hoffman] NICOLLET WITH THE MENOMINI 15 



against invasion along tbe several waterways. Detroit guarded the 

 approach from Lake Erie; Michilimackinac protected the entrance to 

 Lake Michigan ; while the forts at St. Joseph and at the head of Green 

 bay (called La bay) commanded the routes between the lakes and the 

 Mississippi. 



Sieur Jean Nicollet arrived on the "Baie des Puants," or Green bay, 1 

 about the year 1634, although the account of his voyage thither was 

 not recorded by Pere Barthelemy Vimont until 1643. 



Nicollet's arrival in the land of the Menomini was heralded by some 

 young Winnebago Indians, who had been sent ahead; so that when he 

 lauded "this marvelous man" must necessarily have made a profound 

 impression, appearing as he did in a robe of Obina damask profusely 

 decked with flowers and birds of various colors, and " carrying thunder 

 in his hands." Tins gaudy display, together with tbe firing of pistols, 

 caused the terror-stricken women and children to flee. Between 4,000 

 and 5,000 people partook of the feasts, at one of which, it is recorded, 

 120 beavers were consumed. 2 



In the notice of tbe discovery of the Menomini by Nicollet, no accu- 

 rate information is given as to their geographic position. Pere Gabriel 

 Dreuillettes, who enumerated tbe several tribes located on Green bay, 

 says that the first ''nation," or tbe nearest to the village or town of St. 

 Michel, was called in Algouquian, Oupouteouatimik (Potawatomi), and 

 comprised about 700 men or 3,000 souls, including 100 men of the 

 "Nation of the Petun," or Tobacco nation. Tbe second nation was 

 that of tbe Noukek, tbe Ouinipegouek (Winnebago), and the Malou- 

 minek (Menomini). These people, located a short distance only from 

 the Potawatomi, gathered a certain reed which grew naturally on their 

 prairies and which was deemed equal to Indian corn. There were 

 also 200 Algonkiu, who formerly resided on the rivers and along the 

 northern coast of Lake Huron, but who had here sought refuge. 3 



The enumeration of tribes by Pere Dreuillettes continues, placing 

 the Maskotin out on tbe prairie, distant three days' journey by water; 

 and various southward tribes are enumerated, with extravagant popu- 

 lation — for instance, the Aliniouek (Illinois), living in 60 villages, were 

 said to number 20,000 meu, or in tbe vicinity of 100,000 souls. 



Tbe Noukek of this record were no doubt identical with the Nouquet, 

 or Noquette, who lived on the northern extremity of Green bay on what 

 today is designated the Bay of Noquet. Under this name, also, were 

 tbe Menomini referred to in some old accounts; but no tribe at present 



1 From the French designation, "la grande baie." 



' . . . On depeacha plusienrs ieunes gens pour aller an deuant da Manitouirinion, c'est a dire de 

 I'lionime merueilleux ; on y vient, on le conduit, on porte tout son bagage. II estoit reuestu d'vne 

 grande robe de damas de la Chine, toute parsemee deneurs at d'oyseaux de diueraes eouleurs. Si tost 

 qu'onl'apperceut, toutes les femmes et les enfans s'enfui'rent, voyant vn homine porter le tonnerreen 

 sea deux mains (c'est ainsi quits nommieut deux pistolets qu'il tenoit). La nouuelle de sa venue 

 a'eapandit incontinent aux lieux circonuoisins: ilaefit vneassembleedequatreou cinq niilh- hornmes; 

 chacun des principaux fit son festin, on Vvn desquela on seruit au nioius six-vingts Castors.— Rela- 

 tions des Jeauitea, 1643, pp. 3, 4. 



3 Relation dea Jesuites, 1658, p. 21. 



