Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. III
It is inhabited Jul- the greater part by Savages, along the sides of the streams, and we continued our journey overland some 25 to 30 leagues. In tlie course of four days, we traversed a number of streams and one river issuing from a lake wliich empties into that of tlie Entouhonorons. This lake is 25 to 30 leagues in circunifcr ence, with many beautiful Islands, and is the Iroquois fishing ground, fish being in abundance there.
The 9'-'' of October ; Our Indians going out scouting, enconn tered eleven Savages whom they took prisoners ; to wit, 1 avoincn, three boys, one girl and tliree men. who were going fishing,
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four leagues distant from the enemy's fort. Now is to be noted that one of the Chiefs seeing these prisoners, cut the finger off one of those poor women, as the commencement of their usual tortm-es. Whereupon I interfered, and censured the Iroquet Captain, representing to him that a Warrior, as he called liimself, was not in the liabit of acting cruelly towards women, who have no defence but their tears and who, by reason of their helplessness and feebleness, ought to be treated with humanit)^ Tliat on the contrary tliis act would be supposed to proceed from a vile and brutal courage, and that if he committed any more of those cruelties, lie would not encoui-age me to assist them, nor to favor their war. Whereupon he replied, that their enemies treated them in the same manner. But since such customs displeased me, he Avould not act so any more to women, but exclusively to men.