1766.] POXTIAC'S RErLY TO JOHNSON. 305 



call him to witness that I. speak from my heart ; 

 for since I took Colonel Croghan by the hand last 

 year, I have never let go my hold, for I see that 

 the Great Spirit will have us friends. 



*' Father, when our great father of France was 

 in this country, I held him fast by the hand. Now 

 that he is gone. I take you, my English father, by 

 the hand, in the name of all the nations, and prom- 

 ise to keep this covenant as long as I shall live." 



Here he delivered a large belt of w^ampum. 



" Father, when you address me, it is the same as 

 if you addressed all the nations of the west. Father, 

 this belt is to cover and strengthen our chain of 

 friendship, and to show you that, if any nation shall 

 lift the hatchet against our English brethren, we 

 shall be the first to feel it and resent it." 



Pontiac next took up in succession the various 

 points touched upon in the speech of the superin- 

 tendent, expressing in all things a full compliance 

 with his wishes. The succeedins: davs of the con- 

 ference were occupied with matters of detail relat- 

 ing chiefly to the fur-trade, all of which were 

 adjusted to the apparent satisfaction of the Indians, 

 who, on their part, made reiterated professions of 

 friendship. Pontiac promised to recall the war- 

 belts which had been sent to the north and Avest, 

 though, as he alleged, many of them had proceeded 

 from the Senecas, and not. from him ; adding that, 

 when all were gathered together, they would be 

 more than a man could carry. The Iroquois sach- 

 ems then addressed the western nations, exhorting 

 them to stand true to their engagements, and hold 



VOL. II. 20 



