The  English,  having  thus  far  failed  to  effect  an  entrance  into  the
country  by  force  and  negotiations,  now  determined  to  try  their
hand  at  conciliation.  They  had  heard  of  the  wonderful  influence
exerted  over  the  savages  in  this  way  by  the  French,  and  concluded
that  their  own  efforts  might  be  attended  with  similar  results.  For
this  purpose  they  secured  the  services  of  a  Frenchman,  and  sent
him  up  the  river  with  a  boat  load  of  goods,  which  he  was  instructed
to  distribute  among  the  Indians  as  presents  from  the  English.
Intelligence  of  this  movement  traveled  far  more  rapidly  than  tlie
supplies,  and  Pontiac  determined  that  they  should  subserve  his
own  interest  and  not  that  of  his  enemies.  He,  therefore,  watched
the  arrival  of  the  boat,  and  no  sooner  bad  a  landing  been  effected
than  his  men  leaped  aboard,  and  having  flogged  the  Frenchman
and  his  crew,  distributed  the  goods  among  themselves.  As  was
customary,  these  supplies  were  soon  squandered  with  reckless
prodigality,  and  the  savages  when  pressed  with  want  turned  to  tlie
French  for  assistance.  But  the  latter  were  now  expecting  the
arrival  of  a  British  force  to  take  possession  of  the  country,  and
fearing  that  punishment  might  overtake  them  for  past  offences,
concluded  it  best  to  withhold  their  assistance.  8t.  Ange  and  other
officers,  also  believing  that  their  successors  would  soon  arrive,
informed  them  that  henceforth  they  must  look  for  supplies  to  the
English,  whose  good  will  it  was  now  their  interest  to  cultivate.
