King _William_'s Peace put an End to this War; but the Peace lasted so short a while, that the People of this Province hardly had time to re-settle their Farms on the Frontiers, which they had deserted in the Time of the War, much less to adventure trading in the _Indian Countries_, so lately the Scene of so much Cruelty. But both Colonies having now an Abhorrence of the Cruelties of the last War, agreed on a kind of Neutrality for the _Indians_, during Queen _Anne_'s War, in which Time we lost much ground with our own _Indians_: For the _French_ having learn'd, by dear Experience, that it was not possible for them to conquer _our Five Indian Nations_, resolv'd to try all Means to gain their Affections, and in this Art the _French_ are always more successful than in that of War; and the _English_ failing in two ill-concerted Expeditions against _Canada_, the _Indians_ lost much of the Opinion they had of the _English_ Power and Valour. In Time of this last War, the clandestine Trade to _Monreal_ began to be carried on by _Indians_, from _Albany_ to _Monreal_. This gave Rise to the _Kahnuaga_, or _Praying Indians_, who are entirely made up of Deserters from the _Mohawks_ and _River Indians_, and were either enticed thither by the _French Priests_, or by our Merchants, in order to carry Goods from _Albany_ to _Monreal_, or run away for some Mischief done here. These _Indians_ now consist of about eighty fighting Men, and live about four Leagues above _Monreal_: They neither plant nor hunt, but depend chiefly upon this private Trade for their Subsistence. These _Indians_, in time of War, gave the _French_ Intelligence of all Designs here against them: By them likewise the _French_ engaged our _Five Nations_ in a War with the _Indians_ Friends of _Virginia_, and from them we might expect the greatest Mischief in Time of War, seeing every Part of the Province is as well known to them as to any of the Inhabitants. But if this Trade was entirely at an end, we have reason to believe, that these _Indians_ would return to their own Tribes, for they then could not long subsist where they now are. As soon as the Peace was proclaim'd, an open Trade with _Monreal_ was carried on with such Earnestness, that _Monreal_ was fill'd with _Indian Goods_, and _Albany_ exhausted; by which means _Monreal_ became the principal, if not the only _Indian Market_, and the _Indians_ depended entirely on the _French_ for what they wanted. Our Merchants were fond of the _Canada_ Trade, because they sold large Quantities of Goods without any Trouble, the _French_ taking them from their Doors; whereas the Trade with the _Indians_ is carried on with a great deal of Toil and Fatigue; and as to the Interest of the Country, they either never thought any thing about it, or if they did, had no regard to it. * * * * *