January 1680 Continue

On the next day, a Miami chief named Monso, with five or six men carrying kettles, hatchets, and knives. Monso summoned the elders to assure them that M. de La Salle wanted them to be invaded and destroyed by the Iroquois. He told them that La Salle wanted them co-operate with the Iroquois. He mentions that La Salle was a friend of the Iroquois by having a fort in the middle of the Iroquois country and they were furnishing them with powder and arms. Monso wanted the Illinios to delay La Salle’s journey. On the same day, Monso left during the night because he thought M. de La Salle would resentment and punish him.

A nation of the Miami's, who inhabit the banks of a fine River, within fifteen Leagues from the Lake, in the Latitude of 41 Degrees. The Maskoutens and Outtouagami's live more Northward on the River Mellioki, which runs into the Lake in the Latitude of 43 Degrees. To the West of it live the Kikapous and Ainoves, who have two Villages ; and to the West of these there is the Village of the Illinois Cascaschia, situated towards the Source of the River Checagoumenans. The Authoutantas and Maskoutens-Nadouessians live within one hundred and thirty Leagues of the Illinois; in three great Villages, on the Banks of a fine River which discharges itself into the great River Meschasipi.

During the night the Illinois Council met because they did not believe all the stories of Monso. They appeared the next day with mistrust towards M. de La Salle and his men. M. de La Salle talked to a Illinois chief and would eventually gain their friendship. Some days after, Chief Nikanape made a speech at a feast by stating that they have invited the Frenchmen not to give them a treat, but to go down to the Sea by the great River Meschasippi. He also mentioned that the river was full of dangerous monsters, as crocodiles, tritons and serpents, which the ship that they were to build was big enough to protect them. Nikanape also mentioned that the river is full of rocks and falls towards the mouth, that the rapidity of the current cannot be mastered, which will carry the vessel into a whirlpool that swallows up everything that comes near it, even the river itself, which appears no more, losing itself in the bottomless Gulf. The danger alarmed M. de La Salle’s men, but M. de La Salle answered in a way to let Nikanape know that they plan on going.

They told the Illinois that how can Monso tell a rumor the Frenchmen and they believe him, but Monso has not met the Frenchmen. As a result, the Illinois were going to bring back Monso to answer for what he said about the Frenchmen, but the snow that fell during the night covered there tracts. Some of the Frenchmen never removed their fears, so six of the Frenchmen (two sawers and other workmen for building the ship) stood guard during the night and ran away. They took provisions, but they put themselves in certain danger. M. de La Salle was afraid what the Illinois thought about some of his men running away, so he sent some people to get the people who ran away and they would be severely punished in Canada. M. de La Salle would give his crew leave time to return to Canada next spring, if they were afraid of the dangers of the Messchassipi because they did not want them to perish with hunger, cold, or at the hands of the Indians.

M. de La Salle brought his men together and told them that they are not safe with the Illinois. They feared that the Illinois would run away and hid during an Iroquois attack. They agreed to build a fort four days below the village of the Illinois.

Most of these Indians, like the Illinois make their Cabins of flat rushes, which they sew together, and line them with the same; so that no rain can go through it. They are tall, strong, and manage their bows and arrows with great dexterity; for they did not know the use of fire arms at the time. They also used a kind of a pike and a club of wood. Their villages are open, and not enclosed with palisado’s as in some other places, because they would run away as soon as they hear their enemies approaching. Their country is so fertile, that it supplies them with all necessaries for life with iron tools to help cultivate.

There are some stony places in the area with a lot of serpents that are very troublesome to the Illinois. The Illinois know several herbs to make a remedy against the serpent’s venom that is better than treacle or orvietan. With the remedy, they rub themselves with these herbs, and then they play with dangerous serpents without getting hurt. Sometimes, they take the small serpents and put them into their mouth.

During the Summer they just wear shoes made out of the skins of bulls. During the winter, they wear gowns made of the skins of wild beasts, or of bulls, which they dress and paint.

On January 15, 1680, there was a sudden thaw, which made the rivers navigable and the weather as mild as it was in the middle of the spring. M. de La Salle wanted Father Louis Hennepin to go down the river to choose a place to build a fort. The fort was built to the southwest of modern day East Peoria, Illinois. The fort would have a view of the area and defended on the side by the river and a ditch on two other sides. As a result, there was only one way to the fort that was accessible. They built a fast lodgement to defend themselves in case Indians would obstruct the building of the fort. Fathers Gabriel, Zenobe, and Louis Hennepin made a cabin of planks where the workmen came to pray every morning and evening. They did not have wine, so they could not say mass. When the fort was half way finished, M. de La Salle lodged himself in the middle of the fort with M. Tonti. The forge was in the courtyard with a great quantity of coals.

Since there were no sawers, M. de La Salle mentioned that if any of his crew would undertake to saw boards for building a barque, they might overcome all other difficulties. As a result, two men became sawers, which they were good at. They began to build the barque, the keel was forty two feet long. On the first of March 1680, the barque was half way built and all the timber was already prepared for the finishing of the vessel. At the same time, the fort was nearly finished. The fort name was Fort of Crevecoeur because of the desertion of their men, and other difficulties, almost broke their hearts.

M. de La Salle with three men returned to Fort Frontenac by land by enduring the snow and dangers of the great distance. Louis Hennepin and two men went in a canoe to the Meschasipi River to create friendships with the nations on the banks of the river. Before they set out, they heard different stories of the voyage down the Meschasipi River. An Illinois warrior gave an account that was accurate by drawing it in charcoal. The Illinois chiefs would eventually them that the accurate account was correct. This removed the fears of the Frenchmen.

Several Indians of the Osages, Cikaga, and Akansa, came to see them, and brought furs to barter for their axes. They told them that the Meschasipi was navigable almost from its source to the sea. They supported their journey and said that all the nations along the river would meet them and dance the Calumet of Peace to make an alliance with them. At this time, the Miami arrived and danced the Calumet with the Illinois to make an alliance against the Iroquois.