[ 40 ] 
the trees at a little diftance, I fuppofe to keep 
the fmall children from ftealing the fruit before 
they were ripe : here we halted and turned our 
horfes to grafs, while the inhabitants cleared a 
cabin for our reception ; they brought us 
vi&uals, and we difpatched a meffenger im- 
mediately to Onondago to let them know 
how near we were, it being within 4 miles. 
All the Indians , men, women and children 
came to gaze at us and our horfes, the little 
boys and girls climbed on the roofs of their 
cabins, about ten in number to enjoy a fuller 
view, we fet out about ten, and travelled over 
good land all the way, moftly an eafy defcent, 
fome lime-ftone, then down the eaft hill, over 
ridges of lime-ftone rock, but generally a mo- 
derate defcent into the fine vale where this 
capital (if I may fo call it) is fituated. 
We alighted at the council houfe, where 
the chiefs were already affembled to re- 
ceive us, which they did with a grave chear- 
ful complaifance, according to their cuftom ; 
they fhew’d us where to lay our baggage, and 
repofe ourfelves during our ftay with them ; 
which was in the two end apartments of this 
large houfe. The Indians that came with us, 
were placed over againft us : this cabin is about 
80 feet long, and 17 broad, the common 
paffage 6 feet wide; and the apartments on 
each fide 5 feet, raifed a foot above the paffage 
by a long fapling hewed fquare, and fitted 
with 
