Cadillac Manuscript "Relation du Sieur de la Motte Cadillac capitaine en pied aiant une compagnie de la marine en Canada"

Ms. transcription by D....D, dated July 21, 1718 in Versailles, au Parc au Cerf, of Lamothe Cadillac's description, probably from around 1693-1697, of the French settlement at Michilimackinac, and the customs and traditions of the neighboring Indian tribes. In the first chapter on Michilimackinac, Cadillac describes the geography of the Great Lakes, the way the Indians build their homes, cook their food, trap beaver and fish, and the practices of the voyageurs or fur traders. He continues by discussing the physical make-up of the Indians, how they engage in warfare and torture their captives, their own indifference to pain, their rituals of courtship, marriage, and death; and the practices of their medicine men. Chapt. 4 contains Cadillac's arguments in support of his theory that the Indians are descended from the Hebrews, and are the original Jews. Finally, he describes, tribe by tribe, the Indians south of Michilimackinac, including the Outaouas, Hurons, Pouteouatamis, Noquets, Sakis, Puans, Outagamis, Miamis of Chicagou, and Sioux. In the last chapter, Cadillac marvels at the rivers which join the Mississippi, and lead south, and west, possibly to the Pacific Ocean, and also describes the beauty of the land inhabited by the Illinois.