in for want of a Chief I present You this Belt of Wampum and this Present to wipe away your Tears, and I desire you may choose amongst Yourselves one of your wisest Counsellors and present to your Brethren the Six Nations and me for a Chief, and he so chosen by you shall be looked upon by us as your King, with whom Publick Business shall be transacted. Brethren, to enforce this on your Minds I present you this Belt of Wampum."—Gave a Belt of Wampum, which was received with the Yohah.[1]
A Speech delivered the Shawonese from the Honourable James Hamilton, Governor of Pennsylvania, by George Croghan:
"Brethren the Shawonese:—Three years ago
when some of your Chiefs and some Chiefs of the Six
Nations came down to Lancaster with our Brethren the
Twightwees, they informed me that your People that
went away with Peter Chartier was coming back, and
since that I hear that Part of them are returned. I am
glad to hear that they are coming home to you again that
you may become once more a People, and not as you were
dispersed thro' the World. I do not blame you for what
happened, for the wisest of People sometimes make mistakes;
it was the French that the Indians call their Fathers
that deceived You and scattered you about the Woods
that they might have it in their Power to keep you poor.
Brethren, I assure you by this Present that I am fully
reconcil'd and have forgot any thing that you have done,
and I hope for the future there will be a more free and
open Correspondence between us; and now your Brethren
————
- ↑ Indians receive a speech with grunts of approval, which the French annalists spelled "ho-ho." Croghan is apparently giving the English rendering of this term.—Ed.
