way to follow us; and we left him some meat. We came to the river Conaquonashon [Conequenessing Creek], where was an old Indian town. We were then fifteen miles from Kushkushkee.
There we stopt, and sent forward Pisquetumen with four strings of wampum to apprize the town of our coming,[1] with this message:
"Brother,[2] thy brethren are come a great way, and want to see thee, at thy fire, to smoak that good tobacco,[3] which our good grandfathers used to smoak. Turn thy eyes once more upon that road, by which I came.[4] I bring thee words of great consequence from the Governor, and people of Pennsylvania, and from the king of England. Now I desire thee to call all the kings and captains from all the towns, that none may be missing. I do not desire that my words may be hid, or spoken under cover. I want to speak loud, that all the Indians may hear me. I hope thou wilt bring me on the road, and lead me into the town. I blind the French, that they may not see me, and stop their ears, that they may not hear the great news I bring you.
About noon we met some Shawanese, that used to live at Wyoming. They knew me, and received me very kindly. I saluted them, and assured them the government of Pennsylvania wished them well, and wished to live in peace and friendship with them. Before we came to the
————
- ↑ According to the rules of Indian politeness, you must never go into a town without fending a previous message to denote your arrival, or, standing at a diſtance from the town, and hallooing till some come out, to conduct you in. Otherwise you are thought as rude as white men.—[C. T.?]
- ↑ When the people of a town, or of a nation, are addreffed, the Indians always use the singular number.—[C. T.?]
- ↑ i.e. To confer in a friendly manner.—[C. T.?]
- ↑ i.e. Call to mind our ancient friendly intercourse.—[C. T.?]
