"Father!"--he continued,--"We are now speaking of _peace,_ and therefore I must speak a word to the Praying Indians, and first to those of Cahnawaga [chiefly Mohawks.] _You_ know our customs and manners. Therefore make Yonondio acquainted with them.--Assist in the good work of peace. As for you," (addressing a party of praying Indians most of whom had once been Onondagas,) "you are worse than the French themselves. You deserted from us, and sided with our enemies to destroy us. Make some amends now by forwarding peace." He then resumed his address to the Governor. "You have almost eaten us up. Our best men are killed in this bloody war. But we forget what is past. Before this we once threw the hatchet into the river of Kaihohage, [FN] but you fished it up, and treacherously surprised our people at Cadaraqui. After that you sent to us to have our prisoners restored. Then the hatchet was thrown up to the sky, but you kept a string fastened to the helve, and pulled it down, and fell upon our people again. This we revenged to some purpose, by the destruction of your people and houses in the island of Montreal." * * * * * [FN] Near Oswego, on Lake Ontario, where the treaty with M. De la Barre was negotiated. "Now we are come to cover the blood from our sight, which has been shed by both sides during this long war. "Yonondio!--We have been at war a long time. We now give you a medicine to drive away all ill thoughts from your heart, to purge it and make it clean, and restore it to its former state. "Yonondio!--We will not permit any settlement at Cadaraqui. You have had your fire, there thrice extinguished. We will not consent to your building that fort; but the passage through the river shall be free and clear. We make the sun clean, and drive away all clouds and darkness, that we may see the light without interruption. "Yonondio!--We have taken many prisoners from one another, during the war. The prisoners we took have been delivered, according to our custom, to the families that have lost any in the war. They no longer belong to the public. They may give them back if they please. Your people may do the same. We have brought back two prisoners, and restore them to you." [FN] * * * * * [FN] Colden.