318 |
WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS. |
[vol. xvi |
I have had the honor, Monseigneur, of reporting to you, by the ship "La Providence," the motives which led Monsieur de Louvigny to ask for a number of Frenchmen, in order to end the enterprise against the reynards to the glory of the King. Since that time Sieur de Louvigny has presented a requisition to Monsieur begon and myself, in which he indicates that he is no longer satisfied with the three Canoes which Monsieur the Marquis de Vaudreuil and Monsieur begon had granted him for making this expedition at his own expense without any cost to the King - as you have been informed, monseigneur, by the joint letter of Messieurs de Vaudreuil and begon of September 20th last.
As Monsieur the Marquis de Vaudreuil has for a long time led the savages to expect him to go up there, Monsieur begon and I have Left him Entirely Free to make this voyage at the expense of the King; but Sieur de Louvigny, falling ill this spring, declared that he could not undertake it.
I was informed last April, monseigneur, by a letter written to me by Sieur de Vinsenne, that peace had been made between the ouyatanons and miamis, and the ilinois. I have the honor of enclosing a Copy, by which you will learn, monseigneur, that in this treaty of peace the nations have agreed to combine unanimously to make war against the reynards. The ouyatanons did not agree to this until after the arrival of Sieur dupuy, who decided them to do so, according to Copy of enclosed letter which he sent me, and the speeches which he made to those savages and the answer which they made him in regard to the matter. But at the same time I learned that the corn had failed at detroit, which obliged us to have Sieur de Joncquere buy 300 minots among the yrokois, which the Soldiers I have sent to garrison Michilimakinak, the inhabitants, and the resident savages who went up for the reynards' expedition, took in their canoes to deliver to Sieur de Lignery, commanding at that post.
I have also been informed by the same mail, both by Sieur de Liette and by father de Ville, a missionary among the ilinois, that the English of the government of Carolina had formed the design of introducing themselves among those nations; and, with this end in view, have begun to build two forts.
322 |
WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS. |
[vol. xvi |
and thus make it known that they have more influence with the savages than we
do. They have also maltreated a savage of the mission at the sault au récollet
by making him a Eunuch. Moreover, an Englishman came to the nontaés, while
Monsieur de Longoeul was there, to announce to the five yrokois Nations, in the
name of the governor of manaht [Manhattan, or New York], that he would soon
arrive with a large number of men, to build a fort at that place and establish
a garrison. We can but conclude from this that they are employing every means,
in every direction, to encroach on this colony and to come to carry on the fur
trade with the savages, to the exclusion of the merchants of this country.
There is even reason to Fear that at the first rupture with the English these
yrokois savages may make war on us.
__________
1715: EPIDEMIC AMONG WEAS PREVENTS THEM FROM AIDING DE
LIGNERY;
SHOULD BE REMOVED TO CHICAGO.
[Letter from Ramezay to the French Minister; dated
Nov. 3, 1715.
Source, same as preceding documents, but fol. 101.]
MONSEIGNEUR - I had the honor of informing you, on Aug. 16th last, that Sieur dupuy had gone among the ouyatanons, at the beginning of this year, to get corn and to conciliate that nation, whose minds were somewhat alienated from us, and also to cement the newly-made peace between them and the illinois. He brought with him two principal chiefs of that nation, and three of the miamis of the ouabeche, for the purpose of bringing about an interview with Monsieur de louvigny.
I also had the honor, monseigneur, of informing you that I had sent M. dudoncour de Longueuil and my eldest son to act with those nations of the south, in accordance with the plans deliberated in the council held at destroit, the result of which has been made known to Sieur de lignery at Michilimakinac; who was to conform thereto.
One of the principal chiefs of the ouyatanons has died at destroit; all the military Ceremonies usual on such occasions
|
1715] |
FRENCH REGIME IN WISCONSIN. |
323 |
were performed for him, a thing which greatly pleases the Savages.
After writing my Letter, I have just learned, from letters brought to me by Sieur de Bellestre, that Sieurs de maunoir and dudoncour, from whom I had had no news since Their departure from destroit, had, after ten days' march on foot, reached the miamis of the ouabeche; and that on the way they had also lost by measles the ouyatonon chief and the three ouabeche chiefs, and had found no one in the village, because it had been reported that they were coming to devour the savages. They had great difficulty in reassuring the latter, but finally drew from them a promise that all those in condition to march would go to the Rendezvous with Sieur de Vincenne - to whom my son de maunoir, having still to travel a long way overland, sent the munitions of war, to be taken by canoes to chicagou on leaving that village. The measles had already attacked the savages.
Sieurs de maunoir and dudoncour were eight days in reaching the ouyatanons, whom they had notified of their coming, but who received them very ill, as they had learned of the death of Their chiefs, and even, after the fashion of the savages, accused the French of having killed them - saying that they were coming to mend matters with words, but that this would not satisfy them. Finally, monseigneur, by force of insinuation and flattery, the confidence of some was restored, and these promised to go to chicagou on the return of their people from the chase. They asked to have one of the officers remain with Them; this was Sieur dudoncour. Their request was the more readily granted as it was feared that they might not march unless an officer remained at their head. Their village was expected to contribute at least two hundred men.
Sieur de maunoir set out for the Illinois on July 24th, leaving orders to Sieur dudoncour to be at chicagou August 10th. The measles, which is pernicious to the savages, so increased among the ouyatanons that there were from fifteen to twenty deaths a day. Then one of their chiefs arrived, who, to prevent them from marching, said that the yrokois were going to attack Their village. They told Sieur dudoncour that, in place
324 |
WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS. |
[vol. xvi |
of the two Hundred men they had promised, they could only furnish twenty or
thirty, among whom were the two principal chiefs. With this small number he set
out, having himself been attacked by the fever for several days; and undertook
that journey of 130 Leagues through the midst of the prairies, having only
dried meat and very little water for so Long an expedition.
The savages did not dare to hunt on account of the reynards, whose trails they found leading to destroit or saginan. To complete their misfortunes, they found no one at the Rendezvous at chicagou; nor were the canoes there which they had promised to send from Michilimakinac, to inform them regarding the march against the reynards from that point. Two of the ouyatanon savages who had come with Sieur dudoncour having been attacked by the measles, the others returned to their village, so that Sieur dudoncour Remained alone with the five Frenchmen. After waiting four or five days beyond the time fixed, he set out to meet my son maunoir. The savage serving as guide went astray, so that no meeting was effected, and they went to le Rocher,1 among the illinois.
My son maunoir, on leaving the ouyatanes, had gone to that same place. He sent bizaillon to announce him; the latter acquitted himself very well in that affair and has great influence among the Illinois - who, to the number of 200, came out two Leagues to meet my son and carried him to their village (their greatest mark of honor), to show their joy at his arrival. He only Remained there long enough to collect 450 men with whom he went to chicagou, on Aug. 17th, and was much mortified to find no one there, and to get no news from michilimakinac. He sent scouts out over thirty Leagues, both to get news and to keep the savages from getting restless. These scouts returning on the 28th, without having discovered any trail, it became impossible any long to retain them, and Sieur de maunoir was obliged to return to Le Rocher, and join Sieur dudoncour.
You will
observe, monseigneur, that but for this untimely death of the myami and
ouyatanon chiefs and the epidemic of
__________
1Le Rocher (the Rock), referring to Starved Rock (see p. 100, ante,
note). - ED.
326 |
WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS. |
[vol. xvi |
upon you in order to keep in bounds both the French and the savages.
Sieur de bellestre has informed me that, in order to reassure the minds of the ouyatanons, my son has led them to hope that Monsieur the Marquis de Vaudreuil would, in accordance with their request, send them an officer and a missionary - which seems a matter of importance, both to dissipate their fear of the Yrokois, and to maintain the peace which they have made with the Illinois.
In allowing them this officer and this missionary they must, if possible, be persuaded to transfer Their village to Chicagou, so as to remove them 130 Leagues from the English. Sieur dupuy, who was there last winter, believes that he could succeed in this, if Monsieur the Marquis de Vaudreuil judge it expedient to inform him when he will return,1 thus enabling Sieur dupuy to make ready for this journey.
Although I especially recommended Sieur de Dudoncour and my son to put a stop to the reported conferences between the English and the nations of the south, they make no mention of these in Their letters - either because those conferences are discontinued, or because they have postponed bringing up this matter until the difficulty with the Reynards should be settled, according to the orders which I had given them.
I have the honor to be, with very great
respect, Monseigneur,
Your very humble, very obliged, and very obedient servant,
|
DE RAMEZAY. |
__________
1Vaudreuil was in France from 1714 to 1716, and Ramezay acted in his
place during that time. - ED.
|
1716] |
FRENCH REGIME IN WISCONSIN. |
345 |
1716: INDIAN AFFAIRS IN THE WEST.
[Proceedings of Council of Marine, Jan. 6, 1717; based on letter of Governor Vaudreuil, dated Oct. 14, 1716.1 Translated from MS. in archives of Ministère des Colonies, Paris; press-mark, "Canada, Corresp. gén., vol. 37, c. 11, fol. 4."]
He has learned from Monsieur de Ramezay that the Outauois savages and other Nations of the upper country who are allies of the French, Have since last year been very peaceably disposed, that their relations with each other have been amicable, and that they have the sentiments which they ought to have toward the Renards.
Sieur de Vincennes, the officer stationed among the Miamis and Ouyatanons, has reported that the Iroquois have sent those Nations Collars Underground, - that is to say, Secret messages, - by which they invited them to come and get what they need at a post established on the Oyo River,2 which is a new settlement of the English of Carolina. They said that there they would find merchandise at half the prices asked by the French, who were tyrannizing over them.
Sieur de Vincennes Had the Miamis make the reply that from father to son they had been the Children of Onontio (this is the name which the Savages give to the Governor-general of Canada), and that they would not depart from their obedience to him.
The Ouyatanons have sent a young Slave to Sieur de Ramezay to reiterate the request they made to him last year to be present at their Councils, and to furnish a Missionary to teach them, and a blacksmith to repair their weapons.
Monsieur de
Vaudreuil will provide what they ask, and will pay special attention to
garrisoning all the posts. It is of the Utmost importance to establish those On
the Southern frontier, where the English of Pensilvania, Carolina, and Virginia
are anxious to introduce themselves, which would ruin the Commerce not only of
Canada, but even of Louisiana, on account
__________
1Marginal note: "To be kept as a minute. L. A. B.,
pres."< br> 2Marginal note: "This is the Ouabache
river."
|
1718] |
FRENCH REGIME IN WISCONSIN. |
373 |
which yield a great abundance of excellent grapes both white and black. The
grapes are very large and solid, and The bunches very Long. It is The best
region in all that country. I believe they [the Miamis] have departed from it
only on account of the wars waged by the Renards, the Saquis, the outaouacs,
and all the other nations in that country. The River St. Joseph Is thirty
Leagues from chicagou, and chicagou is thirty Leagues from le Roché. The
ouyatanons Were also at chicagou, but they feared the canoe people,1
and consequently left the place. It would not be difficult to make them return,
and it would be of importance to have them there for various Reasons. The
principal one Is that they are near the English and the Sonontouans, on account
of the easy road between them; while at chicagou it would be very different,
when they would have to travel nearly a hundred Leagues overland.
Le Roché. The jlinois live here on the bank
of the River, and the French live on the Rock, which Is very High and
impregnable. Prairies extend farther than the eye can reach; and from the Top
of the Rock you can see herds of jlinois cattle roaming over the prairies. This
nation has always been At war with the Renards and the ouyatanons. The jlinois
of le Roché number 400 men, and are eighty Leagues from the ouyatanons, and more
than one hundred and fifty Leagues from the Renards. This nation Has a
different Language from that of our people at destroit; however, our
poutouatamis understand it in part. This nation use the bow and arrow a great
deal. They Are all dressed in deer-skin, or in Robes of buffalo, wildcat, wolf,
pole-cat, beaver, or otter skins. All the above-
__________
and Ohio river valleys, and often mentioned by early travelers. A. W. Butler
says ("Birds of Indiana," in Indiana Geological Report, 1897,
p. 819): "This beautiful little parrot was formerly found throughout
Indiana. It was last reported from Knox county in 1859. It is now almost
extinct in the United States, being at present only found in small numbers in
Florida, and in a few favorable locations in northeast Texas and Indian
Territory." - ED.
1Meaning the northern tribes, both Iroquois and Algonkin, who used canoes; this conveyance was unknown to most tribes south of Lake Michigan. - ED.
|
1718] |
FRENCH REGIME IN WISCONSIN. |
375 |
Between this village of the jlinois and the other on the ouabache it is 40 leagues. Going down the Misisipy from ouabache to natches the distance is 260 leagues. This is the only village to be found along the Misisipy in going to the sea. It is 500 leagues from the sea to the village of Rouainsac, where The fathers are; and there is always a strong current in coming up the Misisipy from the sea.
I Return to the
River of the miamis. Its entrance from Lake Esrié Is very Wide, and on both
sides, for a distance of ten Leagues in Ascending, there is nothing but continuous
marshes. In these there is at all seasons game without end, especially in
autumn and in spring; so that one can not sleep on account of the noise made by
the cries of the swans, bustards, geese, ducks, cranes, and other birds. This
river is sixty leagues in length, and is very difficult in summer on account of
the shallowness of its waters. Thirty leagues up is a place called la glaise
[the place of clay],1 where one always finds wild cattle [buffalo],
who eat the clay and roll in it. The miamis are Sixty leagues from Lake Esrié.
They number 400 men, all shapely and well tattooed. They have abundance of
women. They are very industrious, and raise a Kind of indian corn which is
unlike that of our tribes at Destroit. Their corn Is white, of the Same size as
the other, with much finer husks and much whiter flour. These people dress in
deer-skins; and when a girl Is married, and associates with another Man than
Her husband, the latter cuts off Her nose and has no more intercourse with her.
This is the only nation that has this custom. They are fond of gaming and
dancing, and are mainly occupied with these. The women are well covered, but
the men wear very little covering, and have their bodies tattooed all over.
From this Village of the miamis2 there is a portage of three Leagues
to a very Narrow little River; and that river, after following it 20 Leagues,
falls into the oyo River, or beautiful River; the latter empties into the
ouabache, another fine river, which falls into the Misisypy
__________
1[Now] Defiance, in the N. W. of Ohio. - E. B. O'Callaghan.
2On the site of the present Fort Wayne, Ind. - ED.
376 |
WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS. |
[vol. xvi |
40 Leagues from cascaskias. Into this ouabache river empties also the
casquinampo [Tennessee], by which one goes to carolinna; but it is a long
distance, and always against the current.
It is on this ouabache River that the ouyatanons are Settled. They have five villages, all built close together. One is called ouyatanons, another peangnichias, another peticotias, and another Les gros; as for the last, I do not remember its name. But they are all ouyatanons. They speak like The miamis, and are their brothers; and indeed all the miamis have the same customs and style of dress. They number fully one thousand or twelve hundred men. They have one custom which is not found among any other nations - they keep Their fort very clean. They do not allow any grass to grow there, and the whole fort is strewn with Sand, like the Thyleris [Tuileries]; and, if a dog drops any excrements about the fort, The women pick Them up and carry Them outside. Their village is Situated on a high Elevation. They have more than two Leagues of fields, where they raise Their indian corn, pumpkins, and melons; and from that Elevation one sees nothing but prairies, stretching farther than the eye can reach, and abounding in buffalo. Games and dances without end take Place among them. All these nations use a great deal of vermilion. The women cover themselves, but The men wear very few clothes. It is by the oio or beautiful River that the yroquois come; and, as they Are very dangerous, it would be important to prevent them from having intercourse with the ouyatanons. This warning has Long been repeated, but no attention has been paid to it.
The Misisypy rises in a Lake in the syou country. This river passes near the jlinois. This is about all that I Know about those places, for there are also many other rivers coming from the direction of the testes plates, which also empty into the Misisypy; but I have forgotten the names of those rivers. There is one called chaouenons.
[Endorsed: "Furnished by Monsieur de Sabrevois in 1718. 6 Canada."]
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