Proceedings and treaty with the Shawanese, Nanticokes, and Mohikander Indians, living at Otsingingo, on one of the west branches of the Susquehanna River. Negotiated at Fort-Johnson, in the C[ou]nty of Albany, in the province of New-York; by the Honourable Sir William Johnson, Bart. &c. : Published by order of His Excellency the Right Honourable John Earl of Loudoun, commander in chief of all His Majesty's forces in North-America, &c.

FORT-JOHNSON, 22d April, 1757. PRESENT, as Yesterday. Sir WILLIAM JOHNSON's Second SPEECH to the aforesaid INDIANS.

BRETHREN,

WHAT you said to me Yesterday, in Answer to my former Speech to you, was very agreeable and pleasing to me; I look upon your Words as a Tree in full Blossom, which I hope and expect will produce Fruit suitable to its Appearance.

Brethren,

Let me again put you in Mind of the Belt I have given you, and which you have promised to show to all those Nations of Indians with whom you have any Acquaintance or Friendship; and to repeat what I have told you. As I think those Things are of great Consequence to the Welfare of all In|dians, I will again mention the Heads of what I said upon my second and third Belts, in my former Speech. [Which he did, and then added three particular Instances, in which their Friendship and Alliance with the English, was greatly more for their Interest, than with the French. 1st. That in Case their Crops ••ailed, and they were destitute of Provisions, that they could be easily relieved by their Neighbourhood to the English; whereas they were at such a Distance from Canada, that they might starve before they could get Relief from the French. 2dly. That in Case they were in w••nt of Ammunition or Assistance against an Enemy, they might be all de|stroyed before they could obtain the needful Assistance from the French. 3••ly. the same Consequences with Regard to Trade.]

With this Bunch of Wampum I fix firmer upon your Hearts and Memories, my Talk and Advice to you. Gave a large Bunch of Wampum.

Brethren,

Last Night I wrote to the Earl of LO••DOUN, who commands all the King's Soldiers in this Country, and to Sir CHARLES HARDY, Governor of this Province, concerning the Request you made of having your People discharged, who are now in Alba•••• Jail: It is not in my Power to give them free, but I dare say those great Men will comply with your Desire, if the Circumstances of the Affair appear to be such, as Reason and Justice will permit it to be done. Gave a Bunch of Wampum.

Brethren,

As you have now, in Behalf of yourselves and all your People, laid hold of the Covenant Chain of Peace and Friendship with the Great King of England, my Master, and called the Great GOD above to witness, that you do sincerely intend, and firmly resolve▪ that you will hereafter behave to all his Subjects as fast Friends and loving Brethren; into which Covenant Chain I have taken you all, your Wives and Children—Therefore, lest you may have forgot what was meant by the Covenant Chain, in old Times, I will briefly remind you of its Obligations.

When the Indians, your Fore-fathers, first made this Covenant Chain with the English—both Parties engaged to keep the Ends of it fast in their Hands—that they would take great Care to keep it from breaking, or from getting any Rust or Filth upon it—that they would be as one Flesh and one Blood, so that if any Enemy should intend to hurt or strike one Party,

the other should immediately give him Notice, rise up and help him; and that a good Road should always be kept open between their Habitations, that when they might call for each other's Assistance, they could easily and speedily come.

Brethren,

As the Road between us hath been open last Year, by which Means all Logs and Stones which were in the Way, hath been removed, and made broad, safe and pleasant: We shall on our Parts keep it so, and I expect you'll do the same on yours.

Brethren,

You have informed me, that you three Nations are settled at Otsiningo, and that there I may always find you. You have lived in too dispersed a Manner; which must naturally weaken a People, and make them of little Consequence; whereas if you keep together in one Body, you may be strong and respectable.

Brethren,

With this Belt I girt your Loins round, after the Manner of Warriors, that whenever you are called upon, you may be ready to run along this good Road, to assist us your Brethren, if any Enemy may be coming to hurt them; and we shall do the same by you, when you have any Occasion to call upon us: By this Means we shall become a strong Body, and nothing will be able to hurt us. Gave a very large Belt.

Brethren,

I have but a few Words more to say to you, and then I shall conclude: If you hear of any News, which concerns the Safety or Welfare of us your Brethren, I expect you will give us immediate Notice; and we shall do the same by you. Gave three Strings of Wampum.

Brethren,

The Time of the Year, the Severity of the Season, and my having of late been obliged to be so much from Home, and that I did not expect you so soon, has prevented my having as great a Plenty of Goods as I usually have; however, I shall look about, and when all Business is finished, I hope to find a small Present for you. So ended this Meeting.