( m ) 



quins, juft as David's brethren did formerly, when 

 that young fhepherd afked leave to go and fight the 

 giant Goliah. They told them it was vain to pre- 

 tend to be abler huntfrrten than the Algonquins; that 

 their office was to turn the glebe, and that if be- 

 came therri to leave the honourable profeffiofi of 

 hunting to their betters, to whom that exercife was 

 more fuitable. 



The Iroquois affronted at this anfwer made no 

 reply, but on the night following, they fet out pri- 

 vately to hunt. The Algonquins, when they a- 

 woke, were furprifed to find the Iroquois gone, but 

 their furprife was foon changed into the moft violent 

 hatred. For the fame evening they had the morti- 

 fication to fee the Iroquois returning loaded with 

 the flefh of elks. There are no mortals more fuf- 

 ceptible of an affront, or who cafry their refentment 

 farther than the Indians. The effects of this were 

 fudden, for the Iroquois had fcarce clofed their eyes* 

 when they were all butcher'd. Such a murder could 

 not be long concealed, and tho' their bodies were 

 buried fecretly, it was very foon known to their na* 

 tion. They at firft made their complaints with 

 great moderation, but they infilled on having juftice 

 done on the murderers. They were too much def- 

 pifed to obtain their requeft, nor were they thought 

 worthy of receiving the fmalleft fatisfa&ion. 



The Iroquois being thus drove t0 defpair, came 

 to a determined refolution to revenge the contefnpt 

 fhewn them, and piqued themfelves more on punifh* 

 ing this, than even the murder itfelf. They bound 

 themfelves by oath to perifh to a man, of to have 

 their revenge but as they did not believe them- 

 felves in a condition to try their fortune againfl the 

 Algonquins, the terror of whofe name alone kept 

 U 2 all 



