Again, Those Indians who are a degree farther removed hayg still a good deal of Intercourse with our Traders and havé altered their system of Politicks, tho' they still retain many Ancient Customs, they are much at a Loss to account for them, whilst those who are far removed from any intercourse with the whites (a few Traders excepted) are stil] im possess™ of the greatest part of their primitive usages tho' they cannot give a satisfactory acct of their original signification, and have so blended the whole with fable, as to render it matter of great difficulty to Separate the Truth from it, add to this that above a Century ago they had French Jesuits amongst them, who partly for Religious purposes, but chiefly to serve particular ends in the Wars they often fomented, introduced some of their own

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inventions which the present generation confound with their ancient Ceremonies.

So far as the remarks are Confined to the Confederacy of the 6 Nats. the Mohocks, who have long lived within our settlemts come under the first predicament, tho' greatly reduced in number they are still the acknowledged Head of that Alliance, but in their present State they have less Intercourse with the Inds & more wth us than formerly besides weh they are at present members of the Chh. of England, most of them read & sey! Write very well, When therefore they subscribe an ordinary Deed, they frequently make use of a Cross, after the Example of the Iliterate amongst us & sometimes with their names; but in things of much Consequence they usually delineate a Steel, such as is used to strike fire out of Flint, which being the symbol of their Nation, This Steel they call Canntah--& themselves Canniungaes, but from hence, little can be deduced, as they had not the use of any instrument in that form before their Commerce with the Whites.