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. 55, (1670-1671)
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pp. |
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191-199. |
Article II. Journey of the Same Two Fathers to the Fire Nation, and the Beauty and Curiosities of that Country.
. . .For scarcely has one proceeded a day's journey up the river from the head of the [163 i.e., 165] Bay des Puans, when he finds three or four leagues of rapids to contend with; and they are more difficult than is usual in other rivers, since the pebbles on which men must walk barefoot, dragging the Canoes, are so sharp and cutting that they have the utmost difficulty in withstanding the swift current which flows there.
"At the fall of these rapids, we found a sort of Idol which the Savages of that region honor, never failing to offer it some Sacrifice in passing,-- either of tobacco, or arrows, or painted objects, or other articles,-- to thank it for aiding them to escape, on their way up, the dangers of the waterfalls occurring in the stream; or else, if they have to descend, to pray for its assistance on that perilous voyage. It is a rock-shaped object by nature in the form of a human bust, in which one seems to distinguish, from a distance, the head, shoulders, breast and, more especially the face, which passers-by are wont to paint [164 i.e., 166] with their finest colors. To remove the cause of this idolatry, we had it carried away by main force and thrown to the bottom of the river, never to appear again.
After accomplishing this journey, which is equally rough and dangerous, we enter, in compensation for all these difficulties overcome, the fairest land possible to behold,-- in every direction, prairies only, as far as the eye can reach, cut by a river which gently winds through it, and on which it rests the traveler to paddle his canoe. The region of forests and mountains is passed when one arrives here, and nothing but little grove-planted hills present themselves at intervals, as if to offer their shade to the traveler, that he may there find grateful shelter from the Sun's heat.
Nothing but elms, oaks, and other similar trees are seen here,-- and not those, which, growing commonly only on poor soil, are merely fit to furnish bark for covering Cabins for making [165 i.e., 167] Canoes. Hence these people know not what it is to travel by water; and have no other houses, for the most part, than such as are made of rushes woven together in the form of mats. Vines, plum-trees, and apple-trees are readily found on the way; and seem by their aspect to invite the traveler to land and taste of their fruit, which is very sweet and exceedingly abundant.
The banks of this river, which flows gently through the midst of these prairies, are covered throughout with a certain plant bearing what is called here wild oats, of which the birds are wonderfully fond. All sorts of game, too, are so plenty that without stopping long one can kill what he chooses.
All this prairie country, extending to our knowledge more than three hundred leagues in every direction,-- to say nothing of its farther extent, of which we have no knowledge,-- affords ample sustenance to the wild cows, not infrequently encountered in herds of four and five hundred each. These, by their [166 i.e., 168] abundance, furnish adequate provision for whole Villages, which therefore are not obliged to scatter by families during their hunting season, as is the case with the Savages elsewhere.
In these rich pasture-lands are also found buffaloes, called Pisikiou, which greatly resemble our bulls in size and strength. They surpass our cattle, however,-- first, in being more prolific, the female bearing three and four young at a time; secondly, in having larger horns, which are indeed very similar to those of our cattle in form and color, but are of double their size, being nearly two feet long when the animal is fairly mature; and, thirdly, in having thick, heavy, dark-colored hair which somewhat resembles the wool of sheep, but is much coarser and thicker. Therefore it is made into robes and fur garments which afford greater protection from the cold than [167 i.e., 169] any other furs of this country. Its flesh is excellent; and the fat, when mixed with wild oats, makes the most delicate of native dishes.(see 8)
The same river, of which we are speaking, is broken up by several small lakes, on which are seen in great numbers certain rare birds of a very peculiar sort, called by the Savages Chete. One would take them for Swans, from a distance, as they have the latter's white plumage and long necks, their feet, and bodies of the same size; but the point of difference and curiousity lies in the beak, which is fully a foot in length, and as thick as one's arm. They usually carry it resting upon the neck, which they bend back for the purpose, as if to offer it a most inviting bed. They maintain this posture to relieve themselves of its weight, except when they use it for fishing; for then it is wonderful to see how, beneath this beak, nature has fashioned a sort of net,-- which opens and shuts, more or less, according to the supply of fish therein enclosed. [168 i.e., 170] This net is made of skin, of extremely fine and elastic texture; when closed, it is gathered up so well and so snugly all along the under side of the beak that nothing of it is seen,-- in order that the fishes may not take fright at it; but, at the proper time, the birds can enlarge it so quickly and open it so wide that it would easily hold a man's head. Swimming at the same time to meet the fish, or waiting for it below the rapids, while it comes down, they hold this net stretched for it, and make it enter as into a fishing net, whereupon they promptly shut it lest the fish escape. Thus God teaches man artificial fishing, by the lesson furnished by these natural fishers.(see 9)
One does not tire of paddling over these lakes and rivers when he meets with such diversion. Now he has to push on for more than twenty leagues through this fair country before reaching the Fire Nation; they are situated on a little hill, whence nothing but vast prairies are to be seen on all sides with [169 i.e., 171] some groves scattered here and there, which nature seems to furnish solely for the gratification of the eye, or to meet the needs of man, who cannot dispense with wood.
Here, then, we arrived on the fifteenth of September, 1670, and were
received by an assembly of all the people, that we might accomplish what will
be set forth in the following article.
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8 See Hornaday's admirable monograph on "Extermination of the American Bison," in U. S. Nat. Mus. Rep, 1887, pp. 367-548. Cf. vol. ix of this series, note 33.
9 The bird thus described is the American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhyncos); found in temperate North America as far north as 61 degrees, and migrating southward in winter:-- See Ridgway's N. Amer. Birds (Phila., 1887), pp. 81, 82; and Riverside Nat. Hist., vol. iv, pp. 185-188.
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