Alexander Henry's Travels and Adventures in the Years 1760-1776

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1921 Excerpt: ...of imposture. It consisted in the return of the spirit, whose voice was again heard, and who now delivered a continued speech. The language of the Great Turtle, like that which we had heard before, was wholly unintelligible to every ear, that of his priest excepted; and it was, therefore, that not till the latter gave us an interpretation, which did not commence before the spirit had finished, that we learned the purport of this extraordinary communication. The spirit, as we were now informed by the priest, had during his short absence crossed Lake Huron and even proceeded as far as Fort Niagara, which is at the head of Lake Ontario, and thence to Montreal. At Fort Niagara he had seen no great number of soldiers; but on descending the St. Lawrence as low as Montreal, he had found the river covered with boats and the boats filled with soldiers, in number like the leaves of the trees. He had met them on their way up the river, coming to make war upon the Indians. The chief had a third question to propose, and the spirit, without a fresh journey to Fort Niagara, was able to give it an instant and most favorable answer: If, said the chief, the Indians visit Sir William Johnson, will they be received as friends? Sir William Johnson, said the spirit (and after the spirit, the priest) Sir William Johnson will fill their canoes with presents; with blankets, kettles, guns, gunpowder and shot, and large barrels of rum such as the stoutest of the Indians will not be able to lift; and every man will return in safety to his family. At this the transport was universal; and amid the clapping of hands, a hundred voices exclaimed,I will go, too! I will go, too! The question of public interest being resolved, indivi...