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Jacob Lindley's Account, 1793

SW_JL1793_Page_144

This day, the lake is exceeding rough, which must retard the return of the Indian chiefs, who have now been gone seven days. This evening, two Mohicons arrived from the In-dian council, who brought us a letter from Captain Hendricks Apaumut, who informs, there is a pros-pect of a treaty commencing in a very few days. — The messengers state, that sickness, and a great mortality prevails in the Indian camp — which took off a worthy man of their nation, named Sam, with whom I was acquainted. 9th. This morning, twelve Chipawas, Delawares, and Munseys, called to see us, on their return home, having staid till their clothes were mostly in rags,and I believe, they were alarmed at the contagion. They report the decease of seventeen Indians, amongst whom were three Chipawa chiefs; and in-form, that in consequence of the sickly situation, they were about to move their camp eight miles down the river, near the side of the lake. Which is agreeable to us, as it will be so much nearer, andnot so much infested with musquetoes. 10th. Last evening, several of the Indians, who arrived in the morning, came to us, much disguised with liquor, and wanted more: which not beinggranted, they became rather sulky, rude, and inso-lent. One of them, who called himself Capt. Her-maunus, laid hold of me, partly in jest, and squeezed me hard, and said, you Quaker, you my brother. One said, his heart was bad, and another said, I ama devil, and my name is devil. Several of our com-pany, best acquainted with Indians, appeared alarm-ed with apprehensions of danger, and did not gointo their tents till near morning. About eight