The Indians of the River St. John were regarded by the English as the most powerful and warlike tribe of Acadia and the Governor of Nova Scotia endeavored to gain their good-will, and to induce them to adhere to the treaty made with the eastern tribes by the authorities of New England and Nova Scotia in 1725. In the year 1732 Lieut. Governor Armstrong of Nova Scotia sent Paul Mascarene to Boston to treat with Governor Belcher about the erection of a "truck-house" for the Indian trade on the St. John river, and Mascarene was instructed to recommend the lands on the St. John to the people of Massachusetts as a very desirable place of settlement. Belcher expressed the opinion that unless the crown would build a fort at the mouth of the river, the "truck-house" project would fail, but in case of its erection Massachusetts would probably send a sloop with goods to the Indians Spring and Fall. However the idea of an English post at the mouth of the St. John remained in abeyance until the surrender of Beausejour. So far as known to the author, the first mention of the Indian village of Aukpaque occurs in connection with the census of 1733 which states that fifteen French families reside below the "Village d'Ecoupay." From this time onward there are frequent references to Aukpaque, some of which are indicated in the foot-note below.[48] [48] Probably the name of no place in New Brunswick has appeared in so many varied forms as that of this Indian village. The list that follows does not pretend to be exhaustive, but will suffice for illustration:-- (1.) Ecoupay--Census, 1733. (2.) Ocpaque--Lt.-Gov. Armstrong's letter, 1735. (3.) Apoge--Capt. Pote's Journal, 1745. (4.) Octpagh--Treaty proceedings at Halifax, 1749. (5.) Ekauba--Report of Abbe de L'isle-Dieu, 1753. (6.) Ocpaque--Letter of James Simonds, 1765. (7.) Aughpack--Map of Charles Morris, 1765. (8.) Ekouipahag--Register of l'Abbe Bailly, 1767. (9.) Aughpaugh--Letter of James Simonds, 1768. (10.) Ekoupahag--Indian negotiations at Halifax, 1768. (11.) Okpaak--Report of Rev. T. Wood's, 1769. (12.) Augpeake--Letter Lt. Gov. Franklin, 1777. (13.) Auque Pawhaque--Letter of Indians to Major Studholme, 1778. (14.) Aupaque--Letter of Gen'l Haldimand, 1782. Oak Park--Letter of Sam'l Peabody, 1782, also report of Exploration Committee to Major Studholme, 1783. (16.) Ek-pa-hawk--Modern Indians.