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.
Governor Vaudreuil to the Minister
(October 11, 1723)
Vaudreuil in: Wisconsin Historical
Collections, XVI, pp. 433-441.
As Regards the 4 Abenakis, who They say were there also, and whom I am accused of having sent in order to get Slaves for me, I have Learned that they were there in fact, But that Nanangoussi had influenced the Renards to decide on sparing the Lives of the Ilinois. Those 4 savages Never went with my consent into the upper country, and It is only their own roving spirit that carried them thither. Nessegambewuit- that Abenaki Chief to whom the late King gave an enameled medal, when Sieur de Montigny presented him to His Majesty- having remained among the Renards after peace was concluded with them in 1716, did not leave them until this year, when he Returned to Quebec. This savage did nothing in that country which could be prejudicial to the Colony. On the contrary, According to the Report made to me by Sieur de Montigny, The reports he has made to that nation about What he saw in France, during the time while he was there, have only Served to give Those savages an exalted idea of the power of the King, and have inspired them with Fear.
Nenangoussik was formerly chief at St. franois. His Roving spirit led him to abandon that mission, and to remove to That of sault St. Louis, where he Expected to Live in greater liberty. As He was very Restless, he took it into his head (page 435) to make a trip to the Renards, where he remained some time; he Returned to Montreal in 1719, bringing a message from that nation for the Abenakis, inviting them to go and hunt in their country, where they would not lack Game. He brought this message to St. franois, whence he returned to Montreal with 40 Young men, who wished to follow him. As I saw that These 40 men were so many warriors whom the Abenaki nation would lose, at a time when they might need them to oppose the designs of the English, and as the Renards would not fail to employ them against the Ilinois, I opposed their departure, and so well represented to them The Objections to their making That expedition, that I succeeded in persuading them to return to their village. As for Nenangoussik, it was
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