Page:Historic highways of America (Volume 8).djvu/184

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180
MILITARY ROADS

Iroquois land. A Shawanese chieftain, whose name was not recorded, answered on the part of the hostile tribes. His words were a bold rebuke to the Six Nations for maintaining friendship with the United States. " . . although you consider us your younger brothers," sneered the Shawanese, "your seats are not at such a distance, but what we can see your conduct plainly; these are the reasons why we consider you to speak from the outside of your lips; for whenever you hear the voice of the United States, you immediately take your packs and attend their councils. . . We see plainly folded under your arm the voice of the United States—wish you to unfold it to us, that we may see it freely and consult on it." So saying he threw a triple string of wampum across the fire to the Senecas rather than handing it across in a friendly way. That Philadelphia conference of last March did not please the western tribes.

In turn the Seneca sketched the story of the French and English domination and of the birth of the United States, which, he said, desired peace with the confederated