Captain Brant and the Indian deputation proceeded on their return to Miami, in advance of the Commissioners, the latter embarking from Fort Erie on the 14th. On the 21st they arrived at the mouth of the Detroit river, where they were obliged to land—the British authorities at Detroit forbidding their approach farther toward the place of meeting. They were, however, hospitably entertained at the landing-place by Captain Elliot, Colonel McKee's assistant in the Indian Department. The latter officer was in attendance upon the council at the Rapids, to whom the Commissioners lost no time in addressing a note, apprising him of their arrival, and of their design to remain there until the Indians should be ready to remove the council to Sandusky. They also requested the good offices of Colonel McKee in expediting the proceedings of the Indians. This dispatch was borne by Captain Elliot himself, who returned on the 29th, bringing an answer from the Colonel, and attended by a deputation of upward of twenty Indians from the different nations in council. An audience of these Indians was had on the day following, at which a Wyandot Chief, whose name in English was Carry-one-about, opened their business with the following unexpected address:—
"Brothers, listen! We are glad to see you here in peace, and thank the Great Spirit that has preserved us to meet again.
"Brothers: We were sent to speak with you some time ago at Niagara. Some chiefs are now here who were then present.
"Brothers: We did not explain ourselves to each other, and we did not rightly understand each other.
"Brothers: We desire that we may rightly understand each other. We have thought it best that what we had to say should be put into writing, and here is the meaning of our hearts."
Saying which, the Wyandot chief put a paper into the hands of the Commissioners, which read as follows:—
"To the Commissioners of the United States.
"Brothers: The Deputies we sent you did not fully explain our meaning. We have therefore sent others to meet you once more, that you may fully understand the great question we have to ask you, and to which we expect an explicit answer in writing.
"Brothers: You are sent here by the United States in order to make peace with us, the Confederate Indians.
"Brothers: You know very well that the boundary-line, which was run by the white people and us, at the Treaty of Fort Stanwix, was the river Ohio.