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.
Vaudreuil to Maurepas
(May 24, 1748)
Vaudreuil in: Archives Nationales, Ministere
des Colonies, C13A 32:63 and in Illinois
Historical Collections, (extract),
French
Series, vol. III, pp.67-72.
Monseigneur:
In the latest news which has come to me from the Illinois by the convoy (which has brought much flour), M. de Bertet informs (page 68) me that the tribes of that region by no means appear as yet to have declared entirely for the English. To assure himself the better of those domiciled at that place, he has induced the chief men to come to see me, and five have arrived by this convoy who have made me great protestations of attachment. The commandant adds that in spite of these conditions he will always be on his guard. I will desire him to continue so although I do not see that there is anything to fear on that side. These Illinois today have more reason than ever to court us, as they have made attacks on the Shawnee who are settled on the Wabash. A little while back they even committed an outrage on them which among the Indians is past atonement by burning their village and digging up their dead while the Shawnee were on their hunt. Since then, the Shawnee have made reprisals and have come among them to take scalps and slaves in full daylight without having offered any insults to the French or the negroes. This is an (page 69) indication that these Shawnee are not ill-disposed as M. Bertet persuaded himself that they were when he sent some French with these Illinois; he based his opinion on the case of three voyageurs who had gone to hunt in their direction and who he thought had been cut off by these Shawnee; whereas on the contrary they were well treated and came here last winter with much oil and fat. As this commandant does not seem to me to use enough tact with this tribe, I sent off immediately on the arrival of these hunters an express for the Arkansas to inform him and to let him know my intentions with respect to the Shawnee. Their chief, named Chartier, had assured me that we had nothing to fear, but that since the outrage committed upon them by the Illinois and the Piankashaw, they have omitted nothing to avenge themselves. At present it is not known where they have gone. It would be desirable that it should be in the direction of Detroit as I had induced them to do. Perhaps also they may have gone to join a village of their people established some years back at (page 70) Abikudshi. Wherever it may be their nearness can only be burdensome to us on account of the difficulty of supplying their needs and will give much umbrage to the Illinois and Wabash tribes who have neglected nothing with M. de Bertet to make him suspicious of them.
. . .
Return to
TOC, p. 11
Continue
to next part of Miami Collection
[return to Miami
Collection Menu]
[return to Glenn A. Black
Laboratory of Archaeology List of Publications]
[return to Glenn A. Black
Laboratory of Archaeology Home]
Last updated: 27
November 2000
URL: http://www.gbl.indiana.edu/home.html
Comments: webmaster@www.gbl.indiana.edu
Copyright 1996, Glenn Black Laboratory of Archaeology and The Trustees of Indiana University