388 The Winning of the West 



themselves to execute certain other provisions. The 

 land was really as much British as ever, and was so 

 treated by the British Governor of Canada, Lord 

 Dorchester, who had just made a tour of the Lake 

 Posts. The tribes were feudatory to the British, and 

 in their talks spoke of the King of Great Britain 

 as "father," and Brant was a British pensioner. 

 British agents were in constant communication with 

 the Indians at the councils, and they distributed 

 gifts among them with a hitherto unheard-of lavish- 

 ness. In every way they showed their resolution to 

 remain in full touch with their red allies. 15 



Nevertheless, they were anxious that peace should 

 be made. The Wyandots, too, seconded them, and 

 addressed the Wabash Indians at one of the coun 

 cils, urging them to cease their outrages on the 

 Americans. 16 These Wyandots had long been con 

 verted, and in addressing their heathen brethren, 

 said proudly: "We are not as other nations are 

 we, the Wyandots we are Christians." They cer 

 tainly showed themselves the better for their re 

 ligion, and they were still the bravest of the brave. 

 But though the Wabash Indians in answering spake 

 them fair, they had no wish to go to peace; and the 

 Wyandots were the only tribes who strove ear 

 nestly to prevent war. The American agents who 

 had gone to the Detroit River were forced to re 

 port that there was little hope of putting an end to 



16 Do., St. Clair to Knox, September 14, 1788; St. Clair to 

 Jay, December 13, 1^788. 

 16 Do., p. 267, Detroit River's Mouth, July 23, 1788. 



