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

as Count de Frontenac determined, the Iroquois will be reduced to the necessity of dying of hunger,

or accepting peace on the conditions

we may think proper to impose on them

;

and if the almost

invincible obstinacy they seem to have to wage it with us continue, we will not despair to bring them to it, if this blow, struck without the participation of our allies from above, and

which they did not

believe could be imdertaken without them, could force them to make as great efforts on their side as

we have made on ours

;

it

will be easy to urge them to it as long as the French remain at Missilimakinac and at other posts, but when the fatal moment of their return arrives, their absence will put an absolute termination to the little good will the former may feel towards us, when they shall see themselves abandoned.