dians, and we love to hear him open his mouth to speak about the Great Spirit above.

Fathers and brothers, we should be very glad to have our father Holmes live among us, or some other good man that you would send to teach us the meaning of the beloved speech in the good book called the Bible; for we are in darkness; we are very ignorant-we poor. Now fathers and brothers, you have much light; you are wise and rich. Not but two in our nation can read in the good book, the Bible. We wish our children to learn to read, that they may be civil and happy when we are gone--that they may understand the good speech better than we can: we feel much sorrow for our children-we ask you, fathers and brothers, will you not pity us, and our poor children, and send a schoolmaster to teach our children to read and write? If you will, we will rejoice, we will love him, we will do all we can to make him happy-we are poor, we cannot pay him in money or any thing else.

Fathers and brothers, we think many good people, that did not want to cheat Indians, and get their lands for nothing, but do them all the good they could, by learning them to read the good book, and sending good men among them with the good speech on their tongues, to teach them the meaning of the Great Spirit in the good book, have often been discouraged, and stop because many Indians would not open their ears, but would go in ways of the evil spirit. We are sorry Indjans have done so we are afraid some of us shall do so too, and the Great Spirit will be angry with us, and that you will be discouraged, and stop, and say, " Let them alone, there is nothing can be done with Indians.'

Fathers and brothers hearken-we cry to you from the wilderness--our hearts ache while we speak to your cars. If such wicked things should be done by any of us, we pray you not to be discouraged-don't stop--think poor Indians must die as well as white men: We pray you, therefore, never to give over and leave poor Indians, but follow them in dark times, and let

our children always find you to be their fathers and friends when we are dead and no more.

Fathers and brothers once more attend-according to your request, in your talk to us we have opened our ears; the talks of our father Holmes makes us glad when he speaks-although he has been very unwell part of the time since he has been with us--sometimes he must lie down on the bed when he speaks about the Great Spirit to us--we have used hini as kind as we were able-we are poor. When he goes to visit our brothers (the Senecas) we will make his path as smooth as we can; some of us will go with him; we will be children to him.

Fathers and brothers, we will send you talks as often as we can we are glad you say you wish always to keep the chain of friendship bright and shining; we wish so too-we and our forefathers have been long under dark clouds; no friends to help us to know the will of the Good Spirit. We will now believe you to be our friends; we will open our ears to any good men you send among us; we will use them kind; and we let you know we are pleased with all you say; and that we speak one heart to you by delivering eight strings of wampum to you, according to the custom of our fore-' fathers, by our father Holmes, who will give them to you, and tell you more about us than we can write.-May the Great Spirit help us to remember each other. Farewell.

Sacarese X, Sachem.

William X, Prentup, Chief Warrior.

Isaac X Charles, Warrior Chief.

Long X Board, Warrior Chief.

Isaac X, Warrior Chief.

Hendrick X, Second Sachem.

Kaasontaw X Sagoghwiheagh, Warrior Chief.

George X Prentup, Warrior Chicf.
Billa X Prentup, Warrior Chief.

WITNESSES.

Nicholas Cusock, Thomas X Green.
Niagara, Tuscarora, October 6, 1800.

I

Fort Niagara, October 8, 1800.

CERTIFY, that the Chiefs of the Tuscaroras convened at this post, have, in my presence, expressed an ardent wish of having a school established at their village. Such a measure, if it coincides with the views of Government, would no doubt enable the rising generation of the Tuscaroras to advance rapidly towards civilization.The Rev. Mr. Holmes seems to have gained the confidence and affection of the Chiefs-he deserves it by the pains which he takes to inculcate in them principles of morality.--That he may be successful, is the sincere wish of

T. I. ULRICH RIVARDI.

Fort Niagara, October 29, 1800.

REV. AND DEAR BROTHER,

THROUG of pr at the Seneca Castle, five HROUGH the kind providence of God, I arrived

miles above where the Buffaloe empties into Lake Erie-Immediately (with Cusock my interpreter) I waited on the chief sachem (called Farmer's Brother) and made known my business to him, and desired the favor of him, and the chiefs of the nation, to meet me in council-He informed me, that he had heard of me before, and that he would consult the chiefs, and, as soon as they could be ready, he would let me know it.

I then took my leave of him, leaving Cusock to tarry in the town, and rode to a village of white people, consisting of five or six families, at the mouth of the Buffaloe.

On Friday following, Cusock came to me, and informed me, that the chiefs had concluded to meet in council in the afternoon of that day, and had sent him to desire me to attend. I proceeded without delay to

the castle when I arrived, I found the sachems and chiefs, with about one hundred Indians, assembled in the council-house, and about fifty more round the house. A few minutes after was seated, Red Jacket, the second sachem, addressed me in a short speech, complimenting me, according to their custom; upon my arrival, and letting me know, that they were now ready to hear what I had to say to them.

I then rose, and addressed him as I thought proper, and delivered the talk (as they stile it) from the Directors of the Missionary Society-And after Cusock had interpreted it to them, I made a few more observations, and presented the talk from the Oneida and Muhheconnuk chiefs-And when Cusock had interpreted that, I addressed him again as I judged the case required, and concluded by letting him know, that I was ready to speak more fully to them about the Great Spirit above, and Jesus Christ, whom he had sent into the world to save sinners, if they would consent to hear me; and desired them to consider the talks that had been sent to them, and what I had said, and give me an answer as soon as they thought proper. Whilst I was speaking to them, a number of their young men made a great laugh, and lay down, kicked up their heels, and one made a very undecent report. I endeavored to keep from being discomposed-The chiefs did not appear to approve of their conduct, and at the conclusion of my address, they were very silent.

The chiefs consulted about half an hour, and then Red Jacket replied to me in a very decent manner and in flattering language, stiling me Father of the Six Nations, expressing their joy at the good talk that had been sent them by the Good Society of Friendship at New-York, and from their brothers the Oneidas, Muhheconnuks, and Tuscaroras, and at what I had said unto them-That they were all convinced that there was no snare or deceit in my business--and concluded with saying, they were all willing that I should speak the good word VOL. II. No. 1. I

to them, and desired that I would preach to them the next day, at 12 o'clock, about Jesus Christ. I then replied, expressing my joy and thankfulness for their condescension, and my readiness to comply with their request. I then took my leave of them, and returned to Buffaloe. The next day being an uncommon rainy day, I looked upon it no ways consistent with duty for me to turn out, or any ways probable, if I did, that the Indians would-But the next day, being Lord's day, I set out early in the morning, and with much difficulty reached the Castle about 12 o'clock, the waters being raised so high by the rain, I had to swim my beast twice by the side of a canoe-I waited upon the chief sachem; he consulted some of the chiefs, and they concluded that the people could not be notified so as to meet that day, but that they would meet the next day at 12 o'clock, and desired me to attend. I let him know, that it would be a pleasure to me to comply with their request. The next day I met about one hundred of them in the council-house; as they had never been acquainted with any modes of Christian worship (for I understand, that they never would admit a Missionary among them before) I proceeded with them in the same manner as in a common council, as you may see by the inclosed, dated the 20th of this instant-And the day following, at Buffaloc, the chief sachem, and several of their principal men, met me, where he made the inclosed speech of that date.

Last Lord's day I preached to them again at the castle Then I undertook to inform them of the modes and customs of Christians in public worship; of keeping the Sabbath; the duty of prayer; and, lastly, I endeavored to preach the doctrine of repentance.

During the whole, they gave good attention-One of the chiefs appeared to be under solemn impressions. After I concluded, Red Jacket thanked me, and requested me to visit them again next month, and say more to them about Jesus Christ.