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At the first meeting Mr Smith asked the Indians why they Signed for me for Agent in preference to him, they said because I had helped them & treated them best, and after having very hard words with them, he told them he would give them (so the Indians ses) one [inserted line] or two dollars I forget which they said each if they would put their names on his petition but they refused to do it, & then he ses if that is not enough I will give you more, but they Still refused, and after he found they would not Sign for him he got up & Ses I do not care whether you Sign for me or not, I can be Agent if I wish.

Then the Indians ses if you can be agent without we Sign for you, why do you offer us so much if we will Sign for you? no answer

One of the Indians Ses why don't you pay Gordon before you hire Indians to Sign for you, he said I shall pay Gordon when I get ready, & he said I advise you (Indians) not to pay Gordon what you owe him, or he Said Something like the above I do not know as I have used the Same words, but the meaning is the Same, so the Indians told me, and after a while he gets up & ses he was hasty & he got mad quick ses & it was over quick & that he Should be Agent, & he wished to know who was his friends & wished to Shake hands with them & about 3 out of all present Shook hands with him & all the rest refused one by one as he went around the Hall about 20