Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 22.djvu/106



96 T. C. ELLIOTT

was brief but seemingly well used. He was on cordial relations with chief Ponteac, and, according to the record, 5 had many interviews with that famous warrior. They even discussed matters of empire together. At the same time opportunity was open to him to talk with traders and voyageurs who had been going into the country beyond the great lakes for many years; Frenchmen of course, or French-Canadians, for the English had not yet been in that field. In 1763 came similar opportunities, and that year he was suspected of being directly interested in certain transactions of trade at Niagara. That was the year of the Treaty of Paris by which France ceded to England all of Louisiana East of the Mississippi river, and this field for adventure no doubt was alluring to a man like Major Rogers. His active service thus far had been in New England, New York and Canada, and during 1761-2 in the south campaigning against the Cherokees.

During his stay in London, and doubtless to urge his appoint- ment, two books were published there with the. name of Major Robert Rogers on the title pages. One of these was the "Journals" of his military service from 1755 to 1763 ; the other was a treatise entitled "A Concise Account of North America" and descriptive of the colonies from Newfoundland to the Floridas and of the newly acquired districts in the interior. Just when and where Robert Rogers acquired an ability in writing is unknown, and in fact the preparation of these books has by some been attributed to one Potter, who acted in a secretarial capacity for him at times. These books were well timed as to publication, were creditable in style and contents, and were welcomed by the public and praised by the press. "A Concise Account" contains many interesting and accurate observations of those parts of North America he had personally traveled over but is in parts a compilation from books already printed. Neither of these books contains any mention of the name Ouragon or Ourigan. In fact in "A Concise Account," at page 152, the closing paragraph of a brief chapter on The Interior Country reads as follows: "The principal rivers of

'5 According to Nevins in Ponteach, p. 86.