George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 4, 15th edition.

[81] And as you threaten us with war in the spring, we

chap. III.} 1751.

tell you, if you are angry, we are ready to receive you, and resolve to die here, before we will go to you. That you may know this is our mind, we send you this string of black wampum.

Brothers, the Ottawas, you hear what I say; tell that to your fathers, the French; for that is our mind, and we speak it from our hearts.

The French colors are taken down; the Ottawas are dismissed to the French fort at Sandusky. The Long House, late the senate-chamber of the United Miamis, rings with the music and the riotous motions of the feather-dance. Now a war-chief strikes a post: the music and the dancers, on the instant, are hushed to silent listeners; the brave recounts his deeds in war, and proves the greatness of his mind by throwing presents lavishly to the musicians and the dancers. Then once more the turmoil of joy is renewed, till another warrior rises to boast his prowess, and scatter gifts in his turn.

Thus February came to an end. On the first day of March, Gist took his leave. The Miamis, resolving never to give heed to the words of the French, sent beyond the Alleghanies this message: ‘Our friendship shall stand like the loftiest mountain.’

The agent of the Ohio Company gazed with rapture on the valley of the Great Miami, ‘the finest meadows that can be.’ He was told, that the land was not less fertile to the very head-springs of the river, and west to the Wabash. He descended to the Ohio by way of the Little Miami, still finding many ‘clear fields,’ where herds of forty or fifty buffaloes were feeding together on the wonderfully tall grasses.