226 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1696/7-98.

            Lib. H. D.     seem'd very hearty & sincere in such their intentions, and

                  that they never heard any thing else to the contrary since.

                    Mr Richard Cloud, one of the persons by Act of Assembly

                  appointed for deciding differences with the Choptico Indians

                  &ca came also according to surnons who is asked if any of that

                  Nation of Indians are now at Choptico. and in what manner

                  they live: Who say's that there are severall Indians at

                  Choptico who have built severall Cabins up & down there

                  abouts, but that the Neighbourhood is very suspicious they

                  design not to stay long in those parts by reason they are a

                  making severall Canooes more than usuall.

                    The said Gentlemen being Ordered to withdraw; Major

                  Smallwood was by Order called in to whom his Exncy sayes,

                  that he being a person that has frequently dealt and traded

                  with the Indians; therefore asks him his own thoughts about

                  the Piscattaway Indians; and how much powder he did gen

                  erally deale wth them for in a year. Who makes answer tht

                  he believes these late disturbances may have putt them at

                  prsent into some dread & fear, which might obstruct their

                  returne; but tht if they were sent to & satisfyed & all misun

                  derstandings removed, he is of opinion they would return

                  again. And that as to powder selling to them, he believes he

                  might sell them 150, or 200 weight in a year. Major Barton

                  another Indian Trader, being sent for & asked the same ques

                  tions, is much of the same Opinion wth Major Smallwood.

                  And as to powder selling he does believe he generally sold

                  them upwards of 300 weight in a year and does think they

                  may use at least six or seaven hundred weight of powder in

                  a year.

                    Mr Hutchison being called in is told by his Exncy that he

                  having lived neer the Piscattoway ffort for some years & had

                  comunication wth them, asks him his sentiments of the said

                  Indians, whether he believes tht they will return back or no;

                  Who say's that it is his beliefe they will scarce come back, by

                  reason the Virginians (as he is inform'd) infuses strange

                  notions into their heads, by telling them tht if they go back to

                  Maryland they will be all destroyed, and tht as long as they

                  keep in Virginia they will be safe and protected, saying that it

                  is two or three of the Indian Traders there tht supports them

                  in those fancyes & supply's them wth what they want and

                  therefore thinks it will be a hard matter to gett them back,

                  notwthstanding they seem'd so fair upon the Treaty.

                    Mr John Hawkins is called for and asked whether or no he

                  has not lived neer the Piscattaway ffort for severall years &

                  had converse with severall of them, who sayes he has.

                    He is asked what he thinks concerning the Piscattoway

                  Indians whether he thought they were inclinable to returne