The governor was also hampered by interminable bickerings among the territorial officials. From 1807 on, it was evident the Indians meant mischief. They complained that they had signed treaties without understanding them. In 1807 Governor Hull negotiated a treaty with them, by which they ceded lands as far west as the principal meridian running through the present counties of Hillsdale, Jackson, Ingham and Shiawassee, to a point near Owosso, and thence northeast to White rock, on Lake Huron. But fear of the Indians kept the lands from being surveyed, and settlers were not disposed to go inland out of easy hailing distance from the fort at Detroit. The Indians were doubtless influenced somewhat by the fur traders of the Northwest Company, whose interests required that the country should remain a wilderness, and the British distributed guns and ammunition and other presents with a lavish hand.