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.

[87] Part Third. Relation of the Missions to the Outouacs during the years 1670 and 1671.

The reader may first turn his eyes to the Mission of Sainte Marie du Sault, three leagues below the mouth of Lake Superior. He will find it situated on the banks of the river by which this great Lake discharges its water, at the place called the Sault, very advantageous in which to perform Apostolic functions, since it is the great resort [89] of most of the Savages of these regions, and lies in the almost universal route of all who go down to the French settlements. It was also on this spot that all these lands were taken possession of in his Majesty's name, in the presence and with the approval of fourteen Nations who had come hither for that purpose.

Toward the other end of the same lake is found the Mission of Saint Esprit, covering both the district known as Chagouamigong point, and the neighboring Islands. Thither the Outaouacs, with the Hurons of Tionnontate, repair in the seasons suitable for fishing and for raising Indian corn.

It will be easy to recognize the rivers and routes leading to various Nations, either stationary or nomadic, located in the vicinity of this same lake, who are somewhat dependent on this Mission of saint Esprit in the matter of trade, which draws them to our Savages' abode.

For it is a Southward course that is taken by the [90] great river called by the natives Missisipi, which must empty somewhere in the region of the Florida sea, more than four hundred leagues hence. Fuller mention will be made of it hereafter. Beyond that great river lie the eight Villages of the Illinois, a hundred leagues from saint Esprit point; while forty or fifty leagues Westward from the latter place is found the Nation of the Nadouessi,-- very populous and warlike, and regarded as the Iroquois of these regions, waging war, almost unaided, with all the other tribes hereabout. Still farther away is situated another Nation, of an unknown tongue, beyond which, it is said, lies the Western sea. Again, proceeding toward the West-Northwest, we find the people called Assinipoualac, constituting one large village,-- or as others say, thirty small villages in a group.-- not far from the North sea, two weeks' journey from the above-named Mission of saint Esprit.

Finally, the Kilistinons are dispersed through the whole Region of the North of this Lake [91] Superior,-- possessing neither corn, nor fields, nor any fixed abode; but forever wandering through those vast Forests, and seeking a livelihood there by hunting. There are also other Nations in those districts, for that reason called "the peoples of the Interior," or of the North Sea.

The reader will also be enabled-- on his journey, so to speak-- to note all the places on this Lake where copper is said to be found. For, although at present we have no very definite knowledge on the subject, because no thorough surveys have been made, yet the slabs and huge lumps of this metal which we have seen, each weighing a hundred or two hundred livres, and much more; that great rock of copper, seven or eight hundred livres in weight, seen near the head of the Lake by all who pass; and, furthermore, the numerous pieces found at the water's edge in various places,-- all seem to force upon us the conviction that somewhere there are parent mines which have not yet been discovered.(see 2)

After surveying this entire [92] Lake Superior, together with the Nations surrounding it, let us go down to the Lake of the Hurons, almost in the middle of which we shall see the Mission of saint Simon, established on the Islands which were formerly the true country of some Nations of the Outaouacs, and which they were forced to leave when the Hurons were ravaged by the Iroquois. But since the King's arms have compelled the latter to live at peace with our Algonquins, part of the Outaouacs have returned to their country; and we at the same time have planted this Mission, with which are connected the peoples of Mississague, the Amicoues, and other circumjacent tribes,-- to whom we have proclaimed the Faith, baptizing many of their children and adults.

Toward the south, on the other side of the Lake, are the territories formerly occupied by various Nations of the Hurons and Outaouacs, who had stationed themselves at some distance from one another, as far as the famous Island of Missilimakinac.(see 3)

In the neighborhood of this island, as being the spot most noted in all these regions [93] for its abundance of fish, various Peoples used to make their abode, who now fully intend to return thither if they see that peace is firmly established. It is for this reason that we have already begun there to found the Mission of St. Ignace; this was done during the past Winter, which we spent there.

Thence one enters the Lake called Mitchiganons, to which the Ilinois have given their name. After the People who formerly lived near the Western sea were driven away from it by their foes, they sought a refuge on the shores of this Lake; and when the Iroquois expelled them thence also, they finally withdrew to a spot seven days' journey beyond the great river. The reader will see, at the end, how a part of this nation has begun to receive the light of the Faith, which we carried even to their own country.

Finally, between this Lake of the Ilinois and Lake Superior is seen a long bay called the bay des Puans, at the head of which is the Mission of saint Francois Xavier; while at its entrance [94] are encountered the Islands called Huron, because the Hurons took refuge there for some time, after their own country was laid waste. In one of them especially is found a kind of Emerald or diamond, some white and others green. Still farther Northward may be seen a stream of no great size, to which is given the name of copper river, from a lump of metal that we saw there, weighing more than two hundred livres.

Approaching the head of the same bay, we see the river of the Oumaloumines [Menomonees],-- or, translated, "the wild-oats Nation,"-- which is a dependency of the Mission of St. Francois Xavier, as are also the Poteouatami, the Ousaki, and other Tribes,-- who driven from their own abode, the lands toward the South, near Missilimakinac, have sought refuge at the head of this bay. Beyond it, and farther Inland, may be seen the Fire Nation, or the Mathkoutench, with an Ilinois tribe called the Oumami (Miami), and also the Outagami. [95] Of these mention will be made more in detail, as well as of all the other tribes designated, the Faith having been proclaimed to nearly all of them. Some peoples have embraced it, and make public profession of Christianity, although many individuals have received holy Baptism, and the greater part have been given the necessary instruction therefor.

Finally, the remaining tribes, farther distant toward the South and Southwest, are either beginning to draw near to us,-- already the Ilinois have reached the bay mentioned above,-- or else are waiting until we can advance to them. . . .
___________________

2 See Dablon's account of the copper mines of Lake Superior, vol. liv, pp. 153-165; cf. vol. 1, note 28. Cf. Wilson's "Ancient Miners of Lake Superior," in Canad. Journ., new series, vol. 1, pp. 225-237.

3 Such an allusion as that in our text, and at so early a date sufficiently indicates the importance of Mackinac Island to both Indians and white men. It was, until the day of railroads, the central point for all travel on the upper Great lakes, and for a vast extent of wilderness and half-settled country beyond. As we have seen (vol. xi, note 16), it was in 1641 that Jesuits first visited that region; but their missionary labors were not begun on the lakes until nearly twenty years later. Not until 1670 is Mackinac (Michillimackinac) mentioned in the Relations, although Menard and Allouez must have seen it in their early voyages. The reason for this is suggested in our text; the tribes who had dwelt there had been, long before, driven by those fierce Iroquois thence, and that region was practically deserted until 1670-- when the Urons on Superiork in fear of the Sioux, retreated to the shore north of Mackinac Islands. Here Marquette continued his missionary labors with them, at the site of the present St. Ignace. This had long been the location of a French trading post; Denonville's memoir of 1688 claims (N. Y. Colon, Docs., vol. ix, p. 383) that the French had inhabited that place for more than forty years. A small French garrison was sent thither at some time between 1679 and 1683. The name of Michillimackinac (later abbreviated to Mackinac) was applied generally to the entire vicinity, as well as specifically to the post at St. Ignace-- and, later to the fort and mission established on the south side of the Strait of Mackinac.- See Thwaite's "Story of Mackinac," in Wis. Hist. Colls, vol. xiv, pp. 1-16; Bailey's Mackinac (Lansing, Mich, 1896), and Cook's Mackinaw in History (Lansing, 1895).

A chart of St. Ignace and vicinity, probably the earliest published, is given in La Hontan's Voyages (and ed., Amsterdam, 1728), t. i., p. 136.