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 to Pontchartrain on
Present Condition of Louisiana
(Bayonne, May 12, 1712)
D'Artaquette, Diron in: (AC, C13, Sen. Com.
of Louisiana, 2, pp. 803-809) and in
Mississippi Provincial Archives, vol. 2,
pp. 60-67.
. . . I have urged the settlers to plant wheat. They have done so. It grows the finest in the world in the blade. Some time before it is at maturity fogs burn it and redden the surface of the earth. That comes as I think from the fact that the place where this planting was done is surrounded by forests. We must not count on producing any before we make an establishment at the Wabash River about three hundred and sixty leagues from the port. This country is productive and fertile; transportation will cost little because it is only necessary to descend the Mississippi. In this establishment one is near enough to carry on commerce in skins of buffaloes, bears, stags, does, roebuck, raccoons and in every sort of pelts. The Miamis ask to come and settle at the mouth of this river. (page 62) This is a numberous nation that would furnish many of them.
The copper mine that Sieur de Mainville has found is also on this river. Several lead mines in which it is maintained that there is silver are near it. I am convinced that when we shall send into that country men who are experts in minerals, acquainted with the manner in which tests are made, we shall find some.
If there were any thought of this establishment it would be necessary to send out hard-working people and girls who know how to do something useful such as working at silk-making. A great deal of it can be done here. They would teach the Indian women, and the men the Indian men who will devote themselves to anything we wish in order to obtain from us what they need and we can count on as many settlers in the future. This is the way the Spaniards have done in all their West Indian possessions. They have some who are very good sailors and their best workmen are Indians. (p. 805)
The distance between the two establishments is of no importance provided that of the Wabash is made important at the first, then it will be easy to restrain the Indians who are between them. We shall make them do what we wish. There will not be more than one hundred and forty leagues by land from one to the other. . . .
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