when we firſt came among them they ſeemd
ſhy of him thro'
a Jealoſie that
there was
ſomething
^waſ^
deſigned by the Engliſh
againſt
them. but when
Gen.l
Johnſon had read his Letters Recomenda-
-tory, they
appeared well Satiſfied
& much pleaſed. and as a
Teſtimony of it the Kings of the
Onoydas, and
Tuſcarar[illegible]as, &
many others of their Cheifs came a ſhook hands with him
and bid him wellcome among them. their Cheifs then held a
council to fix upon the beſt methods to accomodate him with
that which was neceſsary for his comforta
[illegible]ble Subſiſtance among
them. and You would not wonder that their Cheifs held a councel
upon this Head if You knew how extreamly poor they are, having
Scarſe
any thing that may be calld Bread or any thing else except-
-ing what they get by Hunting to ſubſiſt upon, they proposed
to
M.r Occom to
[illegible]Chuſe where to Live, and whether to live in a
houſe already Built. he choſe the Place and let them know y.
t he choſe to live with
David (my Indian Schollar) and to live
by themſelves. they im̅ediately built him a Houſe the Structure
where of which could the Form, &
workmanſhip thereof be truly
repreſented,
^might gratify not a little the Curioſity of a^[illegible][guess: would doubtleſs by]
[illegible][guess: Brittons],
be eſteemed rare, & enter-
-taining, though there was nothing in it y.
t
reſembled the Temple
of old ſave
this that there was not the Noiſe of Axes or Hammers
in the Building of it. The Materials were the ſimple Product
of Nature. the Remains of The Oakes
&
Cheſtnuts, fell many Years
ago by the violence of wind,
comp[illegible][guess: act]
togather without the Em- -beliſhments of Art. — many of them attended his Miniſtry
—
^& appeared attentive^ Numbers from diſtant Nations came to hear him. And ſome
Seemd really deſirous to underſtand and know the truths which
moſt nearly concernd them. And when he was about to leave
them their Cheifs held another Council. The conſequence of which
was, that
Old Connoquies
(who had been King among the
onoydas but
^had now^
reſignd by Reaſon of Age) The King of the
Tuscar- -rars and other Cheifs, preſented him a Belt of wampum to
be delivered to thoſe Gentlemen who ſent
[illegible] him with
these Inſtructions which he received from
Old Connoquies.
viz.
1. we are glad from the inſide of our Hearts that You are come
hear to teach us the right way of God. we are also thankful to
those who ſent you. and above all to God.
2. We intend by the help of God to repent of all
our ſins and all
our heatheniſh ways &
Cuſtoms. we will put them all behind
our Backs, and will never look on them again
but will look
ſtrait forward, and run after Chriſtianity.
3. if we ſhall try to ſet up a School we beg the Aſsiſtance of
the Engliſh, if they ſee fit.
4. we deſire that ſtrong Drink may be prohibited, that it may
not be brought Among us, for we find
it kills our Bodies
and souls; and we will try to hinder
ait here.
5.
we deſire to be protected on our Lands, that none may mo-
-leſt, or incroach upon, us.
6 This Belt of Wampum ſhall bind us faſt
togather in perpetual
Love, and Friendſhip.
M.r Occom delivered it to those Gentlemen to whom it
was directed,
but obtaind their Leave to bring it hither.
to gratify my Curioſity, and a Curious Girdle it is
M.r occom
ſays it could not be made for leſs than £15. ſterl
g
David has made good Proficiency in their Language
which
is ſome
compenſation for riding a thouſand miles, and
more among them. it is thot that under ſuch advan-
-tages he might become a Maſter of their Language in
one year more & I am more and more ſatiſfied of
the Expediency of fitting their youth, who live among
the Engliſh both for Interpreters &
Miſsionaries.
M.r Occom is now
[illegible][guess: Envyed] at home but not among
them
one of y
e Girls which
M.r Brainerd
ſent was taken
ſick at E
[illegible] Harbour, before ſhe went on board the
veſsel and returned. the other is come and is a pritty
little black Chriſtian I think ſhe walks in y
e fear of
God and in the Comfort of the Holy Ghoſt. the Fruit
of dear
Mr Brainerds Labour among them.
The Rev.d
M.r Graves Epi[illegible]scopal Miſs y at New London has Sent me word y.t if I will procure him a likely Indian Boy he will Educate him at his
own Expence. and I have by Kirtland informed
Gen.l
Johnſon of the generous proposal, and deſired him to find and ſend
ſuch a Boy to him.
P.S. ^Nov.r 26. ^laſt Evening ^My^
Kirtland Returned and informs me y.t he left the Mohawke Youth who went up with with two more Boys of y.e
Six Nations at albany on their way hither and that he left y.e other who accompanied him
y.t was Sick, at Mount Johnſon in order to accompany four more as Soon as they return from
their Hunting perhaps
^within four or 5 weeks^ he Says that Gen.l
Johnſon is [illegible]^greatly^
pleaſed with the
Deſign and promiſes to use his Influence with a Number of Gentlemen of his Acquaintance (I ſuppose In Ireland) in favour of it
^&^ the ^genl^ writes ^me^ very Frendly indeed to y.e
^Same purpoſe^ The Indians ^also^
ſeem well pleaſed
& willing to let their Children come
Nov.r 27. The Three Mohawke Lads
^Boys^ are now come, and you would laugh to ſee how pleaſed the poor little Naked Creatures look they cant ſpeak a word of Engliſh nor any way to communicate but by Joseph
ye Youth before mentioned. I [illegible]
the Farmington Boy will be here within a few Days. by all accots he is a real Chriſtian, and a very promiſing Youth indeed.
Gen.l
Johnſon
Deſigns to Send an Indian Boy to M.r Graves
I have wrote M.r DeBerdt
y.t we much want a Bell y.t may be well heard a Mile (not for Ornament for we are all in the
[illegible][guess: R]ough but for
the Benefit of the School. and it wo.d indeed be very useful, the Maſters complain y.t It is ^often^ difficult to get ye Boys togather at their Proper Hours. And 'tis likely it would make us more regular in
all our Exerciſes. &c—
pleaſe to let our Good M.r Smith have the Sight of this if he be yet in England. I am My Hon.d and Dear Sir, yours moſt heartily
Eleaz.r Wheelock