here is west-northwest.15 This day killed several deer and other game and encamped.

"On the 5th, traveled south-southwest half a mile, south one mile, south-southwest three quarters of a mile, south half a mile, crossed two small brooks running east, went a south-southwest course half a mile, south half a mile, southeast half a mile, south two miles, southeast one mile, south half a mile, crossed a brook running east-by-north, traveled south-by-east half a mile, south-southeast two miles, southeast three quarters of a mile, south-southeast one mile, and came to Maskongam creek,16 about eight yards wide, crossed the creek, and encamped about thirty yards from it. This day killed deer and turkies in our march.

"On the 6th, we traveled about fourteen or fifteen miles, our general course being about east-southeast, killed plenty of game, and encamped by a very fine spring.17

"The 7th, our general course about southeast, traveled about six miles, and crossed Maskongam creek, running south, about twenty yards wide.18 There is an Indian town about twenty yards from the creek, on the east side, which is called the Mingo Cabbins. There were but two or three Indians in the place, the rest were hunting. These Indians have plenty of cows, horses, hogs, &c.19

"The 8th, halted at this town to mend our mogasons and kill deer, the provisions I brought from Detroit being entirely

15) If the reader will follow the track of the Sandusky, Mansfield and Newark Railroad, eleven miles south from Monroeville, he will probably be on the route of Rogers, and will twice cross the Huron River.

16) Black Fork of Mohican, now called White Woman or Walhonding. 17) Who will identify this "fine spring," somewhere between Montgomery and Vermillion townships, in Ashland county?

18) Lake Fork of Mohican, near Jeromeville, Ashland county.

19) A prominent object on all early charts, but usually called "Mohican John's Town." The township is now called "Mohecan."

expended. I went a hunting with ten of the Rangers, and by ten o'clock got more venison than we had occasion for.

"On the 9th, traveled about twelve miles, our general course being about southeast, and encamped by the side of a long meadow, where there were a number of Indians hunting.20

"The 10th, about the same course, we traveled eleven miles, and encamped, having killed in our march this day three bears and two elks.

"The 11th, continuing near the same course, we traveled thirteen miles and encamped, where were a number of Wiandots and Six Nation Indians hunting.

"The 12th, traveled six miles, bearing rather more to the east and encamped. This evening we killed several beaver. "The 13th, traveled about northeast six miles, and came to the Delaware's Town, called Beaver Town.21 This Indian town stands on good land, on the west side of the Maskongam river, and opposite to the town on the east side is a fine. river which discharges itself into it. The latter is about thirty yards wide, and the Maskongam about forty; so that when they both join they make a very fine stream, with a swift current running to the southwest. There are about 3000 acres of cleared ground round this place. The number of warriors in this town is about 180. All the way from the Lake Sandusky I found level land and a good country. No pine trees of any sort; the timber is white, black and yellow oak, black and white walnut, cyprus, chestnut and

20) Still called on the map of Ohio, "Long Prairie," in Plain township, Wayne county.

21) The Indian town of Tuscarora, opposite Sandy creek, at this time the residence of the leading Delaware chiefs. Here King Beaver resided in 1760, as also did the great war captain of the Delawares, Shingess, or King Shingask, whom we suppose to have been the same personage as Bockengehelas, who was living in 1804.

locust trees. At this town I staid till the 16th, in the morning, to refresh my party, and procured some corn of the Indians to boil with our venison.

"On the 16th, we marched nearly an east course about nine miles, and encamped by the side of a small river.

"On the 17th, kept much the same course, crossing several rivulets and creeks. We traveled about twenty miles, and encamped by the side of a small river.22

"On the 18th, we traveled about sixteen miles an easterly course and encamped by a brook.

"The 19th, about the same general course, we crossed two considerable streams of water, and some large hills timbered with chestnut and oak, and having traveled about twenty miles, we encamped by the side of a small river, at which place were a number of Delawares hunting.23

"On the 20th, keeping still an easterly course, and having much the same traveling as the day before, we advanced on our journey about nineteen miles, which brought us to Beaver creek, where are two or three Indian houses, on the west side of the creek, and in sight of the Ohio.

"Bad weather prevented our journeying on the 21st, but the next day we prosecuted our march. Having crossed the creek, we traveled twenty miles, nearly southeast and encamped with a party of Indian hunters.

"On the 23d, we came again to the Ohio, opposite to Fort Pitt, from whence I ordered Lieut. McCormack to march the party across the country to Albany, and after tarrying there until the 26th, I came the common road to Philadelphia, from thence to New York, where, after this long fatiguing tour, I arrived February 14, 1761."

22) Nimishillen creek, perhaps. 23) Little Yellow Creek, very likely.

CHAPTER IX.

CONSPIRACY OF PONTIAC.

THERE was a sullen submission to the new dominion of England through the Western wilderness. The French were subdued, and the Indians could not fail to respect the power of the British arms, but their jealousy of aggression on the one hand, or of no less unwelcome neglect on the other, still remained. Once more, as was the case ten years previously, an opportunity was afforded to the English to conciliate the natives, and avert for an indefinite period the horrors of a frontier war. It certainly behooved the colonies not to be less indulgent and considerate than the French had been. The latter had, from motives of policy, made frequent gifts to the tribes-treated their chiefs with consideration-supplied them with ammunition and clothing on reasonable terms, and by a frank and gay deportment won their good will.

If the reader will recall the interview between Rogers and Pontiac, narrated in the preceding chapter, he can readily appreciate not only the spirit of that chief, but also the dispositions of his followers. His lofty permission to Rogers, that the latter might "pass through his country unmolested," and his magnanimous protection of the detachment of Rangers from Indian attack, disclosed a proud consciousness that he was indeed "the King and Lord of the country." He was willing to recognize a slight protectorate in the English monarch, by an annual acknowledgment in furs and the style of "Uncle," yet this tenure, even less substantial than the

slightest feudal relation, was not to impair the wild independence of the forest emperor.

The jealousies of the Ohio Indians were almost immediately excited by the encroachments of English emigrants. The Ohio Company was revived; Virginia multiplied her grants; traders and settlers pushed beyond the mountains, which, by the treaty of Easton, in 1758, had been fixed as the eastern limit of the Indian hunting grounds; and the savages were not slow to perceive that the professions with which both Braddock and Forbes had approached their frontier, that the English would protect the tribes from French aggression, were only intended to cover similar designs. While these apprehensions prevailed among the Delawares and Shawanese, the feeling among the Wyandots and Ottawas, as well as the more northern tribes, was even more distrustful. The parsimony of the English, as compared with the liberal and attractive gifts of the French, added to the discontent.

Soon a bitter revulsion of feeling prevailed through the entire west. The Delawares and Shawanese were irritated by the settlers from Virginia and Pennsylvania, while the more remote tribes meditated revenge for the neglect of the English, in particulars now become necessary to their comfort, and also by the frequent outrages of a lawless soldiery, who had replaced the French garrisons. There were not wanting French traders and voyagers to remind the Indians of a contrast so disadvantageous in all respects to the recent occupants, and to fan the flame of disaffection to the height of insurrection.

As early as the spring of 1761, Alexander Henry, an English trader, went to Michillimacinac for purposes of business, and he found the strongest feeling against the English, on account of their failure by word or deed to conciliate the