Jacqueline Kenny
Instructor: Dr.
Teresa Coronado
ENG 327
25 March 2016
Right
Hand Man in French Exploration
After first discovering the “New
World,” many European nations sailed across the sea into the unknown territory
to claim it as their own. Many early colonial works that are anthologized today
focus on these journeys in a mysterious land. France was one such nation willing
to take the trip, and many French explorers traveled North near Canada. One of
these explorers became famous after discovering the mouth of the Mississippi
River through Lake Illinois. M. de la Salle’s discovery was an incredible feat
in French exploration and for all nations colonizing America. The Mississippi
River runs along the Eastern part of America, connecting Canada to Mexico. Discovering
this passage from the Great Lakes is very important for trade because everything
can be shipped by water, “What is wanting, may be transported thither by our
vessels” (“An Account” 211). But the explorer did more than just discover a
great trade route; he paved the way for France’s colonization in America. Henri
de Tonti’s text, “An Account of Monsieur de la Salle’s last expedition and
discoveries in North America presented to the French king,” accounts for the
Monsieur’s explorations and should be a canon of American literature because it
depicts an important discovery for the French. We see the adventure through
Tonti’s eyes as we encounter rich new lands and see France’s communications
with the Indians. This work also shows us the various hardships many explorers
face away from their home countries. This entertaining take on American
colonization is one of the many important historical understandings of how the “New
World” was colonized by the French.
M. de la Salle’s right-hand man,
Henri de Tonti, documented this feat. Around the time of his birth, Henri’s
parents moved their family from Italy to France, where his father, Lorenzo de
Tonti was allowed refuge due to his involvement in a failed Spanish revolt. In
1668, Tonti joined the French army, eventually losing his hand. Then, after
being recommended to French explorer, Robert Cavelier de la Salle, the soldier was
able to accompany him to Canada in July 1678 (Weddle para. 1). According to American Journeys, and online website, De
la Salle, “received royal approval to explore and claim the entire Mississippi
River” (“Memoir” para. 2). It is this journey, and de la Salle’s last
exploration in America which Henri de Tonti accounts in his text. Tonti loyally follows the French explorer, portraying
many interesting encounters with Indian Nations. The two men and their crew set
sail across the vast waters within the “New World” and discovered the mouth of
the river in 1681. The explorer then went about establishing forts along Lake
Illinois (the lake leading into the river). Soon, Monsieur de la Salle returned
to France to inform the king of his triumph but came back to America in 1684 to
enter the river through the Gulf of Mexico. While Tonti stayed in the forts
around Lake Illinois, de la Salle set about establishing alliances with the
Indian tribes surrounding the Mississippi River. On this journey, Tonti’s friend
met his untimely death in 1687. American Journeys
believes that Tonti stayed in Illinois as a trader and continues to aid in
French exploration after the Monsieur’s death (“Memoir” para. 1).
One important element in this piece
is how Henri de Tonti takes measures to illustrate the environment in America.
Like the Monsieur, Tonti’s audience for exploration and his account was the
King of France. Ultimately, the soldier wished to show France how beneficial America
and the discovery of the mouth are important. Tonti wonderfully depicted the landscape of
the lands surrounding Lake Illinois, “As to the trees, they are nothing but
forests of high trees…one sees the whole plains covered over with Pomegranate-trees,
orange-trees, and lemon trees” (“An Account”176). This detailed description of plant
life paints a nice picture of fertile soil the nation of France can use. Crops
and good soil are a must for those who wish to settle in one place. Tonti also told
us about the intelligent wildlife as he takes time to describe beavers, “They
have a muzzle or nose, and strong teeth, their body is covered with thick hair,
and pretty fine” (66). The meat from these animals can be used for food and
their skins can be traded. This representation of America shows the king and us
readers the richness of the land and the uses this land has to establish trade.
Through Tonti’s detailed reports and his intended audience, we as readers get
the sense of what was important to start a colony and why France should further
support de la Salle’s exploration.
Another significant effort put forth
by the Monsieur and his crew is that, when encountering various Indians tribes,
the French explorer showed kindness and looked for friendship, showing us
France’s motives and collaborations with the Natives. One tribe Tonti
encountered was the Taencas. After meeting them, the soldier immediately wished
to coincide with them on good terms, “That having to be sent by the King of
France…to make a discovery of all the nations of America…we came to offer them
our friendship and protection” (210). This alliance with most of the Indian
tribes was incredibly beneficial for French colonization because it allows new
French settlers to enter America without fear of bloodshed. By reading this, we
get a closer look at how the French interacted with the Natives, but also how
their kindness could work in their favor. In his account, Tonti ensured the
king that because of his and M. de la Salle’s efforts of befriending the Native
peoples, the French will easily be accepted in American territory, “By this
relation one may take an estimate of the riches and beauty of all those
countries, inhabited by so many people, that are all in a manner already
brought under subjection, and who have a perfect idea of the Grandeur of our
Monarch” (210). Upon first meeting the tribes, the French introduced themselves
peacefully and spoke of their king, immediately riding obstacles for
settlement. These relationships with the Indians are an important step for
French establishment.
Even though making peace with multiple
Indian tribes helped Tonti and the many explorers, M. de la Salle and his men still
faced many hardships while exploring the “New World.” We as readers, living in an established land,
have no experience trying to launch a settlement in a new country. Luckily this
soldier’s account give us incite on the difficulties people faced when
colonizing America. After a long absence and no word from the explorer, Tonti
gets an unexpected visit from M. de la Salle’s brother, M. Cavelier. The
visitor recounted his brother’s misfortunes upon entering the Gulf, “They were
suddenly surpriz’d with a violent storm; insomuch, that one of their ships,
laden with Merchandizes…was hurried away with a furious blast of wind, and
afterwards taken by the Spanish Rovers” (“An Account 140). Ships suffered many
endeavors just to explore the waters. Later the crew was subjected to diseases,
another hardship on top of many. These misfortunes do not go overlooked by many
of the crew. Death is sorrowful for many. Tonti described his thoughts after
the unusual death of his friend, M. de la Marne, “I cannot sufficiently express
how much we were transported with grief at the sight of so sad a spectacle”
(176). But difficulties of weather and wild animals were not the only means of
dying in America. While many Indian tribes agreed to M. de la Salle’s offer of
French protection, some Indians were in dispute with the French and the crew
gets caught up in Native attacks. A set of brothers was among the explorer’s
crew and one of them was killed by Indians. The elder Lancelot brother blamed
the Monsieur for the death of the younger sibling, “he immediately laid the
blame on M. de la Salle” (189). If they were to never explore America to begin
with, many Frenchmen would have probably never died. This violent act between
two French men is a powerful way to demonstrate just how much fear and hatred
men felt during the first settlings overseas. All of these tragedies of
weather, disease, and murder are important in establishing just how hard it was
to colonize a new nation.
To recall, the discovery of the
mouth of the Mississippi was an incredible feat for France in the 1600’s. It
was the connection to the north and south of America through water. Henri de
Tonti’s work, “An Account of Monsieur de la Salle’s last expedition and
discoveries in North America presented to the French king,” is an excellent
example of early American writings and should be a canon of American
Literature. The piece eloquently describes the incentives the new land provides
for exploration and trade, it depicts how important relationships with indigenous
people were, and portrays the terrors one faces in leaving one’s home country
and completely having to establish a home in another. This particular
recollection conveys France’s desire in the “New World.”
Works
Cited
Tonti, Henri de, “An Account of Monsieur de la
Salle’s last expedition and discoveries in North America presents to the French
king.” Early English Books Online. Text
Creation Partnership, 2003-2004. Web. 04 March 2016.
Tonti, Henri de, “Memoir on La Salle’s Discoveries,
1678-1690.”American Journeys.Wisconsin
Historical Society, 2003. AJ-053. Web. 04 March 2016.
Weddle, Robert
S. “Tonti, Henri de.” Texas Historical
Association. Texas State Historical Association, 15 June 2010. Web. 06
March 2016.http://eebo.chadwyck.com.libraryproxy.uwp.edu:2048/search/fulltext?SOURCE=var_spell.cfg&ACTION=ByID&ID=D00000132876300000&WARN=N&SIZE=327&FILE=../session/1459232795_16463&SEARCHSCREEN=CITATIONS&DISPLAY=AUTHOR&ECCO=default
No comments:
Post a Comment