Page:1898 NB Magazine.djvu/159
superintendent of Indian affairs; Major Studholme, commanding his Majesty's Garrison at Fort Howe; Captain Mowatt of his Majesty's ship Albany; Rev. Mr. Bourg, missionary to the Indians, and several other officers and gentlemen. The Indian delegates were Pierre Thoma, Supreme Sachem or Chief of St. John's. River; Francis Xavier, and Chief; and four Captains and eight principal Indians, as representatives of the Maliseets of the River St. John. There were also present four delegates from Richibucto, two from Miramichi, three from Chignecto and three from other places. The space at our disposal only admits of one or two extracts from Michael Francklin's account of the negotiations.
"The paper purporting to be the Declaration of War being read and fully explained, the Malecetes declared they had been deceived by John Allan of Machias who had not spoken their sentiments but his own, to answer his wicked and rebellious purposes, that their eyes were now opened and they proposed to restore to the Inhabitants and others the arms and all other articles now in their possession, not consumed or destroyed, which they had taken, particularly three swivel guns, and that they would deliver to Mr. White in the course of the winter two hundred pounds of Beaver, or as many moose skins in lieu thereof, towards making good the damage sustained by Individuals; that they were poor and had been kept from their hunting by the idle stories of John Allan and other Rebells and disaffected subjects."
The Chiefs and other principal Indians then on their knees in solemn manner took the oath[1] of allegiance to the King, pledging their loyalty to his government,
- ↑ The full text of the oath taken by the Indians at this time was as follows:—"I do promise to bear faith and true allegiance to His Majesty King George the Third.
"I do promise to make known to the King's Officers and Magistrates any designs of the enemy against his Garrisons, his Troops, or good Subjects that may come to my knowledge.
"I do promise to protect and keep safe fres any Insult. Outrage or Captivity the persons of Michael Francklin, Esq'r, the ing's Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and Mr. Bourg the Priest, whom the ring has been graciously pleased to appoint to officiate to us.
"I do promise that I will not take part directly or indirectly against the King in the troubles now subsisting between Great Britain and His Majesty's Rebellious Subjects of America, but that I will follow my hunting and fishing in a peaceable and quiet manner.
"I do promise that I will not go to Machias, or hold any communication with the people of that neighborhood, or other the Rebellious Subjects of His Majesty.
"All these things I do promise on the Holy Scriptures and before God, upon the faith of a good Christian, so help me God."