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.
A New Discovery of a Vast Country in America
Hennepin, Father Louis: Two Volumes, pp. 160-208.
(page 188)
(Footnote 1
Here begins Hennepin's pretended account of a voyage down the Mississippi, which, as Parkman (La Salle, pp. 225-230) and other writers claim, was largely adapted and expanded from Membre's account of his voyage with La Salle, as given in Le Clerq's Establissement de la Foy, ii, beginning at p. 216 (see Shea's translation of that work, ii, pp. 163-184), In the Louisiana(p. 218), Hennepin distinctly states that he did not explore the lower Mississippi, being prevented from doing so by his captivity among the Sioux.)
We shook Hands, to seal these Promises; and after Prayers, imbark'd in our Canou the 8th of March, 1680. The Ice which came down from the North, gave us a great deal of trouble; but were so careful, that our Canou receiv'd no hurt; and after six hours rowing, we came to a River of a Nation call'd Osages, who live toward the Messorites.2 That [121] River comes from the Westward, and seems as big as the Meschasipi; but the Water is so muddy, that 'tis almost impossible to drink of it.
The Issati, who inhabit toward the Source of the Meschasipi, make sometimes Escursions as far as the Place where I was then; and I understood afterwards from them, having learn'd their Language, that this River of the Osages and Messorites, is form'd from several other Rivers, which spring from a Mountain about twelve Day's Journey from its Mouth. . . .
The 9th we continu'd our Voyage, and six Leagues from the River of the Osages, discover'd on the South-side of the Meschasipi, a Village, which we thought to be inhabited by the Tamoroa, who had pursu'd us, as I have related. Seeing no body appear, we landed, and went into their Cabins, wherein we found Indian Corn, of which we took some bushels, leaving in lieu of it six Knives, and a small quantity of little Glass-Beads. This was good luck for us; for we [122] durst not leave the River and go a hunting for fear of falling into the Hands of the Savages.
The next Day, being the Tenth of March, we came to a River within Forty Leagues of Tamaroa; near which, as the Illinois inform'd us, there is a Nation of Savages call'd (page 190) Ouadebache.(see fn. 1)
"Goes on down Mississippi then comes back." J. R. M.
(page 207). . .We left the Akansa's upon the 24th of April, having presented them with several little Toys, which they receiv'd with an extraordinary Joy; and during sixty Leagues, saw no Savage neither of the Nation of Chikacha, or Messorite, which made us believe they were gone a hunting with their Families, or else fled away, for fear of the Savages of Tintonha, that is to say, such as inhabit the Meadows, who are their irreconcileable Enemies.
This made our Voyage the more easie, for our Men landed several times to kill some Fowl and other Game, with which the Banks of the Meschasipi are plentifully stock'd; however, before we came to the Mouth of the River of the Illinois, we discover'd several of the Messorites, who came down all along the River; but as they had no Pyrogues with them, we cross'd to the other side; and to avoid any Surprize during the Night, we made no fire; and thereby the Savages could not discover whereabout we were; for doubtless they would have murther'd us, thinking we were their Enemies.
I had quite forgot to relate, that the Illinois
had told us, that towards the Cape, which I have call'd my Map St. Anthony
near the Nation of the Messorites, there were some (page
208) Tritons,
and other Sea- Monsters painted, which the boldest Men durst not look upon,
there being some Enchangment in their Faces. I thought this was a Story; but
when we came near the Place they had mention'd, we saw instead of these
Monsters, a horse and some other Beasts painted upon the Rock with red Colours
by the Savages.(see fn. 2) The Illinois
had told us likewise, that the Rock on which [136]these dreadful Monsters
stood, was so steep that no Man could climb up to it; but had we not been
afraid of the Savages more than of the Monsters, we had certainly got up to
them. There is a common tradition amongst that People, That a great number of Miami's
were drown'd in that Place, being pursu'd by the Savages of Matsigamea(see fn. 3); and since that time, the Savages going by the Rock,
use to smoak, and offer tobacco to those Beasts, to appease, as they say, the Manitou,
that is, in the Language of the Algonquins and Accadians,3
an evil Spirit, which the Iroquese call Otkon; but the Name is
the only thing they know of him." "Rest on Sioux.---- J. R. M."
__________________________
1 (1, p. ) Evidently referring to the Ohio River, the lower part of which was then commonly known as the Ouabache. Shea regards this sentence as one of the evidences that Hennepin was not responsible for this interpolated matter regarding the lower Mississippi; he says (Hennepin's Louisiana, p. 345, note); "Hennepin knew enough about the country not to make a nation called Ouadebache, as is done here."--Ed.
2 (1, p. 208) These painted figures are described by Marquette (Jes. Relations, lix, pp. 139, 141; cf. 3.2), who saw them in 1673. The rock whereon they were depicted was "immediately above the city of Alton, Ill." (Parkman's La Salle. p. 59. note 1). Amos Stoddard saw them in 1812; but since then they have been effaced by time.- Ed.
3 (2, p. 208) Or Mitchigamia; an Algonquian tribe living near the mouth of St. Francis River, in Arkansas, when visited by Marquette; later, they had migrated toward Kaskaskia, Ill., and were probably absorbed by the Kaskaskia tribe.-Ed.
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