hv_coatesi_account_1798_030

in the fall; but our anxiety on this account isnow much removed, by Cornplanter informing usthat he had several barrels of flour which he broughtfrom Pittsburgh, and that when we were out offlour he would supply us. We agreed with hissister for 2 qts of milk per day at 8 cts per qt. wewould like to have had 3 qts but 2 was all shecould spare. The Indians being most of thisday steadily in private council concerningthe business we had laid before them, severaltimes sent their deputies to us for explana-tions. One question was, how they should drawtheir ploughs seeing they had no oxen, and wereso poor they had no money to buy them with. We replied we had seen two horses runningabout their town, and they were sufficient todraw one plough, and if they would save someof the money which they received, each year,from the white people, they could buy a pairof oxen, and they could drawn another; and our youngmen would assist them with their horses some-times, and these would do to make a beginning. We told them we did not expect great thingsto be done all at once, but we wanted them tomake a start, and come on by degrees as they were able. With this answer they appeared prettywell satisfied, though we thought it was not such