the simple Indians could be so credulous. Attawang,
the Uttawaw chief, came to seek me, and carried me to
his cabin. The next day (28th) I went to the grand
council, and addressed the chiefs. When I mentioned
that their father, the king of France, had ceded those
countries to their brother the king of England, (for so
the two kings are called by the Indians) the great Miamis
chief started up and spoke very loud, in his singular
language, and laughed. Godefroi whispered me, that
it was very lucky that he received my intelligence with
contempt and not anger, and desired me to say no more,
but sit down, and let my chief speak; accordingly I sat
down, and he produced his belts, and spoke. I have
called the Miamis tongue a singular language; because
it has no affinity in its sound with any other Indian language
which I have heard. It is much wondered whence
this nation came; who differ as much from all the other
nations in their superstitious practices, as in their speech,
and manner of encamping.[1] As they left the Uttawaw
villages before me on their way home, we traced their
encampments, where we saw their offerings of tobacco,
made by every individual each morning, ranged in the
nicest order, on long slips of bark both on the shore, and
on rocks in the river. They carry their God in a bag,
which is hung in the front of their encampment, and is
visited by none but the priest; if any other person presumes
to advance between the front of the encampment
and that spirit in the bag, he is put to death: and I was
told that a drunken French soldier, who had done so,
was with great difficulty saved. When the council was
————
- ↑ The Miamis were of Algonquian stock; but the early French writers noted their peculiarities and special customs. See Wisconsin Historical Collections, xvi, p. 376; also index thereto.- ED.
