It might have been more advantageous to His Majesty's arms, and more glorious to Count de Frontenac, had the Onnontagues followed their first plan ;

it

would have, no doubt, cost the lives of some

brave men, as the Iroquois do not fight with impunity. seven hundred men in their fort including those

There might have been, perhaps, six to

who had come to their aid, and scarcely any would

have escaped ; but their loss cannot fail to be considerable.

After M. Denonville's [departure from

the Seneca country, we know the difficulty that nation had to subsist for several years.

were powerful, and are diminished since in less abundantly ;

The Iroquois

assistance from the English, especially in provisions, comes wheat is worth twenty francs the minot [three bushels] at Orange ; the pound of ;

powder, a pistole; lead and other merchandise are, in truth, cheaper than with us.

The Mohawks have very little Indian corn ; the Oneidas are ruined, and it is not known whether the Senecas will not remember the high price the Onnontagues set on provisions at the time of their discomfiture, when they were obliged to give most valuable belts for supplies.

There remain then

only the Cayugas who can succor their neighbours, and we cannot say if they alone are sufficient for that purpose. parties

Their hunting and fishing will, without doubt be interrupted by the different small

now in the field.

In fine, it is certain, by continuing the war as at its commencement, and