laft had then 3 or 4 cones, on 2 or 3 trees, but 
they were quite green. 
This afternoon the chiefs met in council, 
and three of them fpoke for near a quarter of an 
hour each, two of thefe while fpeaking, walked 
backward and forward in the common paf- 
fage, near 2 thirds of its length, with a flow 
even pace, and much compofure and gravity 
in their countenance; the other delivered what 
he had to fay fitting in the middle, in a grace- 
ful tone exhorting them to a clofe indiffoluble 
amity and unanimity, for, it was by this per- 
fect union their forefathers had conquered their 
enemies, were refpedted by their allies, and 
honoured by all the world ; that they were 
now met according to their antient cuftom, 
tho’ feveral imminent dangers ftood in their 
way, mountains, rivers, fnakes and evil fpirits, 
but that by the afflftance of the great Spirit 
they now faw each others faces according to 
appointment. 
This the interpreter told me was the opening 
of the diet, and was in the opinion of thefe 
people abundantly fuflicient for one day, fince 
there is nothing they contemn fo much as 
precipitation in publick councils ; indeed they 
efteem it at all times a mark of much levity in 
any one to return an immediate anfwer to a 
ferious queftion however obvious, and they 
confequently fpin out a Treaty, where many 
points are to be moved, to a great length of 
time, 
