down @ burnt a castle of the Maquaes wherein there were none but old men women @ children which the rest of the Indians hearing pursued the French to a place called Sconectade about 20 miles above Albany where they had every man been cut off' had not one Corlarr (a Dutchman so beloved of the Indians that in memory of him they call all Governors by that name) interposed However from that time they have fancied to themselves that they have a right to the country so farr as that place

The great difference between us is about the Beaver trade and in truth they have the advantage of U9 in it @ that by noe other meanes than by their industry in making discoveries in the country before us.

Before my coming hither noe man of our Governm* ever went beyond the Sinicaes country,

Last

year some of our people went a trading among the farr Indians called the Ottowais inhabiting about W. N. W. of Albany from whence they brought a good many three months journey to the West

@

They found their people more inclined to trade with them than the French the French not being able to protect them from the arms of our Indians, with whom they have had a continued warr, soe that our Indians brought away this very last year, a great many prisoners, Last week I sent for some of our Indians to New York where when they came I obtained a promise Beavers.