HISTORY OF THE NEW YORK IROQUOIS 283 



War was declared in 1744, and Virginia and ATaryland were 

 therefore very conciliatory, so that the Lancaster council was a 

 great occasion. Witham IMarshe gave a full and picturesque 

 account. The Iroquois party numbered 252, Canassatego march- 

 ing at the head. 



They placed their cabins according to the rank each nation 

 of them holds in their grand council. The Onondagoes nation 

 was placed on the right hand and upper end, then the others 

 according to their several dignities. 



Madame Montour was there, and Marshe gave good descrip- 

 tions of Canassatego and the Black Prince: 



Canassatego was a tall, well-made man ; had a very full chest, 

 and brawny limbs. He had a manly countenance, mixt with a 

 good-natured smile. He was about 60 years of age ; very active, 

 strong, and had a surprising liveliness in his speech, which I 

 observed in the discourse between him, Mr Weiser and some of 

 the sachems. Tachanuntie, another sachem, a chief of the same 

 nation, was a tall, thin man ; old, and not so well featured as 

 Canassatego. I believe he may be near the same age with him. 

 He is one of the greatest warriors that ever the Five Nations 

 produced, and has been a great war-captain for many years past. 

 He is also called the Black Prince. 



By invitation of the Maryland commissioner, 24 chiefs dined 



with the principal white men present, occupying two tables out 



of five. " They fed lustily, drank heartily, and were very greasy 



i before they finished their dinner, for, by the bye, they made no 



!use of their forks." 



i The Cayuga chief, Gachradodon, gave a new name to Mary- 



jland, which was Tocaryhogon, Occupying the Middle or Honor- 



lable Place. He was praised by the governor, who said he would 



thave made a good figure in the forum of ancient Rome, and a 



commissioner declared he never had seen so just an action in the 



great orators he had heard. Notwithstanding the good cheer, 



|when it came to signing the treaty, they "were obliged to put 



labout the glass pretty briskly," nor did all sign at once. Their 



[right to the Virginia lands being challenged, Tochanuntie 



lanswered : 



I We have the Right of Conquest — a Right too dearly Purchas'd, 

 (and which cost us too much Blood to give up without any Reason 



