328 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Some lawless people again made trouble in 1766 by settling 

 on land beyond Fort Pitt and killing Indians there. In July 

 Johnson had a council at Oswego with Pontiac and chiefs of the 

 Ottawas, Pottawattomies, Hurons and Ojibwas, which he opened 

 with the usual ceremonies, and then caused Pontiac's pipe to be 

 lighted and passed to all present by the interpreter. The Iro- 

 quois, who were present, seem to have used the calumet less for- 

 mally than the southern and western Indians. 



On the third day Otschiniata came with some Onondaga war- 

 riors, desiring a hearing. They had come back with a Cherokee 

 scalp and gave it to Sir William to be disposed of after they had 

 painted the scalp belt attached to it. He gave them pipes, 

 tobacco and liquor, and they crossed the river and danced all 

 night. The council was held in a bower prepared for the pur- 

 pose. Teyawarunte, the Onondaga speaker, stoo.d up in the full 

 council afterward and replaced Ganughsadega, former speaker of I 

 the Onondagas, in Johnson's name, as he had long ago given a 1 

 large black belt of wampum for this purpose. The scalp was 

 taken by Karaghiagigo, an Onondaga friend of Sir William. 



Pontiac said that all the belts that went northward went by his 

 village and came from the Senecas. It would take long to gather 

 them, and they were more than a man could carry. Only one 

 bad belt had come from him, and he now recalled this from thd 

 Six Nations, begging them to return it. " The Onondaga speaker 

 lighted a calumet of peace, which Sir William left in their hands 

 many years ago for that purpose, and handed it about to the 

 Western Indians." He then addressed them on a bunch of wam- 

 pum, exhorting all to peace. The report that some Onondagas 

 had been killed by the English near Fort Pitt was false^ for they 

 were now present. He asked that a Frenchman, now trading 

 there for ginseng, might be allowed to live among the Onondagas 

 and Oneidas, or on Oneida lake. The Onondagas liked no 

 troublesome belts, and none such should come to their town or 

 council ; they therefore left the withdrawal of Pontiac's belt to 

 the Senecas, Cayugas and Oneidas. That chief promised con- 

 tinued friendship and peace. 



