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Papers Relating to an Act of the Assembly of the Province of New-York: For encouragement of the Indian trade, &c. and for prohibiting the selling of Indian goods to the French, viz. of CanadaGreat Britain. Board of Trade

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Papers Relating to an Act of the Assembly of the Province of New-York: For encouragement of the Indian trade, &c. and for prohibiting the selling of Indian goods to the French, viz. of Canada

Name: Papers Relating to an Act of the Assembly of the Province of New-York: For encouragement of the Indian trade, &c. and for prohibiting the selling of Indian goods to the French, viz. of Canada
Author: Great Britain. Board of Trade

Great Britain. Board of Trade

Fur trade -- New York (State); Indians of North America -- Commerce; Iroquois Indians; New York (State) -- Commerce -- History; New York (State) -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775

'I take this Opportunity to relate to you a Piece of
    disagreeable News I received some Days ago in a Letter from _Le
    Tort_, the _Indian_ Trader, at _Allegheny_, who says, "That in
    _May_ last some _Indians_ of the _Taway_ Nation, supposed by us
    to be the _Twightwees_, in their Return from War, called and
    staid some Time with the _Shawanese_; who being asked, and
    denying they had brought either Scalps or Prisoners, the
    _Shawanese_ suspecting them, had the Curiosity to search their
    Bags, and finding two Scalps in them, that by the Softness of
    the Hair did not feel like _Indian_ Scalps, they wash'd them
    clean, and found them to be the Scalps of some Christians. On
    this Discovery, the _Twightwees_ were so much ashamed, that they
    stole away from their Town in the Night-time; and coming, as
    they afterwards understood, to a little Village belonging to
    the _Shawanese_, they told our People that their Hearts were
    full of Grief; for, as they came along the Road, they found it
    all bloody; and having good Cause to believe it was made bloody
    with the Blood of some of the white Brethren, they had very
    sorrowfully swept the Road; and desired them to inform the
    Governor of _Pensilvania_ of their (the _Twightwees_) Grief; and
    how they had swept the Road clean." '_Le Tort_ adds, on Behalf
    of the _Shawanese_,' "That they were much grieved at this
    unfortunate Accident; and prayed, as they had no Concern in it,
    more than by being Instruments to discover it, their Brethren
    would not blame them, nor suffer a Misunderstanding to arise
    between them on this Account: They would sweep the Road clean,
    and wipe all the Blood away; and desired their Brethren would be
    satisfied with this, and not weep too much for a Misfortune that
    might not happen again as long as the Sun and Moon shone."

    'The Person who delivered me _Le Tort_'s Letter, brought this
    Bundle of Skins as a Present to me; but I told the Messenger, I
    would not meddle with it; he might leave it if he pleased: The
    Affair appear'd to me in a bad Light, and I would represent it
    to the _Six Nations_, who were expected in Town every Day. This
    is the Fact, as I have it from _Le Tort_: I desire to be
    inform'd if you know any thing of this Matter; and if you do
    not, that you will make diligent Enquiry who committed the
    Murder, and who are the unhappy Sufferers, and assist us to
    obtain Satisfaction, if it shall appear to be any, of our
    Fellow-Subjects that have been treated in this Manner.'

      _To inforce this Request, I present you with this String of
        Wampum_.

The _Onondago_ Chief, in Reply, said:

    '_B R E T H R E N_,

Papers Relating to an Act of the Assembly of the Province of New-York: For encouragement of the Indian trade, &c. and for prohibiting the selling of Indian goods to the French, viz. of Canada

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