Before this Act passed, none of the People of this Province travelled into the _Indian Countries_ to trade: We have now above forty young Men, who have been several Times as far as the Lakes a trading, and thereby become well acquainted, not only with the Trade of the _Indians_, but likewise with their Manners and Languages; and these have returned with such large Quantities of Furs, that greater Numbers are resolved to follow their Example. So that we have good Reason to hope, that in a little Time the _English_ will draw the whole _Indian_ Trade of the Inland Countries to _Albany_, and into the Country of the _Five Nations_. This Government has built a publick Trading-house upon _Cataraqui Lake_, at _Irondequat_ in the _Sennekas_ Land, and another is to be built next Spring, at the Mouth or the _Onondagas River_. All the far _Indians_ pass by these Places, in their Way to _Canada_; and they are not above half so far from the _English_ Settlements, as they are from the _French_. So far is it from being true what the Merchants say, _That the_ French _Forts interrupt all Communication between the_ Indians _and the_ English, that if these Places be well supported, as they easily can be from our Settlements, in case of a Rupture with the _French_, it will be in the Power of this Province, to intercept the greatest Part of the Trade between _Canada_ and the _Indians_, round the Lakes and the Branches of the _Misissippi_. Since this Act passed, many Nations have come to _Albany_ to trade, and settle Peace and Friendship, whose Names had not so much as been heard of among us. In the Beginning of _May_ 1723, a Nation of _Indians_ came to _Albany_ singing and dancing, with their Calumets before them, as they always do when they come to any Place where they have not been before. We do not find that the Commissioners of _Indian_ Affairs, were able to inform themselves what Nation this was. Towards the End of the same Month, eighty Men, besides Women and Children, came to _Albany_ in the same Manner. These had one of our Five Nations with them for an Interpreter, by whom they informed the Commissioners, that they were of a great Nation, called _Nehkereages_, consisting of six Castles and Tribes; and that they lived near a Place called by the _French Missilimakinak_, between the Upper Lake and the Lake of the _Hurons_. These _Indians_ not only desired a free Commerce, but likewise to enter into a strict League of Friendship with us and our _Six Nations_, that they might be accounted the _Seventh Nation_ in the League; and being received accordingly, they left their Calumet as a Pledge of their Fidelity. In _June_ another Nation arrived, but from what Part of the Continent we have not learned. In _July_ the _Twightwies_ arrived, and brought an _Indian_ Interpreter of our Nations with them, who told, that they were called by the _French Miamies_, and that they live upon one of the Branches of the River _Misissippi_.