1694-06.] PERPLEXITIES OF FRONTENAC. 403 



mazes of forest diplomacy. This heterogeneous 

 multitude, scattered in tribes and groups of tribes 

 over two thousand miles of wilderness, was like a vast 

 menagerie of wild animals ; and the lynx bristled 

 at the wolf, and the panther grinned fury at the 

 bear, in spite of all his efforts to form them 1 into a 

 happy family under his paternal rule. 



La Motte-Cadillac commanded at Michillimacki- 

 nac, Courtemanche was stationed at Fort Miamis, 

 and Tonty and La Foret at the fortified rock of St. 

 Louis on the Illinois ; while Nicolas Perrot roamed 

 among the tribes of the Mississippi, striving at the 

 risk of his life to keep them at peace with each 

 other, and in alliance with the French. Yet a plot 

 presently came to light, by which the Foxes, Mas- 

 contins, and Kickapoos were to join hands, re- 

 nounce the French, and cast their fortunes with 

 the Iroquois and the English. There was still more 

 anxiety for the tribes of Michillimackinac, because 

 the results of their defection would be more im- 

 mediate. This important post had at the time an 

 Indian population of six or seven thousand souls, 

 a Jesuit mission, a fort with two hundred soldiers, 

 and a village of about sixty houses, occupied by 

 traders and courears de hois. The Indians of the 

 place were in relations more or less close with all 

 the tribes of the lakes. The Huron village was 

 divided between two rival chiefs : the Baron, who 

 was deep in Iroquois and English intrigue ; and the 

 Eat, who, though once the worst enemy of the 

 French, now stood their friend. The Ottawas and 

 other Algonquins of the adjacent villages were 



