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.
Speeches of Four Hurons
(February 17, 1702)
"Speeches of four Hurons, sent
as envoys to M. de Lamothe
by Michipichy, their great chief, whom the French have
named Quarante-sous" in: English Translation
of Margry, Vol. 5, pp. 406-408.
pp. 406, 407, 408.
Lamothe Cadillac thanks the
Hurons
for wishing to induce the Miamis to come to Detroit.
_____________
Speeches of four Hurons, sent as envoys to M. de Lamothe by Michipichy, their great chief, whom the French have named Quarante-Sous, 17th of February, 1702.
We come to speak to you, my Father, because we wish to do nothing without your sharing in it. Michipichy, our chief, who is hunting thirty leagues from here, is setting out two days hence to go to the Miamis, and he sends us to let you know the object of his journey. We are going to tell you what he is to say to them.
By a necklace, Michibichy is to say to the Miamis: "My brothers, I raise your dead from Montreal(see fn. 1); I make them walk straight, and (page 407) the sun shall not be darkened by any cloud."
By a large cooking-pot.- This pot is to brighten their path, so that they may walk lightly and without difficulty.(see fn. 2)
By twenty anklets of porcelain-shells.- This is to take up our fire, which we lit in your village, and carry it to Detroit, near our father.(see fn. 3)
By four coverlets, three shirts and a cloak.- These are to enwrap your men who died at Montreal, and also the bones of your relatives which are in your village, so that you may bring them with you more conveniently.(see fn. 4)
By two necklaces.- This is to prepare the path for you from your village to that of Detroit, and by this necklace I fasten the two villages together.(see fn. 5)
By two large cooking-pots.- These are for making broth on the first day after you have left your village, when you have stopped in the evening to eat.
By four hatchets.- These are for making hooks,(see fn. 6) and for cutting wood to make the pot boil.
By a gun, a bag of lead* and a bag of bullets.- These are for killing animals, for you to live on while you are on the way to Detroit.(see fn. 7)
(page 408) Reply of M. de Lamothe to the Hurons, on the 17th of February, 1702.- I am pleased that you will do nothing without telling me of it; that is the way to keep up a good understanding between you and me. Take courage, and tell your chief that I strongly approve of his intention of trying to induce the Miamis to come and light their fire here.(see fn. 8) If they are wise, they will hearken to his word, for he speaks like a true man. Tell him to assure the Miamis that, if they come near to me, we shall form one and the same body.
By a fathom of tobacco.- I fix my words in my memory; this tobacco will give you still more understanding.
____________________
6. That is, pot-hangers. (L. C.)
* 'plomb'- this should, probably, read 'poudre', powder. (Translator's note.)
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