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30. Indian Speeches
BY GEORGE WASHINGTON
(1754)[76]
ABOUT two miles from this, on the southeast side of the river, lives Shingiss, King of the Delawares. We called upon him to invite him to a council at Logstown. Shingiss attended us to Logstown. As soon as I came into town I went to Monacatoocha (as the Half-King[77] was out hunting). I informed him that I was sent as a messenger to the French general, and was ordered to visit the sachems of the Six Nations so that they might know my errand.
I gave him a string of wampum and a twist of tobacco, [78] and desired him to send for the Half-King, and for other sachems, which he promised to do by a runner in the morning. I invited him and the other great men present to my tent, where they stayed about an hour, and returned.
About three o'clock this evening, the Half-King came to town. I went up and invited him, with an interpreter, privately to my tent. I desired him to
When he went to the fort, he said he was received in a very stern manner by the late commander, who asked him very abruptly what he had come about and told him to declare his business. So the Half-King said he made the following speech:—
"Fathers, I am come to tell you your own speeches, what your own mouths have declared.
"Fathers, in former days you set a silver dish before us, wherein there was a leg of a beaver.[79] You desired all the nations to come and eat of it, to eat in peace and plenty and not to be churlish to one another.
"And you said that if any such disturbing person should be found, you there laid down, by the edge of the dish, a rod with which you would scourge them.
"And you said that if your own father should get foolish in your old days, you desired that we might use it upon you as well as on others.
"Now, fathers, it is you who are the disturbers in this land, by coming and building your towns, and taking our land away unknown to us and by force.
"The Great Being above allowed the land to be a place of residence for us. So, fathers, I desire you to withdraw, just as I have desired our brothers the English to withdraw, for I will keep you at arm's length.
"I am not afraid to send you off this land."
The French general made this reply:—
"Now, my child, I have heard your speech; you spoke first but it is my time to speak now. Where is my wampum that you took away with the marks of towns on it?[80] This new wampum with which you
"I am not afraid of flies or mosquitoes, for that is what Indians are. I tell you I will go down the Ohio river and build upon it according to my command.
"If the river should be blocked up, I have forces sufficient to burst it open and tread under my feet all that oppose me, together with their allies. My force is as the sand upon the sea shore. Therefore here is your wampum; I sling it at you.
"If people will be ruled by me they may expect kindness, but not otherwise."
Washington, then only twenty-two years old, was sent out by the British to warn the French not to build forts on the Allegheny and Ohio rivers.
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