Murray the reasons they gave were Just, them Lands being the Sole property of the Six Nations, and the Mingoes (as the Six Nations are called there) were the people agreable to their practise who should have attended hun altho' such intrusions were equally disagreable to rhe rest. Some of their people may at times be bro*. to encourage Settlements & even thro' Lucre dispose of Lands, which is highly disagreable to the rest, & therefore we sho\ilil put a stop to them, at least they Expect that from us having

SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON. 883

no regular mode of their own for preventing it, otlaer than by the murder of the parties. I met the Indians at the Tuscarora Creek in Oneida Lake, they were greatly affected at the death of a remarkable Chief of the Onondagas, and I was obliged to perform all the Ceremony on that occasion after which they told me of the various Reports & Injuries they had received, that their heads were quite turned with them, that they had in Vain waited the fullfilling of our promises, & that every agreable hope seemed now fled as the Nations to the Westward & would probably soon create disturbances & draw others in to retaliate the Injuries they had received, that they had received a very, large belt from an Officer on the Mississipi with a message to inform them that they need not longer be trifled with by the Inglish for that he (by which is meant the Gov*, to which he belonged) having sat down quietly for some time & being about to rise up, luckily discovered his Axe beside him & found that it was as Sharp as ever, therefore Exhorted them to take up theirs Likewise -- each Nation pretended seperately to be better disposed than their Neighbour, but upon the Whole I see nothing but a General tendency to a Rupture which lam at a loss how to prevent, as my Influence & Credit must decline in proportion, as they find that the promises made them prove abortive