religion," which could not otherwise be successfully prosecuted. " " Merit in the possession of an em eyes of God," and the pire of

"

more than a thousand leagues

in extent," from

which

great commercial advantages" would eventually be derived, demanded the effort and the expense which it involved. The king responded with an addition to the French Torce gave his ;

entire approval to the war, and, in addition to the means to be

OF HUDSON'S RI7ER.

employed, advised that prisoners be taken and sent to him for service as galley-slaves. The work entrusted to Denonville

was not long delayed. to De Lamberville secure was resorted to, prisoners. Treachery succeeded in decoying a considerable number of Iroquois chiefs into Fort Frontenac, on Lake Ontario, from whence they were re moved in irons to Quebec and hurried to France j x Indian allies were called in, and arrangements for an aggressive movement consummated. He had no contemptible foe to encounter. " The " two Iroquois force," by his own authority, consisted of thousand brave, active men, more skillful in the use of the gun than the Europeans, and all well armed ; besides twelve hun dred Mahicans (Loups), another tribe in alliance with them as brave as they," 2 to say nothing of the English whom he expected to assist them.

In July, 1687, he marched into the territory of the Senecas, and took formal possession " in the name of the king." On his

way he was attacked by the Senecas with such vigor that he was obliged to bivouac on the field, and witness, without being able to prevent, the tortures which the Senecas inflicted on the pri