and intrigues imputed to them to destroy the French,

the Hurons, the Algonquins, and their allies.

They urged for many years with incredible persistence ; with evidences of especial affection and even with threats of rupture and war, if their friendship were despised and their demand rejected they insisted, I say, and solicited that a goodly number of French should accompany them into their country, the one to instruct, the others to protect them against their enemies, as a token of peace

and alliance with them.

AND DISCOVERY OF THE SALT SPRINGS.

The Mohawks desired to thwart this scheme they fought the one against the other even unto Some believed that all that was mere feint, the better polluting the earth with blood and murder. but it would seem to me not a very pleasant game when the stakes are life and to mask their game ;

;

blood.

I strongly doubt that Iroquoy policy should

extend so far as that, and that Barbarians who

repose but little confidence in each other, should so long conceal their intrigues.

I believe rather

that the Onnontague Iroquois demanded some Frenchmen in sincerity, but with views very different.

The Chiefs finding themselves engaged in heavy wars against a number of nations whom they had provoked, asked for Hurons as reinforcements to their warriors they wished for the French to ob;

tain firearms from them, and to repair those

which might be broken.

Further, as the Mohawks

treated them sometimes very ill when passing through their villages to trade with the Dutch, they