The Attignenonghacs, or tribe de la Corde, were the oldest and the most numerous, after the Attignaouantans.  They praised their antiquity and their traditions which had existed for two hundred years, and which had been collected by word of mouth by the chiefs or captains.  This evidence, more or less valuable, seems to indicate that they had preserved a family spirit, which is very laudable.  The Attignenonghacs, however, had founded a nationality, and their language was so developed that, in 1635, Father de Brebeuf could recall to memory twelve nations who spoke it.  This tribe had no special features except that they were very devoted to the French.  The Jesuits opened in their midst two missions called St. Ignace and St. Joseph.  Teanaustayae was one of the most important villages of the Attignenonghacs.  When the village of Ihonatiria ceased to exist, the Jesuits called it St. Joseph.  Here perished, in 1648, Father Daniel, together with seven hundred Hurons.

Toanche was another village of the same tribe.  It has often changed its name, and we may consider it as one of these flying bourgades so commonly found among the Hurons.  Champlain had known the village of Toanche under the name of Otouacha.  When Father de Brebeuf came here for the second time, in 1634, he was unable to recognize the village that he had visited for the first time in 1626.  It had been transported about two miles from its former place.  It was then situated at the western entrance of a bay now Penetanguishene, on a point in the northern part of Lake Huron, four leagues from Ossossane and seven from Teanaustayae.

The Arendarrhonons, or tribe de la Roche, were settled on the eastern part of the peninsula.  They were at first discovered by the French, and they had, according to the laws of the country, the privilege of fur trading.  They were especially attached to Champlain, and twenty-two years after his death they had not forgotten his remarkable virtues and courage.  The bourgade of Cahiague, comprising two hundred and sixty huts and two thousand souls, was the chief place of the Arendarrhonons.  It was situated near the lake Ouentaron, now lake Simcoe, at the northern extremity, near the small town of Orillia.  The Jesuits established a mission here, and their principal residence was on the right shore of a small river called the Wye, near Penetanguishene.  The remains of a fort built there in 1639 could be seen a few years ago.

Cahiague was distant from Carhagouha fourteen leagues.  It was situated near the village of Scanonahenrat, where the Tohontahenrats, the fourth Huron tribe, resided.  They were less numerous than the others.  Scanonahenrat was situated at about two leagues from Ihonatiria of the Attignenonghacs, and at three leagues from the Ataronchronons, another Huron group of small importance, where finally the Jesuits took up their residence.  When these missions were flourishing, the Jesuits could enumerate twenty-five different places where they could pursue their calling with zeal.  The Recollets had continued their course with vigorous activity; they had sown the divine seed, but they were not permitted to reap the reward of their labours, as the Jesuits did in the future.