OF THE COUNTRY OF THE ILLINOIS
The country of the Illinois is bounded
by the Missisippi [sic] on the west,
by the river Illinois on the north, by the rivers Ouabache [Wabash] and Miamis on the east, and the Ohio on the
south.
The air in general is pure, and the sky
serene, except in the month of March and the latter end of September, when
there are heavy rains and hard gales of wind. The months of May, June, July,
and August, are excessive hot, and subject to sudden and violent storms;
January and February are extremely cold; the other months of the year are
moderate. The principal Indian nations
in this country are, the Cascasquias [Kaskaskias], Kaoquias [Cahokias], Mitchigamias,
and Peoryas; these four tribes are generally called the Illinois Indians:
except in the hunting seasons, they reside near the English settlements in this
country, where they have built their huts. They are a poor, debauched, and dastardly
people. They count about three hundred
and fifty warriors. The Peanquichas [Piankashaws],
Mascoutins, Miamis, Kickapous, and
Pyatonons [Wea], though not very
numerous, are a brave and warlike people. The soil of this country in general is very
rich and luxuriant; it produces all sorts of European grains, hops, hemp, flax,
cotton, and tobacco, and European fruits come to great perfection. The inhabitants make wine of the wild grapes,
which is very inebriating, and is, in colour and taste, very like the red wine
of Provence. The country abounds with
buffalo, deer, and wild-fowl, particularly ducks, geese, swans, turkies, and
pheasants. The rivers and lakes afford plenty of fish.
In the late wars, New Orleans and the lower
parts of Louisiana were supplied with flour, beer, wines, hams, and other
provisions from this country: at present its commerce is mostly confined to the
peltry and furs, which are got in traffic from the Indians; for which are
received in return such European commodities as are necessary to carry on that
commerce and the support of the inhabitants. 1
I just had to
chuckle when I read Pittman’s description of the climate of the Illinois
country. Not much has changed in the
last 240 years, in spite of Al Gore’s alarms!
It is typical Illinois weather: hot in the summer and cold in the
winter, and if the Lord tarries His coming, it will continue to be the same. The natural provisions of this
country haven’t changed much either. God
has certainly blessed this region with some of the best soil anywhere and
wildlife is still very abundant. In more
recent years there has been an increase in the number of local vineyards and
wineries. The two things that have
changed dramatically from Pittman’s time to now are the absence of the buffalo
and the Indian tribes.
OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE COUNTRY OF ILLINOIS
When belonging to the FRENCH.
This country, when in possession of the
French, was governed by a military officer, called the major-commandant, who
was appointed by the governor of New Orleans;
he was always a man connected with the governor by interest or
relationship; he was absolute in his authority, except in matters of life and
death; capital offences were tried by the council at New Orleans: the whole
Indian trade was so much in the power of the commandant, that nobody was
permitted to be concerned in it, but on
condition of giving him part of the profits. Whenever he made presents to the
Indians, in the name of his king, he received peltry and furs in return; as the
presents he gave were to be considered as marks of his favour and love for
them, so the returns they made were to be regarded as proofs of their
attachment to him. Speeches accompanied by presents were called paroles
de valeur; any Indians who came to a French port were subsisted at the
expence [sic] of the king during
their stay, and the swelling this account was no inconsiderable emolument.
As
every business the commandant had with the Indians was attended with certain
profit, it is not surprising that he spared no pains to gain their affections;
and he made it equally the interest of the officers under him to please them,
by permitting them to trade, and making them his agents in the Indian
countries. If any person brought goods within
the limits of his jurisdiction, without his particular licence [sic], he would oblige them to sell their
merchandise, at a very moderate profit, to the commissary, on the king's account,
calling it an emergency of government, and employ the same goods in his own
private commerce: it may easily be supposed, from what has been before said,
that a complaint to the governor of New Orleans would meet with very little
redress. It may be asked, if the
inhabitants were not offended at this monopoly of trade and arbitrary
proceedings? The commandant could bestow many favours on them, such as giving
contracts for furnishing provisions, or performing publick works; by employing
them in his trade, or by making their children cadets, who were allowed pay and
provisions, and could when they were grown up recommend them for commissions.
They were happy if by the most servile and submissive behaviour they could gain
his confidence and favour. Every person
capable of bearing arms was enrolled in the militia, and a captain of militia
and officers were appointed to each parish; the captain of militia regulated corvees
and other personal service. From this
military form of government the authority of the commandant was almost
universal. The commissary was a mere cypher, and rather kept for form than for
any real use; he was always a person of low dependence, and never dared
counteract the will of the commandant.
OF THE INHABITANTS.
The first white inhabitants of the
Illinois came from Canada; some brought wives and families with them, others
married Indian women in those countries; there is still a continual intercourse
between them and the Canadians. The men
of these countries are very superstitious and ignorant; they are in general active
and well made; they are as good hunters, can bear as much fatigue, and are as
well acquainted with the woods, as the Indians; most of them have some
knowledge of the dialects of the neighbouring Indians and much affect their
manners. The price of labour in general
is very high, as most of the young men rather chuse [sic] to hunt and trade amongst the Indians, than
apply to agriculture or become handicrafts.
At the Illinois a man may be boarded and lodged the year round on
condition of his working two months, one month in ploughing [sic] the land and sowing the corn, and one month
in the harvest. The only trades they
have amongst them are carpenters, smiths, masons, taylors, and mill-wrights. The number of white inhabitants in this
country, exclusive of the troops, are about two thousand, of all ages and
sexes; in this number are included those who live at Fort St. Vincent's on the
Ouabache. Thirty French soldiers were
withdrawn from thence in the latter end of the year 1764. The
inhabitants at this post live much at their ease, having every thing
necessary for their subsistence of their own production. Their commerce is the same as that of the
other inhabitants of this country. 2
Lord willing we
will take a look at the 18th century in my next post.
Christ, not man, is King!
Dale
2) Ibid., p.53-5.
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