THE CODE OF HANDSOME LAKE 1 37 



his home in Philadelphia.' A warrior accepted the commission and 

 guided the prisoner safely back to his home where he found him to 

 be a man of prominence, a chief among his people." 



" So I say this," added Mrs Tallchief, " to show that my grand- 

 father was a good man, just and kind. Because of these qualities 

 he became influential." 



CORNPLANTER AND WASHINGTON 



" Now during the war of the thirteen fires against the king of 

 Great Britain, we, the Iroquois, were loyal to our old allies, the 

 British. We fought for them, but, alas for us they -were beaten. 

 Now Washington, the great leader of the thirteen fires, was deter- 

 mined to punish us for our part in the war, for he did not realize 

 that we were but keeping our treaties with the British when we 

 fought. So Washington said, ' Depart from among us and go to 

 the west far from the white people.' But Cornplanter said, 'Not 

 so. We are determined not to move. We have long lived here and 

 intend to continue in our own territory as long as we are able to 

 hold it.' ' Not so,' answered Washington, ' you fought against us 

 and therefore you must move on to the west and if you refuse we 

 shall compel you.' ' Then,' answered Cornplanter, ' we will resist 

 you by force of arms. If you win we will have to go, otherwise we 

 will remain where we now are.' 



" Cornplanter returned from Washington to his people and 

 spread the news. Quickly it traveled among all the Indians to the 

 south, the east and the west. All were very angry and said, ' We 

 will fight. When the white man tries to move us as they please it 

 is time that we moved a few white men.' Then the western Indians 

 began to massacre the settlers. The news came to Washington. 

 ' It is a mistake to encourage another Indian war,' he said and then 

 sent for Cornplanter. ' I want to settle our difficulties,' said he, 

 ' and I wish peace. I do not wish war, therefore you, Cornplanter, 

 must pacify your people.' ' I care not to meddle further with mat- 

 ters,' said Cornplanter. ' But you must go,' insisted Washington, 

 ' you are the only man who can restore peace and good will.' Thus 

 it was that Cornplanter accepted the commission. He returned 

 home and collecting a party of chiefs sent abroad declarations of 

 peace. The delegation went through Sandusky into the farther 

 west. There Cornplanter called a council and said, ' We must be 

 peaceful with the white men and cease tormenting them.' Now the 

 tribe was a very fierce one and was very angry that Cornplanter 



