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.
Macarty to Rouille
(June 1, 1752)
Macarty in: Archives Nationales,
Ministere
des Colonies, C13A 36: 309-311 and in
Pease and Jenison, French Series,
III, pp. 635-644.
MONSEIGNEUR:
I had the honor to give an account to Your Greatness of the rumor among our domiciled Indians and the tribes that inhabit (page 636) the Ohio River and the Wabash occasioned by two scalps which were taken last fall from the rebels by a party from Canada. This has aroused our domiciled Indians who are allied by blood to them. I have indicated to Your Greatness the different attacks which the enemy have made on our rivers and in our posts amounting to eighteen people whom they have killed.
With difficulty our domiciled Indians have settled themselves in their villages between fear and hope, making resolutions to abandon us. The necessity of our managing them tactfully made me take the method of gentleness since I was not strong enough to domineer over them, fearing they would be like a hive of bees which, spreading in all directions, would be more likely to make attacks on our voyageurs. Although to all appearance they had a share in the affair of December 8 as two of their people were taken prisoners, they have worked to persuade me otherwise, saying these people were with our enemies only for the purpose of making war on the Chickasaw. During the winter they (page 637) brought back to me several voyageurs at different times lest some accident might befall them and lest it should be imputed to them. They have worked to make the rebels return to their duty. They have given me many marks of their fidelity to which I have answered by freeing their prisoners and by some little presents a month ago, letting them feel their need of retaining us. I learn that a party of the chiefs of these rebel nations is moving toward peace on the side of Canada; they would come here. M. de Ligneris, who commands at Ouiatanon, tells me that he had received several speeches from the chiefs of the Vermilion which he was to send to M. de la Jonquiere.
I keep the Pinakashaw chief prisoner in irons with another Indian whom we arrested in the affair of the eighth of December last. It is this which has given us tranquillity up to now. This chief had always been attached to the French as I had the honor (page 641) to tell you. The difference in the price of merchandise between the English and us has caused these troubles. The best remedy that could be applied would be to make a settlement at the Falls of the Ohio River and there supply them with merchandise at the same price as the English. This would put our rivers and our distant posts under shelter. Thus this contagion would not spread to the Missouri River, from which much peltry was drawn this year. Twenty-five canoes have left loaded with beaver and deerskins for Mackinac. Part of the deerskins are to be sent down to New Orleans. Much more peltry would be obtained here if interest was taken in coarse peltry; the transportation of it into Canada is difficult from its bulk, and trade goods are scarce in that colony. We still do not trade with part of the tribes which are far off on the upper part of that river the source of which is not known.
Whatever protestations our domiciled Indians may make to me, I shall always be suspicious of them until they have made some attacks on our enemies with whom they are too closely (page 642) allied by blood. It would be very difficult to induce them to make war against each other even though interest alone induced them to it. It is only with little presents that they can be attached to us by letting them feel the interest which they have in keeping us; otherwise they would lose these little presents and many other benefits which they receive from the French.
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