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.
Beschefer to the Provincial
In: Jesuit Relations,
[1681-1683],
Vol 62, pp. 193, 203-205.
In the Outaouc missions we include not only the outaouacs or upper Algonquins, who are divided into several tribes, namely: The saulteurs, who usually dwell at sault de Ste. Marie, at The entrance of Lake Superior; The Kiskakons and three other tribes, all of whom have their own chiefs, at Saint francois de Borgia, at the Junction of Lakes huron and Ilinois, at a Place that we call Missilimakinak; the Nipissiriniens and other petty tribes on Lake huron. We also include the hurons who reside at st. Ignace, three-fourths of a League from st. francois de Borgia; the Outagamis and the sakkis; The Pouteouatamis along the bay des Puants, in a southwesterly direction from missilimakinak; The Makoutens and the oumiamis; the Kischigamins, along Lake Ilinois; and The Ilinois themselves, as we more nearly approach the south. We have houses with chapels at sault de ste. Marie, at st. Ignace, at st. francois de Borgia, and at st. francois Xavier, at the extremity of the Bay des Puans- wherein we perform with entire Freedom all the exercises of Religion, and whence the missionaries frequently go on journeys among the surrounding nations.
Eighty Leagues from Missilimakinak is St. francois Xavier, at the extremity of the Bay that We call des puans, because we did not correctly understand the savage name, which means "waters smelling of Rushes." This Bay runs inland from Lake Ilinois or Michigane, which We have named for St. Joseph, and extends forty Leagues to the southwest. The Sakkis, the Pouteouatamis, the (page 205) Oumalouminek or people of folle avoine, and the outagamis dwell along this bay. Father Albanel and Father Louis Andre have instructed Them for some years. The latter has baptized as Many as one hundred and Fifty in a year. The maladies which prevailed to a great extent among the Oumalouminek compelled Him, although Suffering from gout, to go to reside there, in order to succor them, and to prevent them from returning to their superstitions- to which they are often in danger of reverting, through the desire of recovering their health. His Ailments served him more than anything else in encouraging the Christians to follow his example by patiently suffering the maladies with which God afflicted them, and never to abandon, on that account the faith that they had Embraced.
Father Alloues also labored among the Pouteouatamis and the Sakkis, by whom He made himself Feared through the energy with which he inveighed Against Their Vices; and at the same time beloved- to such an extent that, when he was compelled to leave them, They manifested all the regret that they felt at it. He has, in truth, a very peculiar gift for winning the Hearts of the savages, even When he Spares them the least; but his special mission is among the Miamis and the Ilinois, where He labors with as much ardor as if he were in the prime of life, and with results that are quite remarkable for a beginning among Nations that have as many obstacles to the faith as these have.
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