Page 221 - La Société canadienne d'histoire de l'Église catholique - Rapport 1961

and, in the war of 1812, espoused the cause of the former, and
proved the most sanguinary foes of the United States'
troops in the battles of the Thames and River Raisin, and
in the massacres at Mackinaw, Chicago and other places.
Even in later years they vicwed the citizens with suspicion,
and kept them in constant fear; and it is well known that
they not only instigated the Sacs and Foxes in the Black
Hawk war to commence hostilities, but participated in
their batbles. But these were not the worst features in
the character of this tribe; they possessed vices of a more
mean and grovelling nature-they united the, art of steal-
ing to that of lying. If they could catch the traveler's
horse, or lay hands upon any of his baggage or property
it was nppropriated at once to their own usc. It would
seem that they even trained their miserable dogs to steal,
as I experienced on more occasions than one, when the
whelps eat the strips of raw hide attached to the oars
of the boat or canoe, while encamped at night near one
of their vilfages. Their lying propensities were proverbial,
and if the traveler ever made enquiry of any of their
tribe for information about his rout or about the country,
he could only be sure of being right, by acting contrary
to their suggestions and answers.
Far different were the characters and habits. of the
Menomonees-as a tribe they practiced neither of the
low vices of thieving or lying. Unlike their neighbors,
whose character I hove just portrayed, they were neither
treacherous nor belligcrant. Always friendly to the whites,
they gained the friendship and confidence of the latter.
It is true, that during the war of 1812, this tribe, to-
gether with all of the Northern and Western tribes,
joined the British, and fought under their standard; but
this must be attributed to the fact, that the whole of this
portion of tho Northwest was, at that period in subjection
to that power rather, than the inclination of the Men-
omonees, who were induced to believe that the Govern-
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