HISTORY OF THE NEW YORK IROQUOIS 313 



The treaty required the approval of the Six Nations. At the end 

 of the council there was a grand dinner for all present, peace was 

 formally proclaimed and interpreted to the Indians, and salutes 

 were fired. There were bonfires and dances, with supplementary 

 conferences. Teedyuscung said: 



I was styled by my uncles the Six Nations, a woman, in former 

 years, and had no hatchet in my hand, but a pestle or homminy 

 pounder. As I had no tomahawk, and my uncles were always 

 styled men, and had tomahawks in their hands, they gave me a 

 tomahawk, and appointed and authorized me to make peace 

 with a tomahawk in my hand, I take that tomahawk, and turn 

 the edge of it against your enemies the French. 



A curious effect of scalp bounties, even on women, is seen in 



the petition of Margery Mitchell, Oct. 26, 1757: 



P I was some time ago in Philada., in Expectation of recg a 

 reward from the Com" for an Indian Scalp, but was quite dis- 

 appointed ; it ill suited me at the time to take so fatiguing & 

 expensive a Journey, one might think Common humanity.^would 

 induce the Gentlemen to allow me some small matter on that 

 occasion. 



German Flats was destroyed in November 1757. The people 

 had been warned by the Oneidas, but felt secure. It was attacked 

 by 300 French and Indians under M. de Belletre. A few Onon- 

 dagas joined him at Famine river, and he sent a message to 

 Oneida Castle by four influential Indians, six Oneidas joining 

 him. The Palatine settlement was protected by five small forts, 

 all of which were destroyed. None of the French were killed, 

 but 40 colonists perished, 150 were made prisoners and 60 houses 

 were burned. In another fort were 350 men, not a mile away. 



The Oneidas and Tuscaroras were asked why they had not 

 given the alarm ; on which they showed that they had done so, 

 but their advice was not heeded. The Germans said the same. 

 It was the castle at Oneida lake and not the upper one to which 

 the French sent word. The latter was not to be told. 



In the spring of 1758 the French commander at Fort Duquesne 



made unfriendly comments on the Six Nations and sent Wyandot 



spies to Onondaga, who told their errand and wished a trading 



' post might be built there. The Seneca chief, John Hudson, or 



