I deemed it our best policy to employ ourselves laying waste the Indian corn which was in vast abundance in the fields, rather than follow a flying enemy to a distance and excite our troops to catch found it burned and a fort quite nigh, abandoned ;

it

only some straggling fugitives.

We learned from deserters that the Senecas had gone to the English where they will not be allowed want for anything necessary to make war on us. enemy.

to

Since that time I have had no news of the

We remained at the four Seneca villages until the 24 th

;

the two larger distant 4 leagues, and the

All that time was spent in destroying the corn which was in such great abundance that

others two.

was in cache which we burnt and that which was standing, was computed according to the estimate afterwards made, at 400 thousand minots of Indian corn. 1 These There was a vast quantity of hogs which were four villages must exceed 14 to 15 thousand souls. a great many both of our Indians and French were attacked with a general rheum which put killed the loss, including old corn which

;

every one out of humor. 'Tis an unfortunate trade, to return

my lord, to command savages who, after the first broken head ask only

home carrying with them the scalp wliich they lift off like a leather cap.

You cannot

conceive the trouble I had to detain them until the corn was cut.