LESSON LXVII.
found'ed, established; placed.
gar'ri son, soldiers stationed in a fort or town.
strode, walked with long steps.
coun'cil, a number of men called together for advice.
in cit'ing, moving to action.
de vot'ed, very much attached.
de feat'ed, overcome.
cul'ture, a high state of knowledge.
or'na ment ed, adorned.
wam'pum, shells used by the Indians as money or for ornament.
fan tas'tic, wild; irregular.
THE STORY OF DETROIT.
The early history of Detroit is highly romantic. It was founded in 1701 as a military colony.
It soon became one of the most important of the western outposts of Canada, and as the French and Indians were usually on the most friendly terms, the colony for a long time existed in a state of happiness and contentment.
At the close of the French War, Detroit contained over two thousand inhabitants. Canadian dwellings with their lovely gardens lined the banks of the river for miles.
Within the limits of the settlement were several Indian villages. Here the light-hearted French-Canadian smoked his pipe and told his story, and the friendly Indian supplied him with game and joined in his merry-making.
In the year 1760, Detroit was taken possession of by the English. The Indians hated the English, as much as they had loved the French.
Pontiac, the ruling spirit of the forests at this time, was a most powerful and statesmanlike chief. When he found that his friends, the French, had lost their power, he sought to unite the Indian tribes against the English colonies, and to destroy the English garrison at Detroit by strategy.
He was chief of the Ottawas, but possessed great influence over several other tribes. Pontiac believed, and that truly, that the establishment of English colonies would be fatal to the interests of the Indian race.