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.
Tonti on Mississippi Navigation
Tonti, Henri de (9-12-1693) in: Pease, French Series, vol. I, 1934,
[A. N. C., C13 C3:142-143- L. S.], pp. 276-282.
pp. 276, 277, 278,
279.
As this map has been made with haste and without computation or measure, if you desire to make one, you must know that we reckoned the length of the Mississippi River, although it is very winding, from the Falls of St. Anthony to the sea, at 800 leagues; and you will see from this relation that it flows north and south, as well as the distance from the sea to the villages which are above the mouth of the Illinois River. In going up to the river of the Kankakee, on which there is a village of 80 cabins of the Illinois, one figures 60 leagues; and from there to the Miami 30. As to the Mascouten and Kickapoo they are 15 leagues inland, reckoned 200 leagues from the mouth of the Illinois River and 200 (page 277) leagues from there to the Falls of St. Anthony. The river of the Missouri comes from the west about 300 leagues from a lake which I believe to be the lake of the Apache. The three villages of the Missouri, Oto, and Osage are neighbors to one another, situated on the prairie at 150 leagues from the mouth of the Missouri River. The river of the Illinois, which I should have named before is 300 leagues in length. Fort St. Louis, with 200 cabins, is situated about 70 leagues from its mouth. The little river of the Michigamea, Chepoussa, and Michibousa is about 40 leagues from the Tamaroa- they are situated at about 10 leagues from its mouth. The river of the Casquinanpo occurs at 10 leagues (page 278) from the mouth of the Wabash; the village in situated an the bank of the river 70 leagues upstream; and the Maon, a numerous nation who have no peace with those who are on the source of the said river, about 100 leagues from the Casquinanpo. The Uzutiuhi are 6 leagues from the mouth of the river of the Quapaw. The Tonica, Yazoo, Koroa, and Chonque, are all together along the river of the Yazoo, 10 leagues from the Mississippi, and the Sioux are 15 leagues beyond. It is to be noted that all of those villages are on the prairies end that the last of these are in the lands about the delta, which they have deserted and which are the richest in the world. It is the Yazoo who are the masters of the land. The Mento are at 10 leagues inland from the Uzutiuhi and at 40 from the Caddo. The Koroa, 13 leagues away, are their neighbors. As for the other nations, I have indicated sufficiently the distances between them, as much those of the Mississippi as those of the Red River, (page 279) except the Nadaco, who are 12 leagues inland. I have attached hereto a memoir in the ed hereto a memoir in the event that the court wished to have this exploration carried out. I have noted therein whatever is necessary. . . .
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