Chapter I: Preface

"The White Chief of the Ottawa" is not fiction. It is not a tale with a carefully concealed plot, meant to delude the reader at the beginning and to surprise him at the end. It is something stranger than fiction, a sketch of the life experiences of Philemon Wright and his family, the first settlers in the district of Ottawa. With the exception of the love of Abbie and Chrissy, which are based upon fact, the story is mainly a simple recital of actual facts which cannot be controverted.

The writer is indebted to the following for furnishing valuable data:

Diary and letters of Philemon Wright, 1806-1816.

Bouchette's Topographical Report.

"Travels in the North"--Sir Alexander Mackenzie, 1803.

"Three Years in Canada"--McTaggart, 1830.

"Shoe and Canoe"--Dr. Bigsby.

Parkman's History of Canada.

Also to traditions of old settlers collected at various times and places. May some of the pictures set forth in these pages inspire us with an ever-deepening appreciation of the self-sacrifice, the energy, the enterprise, of those whose loyalty to the British Crown led them to penetrate the dark recesses of our Canadian forests and brave the trials and vicissitudes of pioneer life.

To these conquering heroes Canada owes much of her prosperity and greatness.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I.--A Weird Ceremony
II.--The White Chief
III.--Newitchewagan
IV.--An Indian Suitor
V.--Chrissy
VI.--Gay Voyageurs
VII.--"A Ministering Angel, Thou"
VIII.--Convent Days
IX.--The New Tutor
X.--Tobacco Offerings
XI.--Snares
XII.--Mrs. Bancroft's Sugaring Off
XIII.--Accidental and Confidential
XIV.--Machecawa Scalps the Englishman
XV.--A Romantic Wedding
XVI.--A Perilous Journey
XVII.--A Double Tragedy
XVIII.--An Exciting Moose Hunt
XIX.--After Many Days
XX.--Found Out
XXI.--Rideau Hall in the Thirties
XXII.--Light at Eventide

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Philemon Wright and Mrs. Wright ... Frontispiece

"He stood there, a colossal statue in bronze"

"Oh, Machecawa, my brother, it is not well that you grieve"

"Soon twelve canoes rounded the headland"

"When Martin came up I went down"

Hon. Louis Joseph Papineau and Madame Papineau

"The Chief proceeded to throw the tobacco into the Chaudiere"

Colonel By

"I remained behind the tree, dodging round"

Hon. Thomas MacKay

The White Chief of the Ottawa.