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.
Memoir of De Gannes Concerning the
Illinois Country
(Due to length divided here into ten parts)
De Gannes in: Pease, Theodore Calvin ed., Collections of the
Illinois State Historical Library, Vol. 23,
(French Series,
Vol. 1, The French Foundations: 1680-1693), pp. 302-395.
|
DE GANNES MEMOIR |
391 |
fraper a un poteau qu'on a planté Exprest, dire ses proüésses, et apres jettent plus ou moins selon la faculté d'un chacun, L'honneur que merite celuy a qui ils chantent Le Calumet, Et le Cas qu'ils en font. J'ay dû dire que ce Calumet est fait En maniere de hache, d'une pierre Rouge, qui se trouve vers Les Scioux, il a un manche bien Long, auquel sont pendus plusieurs plumes peintes de Rouge, Jaune et Noir, assemblées L'une avec L'autre en forme d'evantail, ce manche outre cela est entouré de peaux de Cols de Canards, dans tout Le temps que dure Le chant un d'eux tient Le Calumet qu'il secoüe toujours devant celuy a qui il est donné, ils cessent de Chanter quand ils voyent qu'on ne vient plus fraper au poteau, Reconduisent Leur Chef dans sa Cabanne, Luy Laissent Le Calumet Et plusieurs peaux de Castor, d'ours, Chevreüils Et Chats qui l'accompagnent, cela Leur vault quelquefois, Leur charge de Marchandises Quand ils s'en retournent cette demarche fait plaisir aux Illinois et les rend méme glorieux de Voir Les Etrangers venir reconnoistre de Leurs Gens pour Chefs.
[Translation]
everybody comes to knock at a post, which has been planted purposely, to recite his exploits, and afterwards they give gifts in such degree as each one can and in accordance with the honor deserved by the one to whom they sing the calumet and the esteem in which they hold him. I should have said that this calumet is made in the form of a hatchet, of a red stone that is found in the direction of the Sioux. It has a very long handle, from which are hung several feathers painted red, yellow, and black, brought together in the form of a fan. This handle is moreover covered with the skins of ducks' necks. During the whole time consumed by the singing, one of them holds the calumet, which he shakes continually before the one to whom it is given. They cease to sing when they see that no one comes any longer to strike the post. They then escort their chief to his cabin and leave him the calumet and several beaver skins or skins of bears, bucks, or cats. The ones who accompany him sometimes receive a load of merchandise. When they return this compliment it gives pleasure to the Illinois, and it even makes them exultant to see strangers come to recognize some of their people as chiefs.
392 |
ILLINOIS HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS |
En quatre années consecutives que j'ay Resé avec Les aouciatenons a Chicagoua qui est Le Village Le plus considerable des Miamis qui y ont esté Etablis 10. ou 12. ans, je n'ay trouvé aucune difference de leurs moeurs a celles des Illinois, non plus que de leur Langue. La seule qu'il y a est qu'ils restent fort peu de temps Etablis dans un Endroit.
La premiere année que je vint de france, ils etoient Establis en deça du Vieux fort, d'ou L'année d'ensuite ils se separerent pour aller partie dans Le haute de Mississipi et L'autre a la Riviere de St Joseph, et a Lembouchure de la Riviere de Chipiscatouy(see fn. 1) qui se décharge dans le Lac Mechigané, a 20. L. en deça de Chicagoua du Costé du nord ou ces derniers ne resterent que tres peu de temps aussy bien que ceux du Mississipi, et allerent faire village dans La Riviere du Kinouickouy qui se decharge aussi dans ce Lac a douze Lieuës de Chicagoua du costé du sud et a la fourche de celle de Tiatiky, Trois ans apres une partie quitterent pour aller sur Le
[Translation]
During four consecutive years that I remained with the Wea at Chicago, which is the most considerable village of the Miami, who have been settled there for ten or twelve years, I have found no difference between their manners and those of the Illinois, nor in their language either. The only difference is that they remain settled in one place only a very short time.
The year that I first came from France, they were settled on this side of
the old fort. A year later they separated, part to go to the upper Mississippi,
and the others to the St. Joseph River and to the mouth of the Root River,(see fn. 1) which empties into Lake Michigan, twenty leagues on
this side of Chicago toward the north. These latter remained only a very short
time, as well as those who went to the Mississippi. They went to form a village
at the river Grand Calumet, which also empties into this lake twelve leagues
from the Chicago toward the south and at the fork of the Kankakee River. Three
years later part of them left to go to
_________________________
1The Root River flows into Lake Michigan at Racine, Wisconsin.
|
DE GANNES MEMOIR |
393 |
Bord de ouabache ou ils étoient encore quand je suis descendus pour satisfaire aux ordres que Monsr Le Marquis de Vaudreüil m'avoit envoyé, ceux qui alloient a la Riviere St Joseph y ont esté toujours jusqu'au temps que Mr De la Mothe Les a Invitées de s'approcher du détroit, Cette nation ne nous a pas esté inutile dans Le temps que nous avions La guerre avec L'Iroquois et principallement ceux de la Riviere St Joseph par Les frequents partis de ces sauvages qui alloient chez eux, Et qui rarement ne revenoient point sans faire coup. Cette Nation est aussy Nombreuse a ce que je croy que celle des Illinois, elle est composée de six Villages, qui sont les Chachakingoya aouciatenons, aughichia, autrefois Marineoneia Kiratikas, Minghakokias et pepepikokias meilleurs chasseurs que les Illinois au Castor Et l'estime aussi beaucoup plus.
La Riviere de ouabache dont Je vient de parler, ou sont une partie des Miamis Etablis est une tres belle Riviere, aussy tous Les sauvages l'appellent de mesme, je ne sçay ou elle prend sa Source, mais je sçay que de chez Les Iroquois il ny a pas
[Translation]
the banks of the Wabash, where they still remained when I came down in obedience to the orders which Monsieur the Marquis de Vaudreuil had sent me. Those who went to the St. Joseph River remained there up to the time when Monsieur de la Mothe invited them to come nearer to the Strait. This nation was not useless to us at the time when we had war with the Iroquois. This is especially true of those on the St. Joseph River, owing to the frequency with which parties of these savages went among them, who rarely returned without making a successful attack.
This nation I believe, is as populous as the Illinois. It is composed of six villages which are the Chachakingoya, Aouciatenons, Anghichia, formerly Marineoueia, Kiratikas, Minghakokias, and Pepikokia; they are better beaver hunters than the Illinois, and esteem the beaver more highly also.
The Wabash River, of which I have just spoken, on which part of the Miami are settled, is a very beautiful river, and all the savages call it such. I do not know where it has its source, but I know that it is not very far from the Iroquois country. It flows
394 |
ILLINOIS HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS |
Loing pour s'y rendre, elle coure toujours au Sud oüest, se decharge dans Le Mississipi a soixante Lieuës de l'embouchure de celle des Illinois elle est plus Large que le Mississipi, feu Mr de Jucheraux avoit fait son fort a deux Lieuës dedans du Village des Illinois Il y a soixant Lieuës de terre, a traverser toujours au sud pour s'y rendre, c'est Le plus beau pays du monde, pour les terres, on commence a y voir ces Roseaux dont on se Sert ou lieu de Canne qui ont jusqu'a quinze pieds de haute, de l'autre costé on ne trouve plus de prairies, Les bois qui sont sur ses bords, sont la plus part de ces fruitiers dont J'ay parlé, Le Reste de bois blanc, noyer dur, maronniers, quelques fresnes, plaines, Et bois dur toutes ces sortes de bois font connoistre La bonté de ces Terres, Le printemps y est d'un mois plutôt quaux Illinois, il n'y a jamais au plus que deux poulces de neige qui s'en va deux Jours apres, quoy que je n'y ay été que L'Eté, j'en puis parler pertinament par les connoissances que m'en ont donné Les Illinois qui y sont, La plus part tous Les ans en chasse.
[Translation]
continuously southwest and empties into the Mississippi sixty leagues from the mouth of the Illinois River. It is wider than the Mississippi. The late Monsieur de Juchereau had made his fort two leagues within the country. From the village of the Illinois there is an overland distance of sixty leagues to cross southward in order to get there. It is the most beautiful country in the world as regards soil. We begin to see here those reeds which serve instead of canes and which shoot up to a height of fifteen feet. On the other side there are no more prairies. The woods which grow on the banks are mostly made up of those fruit trees of which I have spoken, the rest are whitewood, hard walnut, chestnuts, some ash, Norway maples, and hardwood trees. All these varieties of trees attest the fertility of these lands. Spring arrives a month earlier than among the Illinois. At most there are never more than two inches of snow, which disappears in two days. Although I have been there only in summer, I can speak authoritatively owing to the knowledge which I have got from the Illinois, most of whom go there every year to hunt.
|
DE GANNES MEMOIR |
395 |
J'avois oublié a dire dans l'endroit ou il est parlé de la guerre, que les Illinois aussy bien que les miamis, ont pour maxime quand ils sont en marche, pour aller chez Lennemis par des petits partis, qu'ils ne font jamais qu'un feu assez Long, pour que tous Les guerriers s'en puissent sentir, ils se couchent toujours Les pieds au feu, ne se mettent Jamais rien par dessus, Ceux qui sont destinées pour Servir, sont ceux de la Bande qui ont Le moins esté en guerre, font le tour du feu, Ils ne dechargent Jamais Leurs paquets de dessus leurs dos pour Lacher de Leau n'y pour d'autres necessités Et Jamais du costé de L'ennemys, quand ils reviennent ils s'en déchargent, mais Jamais Ils ne se mettent dessus, ils ne se servent aussi jamais de couteaux, quand leur viande est cuitte ce qu'ils n'observent pas quand ils font des marches Generalle croyant qu'on ne peut leur resister en quoy souvent ils sont trompés.
Je souhaitte de tout mon coeur Mr que ce memoire, vous fasse plaisir, et qu'il soit digne de vostre Curiosité.
A Montreal en Canada ce 20. octobre 1721. Signé De Gannes.
[Translation]
I had forgotten to say, in the place where I talked of war, that the Illinois as well as the Miami have the maxim when they are on the march to go among the enemy in small parties never to make more than one fire, a fairly long one so that all the warriors may profit by it. They always lie down with their feet to the fire, and never put anything on themselves. Those who are designated to serve the rest are those of the band who have seen least of war. These circulate about the fire. They never unload their packs from their backs to make water, or for any other necessities, and never when going toward the enemy. When they are returning home they unload, but never do they sit down on their pack. Nor do they ever make use of knives when their meat is cooked, a thing they do not observe when they make general marches, believing that no one can resist them, in which they are often mistaken.
I desire with all my heart, Monsieur, that this memorial may give you pleasure, and prove worthy of your curiosity.
MONTREAL, CANADA, October 20, 1721.
|
|
Signed: DE GANNES |
Return
to TOC, p. 5
Continue
to next part of Miami Collection
[return to Miami
Collection Menu]
[return to Glenn A. Black
Laboratory of Archaeology List of Publications]
[return to Glenn A. Black
Laboratory of Archaeology Home]
Last updated: 16 January 2001
URL: http://www.gbl.indiana.edu/home.html
Comments: webmaster@www.gbl.indiana.edu
Copyright 1996, Glenn Black Laboratory of Archaeology and The Trustees of Indiana University