310 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



came later, and about lOO were at the council which opened 

 Dec. 13, continuing till the 30th. No Mohawks were present, 

 but all there were friendly to the French, the Oneidas particu- 

 larly so. The latter gave up their English medals, and left 17 

 deputies to spend the winter there. It was a great expense 

 holding such a council, but unavoidable. The meeting was thus 

 summed up : 



Such has been this famous embassy of the Five Nations, the 

 most important that has occurred for a long time, and which 

 ought to be regarded as indeed important under existing circum- 

 stances. . . The neutrality of those Nations is one of the 

 greatest advantages we could obtain over the English. 



The French desired more than neutrality, which the Cayugas 

 are said to have long maintained. A shrewd move was made : 



The Oneidas presented the Cayugas a Belt £rom which an 

 English scalp was suspended. This proceeding had been the 

 thought of an Iroquois, a shrewd politician to get an English 

 scalp introduced into the cabin of the Cayugas, where, as yet, 

 there have not been any. 



The Indians desired to look into French customs of a social 

 nature, in which they might share. It is said : '' The Ambassa- 

 dors asked to remain until the morrow. New Year's day, because 

 they had been told that on that day the Pale faces kissed each 

 other and that liquor was furnished." 



Among other curious notes of this council is the following: 



In regard to the Belts presented by the latter, each of them 

 furnished in turn and contributed equally to that expense, and 

 as the Indians are very particular in exhibiting the share they 

 possess in these presents, at the end of each speech, the orator 

 is careful, when handing the Belt, to cry out the name of the 

 Canton, or Nation, which has furnished it. 



Chapter 19 



Council at Onondaga. Six Nations neutral, but Mississagas hostile to them. 

 Peace with the Cherokees. Easton council. Teedyuscung. German Flats 

 destroyed. Abercrombie defeated. Land dispute settled at Easton. Teed- 

 yuscung reproved. Council at Canajoharie. Iroquois take the war belts. 

 Canadian Indians abandon the French. Forts built. Niagara taken. Assen- 

 sing council. Montreal taken. Iroquois present. Religion and education. 

 Prisoners released. Plans for schools. Murders at Kanestio. 



A council was held at Onondaga in the spring of 1757, and 



the Onondagas, Cayugas and vSenecas resolved to be neutral. 



