USA > Missouri > A history of Missouri from the earliest explorations and settlements until the admission of the state into the union, Volume I > Part 20
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI
quickly raised a rude fort. When the fog rose the surprised Indians saw the strange visitors and their work. In a short time, however, a friendly understanding was established, and La Salle and his followers entered the village, where they met with a cordial reception. While here, with much formality he took possession of the great valley of the Mississippi in the name of France. This important event was attested and celebrated with due solemnity, and the procès verbal detailing the particulars of the transaction is not without interest. It is dated March 13 and 14, 1682, and is as follows:
"Jacques de la Metairie, notary of the Seigniory of Fort Frontenac in New France, commissioned to exercise the said function during the journey which was undertaken to make the discovery of Louisiana by M. de la Salle, Governor of said Fort Frontenac for the King, and commandant in said discovery by virtue of his Majesty's commission of which said M. de la Salle is bearer, given at St. Germain-en-Laye on the 12th of May 1678.
"To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting: Know that having been requested by the said Sieur de la Salle to deliver to him an act signed by us and witnesses therein named, of that which took place on the occasion of his taking possession of the country of Louisiana at the village of Kapaha, one of those which belong to the nation of the Akansas assembled at the said village of Kapaha on the 14th day of March 1682.
"In the name of the most high, mighty, invincible, and victorious Prince Louis le Grand, fourteenth of that name, by the Grace of God, King of France, and of Navarre, and of his heirs, successors, and inheritors of his crown, we, the aforesaid notary, have delivered the said act to the said Sieur de la Salle, the tenor whereof follows:
"On the 12th day of March, M. de la Salle having come in sight of Kapaha about ten o'clock in the morning with two of his canoes, and having landed on an island opposite the said village to await the rest of the company, judged by the cries and noise and the war songs that he heard in the village, that the sav- ages were preparing to fight, and therefore caused a fort to be built on the said island, where, after some conferences, Kapaha, chief of the village, came to him, bearing the pipe of peace and accompanied by six of his principal savages. Peace being concluded, M. de la Salle went with his men and the said savages to the said village, where he was received with all possible demonstration of joy and affection both public and individual, and in the midst of which the Akansas having asked aid from him against their enemies, he answered them, both of himself and in the language of the Illinois which was understood by some of them, and also by one of the interpreters who accompanied him, that it was not from him that they should expect protection, but from the greatest prince in the world, on the part of whom he had come to them and to all the other nations that live along the river and in its neighborhood: he had come to offer to all who would obey him, all the advantages which so many people enjoy who have had recourse to his power and many of whom were not unknown to them: and after explaining to them what they were to expect and the duties to which this obedience pledged them, all having received his speech with accla- mation, the said Sieur declared to them besides that in order to give an external sign of the sincerity of their promises it was necessary to erect a column where should be painted the arms of his Majesty and their express consent to recognize him as master of their land: that in return they would be under the protection of his Majesty and in the shadow of this column which bore the signs of his dominion, and that all who should attack them would have to combat his great
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PROCÈS VERBAL
might and his subjects the French, who would avenge any injury which might be done them in the persons of their brothers.
"This proposition being received by all, while the ceremonies were being continued with which these nations are accustomed to confirm their alliances, the said Sieur de la Salle sent M. de Tonty, commander of a brigade, to pre- pare the column, which was done in a short time. The cross was painted with the arms of France, and this inscription: Louis le Grand, roy de France et de Navarre, règne le 13 Mars 1682. M. de la Tonty with all the Frenchmen carrying arms and the savages of the suite of M. de la Salle, bore it from the camp to the public place of the village; here the Reverend Father Zenobe Membre, a Recollect missionary, intoned the O crux, ave, spes unica, and walked three times around the place, each time singing Exaudit te Dominus and crying three times Vive le Roy, after which at the discharge of musketry, they erected the column in repeating the cries Vive le Roy and near it the said Sieur de la Salle took his stand and pronounced in a loud voice in French, holding in his hand his commission:
"In the name of the most high, mighty, invincible, and victorious Prince, Louis le Grand, by the Grace of God, King of France and Navarre, fourteenth of that name, this thirteenth day of March, one thousand six hundred and eighty-two, with consent of the nation of the Akansas, assembled at the village of Kapaha and present in that place, both in their name and in that of their allies, I, in virtue of his Majesty's commission of which I am the bearer and which I hold in my hand, ready to show it to all whom it may concern, have taken and do now take possession, in the name of his majesty, his heirs and successors to his crown, of the country of Louisiana and all the lands, provinces, countries, peoples, nations, mines, ores, ports, harbors, seas, straits, and road- steads, and of each of these comprised in the region from the mouth of the river St. Louis called Ohio, Olighinsipou and Chukagoua, along the banks of it and of all and each of the rivers which empty into it from the east to the mouth of the Riviere des Palmes from the west, along the river Colbert, called Mississippi, and all the rivers which empty into it from the east; hereby protesting against all those who may in the future undertake to gain possession to the prejudice of the right which his Majesty to-day acquires to all said nations, lands, provinces, peoples, countries, mountains, mines, roadsteads, harbors, ports and seas, and all that they comprise, of which I take to witness to these presents all the French and savages and demand such act to be delivered to me by M. Jacques de la Metairie, commissioned to perform the duties of notary on this discovery, to serve according to law."
La Salle caused this procès verbal to be read to the said " Akansas" in their language, and we can well imagine how well this verbiage was translated, and they consented to it, so we are told; and after cries of "Vive le Roy" and a salute of fire arms, La Salle had "the merchandise which was most highly esteemed by these people," and which they were anxiously waiting for, brought in and laid at the foot of the column, telling them that this was a pledge of the good things they might expect for the faithfulness with which they kept the promise they had just made him; that they should receive them in abundance, provided they were as steadfast in the future as they were now zealous. They received the presents with many thanks. At the end of the ceremony, which lasted all night and during the next day, La Salle's escort saw these Akansas "press their hands
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI
against this column and then rub their bodies with them to show the joy and confidence they felt to see the French and their column erected in their village." All this was certified to by the aforesaid notary, and duly signed by La Salle, M. de Tonty, captain of a brigade, the Reverend Father Zenobe Membre, Recollect, and all witnesses present at the said taking possession, at the said Kapaha village of the Akansas on March 14, 1682. The other signers of the proces verbal were Francois de Boisrondet, Jean Bourdon, Sieur d'Autray, Jacques Cauchois, Gilles Mineret, Jean Dulignon, Pierre You, Jean Michel, surgeon, Jean Mas, Antoine Brassar, Nicholas de la Salle, and La Mettaivie, notary.
It will be noted that this important transaction took place in the village of Kapaha, thus incidentally showing the accuracy of at least this part of the narrative of Garcilasso de la Vega of the expedition of De Soto, heretofore mentioned. De Soto, nearly a century and a half before, in 1541, found Kapaha on the Mississippi, in south- east Missouri, north of the Casquins (supposed to be the Kaskas- kias), who then dwelt on the New Madrid ridge south of them. In 1682 La Salle found Kapaha near the present Helena, at the foot of what is known as Crowley's ridge, and the Kaskaskias on the banks of the Illinois.
From Kapaha La Salle resumed his journey south, guided by two "Akansas" Indians. On March 3Ist he passed the mouth of Red river, and on April 6th reached the marshy shores of the Gulf, and soon beheld the boundless horizon and rolling billows of the Mexique sea. On April 9th he took formal possession of "all the nations, peoples, provinces, cities, towns, villages, mines, minerals, fisheries, streams and rivers, comprised in the extent of Louisiana, from the mouth of the great river St. Louis, on the eastern side, otherwise called Ohio, Olighinsipon (Allegheny) and Chickagoua, and this with the consent of the Chaouesnons (Shawanos), Chica- chas (Chickasaws), and other people dwelling therein, with whom we have made alliances as also along the river Colbert, or Mississippi and rivers which discharge themselves therein, from its source, beyond the country of the Kious (Sioux) or Nadouessious, and this with their consent, and with the consent of the Otatantes, Matsigamea (Mitch- igamias), Akansas, Natchez, and Koroas, which are the most con- siderable nation dwelling therein with whom we have made alliance either by ourselves or by others in our behalf, as far as the mouth of
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PROCÈS VERBAL
the sea or gulf of Mexico." This was done "upon the assurance which we have received from all these nations that we are the first Europeans who have descended the river Colbert."
Thus the territory which is now embraced in the state of Mis- souri became a part of the province of Louisiana and the dominion of France.
CHAPTER VII
Indian Tribes Discovered by De Soto-by Joliet and Marquette, 1673-Names and Location of Various Tribes-Indian Migrations-Tribes Found by La Salle-Origin of Missouris, Osages, Kansas, Ponkas and Iowas-Dis- persion of the Missouris-The Otoes, Bravest of Native Tribes-Indian Method of Travel-Languages of Indian Tribes of Missouri-Significance of Indian Names-Corruption of Aboriginal Terms-Hunting Grounds of the Osages-Osages Noted for Sobriety and Intelligence-Location of Osages, 1820-1838-Indian Hunting and Farming Methods-Forest Products Used by Indians as Food-Philosophy of an Indian Chief-At- tractions of the Savage State-Brackenridge's Impressions of the Osages -Anecdotes of Indian Chiefs-Indian Costumes-Hospitality, Manners and Customs-Method of Building Lodges, Weaving Blankets, etc .- Indian Cookery-Domestic Institutions of the Osages-Tribal Govern- ment-Noted Osage Chiefs-A Peculiar Custom of the Osages-Massacre of an Osage Band-Dexterity in Archery-Osage Indian School Estab- lished 1821-Indian Manners and Morals Depicted by Missionaries- The Saukees and Foxes-Manners and Customs-The Shawnees and Delawares-Immigration Favored by Spaniards-Rogers, White Chief of Delawares-Noted Chiefs-Manners and Customs-Early Settlements Disturbed by Marauding Indian Bands-Indians Strip a Wedding Party of Wearing Apparel-Witchcraft and Punishment-The Cherokees-Bowls' Band- Indian Traces or Trails-Indian Treaties and Cessions of Lands- Over Thirty-nine Million Acres Ceded, in Missouri, by Indians within Thirty Years.
The history of the Indians who once peopled the territory now within the limits of Missouri must always remain a subject of pecu- liar interest. Unfortunately, little has been preserved concerning them. Even the habitat of the various tribes is uncertain. If we adopt one interpretation of the narrative of the route pursued by De Soto in his march along the Mississippi, he encamped with the Casquins, supposed to be the Kaskaskia Indians, as heretofore suggested, in the district now embraced in the counties of Pemiscot, New Madrid, Mississippi and perhaps Scott.1 These Indians be- longed to the Algonquin family of the aboriginal stock. Among the Kaskaskias, a tradition prevailed that they destroyed the first white men they ever saw.2 Farther north he found the Capahas, or Pacahas,3 the Kappas or Ouyapes of Charlevoix,4 the Kwapas of Dorsey, or
1 Nuttall's Arkansas, p. 251.
2 I Niles' Nat. Register, p. 214.
3 Irving's History of Florida, pp. 120-293.
4 Charlevoix's Travels, P. 307.
168
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LOCATION OF TRIBES
Quapaws. These Indians belonged to the Siouan aboriginal stock,5 and, at the time of De Soto's march north, were engaged in war with the Casquins.6 The Capahas or Kwapas were also known as the "Akansa" or "Arkansa,"7 and were first so noted by La Metaire, in I682.
When Joliet and Marquette came down the Mississippi, in 1673, they found three villages of Per-8-are-8-a,8 or Pe-8-area,9 another Algonquin tribe, near the mouth of the Des Moines. On Joliet's map, dated 1674, the wigwams of the Messouri (Missouri), Konza (Kansas), Ochage (Osages), and Pani (Pawnees) are noted in this order on the south side of the Missouri river, and between the Missouri and the Des Moines the Pe-8-areas lived nearest the Mis- sissippi; and west of them, within and near the present state line, the Atentonta (Otoes), Pana (Ponkas), Mahas (Omahas), and Pan- 8-tet (Iowas) are shown to dwell.10 The map of Thevenot, pub- lished as being that of Marquette, in 1681, shows the Pe-8-areas and Mouingwenas on or near the Des Moines river - the Indians known by these names calling themselves "Illiniwek," or "Illini," or "Illinoue," that is to say, "men" or "superior men." But on a map attributed to Marquette, found in the archives of St. Mary's college, Montreal, dated 1673, the Pe-8-area, Moing-8-ena, Oton- tanta, Pana, Maha, and Pan-8-tat are noted on the south side of the Des Moines, and in the order named; these tribes being kindred of the Kaskaskias and Maroas, or Tamaroas, who on this map are shown to live on the left bank of the Mississippi and above the mouth of the Missouri. On the Missouri the Ouchage (8chage) are shown to dwell nearer the mouth of the river than the 8-em-ess-8- rits. Afterwards we find that the Saukees and Outagamies (Renards or Foxes) occupy this territory on both sides of the Mississippi, and the Maroas or Tamaroras on Cahokia creek, also named Rivière des Tamaroas, and the Kaskaskias farther south, on the river of that name. By Marquette the Missouri river is named Pe-ki-ta-noui, a word of the Saukee language, which would indicate that perhaps
5 15 Annual Rep. Bureau of Ethnology, p. 193.
6 Irving's History of Florida, p. 115.
7 15 Annual Rep. Bureau of Ethnology, p. 193.
8 So spelled by Father Gravier in 1694. 64 Jesuit Relations p. 163.
9 So spelled by Father Marquette in 1677. 59 Jesuit Relations p. 163.
10 59 Jesuit Relations p. 86. Copy of map reproduced from Revue de Géographie, for February, 1880.
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI
even then these Indians claimed possession of the mouth of that river. On this map, along the Missouri, appear in the order named, the Ouchage, or Osages, 8-mess-8-rits or Oumessourits, Kansa or Kansas, and Paniassa or Pawnees.
On Franquelin's map, published in 1684, the Missourits or Missouris are shown to live near the mouth of the Osage, and on the north side of the Missouri; so also the Zages or Osages, and Cansa or Kansa near the mouth of the river of that name, on the south of the Missouri, while the villages of the Pani-ma-has and Pan-e-to-cas are placed some distance beyond the Kansas river, and the villages of the Pan-e-assas (Pawnees) appear to be located in and near what is now the western limit of the state. On this map the St. Francois river is named Rivière des Chepoussea,11 and an Indian village of that name is noted on its upper course. The village of the Kappas is near the mouth of the "Acancea", and from this village a road or path is indicated as leading to Chepoussea and thence to the villages of the Osages and Missouris, near the mouth of the Osage river. The Metchigamea or Michigamies, whom Joliet and Marquette found near the mouth of the Arkansas river, according to Franquelin's map, appear to have established a village on the Missouri river as a "nation refugiè," and are named on this map " Mastsagamy."
Marquette's map shows that the Casquins of De Soto, if indeed identical with the Kaskaskias 12 at the time Joliet and Marquette made their voyage of exploration, had migrated to the prairies of Illinois, north of the mouth of the Missouri, dwelling and hunting east of the Mississippi; and that the Capahas or Kwapas had moved south in the direction of the waters of the Arkansas.13 It should also be observed that the Ohio river, according to Father Gravier,14 was called by "the Illinois and by the Oumiamis" the "river of the Akansea because the Akansea formerly dwelt on it."
11 But on Pike's map what is known as "St. John's bayou" is called "Che- pousa R." and a lake noted as its source, no doubt Hunter's lake, in Scott county, into which and the surrounding low-lands White Water river occasionally dis- charges its waters, in case of overflow.
12 Spelled by Father Gravier in 1694 "Kiskaskia." 64 Jesuit Relations p. 159, and "Kaskasia" by Father Marquette. 59 Jesuit Relations p. 161. In Niles' Register, vol. i., p. 214, referred to as "Quisquisque."
13 Nuttall's Arkansas, pp. 82-3.
14 65 Jesuit Relations, p. 107.
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MIGRATIONS
The Ohio is described 15 as having three branches, one running from the northeast, on which dwell the "Oumiamis" (Miamis), and this branch the savages properly called "Ouabachi" (Wabash); one coming from the Iroquois country which they call the Ohio, and one coming from the southwest, the Cumberland, on which dwell the "Chaouanons" (Shawnees), which means "Dwellers of the South." 16
What occasioned this change of habitat by the Kaskaskias, of course, can only be conjectured, but undoubtedly it was not uncon- nected with the hostility which existed between the Algonquin and Siouan aboriginal stock. That such migrations were not unusual is shown by the fact that La Salle found the Mitchigamias dwelling near the mouth of the Arkansas, and that afterwards this tribe came to what is now Illinois, perhaps by way of the Missouri river, as would appear from the name of such a village, shown near this river on Franquelin's map. On arriving in Illinois, the tribe became incor- porated with the Kaskaskias. 17 Charlevoix 18 notes this fact, and says that they came from a little river on the lower Mississippi, and were adopted by the Kaskaskias. From this, it might be inferred that these Mitchigamias were a remnant of the Algonquin stock, left behind when the Kaskaskias migrated north.
The account of the migration down the Mississippi of the Capahas, or Kwapas, or Quapaws, as given by Nuttall, in its main features is confirmed by the investigations of Dorsey. He says that, according to Siouan tribal tradition, the Omahas, the Kwapas, the Ponkas, the Osages and Kansas originally dwelt along the waters of the Ohio. At that time they were one people. Gradu- ally they moved westward, likely down the Wabash and Ohio, pressed on, no doubt, by the stress of war, until they reached the mouth of the Ohio, where Dorsey supposes they first separated, some going down the river and others going up the river. This separation took place as early as 1500 and preceded De Soto's dis- covery of the Mississippi. Those who remained at the mouth of
15 65 Jesuit Relations, p. 107.
16 59 Jesuit Relations, p. 145-note 36.
17 Wallace's Illinois and Louisiana, p. 57.
18 Charlevoix's Travels, p. 296. The little river is probably the St. Fran- cois. Coxe, in his Carolana, says that the "Matchagamia" lived on a river called the "Matchicabe."
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI
the Ohio became and were called the Kwapas, or Capahas, or Quapaws, which, Dorsey 19 says, means "down stream people," and on the other hand, those who migrated up the river became Mahas, or Umahas, or Omahas, that is to say "up stream people."
In 168I La Salle found the Kappas along the Mississippi, below the mouth of the Ohio. Tonti 20 mentions four villages, one of which, Ukaqpaqti, the "Real Kwapa," was on the Mississippi river, and three other villages were situated inland, Toyengan, or "small village," Toriman and Osotonoy. Of these inland villages, Toriman was on the upper section of the St. Francois river, located in perhaps what is now Dunklin county. On the map published with Charlevoix's letters in 1763, in London, a translation of the original work, the village of Kappa is placed at a considerable dis- tance above the mouth of the Arkansas, probably near the foot of the hills, now known as Crowley's ridge, at the mouth of the St. Francois
19 15 Annual Rep. Bureau of Ethnology, p. 191. In the American Journal of Science, vol. iii., p. 21, Louis Bringier, under date of March 20, 1818, gives us this additional information : "Nearly all the country between the Canadian and the west, the Red river and the south, the Wichita and the east, and the Arkansas and the north is claimed by a small remnant of a once formidable nation of Indians called the "Arkansaw" or "Quawpaws"-from Ogâghspagh -floating with the current, or down stream. They pretend to have come down the Ohio about five generations ago, and at the confluence of that river, as some wanted to go up the Mississippi and others to descend the river, they divided into two parties; these came down the stream as far as the mouth of the Arkan- sas, which they ascended about thirty miles to the first prairies; the others ascended the Mississippi to the Missouri, and the Mawpaws settled below the river Kansas; they understand each other perfectly well. The Osages are said to have sprung from these, and their language differs very little from that of the other two. All three tribes abound with tall and well proportioned men; both in their physical and moral faculties they are much superior to all the other tribes of Indians inhabiting North America." Bringier, who traveled exten- sively among these tribes, was familiar with their language and customs. According to Sibley, the Osages had a tradition among them, steadily transmitted down from their ancestors, that the Osages (Whashash) had originally emigrated from the east in great numbers, the population being too dense for their hunting grounds, which he described as being on the forks of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers, and the falls of the Ohio, and where they dwelt for some time, and where the band separated and distributed themselves in the surround- ing country. Those who did not remain in the Ohio country followed the waters, reached St. Louis-i. e., the mouth of the Missouri-where other separations took place, some following the Mississippi up north and others advancing up the waters of the Missouri. He enumerated many existing tribes who had sprung from their stock, but mentioned the Saukees as not being related to them .-- Featherstonhaugh's Excursion Through the Slave States, vol. i., p. 287.
20 The name Quapaw is commonly pronounced in a strong guttural manner as if it were "Gkwhawpaw."-Featherstonhaugh's Excursion Through the Slave States, vol. ii., p. 228.
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REMOVE UP THE RIVER
river and not far from the present site of Helena. It is more likely that the village was located there than at the mouth of the Arkansas.
The Mahas or Omahas 21 for some time dwelt near the mouth of the Missouri river, just as we may suppose that the Kwapas or Capahas for some time dwelt near the mouth of the Ohio, in what is now Missouri. At this time the Omahas, that is to say, the "up stream people," had not separated from each other. It is not known when those who were called the Mahas or Omahas separated from their fellows and left them behind at the mouth of the Missouri, nor is it known when the Mahas took up their residence on the upper Missouri; but Bourgmont,22 when he made his journey in 1724 to the Padoucahs, mentions the Panimahas as then residing on the plains bordering on the Missouri. Although afterward found on the Missouri, these Mahas did not move directly up this river. The supposition is that they moved up the Mississippi and from the Mis- sissippi across the country, until they finally reached the Missouri river. This seems highly probable from the circumstance that Carver met with them on the St. Peter in 1766.23 According to La Hontan,24 the Panimahas in 1688 had their lodges on the upper stretches of the Otenta, a name under which the Des Moines was then known.
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