 

 given up, the snow being very deep in the woods and 7 feet of 

 snow everywhere between Montreal and the fort, a thing never 

 before known. This only retarded hostilities. The great war 

 kettle was set over by Frontenac, humanity was to be laid aside, 

 and the Onondagas to be first subdued as most mutinous of all. 



Just before this, the Iroquois had sent deputies to conclude 

 peace with the five Mackinaw nations, and one present brought 

 back was " a calumet of red stone, of extraordinary size and 

 beauty." The Iroquois had hunted on good terms with the 

 Hurons the whole winter, but were attacked by French Indians. 

 The western nations refused to join the expedition against 

 Onondaga. 



In June, 10 Ottawas were prowling near that place, but made 



