Tooker] ETHNOGRAPHY OF THE HURON 25 



INTERTKIBAL RELATIONS 



TRADE AND WAR 



There was trade between the Indian groups in furs, pigments, 

 wampum, and other articles (S 66-67) . 



Corn, fishing nets, wampum, and other objects were traded to the 

 Algonquin for fish and for animal skins (JR 13: 249; 27: 27; 31: 

 209; 33: 67; C 53, 131). This trade made Huronia "the granary of 

 most of the Algonquins" ( JR 8 : 115) . After the ice on Lake Huron 

 was strong enough, the Huron took corn to the Algonquin to trade 

 for fish (JR 13:249; of. JR 27:27). Other Algonquin came to the 

 Huron. For example, the Nipissirinien left their homes in the 

 middle of the fall and started for Huronia. On the way they caught 

 as many fish as possible and dried them. When they arrived in 

 Huronia to spend the winter, they traded the fish for corn ( JR 21 : 

 239) . [These Indians did cultivate a little land in the summer ( JR 21 : 

 239-241).] 33 



The Huron began trading with the French about 1600. They had 

 learned of this trade when occasionally, while going to war, they 

 encountered a place where the French were so engaged (JR 16: 229). 



By the time the Jesuits arrived, beaver had already been extermi- 

 nated in Huronia ( JR 8 : 57) . To obtain skins of beaver, deer, elk, 

 and other animals, the Huron and some nearby Algonquin traded 

 with the other, more northerly, Algonquin tribes ( JR 31 : 209 ; 33 : 67 ; 

 C 53). Many of these furs were then taken to Quebec (JR 13: 215- 

 217; 22:307; cf. JR 28:45). This trade was important: if the 

 Huron had not been able to go to Quebec to trade they would have 

 found themselves in such a plight they would have considered them- 

 selves fortunate to join the Algonquin ( JR 13 : 215-217) . 



The Indians did not wish the French traders to learn the source of 

 their fur supply : the Montagnais and Huron were not willing to take 

 them to the Saguenay because they feared revealing their most profit- 

 able source; neither were the Epicerinys willing to take the French 

 traders on their journeys (S 87) . 



Several families had private rights to trade. The first to discover 

 a line of trade was considered the master of such. Children shared 

 the rights of their parents to this trade, as did those who bore the same 

 name. No one else entered it without permission, w^iich was granted 

 only in consideration of presents. A man who had rights to trade 

 could have as many or as few associates as he wished. Inasmuch as 

 most of the riches of the country were obtained by trade, if he had a 



33 Apparently this trade between the Algonquin and the Huron rested not on Algonquin 

 lack of knowledge of agriculture or on Huron lack of knowledge of hunting and fishing, 

 but rather on the amount each could conveniently practice. 



