mbly was large. The belt of peace, gorgeously embroidered with
many-colored beads, on softly-tanned deer skin, was held at one end by
the Iroquois chieftains, and at the other by the prominent men of the
Dutch Company, in their most showy attire. The pipe of peace was
smoked with solemn gravity. The tomahawk was buried, and each party
pledged itself to eternal friendship.

The united nation of the Iroquois, in numbers and valor, had become
quite supreme throughout all this region. All the adjacent tribes
bowed before their supremacy. In Mr. Street's metrical romance,
entitled "Frontenac" he speaks, in pleasing verse, of the prowess and
achievements of these formidable warriors.

"The fierce Adirondacs had fled from their wrath,
The Hurons been swept from their merciless path,
Around, the Ottawas, like leaves, had been strown,
And the lake of the Eries struck silent and lone.
The Lenape, lords once of valley and hill,
Made women, bent low at their conquerors' will.
By the far Mississippi the Illini shrank
When the trail of the Tortoise was seen on the bank.
On the hills of New England the Pequod turned pale
When the howl of the Wolf swelled at night on the gale,
And the Cherokee shook, in his green smiling bowers,
When the foot of the Bear stamped his carpet of flowers."

Thus far the Iroquois possessed only bows and arrows. They were
faithful to their promises, and implicit confidence could be reposed
in their pledge. The Dutch traders, without any fear, penetrated the
wilderness in all directions, and were invariably hospitably received
in the wigwams of the Indians.

In their traffic the Dutch at first exchanged for furs only articles
of ornament or of domestic value. But the bullet was a far more potent
weapon in the chase and in the hunting-field than the arrow. The
Indians very soon perceived the vast advantage they would derive in
their pursuit of game, from the musket, as well as the superiority it
would give them over all their foes. They consequently became very
eager to obtain muskets, powder and ball. They were warm friends of
the Europeans. There seemed to be no probability of their becoming
enemies. Muskets and steel traps enabled them to obtain many more
furs. Thus the Indians were soon furnished with an abundant supply of
fire-arms, and became unerring marksmen.

Year after year the returns from the trading-posts became more
valuable; and the explorations were pushed farthe