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.
Memoir Upon the Late War
in North America
Pouchot in: Hough, Franklin B., trans.
and ed., Memoir Upon the Late War
in North America, between the
French and English, 1755-60,
vol. 1, Roxbury, Mass.,
1866, pp. 84-86.
We will here relate a singular instance of presentiment. The mother of a war chief of the Missisakes named Techicabavoui, came to see M. Pouchot, on the 22d of June, and said: "Father, I come to tell you that my son has struck a blow." He asked her "if some one of his troops had returned?" but she replied, "no; but that ten days before, she had felt her breasts spring up, and that since then she had felt nothing." This sign was to her not in the least equivocal, and she had always found it sure. In fact, on the 5th of July, Techicabavoui arrived at Niagara with five scalps, having had but one man wounded on his side.
On the 1st of July, there was held a great council at Niagara, at which the Iroquois informed by a fine belt, the Hurons, Ouias, Miamis and Outaouais, that they had taken up the hatchet for their father, and that they would not quit it again. These nations always distrusted the Iroquois, and loved them not. Each jealous of the superiority of the other, could (page 85) only regard the Five nations as the allies of the English. Their relations and intercourse were distant. M. Pouchot regaled them together with brandy, but with moderation.
On the next day, the Ouias replied to the Iroquois by the same belt, but covered with vermillion, which was an invitation to war. They advised them to follow the will of their father, and not to listen to bad words; that they had been formerly deceived by following the Hurons, who as well as the Iroquois sometimes made fine promises without being able to execute them, and that by this belt, they invited them to bring to their father at Niagara, this bad meat that they loved so well. By this they meant English prisoners.
To the Hurons they said: "You have courage, the Jesuits have given it to you. You pray and go to mass. We advise you to make a good use of your courage, and to follow the will of our father,1 as we do, although we have not courage.2
The Kickapous and Mascontens, joined them to go down to Montreal. These
several tribes left their women and children at Niagara to the number of one
hundred and fifty, who staid till their return. Meanwhile there arrived
scarcely any merchandise or brandy, which made the Indians sad. All the posts
were drained by the great amount of equipments which it was necessary to issue
to the warriors, and by (page 86) the
presents which they had to make the Indians who came to councils, and then
often returned in numbers.
____________________
1 Meaning the governor of Canada or the King.- Note in Original.
2 They meant by this that they were not Christians.- Ib.
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