This last was a very superb and elegant edifice, surrounded with little buildings for tlie accommodation of the Indians, when down upon treaties or conferences with him. Mr. Woodbridge and I took our leave of him in the morning, rode up to the ford, and crossed the river, and came over to the south side, and rode to what was called the Mohawk castle ; near which was a stone chapel and a village of Indians, situate on Schoharry creek, not far from the place where it discharges its waters into the Mohawk.

We dined with the commandant of tlie garrison, which consisted of a sergeant and a few privates, under Lieutenant Butler, who resided there with his family. We heard the western news and that the Trench in great force had passed the Ontario lake, going, as it was conjectured, to the Ohio ; where they erected the fort, which was called Duquesne, now Pittsburgh. > Mr. Butler obtained for us an Indian guide, to conduct us across to Schoharry, about sixteen miles south, through a wilderness. We went up the creek. Our path was obscure and obstructed, and the travelling uncomfortable. We came to a resting place, and breathed our horses, and slaked our thirst at the stream,

1 This force passed Oswego on the 14 May, 1753. See Doc. His. ii. 625.

1040 REV. GIDEON HAWLEy's JOUHNEY

when we perceived our Indian looking for a stone, which having found, he cast to a heap, Avhich for ages had been accumulating by passengers like liim, wdio v/as our guide. '