.MTAyNg.NjgzNTc

1791 6 mo 28 3 WD

fast to get to the Indians encampment about 16 Miles before nigh(t?) there being some dangerous Places to pass, especially what is call'd a narrow between the Kioga Rivers Mountains about half a mile, and one deep Creek where a Horse would swim, we passed those Places by day Light & found a log to get over the Creek and found the Indians all encamped & comfortably accommodated, mostly with bark Cabbins & Bushes, and we had reason to believe they were glad to see us, and I believe tended to remove suspicions which they had fear'd that the whites had a design against them, they shook Hands with us very friendly & the Countenances of many bespoke Pleasure, & they confirmed it by a Dance which held several Hours in different parts of their encampment

29 4 About 8 oClock they gradually moved forward Family by Family so that from the foremost to the hindmost extended a considerable of Distance, & observed great stillness, a few on Horse back & a bono load of old People about 20 went down by Water, the Women carry great Loads & Children pad on foot surprisingly thr' the Mud & among Stones over the Mountains, we reached Newtown a little before the main Body & after they had encamped about 3 or 4 hundred of the Warriors came in Indian file with their Rifles on their Shoulders, & drew up in a Line by the Col.s Tent, & gave him two Salutes by dischargeing their guns, which the Col.r received as a Mark of Respect, had each of them served with a Dram & express'd his gladness at their Arrival, were turn'd to our Quarters & were glad w went to meet our poor Breth(ren?) the Natives, tho it was with no small difficulty

30 5 Col. PIckering call'd at our Lodgeing & gave us a kind Invitation to dine with him, where we met with about 12 or 15 Sachems & head Warriors of the six Nations & other Indian Tribes, after Dinner Pipes & Tobacco were brought on the Table, and after some pleasant Conversation, I requested Jasper Parrish and Interpreter to inform the Chiefs that I wished them to open their Ears; that I had something to say to them, which he did & they gave solid Attention, I thought proper to inform, that we were

Indians informed who we are of the Society of peaceable People call'd Quakers from Philadelphia, and that we had come purely to attend the Treaty & to see our Brethren the Indian (having the concurrence & Approbation of our Friends at home) and to take them by the Hand, and brighten the Chain of friendship agree