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THE LIFE OF HON. RIX ROBBINSON A PIONEER OF
WESTERN MICHIGAN BY GEORGE H. WHITE
At this time, to all appearance, the mission of Mr. Robinson was a failure and would be fruitless. He had made every possible endeavor to secure the trade or even the presence of the Indians in his log house, that his knowledge of Indian character suggested to him as having any possible effect on the boycott that he was suffering. The old chief of the tribe was particularly active in demonstrations, such as brandishing his tomahawk, etc., and took it upon himself to frequently pass very near to the door of the post, on his way to the other traders, indulging in insults and threats, also shaking a package of furs at him, as much as to say, "Don't you wish I would sell these to you? I am going to take them to the Hudson Bay company's trader and sell them. " Mr. Robinson didn't seem to notice it, but waited silently what he saw must ere long come, a collision with them, such as his predecessors had encountered. He had made up his mind that there was some way of outwitting the Hudson Bay company's people with these Indians, for he plainly saw that they were at the bottom of it. He resolved to study up the Indian character as thoroughly as he could, so as to solve the problem. One of the first things that he had noticed was, that the bundle, which seemed to be of superb fur, was so arranged as to seem to display ostentatiously that fact, and each time seemed to be of the same size; it seemed to him also that each time the furs
were too fine to be often got, and he soon concluded that it was the same package every time that it was not a mere accidental ebullition of temper, but solely to insult and annoy him, and drive him away lie inferred that if they failed in that they would make more aggressive efforts to rid themselves of him. He had also concluded that the climax was about at hand; that he should meet it boldly and aggressively; personal fear did not trouble him at all.
Michigan
Page 8
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