to Horth-hmzncz. 2 3 



gard that I am oblig'd to fet out for Fort Fronnnac 

 the day after to morrow , I have not time to in- 

 form my felf of things, or to confult thofe who 

 have been in the Country before : So that all I can 

 do atprefent, is only to acquaint you with what I 

 have learn'd this Winter, from Perfons that have 

 fojourn'd twenty years among ? em. As foon as I 

 have an opportunity of inlarging my knowledge 

 upon that Head, by a more immediate con verfation 

 with themfelves, you may aflure your felf that 111 

 impart it to you. In the mean time, be pleas'd tp 

 accept of what follows. 



Thefe Barbarians are drawn up in five Cantons, 

 not unlike thofe of the Stviffes. Tho' thefe Can- 

 tons are all of one Nation, and united in one joync 

 intereft, yet they go by different names, viz,, the 

 Tfonontcuans, the Goyogoans, the Onnotagues, the Qnoy- 

 outs y and the Agnies. Their Language is almoft the 

 fame ; and the five Villages or Plantations in which 

 they live, lie at the diftance of thirty Leagues one 

 from another, being all feared near the South fide 

 of the Lake of Ontario, or of Frontenac. Every year 

 the five Cantons fend Deputies to affift at the Unis- 

 on Feaft, and to fmoak in the great Calumet, or Pipe 

 of the five Nations. Each Village or Canton con- 

 tains about fourteen thoufand Soul5 3 i. e. 1 joo that 

 bear Arms, 2000 Superannuated Men, 4000 Wo- 

 men, 2000 Maids, and 4000 Children : Tho' indeed 

 fome will tell you, that each Village has not above 

 10000 or 1 1000 Souls. There has been an Alliance 

 of long ftanding between thefe Nations and the 

 Englijhy and by trading in Furrs to New-7fr£, they 

 are fupply'd by the Egglijh with Arms, Ammuniti- 

 on, and all other Neceffaries, at a cheaper rate than 

 the French can afford 'em ac. They have no other 

 eonfideration for England or France, than what de- 

 pends upon the occalion they have for the Commo- 

 dities of thefe two Nations; though after all they 



Q 4 



