254 PONTIAC AT DETROIT. [1763, May, June. 



turn the families of the Canadians, and, inspecting 

 the property belonging to them, he assigned to 

 each the share of provisions which it must furnish 

 for the support of the Indians.^ The contributions 

 thus levied were all collected at the house of 

 Meloche, near Parent's Creek, whence they were 

 regularly issued, as the exigence required, to the 

 savages of the different camps. As the character 

 and habits of an Indian but ill qualify him to act 

 the part of commissary, Pontiac in this matter 

 availed himself of French assistance. 



On the river bank, not far from the house of 

 Meloche, lived an old Canadian, named Quilleriez, 

 a man of exceeding vanity and self-conceit, and 

 noted in the settlement for the gayety of his attire. 

 He wore moccasons of the most elaborate pattern, 

 and a sash plentifully garnished with beads and 

 wampum. He was continually intermeddling in 

 the affairs of the Indians, being anxious to be 

 regarded as the leader or director among them.^ 

 Of this man Pontiac evidently made a tool, 

 employing him, together with several others, to 

 discharge, beneath his eye, the duties of his novel 

 commissariat. Anxious to avoid offending the 



1 Gouin's Account, MS. 



2 Tradition related by M. Baby. The following is from the Diary of 

 the Siege: " Mr. St Martin said . . . that one Sibbold that came here last 

 winter with his Wife from the Illinois had told at Mr. Cuellierry's (Quil- 

 leriez) that they might expect a French Army in this Spring, and that 

 Report took rise from him. That the Day Capt. Campbell & Lt. McDou- 

 gal was detained by the Indians, Mr. CueUierry accepted of their Offer of being 

 made Commandant, if this Place was taken, to which he spoke to Mr. Cuel- 

 lierry about and ask'd him if he knew what he was doing, to which Mr. 

 CueUierry told him, I am almost distracted, they are Uke so many Dogs 

 about me, to which Mr. St. Martin made him no Answer." 



