La Salle and the discovery of the great West - North Central ...

1669] THE SENECA VILLAGES. 21hill,in the midst of a clearing nearly two leagues incompass. A 1 rude stockade surrounded it; and asthe visitors drew near they saw a band of old menseated on the grass, waiting to receive them. One ofthese veterans, so feeble with age that he could hardlystand, made them an harangue, in which he declaredthat the Senecas were their brothers, and invitedthem to enter the village. They did so, surroundedby a crowd of savages, and presently found themselvesin the midst of a disorderly cluster of largebut filthy abodes of bark, about a hundred and fiftyin number, the most capacious of which was assignedto their use.Here they made their quarters,and were soon overwhelmed by Senecahospitality.Children brought them pumpkins and berries fromthe woods; and boy messengers came to summon xthem to endless feasts, where they were regaled )^with the flesh of dogs and with boiled maize seasonedwith oil pressed from nuts and the seed of sunflowers.La Salle had flattered himself that he knew enoughIroquois to hold communication with the Senecas;but he failed completely in the attempt. The priestshad a Dutch interpreter, who spoke Iroquois fluently,but knew so little French, and was withal so obstinate,that he proved useless ; so that it was necessaryto employ a man in the service ofthe Jesuit Fremin,whose mission was at this village. What the partyneeded was a guide to conduct them to the Ohio ;and1 This village seems to have heen that attacked by Denonvillein 1687It stood on Boughton Hill, near the present town of Victor.