1690.1 FRONTENAC AND HIS ALLIES. 253 



this all ; for, a few clays after. La Durantaye, late 

 commander at Michillimackinac, arrived with fifty- 

 five more canoes, manned by French traders, and 

 filled with valuable furs. The stream of wealth 

 dammed back so long was flowing upon the colony 

 at the moment when it was most needed. Never 

 had Canada known a more prosperous trade than 

 now in the midst of her clanger and tribulation. 

 It was a triumph for Frontenac. If his policy had 

 failed with the Iroquois, it had found a crowning 

 success among; the tribes of the lakes. 



Having painted, greased, and befeathered them- 

 selves, the Indians mustered for the grand council 

 which always preceded the opening of the market. 

 The Ottawa orator spoke of nothing but trade, and, 

 with a regretful memory of the cheapness of Eng- 

 lish goods, begged that the French would sell them 

 at the same rate. The Huron touched upon 

 politics and war, declaring that he and his people 

 had come to visit their old father and listen to his 

 voice, being well assured that he would never 

 abandon them, as others had done, nor fool away 

 his time, like Denonville, in shameful negotiations 

 for peace ; and he exhorted Frontenac to fight, not 

 the English only, but the Iroquois also, till they 

 were brought to reason. " If this is not clone," he 

 said, " my father and I shall both perish ; but, 

 come what may, we will perish together." ! " I 

 answered," writes Frontenac, " that I would fight 

 the Iroquois till they came to beg for peace, 



1 La Potherie, III. 94 ; Monseignat, Relation ; Frontenac au Ministre. 

 9 et 12 Nov., 1690. 



