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1891-92. | AN EPISODE IN THE PONTIAC WAR. 
RUTHERFORD’S NARRATIVE—AN EPISODE IN THE 
PONTIAC WAR, 1763—AN UNPUBLISHED. MANU- 
SCRIPIZBY LIBUTSEUEHERFORD OF THE 
‘BUACK AVA TCH.” 
PRESENTED TO THE INSTITUTE BY THOMAS HODGINS, Esq., M.A. 
(Read 5th March, 1892) 
Major Gladwin of the 80th Regiment, commanding officer of Detroit, 
being anxious to know whether the lakes and rivers between that place 
and Michellemakainac were navigable for vessels of a greater burthen 
than the small batteaux then made use of, ordered Captain Charles 
Robson of the 77th Regiment, who had the command of the king’s ship 
upon Lake Erie, with a party of six soldiers and two sailors, with a large 
batteaux with the necessary implements, to sound the lakes. Sir Robert 
Davies, who had passed that winter at Detroit, having a curiosity to see 
further into the country, (which in fact was the motive which had 
induced him to come so far as Detroit,) accompanied Captain Robson, 
and both of these gentlemen inviting me to join them, I joyfully accepted 
the invitation, as it had then all the appearance of a pleasure jaunt. 
We promised ourselves excellent sport in shooting water fowl, with which 
that country abounds, not in the smallest degree dreading any inter- 
ference from the savages around us, who but a little before in full council 
renewed their profession of friendship for the English, and received from 
them presents to a considerable amount. We accordingly set out on 
May 2nd, 1763. Captain Robson, myself, and the party were in the 
batteaux. Sir Robert Davies and a Pawnee or Indian slave were ina 
little wooden canoe, being better than a batteaux for going in shallow 
water after the game, and so easily navigated that he and his boy were 
sufficient to cross the lakes and go up the creeks among the Indian 
villages. We passed several native villages, but there appeared to be 
very few Indians in them. We supposed that they were out ona hunting 
party, but afterwards found they were on an expedition of a very different 
nature ; being, in fact, collected at the place where we were afterwards 
attacked by them. 
May 6th.—In the morning we arrived at Pinuree, where were some 
Canadians building a saw mill, for whom we brought (at the desire of a 
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