arrival, assembled, and came up to me, accompanied by their young men, expecting presents, which I was obliged to make; and I asked permission to stay on their ground. Some consented, and others disapproved; at the last, after consulting each other, they told me I might go on with the building. The men immediately proceeded with cheerfulness and dispatch, in hopes of finishing the business before their return; but how transitory are all human events! whilst the men were at work, some Indians came in great haste to desire my attendance at the council fire, which was at a small distance from my intended place of residence. I obeyed the summons, and sat down by the chiefs, when one of them rose up, and addressed me to the following effect.
[173] "You are the Sugar, for so you are called in our
tongue, but you must not have too much sweetness on
your lips. All the Oneida Indians say they have heard
that you are only come under a pretence to get our lands
from us; but this must not be, my young warriors will
not suffer any Englishman to settle here. You are like
the great chief, General Johnson, who asked for a spot
of ground, or large bed, to lie on; and when Hendrick, the
chief of the Mohawks, had granted his request, he got
possession of a great quantity of our hunting grounds;
and we have reason to think that you intend to dream us
out of our natural rights.[1] We loved Sir William, and
therefore consented to all his requests; but you are a
stranger, and must not take these liberties: therefore,
————
- ↑ Hendrick was the well-known Mohawk chief, born about 1680, whose friendship for the English and especially for Sir William Johnson kept his tribe firm in the English alliance during the French wars. Hendrick lived at Cana- joharie in the Mohawk Valley. At the Albany Conference (1754), he was one of the most prominent negotiators; but was killed in the battle of Lake George the following year.―Ed.
