peace for which the Onontague wishes to obtain the consent of the Seneca who has already placed in security the old grain, and

made a retreat in the woods for the children, women and old men, of

which you will be ignorant. The Warriors are to prowl every where, killing without if possible being killed. If their Indian corn be cut, it will cost much blood and men You must also resolve to lose the harvest of the French grain to which the Iroquois will set fire. As for the French settlements, the Iroquois sup-

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pose that they are all abandoned and that the people have retired within the forts ; otherwise, they would be a prey to the enemy. It is the opinion that if you begin the war, it will be of long duration, and that to feed those in Canada you will have to bring provisions from France.

The

Iroquois believes that he will destroy the Colony in case of war, for he will never fight by rule against us and will not shut himself up in

Thus they are

any fort in which he might be stormed.

under the impression that, no person daring to come into unknown forests to pursue them, they can neither be destroyed nor captured, having a vast hunting ground in their rear, towards Merilande

and Virginia, as well as places adjoining their villages, wholly unknown to the French. If winter were not so cold in this country, that would be the time to wage war, for one can then see all around, and the trail cannot be concealed but every thing must be carried provisions, arms, powder and You can not believe, Sir, with what joy the Senecas learned that you would, possibly, deterlead.