[Edward Manning Ruttenber (1872)] THE MAHICANS IN COUNCIL — QUEEN ANNE'S WAR — MI GRATIONS — MISSIONARY LABORS — THE WAR OF 1746. )EACE, such as had not fallen upon the wildernesses of the New World since the Europeans added their conflicting interests to the field of savage contests, prevailed at the opening of the eighteenth century. The contending tribes had buried the hatchet at Montreal, and Senecas and Hurons, Onondagas and Ottawas, Mohawks and Ahenaquis* through their representatives smoked together the pipe of peace. Beside their ancient river the Mabican warriors hunted the deer, and their hand-maidens cultivated the fields, wove wampum in the woods, and chanted their maternal songs. Large numbers of them gathered around the " tree of welfare" which had been planted for them, and their dispersed New England relatives, at Schaticook, and in the councils with the tribes lifted up the voice of thanksgiving and proclaimed signifi cant history. " We are glad to see you and your lady," said So-quans, the Mahican speaker, to Governor Bellomont at a confer ence at Albany, August 3 ist, 1 700; " 'Tis now about two years ago since we first saw you. The sun of peace shined then and so it does still. In the times of old there were not any Christians on this river, and the first Christians that came settled upon Rensselaer's land, whom we loved as soon as we saw them, and with whom we made a strict alliance and a covenant chain which has been kept inviolable ever since. This chain we are now come to renew.