Earlier in the European period, the Illini furnished Canadians with
skins of beaver, raccoon, deer, bear and buffalo, but in 1776 the French
(in Illinois) compelled them “to devote themselves to producing oil,
tallow and meat which they traded with them.” (Deliette Memoir. See
Pease in Bibliography under ILLINI.) The Indians traded for porcupine
quills with more northern neighbors. After the European came, Illini
trade was probably overwhelmingly with the whites, exchanging native
products of the forest for coveted guns, iron knives, hatchets, brass
kettles, cloth, glass beads and alcoholic liquors.
[Illustration: Fig. 34. A, B, common forms of Illini pipes
(restored) of red Minnesota pipestone, Illinois State Museum
collections: A, “Siouan”; B, Micmac; C, stone effigy-head type, (A.
J. Throop collection). All from village near mouth of Kaskaskia
River, Randolph County. (B.B.)]