182 BRADSTREET'S ARMY ON THE LAKES. [1764, Sept. 



had retired, as we have seen, to the banks of the 

 Maumee, whence he sent a haughty defiance to the 

 English commander. The Indian viUages near 

 Detroit were half emptied of then* inhabitants, 

 many of whom still followed the desperate for- 

 tunes of their indomitable leader. Those who 

 remained were, for the most part, brought by 

 famine and misery to a sincere desire for peace, 

 and readily obeyed the summons of Bradstreet to 

 meet him in council. 



The council was held in the open air, on the 

 morning of the seventh of September, with all the 

 accompaniments of military display which could 

 inspire awe and respect among the assembled 

 savages. The tribes, or rather fragments of tribes, 

 represented at this meeting, were the Ottawas, 

 Ojibwas, Pottawattamies, Miamis, Sacs, and Wyan- 

 dots. The Indians of Sandusky kept imperfectly 

 the promise they had made, the Wyandots of that 

 place alone sending a full deputation ; while 

 the other tribes were merely represented by the 

 Ojibwa chief Wasson. This man, who was the 

 principal chief of his tribe, and the most promi- 

 nent orator on the present occasion, rose and 

 opened the council. 



" My brother," he said, addressing Bradstreet, 

 " last year God forsook us. God has now opened 

 our eyes, and we desire to be heard. It is God's 

 will our hearts are altered. It was God's will you 

 had such fine weather to come to us. It is God's 

 will also there should be peace and tranquillity 

 over the face of the earth and of the waters." 



