I ask'd Ascushan if he knew any thing of bad Belts haveing gone amongst the six Nations he answer'd no but there was allways People enough amongst them to propegate bad News whither true or false, it was his own Opinion that the Indians at present ment no harm to the English, whatever they did towards one an other ; at all events no harm was to be done this winter he did not know what might happen in the Spring, but then he would come into this place and let me know what News would then be amongst them, I then told him I intend'd to send my Interpreter M^". De Couagne to the Genesee Castle : to get all the News they had their, and bring back some Horses stolen from this place, he said he would go with De Couagne, and speak for him to the Indians. I then gave De Couagne a belt of wampom of seven Rows upon which he was to speak to the Genesee and get their News, and also sixteen string of wampom left with me by the Messesagas, In Order to be sent to the Senecas to know their Intentions Concerning Affairs in General and in particular about the murder of the four Squas.

Sej)^. 22^. Ascushan and De Couagne set off for the Genesee Castle.

SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON. 88 1

SIR W^. JOHNSON TO GENL GAGE.

Johnson-hall Oct. 22d. 17b7.

Dear Sir

Having been absent for above three Weeks at the Oneida Lake for the purposes mentioned in my former Letter, I could not earlier Answer your two Letters of September and last of the 4*^ Instant.