Ohio History Journal

ACCOUNT OF THE VOYAGE ON THE BEAUTIFUL RIVER

MADE IN 1749, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF MON-

SIEUR DE CELORON, BY FATHER BONNE-

CAMPS.

 

MONSIEUR,

It was not possible for me last year, to give you an account

of my voyage on the Beautiful River.

All the vessels had left Quebec when I reached it. I could,

it is true, have written you by way of New England; but I had

many things to say to you which prudence would not allow me

to send through the hands of the English. Therefore, in spite

of the great desire that I had to respond to the confidence which

you have shown me, I have chosen the alternative of deferring to

do so, until the departure of our vessels.l

We left la Chine on the 15th of June, toward 3 o'clock in

the afternoon, numbering 23 canoes both French and savage. We

slept at pointe Claire, about two leagues distant from la Chine.

The next day, although starting out quite early, we made hardly

more progress; and we gained les Cedres with much difficulty,

because of the Cascades up which we had to ascend with our

canoes, where the greater number were badly injured by the

rocks.

The 17th. A part of the day was employed in mending

them, and in doubling pointe des Cedres ("point of Cedars")

with half-cargoes. At night, we camped on the shore of the lake;

the place was a bare tongue of earth, very narrow, at the end of

which was a considerable fall. The canoe of Monsieur de Jon-

caire² unfortunately fell into the water there, and was lost; of

the four men who were in it, three were fortunate enough to

save themselves by swimming; the fourth was not so fortunate,

and perished before our eyes, without our being able to give

him the slightest aid. This was the only man whom we lost

during the expedition.

The 18th.  We reached ance aux bateaux ("boat cove"),

which is at the entrance of lake St. Francis. On that day, Mon-

(397)

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sieur de Celoron³ detached a party of men to go to recover the

remains of the wrecked canoe.

The 19th.  I took our bearings at anse aux bateaux, which

I found to be 45^° 32' of latitude. The 21st.  We passed lake

St. Francis, which must be seven leagues in length, and two

leagues in its greatest breadth. That night we slept at mille

Roches ("thousand Rocks").   The 22nd.   We arrived at the

Long Sault toward eleven o'clock in the morning.  There we

made a portage of somewhat more than a quarter of a league,

and reentered the canoes now empty of their lading. We would

do much better to carry them by land, as we would carry bag-

gage; we would lose less time, and incur less risk; but custom

is a law against which good sense does not always prevail. The

Long Sault is divided into three channels by two islands. The

ascent is made by the north channel, and the descent by the south

channel. The middle one, which is called "the lonely channel,"

is said to be impracticable.

The 25th.  We disembarked at the dwelling of the abbe

Piquet, whose new establishment is south of the river-37

leagues from Montreal, and directly at the end of the rapids.

We found him lodged under a shelter of bark, in the midst of a

clearing of nearly 40 arpents.  The fort which he has had

constructed is a square of 70 feet on each side; it is situated at

the mouth of a river, which he has named la Presentation, and

at the base of a little headland, low and marshy.  According

to abbe Piquet, the soil is excellent; but it did not appear so to us.

One sees there as many trees of fir as of hard wood. His whole

village consisted of two men, who followed us into the Beautiful

River.4

The 27th. We arrived at Cataracoui, soon after noon. The

fort of Cataracoui is situated near the bottom of a cove, about

thirty arpents from the river.  It is a square of stone-work, 60

toises in extent, each corner being flanked by a bastion.  Op-

posite the entrance, a small demilune has been constructed. The

neighborhood of the fort is very open, and liable to surprise. It

is slightly commanded by a little hill, not very far away. The

28th. I observed its latitude, which I found to be 44^° 28'. It is

here that the course of the river St. Lawrence properly begins,

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Bonnecamps' Journal.                399

which, in my judgment, does not exceed 230 leagues. The 29th.

A strong wind from the southwest detained us at Cataracoui.

The 30th.   The lake being calm, we took the route to

Niagara, where we arrived on the 6th of July. In all the passage

of lake Ontario, I have seen nothing which could excite curiosity.

I will only tell you that the waters of this lake are very clear

and transparent; at 17 and 18 feet, the bottom can be seen as

distinctly as if one saw it through a polished glass. They have

still another property, very pleasant to travelers,-that of re-

taining great coolness in the midst of the suffocating heat which

one is sometimes obliged to endure in passing this lake.

The Fort of Niagara is a square made of palisades, faced

on the outside with oak timbers, which bind and strengthen the

whole work.   A large stone barrack forms the curtain-wall,

which overlooks the lake; its size is almost the same as that of

fort Frontenac. It is situated on the eastern bank of the channel

by which the waters of lake Erie discharge themselves. It will

soon be necessary to remove it elsewhere, because the bank, being

continually undermined by the waves which break against it, is

gradually caving in, and the water gains noticeably on the fort.

It would be advantageously placed above the waterfall, on a fine

plateau where all canoes are obliged to land to make the portage.

Thus the savages, people who are naturally lazy, would be spared

the trouble of making three leagues by land; and if the excessive

price of merchandise could be diminished, that would insensibly

disgust the English, and we could see the trade, which is almost

entirely ruined, again flourishing.

On the 6th and the 7th, I observed the western amplitude of

the sun, when it set in the lake; that gave me 6^° 30' Northwest

for the variation of compass. The latitude of the fort is 43^° 28'.

On the 8th, the entire detachment arrived at the portage.

The 12th. We encamped at the little rapid at the entrance of

lake Erie. The channel which furnishes communication between

the two lakes is about 9 leagues in length. Two leagues above

the fort, the portage begins.  There are three hills⁵ to climb,

almost in succession.  The 3rd is extraordinarily high and

steep; it is, at its summit, at least 300 feet above the level of the

water. If I had had my graphometer, I could have ascertained

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its exact height; but I had left that instrument at the fort, for

fear that some accident might happen to it during the rest of

the voyage. When the top of this last hill is reached, there is

a level road to the other end of the portage; the road is broad,

fine, and smooth.  The famous waterfall of Niagara is very

nearly equidistant from the two lakes. It is formed by a rock

cleft vertically, and is 133 feet, according to my measurement,

which I believe to be exact. Its figure is a half-ellipse, divided

near the middle by a little island. The width of the fall is per-

haps three-eighths of a league. The water falls in foam over

the length of the rock, and is received in a large basin, over

which hangs a continual mist.

The 13th. We remained in our camp at the little rapid to

await our savages, who were amusing themselves with drinking

rum at the portage, with a band of their comrades who were

returning from Choaguen (Oswego). The 14th. The savages

having rejoined us, we entered lake Erie, but a strong southwest

wind having arisen, we put back to shore. The 15th. In the

morning, the wind having ceased, we continued our route, and on

the 16th, we arrived early at the portage of Yjadakoin.⁶

It began at the mouth of a little stream called Riviere aux

pommes ("apple River"),-the 3rd that is met after entering

the lake, and thus it may be easily recognized. The 15th. In

the evening, I observed the variation, which I found to be noth-

ing.

We always kept close to the shore.  It is quite regular,

straight, but moderately high, and furnishes little shelter; in

many places it is mere rock, covered with a few inches of soil.

Lake Erie is not deep; its waters have neither the transparency

nor the coolness of those of lake Ontario. It is at this lake that

I saw for the first time the wild turkeys; they differ in no way

from our domestic turkeys.

The 17th. We began the portage, and made a good league

that day. I observed the latitude at the 2nd station,- that is,

half a league from the lake, - and I found it 420 33'. The 18th.

Our people being fatigued, we shortened the intervals between

the stations, and we hardly made more than half a league. The

19th. Bad weather did not allow us to advance far; nevertheless

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Bonnecamps' Journal.               401

we gained ground every day, and, the 22nd, the portage was

entirely accomplished.

In my judgment, it is three and a half leagues. The road

is passably good. The wood through which it is cut resembles

our forests in France.  The beech, the ash, the elm, the red

and white oak-these trees compose the greater part of it.

A species of tree is found there, which has no other name than

that of "the unknown tree."   Its trunk is high, erect, and

almost without branches to the top. It has a light, soft wood,

which is used for making pirogues, and is good for that alone.

Eyes more trained than ours, would, perhaps, have made dis-

coveries which would have pleased the taste of arborists. Hav-

ing reached the shore of lake Yjadakoin, Monsieur de Celoron

thought it well to pass the rest of the day in camp to give his

people a breathing-space.  On the morning of the 23rd, we

examined the provisions, pitched the canoes, and set out.  Be-

fore starting, I took advantage of the fine weather to get the

latitude, which I found to be 42° 30'. Lake Yjadakoin may be

a league and a half in its greatest width, and 6 leagues in its

entire length.  It becomes narrow near the middle, and seems

to form a double lake.

We left it on the morning of the 2₄th, and entered the little

river which bears its name, and which is, as it were, its outlet.

After a league and a half of still water, one enters a rapid, which

extends for three leagues or more; in times of drouth, it is very

shallow. We were told that in the spring, or after heavy rains,

it is navigable; as for us, we found it drained dry. In certain

places, which were only too frequent, there was barely two or

three inches of water.

Before entering this place, Monsieur de Celoron had the

greater part of the baggage unloaded, with people to carry it to

the rendezvous.  On the road, our natives noticed fresh trails,

and huts newly abandoned. From these unequivocal indications,

we inferred that some one had come to spy upon us, and that at

our approach our discoverers had carried the alarm to the Beauti-

ful River. Therefore, Monsieur the Commandant held a council

on the morning of the 25th, in which, after having declared your

Vol. XXIX-26.

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402      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

intentions, he proposed to send Monsieur de Joncaire to la paille

coupee,⁷ to carry thither some porcelain branches, and to invite

the natives to listen to the peaceful message of their father

Onontio. The proposition was unanimously approved, and Mon-

sieur de Joncaire set out, accompanied by a detachment of sav-

ages. We then worked at repairing our canoes, and sent them

on, half-loaded. On the morning of the 27th, we again found

the still water, on which we advanced tranquilly until half past

10 on the 28th, -a fatal hour, which plunged us again into our

former miseries.  The water suddenly gave out under our

canoes, and we were reduced to the sad necessity of dragging

them over the stones, - whose sharp edges, in spite of our care

and precautions, took off large splinters from time to time.

Finally, overcome with weariness, and almost despairing of see-

ing the Beautiful River, we entered it on the 29th, at noon.

Monsieur de Celoron buried a plate of lead on the south bank

of the Ohio; and, farther down, he attached the royal coat of

arms to a tree.  After these operations, we encamped opposite

a little Iroquois village, of 12 or 13 cabins; it is called Kanan-

ouangon.⁸

The 30th.  We arrived at la paille coupee. There we re-

joined Monsieur de Joncaire, who told us that our conjecture was

correct; that the report of our march had thrown all those people

into consternation, and that he had had much difficulty in making

the fugitives return.  The chiefs came to greet Monsieur the

Commandant, who bestowed upon them a thousand tokens of

kindness, and sought to reassure them.

The 31st. In the morning, he spoke to them on your be-

half; and in the evening he received their reply, that every one

had been satisfied, -if one could believe it sincere; but we did

not doubt that it was extorted by fear.

You will excuse me from reporting here, or elsewhere,

either the words of Monsieur de Celoron, or the replies which

they gave him, because he will send you copies of these.

La paille coupee is a very insignificant village, composed of.

Iroquois and some Loups.  It is situated on the northern bank

of the Ohio, and is bounded on the north by a group of moun-

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Bonnecamps' Journal.               403

tains which form a very narrow half-basin, at the bottom of

which is the village; its latitude is 42^° 5'.

On the 1st of August we broke camp; and that evening we

slept at a little Loup village of 9 or 10 cabins.  We marched

all day between two chains of mountains, which border the river

on the right and left.  The Ohio is very low during the first

twenty leagues; but a great storm, which we had experienced

on the eve of our departure, had swollen the waters, and we

pursued our journey without any hindrance.

Monsieur Chabert on that day caught seven rattlesnakes,

which were the first that I had seen  This snake differs in no

way from others, except that its tail is terminated by seven or

eight little scales, fitting one into another, which make a sort

of clicking sound when the creature moves or shakes itself.

Some have yellowish spots scattered over a brown ground, and

others are entirely brown, or almost black.

There are, I am told, very large ones.  None of those

which I have seen exceed 4 feet. The bite is fatal. It is said

that washing the wound which has been received, with saliva

mixed with a little sea-salt, is a sovereign remedy.  We have

not had, thank God, any occasion to put this antidote to the

test. I have been told a thousand marvelous things about this

reptile; among others, that the squirrel, upon perceiving a rattle-

snake, immediately becomes greatly agitated; and, at the end of

a certain period of time, - drawn, as it were, by an invincible

attraction,- approaches it, even throwing itself into the jaws

of the serpent. I have read a statement similar to this reported

in philosophic transactions; but I do not give it credence, for all

that.

The 2nd.   Monsieur de Celoron spoke to the Loups. I

took the bearing of our camp on the same day, and found it to

be 41° 41' of latitude.

The 3rd. We continued our route, and we marched, as on

the first day, buried in the somber and dismal valley, which

serves as the bed of the Ohio.  We encountered on our route

two small villages of Loups, where we did not halt.  In the

evening, after we disembarked, we buried a 2nd plate of lead

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404      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

under a great rock, upon which were to be seen several figures

roughly graven.  These were the figures of men and women,

and the footprints of goats, turkeys, bears, etc., traced upon the

rock.  Our officers tried to persuade me that this was the work

of Europeans; but, in truth, I may say that in the style and

workmanship of these engravings one cannot fail to recognize

the unskillfulness of savages.  I might add to this, that they

have much analogy with the hieroglyphics which they use in-

stead of writing.⁹

The ₄th.  We continued our route, always surrounded by

mountains,-sometimes so high that they did not permit us to

see the sun before 9 or 10 o'clock in the morning, or after 2 or

3 in the afternoon.  This double chain of mountains stretches

along the Beautiful River, at least as far as riviere a la Roche

("Rocky river"). Here and there, they fall back from the shore,

and display little plains of one or two leagues in depth.

The 6th. We arrived at Atigue, where we found no per-

son; all the people had fled to the woods.  Seeing this, we went

on, and came to the old village of the Chaouanons, where we

found only a man and a woman, so old that their united ages

would make fully two centuries.  Some time afterward, we

encountered five Englishmen who appeared to us to be engages;

they were ordered to quit that region, and they responded that

they were ready to obey. They were given a letter for the gov-

ernor of Philadelphia; it was a copy of that which you had

given for a model.  These English came from Chiningue and

Sinhioto.¹⁰  They had some forty packets of peltries, which

they were preparing to carry to Philadelphia.  These packets

consisted of skins of bears, otters, cats, precans, and roe-deer,

with the hair retained,--for neither martens nor beavers are

seen there. The Englishmen told us that they reckoned it 100

leagues from that place to Philadelphia.

The 7th. We found another village of Loups. Monsieur

de Celoron induced the chief to come to Chiningue to hear your

message.  At two leagues from there we landed, in order to

speak to the English; the same compliments were presented to

them as to the others, and they answered us with the same

apparent submission.  They were lodged in miserable cabins,

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Bonnecamps' Journal.                405

and had a storehouse well filled with peltries, which we did not

disturb.

One of our officers showed me a bean-tree. This is a tree

of medium size whose trunk and branches are armed with thorns

three or four inches long, and two or three lines thick at the

base.  The interior of these thorns is filled with pulp.  The

fruit is a sort of little bean, enclosed in a pod about a foot long,

an inch wide, and of a reddish color somewhat mingled with

green. There are five or six beans in each pod. The same day,

we dined in a hollow cottonwood tree, in which 29 men could

be ranged side by side. This tree is not rare in those regions;

it grows on the river-banks and in marshy places.  It attains

a great height and has many branches. Its bark is seamed and

rough like shagreen. The wood is hard, brittle, and apt to decay;

I do not believe that I have seen two of these trees that were

not hollow. Its leaves are large and thickly set; its fruit is of

the size of a hazelnut, enveloped in down; the whole resembling

an apple, exactly spherical, and about an inch in diameter.

Now that I am on the subject of trees, I will tell you some-

thing of the assimine-tree, and of that which is called the lentil-

tree. The first is a shrub, the fruit of which is oval in shape,

and a little larger than a bustard's egg; its substance is white

and spongy, and becomes yellow when the fruit is ripe. It con-

tains two or three kernels, large and flat like the garden bean.

They have each their special cell. The fruits grow ordinarily

in pairs, and are suspended on the same stalk.  The French

have given it a name which is not very refined, Testiculi asini.

This is a delicate morsel for the savages and the Canadians;

as for me, I have found it of an unendurable insipidity.  The

one which I call the lentil-tree is a tree of ordinary size; the leaf

is short, oblong, and serrated all around.  Its fruit much re-

sembles our lentils. It is enclosed in pods, which grow in large,

thick tufts at the extremities of the branches.11  But it is time

to resume our course.

On the morning of the 8th, Monsieur de Celoron sent me

with an officer to examine certain writings, which our savages

had seen the evening before, on a rock, and which they imagined

to contain some mystery.  Having examined it, we reported to

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406      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

him that this was nothing more than three or four English

names scrawled with charcoal. I took the altitude in our camp,

the latitude of which was 40° 46'.

A little after noon, we departed for the village of the

Chiningue. It was three o'clock when we arrived. We dis-

embarked at the foot of a very high slope. It was lined with

people, and they saluted us with four volleys from their guns;

we responded in the same manner.

Monsieur de Celoron, reflecting upon the disadvanta-

geous situation of his camp, if we remained at the foot of the

slope, decided to have it transported to the top, and to place our

force between the village and the woods. This move was exe-

cuted in sight of the savages, who dared not oppose us.

When we were well established, the chiefs came to salute the

Commandant. After an interchange of compliments, Monsieur

de Celoron manifested his displeasure that they had set up the

English flag opposite that of France, and ordered them to take

it down. The firm tone with which he spoke caused them to

obey him. In the evening we doubled the guard; and, instead

of 40 men who had mounted guard regularly every night since

our entrance into Yjadakoin, 80 were assigned to that duty.

Moreover, all the officers and engages were ordered to sleep in

their clothing.

On the morning of the ₉th, a savage came to tell Monsieur

de Joncaire that 80 warriors starting from Kaskaske were on

the point of arriving; that they came intending to aid their

brothers, and to deal us a blow.

Monsieur de Joncaire, having made his report of this to the

Commandant, the latter immediately gave orders to prepare for

a warm reception of the enemy. These preparations were not

made.   The savages, seeing our bold front and our superior

number, quietly withdrew and saluted us very politely in pass-

ing before our camp.  During the rest of the day, all was tran-

quil.

On the 10th, there was a council, in which Monsieur de

Celoron spoke to them on your part.  They responded on the

11th, and we departed immediately after the council.  The vil-

lage of Chiningue 12 is quite new; it is hardly more than five or

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Bonnecamps' Journal.                407

 

six years since it was established.  The savages who live there

are almost all Iroquois; they count about sixty warriors. The

English there were 10 in number, and one among them was their

chief.  Monsieur de Celoron had him come, and ordered him,

as he had done with the others, to return to his own country.

The Englishman, who saw us ready to depart, acquiesced in all

that was exacted from him, - firmly resolved, doubtless, to do

nothing of the kind, as soon as our backs were turned.

From Chiningue to Sinhioto, my journal furnishes me with

nothing curious or new; there are only readings of the Compass,

taken every quarter of an hour, the list of which would be as

tedious for the reader as for the copyist.  I will only tell you

that we buried three plates of lead at the mouths of three differ-

ent rivers, the 1st of which was called Kanonouaora, the second

Jenanguekona, and the 3rd, Chinodaichta. It was in the neigh-

borhood of this river that we began to see the Illinois cattle; but,

here and elsewhere, they were in such small numbers that our

men could hardly kill a score of them. It was, besides, necessary

to seek them far in the woods.l³ We had been assured, how-

ever, at our departure, that at each point we should find them

by hundreds, and that the tongues alone of those which we

should kill would suffice to support the troops. This is not the

first time when I have experienced that hyperbole and exaggera-

tion were figures familiar to the Canadians.

When we were near Sinhioto, Monsieur de Celoron, by the

advice of the officers and of the savages, despatched Messieurs

de Joncaire and Niverville14 to announce our approaching arrival

to the Chaouanons. Their reception was not gracious. Hardly

had the savages perceived them, when they fired on them, and

their colors were pierced in three places. In spite of this hail of

musketry, they advanced as far as the bank, and disembarked

without receiving any wound. They were conducted to the

council-cabin; but scarcely had Monsieur de Joncaire commenced

his harangue, when a miserable Panis (Pawnee), to all appear-

ances influenced by the English, suddenly arose, crying out that

they were deceived, and that the French came to them only to

destroy them.  This denunciation was like a war-cry. The

savages ran to arms, and arrested our envoys; they talked of

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408      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

binding them to the stake; and perhaps they would have executed

this threat if an Iroquois, who was by chance present, had not

appeased the furious savages by assuring them that we had no

evil designs. He even promised to go with Monsieur de Jon-

caire to meet us, which he did.

We encountered them on the 22nd, about a league from the

village. Monsieur de Celoron thanked the Iroquois for the zeal

which he had displayed on this occasion, and made him some

small presents.

We finally embarked, in order to go to Sinhioto. We en-

camped opposite the village, where we worked hard, in order to

complete the fort, which had been begun the evening before.

On the 23rd, a council was held; but the savages raised some

difficulties about the place where they were to assemble.  They

desired that we should address them in the cabin appointed for

Councils; Monsieur de Celoron declared, on the contrary, that it

was for the children to come to hear the words of their father

in the place where he had lighted his fire.  Briefly, after many

disputes, the savages gave way and presented themselves in our

camp. During the Council, two couriers arrived, to announce

that canoes bearing the French colors had been seen descending

the river of Sinhioto.  This news somewhat disconcerted our

grave senators, who imagined that it was a party of warriors

sent against them from Detroit, and that it was our design to

inclose them between two fires. Monsieur the Commandant had

great difficulty to reassure them.  Finally, however, their fears

were dissipated, and they continued the Council. The 24th. The

savages responded, but in vague and general terms, which signi-

fied nothing at all.

On the 25th, 4 outaouas arrived with letters from Monsieur

(de) Sabrevois,¹⁵ which notified Monsieur de Celoron that he

had not been able to persuade the savages of his government to

come to join us on the Beautiful River, as had been projected.

In the evening, there was a bonfire to celebrate the feast of St.

Louis.  All the detachment was under arms; they fired three

volleys of musketry, preceded by several cries of Vive le Roy!

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Bonnecamps' Journal.               409

The 26th.   The Chaouanons gave a 2nd response which

was somewhat more satisfactory than the 1st. After which, we

continued our journey to riviere a la Roche.

The situation of the village of the Chaouanons is quite

pleasant, - at least, it is not masked by the mountains, like the

other villages through which we had passed. The Sinhioto river,

which bounds it on the West, has given it its name. It is com-

posed of about sixty cabins. The English men there numbered

five. They were ordered to withdraw, and promised to do so.

The latitude of our camp was 39^° I'

The 28th. We encamped at the mouth of riviere Blanche

("White river"), where we found a small band of Miamis with

their chief, named le Baril ("the Barrel").  They had estab-

lished themselves there a short time before, and formed a village

of 7 or 8 cabins, a league distant from the river. Monsieur de

Celoron requested them to accompany him to the village of la

Demoiselle ("the young Lady"), and they promised to do so.

We passed two days waiting for them. Finally, on the morning

of the 31st, they appeared, followed by their women, their chil-

dren, and their dogs. All embarked, and about 4 o'clock in the

afternoon we entered riviere a la Roche, after having buried the

6th and last leaden plate on the western bank of that river, and

to the north of the Ohio.16

This Beautiful River--so little known to the French, and,

unfortunately, too well known to the English - is, according to

my estimate, 181 marine leagues from the mouth of the Yjadakoin

(or Tjadakoin) to the entrance of riviere a la Roche. In all this

distance, we have counted twelve villages established on its banks;

but if one penetrate into the small continent enclosed between lake

Erie and the Ohio, one will find it, according to what has been

told us, much more populous. We have been specially told of a

certain village situated on the river Kaskaske, in which, we are

assured, there are nearly 800 men.17 Each village, whether large

or small, has one or more traders, who have in their employ

engages for the transportation of peltries.  Behold, then, the

English already far within our territory; and, what is worse,

they are under the protection of a crowd of savages whom they

entice to themselves, and whose number increases every day.

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410      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

Their design is, without doubt, to establish themselves there;

and, if efficacious measures be not taken as soon as possible to

arrest their progress, we run very great risk of seeing ourselves

quickly driven from the upper countries, and of being obliged to

confine ourselves to the limits which it may please those gentle-

men to prescribe to us. This is perhaps all the more true that

it does not seem probable. I resume the thread of my journal.

Riviere a la Roche is very well named. Its bottom is but

one continuous rock; its waters are extremely shallow. Not-

withstanding this, we had the good fortune to guide our canoes

as far as the village of la Demoiselle. In order to lighten them,

we had landed half of our people. This was thought to have

(occasioned) the loss of Monsieur de Joannes,-who, having

undertaken to follow a savage who was going to hunt, lost him-

self in the woods, and remained there two days without our

being able to obtain any news of him, in spite of all the efforts

which we made.   On the 3rd day after his disappearance, we

saw him, when we least expected to do so, at a bend in the river,

conducted by two Miamis.

On the 1₃th of September, we had the honor of saluting la

Demoiselle in his fort.  It is situated on a vast prairie which

borders Riviere a la Roche; its latitude is 40° 34'. This band

is not numerous; it consists at most of 40 or 50 men.¹⁸ There

is among them an English trader. Monsieur de Celoron did not

talk with la Demoiselle until the 17th, because he awaited an

interpreter from the Miamis, for whom he had asked Monsieur

Raimond.   But, wearied with waiting, and seeing the season

already advanced, he determined to take for an interpreter an

old Sounantouan who was in le Baril's company.

On the 18th, la Demoiselle replied, and in his answer prom-

ised to take back his band to their old village in the following

spring; he even gave his word that he would go with us as far

as there, in order to prepare everything for his return.  But

the arrival of the Miami interpreter put him in a bad humor; he

forgot all his promises, and in spite of all that we could do, he

constantly refused to see us.  We then left him; and, after

having burned our canoes and all that we could not carry, we

took leave of him on the morning of the 20th.

• 14
 

Bonnecamps' Journal.                411

Our journey by land was only five days. We were divided

into four brigades, each commanded by two officers. We marched

in single file, because the narrowness of the path would not

permit us to do otherwise.  The road was passable, but we

found it quite tedious.  In my estimation, the journey from la

Demoiselle's to the Miamis might cover 35 leagues.   Three

times we crossed Riviere a la Roche; but here it was only a

feeble brook, which ran over a few feet of mud. A little more

than half-way, we began to skirt the river of the Miamis, which

was on our left.  We found therein large crabs in abundance.

From time to time we marched over vast prairies, where the

herbage was sometimes of extraordinary height. Having reached

Monsieur Raimond's post, we bought pirogues and provisions;

and, on the afternoon of the 27th, we set out, en route for

Detroit.

The fort of the Miamis was in a very bad condition when

we reached it; most of the palisades were decayed and fallen

into ruin. Within there were eight houses, - or, to speak more

correctly, eight miserable huts, which only the desire of making

money could render endurable. The French there numbered 22;

all of them, even to the commandant, had the fever.  Monsieur

Raimond did not approve the situation of the fort, and main-

tained that it should be placed on the bank of the St. Joseph

river, distant only a scant league from its present site.  He

wished to show me that spot, but the hindrances of our departure

prevented me from going thither.  All that I could do for him

was to trace for him the plan of his new fort. The latitude of

the old one is 41^° 29'. It was while with the Miamis that I

learned that we had, a little before entering riviere a la Roche,

passed within two or three leagues of the famous salt-springs

where are the skeletons of immense animals.¹⁹ This news greatly

chagrined me; and I could hardly forgive myself for having

missed this discovery.  It was the more curious that I should

have done this on my journey, and I would have been proud if

I could have given you the details of it.

The Miami River caused us no less embarrassment than

Riviere a la Roche had done. At almost every instant we were

stopped by beds of flat stones, over which it was necessary to

• 15
 

412      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

drag our pirogues by main force.  I will say, however, that at

intervals were found beautiful reaches of smooth water, but

they were few and short.  In the last six leagues, the river is

broad (and deep), and seems to herald the grandeur of the lake

into which it discharges its waters.  At 6 leagues above lake

Erie, I took the altitude, which was found to be 42° O'.

We entered the lake on the 5th of October. On entering it,

there is to the left the bay of Onanguisse, which is said to be

very deep.  Soon after, one encounters to the right, the Isles

aux Serpents ("islands where there are Snakes"). On the 6th,

we arrived at the mouth of the Detroit River, where we found

canoes and provisions for our return. Monsieur de Celoron had

the goodness to permit me to go to the fort with some officers.

We spent there the entire day of the 7th. I took the latitude in

Father Bonaventure's courtyard, and I found it 42° 38'.

In the evening, we returned to our camp, where we spent the

8th waiting for our savages, a class of men created in order to

exercise the patience of those who have the misfortune to travel

with them. I profited by this hindrance in order to take the

latitude of our camp, which was 42° 28'.

I remained too short a time at Detroit to be able to give

you an exact description of it. All that I can say to you about

it is, that its situation appeared to me charming.  A beautiful

river runs at the foot of the fort; vast plains, which only ask

to be cultivated, extend beyond the sight.  There is nothing

milder than the climate, which scarcely counts two months of

winter. The productions of Europe, and especially the grains,

grow much better than in many of the cantons of France. It is

the Touraine and Beauce of Canada.    Moreover, we should

regard Detroit as one of the most important posts of the Colony.

It is conveniently situated for furnishing aid to Michilimakinak,

to the St. Joseph River, to the Bay, to the Miamis, Ouiatanons,

and to the Beautiful River, supposing that settlements be made

thereon. Accordingly, we cannot send thither too many people;

but where shall we find men therefor? Certainly not in Canada.

The colonists whom you sent there last year contented them-

selves with eating the rations that the King provided. Some

among them, even, carried away by their natural levity, have

• 16
 

Bonnecamps' Journal.               418

left the country and gone to seek their fortune elsewhere. How

many poor laborers in France would be delighted to find a coun-

try which would furnish them abundantly with what would repay

them for their industry and toil.

The Fort of Detroit is a long square; I do not know its

dimensions, but it appeared large to me.  The village of the

Hurons and that of the Outaouas are on the other side of the

river,--(where father La Richardie told me, the rebels were

beginning to disperse, and the band of Nicolas was diminishing

day by day. We had asked news about him, when upon the

Beautiful River;) and were told that he had established his

residence in the neighborhood of lake Erie.²⁰

We left Detroit on the ₉th of October., and on the 19th

arrived at Niagara.  I took the altitude twice on lake Erie,-

once at Pointe Pelee, which was 42^° 20'; the other time, a little

below pointe a la Biche ("Fawn's point"), which was 43^° 6'.

We left Niagara on the 22nd, and, to shorten our road, we

passed along the south shore of lake Ontario. We experienced

on this lake some terrible storms. More than once, we were on

the point of perishing. Finally, notwithstanding the winds and

tempests, our bark canoes brought us safe and sound to Catara-

coui on the ₄th of November.

I saw Choaguen in passing, but it was too far for me to

examine it.

On the 7th, we left Cataracoui, and on the 10th we arrived

at Montreal.  On the road we halted at the dwelling of abbe

Piquet, who was then at Montreal.  We found three-quarters

of his fort burned by the Iroquois--sent, they say, for this

purpose, by the English. At one of the angles of the fort they

had caused to be constructed a little redout after the style of the

Fort St. Jean.  The fire had spared it. In returning, I shot

all the rapids, the danger of which had been rather exaggerated

to me. The first that one encounters in going out from abbe

Piquet's is les Galaux ("the Gallops") ; it is a very small matter.

The rapide Plat ("Flat rapid") which succeeds it is of still less

importance. The Long Sault has its difficulties. It is necessary

to have a quick eye and sure hand, in order to avoid on the one

side the Cascade, and on the other a great rock -against which

• 17
 

414      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

a canoe, were it of bronze, would be shattered like glass. The

Coteau du Lac is not difficult, because one passes at a considerable

distance from the Cascade. In the passage of les Cedres, there

is no risk except for bark canoes, because the water has but

little depth.  "The Thicket" and "the Hole" are two difficult

places; but, after all, one escapes save for shipping a little water

while shooting this rapid.  I have not shot "the Hole." Our

guide led us by another way, which was not much better. It was

necessary to cross a very violent current, which will precipitate

you into a very deep cascade, if you miss the right point for

crossing. One of our canoes came near turning a somersault,

not having taken proper precautions. The Sault St. Louis is per-

fectly well known to you.

On the 14th, Monsieur de Celoron and I set out for Quebec,

where we arrived on the 18th of November,--that is to say,

five months and eighteen days after having left it.

I beg of you a few moments' further audience, in behalf of

the chart which I have the honor to present to you. It is reduced,

on account of its great extent; it has 20 fixed points which have

been furnished to me by the latitudes observed, and which I have

marked with double crosses. The longitude is everywhere esti-

mated. If I had had a good compass, I would have been able to

determine several of its points by observation; but could I or

ought I to rely on a compass of indifferent merit, and of which

I have a hundred times proved the irregularity, both before and

since my return? Can I dare say that my estimates are correct?

In truth, this would be very rash, - especially as we were obliged

to navigate currents subject to a thousand alternations. In still

water, even, what rules of estimation could one have, of which

the correctness would not be disturbed by the variation and in-

equalities of the wind or of the rowers? As for the points of the

compass, I can answer for having observed them all, and marked

them in my journal with the utmost care; because I know that

a part of the exactness of my chart depends upon it. I have not

failed to correct them according to the variations that I have

observed.  I have similarly corrected the leagues of distance,

when such did not accord with the latitude observed. In a word,

I have done my utmost to deserve the marks of esteem which

• 18
 

Bonnecamps' Journal.                415

you have had the goodness to bestow upon me. If I have been

fortunate enough to succeed, I beg of you to deign to employ

me, when occasion therefor shall present itself; that is the only

recompense which I expect for my work

I cannot bring myself to finish this letter without rendering

to Messieurs our officers all the justice that they merit. In the

subalterns I have admired their zeal for the service, their courage

when occasion required it, their submission to the orders of the

Commandant, and their promptitude in exercising them.

As for Monsieur de Celoron, he is a man attentive, clear-

sighted, and active; firm, but pliant when necessary; fertile in

resources, and full of resolution, -a man, in fine, made to com-

mand.   I am no flatterer, and I do not fear that what I have

said should make me pass for one.

I have the honor to be with the most profound respect,

MONSIEUR,

Your very humble and

very obedient servant

At Quebec, October 17, 1750.    DE BONNECAMPS, S. J.

NOTES.

I. Beauharnais (vol. lxvii., note 4)* was nominally suc-

ceeded, as governor of New France, by Jacques Pierre Taffanel,

marquis de la Jonquiere, who received his commission in March,

1746.  In the summer of that year, La Jonquiere was sent, in

command of a French squadron, to attack Port Royal; but, his

fleet being dispersed by a storm off Cape Sable, he was forced to

return to France. Again departing for Canada (May, 1747),

his ship was captured by the English, and he was detained as a

prisoner in England until the following year.   Meanwhile,

Beauharnais acted as governor until relieved (Sept. 19, 1747) by

Count de la Galissoniere; the latter held office two years, when

La Jonquiere came (September, 1749) to assume the authority

granted to him three years before. The governorship was held

by La Jonquiere until his death, May 17, 1752.

Bonnecamps's statement that he reached Quebec too late to

report what he had done, is explained by the fact that La Galis-

soniere left that place, on his return to France, on Sept. 24;

while Celoron's expedition did not arrive at Montreal until

Oct. 10.

*Jesuit Relations.

• 19
 

416      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

2. Louis Thomas de Joncaire, sieur de Chabert, was a

native of Provence, born in 1670. He came to Canada when a

mere boy, and soon became an interpreter for the Indians; he

also entered the army, and gained the rank of lieutenant. His

special service was among the Seneca tribe, by whom he was

adopted; he had great influence with them, and the regarded

him as one of their chiefs. The date of his death is not recorded;

but it must have been about 1740. In 1706, he married (at

Montreal) Madeleine le Guay, by whom he had ten children.

The eldest of these, Philippe Thomas, born in January, 1707,

repeated his father's career, save that he was on intimate terms

with all the Iroquois tribes, as well as with the Senecas. He was

one of the officers who signed the capitulation of Fort Niagara

(1759); it is not known how long he lived after that event. It

is this son who is mentioned as an officer in Celoron's expedi-

tion. Some writers say that his mother was a Seneca squaw;

but Tanguay makes him the son of Madeleine le Guay.

3. The identity of Celoron the explorer is not entirely cer-

tain, as there were two brothers of that name, both Canadian

officers, and both employed at frontier outposts and among the

Indians; moreover, most historical writers have neglected to

make researches sufficiently detailed to settle this question satis-

factorily.

The name of the family was Celoron de Blainville, accord-

ing to Tanguay, Ferland, Gosselin, and other leading Canadian

writers; but Parkman, Marshall, and some other English his-

torians write it Celoron (or Celeron) de Bienville, and some-

times Bienville de Celoron. The first of this name in Canada

was Jean Baptiste Celoron, sieur de Blainville; he was born at

Paris, in 1664, the son of a royal councilor. In early youth he

came to Canada, apparently as a lieutenant in the French troops;

and married, at the age of twenty-two, Helene Picote (widow

of Antoine de la Fresnaye, sieur de Brucy, Francois Perrot's

partner in the fur trade), by whom he had seven children. He

died at Montreal, in June, 1735.

His elder son, Piere Joseph (born in 1693), was also a mil-

itary officer, and served with much distinction, especially when

placed in charge of various forts.  He was commandant at

Michillimackinac at an early date-probably from 1737 to 1742,

a period broken by a short term of service (in 1739) against the

Chickasaws in Louisiana; he led against them a troop of French

and Indians from Canada. From the autumn of 1742 to that of

1743, he commanded at Detroit, and again from 1750 to March,

1754. In October, 1744, he was sent to take command of Fort

Niagara, where he remained two years; then spent a short time

at Montreal; and in the spring of 1747 became commandant at

• 20
 

Bonnecamps' Journal.                417

Fort St. Frederic (Crown Point), remaining there about six

months. In 1750, after his return from the Ohio expedition of

the previous year, he was ordered to take charge of the Detroit

post. Leaving it in 1754, he probably spent the next six years in

various military operations of the French and Indian war; the

latest mention of his name in Canadian affairs is, apparently,

as one of the defenders of Quebec in 1759. He had married, in

1724 (at Montreal), Marie Madeleine Blondeau, widow of

Charles le Gardeur, and had by her four children. He was again

married (in 1743) -to Catherine Eury, by whom he had nine

children; after she became a widow, she entered (1777) the

Gray Sisters' convent at Montreal, where she died twenty years

later.

The strong preponderance of evidence is in favor of Pierre

as being the explorer of 1749; but some writers ascribe this

service to his younger brother, Jean Baptiste. Celoron kept a

journal of the expedition of 1749, which has been preserved at

Paris, in thearchives of the Department of Marine. From this

document and Bonnecamps's journal (also resting in the archives

of the marine), Marshall drew materials for his paper, "De Cel-

oron's Expedition to the Ohio," published in Mag. Amer. Hist.,

March, 1878. Bonnecamps's journal was accompanied by a MS.

map (in size 30 by 81 centimeters) drawn by him, locating all

the places mentioned in his journal, where he had taken observa-

tions (p. 197 of this volume). This map was also preserved,

with his memoir, in the above-named archives, but cannot now

be found; its disappearance seems to have taken place at some

time during 1892-94. A small copy of it (but with modern let-

tering) is given by Darlington in Gist's Journals, at p. 274.

Jean Baptiste Celoron was born in 1696, and was, like Piere,

an officer in the colonial troops. He married (in 1730) Suzanne

Piot, by whom he had five children. Little is positively known

about him, the general references in contemporary documents to

"M. de Celoron" being somewhat confusing; but he was com-

mandant at La Presentation in 1751, with the rank of lieutenant;

and probably it is he who Was killed in the summer of 1756, near

Fort Cumberland, while on a scouting expedition. - On this

whole subject, see N. Y. Colon. Docs., vols. ix., x., passim;

Parkman's Montcalm and Wolfe, vol. i.; Marshall, ut supra;

Gosselin, as cited in note 11, ante, and in note 32, post (see p. 10

of Proceedings, vol. xii.); and Farmer's Detroit, p. 227.

4. Francois Picquet, a native of Burgundy, was born Dec.

6, 1708. He early showed a vocation to the religious life, and

entered the Sulpitian order at Paris: he was there ordained in

Vol. XXIX-27.

• 21
 

418      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

1734, when but twenty-five years of age, and at once sent to

Canada.  He spent five years at Montreal, and ten more in the

Sulpitian mission at Lake des Deux Montagnes (vol. lxii., note

16); during his stay at the mission, many savages, especially

Iroquois, came to reside there, and he gained much influence

over them. Picquet's favorite scheme was to secure friendship

and alliance between the Iroquois and the French against their

English neighbors; to that end, he undertook to form a mission

colony of Iroquois, under his personal care and direction. Ac-

cordingly, he founded (in the summer of 1749), at the mouth of

the Oswegatchie River, upon or near the site of the present

Ogdensburg, N. Y., the establishment named by him La Presenta-

tion; it was not only a mission, but a fortified post. The Iroquois

savages were easily induced to settle there; at the end of two

years, they numbered about 400-a number which finally in-

creased to 3,000.  Picquet won their enthusiastic affection and

obedience, and secured their loyalty to the French-a service

gratefully acknowledged by Canadian officials. He maintained

this enterprise until the summer of 1760, when, unwilling to swear

allegiance to England, he left Canada - returning to France by

way of New Orleans, where he remained nearly two years. In

his own country, he spent a considerable time in religious labors

in the diocese of Paris; in 1765 and in 1770, he received certain

sums of money, in recognition of the services which he had

rendered in Canada; and he finally died at the house of his

sister, at Verjon, July 15, 1781. - See Gosselin's admirable paper

on "L'Abbe Picquet," with full and valuable annotations, in

Canad. Roy. Soc. Proc., vol. xii., sec. 1, pp. 3-28.

5. At this point there is, on the MS. which we follow, a

note in Francis Parkman's handwriting; "The 3 mountains of

Nonnenbin ?"

6. Yjadakoin, Chadakoin, Tjadakoin, Yadakoin are all va-

riants of the Iroquois name which has now become, through

successive phonetic renderings by French and English tongues,

Chautauqua. The expedition, after coasting the southern shore

of Lake Erie, arrived at the Chautauqua portage (now Barce-

lona), and ascended Chautauqua Creek (the explorers' "Riviere

aux Pommes").   Thence to Chautauqua Lake is a portage of

six miles; having crossed this, Celoron voyaged down the lake

and the "outlet," so-called, and then through Cassadaga and

Conewango Creeks, into the Alleghany.  By Celoron and other

early explorers the names "Ohio" and "Beautiful River" were

applied to the Alleghany as well as to the river now called Ohio.

Marshall (p. 138 of citation in note 31, ante), says that the

Senecas do the same even now. Regarding the region just men-

tioned, with identification of Celoron's route, and description of

• 22
 

Bonnecamps' Journal.                419

the old portage road, see Edson's Hist. of Chautauqua Co., N. Y.

(Boston, 1894), pp. 74-136.

The "unknown tree" mentioned by Bonnecamps may be the

cottonwood. Gosselin conjectures that it may be the common

cedar (Thuya).

7. The appellation paille coupee ("broken straw"), is doubt-

less the French translation of the name given by the Indians of

that region to the village in question, which was occupied mainly

by Senecas. It was situated on the Alleghany, a few miles below

the present Warren, Pa.

8. Kananouangon: the village was situated at the mouth

of the stream now known as Conewango-which, after receiv-

ing the waters of Chautauqua Creek, falls into the Alleghany

River, just above the village of Warren.  Celoron took posses-

sion for France of the region through which he traveled--in-

dicating this, in accordance with the custom of the time, by bury-

ing at the mouths of rivers engraved leaden plates; upon these

were suitable inscriptions, recording place, date, and circum-

stances of this taking possession. One of these plates, stolen or

found by Iroquois savages, was delivered by them to Col. Wil-

liam Johnson, in December, 1750; and was soon after forwarded

to the Lords of Trade at London. A facsimile of this inscrip-

tion is given in N. Y. Colon. Docs., vol. vi., p. 611; translated,

it reads as follows: "In the year 1749, in the reign of Louis

XV., King of France, we, Celoron, commandant of a detachment

sent by Monsieur the Marquis de la Galissoniere, General Com-

mandant of New France, to reestablish tranquillity in certain

Savage villages of these districts, have buried this plate at the

confluence of the Ohio and-Tchadakoin, this 29th of July, near

the River Oyo, otherwise Belle Riviere. This we do as a monu-

ment of the renewal of possession which we have taken of the

said River Oyo, and of all the rivers which discharge into it,

and of all the lands on both sides as far as the sources of the

said rivers, even as they have been possessed, or ought to have

been possessed by the preceding Kings of France, and as they

have maintained their authority therein by arms and by treaties,

especially by those of Riswick, of Utrecht, and of Aix la

Chapelle." A proces-verbal, of similar tenor, was also drawn up,

and signed by the officers present, at each place thus indicated.

9. The second plate was buried at or near a large boulder,

inscribed by the Indians with numerous hieroglyphics; it was

situated about 9 miles (by the windings of the river) below the

mouth of the stream called by the French of that time Riviere

aux Boeufs (by the English, Venango), and now known as

French Creek.   A view of this rock and a facsimile of the

• 23
 

420      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

hieroglyphics thereon are given in Schoolcraft's Ind. Tribes, vol.

iv., p. 172 and plate 18.

10. "Attigue (Atigue, Attique) was probably on or near

the Kiskiminitas river, which falls into the south side of the

Alleghany about twenty-five miles above Pittsburgh."  The old

village of Chaouanons (Shawnees) "had not been occupied by

the Indians since the removal of Chartier and his band to the

river Vermillion in the Wabash country in 1745, by order of the

Marquis De Beauharnois." -See Marshall's "Celoron's Expedi-

tion." p. 142.

Parkman (Montcalm and Wolfe, vol. I., p. 45) says that

Attigue was at the site of Kittanning, Pa. This view is strongly

supported by Lambing (Cath. Hist. Researches, Jan., 1886, pp.

105-107, note 6).

11. These trees are thus identified by Professor L. S.

Cheney, of the University of Wisconsin: The "bean-tree" is the

honey locust (Gleditschia); the "cotton-tree" is the American

sycamore (Platanus occidentalis); and the "lentil-tree," the red-

bud or Judas-tree (Cercis Canadensis).  Gosselin ("Bonne-

camps," in Canad. Roy. Soc. Proc., 1895, p. 49) thinks that the

first-named is Robinia pseudacacia, a tree belonging to an allied

genus.

12. The Chiningue of Bonnecamps (Shenango, in English

accounts) was later known as Logstown. It stood on the north

side of the Ohio River, immediately below the present town of

Economy, Pa. (a German communistic settlement established in

1824 by George Rapp). In notes to his edition of Gist's Journals

(Pittsburg, 1893), Darlington says: "The Shawanese established

themselves here, probably soon after their migration from the

Upper Potomac country and Eastern Pennsylvania, in 1727-30."

Celoron found there also Iroquois, Mohican, and Algonkin

savages. French and English traders, in succession, had stores

at Logstown, which was then an important post in the Indian

trade; but, after the capture of Fort du Quesne and the erection

of Fort Pitt (1758), Logstown steadily diminished, until, early

in the Revolutionary War, it was wholly deserted, - except that

Wayne's army encamped near its site, from November, 1792 to

April 30, 1793; the place was then called Legionville. - See Dar-

lington's careful sketch of its history (ut supra, pp. 95-100). A

note by Parkman on this MS. says: "There appear to have

been, at different times, three distinct villages of Shenango,-

one at the junction of the Chatauqua and the Alleghany (Mit-

chell's Map), the one mentioned above, some way below, and the

third some way up the Big Beaver, near Kuskuski, the Kaskaske

of this journal (Bouquet map)."

• 24
 

Bonnecamps' Journal.               421

13. The rivers where Celoron buried his next three plates

are thus identified: Kanonouaora (Kanououara, in Marshall),

probably Wheeling Creek, in West Virginia; Jenanguekona (or

Yenanguakonan), the Muskingum River, in Ohio; and Chino-

daichtia (Chinondaista), the Great Kanawha, of Virginia. The

plates at the two latter rivers were found, in 1798 and 1846

respectively; the former has been preserved by the American

Antiquarian Society, the latter by the Virginia Historical Society.

14. Reference is here made to one of the Niverville branch

of the noted Boucher family. Jean Baptiste Boucher, sieur de

Niverville, and seigneur of Chambly, was born in 1673. In 1710,

he married Marguerite Therese Hertel, by whom he had fourteen

children. Two of these became officers in the Canadian troops -

Joseph (born 1715), and Pierre Louis (born 1722). It is prob-

ably the former who accompanied Celoron; he was then an en-

sign, and became a lieutenant in 1756.  He accompanied Le

Gardeur de St. Pierre's expedition to the Rocky Mountain region

(1750-52); but his serious illness in 1751 prevented him from

going with the soldiers under his command who in that summer

established Fort La Jonquiere, far up the Saskatchewan. Sulte

says (Canad. Fran., t. vii., p. 84) that this fort was at the site

of the present Calgary, N. W. T.

15. Jacques Charles de Sabrevois de Bleury, a lieutenant in

the royal troops, came to Canada probably about 1685; he was

commandant at Detroit in 1714-17. In 1695, he married Jeanne

Boucher, by whom he had five children. At least two of his

sons became Canadian officers; at the time of the conquest, one

was a major, the other a captain.  One of them was a com-

mandant at Fort St. Frederic in 1748 and in 1756; and it is pre-

sumably this one who also was in command of the Abenaki

allies of the French at the capture of Fort William Henry.

Jacques Charles, apparently the eldest son, was in command at

Detroit during 1734-38, and again in 1749; probably it was he

who accompanied Celoron.   We have not sufficient data for

further identification of these brothers and their respective

careers.

16. Sinhioto is the same as Scioto; another name applied

to the village by the French was St. Yotoc -apparently a cor-

ruption of the other name. Most of its inhabitants were Shaw-

nees, although many Iroquois and Northern Algonkins had joined

them, as at Logstown.

The Great Miami River was called by the French Riviere a

la Roche ("Rocky River"), on account of its numerous rapids.

Riviere Blanche is a name applied by them to several streams

which had unusually clear waters; in this case, the distances

would suggest that reference is made to the Little Miami. Dunn

• 25
 

422      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

(Indiana, p. 65, note I) thinks that it was the stream now called

White Oak Creek. Celoron buried the last of his plates at the

mouth of the Great Miami.

17. Kaskaske (Kushkushkee, Kuskuskis):    a Delaware

town-- on Beaver Creek, according to Parkman; but more

exactly located by Darlington (Gist's Journals, p. 101) thus:

"On the Mahoning, six miles above the forks of Beaver, where

Edenburgh, Lawrence County, now stands. Old Kuskuskis stood

on the Shenango, between the Forks and the mouth of the

Neshannock (where New Castle now stands), on the wide bot-

tom on the west side. Kuskuskis was divided into four towns,

some distance apart."

18. At the time of Celoron's expedition, a band of Miamis

had recently settled on the Great Miami, near the mouth of

Loramie Creek.   At their head was the leading chief of the

Miami confederacy, known to the French as "La Demoiselle,"

and to the English (whose firm friend he was) as "Old Britain."

Celoron urged these savages to return to their old settlements on

the Maumee, but La Demoiselle refused to do so, and induced

so many of his tribesmen to settle in his village (called by the

English Pickawillany) that it became one of the largest and

most important Indian towns in the West; it was also a center

of English trade and influence. In June, 1752, it was attacked

by a strong force of Ottawas from the Upper Lakes, under the

command of Charles Langlade; they captured the village, killed

and ate La Demoiselle, and made prisoners of five English

traders, who were taken by Langlade to Quebec. - See Park-

man's Montcalm and Wolfe, vol. i., pp. 51, 52, 83-85; and

Darlington's Gist's Journals, pp. 124-126.  For biography of

Langlade, see Tasse's "Memoir of Langlade," in Wis. Hist.

Colls., vol. vii., pp. 123-187.

19. Reference is here made to the salt springs and "lick"

in Boone county, Ky., about twelve miles south of Burlington.

The place is called "Big Bone Lick," from the bones of mas-

todons and elephants which have been found there in great abun-

dance.  Various collections of these fossil remains have been

made - one by Thomas Jefferson, about 1805; he divided it be-

tween the American Philosophical Society (of which he was

president) and the French naturalist Cuvier. This locality was

known to the whites as early as 1729. Salt was made at these

springs by the Indians, doubtless from a very early period, and

afterward by the whites. - See Collin's History of Kentucky

(Covington, Ky., 1874), vol. ii., pp. 51-55; and Thwaites's Afloat

on the Ohio, p. 197. The latter work contains (pp. 320-328) a

list of journals of travel down the Ohio, dating from 1750 to

1876.

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Bonnecamps' Journal.               423 The "fort of the Miamis" was located at Kekionga (or Kis- kakon), on the Maumee River, at the site of the present Fort Wayne, Ind. The Indian name is that of an Ottawa clan (Kis- kakons-see Vol. xxxiii., note 6), who probably had a village there, early in the 18th century.  The Miamis had moved east- ward to the Maumee by 1712; and Fort Miamis was early erected by the French, in order to protect their trade with the savages of that region.  As a result of a conspiracy among these Indians against the French, Fort Miamis was captured by them and burned (1747); but it was soon afterward rebuilt. This post was surrendered to the English in 1760; after various vicissitudes of possession, Gen. Anthony Wayne's army en- camped there (1794), and a strongly-garrisoned fort was estab- lished-named, in honor of him, Fort Wayne. 20. The Ottawa and Huron bands here referred to had come to Detroit with Cadillac in 1701. The latter tribe had at first settled near Fort Pontchartrain; but removed their village (probably about 1746) to the Canadian side of the strait, near the Ottawa village, where now stands the town of Sandwich, Ont. La Richardie had since 1728 ministered to these and other Hurons settled in that region. A band of these savages, under a war-chief named Nicolas, had settled (ca. 1740?) at Sandusky Bay, where they soon established commerce and friendship with English traders. Nicolas was the head of the conspiracy against the French, mentioned in the preceding note; after its failure, he abandoned Sandusky, and in 1748 removed to the Ohio River. He was no longer living in 1751.

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