204 RETURN OF FROXTEXAC. [1690. 



to France, I set them free ; and, when I restore 

 them to their country, it will not be through fear, 

 but through pity, for I hate treachery. I am 

 strong enough to kill the English, destroy the Iro- 

 quois, and whip you, if you fail in your duty to me. 

 The Iroquois have killed and captured you in time 

 of peace. Do to them as they have done to you, 

 do to the English as they would like to do to you, 

 but hold fast to your true father, who will never 

 abandon you. Will you let the English brandy 

 that has killed you in your wigwams lure you into 

 the kettles of the Iroquois ? Is not mine better, 

 which has never killed you, but always made you 

 strong?" 1 



Charged with this haughty missive, Perrot set 

 out for Michillimackinac along with Louvigny and 

 his men. On their way up the Ottawa, they met 

 a large band of Iroquois hunters, whom they routed 

 with heavy loss. Nothing could have been more 

 auspicious for Perrot's errand. When towards mid- 

 summer they reached their destination, they ranged 

 their canoes in a triumphal procession, placed in 

 the foremost an Iroquois captured in the fight, 

 forced him to dance and sing, hung out the fleur- 

 de-lis, shouted Vive le Boi, whooped, yelled, and 

 fired their guns. As they neared the village of the 

 Ottawas, all the naked population ran down to the 

 shore, leaping, yelping, and firing, in return. Lou- 

 vigny and his men passed on, and landed at the 



1 Parole [dp M. de Frontenac) qui doit etre dite a I'Outaouais pour le dis- 

 suader d>- V Alliance qu'il vent /aire avec I'Iroguois el I'Anglois. The mes- 

 sage is long. Only the principal points are given above. 



