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70 Michillimackinac, the third of the fated garrisons to fall.

The ancient route to Michillimackinac, and the one followed in 1708 by the English fur traders was up the Ottawa, and along a succession of small lakes and rivers; or by Detroit and the lakes of St. Clair and Huron. Some years ago, Parkman made a personal examination of that fort, where, says he, "the stumps of the pickets and the foundations of the houses may still be traced." Michillimackinac—an Algonquin word, signifying the Great Turtle, and applied also to a neighboring island—was one of the three and most important northern posts, founded by the French at an early date, as a military key and a centre for the fur trade from the Mississippi and the North-west. The Jesuits had a mission there in 1671. Early in the spring of 1763, Pontiac had invited the Ojibways of Michillimackinac to join him in the great conspiracy, and they eagerly accepted.

It was impossible that such a grand scheme could mature without detection, but the English officers treated the rumours brought to them by friendly Indians and Canadians, with extraordinary unconcern