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Illinois Sachem to Father Marquette, 1673
Speech
The following speech and communication was recorded in the mid 1670's be Father Marquette who was travelling through the upper Mississippi valley with a small group of men. The men were visiting a village of people from the Illinois nation. The men received many messages of welcome such as the following: "Well done, brothers, to visit us!" and "How beautiful is the sun, O Frenchman, when thou comest to visit us ! All our town awaits thee, and thou shalt enter all our cabins in peace."
Father Marquette delivered a message and a Sachem from the Illinois replied with the following speech:
"I thank thee, Blackgown, and thee, Frenchman (M. Jollyet) for taking so much pains to come and visit us. Never has the earth been so beautiful, nor the sun so bright, as to-day. Never has our river been so calm, nor so free from rocks, which your canoes have removed as they passed. Never has our tobacco had so fine a flavor, nor our corn appeared so beautiful as we behold it to day. Here is my son, that I give thee, that thou mayst know my heart. I pray thee to take pity on me and all my nation. Thou knowest the Great Spirit who has made us all. Thou speakest to him and nearest his word. Ask him to give me life and health, and come and dwell with us, that we may know him."
Father Marquette delivered a message and a Sachem from the Illinois replied with the following speech:
"I thank thee, Blackgown, and thee, Frenchman (M. Jollyet) for taking so much pains to come and visit us. Never has the earth been so beautiful, nor the sun so bright, as to-day. Never has our river been so calm, nor so free from rocks, which your canoes have removed as they passed. Never has our tobacco had so fine a flavor, nor our corn appeared so beautiful as we behold it to day. Here is my son, that I give thee, that thou mayst know my heart. I pray thee to take pity on me and all my nation. Thou knowest the Great Spirit who has made us all. Thou speakest to him and nearest his word. Ask him to give me life and health, and come and dwell with us, that we may know him."
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