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* PONTARLIER. 235 PONTIAC. PONTARLIER, pOxtar'lyu'. The capital of an anonilisspiiient in the Department of Doiihs, France, situated near the Svi<s boundary. 2G miles southeast of Besancon (Jlap: France, N 5). It is fortified and occupies a very impor- tant strategic position at the entrance to the Defile de la C'luse, one of the princii)al passes over the Jura. In 1871 the town was captured by the Prussians, and the French Army of tlie East was forced to retreat into Swiss territory. Population, in 1001, 7063. PONTASSIEVE, pfm'tas-sya'va. A town in the Province of Florence, Italy, situated at the junction of the Sieve with the Arno, nine miles by rail east of Florence (Map: Italy, F 4). It is a walled town with well-kept streets, a fine square, and an old castle. The inhabitants are engaged chiefiy in agricultural pursuits. Annual fairs are held, and there are manufactures of railway supplies, agricultural implements, and glass. Population (commune), in 1881, 11.308; in 1901, 13,40.5. PONTCHARTRAIN, pOn'char-tran', Lake. A largo salt-water lake in the southeastern part of Louisiana (Jlap: Louisiana, E 3). It is 40 miles long and 25 miles wide, and communicates eastward with Lake Borgne and Mississippi .Sound by the Rigolets Pass, through which the tide-water fiows. while on the west it is connected by a bayou with the smaller Lake Slaurepas. On its southern shore, which comes within five miles of the Jlississippi River, are the northern suburbs of New Orleans, and two canals navigable for small vessels reach to the heart of the city, where they terminate in basins. The southern shores are low and in parts marshy, with cypress swamps on the west. The north shore is elevated and healthful, being adjacent to the pine barrens, and affords good sites for summer residences and resorts. The lake is on the whole shallow, the maximum depth being 20 feet, but it is used to a considerable extent in the coasting trade with New Orleans. PONTE, pr.n'ta. Jacopo da. See Bassaxo II. PONTECORVO, p6n'ta-k6r'v6. A city in the Province of Caserta. Italy, situated on the Garigliano, 53 miles nortliwcst of Naples (Map: Italy, H 6). It has a cathedral with medi:vval manuscripts, fine churches, a gj'uinasium, and an old castle. There are manufactures of rope, hats, and macaroni. Pontecorvo formerly be- longed to the Papal States. In 1810 Napoleon I. gave the title of Prince of Pontecorvo to Marshal Bernadotte. Population (commune), in 1881, lO.lill : in 1901, 12.237. PONTEDERA, pcm'ta-d.Vra. A town in the Province of Pisa, Italy, situated at the junction of the Era with the Arno. 13 miles southeast of Pisa, with which it is connected by steam tramway (Map: Italy, E 4). The town has bridges over both rivers, a thirteenth-century church, and a gymnasium. The weaving of woolen and cotton cloth and the manufacture of oil and chicory are the chief industries. Popu- lation (commune), in 1881, 11.701; in 1901, 13,- 044. PONTEFRACT, pr.m'fret. A market to i and municipal borough in Yorkshire. England, 21 miles south-southwest of York (Map: Eng- l.and. F 3). There are a grammar, a national, and other schools, several almshouses, a large Vol. XVI.— 16. workhouse, and a splendid market ball. The town owns its water, cemetery, markets, and recreation grounds. Its trade is chiefly in agri- cultural and garden produce, cattle, and malt; licorice is largely cultivated for the 'Pontefraet lozenges,' known since 15t)2. The Castle of Pontefraet was built shortly after the Conquest. It was the scene of the imprisonment and death of Richard II., and here also Rivers, Grey, and Vaughan were put to death, at the instigation of Richard III. It was besieged four times dur- ing the Civil War, and was dismantled in 1049. There are but meagre remains of the structure. Population, in 1891, 9700: in 1001, 13,400. PONTEVEDRA, pon'tu-vf/dra. The capital of the province of the same name in Galicia, Spain. It is situated in a beautiful and fertile valley at the head of a bay on the northwestern coast of the Peninsula (Jlap: Spain, A 1). A stream flowing tlirough the town is crossed by a Roman bridge [pons vet us) of 12 arches. The town is well built, with spacious streets and beautiful alamedas or promenades lined with trees. There are a number of convents and mon- asteries, a Gothic church, and many modern buildings, the finest of which is the "provincial Government palace built in 1889. Sardine fish- eries and manufacturing are leading industries. Population, in 1887, 19,996; in 1900, 22,806. PONTEVEDRA. A town of Negros, Philip- pines, in the Province of Western Negros, situ- ated on the western coast of the island, 22 miles south of Bacolod. Population, 12.000. PON'TIAC (c.1720-09). A famous chief of the Ottawa Indians and leader of the confederate tribes of the Ohio Valley and Lake region against the English in 1703-65. He was born in what is now northwestern Ohio, his mother being an Ojibwa. He distinguished himself in the French service at an earlv age, and is said to have led the warriors of his own tribe against Braddock in 1755. Wlien JIajor Rogers was sent out in 1760 to take possession of the Western posts on behalf of the English Government, he ■vvas halted by Pontiac near the present Cleveland with the significant warning, "I stand in the path," but finall.v with Pontiac's consent pro- ceeded on his way to Detroit. Pontiac professed loyalty to the English King, apparently in good faith, but in a sliort time organized a confederacy which embraced practically all the tribes from the head of Lake Superior almost to the Gulf coast. His declared object was to drive out the English and recover the coimtry for the In- dians, who were still to hold themselves friendly to the French. According to the arrangement, the warriors of each tribe, on a concerted day. early in ilay. 1763, were to attack the garrison in their immediate neighborhood. Pontiac him- self was to lead the assault at Detroit. Through- out the great wilderness extending from the Pennsylvania frontier to Lake Superior there were then fourteen English (formerly French) posts, of which the most important were those at Fort Pitt, Detroit, and JIackinaw. The at- tacks were made as [jlanned. and the Indians cap- tured all but four of the fourteen posts. Niag- ara, Pitt, Ligonier, and Detroit. Mackinaw was taken by a stratagem and the entire garrison was massacred. A plot for the capture of Detroit seems to have been betrayed to the commanding officer. Major Gladwin, by an Indian girl, and