The New Hampshire Gazette

INDIAN RETALIATION.

About forty years ago, when these Americans did not know the Europeans, a traveller penetrated into their country, made them acquainted with fire arms, and sold them muskets and gunpowder : they went a hunting and got great plenty of game and of course many furs. Another traveller went thither some time after with ammunition ; but the Indians being still provided, they did not care to barter with the Frenchman, who invented a very odd trick, in order to sell his powder without much troubling himself with the consequences that might result from his imposture, to his countrymen. He thought he had done a great action in deceiving these poor people.

As the Indians are naturally curious, they were desirous of knowing how powder, which they call grain, was made in France. The traveller made them believe that it was sown in Savannas, and that they had crops of it as of indigo or millet in America.

The Missouri were pleased with the discovery, and sowed all the gunpowder which they had left, which obliged them to buy that of the Frenchman, who got a considerable quantity of beaver skins for it, and afterwards went down the river to the Illinois, where M. de Tonti commanded.

The Missouri went from time to time to the Savanna,to see if the powder was growing ; they had placed a guard there to hinder the wild beasts from spoiling the field ; but they soon found out the Frenchman's trick : It must be observed, that the Indians can be deceived but once, and they always remember it. Accordingly they were resolved to be revenged upon the first Frenchman that should come to them. Soon after the hopes of profit excited the traveller to send his partner to the Missouri, with goods proper for commerce--they soon found out that this Frenchman was associated with the man who had imposed upon them ; however, they dissembled the trick which his predecessor had played. They gave him the public hut which was in the middle of the village, to deposit his bales in, when they were all laid out to view the Missouri came in, confusedly, and all those who had been foolish enough to sow gunpowder, took away some goods ; so the poor Frenchman was rid of all his wares at once, but without any equivalent from the Indians. He complained much of these proceedings and laid his grievances before the great Chief, who answered him very gravely, that he should have justice done him, for that purpose he must wait for the gunpowder harvest, his subjects having sown that commodity by the advice of his countryman ; that he might believe upon the word of a sovereign, that after the harvest was over, he would order a general hunt ; and that all the skins of wild beasts that would be taken should be given him in return for the important secret which they had taught them.