186 THE CONSPIRACY. [1760-17G3. 



of the moment. But the mind of Pontiac could 

 embrace a wider and deeper view. The peril of 

 the times was unfolded in its full extent before 

 him, and he resolved to unite the tribes in one 

 grand effort to avert it. He did not, like many 

 of his people, entertain the absurd idea that the 

 Indians, by their unaided strength, could drive 

 the English into the sea. He adopted the only 

 plan consistent with reason, that of restoring the 

 French ascendency in the west, and once more 

 opposing a check to British encroachment. With 

 views like these, he lent a greedy ear to the 

 plausible falsehoods of the Canadians, who assured 

 him that the armies of King Louis were already 

 advancing to recover Canada, and that the French 

 and their red brethren, fighting side by side, would 

 drive the English dogs back within their own 

 narrow limits. 



Revolving these thoughts, and remembering that 

 his own ambitious views might be advanced by the 

 hostilities he meditated, Pontiac no longer hesitated. 

 Kevenge, ambition, and patriotism wrought upon 

 him alike, and he resolved on war. At the close 

 of the year 1762, he sent ambassadors to the dif- 

 ferent nations. They visited the country of the 

 Ohio and its tributaries, passed northward to the 

 region of the upper lakes, and the borders of 

 the E-iver Ottawa ; and far southward towards the 

 mouth of the Mississippi.^ Bearing with them 

 the war-belt of wampum,^ broad and long, as the 



1 MS. Letter — M. D'Ahhadie to M. Neyon, 1764. 



2 Wampum was an article much in use among many tribes, not only 

 for ornament, but for the graver purposes of councils, treaties, and embas- 



