As soon as they were ready for flight, and the sun of April had completely melted the ice in the River Oswego, the French missionaries invited the Onondagas to a great feast, no doubt making out that it was part of the Easter festivities sanctioned by the Church.

They pointed out to their guests that from religious motives as well as those of politeness it was essential that the _whole_ of the food provided should be eaten, "nothing was to be left on the plate".

They set before their savage guests an enormous banquet of maize puddings, roast pigs, roast ducks, game birds, and fish of many kinds, even terrapins, or freshwater turtles.

The Iroquois ate and ate until even _their_ appetites were satisfied.

Then they began to cry off; but the missionaries politely insisted, and even told them that in failing to eat they were neglecting their religious duties.