THE OHIO VALLEY-GREAT LAKES ETHNOHISTORY
ARCHIVES: THE MIAMI COLLECTION
It is noted that the following work from the Miami Archives should be read and
considered within the historical context in which it was composed and printed.
The opinions expressed and the language used do not reflect the opinions or
standards of the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology, but are, rather,
indicative of thought in that historical moment during which the document was
published.
Conference with Kayaghshota
(Jan. 5-15, 1774)
(Due to length divided here into two parts)
Johnson, Sir William in: The
Papers of Sir William
Johnson, vol. 12,
pp. 1044-1061.
but also for your taking that Hatchet out of their hands with which they run about like men that were drunk, or mad when all the other Nations were quiet, and minded nothing but Hunting, Planting, and Traffic:- the Arguments which you made use of on that Occasion, which were faithfully transmitted to me by way of the Lakes, and also from Fort Pit, confirm me in the good Opinion I conceived of you at our first Meeting in 1761 at Detroit, at which time I lighted a large Council Fire there for all the Western Nations to assemble at, when they had any business to transact.- I now by this Belt dress up the said Fire with such Wood as will never burn out, but afford them a Genial Heat, when around it in Council, and I desire that you, the Hurons whom I look upon as the head of the Western Confederacy, and in whose Country it burns will also be careful to keep it up, and feed it with such Wood, as may by its bright Blaze, lead those who may be astray, to partake of its benign Heat:-
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A large Belt. |
Brothers of the 6 Nations, and Western Confederacy.-
The Conduct of the Shawanese by your, and all accounts, plainly shew their Insincerity, and Contempt of all the solemn engagements they have for several years past entered into with the English, more particularly those entered into in the years 1764 & 1765, and afterwards confirmed in the year 1768.- Their false behavior to the Six Nations on many Occasions, is so vile, ungrateful, and prejudicial to the Interest, and Influence of the latter with the other Nations in alliance with them, as had very nearly occasioned a breach between You, and that by the wicked misrepresentations of the Shawanese, when entrusted by me, and the Six Nations to carry Messages to you, among other things telling you that the English were determined to disspossess you of your Country,- Advising you to unite, and defend it to the last Drop of your Blood, for which purpose they gave you, the Twightwee Confederacy an Axe, and I suppose to other nations also, desiring you to keep it private, until that Union took Place, and then to make use of it against All those who wore Hats.- Their Abandoning their Settlements now about Scioto, with (page 1057) threats against the English, these I say are surely as strong Proofs of their evil Intentions towards you, as towards us.- Nay it may be the means of producing a general Rupture, which it is for the Interest of you all to prevent.-
Having now laid before you part of the wicked Designs, & treacherous Conduct of the Shawanese, which is beyond all doubt, I shall be glad to hear as soon as possible your candid Opinions what Steps you Judge most prudent and adviseable to be pursued, and that by our mutual Friend Kayaghshota, on whose Integrity, and Judgement we can all depend.-
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A large Belt |
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Brethren of the Twightwee Confederacy.-
I have received your answers to my Speech delivered to you by our mutual Friends the Hurons, to whom I am obliged for taking on them that trouble. my reason for employing them, was, that I knew them as honest sensible People, friends to you, & who wou'd give you good Advice.
Brothers, Sachims, & Warriors of the Twightwee Confederacy.-
Your Conduct for some years past, whilst all the nations here abouts minded nothing but their Hunting, and Trade, greatly Surprized me, and all your Brethren the English, and Indians in this Quarter, as I mentioned in my former Speech. But as I now find by your Answ. that there were bad Birds constantly buzzing bad things into your Ears which was the cause of your Drunkenness, and as you have promised to behave as friends, and Brothers for the future, and that you will also keep the Roads of Peace, Lakes, and Rivers free, and open for all to pass & repass, which if you inviolably observe, all that is past shall be buried in oblivion, which the Evil Spirit lead you to do.- By this Belt of Wampum I confirm my words, and if some of your Chiefs will come to my Fire Place, (which is that of all the Northern Indians) next Spring, about the time of Planting Corn, or soon after, I shall convince you of your Errors, and that the English are your Friends, and mean you no Harm, when I shall also more fully (page 1058) Strengthen, and brighten the Old Covenant Chain of Friendship between your Nations, and all the English.-
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A large Belt to be shewn to all the Nations, & |
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Brothers of the Twightwee Confederacy.-
As you have told me that the News which bad Birds have brought you, was the reason of your Heads turning, I desire you by this Belt of Wampum, to Stop your Ears against all Such, to pay no regard to them, but keep your Eyes upon me, and your Ears open to what I may from time to time say to you, which you may be assured will always be for your Interest, if only regarded. but if you listen to wicked, and designing People, your minds will always be disturbed, and consequently your Happiness destroyed.- therefore mind my Words, who alone am appointed by the great King to take care of you, and all the Indians in this Northern Part of America.-
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A Belt.- |
Brethren, & Friends of the Huron Nation Ottawas &c.-
Sensible of your good Disposition to maintain Peace among the sevl. Nations in yr. Alliance, (which I must strongly recommend a Continuance of) and also of the loss you are at for some Years past, by not having any Person at Detroit, to whom, and thro' whom you may convey your Sentiments to me, or I mine to you, both which are necessary for the keeping up a good understanding between us, I am now to tell you that for the before mentioned considerations, I have appointed a Gentleman who is a Wellwisher of yours, and resides at Detroit to hear, and communicate to me whatever you may at any time have to say, and the same from me to you, by which means a strict and friendly Correspondence may be kept up between us.- his Name is John Hay,6 he was Commissary there some years ago. As this is a Piece of Indulgence Shewn to you, I expect your Conduct will always be such as to deserve it.-
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A Belt for the Hurons. |
Brethren of the Ohio.-
It is with much Concern that I find your misconduct and bad behavior to the White People in them Parts still to occasion so much disturbance, and uneasiness, and sometimes, (as I am told) even Murders to be committed. I had reason to expect that after the many Belts, and Messages which I sent you on the Subject of your bad Behavior, as also the repeated Advice given to you by your Brethren of the Six Nations, you would reform, and come to your Senses. but as I find all advice is lost, and thrown away and like to be ever so, whilst detached from your Chiefs, whose constant Admonitions and Example (were you near them) might reform your Manners, and instill better Principles into the rising Generation, wth.out which you never will be the happy People I cou'd wish you.- I am therefore to desire that your leave that Place, and Settle near your own People, which will make you more respectable, than be mixed, as you are at present with a Set of People (the Shawanese &c) who have for many Years acted, an ungrateful, and unfriendly part towards you, and who have now expressed their Desire of leaving you.- Surely no People of Spirit, after such treatment, wou'd continue their neighbors, or Friends.-
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A Belt. |
Brothers Kanias & Kanaegi-
Nothwithstanding there were some Reports lately propagated to your Disadvantage, which I cou'd scarce believe, well knowing you both to be men of Sense, and Consequence in your Country, and as our Friend Kayaghshota has made me acquainted with the whole affair which gave Rise to that Report, and finding it to be a malicious and groundless one, I do by these Strings of Wampum assure you both, that as long as you act a becoming Part, I shall esteem you as heretofore, & with these Presents I remove all Uneasiness from your minds, and desire that you will Cooperate with the rest of the Chiefs in every thing that may tend to the Welfare and Advantage of your Nation.-
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3 Strings of Wampum and a |
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Here ended, with a long Admonition to the above two Chiefs, wch. had great Effect upon them entirely gained their Hearts, and afforded great Pleasure to Kayaghshota, and all present.-
Then Kayaghshota returned Sir Wm. thanks for the Speeches he made to the sev. Nations, to whom he promised to deliver them faithfully, and assured Sir Wm. that as he reposed so much Confidence in him, he wou'd undertake to bring their Reply to him as soon as possible, and said he flattered himself that Sr. Wm. words wou'd be agreeable to all the Nations to whom they were addressed, and produce Satisfactory answers from both Confederacies.-
13th January 1774-
On this day Joseph Johnson with another New England Indian arrived here, and delivered Sr. Wm. a Letter wrote by himself from Johnstown, setting forth the Course of their Coming- vizt.,- concerning the Lands which the Oneidas promised to the New England Indians to settle upon.- After hearing their business Sir Wm. assembled the Chiefs of the Senecas, Onondagas, and Oneidas, and sent a Belt of Wampum by Kayaghshota, which he is to Shew it and tell them Sir Wm. Message thereon, which was that they wou'd act a Judicious, and upright Part in the Settling matters with the New England Inds. and then Shew it to the other Nations whom Sr. Wm. desired to make no Opposition to their Settlement, nor entertain any Jealousy on that account, all wch. Kayaghshota promised to do, then sent the Inds. to Oneida.-
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A Belt. |
Jany. 15th, 1774-
At a Private Conference with Kayaghshota, and Diaquande, they told Sir Wm. that the Sanduskey Indians, and Shawanese were closely united in their Sentiments, although the Hurons on the North Side of the Lake were not.-
To which Sir Wm. answered that if his Speeches now going by him to the Hurons, and Twightwee Confederacy had the expected Effect, the Indians of Sanduskey must Join them.- On Sir Wm's. asking him the reason of so great an Assemblage of Indians (page 1061) for this Year past at, and about Wawyaghtanon, he (Kayaghshota) answered that the Nations in that Quarter were apprehensive of a War being to be carried on by the Six Nations &c against them, and that they had with the assistance of the French who are numerous there, built several Forts for their Defence, and Security of their Women, and Children, but that he was certain the Steps which Sir Wm. had already [taken] and was now taking, wou'd quiet their minds, and remove all their Fears on that head.-
A true Copy7
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W. JOHNSON |
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INDORSED: |
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Proceedings at a
Conference |
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6 Jehu Hay, appointed commissary at Detroit, Feb. 18, 1774.
7 These three words and signature are in Johnson's hand.
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