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.
Fraser to [Haldimand]
(May 4, 1766)
Fraser in: British Museum, Add. Mss.
21686, f. 34 and in Alvord
& Carter, British Series,
Vol. II, pp. 226-232.
Sir
A Detail of the different occurences of my Late Journey through the Indian Nations, cou'd neither be very entertaining, nor interesting to any other, but myself. At your request Sir, I will endeavour to give you a Description of the Countries through which I pass'd which is a thing however I shou'd not attempt were I not Confident that you will have the goodness to excuse any Inaccuracies you may find in it whether occasioned by hurry or proceeding from my incapacity.
I am very sensible that my pen cannot do Justice to the Beauties and conveniencies that Nature has bestowed on the large Tract of Country lying hitherto uninhabited between Fort Pitt of [sic] the Illinois on both sides of the Ohio.
After traversing Ninty Miles of a beautiful Country lying between New York & Philadelphia, and traveling from that place to Fort Pitt distant 320 Miles the greatest part peopled by very wealthy Inhabitants I thought I cou'd see no other that cou'd excel it.- I was soon convinced however of the Contrary on my proceeding down the Ohio on my way to the Illinois. That River (very properly term'd La belle Riviere by the French which is the litteral translation of the Iroquois Name) is formed by the Confluence of the Allegeny & Moningahela Rivers, at Fort Pitt where they lose their Names as the Ohio does by falling into the Mississipi about forty Leagues below Fort Chartres & almost due West from Philadelphia After running about two thousand Miles in a Serpentine Course through a Country with an incredible quantity of Game & constanty [sic] presenting different agreeable prospects to the Travelers View.
Tho' this River is considerable at Fort Pitt for its size during the greatest part of the year, yet it is very much increas'd both in Depth and Width by the many Rivers that Discharge themselves into it. The most considerable of these are the Muskingum whereon the Delawars live. The Canaway which comes from the back Frontiers of Virginia, the Scioto on whose Banks the Shawanese dwell, La Riviere de Rochers, which begins at a little distance from the Miamies, the Ouabache which comes from near the Same place & the Cumberland & Cherokee Rivers which fall into it considerably Lower.- These lesser Rivers are Navigable for Batteaurs during the greater part of the year, from the middle of October to June 8 months.
There are no Indian Nations living contiguous to the Banks of the Ohio but those two I have Just mention'd (the Delaw: & Shaw) & the Mingos or Senecas who live a little above Fort Pitt- excepting those of Ouabache, on which there are five Nations [in margin:: Ouiachtonons, Quicapous, Mascoutains, Peankishaw & Vermillion] settled besides a French Village call'd St. Vincent in which there are about Sixty Farmers who raise a considerable quantity of wheat & Tobacco, And have a good Stock of Cattle.
Between this River and the Illinois are Several very extensive plains on which there are always vast Numbers of Buffloe & Deer And every other Species of Game common in that Country.
The Soil in the Illinois Settlements is not so good as at any of the places I have already Named owing perhaps to the Quantity of Sand mix't with it by the Mississipi. the Inhabitants Suppose that the River overflowed formerly all the land at present cultivated in that Colony & the Situation with some other Vestiges seem to give great probability to their Conjecture.
The Land however is capable to produce any thing which one cou'd expect in so northerly a Climate. They raise a great deal of wheat and Indian Corn, they have also most kinds of European Fruits, & Vegetables tolerably good considering the Little pains they give themselves in Cultivating them. They have attempted to rear the European Vines, which they say they cou'd not bring to any Perfection, but I impute their having given it up of late more to the want of Skill in those who planted them, on the Monarch's Injunctions prohibiting the raising any thing which might interfere with the Staple Commodities of the Mother Country.- They make however (page 228) a very bad Wine from the Natural vine of the Country, which grows Spontanious in every part of that Colony, this Wine tho' seemingly very unhealthy is sold at a most exorbitant price, when they have none else to drink.
The Illinois Indians are about Six hundred & fifty able to bear Arms, Nothing can equal their passion for drunkenness, but that of the French Inhabitants, who are for the greatest part drunk every day while they can get Drink to buy in the Colony, they import more of this Article from New Orleans than they do of any other & they never fail to meet a Speedy & good Market for it.- They have a good many negroes, who are obliged to Labour very hard to Support their Masters in their extravagant Debaucheries. Any one that has had any dealings with them must plainly see, they are for the most part, transported Convicts, or people who have fled for some Crimes, those who have not done it themselves are the ofspring of such as those I just mention'd inheriting their Forefathers Vices.- They are cruel and treacherous to each other & consequently so to Strangers, they are dishonest in every kind of Business, & lay themselves out to over reach Strangers- which they often do, by a low cunning peculiar to themselves, and their Artful flatteries, with extravagant Entertainments (in which they affect the greatest hospitality) generally favor their Schemes.
There is a rich Lead mine in that Colony from which they get all the Lead, that is used in the Country, and a River of the Water of which, tho' fresh to the taste, they make a Sufficiency of Salt for the Consumption of the Inhabitants. But the latter conveniences are unluckily on the Western or Spanish side of the River.
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