he presented these, which together with a red blanket and two horns of glazed powder, formed the regalia and the dress of king Philip. Anawon then recounted his own mighty exploits under former kings, with an old man's talkativeness, till morning having dawned, they marched for Taunton. The dreadful war with Philip being ended, the English were beginning to turn their thoughts to the peaceful arts of husbandry. But the pleasing visions of expectation soon disappeared. A new war broke out at the eastward. Nor was it doubted, that some of Philip's followers, who had gone into that country, were the real instigators of it, and were as busy as ever in kindling the flames of war. The English, therefore, prompt to protect their brethren, put on again the armor, which they had just laid aside. Other circumstances contributed also to produce this war. Acadie, the ancient name of Novia Scotia, was possessed by the French, to whom it had been surrendered in 1667, by the treaty at Breda. The English and the French nations, long before this, had entertained towards each other strong jealousies of each other's growing power, feeling the most implacable resentments, which time served rather to increase than to extinguish. The French, residing in Acadie, resembling the natives in their habits and mode of living much more than the English did, with a language they learned with greater ease, and with the Roman Catholic religion which savages more readily adopt, obtained a great influence over the Indians. This influence they never hesitated to use in urging them on to war with the English colonies, desirous of driving them entirely from the American continent. The principal tribe of the eastern Indians was the Tarenteen. These, urged on by their neighbors, the French of Acadie, fell upon the infant colonies in Maine and New-Hampshire. The character of these wars was the same as former ones. Massacres and conflagrations, tortures and captivities followed in every part of those regions. The Indians began hostilities by robbing the English as they passed in boats and canoes; plundering their houses of guns and ammunition, liquors and movable goods. In September, 1676, they came to the house of an old man, Mr. Wakely, in Casco-Bay, where they murdered him, his wife, several children, and carried others into captivity. Saco was the next victim; there 13 were killed; At Scarborough, 20 houses were burned, and 7 persons were massacred. Two were slain at Kittery; and, while the inhabitants were burying these, 3 more were shot dead. The work of destruction was then turned towards Piscataqua, taking in its course Oister River, Salmon Falls, Dover, Exeter and several other towns, burning houses, destroying property, and taking the lives of about 50 persons. Business was now suspended. Each person was seeking his own safety and the security of his own beloved family. Dwelling houses were deserted; and several families retired into larger buildings, which they fortified by timber walls. and flankarts, with a centry-box on the roof of the house. This was guarded by day and by night. Numer These troubles continued during several years. ous were the feats of heroism; and great were the sufferings of the people. Troops were continually sent from the colonies; but they were not able to subdue the enemy. Several hundred Indians from Natick friendly to the English went against their red brethren in the east ; while the eastern Indians in their turn invited to their assistance all the disaffected savages, who had fled to them from the remnants of the Pequots, Narragansets and the followers of king Philip. Unable to subdue the enemy, the English resorted to a new expedient, which, however, did not produce the effects intended. Among all the eastern tribes of Indians, the very name of Mohawks was frightful. This dread of them originated at a period of time and from causes, of which no memory is retained. The oldest savages experienced the same fears, but could give no account of the causes. These Mohawks, therefore, though living at a great distance were invited to join the English troops. Several hundreds came; but they were either unable, or did not wish, to make any distinction between the friendly and the hostile Indians, killing all with equal avidity. Of course, they were soon dismissed. It was not easy to discover from what quarter the savages were supplied with ammunition and balls. They were too much afraid of the Mohawk nation to venture towards NewYork to purchase there. The French in Canada, if they had the means, did not dare to hazard the tranquility of the two governments by supplying them, as a treaty of peace had lately been signed. The Indians possessed neither foresight nor money to lay up a stock beforehand for future wars. The colonists were forbidden under severe penalties to sell any to the savages. At length, it was discovered, that licen ces to sell for purposes of hunting, on paying an acknowledgment to the public treasury had been greatly abused. Baron de St. Castine, a reduced French officer, who had married a daughter of an Indian chief, living out of the limits of any established government, had easily found means to supply the savages, who indeed use little ammunition, never firing without a certainty of doing execution. Several attempts had now been made to treat with the savages for peace. Both sides had grown weary with the work of death. The Indians began to express regret for what they had done and for the evils they had created. The governor of New-York had sent a sloop with forces to take possession of the lands granted to the Duke of York, and to build a fort at Pemaquid Bay, in the district of Maine, in order to prevent the encroachment of foreigners. To these the savages were inclined to be friendly. In proof of these pacific dispositions, they gave up the fishing vessels they had taken, and restored 15 prisoners. At Casco, on the 12th of April, 1678, three commissioners from New-Hampshire completed a treaty of peace with several tribes of Indians, and gave up the remainder of the captives The inhabitants were to return to ther old settlements in peace, on condition of paying one peck of corn annually to the Indians and one bushel to Major Pendleton, who was a great proprietor. Although the tribute was in itself disgraceful, yet justice pleaded to have some compensation made to the natives for the possession of lands, of which they alone were the real and rightful owners. This ended a bloody war of 3 years duration. CHAPTER VII. Indians complain. Various trials endured by the colonies. King William's war. Indian ravages. gem. Revenge on Major Waldron. Head. Captives sold into Canada. the Roman Catholic religion. Frontenac's three expeditions. Schenectady burned. Canada Indians and the French attack the eastern colonies. Attempt on Canada fails. Short peace. The French urge the Indians to new murders. Bickford's address. Exeter preserved. French bounty for scalps. Peace of Ryswick, 1698. PEACE with the Indians, while they were so numerous, was not of very long continuance. During a peace of ten years, complaints were often uttered aloud, and irritations were felt in their minds, which were ready to proceed to fresh outrages. The English had various difficulties to encounter. Among themselves they were zealously canvassing points in the metaphysical jargon of theology, and persecuting and banishing every one, who dared to differ from the rigid articles of the Puritan faith; and they were as much engaged in these things as if they had been works of charity. Their temporal affairs were not in a much better condition than their spiritual. A quo warranto had repeatedly been issued against the colonies by the government of the mother country; with whom they early began to dispute, while their charters were taken away, or new ones imposed with very diminishing rights and privileges. The French in their neighborhood often encroaching on territories, the jurisdiction of which was warmly contested, were pressing the savages to new acts of hostilities. The Indians themselves, without any new provocations, remembered the past with indignation, were full of apprehensions for the future, and already felt grievances not easily to be endured. They complained that the tribute of corn was not paid them according to stipulation; that their rivers had been obstructed by dams and seines; that their stand E2 ing corn had been devoured by the cattle belonging to the white people; that patents had been granted covering lands, of which they alone were the legitimate owners; to part with which they had neither been asked, nor had they given their assent; while in trade the most abusive frauds had been practised upon them. No attention was paid to complaints not backed by power. The storm daily thickened. In 1688, commenced the war which is known by the name of King William's war, in which the English had to contend as well with the French as the Indians. Hostilities began with killing the cattle. Some of the plunderers were seized and confined; but this increased the evil it was intended to prevent. The savages took several captives, some of whom they killed in their frolics. In the winter ensuing, the English raised an army of 700 men, who found no enemy but the dreadful severity of winter, which destroyed some of them, but no Indian was to be seen in all their marches. Presents were now tried in order to win their affections; but their dislike of the English had become incurable. They could never forgive the former conduct of Major Waldron, who had once collected 400 Indians to amuse them with training, in which a sham fight was proposed, the Indians on one side and the English on the other, but no sooner had the savages discharged their guns into the air than the English surrounded and took the whole, selling all the obnoxious ones as slaves into the WestIndies and setting the rest at liberty. Several of those, who had been sold, found their way home, and these together with the French soon engaged the savages in a war. Several tribes had formed a conspiracy; and Major Waldron was to be the first victim. An injury, of many years standing, was as fresh as ever in their memories. The past seemed indeed to have been forgotten. Trade and intercourse, as far as appearances were concerned, were friendly and free as ever. But, all this time, past injuries were felt, ane revenge was preparing in secret, ready to burst on the devoted head. The scene of action was laid in Dover, NewHampshire, at the Lower Falls on Cocheco River, where were 5 garrisoned houses, one of which was Waldron's. To these the people retired at night. Although several intimations of danger had been given, yet no guard was set. The Indians laid their plans with their usual art and secrecy. Two squaws were to obtain leave to lodge by the fire |