told us by the chief of the Indian traders; and they said further, brothers, this is the last time we shall come among you; for the French and the English intend to kill all the Indians, and then divide the land among themselves.
Then they addressed themselves to me, and said, "Brother, I suppose you know something about it; or has the Governor stopped your mouth, that you cannot tell us?"
Then I said, "Brothers, I am very sorry to see you so jealous. I am your own flesh and blood, and sooner than I would tell you any story that would be of hurt to you, or your children, I would suffer death: and if I did not know that it was the desire of the Governor, that we should renew our old brotherly love and friendship, that subsisted between our grandfathers, I would not have undertaken this journey. I do assure you of mine and the people's honesty. If the French had not been here, the English would not have come; and consider, brothers, whether, in such a case, we can always sit still."
Then they said, "It is a thousand pities we did not know this sooner; if we had, it would have been peace long before now."
Then I said, "My brothers, I know you have been wrongly persuaded by many wicked people; for you must
know, that there are a great many Papists in the country, in French interest, who appear like gentlemen, and have sent many runaway Irish papist servants[1] among you, who have put bad notions into your heads, and strengthened you against your brothers the English.
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- ↑ The Indian traders uſed to buy the tranſported Irish, and other convicts, as fervants, to be employed in carrying up the goods among the Indians. The ill behaviour of theſe people has always hurt the character of the English among the Indians.—[C. T.?]
