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Jacob Lindley's Account, 1793

SW_JL1793_Page_092

a sprightly British officer, I took the liberty to men-tion the possibility, that when the broils in France should subside, the African slave trade be abolished, and a permanent peace concluded with our Ameri-can Indians, all this globe might be at peace; and that swords (of which he had one by his side) might be beaten into ploughshares. He quickly replied, he hoped not to see such a time, as it would also beat up his bread and butter, (meaning his living.) Such are the views of too many, in this day. A middle aged Indian, of the Delaware tribe, dined with us. He talked a little English, by which we understood he was in possession of several sheets of ancient writings; that he had heard of Friends, and just faintly remembered Z. Heston and John Parrish being at their town. He said there were but Buchon-geholas, Pipe, and two other chiefs belonging to their nation; that we might depend, if they said peace, it would be peace; but if they said war, it would be war. Also said, we would find the middle tribes more faithful and manly than the Chipawas and Wyandots; for they were treacherous. I told him, they had called us Shemochteman, or Big Knife, and said they wanted our scalps; at which he laughed. 19th. Crossed the river, and went down the east-ern bank four miles, to the house of John Missiner, where we had a solemn season, with a number of his neighbours, to the contriting of the hearts of di-vers present. Lodged with him that night. 20th. This morning had a religious opportunity in his family, in which, and the preceding meeting, dear John Parrish was favoured, in an extraordinary manner. After parting with them, we walked up the river about a mile, called at the house of Francis