From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library

Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 76
prove equally strong, the French and the English would join to cut them all off and divide the land between
them; that, though they had lost their general and some few of their soldiers, yet there were men enough to
reinforce them, and make them masters of the Ohio."
Washington inquired concerning the reliability of this information, and was told that "one Captain Joncaire,
their interpreter-in-chief, living at Venango, and a man of note in the army, delivered the speech to us."
On the next morning, the half-king and Monacatoocha appeared very early at Washington's tent, and besought
him to wait another day.
"We have used all diligence possible, but the Shannoah chiefs have not brought the wampum ordered, but will
be here to-night," the half-king said. "If they should not come in to-night, we will not delay you another day,
but will send it after you as soon as it arrives."
Washington yielded to their request, giving the reason in his journal thus:
"When I found them so pressing in their request, and knew that the returning of wampum[C] was the
abolishing of agreements, and giving this up was shaking off all dependence upon the French, I consented to
stay, as I believed an offence offered at this crisis might be attended with greater ill-consequence than another
day's delay."
[C] Small beads made of shells, used for money.
Washington's journal continues:
"In the evening, late, they came again, and acquainted me that the Shannoahs were not yet arrived, but that it
should not retard the prosecution of our journey. He delivered in my hearing the speech that was to be made to
the French by Jeskakake, one of their old chiefs, which was giving up the belt the late commandant had asked
for, and repeating nearly the same speech he himself had done before.
"He also delivered a string of wampum to this chief, which was sent by King Shingiss, to be given to
Kustalogo, with orders to repair to the French and deliver up the wampum.
"He likewise gave a very large string of black and white wampum, which was to be sent up immediately to the
Six Nations, if the French refused to quit the land at this warning, which was the third and last time, and was
the right of this Jeskakake to deliver."
On the evening before Washington left the place, the great men of the Indians assembled at their
council-house, to discuss the journey, and decide who should go. The result was, that, instead of the numerous
convoy promised, they concluded to send but three of their chiefs and one famous hunter.
When the company were ready to start, about nine o'clock, on the morning of Nov. 30, and Washington found
that his escort consisted only of the half-king, Jeskakake, White Thunder, and the Hunter, he said to
Tanacharisson:
"Brother, how is this? This is not the complete guard you promised me."
"Very true, brother," answered the half-king, "but be assured there is no intention to be untrue. When we
conferred together last night it was thought so large a number might give the French suspicions of evil
designs, and cause them to treat us rudely."
The journey was resumed, and proved very wearisome on account of stormy weather and hard traveling. They