I Told Him Hee Might Send His Man With Me To His
House With What Orders Hee Thought Fit.
I went thither the same day.
I told
Mr. Bridgar's people that not being able to supply them any longer but with
Powder only, & being redy for my departure to Cannada, it was necessary
that those that intended to stay should speak their minds, & that those
that desired to go should have their passage. I demanded their names, which
they all told me except 2. I ordered them to have a great care of all
things in the House. I left one frenchman to observe them & to goe fowling,
Mr. Bridgar's men not being us'd to it. These Orders being given, I left
Mr. Bridgar's house & cross'd over to the South side, where I met 2 of our
french men a hunting. I sent them with what fowle they had kill'd to the
fort of the Island, where they might bee servisable unto the rest in
carrying down the shipp & in bringing her to an anker right against Mr.
Bridgar's house, to take on board his goods, which was accordingly don. I
came by land unto the other river, & met at the entrance of it severall
Indians that waited impatiently for me, how wee might adjust & setle our
Trade.
They would have had my Brother-in-Law to have rated the Goods at the same
prizes as the English did in the bottom of the Bay, & they expected also I
would bee more kind unto them. But this would have ruined our trade;
therefore I resolved to stand firm in this occasion, becaus what wee now
concluded upon with these Salvages touching comers would have ben a Rule
for the future. The Indians being assembled presently after my arrivall, &
having laid out their presents before me, being Beavors' tailes, caribou
tongues dry'd, Greas of Bears, Deere, & of Elks, one of the Indians spake
to my Brother-in-Law & mee in this wife: "You men that pretend to give us
our Lifes, will not you let us live? You know what Beavor is worth, & the
paines wee take to get it. You stile your selves our brethren, & yet you
will not give us what those that are not our brethren will give. Accept our
presents, or wee will come see you no more, but will goe unto others." I
was a good while silent without answering the compliment of this Salvage,
which made one of his companions urge me to give my answer; and it being
that wheron our wellfare depended, & that wee must appeare resolute in this
occasion, I said to the Indian that pressed me to answer, "To whom will
thou have me answer? I heard a dogg bark; let a man speak & hee shall see I
know to defend myself; that wee Love our Brothers & deserve to bee loved by
them, being come hither a purpose to save your lives." Having said these
words, I rose & drew my dagger.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 184 of 223
Words from 95134 to 95633
of 117345
