In the spring Pontiac laid out his great plan of campaign by which Detroit was to be the first fort to be assailed. Having obtained permission to hold a peace dance at Detroit, his braves had carefully spied out the fort, and after consultation with him fifty warriors were selected who were to saw off their gun barrels, so that the weapons might be hidden under the blankets, and in this fashion were to ask for a parley with the English commander. Fortunately for the garrison, the commander was informed of these plans by a spy, and when Pontiac and his fifty followers entered the fort they were surprised to see the warlike preparations. With a bland innocence which often had served him well, Pontiac asked why so many of the young men were in the streets with guns. “Just for exercise and discipline,” said the equally bland commander, and asked Pontiac to state his case. Just as the Indian was about to present the wampum belt in the reverse way—which was to be the signal for the massacre—the commander made a sign, the war drums of the garrison crashed out a charge and Pontiac saw that he was detected. He then presented it in the usual way and the English commander told him that as long as they behaved they would be taken care of and peace would be maintained. He then approached Pontiac, pulled open his blanket and disclosed the short rifle concealed beneath. There was nothing for Pontiac to do but retire, which he did with his fifty braves. This was really the beginning of the contest and Detroit was in a state of siege. The fort was in the midst of what was a military colony extending from twelve to sixteen miles along the west bank of the river. It had been founded in 1701 by Cadillac, who was virtually a feudal lord, owning the fort, the church, the gristmill, the brewery, warehouses, barn and the very fruit trees themselves, which had been brought from France. Cadillac was a remarkable organizer, and against great difficulties and severe opposition from forts already established, he had been able to persuade the French Government to support him in the development of this colony. Indeed, this is one of the earliest instances in Canada of assisted immigration and subsidies to settlers, such as we are accustomed to think of as belonging to modern times. In 1748 the French Government offered any settler who would go to Detroit one spade, one axe, one plough, one large and one small wagon, a cow, and a pig. Seed would be given to be returned after the third harvest. The women and children were supported for one year after coming to the colony. In this way Detroit had come to be a place of about 2,500 people.