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.
Journal of Expedition, 1749
(Due to length divided here into three parts)
Celeron, Pierre Joseph, Sieur de in: Ministere
des
Colonies, Collection Moreau St.
Mery, Canada,
Vol. XL (1741-1749), Folio 318 and in
English Translation of Margry,
Vol. 6, pp. 666-721.
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Journal of the expedition which
I, Celeron, Knight of the Royal and Military Order of St. Louis, Captain,
commanding a detachment sent to the Beautiful River by the orders of the
Marquis de la Galissoniere
Governor-General of the whole of New France and the country of Louisiana.
June. I set out from La Chine on the 15th of June with a detachment composed of one captain, eight subaltern officers, six cadets, a chaplain, twenty soldiers, one hundred and eighty Canadians, and about thirty Indians,- Iroquois and Abenakis. I passed the night at Point Claire.
On the 16th, I set out at ten in the morning and slept at soulanges with my whole detachment; several canoes were destroyed in the rapids.
On the 17th, I left Soulanges and ascended the Cedars, the highground of the lake. Here M. de Joncaire was wrecked, his canoe broken, one man drowned, and the greater part of the stores lost.
On the 18th, I stopped at the entrance of Lake St. Francis in order to dry the few stores which had been gathered up at the foot of the rapids.
On the 19th, I passed Lake St. Francis and ascended the rapids called the Thousand Rocks, Turnstile, without accident.
On the 20th, I ascended the Long Sault.
On the 21st, I passed several rapids, I need not name them; they are well known.
On the 22d, 23d and 24th, I continued my route without anything remarkable happening, save that several canoes were smashed through the ill-will of those guiding them; I got them repaired and continued my Journey.
I passed the 25th at a new French settlement founded by the Abbe Piquet, where I found about forty acres of cleared land. Its stone fort, eight feet high, was not as yet much advanced; Abbe Piquet lodged in a bark cabin in the Indian fashion, and was preparing wood and other materials for a dwelling; he had two Nontagues Indians whom he asked me to take away with me. To please him I accepted them; they were all that made up his mission.
On the 26th, I left M. Piquet and passed the night at the little passage.
On the 27th, I set out early in the morning to go to Fort Frontenac where I arrived at five in the evening.
On the 28th and 29th I spent at Fort Frontenac to repair my canoes, which had been very much damaged in the rapids, and to give my men a rest.
On the 30th, I left Fort Frontenac to go to Niagara. At Quinte I met Monsieur de la Naudiere who was returning from the Miamis. He told me that the Indians of Detroit, hearing of my expedition, were ready on the first invitation to join me. I did not count much on the disposition of these Indians; however, as I had learned during my journey that there were more inhabitants on the Beautiful River than had been reported to M. de la Galis- (page 668) soniere, I profited, at all risks, by the advice of M. de la Naudiere, and hastened forward to rejoin M. de Sabrevois, who was going as Commandant to Detroit.
July. I arrived at Niagara on the 6th, where I found him. We conferred together, and I wrote to the Chevalier de Longeuil what I had learned from M. de la Naudiere, and begged him, if the Indians of Detroit had the intention of joining me, to urge their departure, as I was appointing the place of meeting at Stiotoc from the 9th to the 12th of August; that if they had changed their minds I should feel obliged if he would send messengers to inform me of their plans, so as to know what I ought to do.
On the 7th M. de Contrecoeur, Captain and second in command of the detachment, was sent forward with the subaltern officers and all my canoes, to the carrying place. I stayed at the fort awaiting my Indians, who had taken a different route from my own in Lake Ontario; they having rejoined me, I followed M. de Contrecoeur.
On the 14th of the same month I entered Lake Erie, where a strong gale made me encamp some leagues above the little rapids. There I formed some companies into a bodyguard consisting of forty men commanded by an officer.
On the 15th, I set out early in the morning in the hope of having a good day and of arriving at the portage of Chatakuin, which I was not able to do, a strong gale having risen, just as on the previous day. I was obliged to go ashore, the lake being extremely shallow; it has no shelter and if you did not get the start of the wind you would run the risk of perishing when landing. Large rocks are found at a distance of more than three-fourths of a mile1 from the shore, from which also you are in danger. I (page 669) struck one, and without prompt assistance I should have been drowned with all on board. I landed to repair my boat which had been broken in several places.
On the 16th, at noon, I arrived at the portage of Chatakuin. As soon as all my canoes were loaded, I despatched M. de Villiers and M. le Borgne with fifty men to clear a road; the rest of the day I made observations on the situation of the place, in case I might afterwards whish to establish a post. I found nothing there of advantage either for the navigation of the lake, or as to position; the lake is so shallow on the south, that boats could not get nearer to the carrying place than upwards of a league, while, outside, there is no island or harbor where they could anchor under shelter. They would have to remain at anchor and be unloaded by barges; and gales of wind are so frequent that I think they would be in danger. Besides, there is no Indians village in this place. They are at a great distance; the nearest are those of Ganaouagon and Paille Coupee. In the evening Messrs. de Villiers and Le Borgne came to sleep in the camp, having cleared about three-quarters of a league of road. The guard was set, and this regulation continued through the whole campaign, as much for the safety of the detachment as for training the Canadians in discipline, of which they stood in need.
On the 17th, at break of day we commenced the portage and conducted it so vigorously that all the canoes, provisions, stores of war and goods intended as presents for the nations of the Beautiful River, were carried the three-quarters of a league cleared the previous day. This road is very difficult by reason of numerous hills and mountains which are met with and our men were very tired.
On the 18th, I continued the carrying, but the bad weather (page 670) hindered me from pushing on as far as the preceding day. I consoled myself for this delay, rain only being the cause. It was altogether what I wished for, so as to have water in the river for passing with the loads which I had in my canoes.
On the 19th, the rain having abated I resumed the march, and that day made half a league.
On the 20th and 21st, we continued our route diligently.
On the 22d, we finished the portage, which may be reckoned as four leagues, and arrived at the shore of the Lake Chatakuin; at this place I had my canoes repaired, and allowed my men to rest.
At noon on the 23d(?), I set out and encamped one league from the outlet of the lake, which may measure nine leagues. The previous day our Indians, who had been fishing in the lake, told me that they had seen some people who concealed themselves in the woods as soon as they were perceived.
On the 24th, I left the lake in good time in the morning, and we entered the river of Chatakuin. The water being low I had the greater part of the baggage transported by land. The portage was pointed out to me by the Sieur de la Saussaye; it is almost three-quarters of a league. This rendered easy the passage of our canoes, which could not have passed with the loads. We made at most, during the day, half a league by water.
On the 25th, before setting out on the march, on the representation of the Indians of my detachment, I called a council composed of the officers and the Indians I had with me to deliberate together upon the measures we ought to take with regard to the traces found the day before of several wigwams abandoned with so much precipitation that the Indians had left behind a part of their utensils, canoes, and even provisions, to seek the woods. By (page 671) this we judged of their terror, and that having withdrawn through fear, they would consequently carry the alarm into all the villages, would put them also to flight, or make them adopt the plan of assembling to form a considerable body, and lie in ambush for us. To this end the country was extremely advantageous for them, and for us very difficult of access on account of the small amount of water in the river. I communicated to the officers the intentions of the Marquis de la Galissoniere. They saw it was of great importance for the execution of the orders with which I was charged, to reassure the tribes of these districts; and the unanimous sentiment was, to send them word to remain quiet in their cabins, and to assure them that I came only to treat with them of good things and to explain to them the sentiments of their Father, Onontio. Their opinions were drawn up in writing, and they all signed. The following is a copy:-
Council held by M. de Celeron with the officers of his detachment and the chiefs, the 25th of July, 1749.
Having discovered yesterday, the 24th day of July, at the lower part of the Lake Chatakuin signs by which it appeared to us that the Indians hunting in this place had been frightened at the number of boats and people that composed our detachment, and had abandoned their canoes, provisions, and utensils, and gone to carry the alarm to the village of the Paille Coupee; and as it is important, in consequence of the orders of the Marquis de la Galissoniere to tell these tribes of his intentions, and not wishing to do anything without taking the advice of the officers and the chiefs with us, we have assembled them to communicate the orders with which we are charged, so as to adopt together the most suitable measures to dissipate the terror which our march has spread.
The opinions of all having been received, the unanimous sentiment was, that to reassure these nations and have an opportunity to speak to them, a canoe should be told off to go to the village of the Paille Coupee, to convey M. de Joncaire, lieutenant, with two Abenakis and three Iroquois, to carry them three strands of wampum, and remove their fears, as their father came only to treat with them of good things.
Made at our Camp, at the entrance of the River of Chatakuin, this 25th of July, 1749. Signed by all the officers.
As soon as the council was ended, I dispatched M. de Joncaire. This done, I set out and made about a league with much difficulty. In many places I was obliged to assign forty men to each canoe to get them over.
The 26th, 27th and 28th, I continued my journey, not without many obstacles, and, in spite of all the precautions I took to manage my canoes, they were often in the greatest danger on account of the dearth of water.
On the 29th, at noon, I entered the Beautiful River. I had a leaden plate buried on which was engraved the fact of my taking possession, in the name of the King, of this river and all those which fall into it. I also attached to a tree the King's arms, hammered on sheet iron, and of all this I drew up an official statement, which the officers and myself signed.
Copy of Proces-Verbal of the position of the leaden plate and of the arms of the King, placed at the entrance of the Beautiful River, together with the inscription:
In the year one thousand seven hundred and forty-nine, we, Celoron, Knight of the Royal and Military Order of St. Louis, (page 673) Captain commanding a detachment sent by the orders of the Marquis de la Galissoniere, Governor-General of Canada, to the Beautiful River, otherwise called the Ohio, accompanied by the principal officers of our detachment, have buried at the foot of a red oak, on the southern bank of the river Ohio and Chanaouagon, in 42 5' 23", a leaden plate, with this inscription thereon engraved.
INSCRIPTION.*
In the year 1749, in the reign of Louis the XV, King of France, we, Celoron, commanding a detachment sent by the Marquis de la Galissoniere, Governor-General of New France, to re-establish peace in some villages of these three cantons, have buried this plate at the confluence of the Ohio and the Kanaouagon, on the 29th of July, as a memorial of the renewed possession taken of the said river Ohio and all those which fall into it, and of all the lands on both sides as far as the source of the said rivers, as former Kings of France have possessed or were entitled to possess them, and as they have maintained themselves therein by arms and by treaties, especially those of Ryswick, Utrecht and Aix la Chapelle; we have, moreover, affixed the King's arms in the same place to a tree. In testimony whereof, we have drawn up and signed the present record. Made at the entrance of the Beautiful River, the 29th of July, 1749. Signed by all the officers.
This ceremony over, as I was not far distant from the village of Kanaouagon, and as the Indians had been notified by M. de Joncaire of my arrival, they were on the watch to discover me. As soon as my canoes were seen, they sent a deputation to invite me to come to their villages and receive there the compliments of their chiefs. I treated the messengers well, made them drink a (page 674) draught of milk from their Father Onontio, gave them tobacco and they returned to their villages. I followed a short time after; passed before the village; they saluted me with several discharges of musketry. I returned the salutes, and encamped on the other side of the river. M. de Joncaire brought the chiefs to my tent; I received their congratulations; and as this village consists of twelve or thirteen huts, I invited them to come to the Paille Coupee to hear what I had to say to them on the part of their father Onontio. The women brought me presents of Indian corn and squashes, for which I gave them other little presents. M. de Joncaire assured me it was well he had gone in advance to dispel the terror which had seized the Indians; that several had withdrawn into the woods, and that the others had prepared to follow. I sent him forward to the Paille Coupee.
On the 30th, I moved to Paille Coupee whither I had sent M. de Joncaire the previous day. The Indians of this place had formed the design of fleeing into the woods on the report carried by those who had seen us in the Lake Chatakuin, that we were a considerable force, and that, undoubtedly, it was our intention to destroy them. M. de Joncaire found much difficulty in removing this impression, although they were Iroquois of the Five Nations which composed these two villages; although too, he was in fact adopted by that nation and they have great confidence in him. As soon as I had encamped the chiefs assembled and came to my tent. The following is their opening speech:
Speech of the Sonontouans settled
in the village of Paille Coupee, otherwise called Kachniodagon and Kanaouagon,
to M. de Celeron, by two strings of wampum, the 30th day of July, 1749.
My Father, we come to give testimony of the joy we feel at (page 675) seeing you arrive in our villages in good health. It is a long time since we had the pleasure of seeing our Father in these lands, and your march, of which we learnt a month ago, has caused much uneasiness and fear not only in our villages, but in all those on the Beautiful River. You have seen it, my Father, and to reassure your timid and frightened children, you have done well to send us our son, Joncaire, to tell us to be quiet and to await in our villages your arrival, so as to hear the word of our father Onontio, which you are bringing us. By strings of wampum we have quite recovered from all the fears which had seized us; our bundles were prepared for flight, and we were like drunken people. All has passed away, and we have remained as you wished to listen to what you have to say. We are delighted that our father Onontio has made choice of your to make his intentions known to us. We are already acquainted with you; you governed us at Niagara, and you know we never did aught but your will.
Answer of M. de Celeron to the above speech, by three strings of wampum, the 30th of July, 1749:
I am glad, my children, that the arrival of M. de Joncaire in your villages has calmed your minds, and dispelled the fears which my march into this country had caused you. No doubt these were occasioned by people who always occupy themselves in working evil. What surprises me is, that those who have a right mine, and who have always listened to the words of their father Onontio, should have given way to this fear.
By these three strings of wampum I open your ears so that you may hear well what I have to say to you on the part of your father Onontio, and also open your eyes to make you see clearly the advantages which your father is willing to procure for you, (page 676) if like wise people you will avail yourselves of them. It is his word which I bring you here, and which I am about to carry to all the villages of the Beautiful River.
Speech of the Marquis de la
Galissoniere to the principal village of the Iroquois Sonontouans, at
the entrance of the Beautiful River, delivered by M. de Celoron:
A belt.
My children, since I began the war with the English I have learned that that nation has seduced you, and, not content with corrupting your heart, they have profited by my absence to invade the lands which do not belong to them, but are mine. This has determined me to send M. de Celoron to you, to make known my intentions, which are, that I will not suffer the English upon my lands, and I invite you, if you are my true children, to receive them no more into your villages. I cut off, then, by this belt, the trade they have lately established in this part of the country, and announce to you that I will not suffer them here any longer. If you are attached to me, you will make them withdraw and send them home. By this means you will always be at peace in your villages. I will grant you for this all the aid you have a right to expect from a good father. Come to see me next spring; you will have reason to be pleased with the reception I shall give you. I will supply abundance of traders, if you wish it; I will even add officers, if that gives you pleasure, to lead you and give you courage, so that you engage only in lawful business. The English have done the more wrong in coming into these lands, since the Five Nations told them to stay on the other side of the mountains. Pay serious attention, my children, to the message I send you. Listen to it well; follow it. It is the means of (page 677) always seeing over your villages a serene and beautiful sky. I expect from you an answer worthy of my true children. You will see me place suitable marks along the Beautiful River to prove to the English that the land belongs to me, and they cannot come into it without exposing themselves to the risk of being expelled. This time I desire to treat them with kindness, and if they are wise they will profit by my warning.
Two strings of wampum.
I am surprised, my children, to see preparing in your village a hut destined to receive English traders. If you look upon yourselves as my children you will not continue this work; instead, you will destroy it, and never again receive the English amongst you.
Answer of the Iroquois of the villages of Ganaouskon and of Chinodiagon, the 31st of July, 1749.
Two strings of wampum.
My father, we thank you for having opened our ears and our eyes to understand your speech, and see clearly that you speak to us as a good father.
A belt.
My father, we are very glad to talk business with you today. Do not be surprised at our answers; we are people who have no knowledge of affairs, but who speak to you from the bottom of their heart. My father, you seem surprised that the English come for trade into our country. It is true our old men forbade their entrance. You engage us to go up to Montreal next year so as to speak of business with Onontio, and we appreciate these favors; (page 678) we assure you we shall prepare for this during the winter, and shall go next spring.
My Father, you have told us you had learnt that the English were invading our lanes, and that you have come to summon them to withdraw; that to this end you closed the way against them. We thank you for what you have done, and promise you to suffer them here no longer. We are not able to decide altogether the general sentiment of the Five Nations who inhabit this river; we await the decisions of the chiefs of our villages, as also of the villages lower down. For ourselves, my father, we assure you that we will not receive the English into our two villages.
Two strings of wampum.
My father, you have told us that some little birds had given you word that a house was being built here for the English, and that if we allowed them, they would shortly make here a settlement strong enough to drive us away, because they would render themselves masters of our lands. You have asked us to stop the work; we promise; and this house which is almost finished, will be used only as a place of games for the young people. We promise you also not to touch the arms of the King which you have set up on this river to prove to the English that they have no right in this part of the country.
Two strings of wampum to the Indians of the detachment.
My brothers, we are delighted to see you accompany our father on his journey. You have told us that you had no other sentiments than those of Onontio. We invite you to follow his counsels, (page 679) and we are resolved to do nothing but his will.
We thank you for what you have just said, and shall pay attention.
The council over, I made presents to the Indians, which gave them great pleasure, and in return they assured me anew that they would never again receive the English, and that they would go down next spring to see their father Onontio.
I remained at this village the 31st of July, delayed by an abundant fall of rain, very pleasing to us; the river rose three feet during the night.
August. On the 1st I set out from the Paille Coupe. After having gone about four leagues, I found a village of Wolf and Fox Indians consisting of ten huts. I landed, and found only one man, who told me that the rest had fled. I told this Indian that his people were wrong to let themselves be frightened; that I did not come to do them harm; on the contrary I came to treat with them of good things, and to give courage to the children of the Governor, who lacked it. I added that I did not doubt as soon as I had gone they would return home; that I invited them to come to the village lower down, which was not farther than four or five leagues, and that I would speak to them. This same day I passed a little village of six huts of the Wolf Indians, whom I told, like the others, to assemble at the largest village, where I would speak to them on behalf of their father Onontio. They arrived there a short time after me.
On the 2d, I spoke to the Indians in the name of the General. This is the speech with their answer:-
A belt.
My children, the Wolf Indians: The reason which determined your father Onontio to send me into this part of the country, was the information he had received that the English proposed to form a settlement large enough some day to overrun these lands and so to multiply,- if allowed,- that they would become the masters and you would be the victims as in former days. Listen attentively to the word which I bring you on his behalf.
The experience you have had, my children, of the behaviour of the English ought to be always present with you. Remember that you formerly possessed at Philadelphia, magnificent lands, upon which you found abundance to sustain your families. They drew near you under pretext of ministering to your wants, and little by little, without you perceiving it, they established forts, and afterwards towns, and, when powerful enough, drove you away and forced you to come and settle on these lands, to find subsistence for your wives and your children. What they did at Philadelphia they purpose doing to-day upon the Beautiful River by the posts they wish to establish there. It is the knowledge which I have of this, seeing farther then you, which has determined me to send you M. de Celoron to open your eyes to the evils which threaten you, and to make you see that it is personal interest alone that influences the English. I am sending to summon them for this time to withdraw, not being willing that they occupy lands which belong to me. If they are prudent they will not expose themselves to be sent out by force. The English have so much the less right to come since the Kings of France and England have agreed, in all treaties of peace, and particularly in the latest which ended the war, that the English should never set foot on these lands. You know also, my children, (page 681) that the Five Nations have absolutely forbidden them, not only to make a settlement upon the Beautiful River, but even to come there to trade. If they settle on the other side of the mountains, on lands taken from you, I do not object, but on my lands, I shall not suffer them. As for you, my children, you will lose nothing thereby. Far from it, I shall give you all the help you have a right to expect from a good father.
Next spring choose someone of your nation with your uncles to come and see me, and you will find by the reception given you, how much I love you, and how I seek only to do you good and free you from the yoke which the English again wish to impose upon you. I will give you traders who will supply all your wants so that you need not regret those whom I remove from my lands. Those you possess you will be always masters of.
I shall also give you officers to maintain peace and quietness so that nobody may disturb you, for I seek as a good father, only what shall be of advantage to you.
Answer of the Wolf Indians. 2d of August.
A belt.
My father, we pray you to have pity on us; we are young men who cannot answer you as old men would. What you have said has opened our eyes and given us courage; we see that you are doing only what is good. We promise you to entertain no other sentiments than those of our uncles, the Five Nations, with whom you seem pleased.
Consider, my father, our situation. If you compel the English to withdraw, who minister to our wants, and in particular the blacksmith who mends our guns and our hatchets, we shall be (page 682) without succor and exposed to the danger of dying of hunger and misery on the Beautiful River. Have pity on us, my father, you cannot at present give us what we need; let us have, during this winter, or at least till we go hunting, the blacksmith and some one who can help us. We promise you that in the spring the English shall retire.
I told them, without making any promise, that I would make an arrangement which would best suit their interests and the intentions of their father Onontio. I confess that their representations had embarrassed me very much. I made them a little present, and urged them to keep the promise they had given me.
On the 3d, I started again. On the way I found a village of ten abandoned huts. The Indians, having been told of my arrival had gained the woods. I continued my route as far as the village at the River aux Boeufs consisting only of nine or ten wigwams. As soon as they perceived me they fired a salute. I returned it, and landed. As I had been informed that there was at this place a blacksmith, and an English trader, I wished to speak to them; but English, as well as Indians, had gone into the woods. There remained only five or six Iroquois, who presented themselves with their weapons in their hands. I rebuked them for this way of showing themselves, and made them lay down their arms. They made many excuses, and told me they would not have come with their guns, but that they were using them to salute me. I spoke to them in almost the same terms as I had done to the Wolf Indians, and immediately re-embarked. That evening I had a leaden plate buried; affixed the King's arms to a tree, and drew up the following official statement:
Proces -Verbal
In the year 1729, we, Celoron, Knight of the Royal and Military Order of St. Louis, Captain commanding the detachment sent by the orders of the Marquis de la Galissoniere, Governor-General of Canada, to the Beautiful River, otherwise called the Ohio, accompanied by the principal officers of our detachment, have buried upon the south bank of the Ohio, four leagues below the River aux Boeufs, opposite a bare mountain, and near an immense stone upon which were seen several rudely carved figures, a leaden plate, and have affixed to a tree in the same place the arms of the King. In testimony whereof we have signed the present official statement. Made at our camp the 3d of August, 1749.
Signed by all the officers.
The inscription is the same as the previous one, placed at the entrance of the Beautiful River.
On the morning of the 4th, having consulted the officers, and the principal Indians of my detachment upon the precautions to be taken for reassuring the nations of the Beautiful River and preventing their flight, so that we could speak to them on behalf of the Governor, it was decided that M. de Joncaire, with the chiefs, should go to the village of Attigne to announce my arrival and induce the nations of that place to await me without fear, since I came only to talk of good things. As soon as he had left, I started. We made about fifteen leagues that day.
On the 5th I set out early. After having gone three or four leagues I found a river, the mouth of which is very beautiful, and, one league lower, I found another. Both of them are to the south of the Beautiful River. On the high ground are villages of (page 684) the Wolf Indians and Iroquois of the Five Nations. I encamped early in order to give M. de Joncaire time to reach the village of Attigne.
On the 7th I set out about seven o'clock. Having gone five leagues I arrived at the village of Attigne, where I found M. de Joncaire without Indians. Those belonging to the place had taken flight. This village consists of twenty-two huts of Wolf Indians. M. de Joncaire told me that a chief with two young men who had remained to watch, seeing that the party was small, had come and asked of him the reasons for his journey, to which he answered that I was coming only to talk to the nations of the Beautiful River, and encourage the children of the governor. He induced this chief to take charge of the strings of wampum which I had given him, to carry them to the villages lower down, and tell them to remain quiet upon their mats, as I only came to treat with them of things to their advantage.
I re-embarked, and the same day passed the ancient village of the Chaouenons, which has been abandoned since the departure of one named Chartier and his band, removed from this place by the orders of the Marquis of Beauharnois, and taken to the Red River in the Wabash country in 1745. At this place I fell in with six English traders, with fifty horses and about one hundred and fifty bales of furs, who were returning to Philadelphia. I summoned them in writing to withdraw to their own territory, as the land on which they were trading belonged to the King of France and not to the King of England; that if they came again they would be stripped of everything; that this time I should treat them with kindness, that they might profit by the warning I gave them. They assured me, either through fear or otherwise, that (page 685) they would not come back; and acknowledged they had not right to trade, a point I had explained clearly in the summons. I wrote to the Governor of Philadelphia in these terms.
Sir.- Having been sent with a detachment into these parts by the orders of the Marquis de la Galissoniere, Governor-General of New France, in order to reconcile some Indian nations embroiled during the war just ended, I am very surprised to find traders belonging to your government in this country to which England has never had any pretension. I have treated them with all possible courtesy, though I had a right to look upon them as intruders and vagabonds, their traffic being contrary to the preliminaries of peace, signed more than fifteen months ago.
I hope, Sir, you will be so good as to forbid this trade in future, as contrary to treaties; and warn you traders that they will expose themselves considerably if they return to this country and must impute to nobody but themselves any evils which may befall them. I know that our Governor-General would be very sorry to resort to force, but he has positive orders not to allow foreign traders in his government,
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I am, etc. |
This done, I re-embarked and continued my route.
On the 7th I passed by a village of the Wolf tribe in which were only three men; they had hoisted a white flag over their huts; the rest of their people had gone to Chiningue not daring to stay at home. I invited these three men to come along with me to Chiningue in order to hear what I had to say. I re-embarked and reached the village called the Rock of the writing. It is inhabited by Iroquois led by an old woman of that nation. She looks upon herself as queen and is entirely devoted to the English.
All the Indians had gone. There remained only six English traders, who came trembling before me. I landed, but when I would have spoken to them I was much embarrassed, not having an interpreter of their language, and they pretending to understand no other. However, they yielded, and one of them speaking Chaouenon, I summoned them in the same terms as before, and wrote to their Governor. They told me they were going to withdraw; that they knew well they had no right to trade; but not having encountered any obstacles up to the present, they had sought to gain their livelihood; the more so as the Indians had attracted them thither; but that henceforward they would not return. This place is one of the most beautiful I have seen up to the present on the Beautiful River.
I moved on and passed the night about three leagues lower down. When we had landed our Indians told me that when passing they had seen certain writings on a rock. As it was late I could not send anyone there till the next day. I begged the Reverend Father Bonnecamp and M. de Joncaire to go there in the hope that these writings might give some intelligence. They went early in the morning and brought me back word that they were nothing more than some English names written with charcoal. As I was only two leagues from Chiningue I made my men clean themselves up as well as possible, so as to give them a better appearance, and arranged everything for repairing to the village in good order, as I knew it to be one of the most considerable on the River.
On the 8th, when striking camp, I saw a canoe with two men come in sight. I judged they were sent from the village, so awaited them. They had come expressly to see if by my countenance (page 687) they could discover my designs. I received them with kindness and gave them to drink a cup of the milk of their father Onontio. Among the Indian nations this is always the greatest mark of friendship that one can offer. After having talked for some time they asked me to let them go back to their villages, and begged to be given some hours start that they might prepare to receive me. Shortly after their departure I embarked, after having inspected my men's arms and distributed ammunition in case of need; and, having to take many precautions with frightened and lawless tribes, I ordered that each canoe should have only four guns loaded with powder, for the answering of salutes, and eight loaded with bullets. When in sight of the village I discovered three French flags and one English. As soon as I was discried salutes of musketry were fired from the village, and, as the current is extremely strong and the river shallow at this part, there came an Iroquois in front of me to point out the channel. I was brought there in an instant by the swiftness of the current. When landing they fired a discharge of bullets. This sort of salute is given by all the nations of the south, and accidents frequently occur.It did not surprise me nor the officers of my detachment, still, as I had suspicions of these Indians, and did not believe in their good intentions, I told them by M. de Joncaire to stop doing it in this manner or I would open fire on them. I ordered them at the same time to knock down the English flag, or I would have it taken away myself. It was done immediately; a woman cut the pole and the flag has not been seen since. I landed, and, as the strand is extremely narrow and disadvantageous in case the Indians meant mischief, it being at the bottom of a slope more than thirty feet in height, I had my canoes and (page 688) baggage immediately drawn up this slop in order to be as well placed as those who might be disposed to make an attack. I fixed my camp near the village to the best advantage; placed body guards on the right and left, ordered sentinels to be placed at short distanced from each other, and kept everybody on the watch all night. The officers who were not of the guard received orders to keep up continual rounds. These precautions prevented the Indians from executing what they had planned, as M. de Joncaire found out a short time afterwards through some women of his acquaintance. This village consists of fifty huts composed of Iroquois, Chaouanons, Wolf Indians and a part of the men of the villages I had passed, who had come to seek refuge there and reinforce them. About five o'clock in the evening the chiefs, accompanied by thirty or forty braves, came to salute and congratulate me on my arrival. The following is the opening speech of the 8th of August, 1749:
Two strings of wampum.
My father, by these two strings of wampum we come to testify the joy we have to see you arrive in our village in good health. We thank the Master of Life for having preserved you on a journey so long and so difficult. It is a long while since we have had the satisfaction of seeing the French in our village. We see you here, my father, with pleasure. You must have noticed by the flags in our village that our heart is wholly French. The young men, without perceiving the consequences, put up one which displeased you. As soon as we knew it you saw it fall. It was only put up for show, and to divert the young people, without a thought that it would displease you. We invited you also, my father, (page 689) by these strings of wampum, to open your heart to us and show us what has vexed you. We think you are come to speak to us on the part of our father Onontio. We are ready to hear his word, but pray you to wait a little until the chief men of our village, who are absent have arrived.
Answer of M. de Celoron.
Two strings of wampum.
I am grateful to you, my children, for the pleasure which you appear to have at seeing me arrive in your village. I have come here, as you think, on the part of your father Onontio, only to speak of good things; and shall explain to you tomorrow, when you will be all assembled.
You are right in saying that the English flag which I saw over your village displeased me. This mingling of French and English flags does not become the children of the Governor, and would seem to indicate that their hearts are divided. May it be struck down never to be raised again. The young men set it up heedlessly; the old men have taken it away with reflection; they have done well. By these two strings of wampum, I, in my turn, open your ears and your eyes in order that you may hear well tomorrow what I have to say to you on the part of your father Onontio.
They retired, and, in order to be ready for any event, passed the night dancing, but with some of their people continually on the watch.
On the 9th, before daybreak, M. de Joncaire, whom with his brother, I had advised to watch during the night the movements of the Indians, came to tell me that he had information that eighty (page 690) warriors were on the point of arriving, and that the resolution to attack us had been taken in the village. On this news, which I communicated to the officers, I gave fresh orders so that all might be ready in case we should have to come to close quarters. I disposed all my people properly, placed the officers in such a way that they could encourage their men to perform their duty well, and waited about two hours to see how the resolution of the Indians would be carried out. Finding that nothing was being attempted, I despatched M. de Joncaire to tell them that I knew of their resolution, and awaited them with impatience; and if they did not make haste and put in execution what they had planned, I would go and attack them. Shortly afterwards M. de Joncaire returned; and the Indians filed before my camp and made the accustomed salute. They may have numbered about fifty men, according to several officers who counted them as they filed past; a good many were warriors who had arrived during the night.
All these manoeuvres convinced me of their hostility, but, as I knew it was the wish of the Marquis de la Galissoniere to win them by kindness, and also as I was in a country from which it would be difficult to retire, seeing that I could not ascend the river, by reason of its rapid current, my lack of provisions, and the condition of my boats, and as, further, if any fight took place all the nations would be concerned in it, I chose the part of dissimulation and decided to speak firmly with them and impress them by keeping up a fearless attitude.
About two hours after the arrival of these warriors, the principal ones with others from the village came to my tent with pipes of peace to offer compliments and to present the pipes to me to smoke. Before accepting, I rebuked them for their manner of (page 691) acting in terms which were thoroughly explained to them by Monsieur de Joncaire. This is the Speech I made:-
Speech of M. de Celeron to the Indians of Chiningue with four strings of wampum, the 9th of August, 1749:
I am surprised, my children, that after taking the trouble to send Monsieur de Joncaire to Paille Coupe and Attigne to announce my arrival, and let you know that I was bringing the word of your father Onontio, to see you frightened, abashed, and acting in a way unbecoming the children of the Governor. I told you by strings of wampum that I came only to do good; these have been delivered to you; you should, then have believed me; and you are well enough acquainted with the Frenchman to know that he is sincere, and never speaks from the lips only. If I ever had such designs as you imagine, or bad persons have told you, I would have hidden my coming from you, which would have been easy. I should not have arrived so peaceably at your village; I know how to make war, and those who have made war with us ought to know it, too, but know not how to betray. By these four strings of wampum I again open your ears, I enlighten your minds and take away the bandage which you have over your eyes, so that you may be able to hear the word of your father Onontio, who is filled with kindness towards you, though he has reason to be dissatisfied with some among you.
Now I am willing to smoke your pipes to prove that I forget all you have done.
I shall speak to you to-morrow on the part of your father Onontio; I invite
you to drive away the bad spirit which seduces you and which will ruin you
utterly if you do not take care.
_____________________
1vingt arpens.
* See facsimile of this in N. Y. Col. Doc., VI, 611.
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