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. I took the chief of thes Indians by the
haire, who had adopted me for his sonn, & I demanded of him who hee was.
Hee answered, "Thy father." "Well," said I, "if thou art my father & dost
love me, & if thou art the chief, speak for me.
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