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 Topographical
Description
(1778)
|
Hutchins, Thomas in: A Topographical Description of Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and North Carolina by Thomas Hutchins, (1778), pp. 26-30, in Imlay, A Topographical Description of the Western Territory of North America, pp. 485-506, and in Lindley, Harlow, Indiana as Seen by Early Travelers, p. 7-8. |
The first and only civil geographer of the United States and the originator of the land platting survey system was Thomas Hutchins. He was born in New Jersey in 1730, and after spending several years in the military service, he became interested in exploring the interior of the United States. The intimate knowledge gained, fitted him for laying our roads and making such topographical surveys as Congress desired. Hence in 1782 he was appointed official Geographer of the United States. For the next fifteen years he was busy surveying new lands, locating boundaries between states and collecting such scientific data as requested by the United States government. He was recognized as one of the foremost scientific men in the country,and his geographical works formed the basis for that famous American Geography of Jedidiah Morse.
The Wabash, is a beautiful River, with high and upright banks, less subject to overflow, than any other River (the Ohio excepted) in this part of America. It discharges itself into the Ohio, one thousand and twenty-two miles below Fort Pitt, in latitude 37o 41'.- At its mouth, it is 270 yards wide; Is navigable to Ouiatanon (412 miles) in the Spring, Summer, and Autumn, with Battoes or Barges, drawing about three feet water. From thence, on account of a rocky bottom, and shoal water, large canoes are chiefly employed, except when the River is swelled with Rains, at which time, it may be ascended with boats, such as I have just described (197 miles further) to the Miami carrying-place, which is nine miles from the Miami village, and this is situated on a River of the same name, that runs into the south-south-west part of Lake Erie.- The stream of the Wabash, is generally gentle to Fort Ouiatanon, and no where obstructed with Falls, but is by several Rapids, both above and below that Fort, some of which are pretty considerable. There is also a part of the River for about three miles, and 30 miles from the carrying-place, where the Channel is so narrow, that it is necessary to make use of setting poles instead of oars. The land on this River is remarkably fertile, and several parts of it are natural meadows, of great extent, covered with fine long grass.- The timber is large, and high, and in such variety, that almost all the different kinds growing upon the Ohio, and its branches (but with a greater proportion of black and (page 8) white mulberry-trees) may be found here.- A silver mine has been discovered about 28 miles above Ouiatanon, on the northern side of the Wabash, and probably others may be found hereafter. The Wabash abounds with Salt Springs, and any quantity of salt may be made from them, in the manner now done at the Saline in the Illinois country;- the hills are replenished with the best coal, and there is plenty of Lime and Free-Stone, Blue, Yellow and White Clay, for Glass Works and Pottery. Two French settlements are established on the Wabash, called Post Vincent and Ouiatanon; the first is 150 miles, and the other 262 miles from its mouth.The former is on the eastern side of the River, and consists of 60 Settlers and their families. They raise Indian Corn,- Wheat; and Tobacco of an extraordinary good quality;- superior, it is said, to that produced in Virginia. They have a fine breed of horses (brought originally by the Indians from the Spanish settlements on the western side of the River Missisippi) and large stocks of Swine, and Black Cattle. The settlers deal with the natives for Furrs and Deer skins, to the amount of about 5000 l. annually. Hemp of a good texture grows spontaneously in the low lands of the Wabash, as do Grapes in the greatest abundance, having a black, thin, skin, and of which the inhabitants in the Autumn, make a sufficient quantity (for their own consumption) of well-tasted Red-Wine. Hops large and good, are found in many places, and the lands are particularly adapted to the culture of Rice. All European fruits:- Apples, Peaches, Pears, Cherrys, Currants, Gooseberrys, Melons, &c. thrive well, both here, and in the country bordering on the River Ohio.
Ouiatanon is a small stockaded fort on the western side of the Wabash, in which about a dozen families reside. The neighbouring Indians are the Kickapoos, Musquitons, Pyankishaws, and a principle part of the Ouiatanons. The whole of these tribes consists, it is supposed, of about one thousand warriors. The fertility of soil, and diversity of timber in this country, are the same as in the vicinity of Post Vincent. The annual amount of Skins and Furrs, obtained at Ouiatanon is about 8000 l. By the River Wabash, the inhabitants of Detroit move to the southern parts of Ohio, and the Illinois country. Their rout is by the Miami River to a carrying-place, which, as before stated, is nine miles to the Wabash, when this River is raised with Freshes; but at other seasons, the distance is from 18 to 30 miles including the portage. The whole of the latter is through a level country. Carts are usually employed in transporting boats and merchandise, from the Miami to the Wabash River.
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