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.
A New Discovery of a Vast Country in America.
Hennepin, Father Louis: in Two
Volumes,
December 1679/January 1680, pp. 143-146, 153-159.
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(p. 143)
. . .This Portage lies at the farther End of a large Campion piece of
Ground; and at the other End, to the West, lies a Village of the Savages Miami's,
Mascouteins, and Oiatinon, (see fn. 1)
who live together. The River of the Illinois has its Source near that
Village, and springs out of some (p. 144) marshy Lands, which
are as so many Quagmires, that one can scarcely walk over them. The Head of the
River is only a League and half from that of Miamis, and so our Portage
was not long. We mark'd the way from Place to Place with some Trees for the
convenience of those we expected after us; and left at the Portage, as
well as Fort Miamis, Letters hanging down from the Trees, containing M. la
Salle's Instructions to our Pilot, and the other five and twenty Men, who
were to come with him.
(p. 145)
An Account of our Embarkment at the Head of the River of the Illinois.
This River is navigable within a hundred Paces from its Source. . . .
Having past through great Marshes, we found a vast Plain, on which nothing grows but only some Herbs, which were dry at that time, and burnt, because the Miami's set them on fire every Year, in their hunting wild Bulls, as I shall mention anon. We found no manner of Game, which was a great Disappointment to us, our Provisions beginning to fail. Our Men travell'd about sixty Miles without killing any thing else but a lean Stag, a small wild Goat, some few Swans, and two (p. 146) Bustards, which was no sufficient Maintenance for two and thirty Men. Most of them were so weary of this laborious life, that they would have run away, if possible, and gone to the Savages, who were not very far from us, as we judg'd by the great Fires we saw on the Plain. These must be an innumerable [90] quantity of wild Bulls in that Country, since the Earth is cover'd with their Horns. The Miami's hunt them towards the latter end of Autumn.
We continu'd our Course upon this River very near the whole Month of December; but toward the latter end of the said Month, 1679, we arriv'd at the Village of the Illinois, which lies near one hundred and thirty Leagues from Fort Miamis, on the Lake of the Illinois.(see fn. 2 (All fn. are numbered 1 in document)) We suffer'd very much in this Passage; for the Savages having set the Herbs of the Plain on fire, the wild Bulls were fled away, and so we could kill but one, and some Turkey-Cocks. . . .
(p. 153)
An Account of Our Arrival to the Country of the Illinois, one of the most
numerous Nations of the Savages of America.
This Word Illinois comes, as it has been already observ'd, from Illini, which in the Language of that Nation signifies A perfect and accomplished Man. The Villages of the Illinois are situated in a Marshy Plain, about the Fortieth Degree of Latitude, on the Right side of the River, which is as broad as the Meuse. Their greatest Village may have in it Four or five hundred Cabins, every Cabin five or six Fires, and each Fire one or two Families, who live together in great Concord. Their Cabins are cover'd with Mats of flat Rushes, so closely sew'd together, that no Wind, Rain, or Snow can go thro' it. The Union that reigns amongst that Barbarous People, ought to cover with Shame the Christians; amongst whom we can see no Trace of that brotherly Love, which United the Primitive Professors of Christianity.
When the Savages have gather'd in their Indian Corn, they dig some Holes in the Ground, where they keep it for Summer-time, because Meat does not keep in hot Weather; whereas they have very little occasion for it in Winter; and 'tis then their Custom to leave their Villages, and with their whole Families to go a hunting wild Bulls, Beavers, &c. (p. 154) carrying [96] with them but a small quantity of their Corn, which however they value so much, that the most sensible Wrong one can do them, in their Opinion, is to take some of their Corn in their Absence. We found no Body in the Village, as we had foreseen; for the Illinois had divided themselves, according to their Custom, and were gone a hunting. Their Absence caus'd a great Perplexity amongst us; for we wanted Provisions, and yet durst not meddle with the Indian Corn the Savages had laid under Ground, for their Subsistence, and to sow their Lands with. However, our Necessity being very great, and it being impossible to continue our Voyage without any Provisions, especially seeing the Bulls and other Beasts had been driven from the Banks of the River, by means of Fire, as I have related in my former Chapter, M. la Salle resolv'd to take about forty Bushels of Corn, in hopes to appease the Savages with some Presents.
We embark'd again with these fresh Provisions, and continu'd to fall down the River, which runs directly to the South. Four Days after, being the First of January, 1680, we said Mass; and having wish'd a happy New-year to M. la Salle, and to all others, I thought fit to make a pathetical Exhortation to our Grumblers, to encourage them to go on chearfully, and inspire them with Union and Concord. Father Gabriel, Zenobe, and I, embrac'd them afterwards; and the promis'd us to continue firm in their Duty. The same Day we went thro' a Lake form'd by the River, about seven Leagues long, and one broad.(see fn. 3 (1 in document)) The Savages call that Place (p. 155) Pimiteoui (see fn. 4 (1 in doc.)); that is, in their Tongue, A Place where there is abundance of fat Beasts. When the River of the Illinois freezes, which is but seldom, it freezes only to this Lake, and never from thence to the Meschasipi, into which this River falls. M. la Salle observ'd here the Elevation of the Pole, and found that this Lake lies [97] in the Latitude of thirty three Degrees and Forty five Minutes.
We had been inform'd that the Illinois were our Enemies; and therefore M. la Salle had resolv'd to use all manner of Precaution when we should meet with them; but we found our selves on a sudden in the middle of their Camp, which took up both sides of the River. M. la Salle ordered immediately his Men to make their Arms ready, and brought his Canou's into a Line, placing himself to the Right, and M. Tonti to the Left; so that we took almost the whole breadth of the River. The Illinois who had not yet discovered our Fleet, were very much surpriz'd to see us coming so swiftly upon them; for the Stream was extraordinary rapid in that Place: Some run to their Arms; but most took their Flight, with horrid Cries and Howlings.
The Current brought us in the mean time to their Camp; and M. la Salle went the very first a-shoar, follow'd by his Men; which increas'd the Consternation of the Savages, whom we might easily defeated; but as it was not our Design, we made a Halt to give them time to recover themselves, and (p. 156) see that we were no Enemies. M. la Salle might have prevented their Confusion, by shewing his Calumet, or Pipe of Peace; but he was afraid the Savages wou'd impute it to our Weakness.
The Illinois being exceedingly terrify'd, tho' they were several thousand Men, tender'd us the Calumet of Peace; and then we offer'd them ours; which being accepted on both sides, an extraordinary Joy succeeded the terrible Fears they had been under upon our landing. They sent immediately to fetch back those who fled away; and Father Zenobe and I went to their Cabins. We took their Children by the Hand, and express'd our Love for them with all the Signs we cou'd: We did the like to the Old Men, having Compassion of those poor Creatures, who [98] are so miserable as to be ignorant of their Creator and Redeemer.
Most of the Savages, who had run away upon our landing, understanding that we were Friends, return'd; but some others had been so terrifi'd, that they did not come back till three or four Days after, that they were told that we had smoak'd in their Calumet of Peace. In the mean time we had discours'd the Chief of the Illinois by our Interpreter, and told them, that we were Inhabitants of Canada, and their Friends; that we were come to teach them the Knowledge of the Captain of Heaven and Earth, and the Use of Firearms, which were unknown to them; with several other things relating to their advantage. We were forced to make use of these metaphorical Expressions, to give them some Idea of the Supreme DEITY. They heard our Discourses with great (p. 157) attention, and afterwards gave a great Shout for Joy, repeating these Words: Tepatoui-Nika; That is, Well, my Brother, my Friend; thou hast done very well. These Savages have more Humanity than all the others of the Northern America; and understanding the Subject of our Errand, expres'd great Gratitude thereupon. They rubb'd our Legs and Feet near the Fire, with Oil of Bears and Wild Bulls Fat, which, after much Travel, is an incomparable Refreshment; and presented us some Flesh to eat, putting the three first Morsels into our Mouth with great Ceremonies. This is a great piece of Civility amongst them.
M.la Salle presented them with some Tobacco from Martinico, and some Axes; and told them, that he had desir'd them to meet to treat about some weighty Matters; but that there was one in particular, which he would discourse them upon before any other. He added, that he knew how necessary their Corn was to them; but that being reduc'd to an unspeakable Necessity when he came to their Village, [99] and feeling no probability to subsist, he had been forced to take some Corn from their Habitations without their leave: That he would give 'em Axes, and other things, in lieu of it, if they could spare it; that if they could not, they were free to take it again; concluding, That if they were not able to supply us with Provisions, he design'd to continue his Voyage, and go to their Neighbours, who would heartily give him what was necessary for his Subsistence; but however, to shew them his Kindness, he would leave a Smith among them, to mend their Axes and other Tools we should supply them with. The (p. 158) Savages having consider'd our Proposals, granted all our Demands, and made Alliance with us.
We were oblig'd to use many Precautions to
make our Alliance lasting and solid, because our Enemies did their utmost to
prevent it. The very same Day we came to the Camp of the Illinois. one of the
Chief Captains of the Mascoutens, whose Name was Monfo arrived
also with some Miami's, and other young Men, who brought with them some
Axes, Knives, Kettles, and other Goods. Our Enemies had chosen him for that
Embassie, knowing that the Illinois would rather believe him than the Miamis,
because they had never been in War with the Mascoutens. This Savage
arriv'd pretty late, and caball'd all the Night long against us: He told them,
That M. la Salle was a great Friend of the Iroquese, who were to
follow him speedily, with some of the Europeans from Canada, to invade them,
and destroy their Nation; and that he was sent by some of the Europeans
themselves, who could not approve that Treachery of the Countrymen, to give
them notice thereof, that they might not be surpriz'd. He enforc'd his
Arguments, by presenting them with all the Goods he had brought along with him;
and thinking he had gain'd his Point, went back the same Night, fearing, with
much Reason, that M. la Salle would resent [100] that Master-piece of
Villany, and punish him for it. The Illinois were assembled in Council
all the Night, (for they never treat of any secret Affairs during the Day) and
did not know what Measures to take; for tho' they did
(p. 159) not believe all the Stories the Mascouten
had made unto them, yet the next Day they appear'd very indifferent, and
mistrustful of us. As they seem'd to contrive something against us, we began to
be uneasie; but M. La Salle, who suspected that their sudden Alteration
towards us was the Effect of a false Report, made such Presents to one of their
Chiefs, that he told him all the Particulars of the Embassie and Negotiation of
Monso; and thereby enabled him to remove the Jealousie of the Illinois
and confound the wicked Designs of our Enemies.
He manag'd that Point with such Dexterity,
that he did not only regain the Friendship of that Nation, but likewise
undeceiv'd the Mascouten and Miami's; and was Mediator between
the latter and the Illinois, who by his means made an Alliance, which
lasted all the while we remain'd in those Countries.
___________________
1 All these were Algonquian tribes; the Miamis were closely related to the Illinois. The Mascoutens had dwelt in Wisconsin, whence part of the tribe migrated southward-- finding their way, in the early part of the eighteenth century, as far as the Ohio River. The Ouiatanons (called Weas by the English) were settled mainly along the Wabash River.-- Ed.
2 This village was located near the site of the present Utica, Ill.; it was here that Marquette (1675) and Allouiz (1677) founded the Illinois mission, among the Kaskaskia tribe. For description, population, etc., see Parkman's La Salle, p. 156, note 2.-- Ed.
3 The expansion of the Illinois River which is now known as Peoria Lake.--Ed.
4 Shea says (Hennepin's Louisiana, p. 155, note*) that from this point to the end of the chapter "the Nouvelle Decouverte here abandons the original narrative and (pp. 200-207) copies almost literally from Le Clercq, Establissement de la Foy, ii, pp. 153-159"-- Ed.
NOTE: All footnotes in this excerpt are denoted by the number 1 in the original. They have been numbered consecutively here to make differentiation and referencing easier.
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