were hurried home with this promise fresh on their lips, and started on their mission of war. Events moved slowly in the wilderness at that time, and a full

year elapsed before the response came.

On the iyth of

August, 171 1, the chiefs met Governor Hunter, with their war riors. The sachem of Schaticook brought thirty-eight men ; the Mabicans, fifty-eight under Wampasa, whom they had chosen as their captain ; the Shawanoes, twenty-six ; the Mohawks one hun

dred and forty, and the remaining tribes of the Five Nations,

about five hundred.

Each delegation was separately

received,

Nations, on account of its numbers, being especially honored by a salute of five guns as they passed in review that of the Five

before Fort

when,

Albany.

The

conference opened on the

24th

ground by themselves,"

Go

" each nation seated on the

vernor Hunter thanked them for their response to the queen's com

mands, and informed them that they would be expected to join General Nicholson in the expedition against Canada, which had been organized. 1

This expedition had already sailed from

Boston, with seven veteran regiments, and was to be met by the

New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, with their Indian allies, under the walls of Quebec. 2 Roasted

colonial forces of

oxen, barrels of beer, the firing of cannon, and some

"

private

presents" to the proper chiefs, completed the work, and all pro fessed their readiness to march at the queen's command.

The French were not idle spectators of these preparations, and in their efforts to defeat them brought out in strong colors the power and influence which they had established over their Indian