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Joseph Clark's Account of a Journey to the Indian Country, 1797

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for the Tuscaroras. Some warriors from Niagara, were also present. At this conference, the Indians seemed fully satisfied with the proposals made to them. We informed them that Friends had nothing but love for them and their children; and as it was their desire that we should take their chil-dren, we would do it at Friends' expense. On which information, they acknowledged Friends' love for them. 11th mo. 1st. —Had a conference with the prin- cipal Chief of the Oneidas, about the girls. He re-marked, that those of the young Indians who go out, often learn wrong habits; and mentioned some in-stances in the neighbourhood. He further observed, that they would rather the sons of Onas, (meaning of William Penn,) should have their people or children, than any other people; but their judgment was, for our women to come and instruct them; which would better preserve their morals, and be of far greater utility amongst the Indians, and which they always understood would be the case, from the first proposal made by the committee. In answer to all this, I re-plied, Great trees grow slow; meaning great matters take time to accomplish. He called upon me twice after this, to write a piece for their nation. At first, I declined; but, upon the second application, I complied, well knowing that what they requested was the mind of Friends, and also of Government. When it was written, they con-ferred together about its contents; and next day I was informed by their Chief that they approved thereof. The purport of it was to warn off some bad tenants, who had settled on their land contrary to law. The Chief gave me a name, Onas, signifying the man who