THE OHIO VALLEY-GREAT LAKES ETHNOHISTORY
ARCHIVES: THE MIAMI COLLECTION
It is noted that the following work from the Miami Archives should be read and
considered within the historical context in which it was composed and printed.
The opinions expressed and the language used do not reflect the opinions or
standards of the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology, but are, rather,
indicative of thought in that historical moment during which the document was
published.
Jesuit Relations
Vol. 54, (1669-1671)
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pp. 185-187. . . .After the Easter Holidays, all the Savages separated to go in search of their Prayers, and earnestly begging me always to have one of our Fathers go and join them in the Autumn, when they should have reassembled. Their request was granted, and if it please God to send some Father to us, he will take my place, while I shall go to start the Mission among the Ilinois, in pursuance of the Father Superior's orders.
The Ilinois are distant from la pointe thirty days' journey by land, by a very difficult route, and live by themselves, Southwestward from the point of saint Esprit. One passes the Nation of the Ketchigamins, who live in the interior, constitute more than twenty large cabins, and seek acquaintance with the French, hoping to obtain hatchets, knives, and other iron implements from them. They fear them to such a degree that they withdrew from the fire two Ilinois, who, after being bound to the stakes, stated [54] that the Frenchman had said that he wished peace to prevail over all the earth. One goes on then to the Miamioek, and, after crossing great prairies, reaches the Ilinois, who are mainly gathered in two Villages, containing more than eight or nine thousand souls. These people are fairly well inclined toward Christianity; since Father Allouez spoke to them, at la Pointe, about worshiping the one God, they have begun to abandon their false divinity. They worship the Sun and Thunder. Those whom I have seen seem to be of a tolerably good disposition; they do not go about at night, as do the other Savages; a man boldly kills his wife if he learns that she has not been faithful; they are more moderate in their Sacrifices; and they promise me to embrance Christianity, and observe all that I shall say in the Country. With this purpose in view, the Outaouaks gave me a young man who had lately come from the Ilinois, and he furnished me the rudiments of the language during the leisure allowed me by the Savages of la Pointe [55] in the course of the Winter. One can scarcely understand it, although it is somewhat like the Algonquin; . . .
p. 189. The Ilinois journey always by land; they raise
Indian corn, which they have in great abundance, have squashes as large as
those of France, and have a great many roots and fruits. There is fine hunting
there of Wild Cattle, Bears, Stags, Turkeys, Ducks, Bustards, Pigeons, and
Cranes. The people quit their Village some time in the year, to go all together
to the places where the animals are killed, and better to resist the enemy who
come to attack them.
. . .
When the Ilinois come to la Pointe, they cross a great river which is nearly a league in width, flows from North to South, and to such a distance that the Ilinois, who do not know what a Canoe is have not yet heard any mention of its mouth. They simply know that there are some very large Nations lower down than themselves, some of whom, [57] toward the East-Southeast of their Country, raise two crops of Indian corn in a year. A Nation that they call Chaouanou came to see them last Summer; and this young man who has been given me, and is teaching me the language, saw them. They are laden with glass beads, which shows that they have communication with Europeans. They had come overland a journey of nearly thirty days, before reaching the Country. . .
pp. 191-195. The Ilinois are warriors and take a great many Slaves, whom they trade with the Outaouaks for Muskets, Powder, Kettles, Hatchets and Knives. They were formerly at war with the Nadouessi, but made peace with them some years ago, which I confirmed, in order to facilitate their coming to la Pointe,-- where I am going to await them, that I may company them into their Country.
The Nadouessi, who are the Iroquois of this country, beyond la Pointe,-but less perfidious than they, and who never attack until they have been attacked,-- are [59] toward the Southwest from the Mission of St. Esprit. It is a large nation and has not yet been visited, as we are engaged in the conversion of the Outaouaks. They fear the Frenchman because he brings iron into this country; they have a language wholly different from the Algonquin and the Huron; there are a good many villages, but they extend over a great deal of territory. Their manners and customs are quite extraordinary; they chiefly adore the Calumet, and say not a word at their feasts; and, when any stranger arrives, they feed him with a wooden fork, as one would a child. All the nations of the Lake make war on them, but with little success. They have the wild oats, use little Canoes, and keep their word inviolate. I sent thee a present by the Interpreter, with a message that they must show due recognition to the Frenchman wherever they met him, and must not kill him or the Savages accompanying him; that the black Gown wished to proceed into the Country of the Assinipouars, [60] and into that of the Kilistinaux; that he was already among the Outagamis; and that I should set out this Autumn to go to the Ilinois, the passage to whom they were to leave free. To this they consented; but, as for my present, they were waiting until all their people should have come back from the chase; and they said that they would be at la Pointe this Autumn, to hold council with the Ilinois and talk with me. . .
The Assinipouars, who have almost the same language as the Nadouessi, are Westward from the Mission of St. Esprit, being fifteen or twenty days' journey distant on a Lake, where they gather wild oats, and fish are plenty. I heard that there was in their Country a great River leading to the Western Sea; and a Savage told me that, being at its mouth, he had seen Frenchmen and four large Canoes with sails.
The Kilistinaux are nomadic people, and we do not yet well know their rendezvous. They are toward the Northwest of the Mission of saint Esprit, are always in the woods, and have only the Bow to live by. They called at the Mission where I was last Autumn to the number of two hundred Canoes, coming to buy Merchandise and corn. They went into the woods to pass the Winter; but I have seen them this Spring, on the Lake shore.
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