Important confederation of Algonquian tribes formerly occupying Illinois with portions of adjacent states, numbering from 8000-10,000. To both French and English they were friendly, the pioneer Father Allouez being the first white man to make their acquaintance. To Father Gravier we owe the first grammar and dictionary of the language. The Jesuit missions were suppressed, 1763. The Illinois were receptive but fickle and were ruined by contact with French garrisons.