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.
Jesuit Relations
Vol. 60, (1675-1677)
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197, 199-201, (Extract from a Letter of Father Claude Alloues), |
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207, 209 (Extract from a Letter of Father Anthoine Sylvy). |
(p. 197) EXTRACT FROM A LETTER OF FATHER CLAUDE ALLOUES, WRITTEN FROM ST. FRANCOIS XAVIER, NEAR THE BAY DES PUANTS, ON THE 26TH OF MAY, 1676.
Since last spring, I have been able to give only flying missions, in order not to abandon some while attaching myself too closely to others. During the short time that I spent in those of the mascouteins and the miamis, God granted me the Consolation of finding in the Cabins 2 children who were dying,-- one a Miamis, the other a Mascoutein,-- and of baptizing both of them before they died; 3 others also, who had previously been baptized, Soared to Heaven. . . .
(p. 199) . . . I know not whether I wrote last year that, when I was recommending some Christian girls to be very discreet, in accordance with the profession of Christianity that they made,-- telling them that it exacted more Reserve and Modesty from them than from those who were not baptized,-- they showed me that under their blankets they kept Eagles' Talons hanging at their sides as a soldier carries his sword, wherewith to defend themselves (they told me) against the insolence of the young Men.
As for the Mission of the Outagamis, where last year we planted a large cross in the middle of their village, we may hope for a great deal from their conversion, since we see that Our Lord has made them share his cross, and afflicts them in many ways. Last winter they were killed by the Nadoessis. During the following summer, their corn was frozen; they gathered but little of it, and that little rotted in the autumn in the places for storage where they had Concealed it. Last winter, many died of (p. 201) disease; the hilinois made raids upon them, and Carried off others into captivity. During some visits that I paid to them, I baptized 17, Among whom were 10 adults, who died after baptism. Of the old Christians in that tribe, who were 144 in number, 27 died, upon whom we have reason to Believe that God has had mercy. The puants and the sakis, who halted here near our church throughout Lent, came assiduously to listen to our instructions and to pray to God. We baptized seven of their Children.
The Bay des Puants, where my mission is situated, comprises 6 tribes Scattered about the foot and along the two sides of the bay. They are more or less distant from one another-- Some, 10 leagues; others, 15 or more. This compels me to be always in the Field,-- during the summer, in Canoes; during the winter, on the ice,-- to go and instruct them, one after another. I have from 4 to 500 christians on this bay. Since my last Letter, in april of the past year, I have increased this church by the baptism of 45 persons, not without having much to endure from those among these barbarians who are not christians. . . .(p. 203) After remaining 16 days with that tribe which is called folle Avoine [i.e., Menomonee], and baptizing 6 children there, I left to go and instruct another tribe which has no french name, but is called in the savage tongue Otiasawatenon. I remained there 3 weeks, and administered baptism to 10 persons. Then I went farther up the bay, where I baptized 19 persons. . . .
. . .This year, we have among the puants 7 or 8 families from a nation who are neutral between our Savages and the nadouessi, who are at war. They are called aiaoua, or nadoessi mascouteins. (see fn. 27) Their village, which lies 200 leagues from here Toward the west, is very large, but poor; for their greatest Wealth consists of ox-hides and of Red Calumets. (p. 205) They speak the language of the puants. I preached Jesus Christ to them. They say that they have no knowledge of the western sea, although they live at a distance of 12 days' journey beyond the great River called Missisipi; but they assert that they have seen Savages who say that they have beheld a great lake very far away Toward the Setting sun, the Water whereof is very bad. . . .
(p. 207) EXTRACT FROM A LETTER OF FATHER ANTHOINE SYLVY, WRITTEN AMONG THE MASCOUTEINS, OR FIRE NATION, APRIL 6, 1676.
After a Journey of over 300 leagues from Kebek, here I am, having come to this country to take charge of this mission. This village is Made up of 2 different peoples, who speak Entirely different languages-- namely, those who are called Miamis, with 6 tribes of savages; and those who call themselves the mascouteins, who also have 5 or 6 other tribes with them, so that I find myself in the midst of many thousand savages to be instructed.
I found here 36 adult Christians, and 126 baptized
Children. . . . (p. 209) Of the older Christians the most
Remarkable is the one named Joseph, who maintains his family in the Christian
life. An accident that greatly surprised me, happened recently to this poor
man, while I was saying mass, at which he was very devoutly assisting. For,
when I was at the consecration and was elevating the sacred host, he suddenly
fell into such convulsions that he seemed like one possessed. He was, however,
Brought to himself; and after mass, when I wished to know the Cause of that
accident, I was greatly consoled on learning that it was none other than the
respectful Awe that the good christian felt at that august mystery. He feels a
special satisfaction in being near the missionaries. . . .
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27 (p. 203).-- Aiouas (Ayoes, Ayowois): modernized into Iowas; a Siouan tribe, living in Southern Minnesota when first known by white men. The appellation given them in our text means "Nadoessi (or Sioux) of the prairies;" and they were on friendly terms with the other Sioux tribes. Perrot says (Tailhan's ed., p. 85) that the Ottawas, fleeing in 1656-67 from the Iroquois, were hospitably received by the Ayoes; and when he established himself upon the Mississippi (1685), he maintained friendly relations with the latter tribe. An enumeration of the savage tribes of New France, in 1736, places the Ayowois south of the Missouri River (probably an error for the Minnesota), and estimates their number at 80 warriors (400 to 500 souls).-- See N. Y. Colon. Docs., vol. ix, p. 1055.
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