had formerly been exercised by the Five Nations, when, armed by the English, they had first been commissioned a roving police over their contemporary tribes. In this respect the change had

been wonderful indeed since the confederates rallied in the war of 1688.

The liberality of the French had removed much of the

ancient prejudice against them ; the labors of the priests had won converts until in Canada the Iroquois were represented by as many organizations as

they were in

New York, who com

pletely neutralized the action of the parent stocks ; the Mississagies,

the seventh tribe of the confederacy, had dropped from were estranged, and at Onondaga the

their ranks ; the Senecas

council fire of the nation was constantly attended by the emis saries of France. As early as 1720, they began to appear in the character of mediators, rather than that of aggressive allies,

and in 1745, they had with great difficulty indeed been brought out in even inconsiderable force in behalf of the English.

Perhaps this result was due in a great measure to the policy of the English in seeking through their alliances the promotion of trade ; in neglecting to supply them with priests as selfsacrificing as were those sent out by France ; in supplying the

more immediate tribes with intoxicating liquors to their destruc tion, and in failing to cultivate the intimate relations with them

THE INDIAN TRIBES

which formed so conspicuous a feature of the policy of the Whatever the cause, the French experienced little French. difficulty in transferring to themselves the