HISTORY OF THE NEW YORK IROQUOIS 345 



refered themselves intirely to our Government and determination, 

 they have joined their words to us, who are the head of the 

 whole, and you now see them all in us here present. 



The Six Nations were indeed alarmed at the invasion of the 

 Shawnees' country by Virginia; and, though the Shawnees 

 handled their foes severely, a real defeat and this stern answer 

 left them no hope. Happily for all, the war was soon over and 

 was forgotten in the stirring events which followed. 



The great union belt, given them before the last war, and 

 which had always lain at the Oaondaga council fire, was now 

 placed at the western door of the league, among the Senecas. 

 Another belt, now given by Colonel Johnson, they would place 

 carefully among their great belts at Onondaga, often looking at 

 it that they might forget no part. 



In January 1775 the Iroquois chiefs came to Colonel Johnson 

 on important business. The Shawnees had sent a message tell- 

 ing of their treaty with Virginia, and a statement that that prov- 

 ince intended to quarrel with the Six Nations, on which they 

 were invited to a council on the Ohio in the spring. The Onei- 

 das also said that the Rev. Mr Kirkland reported that the king 

 would allow no more goods to be sent to the colonies or Indians, 

 and powder would soon be very high. They did not like this, 

 , as things were already dear. The Indians would decline the 

 [invitation to this council, but would call the Shawnees to one in 

 jNew York. 



j Just as the conference closed some Shawnees came with a 

 jsecond message that seven Senecas were condemned to death 

 I at Fort Pitt, having lived with the Shawnees and taken their 

 [part. The Iroquois blamed their conduct, but asked Johnson's 

 jinterposition. He said they were held only as hostages till their 

 Scioto friends should lay down their arms. They had been so 

 long estranged that the Six Nations need not interest themselves, 

 [but consider them as wrongdoers. The Seneca chief, Kaya- 

 jshuta, had applied to the governor of Virginia in their behalf, 

 jis they were connections of some principal chiefs. Two were 

 pleased and the irons taken from the rest. 



