Part 18

Most of the Inhabitants are _Mulattoes_, that is of a tawny dark Colour, who live most upon Chocolate and Sweetmeats, extraordinary sober, and eating little Flesh. The Men are haughty, the Women keep retired above Stairs, not to be seen by Strangers, and seldom going abroad, and then in Coaches or Chairs, and those who cannot reach to it, cover’d with fine silk Veils, which reach from the Crown of their Heads to their Feet, leaving only a small Opening on the Right Side,[127] for them to see their Way. In their own Apartments they wear nothing but a Smock and a silk Petticoat, with gold or silver Laces, without any Thing on their Heads, and their Hair platted with Ribbons, a gold Chain about their Neck, Bracelets of the same and Pendants of Emeralds in their Ears. They could well enough like the Behaviour and Company of the French, but that the jealous Temper of the Men obstructs them. There being a Picture of _Philip_ King of _Spain_, now reigning, aboard the Ship in which my Friend was, who gave me this Account, the People swarm’d aboard to see it, they were never satisfy’d with gazing at it, and there was a most magnificent Festival kept in the Town, on Account of the Birth of the Prince of _Asturias_.

They understand Trade very well, but are sloathful and averse to Labour, fond of State and Ease. They wear great Strings of Beads about their Necks, their Houses are full of Pictures and Images of Devotion, and they have little that is real. They are decently furnish’d with Purceline and _China_ Goods. The Churches are magnificently adorned with Plate. But the Lives and Manners of the Clergy are not Edifying. On Holidays and _Sundays_ there is no Thought of Matins, of Sermon, or of Vespers: People chat and laugh in the Churches as well as in the Processions, which are often at Night by the Light of Torches.

All Strangers are forbid Trading there, yet some come by Stealth and deal Underhand, by Means of Presents made to such Persons as can favour them. If those Mulattoes call themselves white, it is only to honour themselves and by Way of Distinction from their Slaves, who are all Blacks, and having got much Mony by their Labour, ransome themselves and sometimes become considerable Merchants.

[Sidenote: Mexico _City_.]

The City of _Mexico_, Capital of the Country and the Residence of the Vice-roy, is about eighty Leagues distant from _Veracruz_, to the Westward, the Way to it very bad and ill furnish’d with Provisions. That Country would be better in some Parts, if the people had the skill and energy to till it. They sow but little of our Wheat, and are satisfied with _Indian_ Corn[128] and _Cassabi_ Root, whereof they make Cakes, as is practis’d in the Islands. Their Trees and Fruits are the same as in other hot Countries. About the Town of _Veracruz_, there are Bushes of a Sort of Thorn, without Leaves, among which grows an extraordinary Plant; for tho’ it has but a small Stem, it shoots out Leaves of a Cabbage Green, as thick as a Man’s Finger, which grow out, one at the End of another, in the Shape of a Racket, and the Plant itself is so call’d. From those Leaves there grows out a Sort of red Figs, very juicy, with Seeds like those of the Pomgranate; the Juice is of a Violet Colour, but unsavoury. There is a Sort of Flies that cleave to it and are so fond of the Taste of the Fruit, that they burst and drop down dead. They are carefully gather’d and dry’d, and are the Scarlet Dye, call’d Cochinilla, which is brought into _Europe_, and makes that beautiful Colour. The Birds and Beasts are much the same as in other Countries of _America_. There is a Sort of Bird, all red, which for that Reason is call’d the _Cardinal_; this they often tame and teach to sing like a _Canary_ Bird. This is what I have been told concerning the Town of _Veracruz_.

[Sidenote: Havana.]

As for the _Havana_, a Town and Port no less famous, in the Island of _Cuba_, belonging as well as the other to the Crown of _Spain_, it stands towards the Western End, and on the North Side of that Island, almost under the Tropick of _Cancer_, and about four or five hundred Leagues on this Side of _Veracruz_. It is large and beautiful; the Port good, secur’d by two Forts on the two Sides, and good artillery, from twenty four to thirty six Pounds, the Entrance so narrow, that only one Vessel can go in at once. The Town is encompass’d by a good Wall, fortify’d with five Bastions, furnish’d with Cannon. The Streets are all as strait as a Line, and level, the Houses very handsome, but ill furnish’d. In the Midst of it is a fine Square, the Buildings about all uniform. The Churches are magnificent, and enrich’d with Gold and Silver, Lamps, Candlesticks, and Ornaments for the Altars. There are some Lamps curiously wrought, which weigh two hundred Marks of Silver, [each Mark being half a Pound.][129] The Revenue of the Bishoprick amounts to more than fifty thousand Crowns, and he who enjoy’d it in the Year 1703, as I was inform’d by my Friend, who gave me this Account of what he had seen, was the greatest Ornament of that City, for his Virtues and Charity, being satisfy’d with Necessaries, and spending all the rest upon the Poor, and in repairing decay’d Churches. Tho’ Strangers are prohibited to trade there, yet it is easier carried on than at _Veracruz_. The Inhabitants are more familiar; the Women have more Liberty, yet they do not go Abroad without their Veils to wrap and hide them. Many of them speak _French_, and dress after the _French_ Fashion, and some of our Nation have settled themselves there. When my Friend was there, a magnificent Festival was celebrated for fifteen Days successively, in Honour of K. _Philip_ the Fifth, and Monsieur _du Casse_ being then there, with his Squadron, the City desir’d him to join with them. To that Purpose, he set ashore five hundred Men, who perform’d the Martial Exercise in the great Square, which was much admir’d. The _Havana_ is the Place, where the Galeons meet. By this word should not be understood ships of extraordinary size; for most of them are but very inconsiderable craft which _Spanish_ vanity strives to magnify by a swelling name. But if these ships are not great, their precious freight is so. For all that, this city, the gateway to the treasures of the _West Indies_, is full of beggars—but it is by their own fault, and by their idleness that they are such. Provisions are dear there, especially Bread; but the Wine is not, tho’ it is good. Fish and Flesh there, are unsavory. The Inhabitants are _Spaniards_.

We have thought fit to describe those two famous Ports of the Bay of _Mexico_, as well because it has not been so exactly done before, as in Regard that the Settlement which is going to be made in _Louisiana_, may have some Dependance on them; for the _Havana_ lying in the Way, those who perform the Voyage may have the Conveniency of taking in Refreshments there, of putting in for Shelter in foul Weather, and of careening or refitting. As for the _Veracruz_, tho’ farther out of the Way, the Correspondence there may be advantagious for the Securing of the Colony of _Louisiana_.

But how can that fail of succeeding, under the Conduct of _Monsieur Crozat_, who has the Charge of that Enterprize, and whom Providence seems to have in a Manner ingag’d to advance in Wealth and Honour, to the Amazement of the World, and yet free from Envy, from Jealousy, and from any Sort of Complaints. There is therefore no Reason to presage otherwise than well of the Event of this Affair; the Blessings God has pour’d down upon all his former Undertakings, seem to be a Security for what is to follow. There is Reason to hope for still greater Blessings on this Project of a Settlement in _Louisiana_, as being equally advantagious to Religion and the State; for the propagating of the Knowledge and Service of God among an infinite Number of Savages, by Means of the Missioners, who are to be sent to and maintain’d in those vast Countries; the Planting of the Faith in that New World, only the Name whereof is known to us, and the Reducing of it to be a Christian and a _French_ Province, under the Dominion of our August Monarch, and to the eternal Memory of his Reign, will be the Consequences and the Fruits of _Monsieur Crozat_’s Care and Expence, the Glory of his Enterprize, the Security of the large Fortune he has made in this Life, and what is rare among such rich Men, the Earnest of much better in the Next. Heaven grant our Hopes and Wishes may be answer’d.

_I am_, &c.

_The Letters Patent granted by the King of_ France _to M._ Crozat.

_Louis_, by the Grace of God, King of _France_ and _Navarre_: To all who shall see these present Letters, Greeting. The Care we have always had to procure the Welfare and Advantage of our Subjects having induced us, notwithstanding the almost continual Wars which we have been obliged to support from the Beginning of our Reign, to seek for all possible Opportunities of enlarging and extending the Trade of our American Colonies, _We did in the Year 1683 give our orders to undertake a Discovery of the Countries and Lands which are situated in the Northern Part of America_, between New France and New Mexico: _And the Sieur_ de la Sale, _to whom we committed that Enterprize, having had Success enough to confirm a Belief that a Communication might be settled_ from New France to the Gulph of Mexico by Means of large Rivers; _This obliged us immediately after the Peace of_ Ryswick _to give Orders for the establishing a Colony there, and maintaining a Garrison which has kept and preserved_ the Possession, we had taken _in the very Year 1683 of the Lands, Coasts and Islands which are situated in the Gulph of Mexico, between Carolina on the East, and Old and New Mexico on the West_. But a new War having broke out in Europe shortly after, there was no Possibility, till now, of reaping from that new Colony the Advantages that might have been expected from thence, because the private Men, who are concerned in the Sea Trade, were all under Engagements with other Colonies, which they have been obliged to follow: And whereas upon the Information we have received concerning the Disposition and Situation of the said Countries known at present by the Name of the Province of _Louisiana_, we are of Opinion that there may be established therein a considerable Commerce, so much the more advantageous to our Kingdom in that there has hitherto been a Necessity of fetching from Foreigners the greatest Part of the Commodities which may be brought from thence, and because in Exchange thereof we need carry thither nothing but Commodities of the Growth and Manufacture of our own Kingdom; we have resolved to grant the Commerce of the Country of _Louisiana_ to the _Sieur Anthony Crozat_ our Councellor, Secretary of the Household, Crown and Revenue, to whom we entrust the Execution of this Project. We are the more readily inclined hereunto, because his Zeal and the singular Knowledge he has acquired in maritime Commerce, encourage us to hope for as good Success as he has hitherto had in the divers and sundry Enterprizes he has gone upon, and which have procured to our Kingdom great Quantities of Gold and Silver in such Conjunctures as have rendered them very welcome to us.

FOR THESE REASONS being desirous to shew our Favour to him, and to regulate the Conditions upon which we mean to grant him the said Commerce, after having deliberated this Affair in our Council, Of our certain Knowledge, full Power and Royal Authority, We by these Presents, signed by our Hand, have appointed and do appoint the said _Sieur Crozat solely to carry on a Trade in all the Lands_ possessed by Us, and bounded by New Mexico, and by the Lands of the English of Carolina, _all the Establishment, Ports, Havens, Rivers, and principally the Port and Haven of the Isle_ Dauphine, _heretofore called_ Massacre; _the River of_ St. Lewis, _heretofore called_ Missisipi, _from the Edge of the Sea as far as the_ Illinois; _together with the River of_ St. Philip, _heretofore called the_ Missourys, _and of_ St. Jerome, _heretofore called_ Ovabache, _with all the Countries, Territories, Lakes within Land, and the Rivers which fall directly or indirectly into that Part of the River of_ St. Lewis.

The ARTICLES.

I. Our Pleasure is, that all the aforesaid Lands, Countries, Streams, Rivers and Islands be and remain comprised under the Name of _The Government of_ Louisiana, _which shall be dependant upon the General Government of New France_, to which it is subordinate; and further, that all the Lands which we possess from the _Islinois_ be united, so far as Occasion requires, to the General Government of _New France_, and become Part thereof, reserving however to Ourselves the Liberty of enlarging as We shall think fit the Extent of the Government of the said Country of _Louisiana_.

II. We grant to the said _Sieur Crozat_ for Fifteen successive Years, to be reckon’d from the Day of Inrolling these presents, a Right and Power to transport all Sorts of Goods and Merchandize from _France_ into the said Country of _Louisiana_, and to traffick thither as he shall think fit. We forbid all and every Person and Persons, Company and Companies of what Quality or Condition soever, and under any Pretence whatever, to trade thither, under Penalty of Confiscation of Goods, Ships, and other more severe Punishments, as Occasion shall require; for this Purpose we order our Governours and other Officers commanding our Troops in the said Country forcibly to abet, aid and assist the Directors and Agents of the said _Sieur Crozat_.

III. We permit him to search for, open and dig all Sorts of Mines, Veins and Minerals throughout the whole Extent of the said Country of _Louisiana_, and to transport the Profits thereof into any Port of _France_ during the said Fifteen Years; and we grant in Perpetuity to him, his Heirs, and others claiming under him or them, the Property of, in and to the Mines, Veins and Minerals which he shall bring to bear, paying us, in Lieu of all Claim, the Fifth Part of the Gold and Silver which the said _Sieur Crozat_ shall cause to be transported to _France_ at his own Charges into what Port he pleases, (of which Fifth we will run the Risque of the Sea and of War,) and the Tenth Part of what Effects he shall draw from the other Mines, Veins and Minerals, which Tenth he shall transfer and convey to our Magazines in the said Country of _Louisiana_.

We likewise permit him to search for precious Stones and Pearls, paying us the Fifth Part in the same Manner as is mention’d for the Gold and Silver.

We will that the said _Sieur Crozat_, his Heirs, or those claiming under him or them the perpetual Right, shall forfeit the Propriety of the said Mines, Veins and Minerals, if they discontinue the Work during three Years, and that in such Case the said Mines, Veins and Minerals shall be fully reunited to our Domaine, by Virtue of this present Article, without the Formality of any Process of Law, but only an Ordinance of Re-union from the Subdelegate of the Intendant of _New France_, who shall be in the said Country, nor do we mean that the said Penalty of Forfeiture in Default of working for three Years, be reputed a Comminatory Penalty.

IV. The said _Sieur Crozat_ may vend all such Merchandize, Goods, Wares, Commodities, Arms, and Ammunition as he shall have caused to be transported into the said Country and Government of _Louisiana_, as well to the _French_, as _Savages_ who are or shall be there setled; nor shall any Person or Persons under any Pretence whatsoever be capable of doing the like without his Leave expressed in Writing.

V. He may purchase in the said Country, all Sorts of Furs, Skins, Leather, Wool, and other Commodities and Effects of the said Country, and transport them to _France_ during the said Fifteen Years: And as our Intention is to favour, as much as we can, our Inhabitants of _New France_, and to hinder the Lessening of their Trade, we forbid him Trafficking for Castor in the said Country under any Pretence whatsoever; nor to Convey any from thence into our Kingdom or Foreign Countries.

VI. We Grant to the _Sieur Crozat_, his Heirs or those claiming under him or them, the Property of, in and to all Settlements and Manufactories which he shall erect or set up in the said Country for Silk, Indigo, Wooll, Leather, Mines, Veins and Minerals, as likewise the Property of, in and to the Lands which he shall cause to be Cultivated, with the Mansions, Mills, and Structures which he shall cause to be built thereon, taking Grants thereof from Us, which Grants he shall obtain upon the Verbal Process and Opinion of our Governor and of the Subdelegate of the Intendant of _New France_ in the said Country, to be by him Reported unto Us.

We will that the said _Sieur Crozat_, his Heirs, or those claiming under him or them, shall keep in Repair the said Settlements, Manufactures, Lands and Mills; and in Default thereof during the Space of three Years, he and they shall Forfeit the same, and the said Settlements, Manufactories, Lands and Mills shall be Reunited to our Domaine fully and amply, and in the same Manner as is mentioned above in the Third Article concerning the Mines, Veins and Minerals.

VII. Our Edicts, Ordinances and Customs, and the Usages of the Mayoralty and Shreevalty of _Paris_, shall be observed for Laws and Customs in the said Country of _Louisiana_.

VIII. The said _Sieur Crozat_ shall be oblig’d to send to the said Country of _Louisiana_ Two Ships every Year, which he shall cause to set out in the proper Season, in each of which Ships he shall cause to be imbark’d, without paying any Freight, 25 Tun of Victuals, Effects and necessary Ammunition, for the Maintenance of the Garrison and Forts of the _Louisiana_; and in Case we should cause to be laden above the said 25 Tun in each Ship, we consent to pay the Freight to the said _Sieur Crozat_, at the common Merchantile Rates.

He shall be oblig’d to convey our Officers of _Louisiana_ in the Ships which he shall send thither, and to furnish them with Subsistance and a Captain’s Table for 30 Sols per Day, which we will cause to be paid for each.

He shall likewise give Passage in the said Ships, to the Soldiers, which we shall please to send to the said Country; and we will cause the necessary Provisions for their Subsistance to be furnish’d to him, or will pay him for them at the same Price as is paid to the Purveyor-General of our Marine.

He shall be furthermore oblig’d to send on Board each Ship, which he shall cause to set out for the said Country, Ten young Men or Women, at his own Election.

IX. We will cause to be deliver’d out of our Magazines to the said _Sieur Crozat_, 10000 Weight of Gunpowder every Year, which he shall pay us for at the Price that it shall cost us, and this for so long Time as the present Privilege shall last.

X. The Wares and Merchandize which the said _Sieur Crozat_ shall consign to the said Country of _Louisiana_ shall be exempt from all Duties of Exportation, laid or to be laid, on Condition, that his Directors, Deputies or Clerks, shall engage to give within the Space of a Year, to be reckon’d from the Date thereof, a Certificate of their Unlading in the said Country of _Louisiana_; under Penalty, in Case of Contravention, to pay the Quadruple of the Duties, reserving to our selves the Power of giving him a longer Respite in such Cases and Occurrences as we shall think proper.

XI. And as for the Goods and Merchandize, which the _Sieur Crozat_ shall cause to be brought from the said Country of _Louisiana_, and upon his Account, into the Ports of our Kingdom, and shall afterwards cause to be transported into Foreign Countries, they shall pay no Duties either of Importation or Exportation, and shall be deposited in the Custom-House, Warehouses of Ports where they shall arrive, until they be taken away; and when the Deputies and Clerks of the said _Sieur Crozat_ shall be minded to cause them to be transported in Foreign Countries, either by Sea or Land, they shall be oblig’d to give Security to bring within a certain Time, a Certificate from the last Office, containing what they Exported there, and another Certificate of their unlading in Foreign Countries.

XII. In Case the said _Sieur Crozat_ be obliged, for the furtherance of his Commerce to fetch from Foreign Countries some Goods and Merchandize of Foreign Manufacture, in order to TRANSPORT them into the said Country of _Louisiana_. He shall make Us Acquainted therewith, and lay before Us States thereof; upon which we, if we think fit, will Grant him our Particular Permission with Exemptions from all Duties of Importation and Exportation, Provided the said Goods and Merchandize be Deposited afterwards in our Custom-House Ware-houses until they be Laden in the Ships of the said _Sieur Crozat_, who shall be obliged to bring in one Year, to be reckoned from the Day of the Date hereof, a Certificate of their unlading in the said Country of _Louisiana_, under Penalty, in Case of Contravention, to pay quadruple the Duties: Reserving to our selves, in like Manner, the Liberty of granting to the said _Sieur Crozat_, a longer Respite, if it be necessary.

XIII. The Feluccaes, Canoes, and other Vessels belonging to us, and which are in the said Country of _Louisiana_, shall serve for loading, unloading and transporting the Effects of the said _Sieur Crozat_, who shall be bound to keep them in good Condition, and after the Expiration of the said Fifteen Years shall restore them, or a like Number of equal Bulk and Goodness, to our Governor in the said Country.

XIV. If for the Cultures and Plantations which the said _Sieur Crozat_ is minded to make he finds it proper to have Blacks in the said Country of the _Louisiana_, he may send a Ship every Year to trade for them directly upon the Coast of _Guinea_, taking Permission from the _Guinea_ Company so to do, he may sell those Blacks, to the Inhabitants of the Colony of _Louisiana_; and we forbid all other Companies and Persons whatsoever, under any Pretence whatsoever, to introduce Blacks or Traffick for them in the said Country, nor shall the said _Sieur Crozat_ carry any Blacks else where.

XV. He shall not send any Ships into the said Country of _Louisiana_ but directly from _France_, and he shall Cause the said Ships to Return thither again; the whole under Pain of Confiscation and Forfeiture of the Present Priviledge.

XVI. The said _Sieur Crozat_ shall be obliged, after the Expiration of the first nine Years of this Grant, to Pay the Officers and the Garrison which shall be in the said Country. During the Six last Years of the Continuance of this Present Priviledge: The said _Sieur Crozat_ may in that Time propose and nominate the Officers, as Vacancies shall fall, and such Officers, shall be Confirmed by us, if we approve of them.

Given at _FONTAINBLEAU_ the Fourteenth Day of September in the Year of Grace 1712. And of Our Reign the 70th.

SIGNED _LOUIS_ By the KING

_PHELIPEAUX_, &c.

Registered at _PARIS_ in the Parliament, the Four and Twentieth of September, 1712.

_Discovery of the Mississippi._

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ACCOUNT OF THE TRAVELS OF NICOLET, ALLOÜEZ, MARQUETTE, HENNEPIN, AND LA SALLE IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.

The pioneer of French travellers to the country west of the great lakes, and the first white man who is reputed to have reached a northern tributary of the Mississippi, was Jean Nicolet, who in 1634, or thereabouts, made treaties with the Indians at Green Bay, and ascended Fox River.