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.
Report of the
Indian Tribes
(March 9, 1769)
Rui (Rios) y Morales, Francisco in:
General Archives of the Indies,
"Papeles procedientes de las
Isla de Cuba, Seville and
in Wisconsin Historical
Collections, vol. 18,
pp. 299-305.
Instructions: Instructions prescribing the manner of holding councils and making presents to the Indian tribes, and various other advices which Don Francisco Rui y Morales, captain and commandant of the company of Luisiana, and military and civil governor of the Spanish settlements at the mouth of (page 302) the Jisouri River, left for the first lieutenant of the same company, Don Pedro Piernas, his successor, according to the usual custom, by order of Don Antonio de Ulloa, governor and captain-general of this province.
First: Every band of Indians shall be received in council upon their arrival at this post, and as soon as they have finished what they have to say, he shall answer that he is very glad that his children have taken the trouble to come to see him. Then he shall tell them that if they have brought any furs to trade with the traders, they shall do it forthwith, so that by doing so they may return sooner to their tribe. A day and hour shall be assigned to them for the commandant's answer to them; and for that time he shall have ready the present which is to be given to them. That present shall be placed before them, and they shall receive answer to as many matters as they discussed in the preceding council.
Second: Whenever any party of Indians brings any scalps, and makes a present of them to the commandant of the post, he shall receive them and ask the Indians what tribe the above-mentioned scalps were taken from. By the reply, he will be able to tell whether they are the scalps of friendly tribes. If they are of a friendly tribe, he will restore them to those Indians. When he answers them he shall do it with the words of one who shows himself pleased, but shall say that he does not accept them as they are from a tribe with whom he lives in peace, and he shall put to them the following example: "If any tribe should bring me scalps from your tribe, would you yourselves be glad if I should receive them? I do not believe so." They will allow the reason of this, and will accept them without any complaint. But if the scalps should be from any tribe which declares war on us or from those whom we do not know because they are very far distant, then they may be received without any danger.
Third: Whenever any of the tribes living in this Spanish district declare war on any other tribe, either because of the theft of horses or for any other cause, the commandant shall endeavor to make peace, by speaking for that purpose to the head chiefs of both tribes, that is if they are willing. But if either of them insists on prosecuting the war, they must be allowed to do so, and to manage affairs for themselves.
Fourth: Whenever any hunter or trader complains of having been robbed by any tribe, a sworn report of the theft that he has suffered shall be taken from him, as well as the name of the nation that committed the theft, and he shall be asked whether he knows any of the robbers. Then when the chief of the tribe which has committed the theft happens to come to see the commandant, after the latter has heard whatever the chief has to say, and in case that he has brought with him, the article that (page 304) was stolen by his nation, in order to restore it to its owner, the commandant shall put on an angry face, and shall tell him that if he does not bring the stolen article as soon as possible, necessarily he cannot look upon them as his true children, and that consequently, he will given them no present, and will not receive them until the stolen object is restored. This is the method of restraining them and of forcing them to make restoration. Since it has been the rule followed by the French commandants of this region for many years, without there being the slightest breath that any bad result has been attained by following this system, therefore the Indians are used to it.
Fifth: The commandant shall endeavor by the means which he considers most advisable, to induce any band of Indians, either of this Spanish district or of the English district, who shall present themselves to him armed for war, and who shall tell in the council that they are going on the warpath, to leave the path which they are taking, and return to take that by which they have come in order that they might return to their tribe. This is a case in which it is customary to give them some gift greater than is usual, as that is the only means which can compel them to go back. But if they insist on their determination to continue the road, that they were taking, he shall allow them to do so.
Sixth: The presents and food that are given to each band of Indians of the tribes who are accustomed to come to this post shall be given to them in proportion to the number of people who come, according as the commandant may consider advisable, for there can be no fixed rule in this matter.
I am of the opinion that the things that I have expressed are the most important.
|
FRANCISCO RUI. |
Royal Fort of San Carlos el Senor Principe de Asturias, March 9, 1769.
Note: Every council that is held with the Indians on important matters, especially the decision reached, shall be fully set down in writing, and shall be signed by the interpreter and (page 305) the persons who are present at it, that is, French or Spaniards, so that it may be a lasting record.
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