This is a speech from an Indian Chief who appears before Maj. Basset to explain a murder and subsequent plundering of various goods committed by some "bad Indians." It appears that both the Major and the Indian Chief hold the Frenchman, Louison Chevallier primarily responsible for the incident that resulted in various Indians participating in the crimes. Unfortunately, the critical passage, in which the Chief explains the relationship between French and Indian responsibility, was the sole passage I found illegible. The Chief notes that his peoples have been factionalized pursuant to jealousies, and hence act simply to embarrass the "old Chiefs." What's interesting about this is that if true, it presupposes an understanding within the breakaway groups responsible for the alleged mischief that the responsibility of their actions would be visited upon the core group.

In Document: Poutewatamis