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.
The Mission to the Ouabache
(1725)
Dunn, Jacob Piatt in: Indiana
Historical Society Publications,
vol. III, vol. 4, 1902,
pp. 255-330.
SECOND REPORT OF MR. DOUGLAS.
No. 1
ADDRESS OF P. NICOLAS BEAUBOIS TO THE KING. This address is included in an article entitled "Relation de l'arrive en France de quatre Sauvages de Missicipi, de leur sejour & des audiences qu'ils ont eues du Roi, des Princes du Sang, de la Compagnie des Indes, avec les compliments qu'ils ont reus, &c.," which occupies thirty-three pages of Le Mercure de France. (Vol. I, December, 1725, pp. 2827-2859.) It relates that the Chevalier de Bourgmont collected twenty-two chiefs of various Indian tribes to accompany Pere Beaubois to France, but, just as they were about to embark, the ship "sank in an instant," which so discouraged the greater number of the chiefs that they returned home. Only half a dozen Indians had the pluck to cross the Great Water. They were Agapit Chicagou, chief of the Metchigamia, an Illinois nation; Menspr (a Missouri chief), Boganienhein (Osage), Aguiguida (Otoptata); also Ignon Ouaconisen, daughter of the Missouri chief, and a slave named Pilate, of the Atanana nation.
These Indians had a good time in Paris, and were especially astounded at the kitchen of the Invalides, the opera, and the fountains at Versailles. On November 24, 1725, they were taken to the Fontainebleau, and presented to the Duc de Bourbon and other princes. The Duc promised to present them the next day to the King, when he returned from hunting, and, on the morrow, they were introduced, dressed "in savage costume," into the King's cabinet. The R. P. Beaubois had the honor of delivering the first address, and of presenting to the King a letter from the Illinois chief:
. . . (illeg. copy) toujours un plaisir de protger ceux qui la Providence honore d'un si saint Ministre, & de marquer par la zle qu'il avait pour la propagation de la Foi. Heritier de ses heroiques vertus, comme vous l'tes de son superbe Diadme, Sire, faites clates le mme zle, qui ne peut que vous tre infiniment glorieux. Nous avons droit, ce semble, de l'attendre de vtre pit, qui a paru si eminente dans le choix que vous avez fait de la plus vertueuse Princess du monde, pour la placer ct de vous sur le plus auguste Trne de l'univers.
[TRANSLATION.
ADDRESS TO THE KING OF PERE DU BEAU-
BOIS, JESUIT.
SIRE- This savage, who has the honor to appear before Your Majesty, is not a common man, and yet, although chief of his village, and one of the most distinguished of his nation, he has nothing of that splendor nor of that grandeur which surround princes, and which make them so estimable to the peoples who are subject to them, but which are unknown to the nations of America. In addition to this, that which Your Majesty will esteem, without doubt in him, is that this Indian, born, so to speak, in another world, and reared in the midst of forests, ahs been able to conceive a high enough idea of your supreme grandeur to desire so ardently to see it more closely, and to come to pay homage. An unfortunate shipwreck, which frightened those who were to accompany him, did not intimidate him, and since he has been in France the sight of that which is the wonder of all foreigners has served to increase his ardor to see the monarch of so powerful an empire. The principal chief of all the Illinois nation greatly envies the good fortune of this one, as he himself (page 292) says to Your Majesty in so striking a manner, and has often regretted, so to speak, that his presence in his own country was so necessary to the French nation.
Deign, Sire, to receive with kindness the letter which he has ventured to write to Your Majesty, and to respond favorably. For myself, Sire, I consider myself most happy to approach today your throne, and to be witness of the marvels which France admires in your sacred person. Permit me, Sire, to ask of Your Majesty the royal protection for the missions of Louisiana, that vast province, where one could not increase them enough for the good of your colony and to give sufficiently to the savage nations which dwell there the knowledge of the true God. Louis the Grand, of glorious memory, made it always his pleasure to protect those whom Providence honored with so holy a ministry, and to testify by the zeal he had for the propagation of the faith. Heir of his heroic virtues, as you are of his superb diadem, Sire, make resplendent the same zeal, which is able to make you eternally glorious. We have the right, it would appear, to expect this of your piety, which is shown so notably in the choice which you have made of the most virtuous princess in the world to place by your side on the most august throne of the universe.]
Pere Beaubois also presented a letter and necklace from Mamantouensa, the head chief, who said in his letter he would have liked to come-
"Mais mes Pres de Boisbriant & du Tisn qui tiennent la place, m'ont dit du rester pour maintenir mon Village, defendre les Robbes noires & le village franais contre les Renards, tes ennemis & les ntres."
[TRANSLATION. But my fathers de Boisbriant and du Tisne, who command here, have told me to remain to (page 293) maintain my village, to defend the Jesuits and the French village against the Fox Indians, your enemies and ours.]
The King took the Indians out hunting on Tuesday, 17th November. The Queen much wanted to see them, but the King thought their "assortiment sauvage & trop bizarre" might be bad for her health- he was fifteen, and just married- so she had to be content with an interview with Pere Beaubois. Before they left the King presented each chief with a medal hung on a gold chain, a musket, game bag, sword, watch, and a picture representing their interview with the King.
No. 2
J'ay envoy un Pre Jesuite d'jcy aux Caouitas pour scavoir ce qui se passera chs euz, et pour voir si on pourra Establir une mission dans cette nation. * * * Il faudra attendre que la Colonie rende d'auvantage avant que de proposer de nouveaux Establissements.
|
(Signed) |
PERIER. |
Nouvelle Orleans, le pr Avril, 1729.
[TRANSLATION. I have sent a Jesuit father from here to the Caouitas to learn what is going on there, and to see if we could establish a mission with this nations. * * * It should be expected that some advantages would result to the colony before proposing new establishments.
|
PERIER. |
New Orleans, April 1, 1729.]
No. 3
J'ay fait remonter cette anne une fragatte aux Natchez qui est cent vingt lieues. J'espere faire remonter les vaisseau beaucoup plus haut.
|
IRID. (Same date.) |
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