1763.] DISSIMULATION OF THE INDIANS. 189 



ing-frock. On one occasion, the plot was nearly 

 discovered. Early in March, 1763, Ensign Holmes, 

 commanding at Fort Miami, was told by a friendly 

 Indian that the warriors in the neighboring village 

 had lately received a war-belt, with a message urg- 

 ing them to destroy him and his garrison, and that 

 this they were preparing to do. Holmes called the 

 Indians together, and boldly charged them with 

 their design. They did as Indians on such occa- 

 sions have often done, confessed their fault with 

 much apparent contrition, laid the blame on a 

 neighboring tribe, and professed eternal friendship 

 to their brethren, the English. Holmes writes to 

 report his discovery to Major Gladwyn, who, in his 

 turn, sends the information to Sir Jeffrey Amherst, 

 expressing his opinion that there has been a general 

 irritation among the Indians, but that the affair will 

 soon blow over, and that, in the neighborhood of 

 his own post, the savages were perfectly tranquil.^ 

 Within cannon shot of the deluded officer's pali- 

 sades, was the village of Pontiac himself, the arch 



1 MS. Speech of a Miami Chief to Ensign Hdmes. MS. Letter — Holmes 

 to Gladwj/n, March 16, 1763. Gladioyn to Amherst, March 21, 1763. 



Extract from a MS. Letter — Ensign Holmes commanding at Miamis, to 

 Major Gladwyn : — 



{" Fort Miamis. 

 March 30th, 1763. 



"Since my Last Letter to You, wherein I Acquainted You of the 



Bloody Belt being in this Village, I have made all the search I could 



about it, and have found it out to be True ; Whereon I Assembled all 



the Chiefs of this Nation, & after a long and troublesome Spell with them, 



I Obtained the Belt, with a Speech, as You will Receive Enclosed ; This 



Affair is very timely Stopt, and I hope the News of a Peace will put a 



Stop to any further Troubles with these Indians, who are the Principal 



Ones of Setting Mischief on Foot. I send you the Belt, with this Packet, 



which I hope You will Forward to the General." 



