SW_JL1793_Page_103

affected us. After ninety-six of their people hadbeen barbarously murdered at Muskingum, they were terrified, and driven from one place to an-other, seven times. Their last movement was to the river Traunch, or Thames. They put in seventy acres of corn last year, which grew to good size, but being a little too late, was killed by the frost. By which means, about one hundred and forty men, women, and children, are under great suffering, for want of bread. Government furnished two hundred bushels of corn for their relief, which was nearly expended. On consideration of their being as the first fruits of Indian civilization, and are reputed very industrious; as also on consideration of the concern of our society for the natives of the land, and the business in which we were embarked, we, on conferring together, were united in prospect, that it would be right, strangers and pilgrims as we were, to try our credit to supply them with one hundred dollars worth of corn and flour. Which being procured from Matthew Dolson, we furnished them with it; for which they and their missionary, Sensemer, appeared thankful; and I believe it had a good savour amongst the people here. We wrotea short epistle, expressive of our good wishes for, and kind remembrance of them, and sent by Sam.White, John Kilbuck, and their companions, to David Zeisberger, to be read generally, among their society at home. 28th. Warm and sultry. Stayed mostly at our lodgings. 29th. Had a visit from a Wyandot chief, who ap-peared to have much concern respecting the ap-proaching treaty — also, a remembrance of former