For the next seventy five years there was an almost 
constant warfare between the Iroquois and the French. The 
Indians made raids into Canada, killed the settlers, destroyed 
the erops, and more than once brought the Colonists to the 
verge of famine. At one time the French became so disconsolate 
that they called upon the Massacheusetts colony for aid. But 
the English having nothing to gain and all to lose by such a 
compact would not enter into a combat with a friendly Indian 
nation, who as friends were faithful, but who, as enemies, were 
almost irresistable. 
In 1684 a party of Senecas pillaged seven hundred French 
canoes, and took several prisoners. M. de la Barre, who was 
then governor of Canada made preparations to punish the Senecas 
for their insolence. Just as soon as he reached the Seneca: 
country he received the report that the Governor of New York 
had promised aid to the Indians in case of an attack. On 
account of his alarm, and the great amount of sickness in his 
army he returned to Canada, without having done anything. 
The next year Denonville superseded M. ce la Barre, 
After looking over the situation carefully he came to the con- 
elusion that the Indians must be punished severely if the 
French were to keep any prestige. le estimatec that the 
Seneca nation could muster 1°CC warriors, We said that they 
were the strongest and the most insolent of the five nations, 
and that the French could never sub juzate them except they 
surprise them. 
