goods, to compensate them for their trouble and time in coming to these conferences; that their expenses should be paid during their stay; and that all their kettles, guns, and hatchets should be mended for them; and the speakers took good care to remind the colonists of these claims, and to have them duly discharged. As it may be interesting to many to see what sort of goods were given on these occasions, we may take the following as a specimen, which were delivered to them at the conference of 1742, in part payment for the cession of some territory.
| 500 pounds of powder. 600 pounds of lead. 45 guns. 60 Stround matchcoats. 100 blankets. 100 Duffil matchcoats. 200 yards half-thick. 100 shirts. 40 hats. 40 pairs shoes and buckles. 40 pairs stockings. 100 hatchets. 500 knives. 100 hoes. |
60 kettles. 100 tobacco tongs. 100 scissars. 500 awl blades. 120 combs. 2000 needles. 1000 flints. 24 looking-glasses. 2 pounds of vermilion. 100 tin pots. 1000 tobacco pipes. 200 pounds of tobacco. 24 dozen of gartering. 25 gallons of rum. |
In another list we find no less than four dozens of jew's harps. Canassateego, on the delivery of the above goods, made a speech which lets us into the real notions and feelings of the Indians on what was going on in that day. "We received from the proprietor," said he, "yesterday, some goods in consideration of our release of the lands on the west side of Susquehanna. It is true, we have the full quantity according to agreement; but, if the proprietor had been here in person, we think, in regard to our numbers and
