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RAID UPON NEW ENGLAND

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peace had been concluded. He communicated this to M. Thury; the latter could hardly believe it.^[1]

In the meantime, a canoe arrived from Kanibak which brought a letter to Sieur de Yillieu from Father Bigot which confirmed in some degree the news he had discovered, which caused him to press M. Thury to go to Taxous and incite him against Mataquando for having made peace without his consent. The effect was marvellous. Taxous declared that Mataquando had made peace, but as for himself he wished for war. He at once prepared to set out. On the twelfth day they dispatched a canoe to make known in haste to those of Medauktek the resolution taken the preceding day. On the same day, Sieur de Villieu descended to the sea shore determined to seize an Englishman named Aldin, who had gone there on a thirty ton vessel for the purpose of carrying on parleying. He hoped to take him with the help of Sieur de Saint Castin, the Indians having declined to join forces with Sieur de Villieu in this affair. But he arrived twelve hours too late, and saw the vessel three leagues from the fort sailing in the direction of Boston.

He remained with Sieur de Saint Castin until the sixteenth, when he left there to go to Panaoumskek. On the eighteenth, while ascending the river, his canoe was overturned above a rapid which he had shot holding to the canoe until in the whirlpools, where he was wounded in the head by striking against a rock, which caused him to let

↑ Villieu was correct in supposing that peace had been concluded. The meeting described by him, between Edgaremet and Modokawando, may have been that at which the Indians made their first appeal for a truce. But more followed for at the Pemaquid Conference, in 1693, a formal treaty was signed. Moxus knew of this, for, though he does not appear to have been present, he was represented by Wenobson, who signed the treaty "in behalf of Moxus." That Thury should have been ignorant of the signing of this treaty seems incredible.

Possibly the conference described by Villieu's informant may have been that at which Madokawando sold certain lands on St. Georges River. The deed of transfer bears date of May 9, 1694. It is signed by Madokawando, with Edgaremet and two other Indians as witnesses. The performance with the tomahawk may have been enacted by way of confirmation of the Pemaquid treaty. Whatever may be the explanation, it is plain that the red men were masters of finesse and were using it against their long-time comrades. French artifice had overreached itself.

[1] Villieu was correct in supposing that peace had been concluded. The meeting described by him, between Edgaremet and Modokawando, may have been that at which the Indians made their first appeal for a truce. But more followed for at the Pemaquid Conference, in 1693, a formal treaty was signed. Moxus knew of this, for, though he does not appear to have been present, he was represented by Wenobson, who signed the treaty "in behalf of Moxus." That Thury should have been ignorant of the signing of this treaty seems incredible.

Possibly the conference described by Villieu's informant may have been that at which Madokawando sold certain lands on St. Georges River. The deed of transfer bears date of May 9, 1694. It is signed by Madokawando, with Edgaremet and two other Indians as witnesses. The performance with the tomahawk may have been enacted by way of confirmation of the Pemaquid treaty. Whatever may be the explanation, it is plain that the red men were masters of finesse and were using it against their long-time comrades. French artifice had overreached itself.

[1]