1763, July.] SPEECH OF PONTIAC. 293 



we, wish to oppose his will. Until now I have 

 said nothing on this matter. I have not urged you 

 to take part with us in the war. It would have 

 been enough had you been content to sit quiet on 

 your mats, looking on, while we were fighting for 

 you. But you have not done so. You call your- 

 selves our friends, and yet you assist the English 

 with provisions, and go about as spies among our 

 villages. This must not continue. You must be 

 either wholly French or wholly English. If you 

 are French, take up that war-belt, and lift the 

 hatchet with us ; but if you are English, then we 

 declare war upon you. My brothers, 1 know this 

 is a hard thing. We are all alike children of our 

 Great Father the King of France, and it is hard to 

 fight among brethren for the sake of dogs. But 

 there is no choice. Look upon the belt, and let us 

 hear your answer." ^ 



One of the Canadians, having suspected the pur- 

 pose of Pontiac, had brought with him, not the 

 treaty of peace, but a copy of the capitulation of 

 Montreal with its dependencies, including Detroit. 

 Pride, or some other motive, restrained him from 

 confessing that the Canadians were no longer chil- 

 dren of the King of France, and he determined to 

 keep up the old delusion that a French army was 

 on its way to win back Canada, and chastise the 

 English invaders. He began his speech in reply 

 to Pontiac by professing great love for the Indians, 

 and a strong desire to aid them in the war. " But, 

 my brothers," he added, holding out the articles of 



1 Po7itiacM.S. 



