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.
La Jonquire to the
French Minister
(September 25, 1751)
La Jonquire in: "1751: Reports
from the
Southwestern Posts," Wisconsin
Historical Collections,
XVIII, pp. 85-94.
A party of Chaouanons went to fort Pianguichias to strike a blow there, while the necessary relief was being taken to that post. At the same time forty Pianguichias were there; they set out on the heels of the Chaouanons and said they would follow them to their village to find out positively whence they came. They think they are from Sonioto or from the riviere a la Roche. If they be from the latter village the Pianguichias will perchance act in accordance with my intentions.
Monsieur de St. Clin writes me that he is doing all in his power to bring about a reconciliation between the Chaouanons and the Illinois and the nations of Ouabache, but that some Frenchmen who have deserted from his post to go and hunt at la Belle riviere have greatly disarranged his plans; that in fact some Chaouanons from Sonioto, who had come down to hunt, had a man killed and a woman with two children taken by the Ouyatanons, while the Frenchmen were with them. The chaouanons stopped the Frenchmen and wanted to attack them, saying that the blow had been struck by the Illinois, the children of the French. Fortunately they changed their mind; they sent two of the Frenchmen, called Lamirande and Ste Marie to the Illinois to find out who had committed the murder. They kept with them the wife of the said Lamirande and the other Frenchmen. To endeavor to withdraw these Frenchmen, Monsieur de St. Clin was compelled to send two envoys (page 91) with a calumet, two rolls of tobacco, and a letter in which he told the Chaouanons that the Illinois had not stirred from their mats and that he knew that nation struck the blow; that he intended to have the roads kept open so that they might come in all safety to the French, and he would make peace with the Illinois.
The Chaouanons received this letter at la Belle riviere. This is the answer given to Monsieur de St. Clin.
We are all Iroquois here, masters of this river, the Iroquois of Montreal and Sault St. Louis. We look upon the Chaouanons as our children. We beg thee to try and get back the prisoners, to send them to us and we shall be satisfied. The Chaouanon chiefs have gone to show they letter to their village, and to consult together whither they will go and see thee at the end of the winter or in the spring. There is one Joncaire (a savage) who hopes to go and see thee.
The Chaouanons did not go to see Monsieur de St. Clin last spring. He fears that the French they had in their power have been killed, for a rumor has been current for some time that a Frenchman and woman have been killed, and that the Chaouanons have taken to the Chikachas four women bound. This was told to him by an Illinois who had it from a Misamis.
Monsieur de Celoron had already informed me of this and that the Ouyatanons had sent back one of the said prisoners to the Chaouanons.
We must not be grieved at the Ouyatanons having struck a blow at the Chaouanons, and I am writing to Monsieur de St. Clin that there would not have been much harm in stopping the quarrel this affair might have occasioned between the Chaouanons and the Illinois, because it would be in our interest to destroy those Chaouanons by getting the nations to wage war against them.
With regard to the French who have remained in the power of the Chaouanons, perhaps the arrival of the Chaouanons whom the Ouyatanons have sent back, will have procured them (page 92) their liberty. In any case they are not to be pities because they are deserters who have disobeyed the King's ordinances.
We should spare the Chaouanons but little because they are always trying to disturb the nations that our allies. A savage of the post of Pianguichias, who was in winter quarters, was attacked by three Chaouanons; he received a gun-shot wound and a blow from a tomahawk, but escaped notwithstanding.
Another savage of the same nation was also attacked by the Chaouanons within sight of the post. He took to flight and lost only his gun and his blanket.
The English are taking as much trouble to seduce the nations on the side of the Illinois as everywhere else.
They gave a message to the people of the Vermillion village. Their chief, named le Maringouin, would not receive it. He replied to his people that he knew no other father then the French; that he wished to have no other. They threw the message at him saying: 'Take it and do what thou wishest with it.'
Monsieur de St. Clin was informed at the same time that la Mouche noire, a chief of the Ouyatanons, said to his people: 'I am going to the English; I will bring some of them here to the village, and on my return, I will go to the Illinois to ascertain their last dispositons regarding the French and the English, namely which of the two they desire as father; and if they speak to me of the English, the matter will soon be concluded.'
Monsieur de St. Clin heard indirectly that the English are continuing to get la Mouche noire and la Peau blanche to work at corrupting those nations under the pretext of the furtrade. The Peorias reported to him that la Peau Blanche went last winter to them to induce them to go there. Some of his peo- (page 93) ple are also to go to la Mouche noire. Such are their usual subjects of conversation when they come back in the spring from their winter quarters.
The English are continuing their intrigues to induce the nations to attack the French, through the machinations of la Mouche noire and la Demoiselle, chief of the rebellious Miamis. La Mouche noire has two brothers who are chiefs of the Kascakias domiciled at fort Chartres. He enticed away the elder who went to riviere a la Roche to take there three English captives. He expects on his return, to bring some English into Monsieur de St. Clin's neighborhood but the exact place is not known.
The English have won the confidence of the nations of the Ouabache.
Finally Monsieur de St. Clin writes me that they are seeking only to penetrate to the lands of his post; and he adds that this may happen sooner than one thinks. I will not fail to repeat the orders I have already given him to spare no effort to make the English withdraw.
Last autumn Monsieur de St. Clin effected an alliance with the Panismahas, a very powerful nation on the Missouri those Chiefs are absolute. That nation is governed by three brothers; the most powerful is called Stabaco. The eldest of the three went to see him, and he received him very well. He assured him that either he or his brother would go and see him this year. On leaving he said to him: 'My father, if thou hast any rebellious Children who lose their wits, let me know. Thou canst rely on me and on my nation.' This alliance is a very advantageous one, and, by maintaining that nation in our interest, we shall be masters of the front and back of the Missoury country.
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