332 MICHILLIMACKINAC. [1763. 



the boats of the English detachment were seen 

 to approach the landing-place. Michillimackinac 

 received a strong garrison ; and for a time, at least, 

 the traders were safe. 



Time passed on, and the hostile feelings of the 

 Indians towards the English did not diminish. It 

 necessarily follows, from the extremely loose char- 

 acter of Indian government, — if indeed the name 

 government be applicable at all, — that the sepa- 

 rate members of the same tribe have little political 

 connection, and are often united merely by the 

 social tie of totemship. Thus the Ottawas at 

 LWrbre Croche were quite independent of those 

 at Detroit. They had a chief of their own, who by 

 no means acknowledged the authority of Pontiac, 

 though the high reputation of this great warrior 

 everywhere attached respect and influence to his 

 name. The same relations subsisted between the 

 Ojibwas of Michillimackinac and their more south- 

 ern tribesmen ; and the latter might declare war 

 and make peace without at all involving the former. 



The name of the Ottawa chief at L'Arbre Croche 

 has not survived in history or tradition. The chief 

 of the Ojibwas, however, is still remembered by the 

 remnants of his people, and was the same whom 

 Henry calls Minavavana, or, as the Canadians 

 entitled him, by way of distinction, Le Grand 

 SaiUeur, or the Great Ojibwa. He lived in the 

 little village of Thunder Bay, though his power 

 was acknowledged b) the Indians of the neighbor- 

 ing islands. That his mind was of no common 

 order is suificiently evinced by his speech to Henry ; 



