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.
Account of the Voyage on
the Beautiful River
(October 17, 1750)
Bonnecamps, Father, "Account of
... made in 1749,
under the direction of Monsieur de Celoron,"
in: Jesuit Relations, Vol. 69,
pp. 150-199.
The 28th. We encamped at the mouth of riviere Blanche ["White river"], where we found a small band of Miamis with their chief, named le Baril ["the Barrel"]. They had established themselves there a short time before, and formed a village of 7 or 8 cabins, a league distant from the river. Monsieur de Celoron requested them to accompany him to the village of la Demoiselle ["the young Lady"], and they promised to do so. We passed two days waiting for them. Finally, on the morning of the 31st they appeared, followed by their women, their children, and their dogs. All embarked, and about 4 o'clock in the afternoon we entered riviere a la Roche, after having buried the 6th and last leaden plate on the western bank of that river, and to the north of the Ohio.
This Beautiful River- so little known to the French, and, unfortunately, too well known to the English- is, according to my estimate, 181 marine leagues from the mouth of the Yjadakoin (or Tjadakoin) to the entrance of riviere a la Roche. In all (page 185) this distance, we have counted twelve villages established on its banks; but if one penetrate into the small continent enclosed between lake Erie and the Ohio, one will find it, according to what has been told us, much more populous. We have been specially told of a certain village situated on the river Kaskaske, in which, we are assured, there are nearly 800 men. Each village, whether large or small, has one or more traders, who have in their employ engages for the transportation of peltries. Behold, then, the English already far within our territory; and, what is worse, they are under the protection of a crowd of savages whom they entice to themselves, and whose number increases every day. Their design is, without doubt, to establish themselves there; and, if efficacious measures be not taken as soon as possible to arrest their progress, we run very great risk of seeing ourselves quickly driven from the upper countries, and of being obliged to confine ourselves to the limits which it may please those gentlemen to prescribe to us. This is perhaps all the more true that it does not seem probable. I resume the thread of my journal.
Riviere a la Roche is very well named. Its bottom is but one continuous rock; its waters are extremely shallow. Notwithstanding this, we had the good fortune to guide our canoes, as far as the village of la Demoiselle.
On the 13th of September, we had the honor of saluting la Demoiselle in his fort. It is situated on a vast prairie which borders Riviere a la Roche; its latitude is 40o 34'. this band is not numerous; it consists at most of 40 or 50 men. There is among them an English trader. Monsieur de Celoron did not talk with la Demoiselle until the 17th, because he awaited an interpreter from the Miamis, for whom he had asked Monsieur Raimond. But, wearied with the waiting, and seeing the season already advanced, he determined to take for an interpreter an old Sounantouan who was in le Baril's company.
On the 18th, la Demoiselle replied, and in his answer promised to take back his band to their old village in the following spring; he even gave his word that he wold go with us as far as there, in order to prepare everything for his return. But the arrival of the Miami interpreter put him in a bad humor; he forgot all his promises, and in spite of all that we could do, he constantly refused to see us. We then left him; and, after having burned our canoes and all that we could not carry, we took leave of him on the morning of the 20th.
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