APPENDIX C. 329 



insult wliich lie thought he had received from Maj. Gladwin, Commander 

 of the Fort, conceived that, being great chief of all the Northern nations, 

 pnly himself and those of his nations were entitled to inhaijit this portion 

 of the earth, where for sixty and odd years the French had domiciliated 

 for the purpose of trading, and where the English had governed during 

 three years by right of the conquest of Canada. The Chief and all his 

 nation, whose bravery consists in treachery, resolved within himself the 

 entire destruction of the English nation, and perhaps ihe Canadians. In 

 order to succeed in his undertaking, which he had not mentioned to any 

 of his nation the Ottawas, he engaged their aid by a speech, and they, 

 naturally inclined to evil, did not hesitate to obey him. But, as they 

 found themselves too weak to undertake the enterprise alone, their 

 chief endeavored to draw to his party the Chippewa nation by means 

 of a council. This nation was governed by a chief named Ninevois. 

 tThis man, who acknowledged Pondiac as his chief, whose mind was weak, 

 and whose disposition cruel, listened to his advances, and joined him with 

 all his band. These two nations consisted together of about four hun- 

 dred men. This number did not appear to him sufficient. It became 

 necessary to bring into their interests the Hurons. This nation, divided 

 into two bands, was governed by two different chiefs of dissimilar charac- 

 ter, and nevertheless both le(i by their spiritual father, a Jesuit. The 

 two chiefs of this last nation were named, one Takee, of a temper similar 

 to Pondiac's, and the other Teata, a man of cautious disposition and of 

 perfect prudence. This last was not easily won, and having no disposition 

 to do evil, he refused to listen to the deputies sent by Pondiac, and sent 

 them back. They therefore addressed themselves to the first-mentioned 

 of this nation, by whom they were hstened to, and from whom they 

 received the war-belt, with promise to join themselves to Pondiac and 

 Ninevois, the Ottawas and Chippewas chiefs. It was settled by means 

 of wampum belts, (a manner of making themselves understood amongst 

 distant savages,) that they should hold a council on the 27th of April, 

 when should be decided the day and hour of the attack, and the precau- 

 tions necessary to take in order that their perfidy should not be discovered. 

 The manner of counting used by the Indians is by the moon ; and it was 

 resolved in the way I have mentioned, that this council should be held on 

 the 15th day of the moon, which corresponded with Wednesday the 27th 

 of the month of April." 



The writer next describes the council at the River Ecorces, and recounts 

 at full length the story of the Delaware Indian who visited the Great 

 Spirit. " The Chiefs," he says, " listened to Pondiac as to an oracle, and 

 told him they were ready to do any thing he should require." 



He relates with great minuteness how Pontiac, with his chosen war- 

 riors, came to the fort on the 1st of May, to dance the calumet dance, 

 and observe the strength and disposition of the garrison, and describes 

 the council subsequently held at the Pottawattamie village, in order to 

 adjust the plan of attack. 



" The day fixed upon having arrived, all the Ottawas, Pondiac at 



