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.
Henri Tonty Letters
(Due to length divided here into three parts)
Tonti, Henri de in: Delanglez, John,
Mid-America, 1939, vol. 21, pp. 209-238.
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the cause of his and of his companions' salvation.(see II, fn. 34) The Akancea (Akanseas) nation numbers 300 men. Twelve hundred perished by disease and war.(see II, fn. 35) [From here] one begins to see many buffaloes and beavers. The Mentous [Mento] and the Paniassas (Panicassas) [Wichita] are located on this river.(see II, fn. 36) I am not giving you their number or the distances, since the relations of the Indians are ordinarily false.* The land is as it is elsewhere; quantities of peach trees, mulberry trees, plum trees and vines. They only sow wheat once a year, while those on the lower [Mississippi] sow it as many as three times a year, and the latter have the [further] advantage of having the same (fruit) trees as those [dwelling on the Arkansas].
From the Akanceas† to the Oyo [Ohio] River(see II, fn. 37) called by the
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34Cf. The Journal of Jean Cavelier, 123, 154. The house
is shown on Bureau's sketch.
35"Two hundred leagues from Ouabache, the Arkansas are found, formerly a most beautiful nation. Less than ten years ago, they numbered 1,200 warriors, but wars and disease have reduced them almost to nothing, they are hardly 200 men left, and very few women and children," Montigny to . . ., May 6, 1699, ASH, 115-10:n. 13. "We were deeply afflicted at finding this nation of the Acansças, formerly so numerous, entirely destroyed by war and by disease," Saint-Cosme in Kellogg, Early Narratives. Cf. Thaumur de la Source in Shea, Early Voyages, 79; Gravier, in Jesuit Relations, 65:118.
†Distance from the Akanseas to the Oyo River.
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Indians Akanceasipi (Akanssa-sipy),(see II, fn. 38) 240 leagues.(see II, fn. 39) Going up toward this river, 90 leagues [from the Arkansas River], on the right, are hillocks, and inland, one finds a path leading to the Chicacha,* three days journey from the [Mississippi] River.(see II, fn. 40) It is there that the Englishman in question is.† Along this river are several hillocks fit for settlements, and there are appearances of iron mines. This Oyo River comes from near the Iroquois villages; it must be more than 400 leagues long;(see II, fn. 41) it has
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38"It is called by the Illinois and by the Oumiamis
the River of the Akansea, because the Akansea formerly dwelt on it. It is said
to have three branches, one coming from the Northwest, which flows at the rear
of the country of the Oumiamis, called the River St. Joseph, which the savages
properly call Ouabachi; the second comes from the Iroquois country, and is what
they call the Ohio; the third from the South-South-west, on which are the
Chaouanoua. As all three untie to fall into the Mississippi, the stream is
commonly called Ouabachi; but the Illinois and other savages call it the River
of the Akansea," Gravier's Voyage, Jesuit Relations, 65:107. Gravier spoke
of the Ohio basin from hearsay, what he meant by the third river is not clear,
the Tennessee or the Cumberland. The river on which the Shawnee dwelt was to be
called later Rivière des Anciens Chaouanons, the Cumberland, while
the Tennessee remained for awhile Rivière des Casquinamboux, and was afterward
called Rivière des Chéraquis. Gravier is the only author to give the
reason for calling the Ohio the river of the Akansea, cf. Shea, Early
Voyages,
120, n. 9. This nomenclature did not obtain very long. Only one cartographer,
Guillaume Delisle, legended his maps after this fashion from 1701 to 1703. The
Ohio is labelled Oüabache near its mouth and Oyo near its source in
AN, JJ, 75-249, while its whole course is named Oyo Riviere in the sketch by
Father Léonard. The first time the Acansea nomenclature appears is in the
Delisle basic draft, AN, JJ, 75-253, "Carte des Environs du Mississipi par
G. De l'Isle Geographe"; henceforth the legends are seen in every Delisle
map down to the printed one of 1703 inclusively, cf. SHB, C 4040-1, of 1701,
based on the preceding chart; the map of 1703, Ministère des Affaires
Etrangères; the two engraved maps with manuscript additions SHB, B 4049-32, and
ASH, 140-4, the drafts of the published map of 1703. After this date, Delisle
changed the nomenclature; his next published map, that of 1718, follows the
Lemaire legends, compare AN, JJ, 75-234; BN, Estampes, Vd. 22, with SHB, C
4044-46A, and BN, Ge D 7883.
*90 l. higher than the Acanceas is found a path leading to the Chicachas.
40The sketch AN, JJ, 75-249, has the Chickasaw near the mouth of the Ohio, so have the other two sketches, Father Léonard's and Bureau's. Cf. Tonti's first account, in Margry, I, 597, ". . . whose [Chickasaw] village was three days journey from there [Fort Prudhomme, near present day Memphis], in the lands along the Mississippi." Tonti's second account, in Kellogg, Early Narratives, 297. The "chemin" referred to is perhaps the Wolf River, Tennessee, cf. Saint-Cosme in Kellogg, Early Narratives, 258, and the map AN, JJ, 75-253.
†The Englishman is among the Chicachas.
41Tonti had given from 500 to 600 leagues in his first account, Margry, I, 596. "It comes from the east and is more than 500 leagues in length. It is by this river that the Iroquois advance to make war against the nations of the South," Tonti's second account, in Kellogg, Early Narratives, 297. "At about 600 [i. e., 60] leagues from the Tamaroa village,(con't.)
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only one rapid,(see II, fn. 42) and a quantity of considerable affluents falling in it.
At one and a half days journey on the right [of the Ohio], one finds the island of Kaskinampo* (Koskinempo) [Kakinonpa].(see II, fn. 43) At its [river's] source which is at 12 days journey, there is a mountain range,(see II, fn. 44) whence springs a river(see II, fn. 45) going to Carolina, and which the English ascend in boats. From this mountain range, they bring, on pack horses, merchandise to that Englishman (who is among the Chicachas).(see II, fn. 46) I learned this from the
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(41 con't.) one find the same side [east bank of the
Mississippi] a great river named Ouabache, but called Oio by the Iroquois. It
nearly reaches the Sonontouans [Seneca], an Iroquois village. One goes by it to
the Chaouenons [Shawnee] and to the Chicachas [Chickasaw] nations near the
English of Carolina," Montigny to . . ., May 6, 1699, ASH, 115-10:n. 13.
Delisle wrote in the margin of his copy of this letter: "On va par
Ouabache aux Chaouanons et aux Chicachas," meaning that Carolina could be
reached by the affluents of the Ohio, the Tennessee, and the Cumberland. The
Ohio "is said to be 500 leagues in length and to take its source near the
Sonnontouans," Saint-Cosme in Kellogg, Early Narratives, 357. "They
[Iroquois] often come on the Ouabache river, which they call Ojo; one of its
arms comes from above the Sonnontouans," Montigny to . . ., [August,
1699], BN, Mss. fr. n. a., 7485:121v.
42Near Louisville, Kentucky, there is a drop of 27 feet over a course of 2 1/2 miles.
*Perhaps that of Kasquinampo. It is likely that it is a source of the [River] of Kaskinampo.
43The tributary near the mouth of the "Ouabache" is legended "Casquinampo R."; on it the "Casquinempo" Indians are dwelling, according to the AN, JJ, 74-249, sketch. These Indians, very prominent in the accounts of French travelers at the beginning of the eighteenth century, have not as yet been identified with certainty by ethnologists. French adventurers journeying overland from the Mississippi or the Illinois country to Carolina bear out what Tonti is here saying with regard to their location on an "island." Cf. Sauvolle's narrative of 1700-1701, AC, C 12A, 1:319-320, printed in Rowland and Sanders, Mississippi Provincial Archives, 1701-1729(?), French Dominion, Jackson, Miss., 1929, II, 14-15, and the notes of Delisle in ASH, 115-10:n. 17, X. Delisle wondered whether the Casquinambaux might not be the Casquins of de Soto, ASH, 115-10:n. 17. In Franquelin: "Carte Generalle de la Nouvelle France . . .," BSH, C 4044-10, reproduced in Marcel, Reproductions de Cartes et de Globes . . ., Atlas, Paris, 1890, plate 40, the legend has: "I. des Tchalaqué ou des Casquinampo"; the "Tchalaqué" were the "Chalaque" of the Soto identified as the Cherokee. The name, spelled in a variety of manners, often appears on maps. The Kakinonba of Marquette's autograph is supposed to stand for these Indians. The information contained in Sauvolle's narrative is expressed cartographically in all the Delisle maps until that of 1718, AN, JJ, 75-294(?). Legends not on this map found their way on that printed by French, Historical Collections of Louisiana, part II, 1850. The distances given by Tonti in his letter are greatly underestimated.
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Chaouanons (Chauanons) [Shawnee] who were settled with me in the Illinois country.
From the mouth of the Oyo to the Falls of St. Anthony, the river is banked by hillocks, there are stones, woods, [word illegible] abounding in all kinds of cattle. From its [Ohio] mouth to the Saline [Saline Creek, St. Genevieve County, Mo.], there are 50 leagues. It is a spring where we were making (make) salt. There are lead mines on the right [of Saline Creek].
From the Saline to the Tamarois (Tamaraou) [Tamaroa],(see II, fn. 47) 30 leagues. It is a village of 400 Illinois Indians.(see II, fn. 48) M. de Saint-Cosme is their missionary.
From the Tamarois (Tamaraou) to the River of the Ozages [Missouri], 6 leagues, on the left. This is a considerable river both from its length and its width.* It rises, say the Indians, 300 leagues away.(see II, fn. 49) [On its banks] there are the Ozages [Osage] who make 300 huts [located at] 15 days journey in canoe [from the mouth of the Missouri]; from there to the Cansa [Kansa] 3 days journey; there are 300 huts. From these to the Panissas (Panimana) [Skidi], [3 or 5 or 7, not clear] days journey, 600 huts; farther are the Paniboucha (Parabougea) [Pawnee?](see II, fn. 50)
48Tonti has 180 huts for this village in his first account, Margry, I, 596. "There are as many people at the Tamarois as at Kebecq. . . It is the largest village that we have seen. There are about 300 cabins there." Thaumur de la Source in Shea, Early Voyages, 84. Cf. Montigny's letter of March 3, 1699, AN, K 1374:n. 82. On May 6, 1699, the missionary wrote: "The Tamarouais and the Kaokias. . . make about 600 men. . . but since our arrival the Mitchigamea and the Missouris having joined them, they make [now] at least 8,000 souls." Montigny to . . ., May 6, 1699, ASH, 115-10:n. 13.
*The Riv. of the Ozages is 300 l. in length.
49Cf. Tonti's first account, Margry, I, 595.
50"It is reported that there are great numbers of savages on the upper part of that river," Saint-Cosme in Kellogg, Early Narratives, 355, "The great Missouri River upon which are several nations where no missionary has ever been. There are found the Missouris, the Osages and the Canis." Montigny to . . ., May 6, 1699, ASH, 115-10:n. 13. The names of these tribes-spelled as between parentheses in the text, that is, as by Father Léonard's copy- are found on the sketch AN, JJ, 75-249. The detailed information concerning the distances and the population of these Indian villages is found on another Delisle sketch, "Partie du Mississippi et rivieres adjacentes," AN, JJ, 75-245, with the difference that the distances are given in "nights" instead of in days. Cf. "Cours des Riv. d'Ouabache et Missouri envoyé par le R. P. Marest Jesuite a M. d'Iberville, le 10 Juill. 1700," Ibid., pièce 265. Delisle transferred the geographical information of these two outlines on the first draft of his 1701 map, AN, JJ, 75-253; he repeated the data with further additions in his subsequent maps until 1703. The misreading Panissas for Panimaha seems to have led (con't.)
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who are in greater number.(see II, fn. 51) I don't know whether it is not the last nation that forced the Spaniards to abandon several considerable mines. At the end of this river which comes from the West, there is a mountain range(see II, fn. 52) whence rivers flow, and to my mind, go down to California. Along this river and inland are several nations, such as the Baotets [Iowa?],(see II, fn. 53) Ototenta (Otosenta) [Oto], Emissourita [Missouri], Ajooija (Ajuoya) [Iowa](see II, fn. 54) where the buffaloes which are found everywhere in Louisiana come from.(see II, fn. 55) The Indians have not other fuel than (the dung) of these animals.
From the mouth of this river, there are six leagues to that of the Illinois- this river comes from the east and measures 200 leagues.(see II, fn. 56) The Miami are situated toward its headwaters on another river [the St. Joseph River, Michigan], which falls in Lake Michigan. There are at least 800 men settled at Fort Saint Louis,(see II, fn. 57) 70 leagues* from the Mississippi,(see II, fn. 58) and three Jesuit missionaries.(see II, fn. 59)
From the mouth of this river to Quionisagoi (Quinitagoy) [Des Moines?], 60 leagues. It is a river where the Illinois formerly dwelt, [i. e.,] on the left of Quionisagoy (Quinitagoy).(see II, fn. 60)
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(50 con't.) the geographer to double this tribe; he
located the Paniassas on an affluent of the Arkansas River and on a tributary
of the Missouri, keeping, however, the Panimaha on the main Missouri stream.
51Cf. M. Mott. "The Relation of Historic Indian Tribes to Archeological Manifestations in Iowa," in The Iowa Journal of History and Politics, XXXVI, 1908(?), 279.
53Cf. Mott, loc. cit., 234, 306.
54None of these tribes, except the Ototenta (Otosenta) are on the outline maps previously referred to, but they are all on Bureau's sketch. This draughtsman scattered them between the Riviere des Osages and the Puionitagoy (?) R., locating the Emissourita farthest west.
56The sentence after the dash is not in Father Léonard's copy.
*Fort St. Louis, Illinois, is 70 l. from Mississippi.
57Tonti is speaking of the new Fort Saint Louis, on Peoria Lake, twenty-five leagues downstream from Starved Rock; Saint-Cosme in Kellogg, Early Narratives, 350; the migration took place in 1601-1602, cf. the "De Gannes Memoir," in Pease and Werner, The French Foundations, 327, and Palm, The Jesuit Missions of the Illinois Country, 28. Bureau located a "Fort Louis" about 100 miles north of the Wisconsin.
58"The [Illinois] river runs 100 leagues from Fort St. Louis [here Starved Rock], to where it falls into the Mississippi," Tonti's second account, in Kellogg, Early Narratives, 302. M. de Montigny also gives 70 leageus, in ASH, 115-10:n. 13.
60Tonti probably had Moingouena, unless the Quionisagoi, Quisitagoy, Puionitagoy of Father Léonard's sketch, Puinitagoy of Bureau's, is one (con't.)
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On the right [of the Mississippi going up] is Omisconsing (Ouisconsing) [Wisconsin], 240 leagues. There are even plains 30 leagues further [inland?]. The Outagamis [Foxes] are located on this river. Thence to the Falls of St. Anthony, 150 leagues.(see II, fn. 61) On the right are the Bon secours [Chippewa?] and Noire [Black] rivers; on the left that of St. Pierre [Minnesota], which the French have ascended more than 200 leagues.*
The great Scious (Souys) [Sioux] nation is scattered above the said Falls, and the Indians have no knowledge of the source of the Mississippi River, although there are Sious (people) who came down on it from 30 (20) days above the Falls, making more than 25 leagues a day.(see II, fn. 62)
Here then, my dear brother, is truly the real state of this country. Speak boldly on this subject; the sooner the better, lest others hand in memoirs before you do. I am almost sure that no memoirs are being sent by the ships commanded by M. de Surgères.
I do not know how Father Louis Hennepin had the boldness to lie so impudently in his relation. He was insupportable to the late M. de La Salle and all of M. de La Salle's men. He sent him to the Sious as to get rid of him. He was taken [prisoner] on the way by these Indians with Michel Aco [Accault] and Pierre Dugué [Auguelle]. Afterwards the three of them were freed from servitude by M. Dulude [Duluth], who was passing through that country, and brought back by him to Canada. How can a man have the front to write that he went down to the sea?
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(60 con't.) of the names of the Iowa, cf. Miss Mott's
discussion, loc. cit., 264-265. If Tonti meant the Des Moines River, the
distance is only slightly forced.
*St. Pierre Riv. ascended by the French more than 200 l. (It's where the copper mines are.)
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Aco who is married in the Illinois country and who is still alive is able to prove the contrary to him.(see II, fn. 63) I think Pierre Dugué is in France. It is said that there are many falsehoods in my relation. I haven't seen it [yet].(see II, fn. 64) It is a cause of sorrow to me. I am sorry the memoirs I sent were not followed.
One must hold that the Mississippi River runs from the Illinois country which lies by the 40 degrees down to the Omma (Oumas) South-south-west, and from the Ommas (Oumas) to the sea South-south-east and South-south-west. Its great windings make it very difficult to take the rhumbs,(see II, fn. 65) and as one goes down in haste, one hardly stops to make observations.
I do not know whether this will reach you any more than another letter which I wrote to you last month, which I addressed to the Rev. Father Superior of the Theatines, in which are [enclosed] two letters of M. de Montigny, one of Rev. Father Briset,(see II, fn. 66) formerly Superior of the Jesuits, one of M. the Bishop of Quebec. Both the former [Laval] and the new [Saint-Vallier] are to write to the Court. Hence see M. Tremblay, treasurer of the Foreign Missions, M. Tiberge and M. de Brisacier,(see II, fn. 67) employ them on my behalf; my Lords [the bishops] are writing to them as well as M. de Montigny their vicar-general.
All the voyages I made for the success of this country have ruined me. I hope the Court will take it in consideration having given satisfaction. Even if you do not obtain what I am asking, if troops are sent to this country as M. d'Iberville tells me they will, at least, secure a company for me.
III
Following are two Tonti autograph documents signed (as referred to above p. 216, n. 8, and p. 228, n. 33). By the first Tonti granted the Jesuits two tracts of land on the Arkansas River,
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63Cf. MID-AMERICA, XXI, 1939, 39.
64That is, the Dernieres decouvertes, cf. supra, p. 219, n. 18. These few words speak volumes.
65The capricious windings of the Mississippi were a trial for the early explorers. "October 18, [1700], in three hour's traveling we have gone around the compass," Gravier in Jesuit Relations, 65:110. The turns, the bends, and the loops of the river were one of the reasons why such a variety of distances is found in the early relations of travelers. Le Sueur was the first to plot the course of the Mississippi in a scientific fashion; Delisle translated the information cartographically in AN, JJ, 75-248, and in ASH, 138bis-3-2.
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