went to the Dam which had been cut thro' to give a passage for the pirogues, and by sinking a batteau in the gap and stopping the water with sods and paddles raised the water - lay in the wood this night - Wolves very numerous hereabout -
31st. returnd to the Camp at the portage - the water had risen 7 inches since last evening -
November 1st. left the landing with 7 batteaus and 3 pirogues loaded with provision &ca and proceeded to the dam which we opend, and yet found the water so scanty, that it was with the greatest difficulty we passed the chemin couvert, the windings are so short that our boats 32 feet long, reached sometimes from point to point, we were yet worse off when we got to the end of this narrow pass, coming to a swamp called les Volets, from the water filly which almost covers the surface of this fen - The batteaus frequently rested on the mud and we labor'd hard to get thro', being up to the knees in mud and entangled among the roots and rotten stumps of trees - we at length got to the channel form'd by the meeting of the petit riviere, and the riviere à boete - here we encamp'd having got but 10 miles with great fatigue -187
2d. Early in the morning sent off the Savages by land, and a small party down the river to clear away the logs &ca - The rest of the men were employed in damming the water of the two little rivers to provide for our passage downwards - Lt. DuVernet who had got some miles lower had wrote me word, that he could not proceed for the shallowness of the water - we had had scarcely any rain since leaving the Rocher de bout, and the frost having now set in we had reason to apprehend such a drought as would stop our progress - The advantage attending so much fair weather was the carrying place being in tolerable condition, our provision and ammunition being dry, and our men remarkably healthy -
3d. Continued to work at the Dam - sent a light canoe to the landing for workmen and Tools, which returnd at 1/2 past 12 at night - As I thought we might have occasion to return the same way, and the water might fail, I had resolvd to make a sluice at this dam -
4th. The Water was raised 3 feet - At eight o'Clock at night Major Hay arrived with the remainder of the boats with
provision &ca. Captain McKee joined us at the same time with two Shawanese Chiefs, the white fish188 ( ) and Wa we ya pi yass in wa with a young warrior of the same nation Ja ni thaa -
5th. Mr. Nicholas Lowain being left at the Miamis Town as commissary I wrote to him to permit the traders to come to Ouiattanon with merchandize, as soon as he should hear of my arrival there - Monsieur de Celoron excepted -
6th. Major Hay proceeded down the river the water being let off, and made another dam a mile below riviere a l'Anglais -189
7th. We broke up this dam with the first dawn of day, and proceeded to the pays plat, where the bed of the river being very broad, with almost continued ledges of rock and large stones, we found it very laborious and tedious to pass with our craft - The men were in the water from ten o'Clock in the morning till after Sunset, at which time only one batteau had got to the foot of the Rifts - in this day's progress the most of our boats were greatly damaged - The men were obliged to encamp as they could, opposite to their boats, - all shewed the greatest cheerfullness and alacrity, the officers having shared in the fatigue of the day - some of the weightyest boats required 22 men to lift and draw them at the same time - The lowest of the batteaus lay this night at the petit rocher190 a skreen of rock on the W. side of the river -
8th. Continued to work in the water to forward the boats - sent to Lt. DuVernet for 7 light pirogues and 22 men to assist in lightning the boats - Lt. DuVernet is encamped at the fork of Ouabache191 Pacane a Miami chief joined with 11 Warriors - Thunder and rain from 2 o'Clock in the Morning till near night - Wabaugay (The morning star) a young Chippowey chief, having set off to reconnoitre towards Ouiattanon I sent Mr: Chéne the interpreter to recall him, at night a messenger from Lt. DuVernet informed me the Indians had returnd - A quantity of our Flour damaged by the leaking of the boats and the violent rain -
9th. set off from petit rocher - The men 5 hours in the water haling the boats over the shoals and rocks for a league and half - arrived at the forks of Ouabache at 3 o'clock p.m. and in half an hour joined Lt. DuVernet at his encampment. set about
calking and repairing the batteaus, which were much crazed by the days journey -
10th. continued the repair of the boats, and airing the bales which had got wet - The provision having been landed at petit rocher to lighten the batteaus, sent up 50 men with eight pirogues to fetch it down. The River begins to rise from the great fall of rain - had a conference last night with the chiefs, and shewed them the bad consequence of sending off a decouverte192 at so great a distance from an enemy - They allowed it and this day set their young men the example of working along with the Soldiers, bringing down the provision from petit rocher, some of them carrying 200 lb of flour on their shoulders -
11th. It began to snow - sent off 3 pirogues to petit rocher to bring away the remainder of the provisions - Orderd Charles Baubin (Interpreter for the Miamis) to acquaint them that their encamping 5 leagues distant, was neither agreeable to me or the other nations, and to desire their chiefs not to suffer any of their young men to go ahead without orders -
12th. Exercised the Cannon and small arms at Marks - The arms in very good order - The Savages expressed great surprize to see a mark of a foot square struck from the 6lbr. at about 300 yards distance - A conference with the chiefs this night on the subject of our march - Our craft 40 in number repaired - Orderd a pickett to mount in future of 1 Sub. 1 Serjt. 18 R. & F. Last night C. McKee arrived from the Miamis with an account of the Shawanese having attacked and defeated a party of Rebels who had carried off some of their horses, and recover'd their cattle.
13th. was spent in repairing batteaus, sending down provision by land to Salamani River,193 to lighten the boats, & embarking provisions and stores in those which were repaired -
14th. Could not get off before 11 a.m. It had snowed hard last night This morning it blows hard with smart frost. - The water so low and the bed of the river so rocky we had great difficulty to get the boats forward - 14000 weight had been forwarded by land, yet in this severe weather when the water froze on their poles at every dip, the men were obliged to get into the water to assist in pushing the boats along, sometimes 20 to a
boat - my own boat, one pirogue and the Carpenters canoe were t he only voitures that got down to l'Erable penchée (the sloping maple) at dark, half frozen -
15th. An hour before day unloaded my batteau and sent the men off with her, to assist in bringing down the rest and to point out the channel - The Carpenters were busy in clearing the ground for encamping, and the guard that came by land with the provision, making fires against their arrival - Last night the Miamis Indians encamped 500 yards below us, and having arranged themselves according to ancient custom, one of their Chiefs called by the French (le petit gris, dappled fawn) in the Miamis tongue Waspikingua or Necaquangai harrangued them as follows -
Young men! We are now going to war, should any dispute arise among you, or hasty words pass, recollect that your busyness is War and let it pass unnoticed - War is sometimes necessary and the consequence to many must be death - let us bear in mind that some of us must fall, and the rest return in mourning, but that thought must not deterr us from doing our duty - We must die, when it is the will of the supreme being the master of life - We are here mixed with the English, the French and several different tribes of the brown skins, let us not take offence at any thing which may be said, since we are unacquainted as well with their language as their customs - however let no man even in joke use a threatening gesture with his knife, or his War axe - These people (the Christians) have not the same religion with us, We believe in the Deities of the woods and rivers, as well as in the supreme lord, they believe only in one sovereign being presiding over all - Our method of making war is by surprize, Our father the Englishman has another method, however let us act our part as men, we must expect shot to fall as thick as drops of rain, but we are no more than men, born to die - I exhort you all to diligence and activity, let every one bear his share in all fatigues - God above looks down upon us, and will punish the lazy, he that is slow in making his fire shall suffer cold, he that is tardy in hunting must expect to suffer hunger - The various nations have different customs, I will not implore all their Deities, but pray for the protection of those of our own Nation and ask of them victory for my followers,
and that we may be allowed to revisit our Villages, our Wives and our Children -
16th. At half past 11 a.m. left l'Erable penchée having taken in all our provision, and repaird our boats as well as possible -
This morning the Indians having represented that it was contrary to their customs to have the Nattes (Budgetts which contain their Household Gods, relics, and such things as they use in their divinations Medicines &ca) in their rear when going to War, I found their superstition too strong to be combatted, and accordingly orderd the Interpreters to tell them, they should on all occasions fix their camp in their own manner, that is, advanced toward the Enemy's country -
It is well known that these people seldom if ever, post sentinels or keep watch at night, tho ever so essential to their security -
Their camp is formed in this manner - Large fires are kindled before which they lie in rows, on each side, with their feet towards the fire - At their heads are placed their arms leaning against a rock - In this position they go to sleep, and if any noise is made or alarm given, the first who hears it touches his neighbour, and the whole are presently roused, tho in silence, and take to their arms without bustle or confusion - Should any one have a dream which bodes something favorable, or the contrary he relates it in the morning to his comrades, and their reliance on omens is such, as frequently to defeat an enterprize - Sometimes a man who is disposed to return from war, makes known a dream which calls for him to quit his comrades, no one pretends to dissuade him, he takes his pack, and sets off perhaps accompanied by some of his comrades, the Chief not pretending to interpose - The following well known story shows their attention to, and religious observance of Dreams -
A Mohawk Chief having observed at Sir William Johnson's a very handsome fowling piece over the Chimney, took occasion to tell S. W. that he had dreamed that he had made it a present to him, Sir W. well acquainted with their customs, told the chief that since he had had such a Dream, the fowling piece was at his Service - some time after Sir William told the Chief he had
dreamed that the Indian had made him a present of a certain tract of land, The Indian at the same time that he promised Sir William that he should be put in possession told him that he himself should take care how he dreamed again -
The Indians from their infancy learn to imitate the cries and call of Beasts and birds, and acquire such perfection as to deceive not only one another, but the animals which they by this means frequently make their prey, of this I have known instances - This power of imitation is often used with success in War, which they chiefly carry on by surprizes - On some occasions (as I have been told) a Chief directs his Warriors to use such or such calls, and these are repeated at intervals so that in extending their front to surprize an enemy, none may stray too wide - They frequently crawl a considerable distance, laying down branches and twigs which are in their way, with the greatest care and patience - sometimes they smear their bodies with clay or earth or different colours, approaching to that of the trees, leaves or grass that they are to pass thro' that they may lie undiscovered - Hunger and thirst they support with admirable constancy, and continue in constrained postures and the most irksome situations, by which means they frequently effect their purpose - I have no doubt of their being able to fast three days and even longer, tho their precautions are such, and their knowledge of roots and other vegetable eatables such, that they are rarely put to great straights for hunger - even in Swamps they find eatable and even wholesome food, they cannot however prevail on themselves to eat snakes or frogs, tho both be very nourishing and platable - The Indians support the fatigues of rapid marches and will go a round trot of between four and five miles an hour for a long summers day without halting for refreshmt which gives them a vast advantage over the whites, even the best Woodmen.
A Provision which they seldom are in want of is made of the fat flank of Deer, dryed and lightly smoaked, this pounded small with a certain proportion of Indian-corn-meal and maple sugar - They commonly mix some of this with water, a small quantity is sufficient thus hunger and thirst are satisfied together with very little delay -
In the neighbourhood of the Sea, the Clam fish is dried in the
shade and strung on a packthread which they wear over the shoulder as a belt, and this being very nutritious food, I am told three will support one of them for a day - Passed the pain de sucre, or sugar loaf,194 a rock on the river side about 100 feet high, the only high land in view - Tis on the Eastern shore - We encamped about a league below on the opposite shore -
17th. Rain all day, however we made seven leagues, and encamped on the S.E. side of the River -
18th. Had hard work to pass several rapids - The men were obliged to work in the water tho it was extremely cold - passed the Mississinoui a pretty large river on the N. E. side -195 encamped at (les arbres matachés) the painted trees - so called from a number of Trees marked with Indian figures in Vermillion - This place is about a league below the little riviere au Calumet.196 Having halted about noon to make a fire, a messenger from the Miamis of Riviere à l'anguille197 informed us, that the people of his Village, waited impatiently for us, & were rejoyced to hear of our coming. We heard also, that the Ouiattanon indians were assembled on the hither side of Ouiat,198 in expectation of our arrival -
19th. Being a fair day, we employed in repairing some of our batteaus - Met the Savages of Eel river (riviere à l'anguille) and the Pouteouattamies of the river Thipicono199 (This is the name of a fish something resembling the white Bass, but larger) - These last made a present to the Ottawas of several shrouds and blanketts to cover the bones of an Ottawa, sometime ago killed by them -
The speaker to whom a year before I had given a pipe Tomahawk coverd with silver wire, said that he was a man who loved his wife and children, and who did not intermeddle for good or bad, that he was well pleased to see us on our march against the rebels, but that he had no decisive part to take -
I rose with intention to speak harshly to him, and remind him of the promises he had made when at Detroit, but I contented myself with returning thanks to those Nations who had left their wives and children to follow me to war - That I did not come thro their country with a design of inveigling men to war, that the rivers and paths were the Kings highways, thro which I meant to
pass to find out the Rebels - shewed them the roadbelt, and told them that I had compassion on their women and children, which was the reason I had come from so great a distance to drive invaders off their lands, that on my arrival at Ouiattanon, I should cancel the Piankashaa contract200 That those men who joined me, should receive arms ammunition &ca -
The Speaker said he was disposed to sit quiet, and wait to see his old Father (meaning that he expected to see the French again in possession of the country) -
I broke off the meeting abruptly, and told them I was going to exercise my young men, and gave orders for the men to turn out and fire ball at a mark, which they did, and shewed great dexterity firing very quick and making excellent shots - The six pounder was exercised also -
In the Evening Mr: Chésne the interpreter told me, that several of the Miamis and Pouteouattamies of this district meant to accompany us, And that the speaker himself said, he had only spoken for himself That men were made to go to war, and that the young men would not be prevented by what he had said in the Morning -
Kinebec a maingong is the name of the Village of the Miamis at this place which means Snake River, the Indians calling an Eeal Kinébec as they do a snake likewise -201
20th. It snowed almost all day and blew hard - Had a conference with the Pouteouattamies of this settlement, who having been reproved by the Ottawa chiefs for inconsistency, appeared something better disposed - they had said the day before that they were disposed to act as the other nations, but the Ottawas remarkd they did not act agreably to their professions -
In the afternoon I went to the Village of the Miamis and had a long discourse with them on the subject of our design - They said their small numbers did not admit of sending off many Warriors but they would shew their good disposition, and immediately the chiefs named for War, ten of those present - The Old Wolf was appointed their chief, He was one who had insulted the Rebels at St. Vincennes - An old man of 70 called the lead mine walked to the camp which was 4 miles and 1/2 distant within 20 minutes as soon as we had gone it tho' we ran two thirds of the way -
21st. We had a sharp Frost with high wind, and the difficulty great in getting our boats along -
A point of land advances into the River which terminates by a Bluff of rock - This had formerly been called by Travellers Le Navire the Ship, but the last year a considerable part of it having fallen into the river (as I suppose by an earthquake, tho the Indians say 'twas by a stroke of lightning) It has lost its likeness - Chrystals, petrifications of different soils, the coruna ammonis particularly, are found in abundance, the rocks having been lately rent in their fall discover many of them - I had not time to gratify my curiosity fully at this place, but in walking thro' the wood about 300 yards from the shore, and almost abreast of the Ship - We discoverd a Rock in the form nearly of a Vessels hull which tho rudely formd attracted our notice - on examining, we found it to contain petrified shells &ca. and to be much of the nature of the Rock formerly called the Ship -202
The Savages and the foremost boats got down below the great rapid203 a league from the mouth of Eel river (riviere à l'anguille), the rest stoppd at different distances according to the difficulties them [sic] had to encounter - It was three in the afternoon before the headmost boats put in, and at night several remaind on the rocks in the river, it being difficult from the number of different channels to make choice of the right ones - This was a dreary sight as the water was dayly growing colder and the cakes of floating ice frequently cut the mens legs as they luggd at the boats in the water -
22d Before the sun was up I went to the encampment opposite the headmost boats It had frozen hard in the night, and before the men could get at their boats they were obliged to break the ice with poles and then drag in the water up to their knees - Light Pirogues were sent from below to take out part of the loading of the boats which were aground - The uppermost boats discharged part of their loading which was carried by the men on shore to the foot of the rapid, at 3 in the afternoon the greater number of the boats were got down, and the work was continued till near dark - Light boats had some of them made four trips to the head of the rapid - In the evening large fires were made and rum was given to the men who had sufferd great fatigue and
hardship, the ice had greatly damaged some of our boats, a Pirogue in particular was cut thro for the length of 3 feet by which some casks of peas were damaged -
The several Tribes of Indians at night danced the war dance, and sung war songs for near six hours without intermission -
The men being squanderd on the river in different little camps we could not mount pickett guard -
23d. This day we had snow, yet we employed the time in bringing down the Provisions &ca from above and repairing the damage done to our boats by coming down the rapid - A Court martial on one of the Grenadiers of the 8th. (for breeding a disturbance) and one of La Mothe's Volunteers, Giles & Frichette
The Indian chiefs were assembled, when I communicated my design of sending Major Hay to Ouiattonon with the Interpreters Chésne and Reaume, to compliment the nation and acquaint them with our arrival in the Country - this they approved -
Memm: to have Powder, Rum &ca. seized on the King's account.
This night the Indians sung to their Nattes as the French call them - These are Budgets which contain little figures of different kinds, some as Amulets, some as household Gods, these when they go to war they paint with vermillion - Their Priests who are usually their doctors are provided with an apparatus very different from our quacks, this is usually carryed in the budget and consists of the heads, bones or skins of certain animals, preserved Birds in the feather, Snakes skins, Bows and arrows contrived with springs to bundle up with the other valuable effects, Wolves teeth Panthers claws, Eagles talons &ca - The Juglers have these at hand for whenever, by drenches steam baths or emetics they have procured any relief from [for] one of their patients, they feign to have drawn a Bears tooth or Birds claw out of the part affected which when they produce to the sick man his imagination seldom fails to take part with the Doctors skill and perfect the cure -
There are Juglers among them who pretend to swallow arrows, eat fire and take down live birds - The Indians have I am told a certain root which they chew while they perform their fiery tryals, and that they can endure a great degree of heat while
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