1764.] PONTIAC AND NEYON. 263 



Now that the insurrection in the east was quelled, 

 and the Delaware s and Shawanoes were beaten into 

 submission, it was thought that the English would 

 lose no time in taking full possession of the country, 

 which, by the peace of 1763, had been transferred 

 into their hands. Two principal routes would give 

 access to the Illinois. Troops might advance from 

 the south up the great natural highway of the 

 Mississippi, or they might descend from the east 

 by way of Fort Pitt and the Ohio. In either case, 

 to meet and repel them was the determined purpose 

 of Pontiac. 



In the spring, or early summer, he had come to 

 the Illinois and visited the commandant, Neyon, 

 who was then still at his post. Neyon's greeting 

 was inauspicious. He told his visitor that he 

 hoped he had returned at last to his senses. Pon- 

 tiac laid before him a large belt of wampum. 

 " My Father," he said, " I come to invite you and 

 all your allies to go with me to war against the 

 English." Neyon asked if he had not received his 

 message of the last autumn, in which he told him 

 that the French and English were thenceforth one 

 people ; but Pontiac persisted, and still urged him 

 to take up the hatchet. Neyon at length grew 

 angry, kicked away the wampum-belt, and de- 

 manded if he could not hear what was said to him. 

 Thus repulsed, Pontiac asked for a keg of rum. 

 Which being given him, he caused to be carried 

 to a neighboring Illinois village ; and, with the help 

 of this potent auxiliary, made the assembled war^ 

 riors join him in the war-song.^ 



1 Diary of the Siege of Detroit, under date June 9, 1764. 



