hv_coatesi_account_1798_057

ing us down in the canoe, upon whichhe readily received it. 27th 2nd day. Our young men arrived and about12 o'clock the Indians were generally collected incouncil, there being 5 or 6 women also present. Early in the opportunity, Cornplanter made apretty long speech, which did not appear tobe directed to us, but was for an Indianthere in the house,* * as our interpreter afterward told us. who had been charged withmurdering a white man: for which he hadbeen tried but being aquitted, was now atliberty, the expensive of which had cost Cornplanter$200. The Chiefs speech appeared to be deliveredwith much earnestness, and seriousness. He then addressed himself to us, expressing his satisfaction in seeing us all in good health &;c.He then informed us they were now ready to hearwhat we had to say to them. After this information we sat a fewminutes in silence, wherein we felt an earnest desire that we might be renewedly favored withbest direction in our communications &;c. to thesepeople. Inward stillness, or anything like it, is a state of mind that only a few of them appearto be acquainted with. We were, in a shorttime, favored with a degree of weight and strength