HISTORY OF THE NEW YORK IROQUOIS 279 



They also addressed the French in September, saying they 

 did not know why their people were then at Albany. They 

 mourned Joncaire's death, replanting the tree of peace and asking 

 the return of his son. The older Joncaire told Charlevoix of the 

 oil springs in 1721, and both of his sons became influential with 

 the Indians. They also wanted the blacksmith back again, hav- 

 ing retained the whole forge for him. Laforge was invited and 

 permitted to spend a year with his friends at Onondaga. That 

 year the famous Abbe Francois Picquet built a strong fort at 

 the Mission of the Two Mountains. 



The Senecas sent a message in August 1741 to Governor de 

 Beauharnois, whom they called Skenon, or Peace, saying they 

 were famished, but wanted the blacksmith back, should any of 

 them remain alive. Laforge, the blacksmith, could not come till 

 the next year. His wife was reared among the Onondagas, and 

 they wanted her there. In fact, the French smith left the Sen- 

 ecas because they gave all their work to the English smith, and 

 he feared dying of hunger, not earning enough to buy an ear of 

 corn. The New York Iroquois wished simply to trade at the 

 best markets and that no coercion should be used either at 

 Niagara or Oswego. At this time Beauharnois raised or installed 

 som.e Canadian Iroquois chiefs. 



Chapter 16 



Land bought at Irondequoit. Six Nations. Catawbas and Cherokees at 

 peace. Canassatego and the Delawares. Zinzendorf. Bartram's jour- 

 ney. Lancaster council. Black Prince. Name for Maryland. Cataw- 

 bas. Moravians at Onondaga. Six Nations dissatisfied. Scalp bounties. 

 Colonel Johnson. Oquaga Indians. Mississagas. Young Indians 

 desire war. Johnson at Onondaga. Treaties at Lancaster and Logstown. 



Notwithstanding French opposition, Clarke got a deed of the 

 land at Irondequoit from the Seneca chiefs by means of those 

 sent as usual to live in their country. They were ordered to go 

 around the land with the chiefs and mark the trees, that it might 

 be known what was English land, the tract being 30 miles square. 

 The deed was signed by three Seneca sachems, the consideration 

 being £100 and " sundry good causes." 



