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inclined to the Americans. General Washington himself wrote an autograph letter to their chiefs, accompanied by belts of wampum after the most approved Indian fashion, representing the British as their enemies and the Americans as their true friends. Pierre Tomah and Ambroise St. Aubin, head chiefs of the Maliseets, were induced to visit the trading post at Penobscot in September, 1775, and after being flattered and lionized in a manner dear to the savage heart made an agreement on behalf of their tribe in which they affirmed:—
"We heartily join with our brethren the Penobscot Indians in everything that they have or shall agree with our brethren of the colony of Massachusetts, and are resolved to stand together and oppose the people of Old England that are endeavouring to take yours and our lands and liberties from us. We have no where to look to for assistance but to you, and we desire you will help us to a priest that he may pray with us to God Almighty. We have no place to go to but Penobscot for support, and we desire you would provide ammunition, provisions and goods for us there, and we will come in there and give you our furs and skins and take our support from you in return and will be thankful to you for your kindness."
The reader will notice a bit of Indian shrewdness in the last sentence of the above. The Indians could still have traded with Simonds and White, as they had long been accustomed to do, but most of them were over head and ears in debt in that quarter, and here apparently was an easy method of getting rid of the old score and beginning anew. Pierre Tomah and some of the chiefs afterwards visited Washington at his headquarters and were cordially welcomed and entertained with lavish hospitality.
It may be remarked in passing that the entertainment of an Indian delegation was no trifling matter. In a conference held at Boston, in the year 1736, nine chiefs were lodged with one John Sale, whose bill for their entertainment contains the following items:—3 half pints of wine per day each; 12 pence worth of