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Michigan CHAPTER 10 Effect Upon the Indians of the Lake Region
He assured the savage of the most friendly treatment. At the same time he said that the French military forces must be removed out of the country, as being an obstacle in the way of mutual peace and good will between the natives and the new masters. Pontiac advised the English officer to remain where he was until there should be opportunity to think these matters over. At the same time he volunteered offers of assistance if anything were wanted in the way of supplies which the country could afford. Rogers assured him that if anything were supplied it would be purchased in the usual way. The next morning Pontiac returned to the camp and a long conference was held in which it appeared that the Indian chief was satisfied with the statement made by the English officer of his purposes in invading the country. So far as appeared on the surface the dignity of Pontiac had been appeased and he was contented to live in amicable relations with the English. The calumet of peace was smoked. Pontiac very graciously offered assistance both to Captain, Brewer in driving his oxen to Detroit and to Major Rogers in reaching his destination. He sent word to the Indian villages along the Lake Erie shore and at the mouth of the Detroit river that the English had his permission to enter the country.
On the 22d Rogers despatched a messenger, Lieutenant Brehme, with a note to Captain de Bellestre, commanding at Detroit, informing him of the capitulation, of his orders from General Amherst to take possession of Detroit and the other posts of the district, and of the fact that he had for delivery to Captain Bellestre a letter from Governor Vaudreuil. While delaying at the mouth of the river to parley with the large number of Indians who had assembled there Rogers received through Monsieur Baby a letter from Bellestre in which he acknowledges receipt of Rogers' note, but says that having no interpreter he is not able to fully make it out.
Michigan
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