a path on the top of the hill. At three o'clock we came to Kiskemeneco, an old Indian town, a rich bottom, well timbered, good fine English grass, well watered, and lays waste since the war began.[1] We let our horses feed here, and agreed that lieutenant Hays might go back with his party; and as they were short of provisions, we, therefore, gave them a little of ours, which they took very kind of us. Thomas Hickman could find no other road, and came to us again a little ashamed; we were glad to see him; and we went about three miles farther, where we made a large fire. Here the Indians looked over their presents, and grumbled at me; they thought, if they had gone the other way by Shamokin, they would have got more. Captain Bull spoke in their favour against me. Then I said to them, "I am ashamed to see you grumble about presents; I thought you were sent to establish a peace." Though I confess I was not pleased that the Indians were so slightly fitted out from Easton, as the general had nothing to give them, in the critical circumstances he was in, fit for their purpose.
12th.—Early in the morning, I spoke to the Indians of
my company, "Brethren, you have now passed through
the heart of the country back and forward, likewise
through the midst of the army, without any difficulty
or danger; you have seen and heard a great deal. When
I was among you, at Alleghenny, you told me, I should
not regard what the common people would say, but only
hearken to the chiefs; I should take no bad stories along.
I did accordingly; and when I left Alleghenny I dropt all
————
- ↑ Heckewelder says that the word "Kiskiminitas" means "make daylight," and was due to the impatient exclamation of some eager warrior encamped on the spot. The town here mentioned was in Armstrong County, on a creek of the same name, about seven miles from where it flows into the Allegheny River.―Ed.
