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The following diagrams illustrata tha method: Las cartas, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmte A des taux da reduction diff Grants. Lorsqua la document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clichi, il est film* A partir da Tangle supirieur gauche, de gauche i droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant la nombre d'images nicessaira. Las diagrammes suivants illustrent la mithoda. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 CE" DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY: WITH THE OEIGINAL KAKRATIVES OF MARQUETTE, ALLOUEZ, MEMBREl, HENNEPIN, AND ANASTASE DOUAY. BT JOHN GILMARY SHEA. WITB A rAOSDOLB OF THX KEWLT-DISOOVBRED KAP OF HAKQUKITK. B,E F I E L D, CLINTON HALL, NEW YORK. 1852. c/^03oS Entered, ftooording to Act of Congress, in the year 1862, By J. S. REDFIELD, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States in and for the Southern District of New York. STXREOTTPED BY C. C. SAVAQK, IS ChunlMn Straat, N. Y. TO JARED SPARKS, LL.D. PRESIDENT OF HABVABD UNIVERSITY, 'd^liifi Mmt is 'mtdkt, AS A MARE OF PERSONAL REGARD. By THE AXTTHOS. 1! f' % I PREFACE. It has long been a desideratum to have in English the early narratives, of the discovery and exploration of the Mis* sissippi. Marquette's map and voyage have indeed appeared, but the narrative varies in no small degree from the authentic manuscript, and the map is not at all a copy of that still pre- served, as it came from the hand of the great explorer. These published from original manuscripts, and accompanied by the narratives of the missionaries in La Salle's expedition, are now first presented in an accessible shape, and complete the annals of the exploration. The life of Marquette, and the history of the exploration itself, are the result of many years study of the early Spanish and French authorities, both printed and manuscript, some of which have never before been consulted. Besides my own researches, I have been aided hy those of the President of St. Mary's College, and of the Hon. James Yiger, of Montreal, and I trust that the volume will be found to be as faithful as the subject is interesting. New York, Sept., 1853. J. O. S. fi 1 1 4 [f CONTENTS. Iliatory of tho Discovery of tlie Mimiuippi Valley paoi vU Life of Fntlicr James Marquette, of tho Society of Jeiua, first explorer of tlio Mississippi x\i Notice on the sicnr Jolliet Ixxix Notice on Fallior Claudius Dablon .' 2 Voyages and Discoveries of Father James Marquette, of the Society of Je- sn^ in 1073, and the fallowing years 8 Notice on Father Claude Alloues 67 Narrative of a Voyngc made to the Illinois, by Father Claude Allouez A7 Bibliographical Notice of the Mabliiaemmt de la Foi of Father Christian le Clercq, Itocollcct 78 Narrative of La Salle's first attempt to explore the Mississippi, by Father le Clercq 88 Bibliographical Notice of the Works of Father Louis Hennepin 99 Narrative of a Voyage to the Upper Mississippi, by Father Louis Hennepin. 107 Notice on Father Zcnobius Membrd 147 Narrative of the Adventures of La Salle's Party, from Februarj-, 1680, to June, 1681, by Father Membr6 147 Narrative of La Salle's Voyage down the Mississippi, by the some 165 Account of La Salle's Attempt to reach the Mississippi by sea, by Father Christian le Clercq 186 Narrative of La Salle's Attempt to ascend the Mississippi, in 1687, by Father Anastosius Douay 197 Spanish account of the Destruction of La Salle's Fort in Texas 208 Appendix. Keovfc des Voyages et dcs ddconvertes du P. Jacques Marqnette, Ac. 281 Unfinished Letter of Father James Marquette, containing his last journal . . 268 La Salle's Patent of Nobility 266 La Salle's Second Commission 267 Comparative Table of the names on the Map published by Thevenot, and Marquette's real Map 268 , s HISTORY or THI DISCOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. ON glancing at a map of America, we are at once Btmck by the mighty river MiBsissippi, which, with its count- less branches, gathers the waters of an immense valley, and rolls its accumulated floods to the gulf of Mexico, affording a line of uninterrupted communication for thousands of miles, which has in our day peopled its banks with flourishing towns and cities. So large a stream, so important a means of entering the heart of the continent, could not, it would be supposed, long remain unknown — or, known, remain unap- preciated : yet so, in fact, it was. Oolumbus himself entered the gulf of Mexico, but the southern coast only was explored by the discoverer of the New World. By whom the northeni shore was first explored we do not know ; but it is laid down with considerable accu< racy in an edition of Ptolemy printed at Venice in 1513. This map is the more remarkable as the delta of a river cor- responding to the Mississippi is traced upon it more distinctly than, in the maps of the next century. Several adventurers now sailed along the northern or Florida shore, till it was ▼ill HISTORT or THR mSOOYEBT I oomplotely examined by Garay in 1618. Three years later, a map was drawn up by the arbitrator appointed to decide between the claims of rival discoverers, and on it we find the Mississippi again traced on the part assigned as peculiarly Garay's, apd on it the name it subsequently lyre, Bio del Espiritn Santo, or River of the Holy Ghost* Several expeditions were now fitted out to explore and reduce the realms of Florida. Brilliant, daring, and adven- tnrons attempts they were, and give the time that hue of chivalry which almost makes us forget the crimes which marked it — crimes, magnified and distorted indeed by for- eign writers, but still coolly and dispassionately examined crimes that we must condemn.f It was the last age of the • political freedom, of the nicely-poised balance between the * These facts and the maps are to bo found in an English version of the " Ship- wrecks of Alvor Nuflez Cabeza de Vaca," printed for private distribution at Wosh- ingtoD, in 18B1, for Qeo. W. Rigg^ jr. The translator is Mr. Buckingham Smith. I It is not so much the cruelty here as the wantonness of it that shocks our modern taste. That was an age of cruelty. The Spaniard, from his long guerilla wars with tlie early Moors, was necessarily a man used to blood : and when the Reformation came, and the new religionists sprang at the rich plunder of the churches, those who adhered to old ideas clung to them with desperation ; and when deprived of them, unable to retaliate on the church property of their antagonists who had none, vented their rnge on their spoilers themselves. In oountries where the advocates of the new ideas had not entered, the example of what had occurred elsewhere taught the old-idea party to prevent their entrance at all hazard, if they wished to worship at the shrines raised by their ancestors. Had they been angels, they might have been mild ; but they were men, and necessarily cruel, and the retaliations were so too. Tlie sixteenth century, then, is marked by constant scenes of blood, not only in America, but in Europe, and only bigots would attempt to represent any one case as isolated and build a the- ory on it. In this age, and from this very cruelty, the English and French navies rose ; both were in their origin piratical flotillas, which lived by plunder- ing the Spanish main and the rich argosies which were crossing to Cadiz. Even these bore a religious appearance, for the mariners, not only of England bnt of France, at the time professed a horror of the religion of the Spaniard, equalled only by their love for his gold. In fact, it is not easy to express now all that a Spaniard, on terra firma or the Spanish main, comprised in that fearful word "herege." * or THR MISSISSIPPI BIVXR. ruler and the ruled. Not yet had the world been startled bj the extremes of a claim of divine right in the ])ora<>n of the monarch, and annual revolutions in the name of the people. Tiie Spaniard was the freest man in Europe : the various pow- ers of the state, still unbroken, maintained on each other that salutary check which prevents all tyranny. The time was yet when the tutor of the heir-apparent of the Spanish crown c6uld inculcate on his pupil the doctrine that a tyrant might be put to death ; while, at the same time, the people were taught that religion required their obedience to the ruling powei-8, with submission and support from which gnly extreme oases could absolve them.^ Besides this, " many circumstances concurred at this epoch of overwrought excitement, violence, and a mania for discor* ery by land and sea, to favor individuality of character, and ena- ble some highly-gifted mind to develop noble germs drawn from the depth of feeling. They err," says Humboldt, " who be- lieve that the Spanish adventurers were incited by mere love of gold and religious fanaticism. Perils always exalt the po- etry of life; and besides, this remarkable age, unfolding as it did new worlds to men, gave every enterprise and the natural impressions awakened by distant travels, the charm of nov- elty and surprise." Leon, Cordova, and Ayllon, had successively found death on the shores of Florida ; but the spirit of the age was not damped : in 1528, Pamphilus de Narvaez undertook to con- quer and colonize the whole northern coast of the gulf. He landed, and, after long and fruitless marches, returned to the coast, and in wretched boats endeavored to reach Tampico. Almost all perished : storms, disease, and famine, swept tlrem w. * Mariana's De Rege T^ranno wos written for a Spanish prince, 1 HI8T0BT OF THK DISOOVEBT away, and the coast was whitened with their bleaching bones. A few with Gabeza de Yaca were thrown on an island on the coast of Mississippi. After four jears' slavery, De '^aca escaped and stmck inland with fonr companions. Taken for supernatural beings, they became the medicine- men of the tribes through which they passed, and, with as little difficulty as the Indian jugglers, established their repu- tation. With lives thus guarded by superstitious awe, they 'rambled across to the gulf of California, traversing the bison- plains and the adobe towns of the half-civilized natives of New Mexicp, perched on their rocky heights. De Yaca is the first known to have traversed our territory from sea to sea. In this long wandering, he must have reached and crossed the Mississippi; but we in vain examine his narrative for something to distinguish it from any other large river that he met. He remains then in history, in a distant twilight, as the first European known to have stood on the banks of the Mississippi, and to have launched his boat upon its waters ; but his " shipwrecks" shed no new light on its history.* When he and his companions suddenly appeared amid their countrymen in Mexico, their strange accounts, and an air of mysterious secresy which they affected, gave a new impulse to the adventurous spirit of the age. In the spring of 1539, two attempts were made to reach the realm in the interior, which De Yaca had protested to be " the richest country in the world." One of these expeditions started from the Pacific, the other from the Atlantic. The former was led by the Franciscan friar Mark, a native of Wice in Italy, who, burning with a desire of conquering for Christ the many tribes within, set out with a negro companion of De Yaca's * D« -Vaoa'a narrative in Spanish is in Baroia'a eoUefition, and in Tnneh in that of Ternauz-Compana. OF THE HXSSnllPPI BIVBB. m from Onliacan, and croseing the desert wastes, reached the Colorado ; but after gazing from a commanding height on the embattled towers of Gibola, with its houses rising sfory aboye story, and its gateways so well glased that they seemed masses of turqnoise, retorne^ with baffled hopes, for the na- tives had refused him entrance, and actually cnt off his negro guide and a large party of friendly Indians. Friar Mark, on his return, raised the hopes of the Spanish authorities still higher, and his statements^ apparently true in themselves, were 80 understood by the* excited imaginations of all, as to leave impressions far from the reality. An ideal kingdom rose into existence, and a new expedition was projected. This reached the valley of the Mississippi ; but before we trace its course, we must go back to the Atlantic expedition of 1539.* It was commanded by the successful Ferdinand de Soto, who had risen by the conquest of Peru to rank and wealth, and was now governor of the rich island of Cuba. With a force far superior to any that had yet landed on the continent, he entered Florida, and, with his gallant array, struck into the unknown interior. The Mississippi, under the name of Espiritu Santo, was not unknown to him ; for, after proceed- ing westward and turning slightly northeast to Hurripacuxi— after striking westward to Eteocale, whose heroes wore (the natives said) helmets of burnished gold — after carrying, by stubborn fight, the gallant town of Napetuca — after pressing on through Ivetachuco, fired like another Moscow by its dauntless people — after reaching Anaica Apalache, — he sent Maldonado back to Havana, with orders to meet him in six months at the mouth of the MissisBippi.f * Hie OArrative of Friar Mark it in the Appendix to the Narratire of Casta* fledo de Najera, published by Ternauz. It deserves to be read, for it is not so much a fiction as is generally supposed. f Historioal CoIL of Louisiana, toL iL, p. 90. /i' \ I \r xU HISTORY OF ^HE DISOOTBBT m Here began his second campaign ; lured by the glittering promises of an Indian gaide, he marched to the northeast, ci'ossing the Altamaha, and perhaps entered the territory of Carolina, a land full of remembrances of Ayllon. Weary with a march of twelve hundred miles, his men were fain to settle there; but no, on they must. go, and turning northward, he traversed unconsciously the golden sands of the Cha- laques, with a heavy heart, for it was poor in maize. At last he reached a great river by the western courae, and with his mind still full of great hopes from the r^er of Espiritu Santo, he took the Coosa for the Mississippi, and traced it to its source,* then following down its gentle current, crossing as villages invited hiffi, he reached Mavila to waste the lives and property of his men in a terrible contest with»the gigan- tic Tuscalosa, the chieftain of the land. Here any but the resolute Soto would havcTenounced his schemes, and joined his vessels in Pensacola bay ; but no, though winter was coming on, he marched north, fighting his way across river after river to the heart of the Chickasaw country, and win- tered there, although they, too, burned their yillage in which the invaders were quartered ; thence he marched northwest to the country of the Alibamons, who threw up a palisade entrenchment to prevent his passage. With considerable loss De*Soto carried it, and captured corn enough to cany him across the desert land to Qnizquiz, and here at last he really came to the long-sought Kio del Espiritu Santo. It was the Mississippi. Here all doubt vanishes. Listen to the characteristic description of the most detailed narrative. "The river," says the iinknown Portuguese, "was almost half a league broad ; if a man stood still on the other side, it could not be discerned whether he was a man or no. The * Historical Coll. of Louisiana, vol. ii., p. 101. OF THE MISSISSIPPI BIVEB. XIU river was of great depth, and of a strong current ; the water was always muddy ; there came down the river continually many trees and timber, which the force of the water and stream brought down."* And the inhabitants were not un- worthy of the great river. "The cacique came with two hundred canoes full of Indians with their bows and arrows, painted, with great plumes of white and many-colored feathers, with shields in their hands, wherewith they de- fended the rowers on both sides, and the men of war stood from the head to the stem, with their bows and arrows in their hands. The canoe wherein the cacique sat, had a can- opy over the stern, and he sat beneath it, and so were the other canoes of the principal Indians. And from under the canopy where the chief man sat, he commanded and gov- erned the other people. From the frequent mention of the river in Biedma's nar- rative we may infer that allusion to it was suppressed, or at most, mysteriously made by De Vaca, and that it was sup- posed to be the key to his land of gold. Certain it is, that their hopes seem here to brighten ; they build boats, the first European craft to traveree the river, and crossed to the west- ern side some twenty or thirty miles, as modem investiga- tors tell us, below the mouth of the Arkansas.f The countiy now reached by the Spaniards, was one of large and populous towns, well defended by walls and towers, pierced with regular loop-holes, and surrounded by well-made ditches. De Soto ascended the river, and striking on a higher, drier, and more champaign country than he had yet seen, proceeded onward to Pacaha, a place it would not be easy now to locate. The Mississippi was thus explored • Historical Coll. of Louisiana, vol. ii., p. 168. f See the opinions collected in Bancroft, vol. i., p. 6L .1? mi XIV HI8T0BT OF THB DISOOVBBT ■ for a considerable distance ; but far other than commercial or colonial projects filled the mind of Be Soto ; he stood bj what he knew an outlet to the sea, a great artery of the con- tinent, but his splendid array had dwindled down, and the rich realm of De Vaca had not yet rewarded his many toils. Nerved by despair, he marched northeast till he found himself among the wandering Indians of the plains, with their portable cabins. This was his highest point, and could not have been far from the Missouri. He then turned southwest again to the Arkansas, at the large town of Quigata, to seek guides to lead them to the southern sea ; but Goligoa beyond the mountains tempted him to the northwest again ; yet Goligoa ill-repaid their toil; it was poorer than the well-built towns they had left behind. Striking west and southwest again, he seems to have once moi*e reached the Arkansas at Cayas, and ascended it to the town of Tanico, with its lake of hot water and saline marshes. Turning then to the south and east, he again reached Yicanque also on the Arkansas, and wintering there, descend- ed it in the spring of 1542 to die on the banks of the Missis- sippi ; after having thus explored the valley of the Arkansas, and examined its inhabitants, who, from the scanty notices we Vave, seem quite diflferent from those afterward found there, and apparently an offshoot of the New Mexican tribes.* De Soto was now dead, the expedition was abandoned, the only object was to leave the fatal country. Muscoso, their new leader, despaired of reaching the gulf by the Mississippi, and struck westward in hopes of reaching New Spain, as De Vaca had done. In this western march of over seven hundred miles, he explored a considerable part of the valley of the Red river, passing by the tribes which were not * In confining these rambles of De Soto to the yallej of the Arkansas^ I am not alone; see M'OullocVa Sesearchet, pp. 629, 631, cited bv Bancroft. OF THE MISSISSIPPI BIVBS. XV expelled or exterminated when the country was nltimatelj explored by the French. !N^azacahoz, in the province of Gu- asco, was the most westerly town in their march. Here they found turquoises, potter}', and cotton mantles fioin New Mex- ico, and even an Indian woman who had escaped from the Pacific expedition, of which we shall next speak. From her statement, and the account given by the Indians of the large river of Daycao to the west, they marched ton days more, and crossing this river, probably the Pecos branch of the Rio Grande, found themselves in the country of the roving tribes. Disheartened at the prospect before him, Muscoso returned to the Mississippi, and ascending above Guachoya where De Soto had died, entered at Aminoya, and working up all their , chains and iron into nails, began to build vessels to navigate the Mississippi. The place where these first brigantines were built, has not been clearly settled, its Indian name Aminoya has left no trace. Here " seven brigantines were constructed, well made, save that the planks were thin, be- cause the nails were short, and were not pitched, nor had any decks to keep the water from coming in. Instead of decks, they laid planks, whereon the mariners might run to trim their sailc, and the people might refresh themselves above and below." They were finished in June, and "it pleased God that the flood came up to the town to seek the brigantines, from whence they carried them by water to the river." Thus three hundred and twenty-two Spaniards sailed from Minoya on the 2d of July, 1543, and passing Guachoya, were attacked by the people of Quigalta, who pursbed them for many days, and did considerable harm to the little fleet. At last, however, on the eighteenth day they reached the gulf of Mexico, after having sailed, as they computed, two hundred and fifty leagues down the river. Thence, after Pi XVI HIBTORT OF THE DISCOVERT many dangers and hardships, the survivors coasting along reached Tampico, " whereat the viceroy and all the inhabi- tants of Mexico wondered," says the chronicle.* Snch is, in brief, the history of the Mississippi as explored by De Soto, and his successor, Miiscoso, the first who sailed "Down the great river to the opening gulf." The account they gave received additional confirmation from the second expedition of Father Mark's from the Pacific coast. This expedition commanded by Coronado, and guided by the adventurous missionary, reached and took Cibola, which proved of little value. Ascending the Colorado, the com- mander left its valley and crossed the Kio Grande in search ofQuivira; a faithless guide promised him gold in all abun- dance, and othere as faithless now led him up and down the prairies watered by the upper branches of the Arkansas and Platte. He was thus on the upper waters of the former river, in 1542, at the time when Muscoso heard of him by his run- away slave ; but neither trusted the accounts which he re- ceived and they did not meet. At Tiguex before he reached the Bio Grande, Coronado had found a "Florida Indian" whose description of the Mississippi tallies quite well with with that of the gentleman of Elvas. "This river in his country," ho said, " was two leagues wide, and that they found fish in it as large as horaes, and that they had on it canoes which could hold twenty rowers on each side : and that the lords sat at the stern under a canopy ."f At the Rio Grande, too, Coronado heard from the Querechos, or roving Indians of the plains, "that marching toward the rising sun, he should meet a very great river, the banks of which he could * For an account of De Soto's expedition, see Biedma's narrative, and that of the gentleman of Elvas, in Historical Collections of Louisiana, vol. i'u La Flori- da del Inca, is a romance. f Caitanedo de Nagera in Ternanx, p. 11. ■ OF THE MISSISSIPPI BITEB. xvii follow ninety days without leaving inhabited country. They added that the first village was called Haxa, that the river was more than a league wide, and that there was a great number of canoes."* Such clear accounts of a great river, which the party of De Soto had found navigable for at least a thousand miles, would naturally have drawn attention to it; but we find no notice of any Spanish vessels entering the river to trade in furs or slaves, or simply to explore. Accident occasionally brought some to its banks, but these visits are few and brief, and they led to no result. Thus, in 1553, a rich argosy from Yera Cruz, after stopping at Havana, was wrecked on the Florida coast, and a few survivors reached Tampico by land, escaping from the constant and terrible attacks of the na- tives.f In consequence of this and other disastero the king, in 1557, ordered the reduction of Florida, and an army of 1,500 men was fitted out two years after under Don Tristan de Luna, who carried with him every survivor of any expe- dition or shipwreck in Florida, who could be found. De Luna reached St. Mary's bay in safety, and had sent back two vessels to announce his arrival in Florida, when a sudden storm came on, and all his vessels were dashed to pieces. Thus left in as miserable a state as any shipwrecked party before, Tristan was not disheartened ; he advanced to an Indian town Hanipacna, which had been taken and wasted by De Soto.J Hearing very fiattering accounts of the rich country of Coosa, he despatched a party of two hundred there, under his sargente mayor accompanied by two Domin- icans. The party reached Coosa in safety, entered into sr alliance ofi^ensive and defensive with the cacique, who was * Cattanedo de Jfagera in Temaux, p. 117. f Emmy tftvtto. ad ann. \ It must be the Napetuoa of the Portuguese relation. For De L^toa, see En%. Crotk 1669. II m m ■ Ml B zvUi HISTOBT OF THE DI800VEBT then at war with the Napochies (probably the Natchez), who lay on the Ochechiton, or groat water, which the Spaniards took to be the sea. An expedition was soon set on foot against the Natchez, and the caciqne went at the head as chief of Ooosa never went before, on a gallant Arabian steed, with a negro groom at his horse's head. Defeating the ene- my, they reached the Ochechiton which proved to be a mighty river, the Bio del Espiritu de Santo, in other words, the Mississippi, thus reached again by the Spanish adventur- ers and missionaries. Bevolts had meanwhile arisen in De Luna's camp, and vessels soon came to bear the survivors back to Mexico, and none now looked in hope to that fatal quarter. The entrance of some missionaries into New Mexico in 1580, though fatal to themselves, led to new expeditions, and to the final establishment of Spanish colonies there ; here as before, they heard continually of the Mississippi, or Bio Grande del Espiritu Santo, and some seem actually to have reached it \* but no steps were taken to explore it, and the Bio Grandee is so called merely because some one mistook it for the great river of De Soto.f A work published in 1630,:(: has indeed an account of a Portuguese captain, Vincent Gonzalez, who is said to have sailed up a large river between Apalache and Tampico, and to have approached quite near the kingdom of Quivira, but though this is supposed by the author to be the Espiritu Santo, the notice is too vague to found any inference. The Mississippi was now forgotten, and although explored for at least a thousand miles, known to have at least two • See Entayo Chronologieo, p. 170 ; and tit Bonilla Torquemada, vol. iii., p. 368. f I have Been this fact stated, but can not now state the work, i Benavidea Memorial. OF THX MISSISSIPPI BIYEB. XIX iii.,p.868. branches equal in size to the finest rivers of Spain, to be nearly a league wide and perfectly navigable, it is laid down on maps as an insignificant stream, often not even distin- guished by its name of Eepiritu Santo, and then we are left to conjecture what petty line was intended for the great river of tlie west.* The Spaniards had thus abandoned the valley of the Mis- sissippi, and a few yeai-s after the French at the north began to hear of it, and it was finally reached and explored by the Jesuit missionaries, the great pioneers of the north and west. Quebec was founded by Ghamplain, in 1608. He was soon joined by Eecollect friars, and while he entered the Seneca country with his Huron allies, the intrepid Father Le Garon had ascended the Ottawa and reached the banks of Lake Huron. Subsequently others joined him there ; they invited the Jesuits to aid them, and the tribes in the peninsula were visited from Detroit to Niagara, and from Lake Nipissing to Montreal. The capture of Canada by the English, in 1629, defeated any further missionary efibrts for a time; but it was restored in 1632, and tlie Jesuits sent out to continue the mis- sions alone. Tliey "now became the first discoverers of the greater part of the interior of this continent. They were the firet Europeans who formed a settlement on the coast of Maine, and among the first to reach it from tlie St. Lawrence. They, it was, who thoroughly explored the Saguenay, dis covered Lake St. John, and led the way overland from Que- bec to Hudson's bay. It is to one of them that we ow-) the discovery of the rich and inexhaustible «alt springs of Onon- * An English Toynge np in 1648, or thereahout«, and a Spanish one up into New York liy the Mieeissippi nnci Ohio, in 1669, have found advocates; bnti confess my skeptioism. Tlint a ship may have occasionally entered the Delta, is not improhnlile, and Indian report seems to fix one somewhere near 1669. See Sparkt's Life of La Salh, lAfe of Marqvxtte, JDenton'i Nets' York. m ' S'l ( ,1 ■ 1; XX BISTORT OF THR PISCOVBRT ' ' dftga. "Within ten years of their second arrival, tliey had completed the examination of the country from Lake Superior to the gulf, and founded several villages of Christian neo- phytes on the borders of the upper lakes. While the inter- course of the Dutch was yet confined to the Indians in the vicinity of Fort Orange, and five years before Elliott of New- England had addressed a single word to the Indians within six miles of Boston harbor the French missionaries planted the cross at Sault Ste. Marie, whence they looked down on the Sioux country and the valley of the Mississippi. The vast unknown west now opened its prairies before them. " Fortunately the early missionaries were men of learning and observation. They felt deeply the importance of their ]M>sition, and while acquitting themselves of the duties of their calling, carefully recorded the progress of events around them."* Year after year these accounts reached Europe, and for a long time were regularly issued from the press, in the same epistolary form in which they were written. In the history of the French colonies, they are a source Buch as no other part of the country possesses. For our pres- ent purpose, they have been inviiluable; from them we can trace step by step, the gradual discovery of the Mississippi. As early as 1639, the adventurous and noble hearted sieur Nicoletjf the interpreter of the colony hud struck west of the * O'Callaghan, Jesuit Relations. I As we are perhaps the first to advance thadnim of the sieur NicnTet, it may not be amiss to give a meager sketch of a man too mncli nnknown, tliongh he occupied an important place in the early history of Canada. He eame out to Canada in 1618, and was never from that time imemployed. Almost immedi- ately after his coming, he was sent to the plundering Honqneronon^ or Indians of the i>, and completely sneeeeded in his mission. He was then for eight or nine years stationed among the Nri-is'sing^ anl became almost as Indian as they. After the restoration of Canada to France^ I I or THE Missnaippi bivks. xxi they had ) Superior )tian neo- the inter- ana in the tt of New- nns witiiin ea planted i down on ippi. The them. of learning ce of their e dntiea of enta aro»md led Enrope, the preaa, in ten. are a aonrce i'or our prea- liem we can Miasisalppi. learted aieur c weat of the Bieur Nico1et» it inknown, t.liongh He e«me o«t to Almost inimedi- onon^ or Indians he rentinined two RnnlW acquired a \\h fonr linndrcd sneeeeded in his ng the Ntl>'''!'ing^ Canada to Frnnce, Hnrona, and, reaching the laat limit of the Algonquina, found himeelf among the Ouinipegou (Winnehagoea), " a people called 80, hecanae tKey came from a diatant sea, hut whom some French erroneoualy called Puanta," aaya thia early ac- count. Like the NadUeSia they apoke a language diatinct from the Huron and Algonquin. With theae Nicolet entered into friendly relationa, and exploring Green hay, aacended Fox river to ita portage, and emharked on a river, flowing weat ; and aays Father Yimont, " the aieur Nicolet who had pene- trated furtheat into thoae diatant countriea, avera that had he sailed three daya more on a great river which flowa from that lake [Green bay], ho would have found the aea." Thia ahowa that Nicolet like De Luna'a lieutenant miatook for the aea, the Indian term Great Water, applied to the Misaiaaippi. It ia certain then, that to Nicolet ia due the credit of having been the firat to reach the watera of the Miaaiaaippi. The hope of reaching the Pacific now arouaed the courage of the miaaion- ariea, aome fathera invited by the Algonquina were to be aent to " thoae men of the other aea," but, adds Vimont prophet- ically, " Perhapa thia voyage will be reaerved for one of ua who have aome little knowledge of the Algonquin."* he was made interpreter and commissary of the colonj, which office he filled till he was sent, about 1689, to Green Bay, and the Men of the tea, where he met an assembly of four or five thousand men, and concluded peace with them. It must have been at this time that he ascended the Fox river to the Wisconsin. Re- turning to Quebec, he succeeded Olivier as commissary, and retained this office till his death. In 1641, we find him with F. Ragueneau, negotiating a peaoe with the Iroquois, at Three-Rivers. In 1642, sent from Quebec to Three-Rivers, to rescue a poor Abennqni from the hands of some pagan Algonquins, he set out in a small boat on the Slst of October, at sunset with Savigni, but a storm came on, and their little craft capsized near Sillery. Savigni swam to the shore, Ni- colet, unable to swim, sank to rise no more. Thus perished, in a work of Chris- tian charity, the sieur Nicolet, the first Frenchman who reached the waters of the Mississippi. See Rel. 1689-'40, p. 136. Sel. 1640-'41, ch. ix. Hel. 1642-'48, p. 8. Cretixiun, p. 359. * Rel. 1689-'40, pp. 182, 136, Ac. The Lao des Puans is laid down on Cham- plain's mai> of 1082 ; but in all probability, only from report, as it is placed m I. 5] 1,- .'f li T ,T • •? zxu HUTOBT or THE DUOOVXBT ■I In 1641, two Jesuits from tbo Huron mission, the illustrious Isaac Jognes and Charles Raymbout were actually sent to Sault St. Mary's, and they too heard of tl^ Sioux and the river on which they lay, and they burned to enter tliose new realms and speak that language yet unknown, which fell so strangely on their ears now used to Huron and Algonquin sounds.* The next year the Iroquois war broke out in all its fury ; and the missionaries bad to abandon all hopes of extending to tho west. The war proved fatal to the allies of the French ; by 1650, all Upper Canada was a desert, and not a mission, not a single Indian was to be found, where but a few years before the cross towered in each of their many villages, and hundreds of fervent Christians gathered around their fifteen missionaries. The earth still reeked with the blood of tho pastor and his flock; six missionary fathers had fallen by the hands of the Iroquois, another had been fearfully mntil- ated in their hands. But scarce was there a ray of peace when the survivors, were again summoned to the west. A field opened on Lake Superior. Father Garreau was sent in 1656, but was killed ere he left the St. Lawrence. De Gro- seilles and another Frenchman, more fortunate, wintered on the shores of the lake in 1658 ; they too visited the Sioux, and from the fugitive Hurons among them heard still clearer ti- dings of a great river on which they bad struck, as, plunging through unknown wood and waste, over cliffs and mountains, they had sought to escape the destructive hand of the pnr^ suing Iroquois. " It was a beautiful river," writes the an- nalist, •' large, broad, and deep, which would bear comparison, they say, with our St. Lawrence." On its banks they found the AbimiSec, the Ilinois of later days. north of Lake Superior, unless it is meant for Lake Winnipeg, which, liktt Green baj, got its name from the Algonquin epithet for the Dacotahs, as com- ing from the Paoifia * Sel. 1642, p. 166. Of TnS MllStlSBirFI KIVXB. xxiil From other qanrtore, too, they began to hoar of this great river. The miBsiomiries on the Sn<;uonay heord of the Win- nipegouek, nnd their bay hence tlneo icas could he readied, the north, tlie eouth, and the west * Tlie ini8§ionarie» in ^New York saw Iroquois war-parties set out against the Ontoo- gannha whose towns " lay on a beautiful river [Ohio], which leads to the great lake as they called the sea, whore they traded with Europeans, who pray to God as we do, and have rosaries and bells to call men to prayers." This sea the mis- sionaries judged must be the gulf of Mexico, or that of Call- fornia.f Mea«while Menard, an old Iluron missionary, proceeded, in 1660, to Lake Superior, an<> founded an Ottawa 'mission on the southern shore. He, too, heard of the Mississippi, and had resolved to reach the nations on its banks, undeter- red by the difficulties of the way ; but a work of charity called him to another quarter, and a death in the wilderness an'ested his projects, before which one of half his years would have recoiled .| His successor, Father Allonez, also heard of the great river, " which empties," says he, " as far as I can conjecture, into the sea by Virginia." He heard, too, of the Ilimouek, and the Nadouessiouek ; and herd, for the first time, we find the * Rel. 1669-'60, p. «?.. f Ret. 166 -'62, p. 9. X See his letter in Jiel. 1668-64, oh. i. Reoent publications hav- put a Jesuit tuission on the lake, and even on the Mississippi, as early as 1663 ; but the iiela- tions have not the sligljtest allusion to the fntt, and speak of M£nard as the first Hie Jesuits named as being concerned, are not mentioned either in the journal of tlie superior of the mission, nor in any printed Relations, nor in Ducreux, nor in Le Clercq. The fact of a missionary at Tamaroa prior to Marquette's voyage, is perfectly irreconcilable with the Relations, and if established, would destroy their authority. In this view, I will pay the most exorbitant price for any let- ter to or from F. Louis de Guerre, or Charles Drocoux, or any act of theirs at Tamaroa during the period in question, or any manuscript of the I7th century showing their existence there. if I'* m ill 5 ; apieraet un petit aauvage qu'il nunenoit de ^ea paya U. "H avoit laiaae^ dana le Lao Superieur an Sault Ste. Marie chei lea Perea dM oopiea de aea jonmaux, que nous ne aauriona avoir que I'ann^e prochaine, par oill voua apprendres pina de particularity de oette d^couverte, dont il s'est trte bien acquitte. 'FaoirawAa" IM ?'"i vi zzxir BISTORT or THE DIBCOTEBT i I in tlie Lands of the miBsionaries ; these Frontenac promised to send, and Father Marquette, as we find by his antograph letter, transmitted copies to his superior at liis request, prior to October ; and the French government was, undoubtedly, possessed, in 1676, of Marquette's journal and map, and fully aware of the great advantage to be derived from the dis- coveries made, either for communicating direct with France from Illinois, or of seeking the nearest road to the gulf of Oal- ifornia and the Pacific, by the western tributaries of the Mis- sissippi. "These," says Frontenac, "are projects we can take in hand when peace is well established, and it shall please his majesty to carry out the exploration." The court allovted the whole afiair to pass unnotlcfxl. Mar- quette's narrative was not published, and the Jesuit Bolations apparently prohibited ; so that it would not, perhaps, have seen the light to our days, had not Thevenot obtained a copy of the narrative and a map which he published in 1681.* France would have derived no benefit from this discovery, but for the enterprise and persevering courage of Bobert Oavalier de la Salle. When Jolliet ^>; /isod down Lake On- tario, in 1674, he stopped at Fcrt Frontenac where La Salle was then commander under Frontenac. He was thus one of the first to know the result of Jolliet's voyage, and, perhaps, was one of the few that saw his maps and journal which were lost before he reached the next French po&t. At the time it does not seem to have made much impression on La "Salle ; his great object then was to build up a fortune, and the next year he obtained a grant of Fort Frontenac and the monopoly of the lake trade and a patent of nobility. His plans failed, and instead of acquiring wealth, he found him- self embarrassed by immense debts. He now looked for * There ia a copy of this original edition in the library of Harvard College. An exaot copy was printed by Mr. Rich, a few years ogo. OF THS MOWnSIPPI BIVKB. flome new field, and by reading the acconnto of tbo Spanish adventurers, seems to have been the first to identify the great river of Marquette, and Jolliet with the great river of Do Soto. The vast herds of bison seemed to him to afford an easy means of realizing all that he could hope, by enabling him to ship from the banks of the Missouri and Illinois direct to France by the gulf of Mexico, cargoes of buffalo-skins and wool. In 1677, he repaired again to France, and by the help of Frontenac*s recommendation, obtained a patent for his dis- covery, and a new monopoly in the following May, and by September was in Canada with Tonty and a body of ma- chanicB and mariners, with all things necessary for his expe- dition. The plan traced by Jolliet in Frontenac's despatch of 1674, seems to have been followed by him without further investigation. As it would be necessary to unload at the falls of Niagara, the Onghiara, of the old missionaries, he re- solved to build a new fort there, and construct vessels above the cataract to ply on the upper lakes, and thus connect his trading-houses on the Mississippi with Fort Frontenac, his chief and most expensive establishment. Such was his celer- ity that, by the 5th of December, the first detachment of hia party entered the Niagara river, and a site was soon selected for a fort, and for the construction of a vessel above the falls. DiflSculties wfth the Senecas finally compelled him to relin- quish the fort, and a mere shed or storehouse was raised. The vessel, however, went on, and he at last saw it glide down into the rapid current of Niagara in August, 1679, amid the admiring crowd of Indians who had gathered around the French. Tliere was now no obstacle to his further progress, but we ranet here regret that he had not studied former discoveries more narrowly. One of his clear and comprehensive mind *$ zzxyi BUTOBT or THB DUCOTBBT wonid have teiased at once the great western branch of th« MiMiesippi, already known to tbe missionaries and tlie Iro* qnois. By his present plans he had to buiid one vessel above the falls of Niagara, and a second on the Illinois river ; one on the Ohio, so easily reached by the Alleghany wonld have carried him to the gnlf, and he wonld thus have avoided the varions troubles which so long retarded his reaching the mouth of the Mississippi. He sailed to Green bay, bnt f tions for his great work. In January, 1682, he was again with his party at the extre/bity of Lake Michigan, and enter- ing the Ohioago river, followed the old line of Father Mar^ quette, reached Fort Orev^coeur once more, and at last began in earnest his Toyage down the Mississippi. He had aban- doned the idea of sailing down in a ship, and resolved to go in boats, ascertain accurately the position of its mouth, and then return to France and sail direct with a colony for the mouth, and ascend to some convenient place. On the 6th of February, the little expedition, apparently in three large boats or canoes, conducted by La Salle and his lieutenants, Tonty and Dautray, with Father Zenobias Membr6, as their chaplain, and Indians as hunters and guides, entered the wide waters of the Mississippi, which henceforward, in the narratives of La Salle's companions assumes the name of Oolbert. They passed the month of the muddy Missouri, ajd further on, the deserted village of the Tamaroas, and next the Ohio, where the marshy land began that prevented their landing. Detained soon after by the loss of one of his men. La Salle encamped on the bluff, and fell in with some Ohickasaws, then proceeding on, at last, on the Sd of March, was roused by the war-cries, and the rattling drums of an Arkansas village. He had reached the limit of Jolliet's ^■Ji :i m '4 :'l XXXVIII HISTOBT OP THE DISOOVEBY ii ! 1^ :i voyage; henceforward, he was to be the first French ex- plorer. Warlike as the greeting was, La Salle soon entered into friendly relations with them, and several days were spent in their village. Here a cross was planted with the arms of the French king, and the missionary endeavored, by interpreters and signs to give some idea of Christianity. On the 17th, La Salle embarked again, and passing two more Arkansas towns, reached the populous tribe of the Ta- ensas, in their houses of clay and straw, with roofs of cane, themselves attired in mantles, woven of white pliant bark, and showing Eastern reverence 'for their monarch, who in great ceremony visited the envoys of the French. Pursuing his course, the party next came to the l^atchez, where another cross was planted, and visiting the Koroaa proceeded on till the river divided into two branches. Fol- lowing the westerly one, they sailed past the Quinipissas, and the pillaged town of another tribe, till they reached the delta, on the 6th of April. La Salle and his two lieuten- ants, each taking a separate channel, advanced, full of hope; the brackish water, growing Salter as they proceeded, being a sure index of the sea, which they reached at last on the 9th of April, 1682, sixty-two days after their entering the Missis- sippi. The Fi'ench had thus, at last, in the two expeditions of Jolliet and La Salle, completely explored the nver from the falls of St. Anthony to the gulf of Mexico. La Salle now planted a cross with the arms of France amid the solemn chant of hymns of thanksgiving, and in the name of the French king took possession of the river, of all its branches, and the territory watered by them ; and the notary drew up an authentic act, which all signed with beating hearts, and a leaden plate with the arms of France, and the names of OF THE MISSISSIPPI BIVEB. XXXIX the discoverers was aihid the rattle of musketry deposited in the earth. La Salle now ascended again to Illinois, and despatched Father Zenobins Membr^ to France to lay an account of his voyage before the government. He sailed from Quebec on the 15th of November with Frontenac, and the course of the Mississippi was known in France before the close of 1682.* The next year La Salle himself reached France, and set out by sea to reach the mouth of the Mississippi ; he never again beheld it ; but Tonty seeking him, had again descended to the mouth, and it was soon constantly travelled by the ad- venturous trader, and still more adventurous missionary. A Spanish vessel under Andrew de Pes, entered the mouth soon after ; but, on the 2d of March, 1699, the Canadian Iberville, more fortunate than La Salle, entered it with Father Anasta- sius Douay, who had accompanied that unfortunate adven- turer on his last voyage.f Missionaries from Canada soon came to greet him, and La Sueur ascended the Mississippi to St. Peter's river, and built a l^g fort on its blue-earth tributary. Henceforward all was progress ; we might now trace the labors of those who explored each mighty tributary, and watch the progress of each rising town ; we might follow down the first cargo of wheat, or look with the anxiety of the day at the firet crop of sugar and of cotton ; but this were to write the history of the Mississippi valley, and we undertook only that of its discovery. Our work is done. We turn now to trace the life of its first French explorers. * The works on La Salle'e voyagee, besides Hennepin already noticed, are^ 1. Etablisscment de laFoi, Ac, par le P. Chretien Le Clcrcq, Paris, 1691. 2. Der niere* decouvertet, Ac, par le Chev. de Tonty, Paris, 1697. 8. Journal Ilittorigve, Ac, par M. Joutel, Paris, 1713. f BtKtorical Colleetiont of Louisiana, vol liL, p. 14. ; 1! ■ >', r i.ij f il LIFE OF FATHER JAMES MARQUETTE. OF THE aOCJKTY OF JESUS, FIBST EXPLORER OF THE MISSISSIPPL NEAE a little branch of the river Oise, in the department of Aisne, the traveller finds perched on the mountain- side the small bat stately city of Laon. Strong fortifications without, and a vast cathedral within, show that in former days it was one of those cities which were constantly replete with life and movement in the endless contests between noble and noble, and not unfrequently between the suzerain himself and his more powerful vassal. The most ancient family in this renowned city, is that of Marquette, and in its long annals we find the highest civic honors borne almost constantly by members of that illustrious race. It already held an important place in the reign of Louis the young, and its armorial bearings still commemorate the devoted ness of the sieur James Marquette, sheriff of Laon, to the cause of his royal master, the unfortunate John of France, in 1360. A martial spirit has always characterized this citizen family, and its members have constantly figured in the daz- -Vi i'l xlil LIFE OF FATHER MABQUETTE. M 11 zHng wars of France. Our own republic is not without its obligations to the valor of the Marquettes, three of whom died here in the French army during the Kevolutionary war. Yet not their high antiquity nor their reckless valor would ever have given the name of Marquette to fame ; the un- sought tribute which it has acquired among us, is due to the labors of one who rpnounced the enjoyments of country and home to devote his days to the civilization and conversion of our Indian tribes; who died in the bloom of youth, worn down by toil, in a lonely, neglected spot, whose name every effort was made to enshrine in oblivion, but who has been at last, by the hand of strangers, raised on a lofty pedestal among the great, the good, and the holy, who have honored our land ; the family is known to us only as connected with Father James Marquette of the Society of Jesus, the firet ex- plorer of the Mississippi. Bom at the ancient seat of his family, in the year 1637, he was, through his pious mother Bose de la Salle, allied to the venerable John Baptist de la Salle, the founder of the insti- tute known as the Brothers of the Christian Schools, whose services in the cause of gratuitous education of the poor had instructed thousands before any of the modem systems of public schools had been even conceived.* From his pious mother the youthful Marquette imbibed that warm, generous, and unwavering devotion to the mother of God, which piakes him so conspicuous among her servants. Kone but a mother could have infused such a filial affection for Mary. At the age of seventeen his heart, detached from this world and all its bright allurements, impelled him to enter the So- ciety of Jesus, as he did in the year 1654. When the two * Devisme Histoire de la Yille de Laon. A member of his family, FranoiB Marquette, founded aimilar schoola for girls, in 1686, and the raligious were com- monly called Soeura Marquette. LIFE OF FATHBB MABQITETTB. xliii years of self study and examination l)ad passed away, he waa as is usual with the young Jesuits, employed in teaching or study, and twelve years glided away in the faithful per- formance of the unostentatious duties assigned him. No sooner, however, was he invested with the sacred character of the priesthood, than his ardent desire to become in all things an imitator of his chosen patron, St. Francis Xavier, induced him to seek a mission in some land that knew not God, that he might labor there to his latest breath, and die unaided and alone. The province of Champagne in which he was enrolled con- tained no foreign mission: he was transferred to that of France, and, in 1666, sailed for Canada. On the 20th of September he landed, buoyant with life and health, at Que- bec, and amid his brethren awaited the new destination on which his superiors should decide.* The moment of his arrival was one of deep interest in the religious history of a colony, which had in its early settlement BO nobly represented the purest Catholicity, neither hampered by civil jealousy, nor nnhearted by the cold and selfish policy of a pagan age. The halcyon days of the Canadian church were passing away, but God had raised up one to guide and guard his church, that is, in fact, his poor and little ones, in the coming struggle with worldliness and policy. This was Francis de Laval, who landed at Quebec in 1659, with the title of bishop of Pctrea, and vicar apostolic of New France. Gradually he gathered around him a few secular priests and began to settle the ecclesiastical affairs of the French posts, till then mere missions in the hands of the Jesuits. At the period of Marquette's arrival, he had already begun to see his diocese assume a regular shape, his clergy had increased, his * Jour. Sup. Jml r-fi I'* h 1 Hi ■'i\ I D:!l er m«e« Imd been concB«^.d ._^^ ^^^^ ^„„^„ tbem. To these I '"P"''" , imtructions. 1 «>«" „ea-,cine.men, a„a gave '^ ^ P^ ,^^, „„, .„ „,a Ottawa .poke to all present ana «°^ P ., ,, „.ae no matter, ,L to aa,Ue, «'-»"»8 !^"'. "1„ ;,d CbrUtian tben ««e be ...id, if tbe ""-"^^ "„^t .top tbe lice„tio«.ne.. o ,„d told tbe nation that tbeyj F^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^ .,„ ,„,,, ^eir youtb, and »»' P^'^^J'^ ^ ebiia's pla, «»a «■■'»';»- aance. To satisfy tbe won^n - ^_^^ ^^.„^ ,,f tea for tbe danee; but tb.. M P ^^^^^ ___^„ „ a coming. Tbe dangerous state ol ^^^^^ ^^ .^^^^^4 Tue „edieine.™en to proda.n "- ;>;^_^.^,^„, ,^, „„ part. t, extraordinary «»P»'*".""" 1 „' 4 «,« .ieV man, ™bo was S.e actor, were tbese 3;gf " ^"*, eabin. It w» -* Led over great fires bgbte* - " _ ,., .^jy ud been rt.at be aia not feel tbe '-;• ;*"°^ji,„, „„™en, and ebil- ;«.ea witb oil for five - -^"^^^^^ \ .adie to divine aren,ran tluongb tbe «="''""; J^ J,,,er was gl«d to g.'e .heir tbongbts, and the snce -fuU .„,,Me lewdness so .Tl,e nation of K.s.^ - ^„,,,, A„„„e., re- ,„,eeeive tbe gospel P'^'-^" LlfB or FATIIfCR MARqCETTK. u Bolvod, in tlio full of lfl68, to oboy God. Tlila resolution was adopted in full council, and announced to that father who spent four winter months instructing them. The chiefs of the nation became Christians, and as Father AUouez was call to another mission, he gave it to my charge to cultivate, and I entered on it in September, 1069. " All the Christians wore then in the fields harvesting their Indian corn ; they listened with pleasure when I told them that I came to Lnpointe for their sake and that of the Hu- rons; that they never should be abandoned, but be beloved above all other nations, and that they and the French were one. I had the consolation of seeing their love for the prayer and their pride in being Christians. I baptized the new-bom infants, and instructed the chiefs M'hom I found well-dis- posed. The head-chief having allowed a dog to be hung on a pole near his cabin, which is a kind of sacrifice the Indians make to the sun, I told him that th's was wrong, and he went and threw it down. " A sick man instructed, but not baptized, begged me to grant him that favor, or to live near him, as he did noi wish medicine-men to cure him, and that he feared the fires of hell. I prepared him for baptism, and frequently visited his cabin. His joy at this partly restored his health ; he thanked me for my care, and soon after saying that I had recalled him to life, gave me a little slave he had brought from the Ilinois two or three months before. "One evening, while in the cabin of the Christian where I sleep, I taught hira to pray to his guard ian-ang'^,1, and told him some stories to show him the assistance they give us, es- pecially when in danger of offending God. 'Now,' said he, *I know the invisible band that struck me when, since my baptism, I was going to commit a sin, and the voice that bid 5 I I I if m lii LIFE OF 7ATHKB MARQUETTB. "'illiiiliil me remember that I was a Christian ; for I lefl the companion of my guilt without committing the sin.' He now often speaks of devotion to the angels, and explains it to the other Indians. " Some young Christian women are examples to the tribe, and are not ashamed to profess Christianity. Marriages among the Indians are dissolved almost as easily as they are made, and then it is no dishonor to marry again. Hearing that a young Christian woman abandoned by her husband was in danger of being forced to marry by her family, I en- couraged her to act as a Christian ; she has kept her word. Kot a breath has been uttered against her. This conduct, with my remonstrances, induced the husband to take her back again at the close of winter, since which time she has come regularly to the chapel, for she was too far off before. She has unbosomed her conscience to me, and I admired Buch a life in a young woman. " The pagans make no feast without sacrifices, and we have great trouble to prevent them. The Christians have now changed these customs, and to effect it more easily, I have retained some, suppressing only what is really bad. The feast must open with a speech ; they then address God, ask- ing him for health and all they need, as they now give food to men. It has pleased God to preserve all our Christians in health except two children whom they tried to hide, and for whom a medicine-njan performed his diabolic rites, bnt they died soon after my baptizing them. Having invited the Kiekakons to come and winter near the chapel, they left all the other tribes to gather around us so as to be able to pray to God, be instructed, and have their children baptized. They call thenipelves Christians; hence, in all councils and important affairs, I address them, and I ' LIFE OF FATHER ICARQTTETTE. liii when I wish to show them that I really wish what I ask, I need only address them as Christians ; they told me even that they obeyed me for that reason. They have taken the upper hand, and control the three other tribes. It is a great consolation to a missionary to see such pliancy in savages, and thus live in such peace with his Indians, spending the whole day in instructing them in our mysteries, and teaching them the prayers. Neither the rigor of the winter, nor the state of the weather, prevents their coming to the chapel ; many never let a day pass, and I was thus busily employed from morning till night, preparing some for baptism, some for confession, disabusing others of their reveries. The old men told me that the young men had lost their senses, and that I must stop their excesses. I often spoke to them of their daughters, urging them to prevent their being visited at nigbt. I knew almost all that passed in two tribes near us, but though others were spoken of, I never heard anything against the Christian women, and when I spoke to the old men about their daughters, thoy told me that they prayed to God. I often inculcated this, knowing the importunities to which they are constantly exposed, and the courage they need to resist. They have learned to be modest, and the French who have seen them, perceive how little they resem- ble the others, from whom they are thus distinguished. "One day instructing the old people in my cabin, and speaking of the creation of the world, and various stories from the Old Testament, they told me what they had formerly be- lieved, but now treat as a fable. They have some knowledge of the tower of Babel, saying that their ancestore had related that they had formerly made a great house, but that a violent wind had thrown it down. They now despise all the little gods they had before they were baptized : they often ridicule m 1 liv MFK OF FATHER MABQUETTBi. ■pl I" 11 I 1 i r mim them, and wonder at their stupidity in sacrificing to these subjects of their fables. " I baptized an adult after a long trial. Seeing his assi- duity at prayer, his frankness in recounting his past life, his promises especially with regard to the other sex, and his as- surance of good conduct, I yielded to his entreaty. He has persevered, and since his return from fishing, comes regularly to chapel. After Easter, all the Indians dispersed to seek subsistence ; they promised me that they would not forget the prayer, and earnestly begged that a father should come in the fall when they assemble again. This will be granted, and if it please God to send some father, he will take my place, while I, to execute the orders of our father superior, will go and begin my Ilinois mission. " The Ilinois are thirty days' journey by land from Lapointe by a difficult road ; they lie south-southwest of it. On the way you pass the nation of the Ketchigamins, who live in more than twenty large cabins; they are inland, and seek to have intercourse with the I'rench, from whom they hope to get axes, knives, and ironware. So much do they fear them that they unbound from the stake two Ilinois captives, who said, when about to be burned, that the Frenchman had de- clared he wished peace all over the world. You pass then to the Miamiwek, and by great deserts reach the Ilinois, who are assembled chiefly in two towns, containing more than eight or nine thousand souls. These people are well enough disposed to receive Christianity. Since Father Allouez spoke to them at Lapointe, to adore one God, they have begun to abandon their false worship, for they adored the sun and thunder. Those seen by me are of apparently good disposi- tion ; they are not night-runners like the other Indians. A man kills his wife, if he finds her unfaithful ; they are less LIFE OF FATUEB MASQUETTK. l7 prodigal in sacrifices, and promise me to embrace Christi- anity, and do all I require in their country. In this view, the Ottawaa gave me a young man recently come from their country, who initiated me to some extent in their language during the leisure given me in the winter by the Indians at Lapointe. I could scarcely underetand it, though there is something of the Algonquin in it ; yet I hope by the help of God's grace to understand, and be understood if God by his goodness leads me to that country. " No one must hope to escape crosses in our missions, and the best means to live happy is not to fear them, but in the enjoyment of little crosses, hope for others still greater. The Ilinois desire us, like Indians, to share their miseries, and suffer all that can be imagined in barbarism. They are lost ehocp to be sought amid woods and thoras, especially when c • call so piteously to be rescued from the jaws of the .» jii. Such really can I call their entreaties to me this win- ter. They have actually gone this spring to notify the old men to come for me in the fall. " The Ilinois always come by land. They sow maize which they have in great plenty ; they have pumpkins as large as those of France, and plenty of roots and fruit. The chase is very abundant in wild-cattle, beara, stags, turkeys, duck, bus- tard, wild-pigeon, and cranes. They leave their towns at certain times every year to go to their hunting-grounds to- gether, so as to be better able to resist, if attacked. They be- lieve that I will spread peace everywhere, if I go, and then only the young will go to hunt. " When the Ilinois come to Lapointe, they pass a large river almost a league wide. It runs north and south, and so far that the Ilinois, who do not know what canoes are, have never yet heard of its mouth ; they only know that there are '"5 *| Hi (ii 11 n Ivi LIFE OF FATHEB MABQUiTTE. very great nations below them, some of whon; raise two crops of maize a year. East-south-east of the country is a na- tion they call Chawanon, which came to visit them last sum- mer. The young man given me who teaches me the lan- guage saw them ; they wear beads, which shows intercourse with Europeans ; they had come thirty days across land be- fore reaching their country. This great river can hardly empty in Virginia, and we rather believe that its mouth is in California. If the Indians who promise to make me a canoe do not fail to keep their word, we shall go into this river as soon as we can with a Frenchman and this young man given me, who knows some of these languages, and has a readiness for learning others ; we shall visit the nations which inhabit it, in order to open the way to so many of our fathers, who have long awaited this happiness. This discovery will give US a complete knowledge of the southern or western sea. " Six or seven days below the Hois (sic) is another great river (Missouri), on which are prodigious nations, who use wooden canoes ; we can not write more till next year, if God does us the grace to lead us there. The Hinois are warriors; they make many slaves whom they sell to the Ottawas for guns, powder, kettles, axes, and knives. They were formerly at war with the Nadouessi, but having made peace some yearft since, I confirmed it, to facili- tate their coming to Lapointe, where I am going to await them, in order to accompany them to their country. The Nadouessi are the Iroquois of this country beyond La- pointe, but less faithless, and never attack till attacked. They lie southwest of the mission of the Holy Ghost, and are a great nation, though we have not yet visited them, having confined ourselves to the conversion of the Oitawas. They fear the Frenchman, because he brings iron into their coun- LIFE OF FATHER MABQUBTTE. Ivii try. Their language is entirely different frona the Huron and Algonquin ; they have many towns, but they are widely scat- tered ; they have very extraordinary customs ; they princi- pally adore the calumet; they do not speak at great feasts, and when a stranger arrives, give him to eat with a wooden fork as we would a child. All the lake tribes make war on them, but with small success ; they have false oats, use little canoes, and keep their word strictly. I sent them a present by an interpreter, to tell them to recognise the Frenchman everywhere, and not kill him or the Indians in his company; that the black-gown wished to pass to the country of the Assinipoiiars, to that of the Kilistinaux ; that he was already at Outagamis, and that I was going this fall to the Ilinois, to whom they should leave a free passage. They agreed ; but as for my present waited till all came from . the chase, promising to come to Lapointe in the fall, to hold a council with the Ilinois and speak to me. "Would that all these nations loved God, as much as they fear the French I Christianity would soon flourish. " The Assinipoiiars, whose language is almost that of the Nadouessi, are toward the west from the mission of the Holy Ghost ; some are fifteen or twenty days off on a lake where they have false oats and abundant fishery. I have heard that there is in their country a great river running to the western sea, and an Indian told me that at its mouth he saw Frenchmen, and four large canoes with sails.* ' The Kilistinaux are a nomad people, whose rendezvous we do not yet know. It is northwest of the mission of the Holy Ghost ; they are always in the woods, and live solely by their bow. They passed by the mission where I was last fall in two hundred canoes, coming to buy merchandise and * This is not the first indication of the Columbia. ^«ie6,'»n*,»»,-jLv..-.. li Ml 'H lllliil i I lllliil m liii ll I Iviii LIFE OF FATHER MAKQUETTE. corn, after which they go to winter in the woods j in the spring I saw them again on the shore of the lake."^ Such is the substance of his letter as it has reached us, and shows us the hopes which Marquette entertained of reaching in the fall of that year, the Ilinois mission to which he had been appointed and for which he was now prepared by his knowledge of their language. If the Sioux and Ilinois met him at Lapointe in the fall, nothing was concluded ; and the missionary did not begin his overland journey to the lodges of the Ilinois. It is not, however, probable that the meeting took place ; for early in the winter the Sioux, provoked by the insolence of the Hurons and Ottawas, declared war, and first sent back to the missionaries the pious pictures which he had sent them as a present. Their war parties now came on in their might, and the Indians of Lapointe trembled before the fierce Dahcotah with his knives of stone stuck in his belt, and in his long, black hair. In the spring both Huron and Ot- tawa resolved to leave so dangerous a neighborhood ; the latter were the first to launch upon the lake, and they soon made their way to Ekaentouton island. Father Marquette, whose missionary efibrts had been neutralized by the unset- tled state of his neophytes, and the concentration of their thoughts on the all-engrossing war, was now left alone with the Hurons. With both he had more to suffer than to do ; and now he was at last compelled to leave Lapointe, and turn his back on his beloved Ilinois to accompany his Hurons in their wanderings and hardships. The i-emnant of a mighty nation resolved once more to commit themselves to the waves and seek a new home : with their faithful missionary they all embarked in their frail canoes, and now for the first time • Bel. 1669'-70, Ottawa part LIFE OF FATUBR MARQUBTTE. Ik tamed toward tlieir ancient home. Fain would they have revisited the scones of Huron power, the land of the fur-lined graves of their ancestors ; fain too would the missionary have gone to spend his surviving years on the ground hallowed by the blood of Daniel, Brebeuf, Lalemant, Garnier, and Chaba- nel, but the power of the Iroquois was still too great to justify the step, and tl> f ^es remembering tlip vich fisheries of Mackinaw, resoived to ;urn to that pebbly . aiiH. But who, the reader may ask, were the Hurons with whom the missionary's career seems thus linked, yet who at fiirst were not the special object of his care. It is a tale worthy of an historian. The Wendats, whom the French called Hurons and the English Wyandots, are a nation of the same stock as the Iro- quois.* They were one of the first tribes known to the French, to whom they always remained closely united. They were a trading people, and their many fortified towns lay in a very narrow strip on Georgian Bay, a territory smaller than the state of Delaware. Between the west and southwest lay in the mountains the kindred tribe of the industrious Tionon- tates, whose luxuriant fields of tobacco, won them from the early French the name of Petuns, while south of both, from Lake St. Claire to Niagara and even slightly beyond were the allied tribes, which from the connection between their lan- guage and that of the Hurons, were called by the latter Atti- wandaronk, but Neutral by the French, from their standing aloof in the great war waged by the Iroquois against the Hurons and Algonquins. No sooner had the French founded Quebec than the Fran- ciscan missionaries attempted the conversion of the Hurons. in ■ 'i i t \'j * Champlain (Ed. 1613, p. 288), calls the Hurons les bons Troqvois^ as dis- Unguished from the other Yroquois enemies. LIFE OF FATHEB HASQTTETnB ! ii Father Joeepli Le Caron, the founder of that mission, win tered among them in 1615, and in sabsequent years other recollects did their best to prepare them for the faith. Tlie Jesuits were at last called in by the recollects to aid them, and laboring together in harmony, they looked forward with sanguine hope to the speedy conversion of the Hurons and Keuters, for they, too, were visited, when all their prospects were blasted by the English conquest of Canada, in 1629. On its restoration the French court offered the Canada mis- sions to the Capucins, but, on their recommendatioii, commit- ted it to the Jesuits alone. Brebeuf, for the second time, reached Upper Canada, and labored zealously on till the Hu- ron nation was annihilated by the Iroquois. Twenty-one mis- sionaries at different times came to share his toils, and of these eight like himself perished by hostile hands, martyrs to their faith and zeal, a nobler body of heroes than any other part of our country can boast. On the deaths of Brebeuf and Gamier, in 1650, the ruin of the Hurons and Petuns was con- summated. The survivors fled and blended into one tribe, soon divided into two great parties, one composed entirely of Christians, repairing to Quebec to settle on Orleans island, whose descendants are still lingering at Lorette ; the other, part Christians, part pagans, fled at last to Mackinaw, but pursued constantly by the Iroquois, they next settled on some islands at the mouth of Green Bay, where they seem to have been in Menard's time; later still, after roaming to the lodges of the Sioux on the Mississippi, they came to pitch their cabins by the mission cross planted by AUouez, at Chegoime- gon,* and here Marquette had found them. Such is the tale of their wanderings, till the period of our narrative.f • Ret. 1671-"r2. f Their Bubseqnent wanderings are to Detroit, Sandusky, and at last to Indian territory, where the descendants of Marquette's flock still exist, the smallest but wealthiest band of deported Indiana. IIMI I liii* ! I hi: LIFB "F FATIIKR MARQUETTB. Ixi Mackinaw, where they now rested, was indeed a bleak spot to begin a new home ; it was a point of land almost encompassed by wind-tossed lakes, icy as Siberian waters. The cold was intense, and cnltivation difficult ; but tli« waters teemed with fish, and the veiy danger and hard8liii)8 of their capture gave it new zest. Besides this, it was a central point for trade, and so additionally recommended to the Huron, who still, as of old, sought to advance his worldly prospects by commerce. Stationed in this new spot, Father Marquette's first care was to raise a chapel. Bude and unshapely was the first sylvan shrine raised by catholicity at Mackinaw; its sides of logs, ita roof of bark had nothing to impress the senses, nothing to win by a dazzling exterior the wayward child of the forest; all was as simple as the faith he taught. Such was the ori^ i of the mission of St. Ignatius, or Michilimackinac, already in a manner begun the previous year by missionary labors on the island of that name.^ Tlie Hurons soon built near the chapel a palisade fort, less stout and skilful indeed than the fortresses found in among their kindred Iroquois by Gartier and Champlain, but in their declining state sufiicient for their defence. No details of Marquette's labors during the first year have reached us ; he wrote no letters to recount his wanderings,* but of the second year we are better informed. An unpub- lished manuscript gives us the following letter addressed to Father Dablon : — " Rev. Father : — "The Hurons, called Tionnontateronnons or Petun nation, who compose the mission of St. Ignatius at Michiliinakinong began last year near the chapel a fort enclosing all their •/?«?. 16T0-'71, p. 144. i Vis IsU LTFK OF FATIIKR MARQUKTTK. Km mm ill cabins. Tliey Imvo come reguliuly to prnyers, and have lia- tened more readily to tlie instnictionB I gave tliem, consent- ing to what I required to prevent their disorders and abom- inable customs. We must have patience with tmtntorod minds, who know only the devil, who like tlieir ancestors have been his sieves, and who of\en relapse into the sins in which they were nurtured. God alone can fix these fickle minds, and place and keep them in his grace, and touch their hearts while we stammer at their ears. " The Tionnontateronnons number this year three hundred and eighty souls, and besides bixty Outaouasinnganx have joined them. Some of these came from the mission of St. Francis Xavier, where Father Andr^ wintered with them last year ; they are quite changed from what I saw them at Lapointe ; the zeal and patience of that missionary have gained to the faith those hearts which seemed to us most averse to it. They now wish to be Christians ; they bring their children to the chapel to be baptized, and come regu- larly to prayere. " Having been obliged to go to St. Marie dn Sault with Father AUouez last summer, the Hurons came to the chapel during my absence as regularly as if I had been there, the girls singing what prayers they knew. They counted the days of my absence, and constantly asked when I was to be back ; I was absent only fourteen days, and on my arrival all assem- bled at chapel, some coming even from their fields, which are at a very considerable distance. "I went readily to their pumpkin-feast, where I instructed them, and invited them to thank God, who gave them food in plenty, while other tribes that had not yet embraced Christianity, were nctniilly stnijjf/ling with fiimine. I ridi- culed dreams, ai.d urged fhnsf who lisul Iweii baptized to ac- |ii,:i LITE or FATIIKR MARQCRTTB. ]«t • Xlll knowledge Him, wIioho ndopted cliIMren tliey were. TIiobo who gave the feRst, thoii^'h still idolnters, Bpoke in high terms of Cliriatinnity, and openly made the sign of the cross before all present. Some young men, whom they had tried by ridi- cule to prevent from doing it, peiseverod, and make the sign of the cross in the greatest assem'jlies, even when I am not present. "An Indian of distinction among the Hurons, having in- vited me to a feast where the cliicfs were, called them sev- erally by name and told them that ho wished to declare his thoughts, that all might know it, namely, that he was a Christian ; that he renounced the god of dreams and all their lewd dances; that the black-gown was master of his cabin; and that for nothing that might happen would he fursake his resolution. Delighted to hear this, I spoke more strongly than I had ever yet done, telling them that my only design was to put them in the way of heaven ; that for this alone I remained among them ; that this obliged me to assist them at the peril of my life. As soon as anything is said In an as- sembly, it is immediately divulged through all the cabins, as I saw in this case by the assiduity of some in coining to prayers, and by tho malicious eflfbrts of othere to neutrali'^^e my instructions. " Severe as the winter is, it does not prevent tho Indians from coming to the chapel. Some come twice a day, be the wind or cold what it may. Last fall I began to instruct some to make general confessions of their w])ole life, and to prepare others who had never confessed since their baptism. I would not have supposed that Indians could have given so exact au account of all that had happened in the course of their life; but it was seriously done, as some took two weeks to examine themselves. Since then, I have perceived a marked change, in it. ■1 i ■ I 1 1 l.i Ixiv LTVR or FiTIIER MARQUEriTB. III 80 that they will not go even to ordinnry feasts without ask- ing my perniiBsion. " I liave this your baptized twenty-eight children, one of which had been brought from Ste. Marie du Sault, without having received that sacrament as the Rev. F. Henry Nouvel informed me, to put me on my guard. Without my knowing it, the cliild foil sick, but Gud permitted that while instruct- ing in my cabin two important and sensible Indians, one asked me, whether such a sick child was baptized. I went at once, baptized it, and it died the next night. Some of the other children too are dead, and now in heaven. These are the consolations which God sends us, which make us esteem our life more happy as it is more wretched. "This, rev. father, is all I give about this mission, where minds are now more mild, tractable, and better disposed to receive instructions, than in any other part. I am ready, however, to leave it in the hands of another missionary to go on your order to seek new nations toward the south sea who are still unknown to us, and to teach them of our great God whom they have hitherto unknown."* !' ■, is ii' I !. :ii llllHI Ml Such was the laborious post to which this tal'^nted, yet humble missionary condemned himself, daily subjected to the caprices of some, the insults and petty persecution of others, looking only to another world for the reward of labors which, crowned with the most complete success, would in the eyes of the world seem unimportant ; but " motives are the test of merit," and convinced by the studies of riper years, no less than by the early teachings of a mother, that the baptismal promises were a reality, he sought to open by that sacrameiit the doors of bliss to the dying infant, or more aged but re- MS. Rel. 1672-*78. Ill LTfB or VATHKH MARQURTTB. Ixr pcntliiff einnor. To liim the sixlvntion of a single soul was inuro grand and iiohlu than the conquest of an empire, and tlma borne up, lie labored on. Tliis letter of which the date is not given, nor the closing words, must have been written in the summer of 1672, and transmitted to Quebec by the Ottawa flotilla. The same con- veyance, doubtless, brought him back the assurance that his prayers had been heard, that the government had at last re- solved to act in the matter, and that he was the missionary selected to accompany the expedition. His heart exulted at the prospect, though he foresaw the danger to which he was exposed, a health already shaken by his toils md hardships, a difficult and unknown way, the only nation known — aie fierce Dahcotah — now hostile to the French and thoir al;fcs, with Jiiany another tribe noted in Indian story for de^vis of blood, closed up their path. But ''ah did not alarm him. The hope of a glorious martyrdom while opening the way to future heralds of the cross, buoyed him up, though in iiij im- mility he never spoke of martyrdom. To him it was but *'a death to cease to offend Ood." This now engrossed his thoughts, and he waited with anxi- ety the coming of Jolliet, named to undertake the expedition. At last he arrived, and by a happy coincidence on the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the blessed Virgin, " whom," says the pious missionary, " I had always invoked since my coming to the Ottawa country, in order to obtain of God the favor of being able to visit the natioL; on the Missisipi river.' The winter was spent in the necessary arrangements, regu- lating the afPaire-of his mission, whicii he left, it would seem, in the hands of Father Pierson, aad in drawing np the maps and statements which Indian narrators could enable them to i'%;§ t-Y n-: m m m i Ixvi LIFE OF FATFIF-R MARQUETTE. (';l 1 1 form. At last, on the 17th of May, 1673, they embarked in two canoes at Mackinaw, and proceeded to Green Bay, whence ascending the Fox river they at last reached the Wisconsin by its portage, and glided down to the Mississippi. We need not here detail this remarkable voyage, the firet down the great river, as his whole narrative is contained in the volume. Sufficient to say, that with Jolliet ho descended to the Arkansas, and having thus ascertained the situation of the mouth, and the perfect navigability of the river, reas- cended it as far as the mouth of the Ilinois, into which they turned, and by a portage reached Lake Michigan, and in Sep- tember arrived without accident at the mission in Green Bay. In this voyage he twice met the Peoria tribe of the Ilinois, and baptized one dying child at the water's edge, as he left them finally. He also passed the Kaskaskia tribe of the same nation on the upper watere of the Ilinois, and having been already named an Ilinois missionary, he yielded to their earnest entreaties, and promised to return and begin a mis- sion among them.* He Imd now reached Green Bay, but his health had given way ; he was prostrated by disease, and was not completely restored before the close of the following summer. By the Ottawa flotilla of that year he transmitted to his superior copies of his journal down the Mississippi, and doubtless the map which we now publish. The return of the fleet of canoes brought him the necessary orders for the es- tablishment of the Ilinois mission ; and as his health was now restored, he set out on the 25th of October, 1674, for Kaskas- kia. The line of travel at that time was to coast along to the month of Fox river, tlien turn up as far as the little bay which nearly intersects the peninsula, where a portage was made to the lake. This was the route now taken by Mar- * See his narrative in this volume. I i |ll|ib;n! , jiiiiiiiiit iiir ■ i!|n LIFE OF FATHER HABQUETTB. Ixvii qiiette with two men to aid liim, accompanied by a number of Pi)ttawotamie8 and Illinois. Eeacliing the lake, the canoes coasted along slowly, the missionary often proceeding on foot along the beantiful beach, embarking only at the rivers. He represents the navigation of the lake as easy ; " there being," says lie, " no portage to make, and the landing easy, provided yon do not persist in sailing when the winds and waves are high." The soil except in the prairies was poor, bnt the chase was abundant, and they were thns well supplied. r In spite of all his courage, he was at last unable to proceed; by tlie 23d of November his malady had returned, and though he continued to advance, exposed to the cold and snows, when he reached Cliicago river on the 4th of December, ne found the liver closed, and himself too much reduced to be able to attempt that winter march by land. There was no alterna- tive but to winter there alone, and accordingly instructing his Indian companions as far as time allowed, they went their way, and he remained with his two men at the portige. Within fifty miles of them were two other Frenchmen, trap- pei*s and traders, one of whom was a surgeon at least in name, and still nearer an Illinois village. The former had prepared a cabin for the missionary, and one came now to visit him, being informed of his ill health ; the Indians who had also heard it, wished to send a party to carry him and all his bag- gage, fearing that he might suffer from want. The good mis- sionary, charmed at their solicitude, sent to reassure them on that liead, although he was forced to tell them that if his mal- ady continued, he would find it diflScult lo visit them even in the spring. " • Alarmed at this, the sachems of the tribe assembled and deputed three to visit the blankgown, bearing three sacks of corn, dried meat and piunpkiiis, and twelve beaver-skins; ? 11 H Ixviil LIFE OF FATHKK MARQUETTE. I'll SM (H|,„„ 11:1 ■I I I rl'" ';ii liiijl !' 'I I !■':! lii I'-, -i ::;; ' 1 firet, to malce Iiim a mat; second, to ask him for powder; third, te prevent his being hnngry ; fourth, to get some mer- chandise. "I answered them," says Marqnette in his last letter, " first, that I came to instruct them by speaking of the prayer; second, that I would not give them powder, as we endeavor to make peace everywhere, and because I did not wish them to begin a war against the Miamis; third, that we did not fear famine; fourth, that I would encourage the French to bring them merchandise, and that they must make reparation to the traders there for the beads taken from them, wliile the surgeon was with me." The missionary then gave them some axes, knives, and trinkets, in return for their pres- ents, and as a mark of his gratitude for their coming twenty leagues to visit him. Before lie dismissed them, lie prouiised to make every eflFort to reach the village, were it but for a few days. " On this," says he, " they bid me take heart and stay and die in their country, as I had promised to remain a long time," and they returned to their winter-camps. Despairing now of being able to reach his destined goal without the interposition of Heaven, the missionary turned to the patroness of his mission, the blessed Virgin Immaculate, and with his two companions began a novena in her honor. Nor wad his trust belied ; God heard his prayer, his illness ceased, and though still weak, he gradually gained strength, and when the opening of the river and the consequent irjun- dation compelled them to remove, lie again resumed his long interrupted voyage to Kaskaskia, then on. the upper waters o' the Illinois river.* During this painful wintering, which for all his expres- sions of comfort, was one of great hardship and puffering, his hours were chiefly spent in pniyer. Convincod that the term of his existence was drawing ra|)idly tn a close, lie consecrated LIFE OP FATHER MARQUETTE. Ixix iwder; J mer- tis last r of the , as we did not that we age the ist make m tliem, ueii gave leiv pres- ig twenty promised ; for a few t and stay ain a long tined goal f turned to nmacnUte, her honor. ', his illness jd strenglb, jquent innn- ned liis long ipper waters 1 his expres- nffering, l>i9 that the term e consecrated ■4 this period of quiet to the exercises of a spiritual retreat, in which his eoul overflowed with heavenly consolations, as rising ahove its frail and now totiering tenement, it soared toward that glorious home it was so soon to enter. The journal of his last voyage* comes down to the sixth of April, when the weather arrested his progress; two days after he reached Xaskaskia, where he was received as an angel from heaven. It was now Monday in holy week, and he instantly began his preliminary instructions, assembling for that purpose the chiefs and old men, and going from cabin to cabin where new crowds constantly gathered. When he had thus prepared all to understand his meaning and ob- ject, he convoked a general assembly in the open prairie on Maunday-Thursday, and raising a rustic altar, adorned it with pictures of the blessed Virgin, under whose invocation he had placed his new mission ; he turned to the assembled chiefs and wi-rrioi-s, and the whole tribe seated or standing around, and by ten presents declared the object of his coming, and the nature of the faith he bore, explaining the principal mysteries of religion, and especially tlie mystery of redemption, the incarnation and death of the Son of God, which the church then commemorated. He then celebrated mass for the first time in his new mission, and during the fol- lowing days renewed his separate instructions. After cele- brating the great festival cf Easter, his malady began to ap- pear once more, and he felt that the period granted to his earnest prayers was ended. The sole object to wliieh he had for years directed all the aspirations of His heart was now at- tained. He had actually begun his Illinois mission ; he had given them the first rudiments of instruction in public and in private ; he had twice in their midst ofi'ered up the adorable ;;• ;,?»ft5 * Printed itt the appendix of this volume. - / ' ' 'i r^. Ixx LIFE OF FATHER MARQUETTE. ! 'Ill I! I» II! 'l! 'j-> Pl!|l !l li ,1' I n ! I III '• ' ' I ill"' ''™^"" |„„ ,, i!|i!!il!!!!!i||j ' sacrifice ; tbere was no more to be asked on earth ; he was content to die. In hopes of reaching his former mission of Mackinaw to die with his religious brethren around him, fortified by the last rites of the church, he set out escorted to the lake by the Kaskaskias, to whom he promised that he, or some other mis* Bionary should soon resume his labors. He seems to have taken the way by the St. Joseph's river, and reached the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, along which he had not yet sailed. His strength now gradually failed, and he was at last so weak that he had to be lifted in and out of his canoe when they landed each night. Calmly and cheerfully he saw the approach of death, for which he pre- pared by assiduous prayer; his office he regularly recited to the last day of his life ; a meditation on death, which he had long since prepared for this hour, he now made the subject of his thoughts; and as his kind but simple companions seemed overwhelmed at the prospect of their approaching loss, he blessed some water with the usual ceremonies, gave his companions directions how to act in his last moments, how to arrange his body when dead, and to commit it to the earth, with the ceremonies he prescribed. He now seemed but to seek a grave ; at last perceiving the mouth of a river which still bears his name, he pointed to an eminence as the place of his burial. His companions, Peter Porteret and James , still hoped to reach Mackinaw, but the wind drove them back, and they entered the river by the channel, where it emptied then, for it has since changed. They erected a little bark cabin, and stretched the dying missionary beneath it, as comfortably as their want permitted them. Still a priest, rather than a man,^ he thought of his ministry, and, for the last time, heard the hi cl I i. LIFE OF FATHER MARQUETTK. Ixxi confeseions of liia companions, and encouraged them to rely with confidence on the protection of God, then sent them to take the repose they so much needed. When lie felt his agony approaching he called them, and taking his crucifix fioui around his neck, he placed it in their hands, and pro- nouncing in a firm voice his profession of faith, thanked thp Almighty for the favor of permitting him to die a Jesuit, a missionary and alone. Then ho relapsed into silence, inter- rupted only by his pions aspirations, till at last, with the names of Jesus and Mary on his lips, with his eyes raised aa if in ecstacy above his crucifix, with his face all radiant with joy, he passed from the scene of his labors to the God who was to be his reward. Obedient to his directions his com- panions, when the first outbursts of grief were over, laid out the body for burial, and to the sound of his little chapel-bell, bore it slowly to the point which he had pointed out. Here they committed his body to the earth, and raising a ci'oss above it, returned to their now desolate cabki. Such was the edifying and holy death of the illustrious ex- plorer of the Mississippi, on Saturday, the 18th of May, 1675. He was of a cheerful, joyous disposition, playful even in hi8 manner, and universally beloved. His letters show him to us a man of education, close observation, sound sense, strict integrity, a freedom from exaggeration, and yet a vein of humor which here and there breaks out, in spite of all his self-command. i., . But all these qualities are little compared to his zeal as a missionary, to Lis sanctity as a man. His holiness drew on him in life the veneration of all around him, and the lapse of years has not even now destroyed it in the descendants of those who knew him.* In one of his sanctity, we naturally * It led to the roraantic tales which have even found their way into sober history. Tlie missionaries in the west now hear the same account as that which Charlevoix believed and inserted. Ol % 1 'If m Ixxii LIFE OF FATHER MARQUETTE. linn III! ||| :i;i I, find an all-absorbing devotion to the mother of the Savior, with its constant attendants, an angelical love of pnrity, and a close nnion of the heart with God. It is, indeed, cliarac- teristic of him. The privilege which the church honors under the title of the Immaculate Conception, was the constant ob- ject of his thoughts; from his earliest youth, he daily recited the little office of the Immaculate Conception, and fasted every Saturday in her honor. As a missionary, a variety of devotions directed to the same end still show his devotions and to her he turned in all his trials. "When he discovered the great river, when he founded his new mission, he gave it the name of the Conception, and no letter, it is said, ever came from his hand that did not contain the vords, " Blessed Virgin Immaculate," and the smile that lighted up his dying face, induced his poor companions to believe that she had appeared before the eyes of her devoted client. Like St. Francis Xavier, whom he especially chose as the model of his missionary career, he labored nine years for the moral and social improvement of nations sunk in paganism and vice, and as he was alternately with tribes of varied tongues, found it was necessary to acquire a knowledge of many American languages ; six he certaihly spoke with ease; many more he is known to have understood less perfectly. His death, however, was as he had always desired, more like that of the apostle of the Indies ; there is, indeed, a striking resemblance between their last moments, and the wretched cabin, the desert shore, the few destitute companions, the lonely grave, all harmonize in Michigan and Sancian. He was buried as he had directed on a rising ground near the little river, and a cross raised above his grave showed to all the place of his rest. The Indians soon knew it, and two years after his death, and almost on the very anniversary to abd Md bej goi coJ soil » /■ LIFE OF FATHER MARQUETTK. Ixxiii Be as the 1-8 for the paganism of varied vledge of vith ease; perfectly, more lilce a striking ■wretclied mions, the Ian. ound near ive showed new it, and inniversary his own flock, the Kiskakone, returning from their hunt stopped there, and with Indian ideas, resolved to disinter their father, and bear his revered bones to their mission. At once they did so ; the bones were placed in a neat box of bark, and the flotilla now become a funeral convoy, pro- ceeded on its way; the missionary thus accomplishing in death the voyage which life had not enabled him to terminate. A party of Iroquois joined them, and as they advanc'>d to Mackinaw, other canoes shot out to meet them with the two missionaries of the place, and there upon the waters rose the solemn De Profundis, contin'- i till the body reached the land. It was then borne to the church with cross, and prayer, and tapers burning like his zeal, and incense rising like his aspi- rations to heaven ; in the church a pall had been arranged in the usual form for a coflin, and beneath it was placed the little box of bark, which was next, after a solemn service, deposited in a little vault in the middle of the church, " where," says our chronicler, " he reposes as the guardian- angel of our Ottawa missions." There he still reposes, for I find no trace of any subsequent removal ; vague tradition, like that of his death as given by Charlevoix and others, would indeed still place him at the mouth of his river ; but it is certain that he was transferred to the church of old Mackinaw, in 1677. This church was, as I judge from a manuscript Relation (1675), erected subsequent to the departure of Marquette from Mackinaw, and probably about 1674. The founding of the post of Detroit drew from Mackinaw the Christian Hurons and Ottawas, and the place became deserted. Despairing of being able to produce any good among the few pagan Indians, and almost as pagan coureurs-de-bois who still lingered there, the missionaries re- solved to abandon the post, and set fire to their church in or C C, \ Ti I lililliii > il I IP III : ii ^1 i!|llllllll!ll MI 11 ' 'ill' {» I llil I ' IIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIIIIl! II ill 1 iliii! . II!!' Ixxiv LIFE OF FATHER MARQUETTE. ftbont the year 1706. Anotlier wns eubsequently erected, but this too lias long since disappeared.* The history of his narrative and map are almost as cnrions as that of his body. We have seen tliat he transmitted copies to his superior, and went to his last mission. Frontennc had promised to send a copy to the government, and in all proba- bility he did. At tins moment the publication of the Jesuit Relations ceases ; though not from choice on their part as the manuscript of the year 1672-'73 prepared or the press by Father Dablon, still exists ; it coul lOt have been from any diflSculty on the part of the printer, as the announcement of the expedition to the Mississippi would have given it circula- tion, even though the jounial itself were reserved for the next year. To the French government then we must attribute the nou-piiblication of further relations, the more so, as they neg- lected to produce the narrative of Marquette in their posses- sion. The whole might have fallen into perfect oblivion, had not the narrative come into the hands of Thevenot who had just published a collection of travels ; struck with the im- portance of this, he issued a new volume in 1681, called Re- ceuil de Voyages, in which the journal of Father Marquette as commonly known, appeared with a map of the Mississippi. The narrative is evidently taken from a manuscript like that in my hands, in the writing of which I can see the cause of some of the strange forms which Indian names have assumed. The opening of the narrative was curtailed, and occasional omissions made in the beginning, few at the end. The map is so different from that which still exists in the hand-writing * In La Hontan there is a plan of Mackinaw, with the site of the church in which Marquette was buried. As to its fidelity, I can not speak ; but witli that of Bellin in 1*744, shewing the sites of the second church at old Mackinaw, and the third one in new Mackinaw, the place of the original one, and of Marquette's grave, may perhaps be determined. m all thi Jc I'all defj knJ mid mal Ira/ LIFB OF FATHEB MARQUETTE. Ixxv of Fatlier Marquette, that it is not probable tbat it was taken from it. "With greater likelihood we may believe it to be Jolliet's map drawn from recollection, which Frontenac, as his despatch tells xia, transmitted to Franco in 1674. If this be so, it has a new value as an original rnap, and not a blundering copy. Sparks, in his life of Father Marquette, observes truly of this first-published map of the Mississippi, " It was impossible to construct it, without having seen the principal objects delineated ;" and he adds, "It should be kept in mind that this map was published at Paris, in the year 1681, and consequently the year before the discoveries of La Salle on the Mississippi, and that no intelligence re- specting the country it represents, could have been obtained from any source subsequently to the voyage of Marquette."* Of the narrative itself, he says, " It is written in a terse, simple, and unpretending style. The author relates what oc- curs, and describes what he sees without embellishment or display. He writes as a scholar, and as a man of careful ob- servation and practical sense. There is no tendency to exag- gerate, nor any attempt to magnify the di£Sculties he had ' o encounter, or the importance of his discovery. In every point of view, this tract is one of the most interesting of those, which illustrate the early history of America." In spite of all this it was overlooked and nearly forgotten ; all the writers connected with La Salle's expedition except the first edition of Hennepin, published in 1683, speak of Jolliet's voyage as a fiction. Marquette they never mention ; * The map in Thevenot had an addition of the editor in the words chemin de I'all^e, and chemin du retour. The latter is incorrect, bnt it came from his en- deavor to make Father Marquette meet the Peorias on his return. He did not know that the villages went into a body to hunt, and that the two explorers might thus have met them below the Ilinois river, or on it Other errors on the map are easily rectified. The change of the letter gives us Misscousing, Cach- kachkin, DSmon (des monts), Pewarea, Allini-wek, &o. ffl 4': X Ixxvi MFU OF FATHER MARQUETTH. I i i;!i bnt in Le Cleicq niul tliose wliom lie cites, in the Bccond Hennepin, in Jontel, in all in fact, except the faithful Tonty, the narrative of Man^uotte 'is derided, called a fable, or nar- rative of a pretended voyage ; and one actually goes so far as to say that, sailing up the river with the book in his hand, he could not find a word of truth in it. As a necessary result of these assert'ons which f ■■ 1. rf Lapoiite du St. Esprit,* which is at the extremity of the upper Lake of the Ottawas. He even saw at times many of those new tribes, concerning whom he gathered all the information that he could. This induced him to make several efforts to under- take the enterprise, but always in vain; he had even ^iven * This place is now called Bimply Lapointe, as the lake is called P'jporior, retaining only the first word of its former name, Lac Superieur aux Cntuouaci ill C C NABBATIVB OF FATHER MARQUETTE. I i^ 1 II! !' I il!;;;i- up all hopes of succeeding, when the Almighty presented him the following opportunity : — In 1673, the Comte de Frontenac,* our governor and Mr. Talon then our intendant, knowing the importance of this discovery, either to seek a passage from here to the China sea by the river which empties into the California or Eed Bea,f or to verify what was afterward said of the two king- doms of Theguaio and Quivira, which border on Canada, and where gold mines are, it is said abundant,:j: these gentlemen, • * Louis de Buado, Comte de Frontenac, succeeded M. de Courcelles in the gov- ernment of Canada, in 1672. M. Talon, the wise and energetic intendant of the colony, seeing the advantage's to be derived to France from the discovery of the Mifisissippi river, immediately, on the arrival of Comta de Frontenac, laid before him his plan for exploring that river, which was adopted, and the administra- tion of Frontenac is signalized by the first exploration of the Mississippi by Mar- quette and Jollyet, between the Wisconsin and Arkansas, and by the subsequent voyage of La Salle, who continued the survey to the gulf, while his companion, Hennepin, visited the portion between the Wisconsin and St. Anthony's falls. But before the return of La Salle, Comte de Frontenac's term had expired, and he was, in 1682, succeeded by M. Lefebore de la Barre. But he was afterward re-instated governor of Canada in 1689, and died at the age if seventy-seven. He was a brave and ambitious man, and to his wise administration may be attributed the consolidation of French power in North America. — ^F. f Tlie gulf of California was called by the Spaniards Mar de Cortes, or more commonly Mar Bermejo, from its resemblance in shape and color to the Red sea. Gomara His de las Indias, p. 12. Cluvier Introductio. Venegas His- toria d J la Calffornitu Clavigero, Storia della California, p. 29. In ignorance of this ffct, the French translated Bermejo by Vermeille, and English writers Vermillion. X Theguaio, or commonly Tiguex, and sometimes apparently Tejas, and Qui- vira, were two kingdoms as to which the imagination of the Spaniards, and espe- cially of the Mexicans, had become so aroused that Feijoo in his Teatro Critico includes them in the category of fabled lands, St Brandon's Tsle, the Eldorado, Aa, although he admits that he hesitated as he found Quivira mentioned by every geographer. These two kingdoms which lay east of the country north of the river Gila, and are probably the present New Mexico and Texas, were first made known by the attempt of a Franciscan missionary to reach the rich coun- tries of the interior which had been spoken of by Cabeza de Vaca. The mission- ary in question. Fray Marc, a native of Nice in Italy, crossed the Gila, and from the well-built houses and cotton dresses of the people, easily gave credit to the accounts of more wealthy tribes. A aubsequeni expedition showed that he had been mistaken, and none but hardy missionaries sought to penetrate to the fabled DIS00VEEIE8 IN THE MISSISSIPPI TALLEY. I say, both at the same time ^elected for the enterprise the Sieur Jollyet, whom they deemed competent for so great a design, wishing to see Father Marquette accompany liiin* They were not mistaken in their choice of the Sieur JoUyet, for he was a young man, born in this country, and endowed with every quality that could be desired in such an enterprise. He possessed experience and a knowledge of the languages of the Ottawaf country, where he had spent several years ; he had the tact and prudence so necessary for the success of a voyage equally dangerous and difficult; and, lastly, he had courage to fear nothing where all is to be feared. He ac- cordingly fulfilled the expectations entertained of him, and if, after having passed through dangers of a thousand kinds, he had not unfortunately been wrecked in the very harbor — his canoe having upset below the Saut St. Louis, near Mon- treal, where he lost his men and papers, and only escaped by a kind of miracle with his life — the success of his voyage had left nothing to be desired. land. The belief of its mineial wealth wcs, however, too deei)ly rooted to be easily shaken, and the discovery of California's resources in our dnys has justi- fied it., and shown that Talon in seeking to reach California from Canada, attempted no chimerical project * It would seem by this wording that Marquette was not officially chosen for the expedition. The troubles at the time between the civil and ecclesiastical authorities will account for this, \A\i\o. the researches made by Mnrquette as to tiio river, and his knowledge of the Indians and their dialects, rendered it im- portant that he should be one of the party. That his account alone survived, and that it was published in his name, was something neither expected nor intended by any of those concerned, as M. Jollyet had prepared an account of the expedi- tion, the loss of which, as stated in the text, alone raised the journal of Father Marquette to its present degree of import; nee, (In 1680, tlie French govern- ment rewarded the Sieur Jollyet for this eminent service by a grant of the island of Anticosti, in the gulf of St Lawrence ; and, in 1697, by the seignory of Jollyet, in Beauce county, Canada, which is now the property of the Hon. T. Taschereaii, one of the judges of the court of King's bench.) f The Ottawns, or Outaouacs, were first called by the French, Cheveux Re- levfis, and placed on Great Ma)iitouline, — Chumplain, 262, Sfigard, 201. Tlieir Indian name is then given in the form, Andatahouats. The earlier Jesuit Rela* .-. ^^^ o^ '^.^- ^>^ '<«?^ \ ^ 6^^ 13 NARRATIVE OF FATHER MARQUETTE. ill Bill'?!*' pi 'which pressing on the centre of the lake, make it rise and fall on the shore in the way that meets our eyes.* We left this bay to enter a riverf emptying into it. It is very beautiful at its mouth, and flows gently ; it is full of bustards, duck, teal, and other birds, attracted by the wild oats of which they are very fond ; but when you have ad- vanced a little up this river, it becomes very difficult, both on account of the currents and of the sharp rocks which cut the canoes and the feet of those who are obliged to drag them, especially when the water is low. For all that we passed the rapids safely, and as we approached Machkoutens, the Fire nation, I had the curiosity to drink the mineral waters of the river which is not far from this town. I also took time to examine an herb, the virtue of which an Indian, who possessed the secret, had, with many ceremonies, made known to Father AUones. Its root is useful against the bite of serpents, the Almighty having been pleased to give this remedy agamst a poison very common in the country. It is very hot, and has the taste of powder when crashed be- tween the teeth. It must be chewed and put on the bite of the serpent. Snakes have such an antipathy to it, that they fly from one rubbed with it. It produces several stalks about a foot long, with pretty long leaves, and a white flower, much like the gillyflower.:)^ I put some into my * The last opinion now prevails^ and the tides of the lake which hare been so much discussed, are now ascribed to the action of the winds, although Clinrle- Toix supposed it was owing to the springs at the bottom of the lakes^ and to the shock of their currents, with those of the rivers, which fall into them from all sides, and thus produce those intermitting motions . f The Fox river, of Green bay, is about 260 miles in length. The portage between the head waters of this river and the Wisconsin (Meskonsing), is over a level plain, and during high water, canoes frequently pass over the lowest parts of the prairie from one river to the other. — ^F. X This plant is called by the French " Serpent-a-Sonnettes," and is an infal- lible remedy against the poison of snakes. The root is commonly reduced to • I lilii; BIBOOYEBIEB IS THE MISSISSIPPI TALLIET. 18 oanoe to examine it at leisure, while we kept on oar way to- ward Maskontens, where we arrived on the 7th of June. SECTION III. DMiCniPTmS OF THE nLLAQE OF MASKOtTTBSS.— WBAT TRjUrBPIBBD BX> rifrcjDy tjzb fatbmib and the aauAtra^THE presch beqis to esteb a jmWAKD XmKNOWN COUNTRY, ASD REACH THE MJaaiSIPL Hebe we are then at Maskoutens. This word in Algon- quin, may mean Fire nation,* and that is the name given to them. This is the limit of the discoveries made by the French, for they have not yet passed beyond it. This town is made up of three nations gathered here. Mi- amis, Maskoutens, and Kikabous. The first are more civil, liberal, and better made; they wear two long ear-locks, which give them a good appearance ; they have ^ name of being warriors and seldom send out war parties in vain ; they powder, which the Indians chew, or make a ponltioe o^ which prevents the poiBon from taking effect It maj be taken in water with the same effect It has a nauseous smell, and is always avoided by snakes If two or three drops are put into a snake's mouth, it immediately diesi — ^F. * Father Marquette who was a good Algonquin scholar, does not speak posi- tively as to the meaning of Maskouteng^ though from his use of the common interpretation, he evidently favored it Charlevoix, indeed, treats this as an error, and says, that Mascoutenec means a prairie, but on the meaning cf an In- dian name a traveller is more apt to err than one habituated to the country and its dialecta Gertun it is that, from the earliest time^ there dwelt on Lake Michigan a tribe known to the Indians of Canada by the name of Fire Indians. Their Huron name was Asistogueronons, from oriHa (fire). Ihey lay beyond the Pnanta^ says the early historian. Brother Sagard (p. 201). Under the same name, Atsistaehronons, they are mentioned by Father Brebeuf (Rel. 1640-'41, p. 48,) as the enemies of the tribes called by the French the Neutral Nation, who lay chiefly north of Lake Erie, between Ontario and Lake St Clair. Now as the peninsula between Detroit and Lake Michigan was not inhabited by any Indian tribe, the Assistae must have dwelt beyond Lake Michigan, in the territory where we afterward find a tribe called by the Algonquine^ Maskontench, or Nation of Fire. en u KASBATIYE OF FATHKB MABQTTIiTTB. are veiy docile, listen quietly to what you tell them, and showed themselves so eager to hear Father Allonez when he was instructing them, that they gave him little rest, even at night. The Maskoutens and Kikabous are ruder and more like peasants, compared to the others. As bark for cabins is rare in this country, they use rushes, which serve them for walls and roof, but which are no great shelter against the wind, and istill less against the rain when it falls in torrents. The advantage of this kind of cabins is that they can roll them up, and carry them easily where they like in hunting-time. When I visited them, I was extremely consoled to see a beautiful cross planted in the midst of the town, adorned with several white skins, red belts, bows and arrows, which these good people had offered to the Great Manitou (such is the name they give to God) to thank him for having had pity on them during the winter, giving them plenty of game when they were in greatest dread of famine. I felt no little pleasure in beholding the position of this town ; the view is beautiful and very picturesque, for from the eminence on which it is perched, the eye discovers on every side prairies spreading away beyond its reach, inter- spersed with thickets or groves of lofty trees.* The soil is very good, producing much com; the Indians gather also quantities of plums and grapes, from which good wine could be made, if they chose. "No sooner had we arrived that M. Jollyet and I assembled the sachems ; he told them that he was sent by our governor to dis- cover new countries, and I, by the Almighty, to illumine them with the light of the gospel ;t that the Sovereign Master of our * This narratire abounds -with sketches of sceneiy and Indian localities that would grace the artist's pencil. — ^F. f Hie missionaries were careful to avoid all appearance of a worldly or na- DISOOVBBIBS or THB HISSISSIPFI VALLKT. 1$ lives wished to be known by all nations, and that to obey his will, I did not fear death, to which I exposed myself in such dangerous voyages ; that we needed two guides to put us on our way, these, making them a present, we begged them to grant us. This they did very civilly, and even proceeded to speak to us by a present, which was a mat to serve us as a bed on our voyage. The next day, which was the tenth of June, two Miamis whom they had given us as guides, embarked with us, in the sight of a great crowd, who could wonder enough to see seven Frenchmen alone in two canoes, dare to undertake so strange and so hazardous an expedition. We knew that there was, three leagues from Maskoutens, a river emptying into the* Missisipi; we knew too, that the point of the compass we were to hold to reach it, was the west-south- west ; but the way is so cut up by marshes and little lakes, that it is easy to go astray, especially as the river leading to it is so covered with wild oats, that you can hardly discover the channel. Hence, we had good need of our two guides, who led us safely to a portage of twenty-seven hundred paces, and helped us to transport our canoes to enter this river, after which they returned, leaving us alone in an unknown country, in the hands of Providence. We now leave the waters which flow to Quebec, a distance of four or five hundred leagues, to follow those which will henceforth lead us into strange lands. Before embarking, we all began together a new devotion to the Blessed Yirgin Im- maculate, which we practised every day, addressing her par- tional minion. Moat of thoae in our northern parts were French ; but though they planted the cross on many a mountain and valley, history can not tell us the place where they carved the "Lilies of the Bourbona" In fact, they never did. * Father Marquette, however, never uses the article with Missisipi, Fekit*- aoOi, and other names of rivers. 16 KABBATIVB OF FATHSB HABQUETTB. wm §^M ticnlar prayers to put under her protection both our persona and the success of our voyage. Then after having en- couraged one another, we got into our canoes. The river on which we embarked is called Meskousing ; it is very broad, with a sandy bottom, forming many shallows, which render navigation very difficult. It is full of vine-dad islets. On the banks appear fertile lands divereified with wood, prairie, and hill. Here you find oaks, walnut, whitewood, and another kind of tree with branches armed with long thorns. We saw no small game or fish, but deer and moose^ in considerable numbers. Our route was southwest, and after sailing about thirty leagues, we perceived a place which had all the appearances of an iron mine, and in fact, one of our party who had seen some before, averred that the one we had found was very good and very rich. It is covered with three feet of good earth, very near a chain of rock, whose base is covered with fine timber. After forty leagues on this same route, we reached the mouth of our river, and finding ourselves at 42^° N., we safely entered the Missisipif on the 17th of June, with a joy that I can not express.' * The French word here is vaehe», which has been generally translated bison, or buffalo. This is dearly a mistake; they had not yet reached the buffalo ground and the missionary afterward describes the animal when he meets it The animal called by the Canadian French, vaehe tauvage, was the American elk, or moose.— JZ«i 1666-'67. Boucher, Hitt. Nat. Canada.— Nat. Bitt. of N. Y., Art. "Moose." Boucher expressly states, that buffaloes were found only in the Ottawa country, that is, in the far west, while the vache tauuage, or orignal, and ane tauvage, or caribou, were seen in Canada. f This latitude is nearly correct Prairie du Chien is in north latitude 43° 8'. The mouth of the Wisconsin or, as he writes it Meskousing, is distant one hundred and eighty miles from the portage. Above this it can be ascended ninety milei^ and is then connected by short portages with the Ontonagon and Mon- treal rivers of Lake Superior. The Wisconsin country was subsequently in- habited by the Sacs and Foxe^ but they were afterward driven away by tbe Chippeways and French. — ^F. mv SXBOOTKBnCS DT THK MIBSISSIPFI TALLKT. IT SECTION IV. or THB GREAT Jt/PXX CALLED MISSISIPl-ITa MOST BTniKINO PECtTLIAJO- Tasa.-rAHioua akiuals, and particularly the pisikiovs or wild CATTLE.-THEIR FORM ASD DI8P0aiTI01f.-TBE FIRST ILlNOia VILLAQEt REACHED BY THE FREKCB. Hebe then we are on this renowned river, of which I have endeavored to remark attentively all the pecnliarities. The Missieipi river has its source in several lakes* in the country of the nations to the north ; it is narrow at the mouth of the Miskonsing; its current^ which runs south, is slow and gentle ; on the right is a considerable chain of very high mount- ains, and on the left fine lands ; it is in many places studded with islands. On sounding, we have found ten fathoms of water. Its breadth is very unequal: it is sometimes three quarters of a league, and sometimes narrows in to three arpentt (220 yards). "We gently follow its course, which be^ south and southeast till the forty-second degree. Here we perceive that the whole face is changed ; there is now almost no wood or mountain, the islands are more beautiful and covered with finer trees ; we see nothing but deer and moose, bustards and wingless swans, for they shed their plumes in this country. From time to time we meet monstrous fish, one of which struck so violently against our canoe, that I took it for a large tree about to knock us to pieces.f Another time we per- ceived on the water a monster with the head of a tiger, a pointed snout like a wild-cat's, a beard and ears erect, a * It would appear from this remark, that the Bonrce of the Mississippi river which is now ascertained to be in Itasca lake, and more than three thousand miles from the gulf of Mexico, was then perfectly well-known to the north- western tribes. — ^F. f This was probably the cat fish of the Mississippi (Silurua Mimitippietmi). They sometimes grow enormously large, and strike with great force any object that comes in theur way. — F. 2 'lit . 'Ii! Mi: i ":m U KARBATTVE OF 7ATIIEB HABQUKTTB. grayish head and neck all black.* We eaw no more of them. On casting our nets, we have taken sturgeon and a very extra- ordinary kind of fish ;t it resembles a trout with this differ- ence, that it has a larger mouth, but smaller eyes and snout. Near the latter is a large bone, like a woman's busk, three fingers wide, and a cubit long ; the end is circular and as wide OS the hand. In leaping out of the water the weight of this often throws it back. Having descended as far as 41° 28', following the same direction, we find that turkeys have taken the place of game, and the pisikious,:}: or wild cattle, that of other beasts. We p J iiif^^.ii * Probably an American tiger-cat, the "piehou du attd" of Kalm. They differ from those of AfMea and South America, becauae they have no spots. — ^F. f The "polyodon ipatula" of Linn. It is now Tcry rare, and but seldom found in the Mississippi It is also called by the French, "U tpatnle." — F. X This animal was first made known by Coronado's expedition to Cibola, in 1640. That commander proceeded as far as the Rio Grande from the gulf of California, in search of the realms of Quivira. His greatest discovery was that of the bison plains, and this peculiarly American animal From the first object of his expedition Cibola, a town on tlie Gilo, the animal received among Span- ish writers the same name. Boucher, in his natural history of Canado, colls it the buffalo, and Father Marquette, who was the first Frenchman to reach the bison range, gives here its Indian name pisikiou, but I do not find that the name nas ever adopted. The term wild-cattle, hmtfs lauvaget, was generally used by the French, as buffalo, was later by the English settlers, till the term bison, ijaed by Pliny, was applied exclusively to this species. The buffalo has a olnmsy gait like the domestic ox. Unlike the ox, however, it exhibits no diversity of eolor, being a uniform dark brown, inclining to dun. It is never spotted with black, red, or white. It hns short, black horns, growing nearly straight from the head, and set at a considerable distance apart The male hai a hunch upon ita shoulders covered with long flocks of shaggy hair, extending to the top of the head from which it falls over the eyes and horns, giving him a very formida- ble appearance. The hoofs are cloven like those of the cow. The tail is naked, toward the end, where it is tufted, in the manner of the lion. The Indians employ botli the rifle and the arrow to hunt it, and in the prairies of Missouri and Arkan- sas, they pursue them on horseback ; but on the upper Mississippi, where they are destitute of horses, they make use of several ingenious stratogems. One of the most common of these, is the method of hunting them with fire. The buffaloes have a great dread of fire, and retire toward the centre of the prairie as they see it approach, then being pressed together in groat numbers, the Indians rush in with their arrows and musketry, and slaughter immense numbers in • few |jj;;Vli| jtlhl DISCOVEBIES IN TOE HISSTSSIPPI TALLKT. 19 call them wild cattle, because they are like onr domestic cattle ; they are not longer, but almost as big again, and more corpulent ; our men having killed one, three of us had con- siderable trouble in moving it. The head is very large, the forehead flat and a foot and a half broad between the horns, which are exactly like those of our cattle, except that they are black and much larger. Under the neck there is a kind of large crop hanging down, and on the back a pretty high hump. The whole head, the neck, and part of the shoulders, are covered with a great mane like a horse's ; it is a crest a foot long, which renders them hideous, and falling over their eyes, prevents their seeing before them. The rest of the body is covered with a coarse curly hair like the wool of our sheep, but much stronger and thicker. It falls in summer, and the skin is then as soft as velvet. At this time the Indians employ the skins to make beautiful robes, which they paint of various colors ; the flesh and fat of the Fisikious are excel- lent, and constitute the best dish in banquets. They are very flerce, and not a year passes without their killing some Indian. When attacked, they take a man with their horns, if they can, lift him up, and then dash him on the ground, trample on him, and kill him. When yon fire at them from a distance with gun or bow von must throw yourself on the ground as soon as you fire, lad hide in the grass ; for, if they perceive the one who fired, they rush on him and attack him. As their feet are large and rather short, they do not !!,'^1 hours. Few animals of the American forest contribute more to the comforts of savage life. The skin is dressed to supply them with clothing and blankets, The tallow is an article of commerce. The tongue is a delicate article of food, and the flesh, when dried after their manner, serves them for bread and meat The buffalo is generally found between 31° and 49" north latitude, and west of the Mississippi South of 31° north latitude, the buffalo is not found ; but its place is supplied in Mexico by the wild-ox, without a hunch, which is considerejl of European origin. 10 NABRATIVH OF FATnER UABQUETTK. iiiir'-i generally go very fast, except when tbey are irritated. Tliej are scattered over the prairies like herds of cattle. I have seen a band of four hundred. We advanced constantly, bnt as we did not know whore we were going, having already made more than a hundred leagues without having discovered anything bnt beasts and birds, we kept well on our guard. Accordingly we make only a little fire on the shore at night to prepare our meal, and after supper keep as far off from it as possible, passing the night in our canoes, which we anchor in the river pretty far from the bank. Even this did not prevent one of us being always as a sentinel for fear of a surprise. Proceeding south and south-southwest, we find ourselves at 41*' north ; then at 40° and some minutes, partly by southeast and partly by southwest, after having advanced more than sixty leagues since entering the river, without discovering anything. At last, on the 25th of June, we perceived footprints of men by the water-side, and a beaten path entering a beautiful prairie. We stopped to examine it, and concluding that it was a path leading to some Indian village, we resolved to go and reconnoitre ; we accordingly left our two canoes in charge of our people, cautioning them strictly to beware of a surprise ; then M. Jollyet and I undertook this rather hazardous dis- covery for two single men, who thus put themselves at the discretion of an unknown and barbarous people. We followed the little path in silence, and having advanced about two leagues, we discovered a village on the banks of the river, and two others on a hill, half a league from the former.^ * These Tillogeti are laid down on the map on the westerly side of the Missia- ■ippi, and the names of two are given, Peouarea and Moingwena, whence it is generally supposed that the river on which they lay, is that now called the Des- moiues. The upper part of that river still bears the name Moingonan, while the DnoovKBiKS m THB iinsnsippi vaujet. fil ^f' rhoro we hundred jaets and (ire make 5ur meal, 8, passing ver pretty ,f us being pints of men a beautiful ding that it Bolved to go )e8 in charge )f a surprise; kzardous dis- lelves at the •We followed )d about two of the river, the former* Bide of the MiasiB- wena, whence it is ,ow called the Den- ,ingonan, vhile the Then, indeed, we recommended ourselves to God, with all our hearts ; and, having implored his help, we passed on un- discovered, and came so near that we even heard the Indians talking. We then deemed it time to announce ourselves, as we did by a cry, which we raised with all our strength, and then halted without advancing any further. At this cry the Indians rushed out of their cabins, and having probably recognised us as French, especially seeing a black gown,* or at least having no reason to distrust us, seeing we wera but two, and had made known our coming, they deputed four old men to come and speak with us. Two carried tobacco-pipes well-adorned, and trimmed with many kinds of feathers. They marched slowly, lifting their pipes toward the sun, as if offering them to him to smoke, but yet without uttering a single word. They were a long time coming the little way from the village to us. Having reached us at last, they stopped to consider us attentively. I now took courage, see- ing these ceremonies, which are used by them only with friends, and still more on seeing them covered with stuffs, which made me judge them to be allies. I, therefore, spoke to them first, and asked them, who they were; "they an- swered that they were Ilinois and, in token of peace, they presented their pipes to smoke. They then invited us to their village where all the tribe awaited us with impatience. These pipes for smoking are called in the country calumets,f a word that is so much in use, that I shall be obliged to employ it in order to be understood, as I shall have to speak of it frequently. latitude of the month seems to estahlish the identity. It xawA, however, be ad- mitted that the latitude given at that day differs from ours generally from 80' to a degree, as we see in the case of the Wisconsin and Ohia This would throw Uoingwena somewhat higher up. * This is the well-known Indian name for the Jesuits. f We are probably indebted to Father Marquette for the addition to our language of this word. ■^; I ■Wa ■i-f MABMXTVnt or FATUIB XABQUITTI. SETTION V. ''I; I II ^1 ■■'■ il ' HOtr TWD lUNOU tODOEtVKD THB rATIOBm Ut THEIM yiLLAOa. At the door of the cabin in which wo were to be received, was an old man awaiting us in a very remarkable posture ; which is their usual ceremony in receiving strangers. This man was standing, perfectly naked, with his hands stretched out and raised toward the sun, as if he wished to screen him- self from its rays, which nevertheless passed through his fingers to his face. When we came near him, he paid us this compliment : " How beautiful is the sun, O Frenchman, when thou comest to visit us ! All our town awaits thee, and thou shalt enter all our cabins in peace." He then took us into his, where there was a crowd of people, who devoured us with their eyes, but kept a profound silence. We heard, however, these words occasionally addressed to us : " Well done, brothers, to visit us !" As soon as we had taken our places, they showed us the usual civility of the country, which is to present the calumet. Yon must not refuse it, unless you would pass for an enemy, or at least for being impolite. It is, however, enough to pre- tend to smoke. While all the old men smoked after us to honor us, some came to invite us on behalf of the great sa- chem of all the Ilinois to proceed to his town, where he wished to hold a council with us. We went with a good retinue, for all the people who had never seen a Frenchman among them could not tire looking at us : they threw them- selves on the grass by the wayside, they ran ahead, then turned and walked back to see us again. All this was done without noise, and with marks of a great respect entertained for us. ■ 1 1^ 3il DU0OVERIR8 IN THE MISBIiSIPPI VALLKT. TTnving arrived at tho groat Bacliom^s town, we espied him at his cabin-door, between two old men, all three standing naked, with their calumet turned to the sun. lie harangued us in few words, to congratulate us on our arrival, and then presented us his calumet and made us smoke ; at the same time we entered his cabin, where wo received all their usual greetings. Seeing all assembled and in silence, I spoke to them by four presents which I made : by the firat, I said that we marched in peace to visit the nations on the river to the sea: by the second, I declared to them that God their Crea- tor had pity on tlteni, since, atlor their having been so long ignorant of him, ho wished to become known to all nations ; that I \raB sent on his behalf with this deBign ; that it was for them to acknowledge and obey him : by the third, that the great chief of the French informed them that he spread peace everywhere, and had overcome the Iroquois. Lastly, by the fourth, we begged them to give us all the information they had of the sea, and of the nations through which we should have to pass to reach it. When I had finished my speech, the sachem rose, and lay* ing his hand on the head of a little slave, whom he was about to give us, spoke thus : " I thank thee, Blackgown, and thee, Frenchman," addressing M. Jollyet, " for taking so much pains to come and visit us ; never has the earth been so beautiful, nor the sun so bright, as to-day ; never has our river been so cahn, nor so free from rocks, which your canoes have re- moved as they passed ; never has our tobacco had so fine a flavor, nor our com appeared so beautiful as we behold it to- day. Here is my son, that I give thee, that thou mayst know my heart. I pray thee to take pity on me and all my nation. Thou knowest the Great Spirit who has made us all ; thou speakest to him and hearest his word : ask him to give me -I n .( m ■I!- d4 NABBATTVB OF FATHER HARQITinTI. ■M Wv'h:, life and health, and come and dwell with us, that we may know him." Saying this, he placed the little slave near ns and made ns a second present, an all-mysterious calumet, which they value more than a slave; by this present ho showed us his esteem for our governor, after the account we had given of him; by the third, he begged us, on behalf of his whole nation, not to proceed further, on account of the great dangers to which we exposed ourselves. I replied, that I did not fear death, and that I esteemed no happiness greater than that of losing my life for the glory of Him who made all. But this these poor people could not understand. The council was followed by a great feast which consisted of four courses, which we had to take with all their ways ; the first course was a great wooden dish full of sagamity, that is to say, of Indian meal boiled in water and seasoned with grease. The master of ceremonies, with a spoonful of sa- gamity, presented it three or four times to my mouth, as we would do with a little child ; he did the same to M. Jollyet. For the second course, he brought in a second dish contain- ing three fish ; he took some pains to remove the bones, and having blown upon it to cool it, put it in my mouth, as we would food to a bird ; for the third course, they produced a large dog,* which they had just killed, but learning that we did not eat it, it was withdrawn. Finally, the fourth course was a piece of wild ox, the fattest portions of which were put into our mouths. After this feast we had to visit the whole village, which * The dog among all Indian tribes is more valued and more esteemed than ysj any people of the civilized world. When they are killed for a feast, it is considered a great compliment, and the highest murk of friendship. If an Indian sees fit to sacrifice his faithful companion to give to his friend, it is to remind him of the solemnity of his professions. — ^F. / M ill- 1 mSOOTEBIES IK THE MIBSISSIFFI VALLET. 25 consists of fall three hundred cabins. While we marched through the streets, an orator was constantly haranguing, to oblige all to see us without being troublesome; we were everywhere presented with belts, garters, and other articles made of the hair of the bear and wild cattle, dyed red, yellow, and gray. These are their rareties ; but not being of conse- quence, we did not burthen ourselves with them. We slept in the sachem's cabin, and the next day took leave of him, promising to pass back through his town in four moons. He escorted us to our canoes with nearly six hundred persons, who saw us embark, evincing in every possible way the pleasure our visit had given them. On taking leave, I personally promised that I would return the next year to stay with them, and instruct them. But before leaving the Ilinois country, it will be well to relate what I remarked of their customs and manners. SECTION VI. CHASACTER OF THE ILINOia.~THEm MAlfNESa JlfD OVaTOMa.— THEIR ES- TEEM OF TBE OALUMET, OB TOBACCO-PIPE, AND THEOt VANCE IIT ITS BOSOB. To say Ilinois is. In their language, to say " the men," as if other Indians compared to them were mere beasts. And it must be admitted that they have an air of humanity* that * "The ninois," as described by Father Marest in a letter to Father Oer- mon, from the village "of the Immaculate Conception of the Holy Virgin, Cas- casquias, November 9, 1712," "are much less barbarous than the other Indiana Christianity, and their intercourse with the French, have by degrees somewhat civilized them. This is particularly remarked in our village, of which the inhab- itants aie almost all Christians, and has brought many French to establish them- selves here, three of whom we have recently married to Ilinois women. These Indians are not at all wanting in wit; they are naturally curious, and are able to use railleiy in a very ingenious way. The chase and war are the sole oeoup*- W* m i.-, I ;, S6 KARRATIVU OF VATHUIt MAKQUBm. MTo hnd not ronmrked in tlio otlior nations that we had soon on tlio way. Tlio short stay I mado with thorn did not permit tloni of ilio inon, wliilo tlio rc«t of Uie labor falla u|ion Uie wotnon nnd ({Irla. Tlt«y «re tlio |>or«uiii wlio proiiAre Uio gro«uul for miwIiik, «1o tlio cooking, |)otiiul tlio corn, build tlio wiKwaniH, nnil curry thuin on their iiliouldcra in their Journoyi. These wigwnina nre ooiittriiotod of innt* iniuie of platted rooda, wliioh tlioy hitve the akill to new togtither in luoh « way that the rain can not penetrate them when they are now. Dcaidoa thcao thiiiga, they ooaupy thoiniolvea in niaiiufoo- turiuK articloR tVoni bnft'aloea' Imir, and in making bnnda, hclta, and aaoka; for the butfnioi'a lioro are very diffuront A'oni onr cattle in Kuropc. Boaidea having a largo liiiuip on the buck by the alioiildura, they are alao entirely covered with « fine wool, which our Indiana manufacture inatead of that which they would procure ft'oiii ahcr:|\ if thoy hud them in the country. "The women, thua ouoiipiud and dcproaaod by their daily toil%,aro more do- cile to the triitha of the gospel. Thia, however, ia not tlio cuae at the lower end of Uie Miaaiaipi, where the idleneaa which prevaila among poraona of that aex givea opportunity for the moat fearful diaordora, and removoa tlieni entirely ft-oin the way of aufety. " It would bo difllcult to aay what ia the religion of our Indiana. It oonaiata entirely in aomo aupcratitions with which their credulity is amused. Aa all their knowledge ia limited to an acquaintance witli brutea, and to the neocasitiea of life, it ia to these tilings also tliat all their worahip is confined. Tlteir iiiedioino- men, who have a little more intellect than tlio reat, gain their respect by their ability to deceive them. They persuade them tliat tliey honor a kind of spirit, to whom tliey give the name of Manitou, and teach them tliat it is this apirit which governs all tilings, and b master of life and of deatli. A bird, a buffalo^ a l>«ar, or rather tlio )>lumago of tlioso birds, and the skin of those beasts — such is Uieir manitou. They hang it up in their wigwams, and oflTor to it saorifice* of dogs and otlior animals. "The braves carry their nionitous in a mat, and unceasingly invoke tliem to obtain tlie victory over their enemies. Tlioir mcdicine-mon have in like manner recourse to their manitoua when tliey comiH>se tlicir remedies, or when tliey attempt to cure tlie diseased. They accompany their invocations with ohant^ and dances, and frightful contortions^ to induce the belief that thoy are inspired by their uianitous; and at the same time they thus aggravate their diseases, so tliat they often cause death. During these different contortions, tlie medioiuo- nian names sometimes one animal, and sometimes anotlier, and at last applies himself to suck tliat part of tlie body in which the sick person perceives the pain. After having done so for some time, he suddenly raises himself and tlirows out to him tlic tootli of a bear, or of some otlier animal, which he had kept concealed in his mouth. ' Dear friend,' he cries, 'you will live. See what it was that was killing you!' After which he 8ay^ in applauding himself: 'Who can resist my manitou f Is he not the one who is the master of life I' If the patient happens to die, he immediately hns some deceit ready prepared, to ascribe the deatJi to ■ome other cause which took place after he had left the tick man. But ii^ on OIHOOVKBIB8 IK TUB MraSUBIPPI VALLKT. 87 IJ mo to acquiro all tho Information I would kave doaired. Tlie following is what I remarked in their raannem. the oontrnry, h« thonld reoovar hit healtb, it U then that the medioino-niM re- oaivea ooniiilerntion, and ii hiiuMlf regarded aa a manitou ; and after having well rewarded hia labon, thejr proeura tlia beat that the village produoea to regale him. *' The influenoe which theae kinda of Jugglera have plaeea a great obitaole in the way of the oonveriion of the Indiana By embracing Ghriatianity, they ox- |)oio themwlvoa to their inaulta and violence, It ia only a month ago that a young Christian girl experienced thia treatment. Holding a roaar^ in her hand, ■he waa pasting before tho wigwam of one of thoM iuipottora. He hod imagined that the aiglit of a aimilar ehaplet had oauaed the death of hia father; and be- ing tranaportod with fury, he took hia gun, and woa on the point of firing at this poor neophyte, when he waa arroatod by aome Indiana who happened to be prevent " I can not toll you how many timea I have received the like inaulta from them, nor how many timea I should have expired under their blown, had it not been for the particular protection of Ood, who haa proaervod me from their fury. On one ocoaaion, among othem^ one of them would have aplit my hood with hia hatohet, had I not turned at the very time that hia arm waa raised to strike me, Thanha to Qod, our village ia now purged f^om theae impostora Tlio care which we have ourselves taken of the aiok, the remediea we have givun them, and which have generally produced a cure, have destroyed tho credit and reputation of these medioino-roon, and forced them to go and establish thcmaelvea else- where, , "There are, however, some among them who are not so entirely brutal, and with whom we can sometimea talk, and endeavor to disabuse them of the voin confidence they have in their manitous; but it is not ordinarily with much suc- cess. A conversation which one of our fathers had with one of these medicine- men will enable you to understand tho extent of their obstinacy on this point, and also what ought to bo the condescension of a missionary in attempting even to refute opinions as extraordinary as those with which th<«y are here met "Tho French had established a fort on tho river Ouabach<3: they asked for a missionary, and Father Mermet waa aent to them, Thia father thought that he should also labor for the conversion of the Mascoutens, who had formed a settlement on the banks of the same river, a tribe of Indians who understood tho Ilinois language, but whose extreme attachment to the superstitions of their medioino-men rendered Utem exceedingly indisposed to listen to the instructions of the missionary. "Tlie course which Father Mermet took was, to confound in their presence one of their medicine-mon, who worshipped the buffalo as his grand mouitou. After having insensibly led him to confess that it was not by any means the buf- falo which he worshipped, but a manitou of the buffalo, which is under the eartli — which animates all the buffaloes, and which gives life to their sick — he asked him whether the other beasts, as the bears^ for example, which his comradman. 'That ii tuffioient for me/ replied the minionary, 'to convict you of having but little reason on ymir aide; for if man who la ou the earth be the maater of all the anininla — if ha kiila theni, if ho eata them— then it ia neoeaaary that the manitou which animatea the men ahould *lao bo tiie master of all the other manitous. Whore ia, then, your wiadom, that you do not invoke him who ia the maater of all the othcral' Tliia reaaoning disconcerted the medicine-man, but this was the only effect which it produced, for they were not less attached tlian before to tlieir ridiculous auporatitiona. "At that anmo time a oontagioua diaoaae desolated their villuge, and uaoh day oarried off many of the Indiana : the medicine-men ihemaelves were not aparod, and died like the reat Tlio miaaionary thought that ho would be able to win their confidence by hia attention to the care of tlie aick, and therefore applied himaclf to it witliout intermission ; but hia coal very often came near coating him hia lif& The aervicoa which he rendered to them wore repaid only by outragea. There wore oven some who proceeded to tlto extremity of disehar({ing their ar- rows at him, but they fell at hia feet ; it moy be that they were fired by hands which were too feeble, or because Qod, who destined the missionary fur other labors, had wished to withdraw him at that time from tlieir fury. Father Mer- met, however, waa not deterred fWim conferring baptism on some of the Indians^ who requested it witli importunity, and who died a ahort time after they had received it. " Neverthelesa, their medioine-mon removed to a short distance iVom the fort, to make a great sacrifice to tlieir manitou. Tliey killed nearly forty dogs, which they carried on the tops of polo^ singing, dancing, and making a thousand ex- travagant gestures. The mortality, however, did not ceaae^ for all their saori- fioea. The chief of the medicine-men Uien imagined that their manitou, being lees powerful than the manitou of the French, was obliged to yield to him. Ia this persuasion he many times made a circuit around the fort, crying out with all his strength: 'We are dead; softly, manitou of the French, strike softly — do not kill us alU' Then, addressing himself to the missionary: 'Cease, good manitou, let us live; you have life and death in your possession: leave death — give us lifel' The missionary calmed him, and promised to take even more care of the sick than he had hitherto done ; but notwithstanding all the care he could bestow, more than half in the village died. "To return to our Ilinois: they are very different from these Indians, and also from what they formerly were themselves. Christianity, as I have already said, has softened their savage customs, and their manners are now marked by a aweetness and purity which have induced some of the French to take their daughters in marriage. We find in them, moreover, a docility and ardor for the practice of Cliristian virtues The following is the order we observe each day in our mission: Early in the morning we assemble the catechumens at the tihurob, where they have prayers^ they reoeive instruotionit and chant some eon- DI800VRBIR8 IN THR MIHHIBBIPPI VAIXVT. ^9 Feouaron. £\m produces a divoraity in their language which in general has a grout affinity to the Algonquin, so that we tifllei. When ihoy hnvo rotired, miuM in iai ilimakinac, his mission was confided to Father Binoteau and Father Pinet In company with these two missionaries I labored for some time, and after their death remained in sole charge of all the toilsome duties of the mission, until the arrival of Father Mermet My residence was formerly in the great village of the Peouarias, where Father Gravier, who had returned thither for the second time, received a wound which caused his death. * * * "After having remained eight days at the mission of St Joseph, I embarked with my brother in his canoe, to repair together to Michilimakinaa The voyage was very delightful to me, not only because I had the pleasure of being with a brother, who is very dear, but also because it afforded me an opportunity of profiting for a much longer time by his conversation and example. "It is, as I have sard, more than a hundred leagues from the mission of St Joseph to Michilimakinaa We go the whole length of Lake Michigan, which on the maps has the name, without any authority, of 'the lake of the Ilinois,' since the Ilinois do not at all dwell in its neighborhood. The stormy weather delayed us, so that our voyage took seventeen days, though it is often accom- plished in less than eight "Michilimakinao is situated between two great lakes^ into which other lakes and many rivers empty. Tlierefore it is that this village is the ordinary resort of the French, the Indians, and almost all those engaged in the fur-trade of the country. The soil there is far inferior to that among the Ilinois. During the greater part of the year one sees nothing but fish, and the waters which are so agreeable during the summer render a residence there dull and wearisome du- ring the winter. The earth is entirely covered with snow from All-Saints' day even to the month of May. "The character of these Indians partakes of that of the climate under which they live. It is harsh and indocile. Religion among them does not take deep root^ as should be desired, and there nre but few souls who from time to time give themselves truly to God, and console the missionary for all his pains. For myself, I could not but admire the patience with which my brother endured their failings, his sweetness under the trial of their caprices and their coarseness, his diligence in visiting them, in teaching them, in arousing them from their in* dolence for the exercises of religion, his zeal and his love, capable of inflaming their hearts, if they hod been less hard and more tractable ; and I said to myself that 'success is not always the recompense of the toils of apostolic men, nor the measure of their merit' "Having finished all our business daring the two months that I remained with DISOOVEBIES m THE MISSISSIPPI VALLBT. u gave us. They have many wives, of wliom they are ex- tremely jealous ; they watch them carefully, and cut off their my brother, it beoame neoessnry for ub to separate. As it was God who ordered this separation, he -knew how to soften all its bitterness. I departed to rejoin Father Chardon, with whom I rencaiaed fifteen days. He is a missionary full of seal, and who has a rare talent for aoqi.iring languages. He is acquainted with almost all those of the Indians who are on these lakes, and has even learned that of the Ilinois sufficiently to make himself understood, although he has only seen some of those Indians accidentally, when they came to his village ; for the Pouteautamis and tlie Ilinois live in terms of friendship^ and visit each other from time to time. Their manners, however, are very different : those are brutal and gross, while these, on the contrary, are mild and alFable. "After having taken leave of the missionary, we ascended the river St Joseph to where it was necessary to make a portage, about thirty leagues from its mouth. The canoes which are used for navigation in this country are only of bark, and very light, although they carry as much as a large boat When the canoe has carried us for a long time on the water, we in our turn carry it on the land, over to another river ; and it was thus that we did in tliis place. We first trans- ported all there was in the canoe toward the source of the river of the Ilinois^ which they call Haukiki ; then we carried thither our canoe, and after having launched it, we embarked there to continue our route. We were bui two days making this portage, which is one and a half leagues in length. The abundant rains which had fallen during this season had swelled our little rivers, and freed us from the currents which we feared. At last we perceived our own agreeor ble country, the wild buffaloes and herds of stags wandering on the borders of the river; and those who were in the canoe took some of them from time to time, which served for our food. "At the distance of some leagues from the village of the Peouariast many of these Indians came to meet me, to form an escort to defend me from hostile par- ties of warriors who might be roaming through the forest; and when I ap- proached the village, they sent forward one of their number to give notice of my arrival. The greater part ascended to the fort, which is situated on a rook on the banks of the river, and, when I entered the village, made a general dis- charge of their guns in sign of rejoicing. Their joy was, indeed, pictured plainly on their countenances, and shone forth in my presence. I was invited, with the French and the Ilinois chiefs, to a feast which was given to us by the most dis- tinguished of the Peouarias. It was there that one of the principal chiefs ad- dressed me in the name of the nation, testifying to me the deep grief they felt at the unworthy manner in which they had treated Father Gravier, and conjured me to forget it^ to have pity on them and their children, and to open to them the gate of heaven, which they had closed against themselves. "For myself, I returned thanks to God, from the bottom of my heart, that I thus saw that accomplished which I had desired with the utmost ardor. I an- swered them, in a few words, that I was touched with their repentance ; that I always regarded them as my children ; and that after having made a short ex- cursion to my mission, I should come to fix my residence in the midst of them, I ;): mtkt 4' : ■■ ■r.'. in M 8S NARRATIVE OF FATHER MARQUETTX. [!' .. ' : ^ilHi ii ';i I! I nose or ears when they do not behave well ; I saw several who bore the marks of their infidelity. They are well-formed, nim- ble, and very adroit in using the bow and arrow ; they use guns also, which they buy of our Indian allies who trade with the French ; they use them especially to terrify their enemies by the noise and smoke, the others lying too far to the west, have never seen them, and do not know their use. They are war- like and formidable to distant nations in the south and west, where they go to carry off slaves, whom they make an article of trade, selling them at a high price to other nations for goods.* The distant nations against whom they go to war, have no knowledge of Europeans ; they are acquainted with neither to aid them hj my instructions to return into the way of salYation, from which they had perhaps wandered. At these words the chief uttered a loud cry of joy, and each one with emulation testified his gratitude. During two days that I remained in the village, I said mass in public, and discharged all the duties of a missionary. "It was toward the end of August that I embarked to return to my mission of the Cascosquios, distant a hundred and fifty leagues from the village of the Peouarias. During the first day of our departure, we found a canoe of the Sciouz, broken in some places, which had drifted away, and we saw an encamp- ment of their warriors, where we judged by the view there were at least one hundred persons. We were justly alarmed, and on the point of returning to the village we had left, from which we were as yet but ten leagues' distance. "These Scioux are the most cruel of all the Indians, and we should have been lost if we had fallen into their hands. They are great warriors, but it is princi- pally upon the water that they are formidable. They have only small canoes of bark, made in the form of a gondola, and scarcely larger than the body of a roan, for they can not hold more than two or three at the most They row on their knees, managing the oar now on one side and now on the other; that is^ giving three or four strokes of the oar on the right side, and then as many on the left side, but with so much dexterity and swiftness, that their canoes seem to fly on the water. After having examined all things with attention, we con- cluded that these Indians had struck their intended blow, and were retiring : we, however, kept on our guard, and advanced with great caution, that we might not encounter them. But when we had once gained the Missisipi, we aped on by dint of rowing At lost, on the 10th of September, I arrived at my dear mission, in perfect health, after five months' absence.** — Kip's Jesuit Miss. * It would appear from this remark, that a trafSo in Indian slaves was carried on extensively at a very early period, by the aborigines of North America. DISOOTEBIBS VX THB MIBSISSIPPI YALLVT. 88 iron or copper, and have nothing but stone knives. When the Ilinois set out on a war party, the whole village is noti- fied by a loud cry made at the door of their huts the morn- ing and evening before they set out. The chiefs are dis- tinguished from the soldiers by their wearing a scarf* inge- niously made of the hair of bears and wild oxen. The face is painted with red lead or ochre, which is found in great quantities a few days' journey from their village.f They live by game, which is abundant in this country, and on Indian com, of which they always gather a good crop, so that they have never suffered by famine. They also sow beans and melons, which are excellent, especially those with a red seed. Their squashes are not of the best ; they dry them in the sun, to eat in the winter and spring. Their cabins are very large ; they are lined and floored with rush-mats. They make all their dishes of wood, and their spoons of the bones of the buffalo, which they cut so well, that it serves them to eat their sagamity easily. They are liberal in their maladies, auu lelieve that the medicines given them operate in proportio^ to the presents they have made the medicine-man. Their only clothes are * The scarf or belt has always formed a part of the costume of chiefs. Among the tribes of the west it is generallj made of long hair braided in figures with shells^ beads, &c Belts of deer and buffalo skins '.ire also worn. These bolts are worn over the left shoulder, and passed around the waist, ending in a long fringe. In addition to the scarf, they likewise adorn themselves with arm, knee, and wrist bands ; knee-rattles made of deer-hoofs^ and arm themselves with the formidable bow and arrow, war-olu?, and scalping-knife. — ^F. f The custom of painting their bodies is chaMcteristic of all savage tribea Th« native Britons, Germans, and Scandinavians, formerly practised it. The savage tribes of North and South America continue the custom to the present day, with a view of rendering themselves more attractive to their friends, or more terrible to their enemies. The substances usually employed are ochres, clays, native oxydes of iron, and other minerals, the prod'^Jtion of their country. When thoy go to war, they paint thAnselves red ; when they mourn for their friends or rel- atives, with black ; at other times they cover their face and body with a variety of fantastic colors^ which they are very skilful in mixing.— F. 8 ■/ 'i M i'.'m »»%' •I , ] . ::} t ;l »: !-i ' ii '^1 >. f 1 ■4' t} •t 1 ^.^■M n 1 :i .! J'* J 1,1 If- Ij iSi ^;,t lU 84 NARRATIVE OF FATHER MARQVETTB. ikins ; their women are always dressed very modestly and decently, while the men do not take any pains to cover them- selves. Through what superstition I know not, some Ilinois, as well as some Nadouessi, while yet young, assnme the fe- male dress, and keep it all their life. There is some mystery about it, for they never marry, and glory in debasing them- selves to do all that is done by women :* yet they go to war, though allowed to use only a club, and not the bow and ar- row, the peculiar arm of men ; they are present at all the juggleries and solemn dances in honor of the calumet ; they are permitted to sing, but not to dance; they attend the councils, and nothing can be decided without their advice ; finally, by the profession of an extraordinary life, they pas9 for manitous (that is, for genii), or persons ot consequence. It now only remains for me to speak of the calumet, than which there is nothing among them moK mysterious or more esteemed. Men do not pay to the crowns and sceptres of kings the honor they pay to it : it seems to be the god of peace and war, the arbiter of life and death. Garry it about you and show it, and you can march fearlessly amid enemieS) \/lio even in the heat of battle lay down their arms when it is shown. Hence the Ilinois gave me one, to serve as my safe- guard amid all the nations that I had to pass on my voyage. There is a calumet for peace, and one for war, distinguished only by the color of the feathers with which they are adorned, red being the sign of war. They use them also for settling disputes, strengthening aliiances, and speaking to strangers.f * other! represent this onstom to have been to satisfy that unnatural lust which dishonored all paganism, from the vaunted Trajan to the lowest savage. See Hennepin"* account of this custom in his "Voyage en un pays plus grand que I'Europe entre mer glaciale, et le Nouveau Mexique." f The calumet of peace is adorned with the feathetV of the white eagle ; and the bearer of it vatf go everywhere without fear, because it is held sacred by oil biben— F. #■■ ■> and hem- befe- ^Btery tbem- war, ,nd ar- all the ; tbey nd the idvice; ay pass snco. et, than or more sptreB of J god of it about enemieS) rhen it is my safe- (r voyage, inguisbed adorned, )r settling arangerfl.t nnatural luit Bwest savage, ys plus grand te eagle; and sacred by *U DISOOVBRIKS m THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. §5 It is made of a polished rod stone, like marble, so pierced that one end serves to hold the tobacco, while the other ia fastened on the stem, which is a stick two feet long, as thick ts a common cane, and pierced in the middle ; it is orna- mented with the head and neck of different birds of beautiful plumage; they also add large feathers of red, green, and other colors, with which it is all covered. They esteem it particularly because they regard it as the calumet of the sun ; and, in fact, they present it to him to smoke when they wish to obtain calm, or rain, or fair weather. They scruple to bathe at the beginning of summer, or to eat new fruits, till they have danced it. They do it thus : — The calumet jjance* which is very famous among these Indians, is performed only for important matters, sometimes to strengthen a peace or to assemble for some great war ; at other times for a public rejoicing; sometimes they do this honor to a nation who is invited to be present; sometimes they use it to receive some important personage, as if they wished to give him the entertainment of a ball or comedy. In winter the ceremony is performed in a cabin, in sumn^^er in the open fields. They select a place, surrounded with trees, so as to be sheltered beneath their foliage against the heat of the sun. In the middle of the space they spread out a large party-colored mat of rushes; this serves as a carpet, on which to place with honor the god of the one who gives the dance ; for every one has his own god, or manitouf -as * Besides the calumet dance, these tribes have a great variety of other dances^ wholly of their own invention. Twenty-one of these are still in use among the southwestern Indians^ to each of which there is a history attached ; and many of them, without doubt, have been handed down from generation to generation until their origin is even lost in tradition. — ^F. f Manitou is a word employed to signify the same thing by all Indians from the gnlf of Mexico to the arctic regions. In the Indian language it signifies "spirit" They have good and bad manitous, great and small manitous; a mani- tou for every oave, water-fall, or other commanding object in nature, and gene- il i 86 KABRATIVB Ot FATIIKR MAXQCKTTC. ill m ! i'l thoy call it, which is a snake, a bird, or something of the kind, which they have dreamed in their sleep, and in which they put all their trust for the success of their wars, fishing, and hunts. Near this manitou and at its right, thoy put tli|^ calumet in honor of which the feast is given, making around about it a kind of trophy, spreading there the arms used by the warriors of these tribes, namely, the war-club, bow, hatchet, quiver, and arrows. Things being thus arranged, and the hour for dancing having arrived, those who are to sing take the most honorable place under tho foliage. They are the men and the women who have the finest voices, and who accord perfectly. The spectators then come and take their places around under the branches ; but each one on arriving must salute the manitou, which he does by inhaling the smoke and then puffing it from his mouth upon it, as if oifering incense. Each one goes first and takes the calumet respectfully, and supporting it with both hands, makes it dance in cadence, suiting him- self to the air of the song ; he makes it go through various figures, sometimes showing it to the whole assembly by turn- ing it from side to side. After this, he who is to begin the dance appears in the midst of the assembly, and goes first ; sometimes he presents it to the sun, as if he wished it to smoke ; sometime he in- rtllj make oiferings at such places. Their bad inanitoa answers to our devil. All Indians are more or less superstitious^ and believe in miraculous transforma- tions, ghosts, and witchcraft. They have jugglers and prophets who predict events, interpret dreams, and perform incantations and mummeries. In the true acceptation of the term, the Indians have a religion, for thej believe in a great spirit who resides in the clouds, and reigns throughout the earth. The French missionaries have been the most successful in planting Christinnitj among them ; but in general, they prefer " to follow the religion of their fa- thers." The savage mind, habituated to sloth, is not easily roused into a state of moral activity, and therefore, in general, they are incapable of embracing and understanding tiie sublime truths and doctrines of the evangelical law.— F. Duooyxxiu m thk iinaiuippi tallbt. 87 cltnM it to the earth ; and at other times he Bpreadt its wings as if for it to fly ; at other times, he approaches it to the mouths of ttie Bptictatora for them to smoke, the whole in cadence. Thii is the firsi Mcene of the ballet. The second consists in a combat, to the sound of a kind of drum, which succeeds the songs, or rather joins them, har- monizing quite well. The dancer beckons to some brave to come and take the arms on the mat, and challenges him to fight to the sound of the drums ; the other approaches, takes his bow and arrow, and begins a duel agamst the dancer who has no defence but the calumet. This spectacle is very pleas- ing, especially as it is always done in time, for one attacks, the other defends ; one strikes, the other parries ; one flies, the other pursues ; then he who fled faces and puts his enemy to flight. This is all done so well with measured steps, and the regular sound of voices and drums, that it might pass for a very pretty opening of a ballet in France. The third scene consists of a speech delivered by the holder of the calumet, for the combat being ended without bloodshed, he relates the battles he was in, the victories he has gained ; he names the nations, the places, the captives he has taken, and as a reward, he who presides at the dance presents him with a beautiful beaver robe, or something else, which he receives, and then he presents the calumet to another, who hands it to a third, and so to all the rest, till all having done their duty, the presiding cL }f presents the calumet itself to the nation invited to this c^iremony in token of the eternal peace which shall reign between the two tribes. The following is one of the songs which the^- ac accus- tomed to sing ; they give it a certain expression, not easily represented by notes, yet in this all its grace consists : — "Nbahsni, ninshani, ninahani, Naniongo.* I 1; ^ i "■ ' 88 NABBATIVE OF FATHER HABQUBTTE. I. ?! : v=l. li ' We take leave of our Ilinols about the end of June, at three o'clock in the afternoon, and embark in sight of all the tribe, who admire our little canoes, having never seen the like. "We descend, following the course of the river, toward on- other called Pekitanoul,* which empties into the Missisipi, coming from the northwest, of which I have something con- siderable to say, after I have related what I have remarked of this river. Passing by some pretty high rocks which line the river, I perceived a plant which seemed to me very remarkable. Its root is like small turnips linked together by little fibres, which had the taste of carrots. From this root springs a leaf as wide as the hand, half of a finger thick with spots in the mid- dle ; from this leaf spring other leaves like the sockets of chandeliers in our saloons. Each leaf bears five or six bell- shaped yellow flowers.f We found abundance of mulberries, as large as the French, and a small fruit which we took at first for olives, but it had the taste of an orange, and another as large as a hen's egg ; we broke it in half and found two separations, in each of which were encased eight or ten seed shaped like an almond, which are quite good when ripe.:^ The tree which bears them has, however, a very bad smell, and its leaf resembles that of the walnut. There are also, in the prairies, fruit resembling our filberts, but more tender ; the leaves are larger, and spring from a stalk crowned at the top with a head like a sunflower, in which all these nuts are neatly arranged ; they are very good cooked or raw.| * The name here given by Marquette, Pekitanoui, that is, mnddy water, pre- vailed till Marest's time, (1712). A branch of Rock river is still called Pekatonioa. The Recollects, called the Missouri, the river of the Ozages. f Probably the Cactus opuntia, several species of which grow in the western states. — ^F. X Probably the Diospyros virginiana, or persimon-tree. I Probably the Castanea pumila, or ohincapin.— F. I western DIS0OVEBIE8 IN THB MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 39 As we coasted along rocks frightful for their height and length, we saw two monsters painted on one of these rocks, which startled us at firat, and on which the boldest Indian dare not gaze long. They are as large as a calf, with horns on the head like a deer, a fearful look, red eyes, bearded like a tiger, the face somewhat like a man's, the body covered with scales, and the tail so long that it twice makes the turn of the body, passing over the head and down between the legs, and ending at last in a fish's tail. Gi'ecn, red, and a kind of black, are the coloi-s employed. On the whole, these two monsters are so well painted, that we could not believe any Indian to" have been the designer, as good painters in France would find it hard to do as well ; besides this, they are so high upon the rock that it is hard to get conveniently at them to paint them. This is pretty nearly the figure of these monsters, as I drew it off.* As we were discoursing of them, sailing gently down a beautiful, still, clear water, wo heard the noise of a rapid into which we were about to fall. I have seen nothing more fright- ful; a mass of large trees, entire, with branches, real fioating islands, came rushing from the mouth of the river Fekitanoiii, so impetuously, that we could not, without great danger, expose ourselves to pass across. The agitation was so great that the water was all muddy and could not get clear. Fekitanoiiif is a considerable river which coming from * The drawing of these figures bj Marquette is lost, "The painted monsters," says Stoddard, "on the side of a high perpendicular rock, apparently inaccessi- ble to man, between the Missouri and Einois, and known to moderns by the name of Piesa, still remain in a good degree of preservation." f Father Marquette had now reached the junction of the Missouri and the Mississippi, in latititude north 88° 60'. "The Achelous and Teliboas," says Stoddard, "are insignificant rivers when compared with the Mississippi and Missouri ; yet Thucydides and Xenophon exerted all their powers to render them immortal. The two great rivers of the west furnish themes still more pregnant with the sublime and beautiful. The great length of them, the variety of scenery as they roll among mountains, or over extensive plains^ at once charm the senses p K. Pi ft -aii 'i;i " -sf: r^mi ■' mf "J iiiil If' 40 .1; ir » ( NABBATIVE OF FATHEB MABQTJBTTl!. very far in the northwest, empties into the Missisipi. Mianj Indian towns are ranged along this river, and I hope, by its means, to make the discovery of the Ked, or California sea. "We judged by the direction the Missisipi takes, that if it keeps on the same course it has its month in the gulf of Mexico ; it would be very advantageous to find that which leads to the South sea, toward California and this, as I said, I hope to find by Pekitanoiii, following the account which the Indians have given me ; for from them I learn that advancing up this river for five or six days, you come to a beautiful prairie twenty or thirty leagues long, which you must cross to the northwest. It terminates at another little river on which you can embark, it not being di£Scult to transport canoes over so beautiful a country as that prairie. This second river runs southwest for ten or fifteen leagues, after which it enters a small lake, which is the source of another deep river, running to the west where it empties into the sea.* I have hardly any doubt that this is the Eed sea, and I do not despair of one day making the discovery, if God does me this favor and grants me health, in order to be able to publish the gospel to all the nations of this new world who have so long been plunged in heathen darkness. Let us resume our route after having escaped as best we could, the dangerous rapid caused by the obstacle of which I have spoken. and warm the imagination. The facilities they yield to commerce, the saperfln- otiB wealth of twenty states conveyed to the ocean, the variety of climates, soils^ and productions on their borders, the mineral and other subterranean riches of the soil, seem to be designed by Heaven to impress us with their importance and sub- limity." * Marquette was right in his conjecture, as topographical surveys have since determined, that the gulf of California might be reached by the Platte which is one of the tributaries of the Missouri. The head waters of the Platte almost in- terlock with the head waters of the Colorado, which latter river flows into the Red sea, or gulf of California, as here stated by Marquette. — ^F. DISOOVEBIES IN THB MISSISSIPPI TAIIJCT. II SECTION VII. NfaW COUNTSIES DISCOVSRED BY THE FATHER.— VARIOUa PARTICVLAItS.— UBETINO WITH SOME ISDIANS.-FIRST TTDmaS OF THE SEA AND OF EURO. PEAKS.— ORBAT DANOBR AVOWED BY THE CALUMET. After having made about twenty leagues due south, and a little less to the southeast, we came to a river called Ona- boukigou,* the mouth of which is at 36° north. Before we arrived there, we passed by a place dreaded by the Indians, because they think that there is a manitou there, that is, a demon who devours all who pass, and of this it was, that they had spoken, when they wished to deter us from our enter- prise. The devil is this — a small bay, full of rocks, some twenty feet high, where the whole current of the river is whirled ; hurled back against that which follows, and checked by a neighboring island, the mass of water is forced through a narrow channel ; all this is not done without a furious com- bat of the waters tumbling over each other, nor without a great roaring, which strikes terror into Indians who fear everything. It did not prevent our passing and reaching SabBkigU. This river comes from the country on the east, inhabited by the people called Ghaouanons,f in such numbers * The Ohio, or beautiful river, as that Iroqnoia name signifies. The name given by Marquette, became finally Ouabache, in our spelling Wabash, and is now applied to the last tributary of the Ohio. The letter used a few lines lower <1own for ou, is the Greek contraction, and was used by the missionaries to ex- pi- ne half. In 1727, it took Father du Poisson, missionary to the Ar- kansas, to make a voyage from New Orleans to that miasioD, including some stoppages, from the 26th May to the 7th July.— P. DnOOVBBIKS IN TUB MU8IB8IPPI TALLBT. 61 our way, and brought ub, with little trouble, to the lake of the Ilinois.* We had seen nothing like this river for the fertility of the land, its prairies, woods, wild cattle, stag, deer, wild* cats, bustards, swans, ducks, parrots, and even beaver; its many little lakes and rivers. That on which we sailed, is broad, deep, and gentle for sixty-five leagues. During the spring and part of the summer, the only portage is half a league. . We found there an Uinois town called Kaskaskia, com- posed of seventy-four cabins ; they received us well, and compelled me to promise to roturn and instruct tliem. One of the chiefs of this tribe with his young men, escorted us to the Ilinois lake, whence at last we returned in the close of September to the bay of the Fetid, whence wo had set out in the beginning of June. Had all this voyage caused but the salvation of a single Boul, I should deem all my fatigue well repaid, and this I have reason to think, for, when I was returning, I passed by the Indians of Peoria.f I was three days announcing the faith in all their cabins, after which as we were embarking, they brought me on the water's edge a dying child, which I * Lake Michigan was so called for a long time, probably from the fact that through it lay the direct route to the Uinois villages, which Father Marquette was now the first to visit Marest erroneously treats the name as a mistake of geographers, and is one of the first to call it Michigan. The river which Mar- quette now ascended has been more fortunate, it still bears the name of Ilinois. f Unfortunately he does not tolls us where ho met these roving Pcorians, who thus enabled him to keep his promise to resist them. As they have left their name on the Ilinois river, ho may have found them there, below the Kaskaskias who, no less erratic, left their name to a more southerly river, and to a town at its mouth, on the MississippL It must then be borne in mind that Marquette's Peoria, arJ his and AUoues' town of Kaskaskia are quite different from the present places of the name in situation. The Ilinois seemed to have formed a link be- tween the wandering Algonquin and the fixed Iroquois; they had villages like the latter, and though they roved like the former, they roved in villages. ( 59 NABBATTYI! OF FATHEB MABQUETTE. baptized a little before it expired, by an admirable Providence for the salvation of that innocent sonl.t f The following table of distances offer the best means of forming some idea of the whole distance passed over by M. Jollyet and Father Marquette :— Milet. From the mission of St Ignac to Green bay about 218 From Green bay (Puans) up Fox river to the portage 175 From the portage down the Wisconsin to the Mississippi 176 From the mouth of the Wisconsin to the mouth of the Arkansas. . 1,087 From the mouth of the Arkansas to the Ilinois river 547 From the mouth of the Ilinois to the Chicago 806 From the Chicago to Green bay, by the lake shore 260 2767 BparV» Life of Marquette. .c, 'i:^ :•': r ('■ '!■ i 4: ,j; CHAPTER 11. SARRATIVE OF TUB SECOND VOYAGB MADE BY FATHER JAMES MAftqVETTB TO THEILINOIS TO CARRY THE FAITH TO THEM, ASD THE OLORIOUS DEATH OF THE SAME FATHER Ilf THE LABORS OF HIS MISSIOS. ^^■ SECTION I. THE FATHER BETS OCT A SECOND TIME FOR THE ILINOIS^BE ASBIVES THERE IN SPITE OF HIS ILLNESS AND FOUNDS THE MISSION OF THE CON- CEPTION. FATHEB James Marquette having promised the Ilinois, called Kaskaskia, to return among them to teach them our mysteries, had great difficulty in keeping his word. The great hardships of his first voyage had brought on a dys- entery, and had so enfeebled him, that he lost all hope of un- dertaking a second voyage. Yet, his malady having given way and almost ceased toward the close of summer in the fol- lowing year, he obtained permission of his superiors to return to the Ilinois to found that noble mission.^ * By his last journal, which we publish entire from his autograph, we learn that Father Marquette was detained at the mission of St Francis Xavier, in Oreen bay, during the whole summer of 1674. Recovering in September, he drew up and sent t<» his superiors, copies of his journal down the Mississippi, and having received orders to repair to the Ilinois, set out^ on the 26th of October, with two men named Pierre Porteret and Jacques . They crossed the peninsula which forms the eastern side of Green bay, and began to coast along the shore of Lake Michigan, accompanied by some Ilinois and Poltawatomies. They ad- vanced but slowly by land and water, frequently arrested by the state of the lake. On the 23d of November, the good missionary was again seized by his malady, but he pushed on, and by the 4th of December, had reached the Chicago, which connects by portage with the Ilinois. But the river waa now j^**^, -m M KARBATIYE OF FATHER MARQUETTE. Il i I! . i it 1 li. He set out for this purpose in the month of Norember, 1674, from the Bay of the Fetid, with two men, one of whom had already made that voyage with him. During a month's navigation on the Ilinois lake, he was pretty well ; but as soon as the snow began to fall, he was again seized with the dysentery which forced him to stop in the river which leads to the Ilinois. There they raised a cabin and spent the win- ter in such want of every comfort that his illness constantly increased ; he felt that God had granted him the grace he had so often asked, and he even plainly told his com- panions so, assuring them that be would die of that ill- ness, and on that voyage. To prepare his soul for its de- parture, he began that rude wintering by the exercises of St. Ignatius,* which, in spite of his great bodily weakness, he frozen, and though they attempted to proceed, the pious miuionarj submitted to the necessity, and deprived even of the consolation of saying mass on his patronal feast, the Immaculate Concepaon, resolved at last, on the 14th, to win- ter at the portage, as his illness increased. His Indian companions now left him, and though aided by some French traders, he suffered much during the fol- lowing months. Of thia^ however, he says nothing. "The Blessed Virgin Im- maculate," says bin journal, " has taken such care of us during our wandering, that we have never wanted food: we have lived very comfortably; my illness not having prevented my saying mass every day." How little can we realize the faith and self-denial which could give so pleasant a face to a winter passed by a dying man in a cabin open to the winds. The Ilinois aware of his presence 80 near them, sent indeed ; but so gross were their ideas of his object, that they asked the dying missionary for powder and goods. "I have come to instruct you, and speak to you of the prayer," was his answer. "Powder, I have not; we come to spread peace through the land, and I do not wish to see you at war with the Miamis." As for goods, he could but encourage the French to continue their trade. Despairing at lost of human remedies, the missionary and his two pious companions began a novena, or nine days' devotion to the Blessed Virgin Im- maculate. From its close he began to gain strength, and when the freshet com- pelled them to remove their cabin, on the 20th of March he set out again on his long interrupted voyage, the river being now opf n ; his last entry is of the 6th of April, when the wind and cold compelled them to halt He never found time to continue his journal ; and his last words are a playful allusion to the hard- ships undergone by the traders, in which he sympathized, while insensible of his own. * TbMe are a series of meditation on the great truths of religion — the object DISOOVEBIES m THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 55 performed with deep sentiments of devotion, and great heav- enly consolation ; and then spent the rest of his time in collo- quies with all heaven, having no more intercourse with earth, amid these deserts, except with his two companions whom he confessed and communicated twice a week, and exhorted as much as his strength allowed. Some time after Christmas, in order to obtain the grace not to die without having taken possoRsion of his beloved mission, he invited his companions to mak a novena in honor of the Immaculate Conception of til liiessed Virgin. Contrary to all human expectation he was heard and recovering found himself able to proceed to the TMnois town as soon as navigation was free ; this he accom- plished in great joy, setting out on the 29th of March. He was eleven days on the way, where he had ample matter for suffering, both from his still sickly state, and from the sever- ity and inclemency of the weather. Having at last reached the town on the 8th of April, he was received there as an angel from heaven ; and after having several times assembled the chiefs of the nation with all the old men (anciens),^ to sow in their minds the firet seed of the gospel ; after carrying his instructions into the cabins, which were always filled with crowds of people, he resolved to speak to all publicly in general assembly, which he convoked in the open fields, the cabins being too small for the meeting. A beautiful prairie near the town was chosen for the great coun- cil ; it was adorned in the fashion of the country, being spread with mats and bearskins, and the father having hung on cords some pieces of India taffety, attached to them four large pictures ■ li of man's creation, the work of his redemption, and the mea^iS of attaining the former by participating in the latter. To spend a number of days in revolving these serious thoughts is called making a retreat. * I have my doubts whether aneient, in these French account^ does not mean sachems^ the rulers of the tribe. I ■ t; t k: -l. 8$ NARRATIVE OF FATHER MARQUETTE. of the Blessed Yirgin, which were thus visible on all sides. The auditory was composed of five hundred chiefs and old men, seated in a circle around the father, while the youth stood without to the number of fifteen hundred, not counting women and children, who are very numerous, the town being com* posed of five or six hundred fires. The father spoke to all this gathering, and addressed them ten words by ten presents which he made them ;* he ex- plained to them the principal mysteries of our religion, and the end for which he had come to their country ; and es- pecially he preached to them Christ crucified, for it was the very eve of the great day on which he died on the cross for them, as well as for the rest of men. He then said mass. Three days after, on Easter Sunday, things being arranged in the same manner as on Thursday, he celebrated the holy mysteries for the second time, and by these two sac- rifices, the fii*8t ever offered there to God, he took possession of that land in the name of Jesns Christ, and gave this mis- sion the name of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin. He was listened to with universal joy and approbation by all this people, who earnestly besought him to return as soon as possible among them, since his malady obliged him to leave them. The father, on his part, showed them the affec- tion he bore them, his satisfaction at their conduct, and gave his word that he or some other of our fathers would return to continue this mission so happily begun. This promise he re- peated again and again, on parting with them to begin his • Words addressed to Indians, when not accompanied by a wampum belt, were considered unimportant ; and the missionary who first annonnced the gos- pel in a village, always spoke by the belt of the prayer, which he held in his hand, and which remained to witness his words when the sound had died away. w ^ DIS00VEBIE8 IK THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. w journey. He set out amid such marks of friendship from these good people, that they escorted him with pomp more than thirty leagues of the way, contending with one another for the honor of carrying his little baggage. SECTION II. THE FATHER IS COMPELLED TO LEAVE HIS ILISOIS MISSIOS^HIS LAST ILLNESS.— HIS PRECIOUS DEATH AMID THE FORESTS. Afteb the Ilinois had taken leave of the father, filled with a great idea of the gospel, he continued his voyage, and soon after reached the Ilinois lake, on which he had nearly a hun- dred leagues to make by an unknown route, because he was obliged to take the southern [eastern] side of the lake, hav- ing gone thither by the northern [westera]. His strength, howe^,' failed so much, that his men despaired of being able tcr carry him alive to their journey's end ; for, in fact, he became so weak and exhausted, that he could no longer help himself, nor even stir, and had to be handled and car- ried like a child. He nevertheless maintained in this state an admirable equa- nimity, joy, and gentleness, consoling his beloved companions, and encouraging them to suffer courageously all the hardships of the way, assuring them that our Lord would not foreake them when he was gone. During this navigation he Jgan to prepare more particularly for death, passing his time in colloquies with our Lord, with His holy mother, with his an- gel-guardian, or with all heaven. He was often heard pro- nouncing these words : " I believe that my Redeemer liveth," or, " Mary, mother of grace, mother of God, remember me." Besides a spiritual reading made for him every day, he tow- i !#; i 68 NABBATIVE OF FATHBB UABQUBTTE. ■/ifHii' ard the close asked them to read him his meditation on the preparation for death, which he carried about him : he recited his breviary every day ; and although he was so low, that both sight and strength had greatly failed, he did not omit it till the last day of his life, when his companions induced him to cense, as it was shortening his days. A week before his death, he had the precaution to bless some holy water, to serve him during the rest of 'jis illness, in his agony, and at his burial, and he instructed his compan- ions how to use it. The eve of his death, which was a Friday, he told them, all radiant with joy, that it would take place on the morrow. During the whole day he conversed with them about tlie manner of his burial, the way in which he should be laid out, the place to be selected for his interment ; he told them how to arrange his hands, feet, and face, and directed them to raise a cross over his grave. He even went so far as to enjoin them, only three houre before he expired, to take his chapel- bell, as soon as he was dead, and ring it while they carried him to the grave. Of all this he spoke so calmly and collect- edly, that you would have thought that he spoke of the death and burial of another, and not of his own. Thus did he speak with them as they sailed along the lake, till, perceiving the mouth of a river, with an eminence on the bank which he thought suited for his burial, he told them that it was the place of his last repose. They wished, however, to pass on, as the weather permitted it, and the day was not far advanced ; but God raised a contrary wind, which obliged them to return and enter the river pointed out by Father Marquette.* • A marginal note says, "This river now bears the father's name." It was indeed long called Marquette river, but from recent maps the name seems to DISOOYBHIBS IN THB MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 59 They then carried him ashore, kindled a Jittle fire, and raised for him a wretched bark cabin, where thoy laid him as little uncomfortably as they could ; but they were so overcome by sadness, that, as they aflerwai'd said, they did not know what they were doing. The father being thus stretched on the shore, like St. Francis Xavier, as he had always so ardently desired, and left alone amid those forests — for his companions were engaged in unloading — he had leisure to repeat all the acts in which he had employed himself during the preceding days. When his dear companions afterward came up, all dejected^ he consoled them, and gave them hopes that God would take care of them after his death in those new and unknown coun- tries ; he gave them his last instructions, thanked them for all the charity they had shown him during the voyage, begged their pardon for the trouble he had given them, and directed them also to ask pardon in his name of all oiir fathers and brothers in the Ottawa country, and then disposed them to receive the sacrament of penance, which he administered to them for the last time ; he also gave them a paper on which he had written all his faults since his last confession, to be given to his superior, to oblige him to pray more earnestly for him. In fine, he promised not to forget them in heaven, and as he was veiy kind-hearted, and knew them to be worn out with the toil of the preceding days, he bade them go and take a little rest, assuring them that his hour was not yet so near, but that he would wake them when it was time, as in fact he did, two or three hours after, calling them when about to enter his agony. have been forgotten. Its Indian name is Notispescago, and according to others^ Aniniondibeganining. It is a very small stream, not more than fifteen pocei long, being tiie outlet of a small lake, as Charlevoix assures us. ■W i I" '- ■ :4 m ■ ; &■ ■\\ i .: 1,-Ui «Q NABBATIVB OF FATHER MABQUETTB. When they came near he embraced them for the last time, while they melted in tears at his feet; he then asked for the holy water and his reliqnary, and taking off his crucifix which he wore around his neck, he placed it in the hands of one, asking him to hold it constantly opposite him, raised be- fore his eyes ; then feeling that he had but a little time to live, he made a last effort, clasped his hands, and with his eyes fixed sweetly on his crucifix, he pronounced aloud his profession of faith, and thanked the Divine Majesty for the immense grace he did him in allowing him to die in the so- ciety of Jesus ; to die in it as a missionary of Jesus Christ, and above all to die in it, as he had always asked, in a wretched cabin, amid the forests, destitute of all human aid. On this he became silent, conversing inwardly with God ; yet from time to time words escaped him : " Sustinuit anima mea in verba ejus," or " Mater Dei, memento mei," which were the last words he uttered before entering on his agony, which was very calm and gentle. He had prayed his companions to remind him, when they gaw him about to expire, to pronounce frequently the names of Jesus and Mary. When he could not do it himself, they did it for him ; and when they thought him about to pass, one cried aloud Jesus Maria, which he several times repeated distinct- ly, and then, as if at those sacred names something had ap- peared to him, he suddenly raised his eyes above bis crucifix, fixing them apparently on some object which he seemed to regard with pleasure, and thus with a countenance all radiant with smiles, he expired without a struggle, as gently as if he had sunk into a quiet sleep. His two poor companions, after shedding many tears over his body, and having laid it out as he had directed, carried it devoutly to the grave, ringing the bell according to his ■m. niSOOVERIBS IN THK MIS8I8SIFPI VALLKT. 61 injnnn^'''Ti, and raised a large croes near it to serve as a mark for passers-by. When they talked of embarking, one of them, who for several days had been overwhelmed with sadness, and so racked in body by acute pains that he could neither eat nor breathe without pain, resolved, while his companion was pre- paring all for embarkation, to go to the grave of his good father, and pray him to intercede for him with the glorious Virgin, as he had promised, not doubting but that he was already in heaven. He accordingly knelt down, said a short prayer, and having respectfully taken some earth from the grave, he put it on his breast, and the pain immediately ceased ; his sadness was changed into a joy, which continued during the rest of his voyage. SECTION III. WBAT OCCVBRED Of TSE TRASSPORT OF THB BOlfXS OF THE LATE TATBEB MARqUETTB, WHICH WERE TAKES VP OS THE 19TB OF MAY, l«n, THE AtfNh VER8ARV OF BIS DEATH TWO YEARS BEFORE.— SKETCH OF HIS VIRTUES. Gk)D did not choose to suffer so precious a deposite to remain unhonored and forgotten amid the woods. The Kiskakon Indians,* who, for the last ten years, publicly professed Ohristi- * Of the Eiskakons little more ia known than is here stated. They or^ I think, first mentioned in a letter of F Alloue^i; in the Relation 1665-'67. The name Kiskakon given in this narrative, and the Relation of 16'78-'?9 is^ I snp- pose, the longer name Eichkakoueiac of the Relation of 16?2-'?8, which places them at that time near Sault St Mary'e^ the Hurons being then alone at Mack- inac. The last Relation (1673-79) states their number then at 1,800, all Chris- tians; they subsequently appear in collision with the Iroquois, but are soon lost sight of; if they have disappeared from the nations, it was not in their infidelity; many, we may trusty were faithful to the graces they received, and if they have melted away before our encroachments^ it is a reason why we should bless the men who sought to save their souls without caring whether a century later any - t' « 62 KABBATTVX 07 FATHER HABQUBTTC. 1 \-^:i' III: anity in which they were first instnicted by Father Man* quette, when stationed at Lapointe du Saint Esprit at the ex- tremity of Lake Superior, were hunting last winter on the banks of Lake Ilinois ; and as they were returning early in spring, they resolved to pass by the tomb of their good father, whom they tenderly loved ; and Qod even gave them the thought of taking his remains and bringing them to our church at the mission of St. Ignatius, at Missilimaklnac, where they reside. They accordingly repaired to the spot and deliberated to- gether, resolved to act with their father, as they usually do with those whom they respect ; they accordingly opened the grave, unrolled the body, and though the flesh and intestines were all dried up, they found it whole without the skin being in any way injured. This did not prevent their dissecting it according to custom ; they washed the bones, and dried theiu in the sun, then putting them neatly in a box of birch bark, they set out to bear them to the house of St. Ignatius. The convoy consisted of nearly thirty canoes in excellent order ; including even a good number of Iroquois who had joined our Algonquins to honor the ceremony. As they approached our house. Father Nouvel, who is superior, went to meet them with Father Fierson,* accompanied by all the French Indians of the place, and having caused the convoy to stop, made the ordinary interrogations to verify the fact, that the body which would exist to show the endurance of their labors. It has been justly remarked of the catholic missions that, " they ended only with the extinction of the tribe." * Fatlier Nouvel was the Ottawa, and Father Pierson the Huron missionary. Each nation had its village apart, at a distance of three quarters of a league from each other. The church here spoken of was built apparently in 1674, while F. Marquette was there {Eel. 1672-73, and 1678-79) ; it lay nearest the Huron y'lU lage, which Hennepin thus describes: "It is surrounded with palisades twenty- five feet high, and situated near a great point of land opposite the island of Hisailimakinac."— DocHp/ton de la Laavnant, p. 62. P:.H DIBOOVBBIUS IN THE MISSISSIPPI YALLBT. I tbey bore was really Father Marquette's. Then, before land- ing, he intoned the " De Frofundis" in sight of the thirty canoes still on the water, and of all the people on the shores ; after this the body was carried to the church, observing all that the ritual prescribes for such ceremonies. It remained exposed under a pall stretched as if over a coffin all that day, which was Whitsun-Monday, the 8th of Juno ; and the next day, when all the funeral honors had been paid it, it was de- posited in a little vault in the middle of the church, where he reposes as the guardian angel of our Ottawa missions. The Indians often come to pray on his tomb, and to say no more, a young woman of about nineteen or twenty, whom the late father had instructed and baptized last year, having fallen sick, asked Father Nouvel to bleed her, and give her some remedies ; but in place of medicine he bade her go for throe days and say a pater and ave on the tomb of Father Marquette. She did so, and before the third day, was entirely cured with' out bleeding or other remedies. Father James Marquette, of the province of Champagne, died at the age of thu*ty-eight, of which he had spent twenty-one in the society, namely twelve in France, and nine in Canada. He was sent to the missions of the upper Algonquins, called Ottawas, and labored there with all tho zeal that could be ex- pected in a man who had taken St. Franc's Xavier as the model of his life and death. He imitated that great saint, not only in the variety of the barbarous languages which he leamed, but also by the vastness of his zeal which made liim bear the faith to the extremity of this new world, nearly eight hundred leagues from here, in forests where the name of Jesus had never been announced. He always begged of God to end his days in these toilsome missions, and to die amid the woods like his beloved St. IE, 64 NARRATITB OF FATHEK MARQUETTI. i!J S 111 ' ill V t r'i' I: Francis Xavier, in uttor want of everything. To attain this he daily employed the merits of Christ and the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin, for whom his devotion was equally rare and tender. By such powerful mediators, he obtained what he so earn' estly asked, since ho had the happiness to die like the apostle of the Indies, in a wretched cabin on the banks of Lake Ilinois, foraaken by all. We could say much of the rare virtues of this generous mis- sionary, of his zeal which made him carry the faith so far, and announce the gospel to so many nations unknown to us ; of his meekness which endeared him to every one, and which made him all to all — French with the French, Huron with the Hurons, Algonquin with the Algonquins ; of his child- like candor in discovering his mind to his superiors, and even to all persons with an ingenuousness that gained all hearts, of his angelic purity and continual union with Ood. But his predominant virtue waL a most rare and singular devotion to the Blessed Virgin, and especially to the mystery of the Immaculate Conception ; it was a pleasure to hear him preach or speak on this subject. Every conversation and let- ter of his contained something about the Blessed Virgin Im- maculate, as he always styled her. From the age of nine, he fasted every Saturday ; and from his most tender youth began to recite daily the little office of the Conception, and inspired all to adopt this devotion. For some months before his death, he daily recited, with his two men, a Httle chaplet of the Im- maculate Conception, which he had arranged in this form ; after the creed, they said ono " Our Father and hail Mary," then four times these words : " Hail daughter of God the Father, hail mother of God the Son, hail spouse of the Holy Ghost, hail temple of the whole Trinity, by thy holy virginity and DIBOOVERnCB m TITE MISSISSIPPI VALLBT. ft immaculate conception, O most pure Virgin, cleanse my flesh ond my heart. lu the name of the Father, and of the Son, ond of the Holy Ghost," and lost of all the "Glory bo to the Father," «fec., the whole being thrice rcpoatod. lie never failed to say the mast* of the Conception, or at least the collect, whenever ho could , .le thought of nothing else scarcely by night or by day, and to leave us an eternal mark of his sentiments, he gave the name of the Coi.ception to the Ilinois mission. So tender a devotion to the mother of God, deserved some singular grace, and she accordingly granted him the favor bo had always asked, to die on a Saturday;* and his two com- panions had no doubt that she appeared to him at the hour of his death when, after pronouncing the names of Jesus and Mary, he suddenly raised his eyes above his crucifix, fixing them on an object which he regarded with such pleasure, and a joy that lit up his countenance ; and they, from that mo- ment, believed that he had surrendered his soul into the hands of his good mother. One of the last letters which he wrote to the superior of the missions before his great voyage, will be a sufficient instance of his sentiments. It began thus : — " The Blessed Virgin Immaculate has obtained for me the grace to arrive here in good health, and resolved to corre- spond to God's designs upon me, since he has destined me to the voyage to the south. I have no other thought than to do what God wills. I fear nothing ; neither the Nadouessii, nor the meeting of nations alarms me. One of two things must come : either God will punish me for my crimes and omis- sions, or else he will share Hs cross with me (for I have not * In the devotions of catholics^ Saturday among the dajs of the week, like Hay among the months, is especially set apart to honor her whom Jesus loved and honored as a mother. -.ft 1\ ' *lr:i 1^,;' 66 NABBATIYE OF FATHEB MABQUETTE. borne it yet since I have been in this country, though, per- haps, it has been obtained for me by the Blessed Virgin Im- maculate), or perhaps death to cease to offend God. For this I will endeavor to hold myself ready, abandoning myself en- tirely in his hands. I pray your reverence not to forget me, and to obtain of God, that I may not remain ungrateful for the favors he heaps upon me." There was found among his papers a book entitled, "The Conduct of God toward a Missionary," in which he shows the excellence of that vocation, the advantages for solf-sanctifica- tion to be found in it, and the care which God takes of his gospel-laborers. This little work shows the spirit of God by which he was actuated. I ■■ ■ ^.. NARRATIVE or A VOYAGE MADE TO THE ILINOIS, BY FATHER CLA TIDE ALLO UEZ* SECTION I. FATBXn ALtOVKZ SETS OUT OS THE ICE.— A YOVNO MAN KILLED BY A BEAR.—rEITaEAlTCE TAKElf.— VARIOUS OUBIOSITIES Olf TOE WAY. WHILE preparing for my departure, as the weather was not yet euitable, I made some visits in the bay where I baptized two sick adults, one of whom died next day ; the other lived a month longer ; he was a poor old man, who * " Father Claude AUoues; has imperishably connected his name with the progress of discovery in the west," says Bancroft. Unhonored among us now, he was not inferior in zeal or ability to any of the i^^at missionaries of his time. He is not, indeed, encircled with that halo of sanctity which characterizes the first Franciscan and Jesuit missionaries of New France, nor do his writings dis- play the learning and refinement which show in some the greatness of their sac- rifice ; but^ as a fearless and devoted missionary, one faithful to his high calling, a man of zeal and worth, he is entitled to every honor. No record tells \a the time or place of his birtL We meet him first as a Jesuit, seeking a foreign mis- sion. An entry in his journal has been preserved, in which, under the date of March 8d, 1667, he expresses his rapture on receiving permission to embark for Canada. That he was not led by any erroneous idea of the field which he solici- ted, we know by his own words. He sought only to labor and suffer; man can not command results, nor will his reward depend upon them. "To convert our barbarian^ or savage^ of Cat ada," says he, " we need work no miracle but that <•■«*- ■f ■^T-\ ^.■,;t ■M ■■^si' E •i 4- s " i:. I 68 NABBATIVE OF FATHER ALLOUEZ. beiDg decrepit and half deaf, was the laughing stock and ont- cast of all, even of bis children ; but God did not cast him of doing them good, and Buffering without complaint, except to Ood, regarding ourselves as useless servants." He sailed from France with two lay brothers in the vessel which took out the new governor Viscount d'Argenson, in 1658, and by the eleventh of July arrived safely at Quebec. Selected for the Algonquin missions, he soon after began the study of the Indian languages. In the following year he saw two of his order, Garreau and Druilletes, embark for Lake Superior, where Father Jogues and Father Raymbault had planted the cross seventeen years before, to continue the interrupted work; but one was killed, the other abandoned near Montreal. When made superior at Three-Rivers, in 1660, he saw his predecessor, the fear- less Rcn6 Menard, depart for a distant goal, to die amid tlie rocks and woods of the Menominee, on his way to Green Bay. This field of toil and danger was still the object of Allouez' desires. Destined to it in 1664, he reached Mon- treal, but the Ottawas had not come there as lato as usual He had now to wait another year; but; with him, time rolled not away in idleness; a thorough Algonquin, not unacquainted with Iroquois, objects of zeal were everywhere to be found. On the 14th of May, 1666, he again left Quebec to meet them; the "Angels of the upper AJgonquins" at last arrive; ^f-^" ?o in his desire does he call the brutal men whose cruel treatment of t1>c fi iotia missionaries would have appalled any heart not borne up by supemai - >- tives. On the "Zth of August, the flotilla finally started, and Alloue^ afti o I suffering and ill-treatment^ dauntlessly struggled on, and, by the first of Septem- ber, was at Sault St. Mary's. Thrice had the Jesuits taken possession of that spot in the name of catholicity; it was not now to bo a permanent centre. He did not stop here ; he explored, in his frail canoe, the whole southern shore of the vast upper lake, whose icy waters contrast so strangely with the fantastic scenery of the shore, still marked by the traces of that terrible fire which shiv- ered its crags into a thousand forms, and poured the molten copper over them as if in mockery and sport His first mission was at the Ontchiboueo (Ojibwa, or Ghippeway) village of Chegoimegon. Here, in October, rose his chapel, dedi- cated to the Holy Ghost Some Hurone and the Algonquin converts of Menard were already there ; to increase the number of the faithful, Allouez entered the arena to struggle till death, with the wild superstition of the Ottawa. Ten or twelve lake tribes were assembled at once in council at the spot Pottawatomies^ Sacs, Foxes, and even Ilinois, swelled the numbers of those who gathered around that lone cross of the wilderness, with nations from the western sea, Dahcotahs; Assiniboins and Winnebagoes, with their Tartar dialect and thought To all these he announced the intolerant faith of the cross, which required a total re- nunciation of their traditions, an unreserved acceptance of its dogmas. Each tribe departed with this first glimpse of truth, prepared to receive a dear development as time went on. And now came tidings that touched the heart of Allouez; on a lake north of Superior, were gathered fome Nipissings, sad rem- nants of a once powerful tribe, but now like the Huron, Ghriatians and fugitives be- DISOOVBBIES IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 69 out ; he did him the grace to enrol him among his children by baptism, and to receive him into heaven, as I have every reason to believe. fore the face of the Iroquois. Menard died while seeking the Huron ; but nnap- palled by aught, Allouez hastened to their relief. Scarcely had he reached Chegoi- megon again, in 1667, when a flotilia was about starting for Quebec; he em- barked to secure companions, and explain to his superiors the vastness of the new field which he had seen, and of the still greater, but untried one which lay along the mighty " Mes-sipi." On the 4th of August he reached that city, the 6th embarked again for the west with the aid he needed. Father Louis Nicholas, and a lay brother set out with him. Once in the west., he resumed his toils, as though returned from a voyage of pleasure, and struggled on another year at the lake. Then joined by Marquette and later by Dablon, he hastened to a new field. He mounted Fox river and laid the foundation of the mission of St. Francis Xavier. In 1671, the great council of the Frencli commander, with the Indians, required the presence of the missionaries, and especially of Allouez, at the Sault St. Mary's as interpreters. Nouvel was now superior of the western missions, and from him they received a new impulse. Of the three missionary stations now established, the Sault, Mackinaw, and Green Bay, the last was given to Allouez. In 1672, aided by F. Andr6, he instructed the Foxes and Fire nation, and again ascended Fox Kiver to Maskoutens to preach to the Maskoutens, Miamis, Kikapoos, and Ilinois, assembled there. As he descended, he threw down a rude, unshapely rock, honored at Eakaling by the adoration of the benighted Indian. The next year he was stationed at St. James, or Maskoutens, where he planted the cross as the limit of his discoveries and labors. They were not grateful for his toil, while superstition, and indifference almost neutralized his efforts. With the Fox and Pottawatomi, he was more successful In the following years, he was assisted by F. Silvy and F. Bonneault, and met with greater consolations. On the death of Marquette, he was appointed to the Dinois mission, and we now publish for the first time, the account of his journey. This visit was in 1676. Two years afterward, he repaired to it once more, and remained till the fol- lowing year, when on learning the approach of La Salle, he retired, as that great traveller had conceived a strong prejudice against him, in consequence of some correspondence between him and his fellow missionary on the Seneca country, Father Gamier. La Mothe, La Salle's lieutenant, had even required the Seneca sachems to cause the latter to leave the lodge at a conference be- tween them. Allouez cared not to meet, in anger, La Salle, whom he had doubt- less known in France before, when he was a Jesuit like himself; he therefore re- turned to his missions in Wisconsin to wait till the mind of the gifted but irri- table explorer should recover from its false impressions. Unfortunately it proved the reverae, if some accounts are to be credited; La Salle implicated him in some efibrts made by the western traders to excite the Ilinois against him. To clear Father Allouez of this charge, we need no better proof than the friendly relations between him and Tonty, than whom there was surely no man more faithful to the interest and honor of La Salle. Allouez went to Ilinois again in 1684, with 1^ 1; W'aV 'Ii: ,li'|! 70 KABBATITE OF FATHEB AJLLOUBZ. In another visit which I made to the nation of the Onta* gamies (Foxes), I baptized six children almost all at the point of death. I was much consoled to see a marked change in the mind of these people ; God visits them by his scourges to render them more docile to our instructions. After these excursions, the time being proper for departing, I embarked about the close of October, 1676, in a canoe with two men to endeavor to go and winter with the Hinois ; but I had not got far when the ice prevented us, so early had the winter set in. This obliged us to lie to and wait till it was strong enough to bear us ; and it was only in February that we undertook a very extraordinary kind of navigation, for instead of putting the canoe in the water, we put it on the ice, on which a favorable wind carried it along by sails, as if it was was on water. When the wind failed us, instead of paddles, we used ropes to drag it as horses do a carriage. Passing near the Poiiteoiitamis, I learned that a young man had been lately killed by the bears. I had previously baptized him at Lapointe du St. Esprit, and was acquainted with his parents ; this obliged me to turn a little off my way to go and console them. They told me that the beara get fat in the fall and re- main so, and even grow fatter during the whole winter, al- though they do not eat as naturalists have remarked. They Durantaye, when he probably remained for some time. He was there in 1687, when the Burvivors of La Salle's last expedition reached Fort St Lovus, in Hinois, but left for Mackinaw on the arrival of F. Anastasius Douay, and M. Cavelier, in consequence of their false report that La Salle was still alive. Father Allouez, however, still clung to his beloved Hinois mission, which events had thus strangely disturbed ; and I am inclined to think, from a deed which fell into my hands, that he was at Fort St Louis, in the winter of 1689. If so, it was his last visit A letter dated in August, 1690, details the virtues of the great and holy missionary of the west He had gone to receive the reward of his labors. The authorities for his life are the superior's journal, the Selatiotu from 1663-'64 to 1671-'72; MS. Ret. l6'72-'78, 1673-'79, 1678; MSS. of a Jesuit, in 1690; Joutel and Tonty's journals published in Hitt CM ot Louitiana, f H ".*! DISOOVEBIES IN THE MISSISSIPPI YALLET. 71 bide in hollow trees, especially the females, to bring forth their young, or else they lie on fir branches which they tear off on purpose to make a bed on the snow, which they do not leave all winter, unless discovered by the hunters, and their dogs trained to this chase. This young man having discov- ered one hidden in some fir-branches, fired all the arrows of his quiver at him. The bear feeling himself wounded, but not mortally, rose, rushed upon him, clawed off his scalp, and tearing out his bowels, scattered him all in pieces around. I found his mother in deep affliction ; we offered up together prayers for the deceased, and though my presence had at first redoubled her grief, she wiped away Her tears, saying for consolation: "Paulinus is dead; that good Faulinus whom thou didst always come to call to prayer." Then to avenge, as they said, this murder, the relatives and friends of the deceased made war on the bears while they were good — that is, during the winter; for in summer they are lean, and so famished, that they eat even toads and snakes. The war was so vigorous, that in a little while they killed more than five hundred, which they shared with us, saying that God had given them into our hands, to make them atone for the death of this young man who had been so cruelly treated by one of their nation. Twelve leagues from the Poviteaoiiatami town we entered a veiy deep bay, whence we transported our canoe across the wood to the great lake of the Ilinois [Michigan]. This portage was a league and a half. On the eve of St. Joseph, the pa- tron of all Canada, finding ourselves on the lake, we gave it the name of that great saint, and shall henceforth call it Lake St. Joseph. "We accordingly embarked on the 23d of May, and had much to do with the ice, through which we had to break a passage. The water was so cold, that it froze on our oars, and on the side of the canoe which the sun did not reach. ■I i '■ i 12 NABRATIVB OF FATHER ATXOUEZ. It pleased God to deliver ns from the danger we were in on landing, when a gust of wind drove the cakes of ice on one side of our canoe, and the other on the ice which was fast to the shore. Our great trouble was, that the rivers being still frozen, we could not enter them till the 3d of April. 'ilV"e consecrated that which we at last entered in holy week by planting a large cross on the shore, in order that the Indians, who go there in nuinbera to hunt — either in canoes on the lake, or on foot in the woods — might remember the instruc- tions we had given them on that mystery, and that the sight of it might excite them to pray. The next day we saw a rock seven or eight fket out of water, and two or three fathoms around, and called it the Pitch rock. In fact, we saw the pitch running down in little drops on the side which was wanned by the sun. "We gathered some, and found it good to pitch our canoes, and I even use it to seal my letters.* We also saw, the same day, another rock, a little smaller, part in and part out of water ; the part washed by the water was of a very bright and clear red. Some days after, we saw a stream running from a hill, the waters of which seemed mineral ; the sand is red, and the Indians said it came from a little lake where they have found pieces of copper. We advanced coasting always along vast prairies that stretched away beyond our sight ; from time to time we saw trees, but so ranged that they seemed planted designedly to form alleys more agreeable to the sight than those of orchards. The foot of these trees is often watered by little streams, where we saw herds of stags and does drinking and feeding quietly on the young grass. We followed these vast plains • An American mineral, resembling asphaltum. It is of a brown color, in- clining to black, and sometimes so liquid that it flows in a stream down the aides of this rook. — ^F. ■ !J i |3 DISOOYEBIES IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 73 for twenty leagues, and often said, " Benedicito opera Domini Domino." After making seventy-six leagues on Lake St. Joseph, we at last entered the river which leads to the Ilinois. I here met eighty Indians of the country, by whom I was hand- somely received. The chief advanced about thirty steps to meet me, holding in one hand a firebrand and in the other a hered calumet. As he drew near, he raised it to my m. . h, and himself lit ti ^obacco, which obliged me to pre- tend to smoke. He then led me into his cabin, and, giving me the most honorable place, addressed me thus : — " Father ! take pity on me : let me return with thee, to ac- company thee and lead thee to my village ; my meeting with thee to-day will be fatal to me, unless I profit by it. Thou bearest to us the gospel and the prayer : if I lose the occasion of hearing thee, I shall be punished by the loss of my neph- ews, whom thou seest so numerous, but who will assuredly be defeated by the enemy. Embark, then, with us, that I may profit by thy coming into our land." With these words he embarked at the same time as our- selves, and we soon after reached his village. ( ■ % m '■'.f f,* !' 74 KABBATIVE OF FATHXB ALLOUEZ. 1^ It;' SECTION II. FATHER ALLOVEZ ARRIVES AT THE ILMOIS TOWS.—DESCRtPTION OF IT AND THE COUNTRY.-THE FAITH PROCLAIMED TO ALL THESE NATIONS. In spite of all our efforts to hasten on, it was the 27th of April, before I could reach Kachkachkia, a large Ilinois town. I immediately entered the cabin where Father Mar- quette had lodged, and the sachems with all the people being assembled, I told them the object of my coming among them, namely, to preach to them the true, living, and immortal God, and his only Son, Jesus Christ. They listened very at- tentively to my whole discourse, and thanked me for the trouble I took for thjir salvation. I found this village much increased since last year. It was before composed of only one nation, the Kachkachkia. There are now eight ; the first having called the others who dwelt in the neighborhood of the Missipi. You could not easily form an idea of the number of Indians who compose this town ; they are lodged in three hundred and fifty-one cabins, easily counted, for they are mostly ranged on the banks of the river. The place which they have selected for their abode is situ- ated at 40° 42' ; it has on one side a prairie of vast extent, and on the other an expanse of marsh which makes the air unhealthy, and often loaded with mists ; this causes much sickness and frequent thunder. They, however, like this post, because from it they can easily discover their enemies.* * This and the position assigned to the town of the Kaskaskias (40° 42') would bring it near Rockfort, making allowance for the old latitude. When Father Marquette first visited it, he found seventy-four cabins: this was in 1673. The next year it had increased to five or six hundred fires, which, at the rate of four fires to a cabin, gives one hundred to one hundred and fifty cabins, with 8 population of two thousand men, besides women and children. Father AUouez visiting it now in 1077, is very exact, and gives the number of cabinc as three 11 DISCOVEBIES IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLET. 75 These Indians are in character hardy, prond, and valiant. They are at war with eight or nine tribes ; they do not use fire-arms, as they find them too awkward, and too slow; they carry them, however, when they march against nations unacquainted with their use, to terrify them by the noise, and thus rout them. They ordinarily carry only the war- club, bow, and a quiver full of arrows, which they discharge so adroitly and quickly, that men armed with guns, have hardly time to raise them to the shoulder. They also carry a large buckler made of skins of wild cattle ; which is arrow-proof, and covers the whole body. They have many wives, of whom they are extremely jeal- ous, leaving them on the least suspicion. The women usually behave well, and are modestly dressed, though the men are not, having no shame of their nakedness. They live on Indian corn, and other fruits of the earth, which they cultivate on the prairies, n' 3 other Indians. They eat fourteen kinds of roots which they find in the prairies ; they made me eat them ; I found them good and very sweet. They gather, on trees or plants, fruits of forty-two different kinds, which are excellent ; they catch twenty-five kinds of fish, including eels. They hunt cattle, deer, turkeys, cats, a hundred and fifty-one. In 1680, the Reoolleot Father Membr6 estimates the population of the great village at seven or eight thousand, in four or five hundred cabins — this did not include the Easkoskias, whom he seems to place on the Chicago river. Hennepin, at the same time, estimates it at " four hundred and sixty cabins, made like long bowers, covered with double mats of fiet rushes, so well sowed as to be impenetrable to wind, snow, and rain. Each cabin has four or five fires, and each fire one or two families." — (p. 187.) It would seem, then, that Bancroft rejects too lightly the estimate given by Father Rale, in the Zettrea Edifiantes, where he estimates their number at three hundred cabins, each of four or five fires, and two families to a fire. When their decadence began, they disappeared with great rapidity. Charlevoix, in 1721, makes their number then to have been very inconsiderable, although he gives nq estimate of the population of the Illinois^ who still formed five distinct villages. At present, the remnant of the tribe does not comprise a hundred souls, yet all who remain are Christiana. n NARRATIVE OF FATIIKR ALLOUBZ. 1 1 kind of tiger, and other animals, of which they reckon twenty- two kinds, and forty kinds of game and birds. In the lower part of the river there are, I am told, salt springs, from which they make salt ; I can not speak from my own experience. They assure me, too, that there are quaiTies near the'r town of slate as fine as ours. I have seen here, as in the Ottawa country, copper, found here as elsewhere, on the banks of the river in lumps. They tell me too, that there are rocks of pitch like that I saw on the banks of Lake St. Joseph. The Indians cut it and find silvery veins, which, when pounded, give a fine red paint. They also find other veins, from which the pitch runs ; when thrown in the fire, it burns like oure. This is all that I could remark in this countiy, during the short stay I made there. I will now tell what I did for Christianity. As I had but little time to remain, having come only to ac- quire the necessary information for the perfect establishment of a mission, I immediately set to work to give all the instruc- tion I could to these eight different nations, by whom, by the help of God, I made myself sufficiently understood. I would go to the cabin of the chief of the particular tribe that I wished to instruct, and there preparing a little altar with my chapel ornaments, I exposed a crucifix, before which I explained € e mysteries of our faith. I could not desire a greater number of auditors, nor a more favorable attention. They brought me their youngest children to be baptized, those older, to be instructed. They repeated themselves all the prayers that I taught' them. In a word, after I had done the same in all the eight nations, I had the consolation of seeing Christ acknowledged by so many tribes, who needed only careful cultivation to become good Christians. Th's we hope to give hereafter, at leisure. l!l:i DTSOOVERIEO IK THE MI8BI8SIFPI YALLBT. 77 /■ Si I laid tho foundation of this mission by the baptism of thirt)'H.c uhildreu, nnd a sick adult, who soon after died, with one of the infants, to go and take possession of heaven in the name of tho whole nation. And we too, to take possession of those tribes in the name of Jesus Christ, on the 3d of May, the feast of the Holy Gross, erected in the midst of the town a cross twenty-fivo feet high, chanting the Vexilla Ilegis in the presence of a great number of Ilinoia of all tribes, of whom I can say, in truth, that they did not take Jesus Christ crucified for a folly, nor for a scandal ; on the contrary, they witnessed the ceremony with great respect, and hoard all that I said on the mystery with admiration. The children even went to kiss the cross through devotion, and the old earnestly commended me to place it well so that it could not fall. The time of my departure having come, I took leave of all these tribes, and left them in a great desire of seeing me as soon as possible, which i more willingly induced them to ex- pect ; as, on the one hand, I have reason to thank God for the little crosses he has afforded me in this voyage, and on the other, I bee the harvest all ready and very abundant. The devil will, doubtless, oppose us, and perhaps will, for the pui'pose, use the war which the Iroquois seek to make on the Ilinois. I pray our Lord to avert it, that so fair a beginning be not entirely ruined. " The next year, namely, 1^78, Father AUouez set out to return to this mission, and to remain there two years in suc- cession, to labor more solidly for the conversion of these tribes. We have since learned that the Iroquois made an incursion as far as there, but were beaten by the Ilinois. This will go far to enkindle the war between these nations, and do much to injure this mission, if God does not interpose."* * The concluding paragraph of this narrative is in the handwriting of Father Claude Dablon, the superior of the missiona at the time. ■h «*-. li BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE or THE "ETABLISSEMENT DE LA FOI," "U.; ij i',» BY FATHER CHRISTIAN LE CLERCQ, RECOLLECT. Ite ourioni and now rare work is the source whence all the following narra- tives, except Hennepin's, are drawn. It was published at Paris, by Almnble AurojT, in 1691, with the following very comprehensive title : " First Establish- ment of the Faith in New France, containing the Publication of the Gospel, the History of the French Colonies, and the famous Discoveries from the Mouth of the St Lawrence, Louisiana, and the River Colbert, to the Qulf of Mexico, accom- plished under the Direction of the late Monsieur de la Salic, by Order of the King, with the Victories gained in Canada, by the Arms of his Majesty over the English and Iroquoi^ in 1690. Dedicated to M. de Comte de Frontenao, Gov- ernor and Lieutenant-General of New France, by Father Christian le Clercq, Recollect Missionary of the Province of St Anthony of Padua, in Artliois, and Warden of the Recollects of Lena" Of Father lo Clercq, under whose name the work is thus published, we know little beyond what we glean from this work, and from his Relation de Oatpetic. He was a zealous and devout missionary on the wild coast of Gasp4, where he lived in most cordial and friendly relations with the neighboring Jesuit mission- aries, especially with Father Bigot, who speaks of him in the highest terms, as le Clercq did of him and his labors. He was the first novice of the province to which be belonged, and one of the first religious sent by it to Canada, in 1676. After spending five years as missionary at Isle Perc^e and Gosp^, he returned to Europe, was concerned in the establishment of a church and mission at Montreal, resumed for a time his missionary career, and was subsequently em- ployed as superior in France. His Relation de Oa»perie is a description of his own field and his own labors; the Etabliuement assumes to be a general history of religion in Canada, and of La Salle's voyages, as tending to the establishment of missions. How far it realizes the promise of the title-page, we shall soon see. Had this work been a mere satirical pamphlet 've could at once understand it and give it its proper value ; but in this light it can not be regarded ; it con- tains much historical information, especially with respect to La Salle, being the ■:u. NOTICE ON FATHER LE OLBROQ. 79 flnt printed kccount of hit voyage down tlio Miuiuippi, and his Init fatul at- tempt A itrilcing feature in the work is its literary skeptioism, as to a Kivat mass of early works on Canada, and the similar doubts raised suUeqiienllv m to the Etablissement itself. Le Clercq, or the real author, doubts the authen- ticity of the Relation of 1620, ascribed to F. Charles Lalemant. The ground of this doubt is completely destroyed by the title of one of the chapters in Sagard's larger work ; the doubt has, however, been raited within the last few years by men of research, though probably from want of a close study of the doubting humor of the author. Having thus thrown a slur on the first Relation, he next brings the whole forty volumes of Relations, from 1682 to 1072, into the same category, because, forsooth, from his high respect for the Jesuits, he can not be- lieve thoy ever wrote them ; ond, finally. Father Marquette's published Journal, which is, however, never ascribed to him, is treated as an imposture, and his voyage as pretended, on every ]>os8ible occasion. This wholesale skepticism almost entitles him to a place with the celebrated Father Ilardouin, who believed all ho Greek and Latin lassies to be forgeries. In a work like this, intended to hIiow the validity of Marquette's claim, we must examine these doubts, and the person who makes them. Joutel, who con- tradicts tlie Etablissement pointedly in ui'veral | 'uces, says that it was com- posed on false relations, and thus gi\ <3 some fc > ' to a char > brou^lit in 1697, by the strange Hennepin, who asserts broadly that the £t . 'Hssement was pub- lished by Father Valentine le Roux, under the borrowed pa /)« of le Clercq ; and he charges that the so-called narrative of Membr^ in th' work, is really a tran- script of the journal of his great voyoge dow :'^ Mississippi, a co? 84 NARBATIVS OF FATHER MEMBRE. enterprising, prudent, and moral, had been for some years in Canada, and had already, under the administration of De Oourcelles and Talon, shown his great abilities for discoveries. M. de Frontenac selected him to command Fort Frontenac, •where he was nearly a year, till coming to France in 1675, he obtained of the court the government and property of the lake and its dependencies, on condition of building there a regular stone fort, clearing the ground, and making French and In- dian villages, and of supporting there, at his own expense, a sufficient garrison, and Eecollect missionaries. ideas now took a new turn, Joliet had returned to Oanado, after exploring the Mississippi with Marquette, fur enough to Terify the supposition that it emptied into the gulf of Mexico. His accounts of the buffalo country, induced La Salle to believe that a very lucrative trade in their skins and wool might be opened directly between the buffalo plains and France by the Mississippi and gulf, with- out carrying them through Canada. To secure this was now his object Joliet, who seems not to have been favored, vas rewarded with a grant, not on the river he had explored, but at the other extreme of the French colony, the island of Anti- costi, and La Salle, who had secured Frontenac's favor, obtained a royal patent, euch as he desired. It was, however, provided, " that he carry on no trade what- ever with tlie Indians called Ottawas, and others who bring their beaver-skins Bnd other peltries to Montreal," while to him and his company, the privilege of the trade in buffalo skins was granted. — (Vol. i., p. 36.) The private traders who had already visited the Illinois country, considered his including it in his grant as unjustifiable, and both in the west and at Quebec opposed liim in every way, monopolies having always been objects of dislike. A variety of circumstances defeated his first plan in the Illinois country, in 1680, and no new discovery having been made by himself or Hennepin, he abandoned his first plan of de- scending the Mississippi in a vessel, and sailing thence to the isles, and resolved to examine the mouth in boats, and acquire such a knowledge of its position as would enable him to reach it direct from France by sea. He accordingly sailed down in 1682, and following the course of Marquette and Joliet, reached their furthest station on the 3d of March, then passing on, explored the river to the gulf, which he reached on the 9lh of April, thus crowning the work of the former explorers, and with Hennepin's voyage, tracing its whole course from the falls of St Anthony to the sea. In pursuance of his plan he returned to France, and attempted to reach it by sea, but missed the mouth, and landing in Texas, perished in an attempt to reach the Illinois country by land. As a great but un- successful merehont, vost and enterprising in his plans, though unfitted by early associations from achieving them, he presents one of the most striking examples of calm and persevering couroge amid difl^culties and disasters. IJe rose above every adversity, unshaken and undiscouraged, ever ready to make the worae the pensi was neeef exert DISOOVEBIES IN THB MISSISSIPPI VALLET. 80 Monsieur de la Salle returned to Canada and fulfilled these conditions completely ; a fort with four bastions was built at the entrance of the lake on the northern side at the end of a basin, where a considerable fleet of large vessels might be sheltered from the winds. This fort enclosed that built by Monsieur de Frontenac. He also gave us a piece of ground fifteen arpents in front, by twenty deep, the donation being accepted by Monsieur de Frontenac, syndic of our mission. It would be difficult to detail the obstacles he had to en- counter, raised against him daily in the execution of his plans, so that he found less opposition in the savage tribes whom he was always able to bring into his plans. Monsieur de Fron- tenac went up there every year, and care was taken to assem- ble there the chiefs and leading men of the Iroquois nations, great and small ; maintaining by this means alliance and commerce with them, and disposing them to embrace Christi- anity, which was the principal object of the new establish- ment.* My design being to treat of the publication of the faith to that prodigious quantity of nations who are comprised in the dominions of the king, as his majesty has discovered them, we shall continue our subject by those which were made during the rest of the present epoch in all parts of New France. While the reverend father Jesuits among the southern Iro- fi 1 V -f i 1 better fortune. His life by Sparks, is one of the most valuable contributionB to the early history of America. * Lo Clercq, p. 119. The subsequent pages, down to page 131, relate to the religious affairs of the colony. The only reference to La Salle, is this on p. 12? : " Our reverend fothers having obtained of the king letters-patent for our estab- lishments at Quebec, Isle Percee, and Fort Frontenac, they were registered at the sovereign council of Quebec, and Monsieur de la Salle built, at his own ex- pense, a house on the land he had given us near the fort^ in which a chapel was niad& A fine church was afterward added, adorned with paintings and necessary vestments — also, a regular house and appendages, completed by the exertions of Father Joseph Denis." m 86 NABBATIVK OF FATHEB HEMBBE. quois on the upper part of the river had the honor of bearing the gospel to the nations bordering on those tribes ; the peace between the two crowns of France and England giving them free access everywhere, without being traversed by the Eng- ' lish, they announced the faith to the Etchemins, and other In- dian nations that came to trade at Loup river, where the or- dinary post of the mission was ; our missions of St. John's Eiver, Beaubassin, Mizamichis, Nipisiguit, Kistigouche, and Isle Perc6e, were similarly supported — we continued to labor for the conversion of the Indians of those vast countries com- prized under the name of Acadia, Cape Breton and the great bay (gulf of St. Lawrence). In the time of M. de Gourcelles and Talon, the discoveries were pushed toward the north bay (Hudson's), of which something was known from two or three previous attempts. The sieur de St. Simon was chosen for the expedition, with the reverend father Albanes (Albanel), a Jesuit. By the maps of the country it is easy to see what difficulties had to be surmounted, how much toil and hardship undergone, how many falls and rapids to be passed, and portages made, to reach by land these unknown parts and tribes, as far as Hud- son's bay or strait. M. de Frontenac was in Canada on the return of the party in 1672. This discovery thenceforward enabled them to push the mission much further to the north, and draw some elect from those distant nations to receive the first rudiments of Christianity, until in 1686, the victorious arms of the king, under the guidance of M. de Troye, D'Hi- berville, Ste. Helaine, and a number of brave Canadians, by order of the marquis d'Enonville, then governor-general of the country, conquered those northern parts where, as the French arms are still gloriously maintained, the zeal of the Jesuit fathoi's is employed in publishing the gospel. Jed thJ tof mi acJ niij tol I ! DISCOYEBIES IK THE MIS8ISSIFFI VALLET. 8T The nnVearied charity of those illustrious missionaries ad- vanced their labors with much more success during the pres- ent epoch, among the Ottawa nations, seconded by the great zeal of Frontenac's protection, and the ascendant which the wisdom of the governor had acquired over the savages. A magnificent church, furnished with the richest vestments, was built at the mission of St. Mary's of the jault; that of the bay of the Fetid (Green bay), and Michilimakinak island, were moi*e and more increased by the gathering of Indian tribes. The m! ions around Lake Cond6 (Superior) further north, were also increased. This lake alone is one hundred and fifty miles long, sixty wide, and about five hundred in circuit, inhabited by different nations, whence we may form an idea of the la- bors of the missionaries in five or six establishments. Finally, in the last years of M. de Frontenac's first administration, Sieur du Luth, a man of talent and experience opened a way to the missionaries and the gospel in many different nations turning toward the north of that lake, where he even built a foil;. He advanced as far as the lake of the Issati, called Lake Buade, from the family name of M. de Frontenac, plant- ing the arms of his majesty in several nations on the right and left, where the missionaries still make every effort to in- troduce Christianity, the only fruit of which indeed consists in the baptisiu of some dying children, and in rendering adults inexcusable at God's judgment by the gospel preached to them.* hi- . ■^^i^:m * The promise of a general account of discoyerics made, and his praise of the Jesuit missionaries in the preceding pages, must excite contempt when we find them a mask for falsehood and concealment. Nothing here would lead the reader to suppose that Father Allouez and other missionaries had explored the country around Lake Superior for seven years prior to the coming of Frontenac ; that an accurate map had been published by them, in 1672 ; that Father Marquette, after many disappointments, at last, with Joliet^ descended the Mississippi far enough to be certain as to the sea into which it emptied. Yet the discoveries of Allouez . 'i. ''}' 88 KABBATIYE OF FATHER WSMUkL I Bliall hereafter limit myself to publish the great dis- covevies made by order of the king, under the command of M. de Frontenac and the direction of M. de la Salle, as being those which promised the greatest fruits for the establishment of the faith, if in course of time they are resumed and sup- ported as they deserve. The sieur de la Salle having completed the construction of Fort Frontenac, and greatly advanced the establishment of French and Indian 'tlements, was induced, by the report of many tribes, to believe that great progress could be made by pushing on the discoveries by the lakes into the river Mis- sisipi, which he then supposed to empty into the Ked sea (gulf of California).* He made a voyage to France in 1677, and the map are in the Relations which he elsewbcie ridiculeB; the Toyage of Joliet he must have heard of during his residence in Canada, and known as well as Hen- nepin who refers to it in his first work, cren if we are to suppose him never to hove read the work of his fellow-missionary, or Thevenot's edition of Father Mar- quette's journal. In his eagerness to ascribe no discovery to the Jesuits, he ac- tually sends Du Luth to Lake Issati before any of tlie missionariesw Was he there before Hennepin? * This assertion seems perfectly gratuitous, and is not justified by the letters patent to Ln Salle. Joliet's return set the matter at rest, and left no doubt as to its emptying into the gulf. In this work, indeed, Marquette is never mentioned, and Joliet's voyage decried, if not denied ; but in the first of the series of works on La Salle, Hennepin's "Description de la Louisan^ (Paris, 1684), of which the printing was completed January 5th, 1683, that is but a few days after Mem- br6's arrival with the account of La Salle's voyage, the prior voyage of Joliet is admitted, and La Salle's object thus stated : "Toward the end of the year 16*78 (1677), the sieur de la Salle came to France to report to M. Colbert the exeen- tion of his orders ; he then represented to him that Fort Frontenac gave him great opportunities for making discoveries with our Recollects ; that his princi- pal design iu building the fort had been to continue these discoveries in rich, fertile, and temperate countries, where commerce in the skins and wool of the wild cattle, called by the Spaniards Cibola, might establish a great trade, and support powerful colonies; that, however, os it would be difficult to bring these buffalo-hides in canoes, he prayed M Colbert to grant him a commission to go and discover the mouth of the great river Mechasipi, on which vessels might be built to come to France ; and that, considering the great expense he had un- dergone in building and supporting Fort Frontenac, he would be pleased to grant him an exclusive privilege of trading in buffalo-skins, of which he brought one as a sample, and his request was granted." — ^P. 14. Ilk. ]' DIS0OTEBIE8 IK THK inSBISSIPPI yALI.ET. 89 and favored by lettera from the count de Frontenac, obtained of the court necessary powers to undertake and carry out this great design at his own expense. Furnished with these powers, he arrived in Canada toward the close of September, 1678, with the sieur de Tonty, an Italian gentleman, full of spirit and resolution, who after- ward so courageously and faithfully seconded him in all his designs. He had olso with him thirty men — pilots, sailors, carpenters, and other mechanics, with all things necessary for his expedition. Some Canadians having joined him, he sent all his party in advance to Fort Frontenac, where Father Gabriel de la Kibourde, and Father Luke Buisset were al- ready, and where Fathers Louis Hennepin, Zenobius Mem- br6, and Melithon Watteau, now repaired. They were all three missionaries of our province of St. Anthony of Padua, in Artois, as well as Father Luke Buisset, his majesty having honored the Kecollects with the care of the spiritual direction of the expedition by express orders addressed to Father Val- entine le Koux, commissary provincial, and superior of the mission. The sieur de la Salle soon ibllowed them, the Al- mighty preserving him from many perils in that long voyage from Quebec, over falls and rapids to Fort Frontenac, where he arrived at last, much emaciated. Deriving new strength from his great courage, he issued all his orders and sent off his troop in a brigantine for Niagara with Father Louis, on the 18th of November. The navigation, in which they had to encounter many dangers and even disasters crossing the great lake in so ad- vanced a season, prevented their reaching Niagara river be- fore the 5th of December. On the sixth, they entered the river, and the following days, by canoe and land, advanced to the spot where the sieur de la Salle intended to raise a ;,■■■■■«' ■SlIJj^ I I'Ff: h,n*' n ;1 .\ 1 i !" Iri Hi' i ^i 1 ii'' 1 ^. w 1 ^ ,» , i I \ c; r I! 00 NARBATIVE OP FATHER MKMDRU. fort, and build a bark above N lagara falls, whence the St. Lawrence (Ze Fleuve) communicates with Lake Conty (Erie), and Lake Frontenac (Ontario), by the said falls and river, which is, as it were, the strait of commnnication. A glance at the map will show that this project with that of Fc^rt Frontenac, and the fort he was about to build at Niag- ara, might excite some jealousy among the Iroquois who dwell in the neighborhood of the great lake. The sieur de la Salle, with his usual address, met the principal chiefs of those tribes in conference, and gained them so completely that they not only agreed to it, but even offered to contribute with all their means to the execution of his design. This great con- cert lasted some time. The sieur de la Salle also sent many canoes to trade north and south of the lake among these tiibes. Meanwhile, as certain persons traversed with all their might the project of the sieur de la Salle, they insinuated feelings of distrust in the Seneca Iroquois as the fort building at Niagara began to advance, and they succeeded so well that the fort became an object of suspicion, and the works had to be suspended for a time, and he had to be sat* isfied with a house surrounded by palisades. The sieur de la Salle did not fail to give prompt orders; he made frequent voyages from Fort Frontenac to Niagara, during the winter on the ice, in the spring with vessels loaded with provisions. In all the opposition raised by those envious of him, fortune seemed to side with them against him ; the pilot who directed one of his well-loaded barks, lost it on Lake Frontenac. When the snow began to melt, he seni fifteen of his men to trade on the lake in canoes, as far as the Hinois to prepare him the way, till his barque building at Niagara was completed. It was perfectly ready in the month of Au- gust, 1679. I)IB00y£RI£8 m THE MISSIB8IPFI TALLET. 91 The father commiBsary had started some time before from Quebec for the fort, to give the orders incumbent on his office, and put in force those expedited in the month of July, by which Father Gabriel was named superior of the new expedition, to be accompanied by Father Louis Hennepin, Zenobius Membr6, and Melithon Watteaux, the latter to re- main at Niagara, and make it his mission, while Father Luke should remain at the fort. The three former a( ordingly embarked on the 7th of Au- gust, with Monaieur de la Salle and his whole party in the vessel, which had been named the Griffin in honor of the arms of Monsieur de Frontenac. Father Melithon remained at the house at Niagara, with some laborers and clerks. The same day they sailed for Lake Gonty, after passing contrary to all expectations the currents of the strait. This was due to the resolution and address of the sieur de la Salle, his men having before his arrival used every means to no purpose. It appeared a kind of marvel, considering the rapidity of the current in the strait, which neither man nor animal, nor any ordinary vessel can resist, much less ascend. The map will show that from this place you sail up Lake Conty (Erie), to Lake Orleans (Huron), which terminates in Lake Dauphin (Michigan) ; these lakes being each a hundred, or a hundred and twenty leagues long, by forty or fifty wide, communicating with one another by easy channels and straits, which offer essels a convenient and beautiful navigation. All these lakes are full of fish ; the country is most finely situated, the soil temperate, being north and south, bordered by vast prairies, which terminate in hills covered with vines, fruit-trees, groves, and tall woods, all scattered here and there, so that one would think that the ancient Bomans, princes and nobles would have made them as many villas. The soil is everywhere equally fertile. OSi XABBATIV^-; j: |IA:HKk MICMBrtK. II ill The sieur de la Snllo hn\ ng entered Lnke Oonty on the 7tb, croBsed it in throe days, and or: the 10th reached the Btrait (Detroit), by which he entered Lake Orleans. The voyage was interrupted by a storm as violent as could be met in the open sea ; our people lost all hope of escape ; bnt a vow which they made to St. Anthony, of Padua, the patron of mariners, delivered them by a kind of miracle, so that, after long ninking head against the wind, the vessel on the 27th reached Missilimakinak, which is north of the strait, by which we go from Lake Orleans to Lake Dauphin. No vessels had yet been seen sailing on the lakes ; yet an enterprise which should have been sustained by all well- meaning persons, for the gloiy of God, and the service of the king, had produced precisely the opposite feelings and effects, which had been already communicated to the Hurons, the Outaoiiats of the island and the neighboring nations, to make them ill affected. The sieur de la Sdlle even found here the fifteen men, whom he had sent in the spring, prejudiced against him, and seduced from his service ; a part of his goods wasted, far from having proceeded to the Ilinois to trade according to their orders ; the sieur de Tonty, who was at their head, having in vain made every effort to inspire them with fidelity.* At last he weighed anchor on the 2d of September, and ar- rived pretty safely at the Bay of the Fetid (Green bay), at the entrance of Lake Dauphin, forty leagues from Missili- makinak. Would to God that the sieur de la Salle had con- tinued his route in the vessel. His wisdom could not foresee the misfortunes which awaited him; he deemed proper to send it back by the same route to Kiagara, with the furs al- * La Salle's sending them was a violation of his patent — See Hiitorieal Collet- twni o/Zouinana, vol. I, p. 80. DIBOOVKRIBS IN THE MISSISSIPPI GALLEY. 98 ready bought, in order to pay bis creditors. IIo even left in it a parte.' his goods and implements, which were not easy to transport. The captain had ordere to return with the vessel as soon as possible, and join us in the Ilinois. Meanwhile, on the 18th of September, the sieur do la Salle with our fathers and seventeen men, continued their route in canoes by Lake Dauphin, from the Pouteotatamis to the mouth of the river of tlio Mianiis (St. Joseph's), whore they arrived on the first of November. This place had been ap- pointed a rendezvous for twenty Frenchmen, who came by the opposite shore, and also for the sieur de Tonty, who had been sent by the sieur do la Salle to Miesilimakinak on another expedition. The sieur de la Salle built u fort there to protect his men and property against any attack of the Indian;) ; our religious soon had a bark cabin erected to serve as a chapel, where they exercised their ministry for French and Indians until the third of December, when leaving four men in the fort, they went in search of the portage which would bring them to the Seignelay (Ilinois), which descends to the Missisipi. They embarked on this river to the number of thirty or forty, by which after a hundred, or a hundred and twenty leagues sail, they arrived toward the close of December, at the largest Ilinois village, composed of about four or five hundred cabins, each of five or six families. It is the custom of these tribes at harvest-time to put their Indian corn in caches, in order to keep it for summer, when meat easily spoils, and to go and pass the winter in hunting wild cattle and beaver, carrying very little grain. That of our people had run short, so that passing by the Ilinois village, they were obliged, there being no one there, to take some Indian com. as much as they deemed necessary for their subsistence. n 1 c r 94: NABBATIVE OF FATRKB MEMBBE. They left it on the let of January, 1680, and ty the 4th, were thirty leagues lower down amid the Ilinois camp ; they were encamped on both aid . of the river, which is very nar- row there, but soon after forms a lake about seven leagues long, and about one wide, called Pimiteoui, meaning in their language that there are plenty of fat beasts there. The sieur de la Salle estimated it at 38° 45^ It is remarkable, because the Ilinois river, which for several months in winter is frozen down to it, never is from this place to the mouth, although navigation is at times interrupted by accumulations of floating ice from above. Our people had been assured that the Binois had been ex- cited and prejudiced against them. Finding himself then in the midst of their camp, which lay on both sides of the river, at a narrow pass, where the current was hurrying on the canoes faster than they liked, the sieur de la Salle promptly put his men under arms, and ranged his canoes abreast so as to occupy the whole breadth of the river, the canoes nearest the two banks, in which were the sieur de Tonty, and the sieur de la Salle, were not more than half a pistol-shot from the shore. The Ilinois, who had not yet discovered the little flotilla ranged in battle order, were alarmed ; some ran to arms, others fled in incredible confusion. The sieur de la Salle had a calumet of peace, but would not show it, not liking to appear weak before tliem. As they were soon so near that they could understand each other, they asked our French- men, who they were. They replied that they were French, still keeping their arms ready, and letting the current bear them down in order, because there was no landing place till below the camp. The Indians alarmed and intimidated by this bold conduct (although they were several thousand against a handful), im- DISCOVEBIES IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 95 mediately presented three calumets ; our people at the same time presented theirs, and their terror changing to joy, they conducted our party to their cabins, showed us a thousand civilities, and sent to call back those who had fled. They were told, that we came only to give them a knowledge of the true God, to defend them against their enemies, to bring them arms and other conveniences of life. Besides presents made them, they were paid for the Indian com taken at their village ; a close alliance was made with them, the rest of the day being spent in feasts and mutual greetings. All the'sieur de la Salle's intrepidity and skill were needed to keep the alliance intact, as Monsoela, one of the chiefs of the nation of Maskoutens came that very evening to traverse it. It was known that he was sent by others than those of his nation ; he had even with him some Miamis, and young men bearing kettles, knives, axes, and other goods. He had been chosen for this embassy rather than a Miami chief, to give more plausibility to what he should say, the Ilinois not having been at war with the Maskoutens, as they had with the Mi- amis. He cabaled even the whole night, speaking of the sieur de la Salle as an intriguer, a friend of the Iroquois, coming to the Ilinois only to open the way to their enemies, who were coming on all sides with the French to destroy them ; he made them presents of all that he had brought, and even told them that he came on behalf of several Fi'enchmen whom he named. This council was held at night, the time chosen by the In- dians to transact secret business. This embassador retired the same night, so that the next day the Ilinois chiefs were found completely changed, cold and distrustful, appearing even to plot against our Frenchmen, who were shaken by the change, but the sieur de la Salle, who had attached one of the chiefs m I ■*? *^%K ■fl^'M 'i^ 96 NABBATIVE OF FATHKB MEMBRG. ,i, ■'ii ■-. ■ t to him particularly by some present, learned from him the Bubject of this change. Ilis address soon dispelled all these suspicions, but did not prevent six of his men, already tam- pered with and prejudiced at Michilimakinak, from deserting that very day. The sieur de la Salle not only reassured that nation, but found means in the sequel, to disabuse the Maskoutens and Miamis, and to form an alliance between them and the Ilinois which lasted as long as the sieur de la Salle was in the country. "Witii this assurance the little army, on the 14th of January, 1680, the floating ice from above having ceased, repaired to a little eminence, a site quite near the Ilinois camp where the Sieur de la Salle immediately set to work to build a fort, which he called Cr^vecoeur, on account of the many disap- pointments he had experienced, but which never shook his firm resolve. The fort was well advanced, and the little ves- sel already up to the string-piece by the first of March, when he resolved to proceed to Fort Frontenac. There were four or five hundred leagues to go by land, but not finding his brigantine, the Griffin, return, nor those he had 6,:nt on to 'meet her, and foreseeing the disastrous consequences of the probable loss of his vessel, his courage rose above the difficul- ties of so long and painful a journey. As he had chosen Father Louis, and as the latter had of- fered to continue the discovery toward the north, by ascend- ing the Missisipi, the sieur do la Salle reserving to himself its continuation in canoe by descending till he found the sea. Father Louis set out in canoe fj-om Fort Crevecoeur on the 29th of February, 1680, with two men well armed and equip- ped, who had besides twelve himdred livres in goods, which make a good passport. The enterprise was great and hardy, DISC0VEEIE8 IN THB MISSISSIPPI VAIXET. 97 although it did not equal the great zeal of the intrepid mis- sionary who undertook and continued it with all the firmness, constancy, and edification, which can be desired, amid incon- ceivable toils. Although the discovery had already been pushed four or five hundred leagues into Louisiana,* from Fort Frontenac to Fort Crevecoeur; this great march can be considered only as a prelude and preparation for enterprises still more vast, and an entrance to be made in countries still more advan- tageous. I have hitherto given only a short abridgment of the Rela- tions which Father Zenobius Membr6 gives of the commence- ment of this enterprise. Father Louis, whom we see starting for the upper Missisipi has published a description of the countries which he visited and into which he carried the gospel. I therefore refer my reader to it without repeating it here.f "We have then only to describe what is most essential and important in this discovery conducted by the personal labors of the sieur de la Salle, in the subsequent years. * In fact no discovery hod b^en made; the Ilinois country was visited by traders before Marquette's sec >iid voyage to it, and wa"; j; rfectly known ; Al- louez, too, was there shortly bt'j ■« fhis, as La Salle himself states. f We prefer to interrupt Le .' lercq'c rjf.rrative here, and insert the account published by Father Louis Hen.' ^pla, in 1684. T ' 4., \ -\ ....■.'., I ic.:y.%i ■■'.i---.1i ' ■■•H, II'- ■M BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE m THE WORKS OF FATHER LOUIS HENNEPIN, m A. RECOLLECT OF THE PROVINCE OF ST. ANTHONY, IN ARTOIS. We have already in the notice on Le Clercq alluded to the uncertainty which hangs around many of the works connected with tlie history of La Salle. In thero, however, it was a question as to authorship, alterations made by pub- lishers, or the Influence of party spirit in the original writers ; against Hennepin, however, there is a still heavier charge. A good man may be so blinded by party zeal as to be unjust to others, and bo guilty of acts which he would personally shrink from doing, and in this case we must, to attain the truth, realize fully the position of the antagonistic parties at the time. Such is peculiarly the case with Le Clercq, as we have shown, and in judging the work, we have endeavored to go back to his own period. The charge against Hennepin is, that he was vain, conceited, exaggerating, and even mendacious. To weigh so serious an accusation, we shall examine hia several volumes, which, however, as will bo seen, resolve themselves into two, published at an interval of fourteen years. It is the more necessary to enter into a full discussion of his merits as few works relative to America have been more widely spread than that of Hennepin. Published originally in French, it appeared subsequently in Dutch, English, Italian, and Spanish, and if 1 am not mistaken in German ; and in a large class of writers is quoted with the coramendatiou. It was, however, soon attacked. The edito'- of Joutel, in 1713, calls it in question; but he was too ignorant of Canadian liistory to give hia charge any weight. Severer strictures were passed upon it by Harris, and by Kalm, the celebrated Swedish traveller. Harris say a, in vol. ii., p. 350, "As to the accounts of La Hontan, and Father Hennepin, they have been formerly very much admired, yet we are now well satisfied that they are rather ro- mances than relation's and that their authors had their particular schemes so much in view, that they have made no scruple of abusing the confidence of man- kind." In this country, within the last few years a more thorough examination of authorities has consigned Hennepin,* Lu Hontan, and Lebeau, to that amiable class who seem to tell truth by accident and fiction by inclination. The works of Hennepin are, I. Description de la Louisiane, nouvellement decouverte au su- doiicst de ]a nouvelle France, par ordre du roy. Avec carte du pays, les moeurs etla mani^redevivredessauvages, dedi6e a sa Majestfi, par le R. P. Loiiis Hen- * N. A. Review for Januiuy,Jie*9i SpaHrt Uf^ of La Salle, 100 BIBLIOaRAPHIOAIi NOTICE. X 1-11-1=:= ' |U«.i nepin, Missionare RecoUet et Notaire Apostolique, pp. 812, and lOT Paria, Aui'uy, 1684. Charlevoix takes exception to the title of this work on the ground that he misapplies the name Louisiana, but in fact Illinois, from La Salle's time, wos in- cluded under that name. The title is, however, false in the words " newly dis- covered to the southwest of Canada," as no new discovery had been made in that direction, and the whole volume can show nothing in the way of new ex- ploration, beyond what had already been published in Europe, except of 60 much of the Mississippi as lies between the Wisconsin river and the falls of St Anthony, which he was the first European to travel. But let us enter on the volume itself, which, apart from ony intrinsic faults, possesses considerable value, as beiig the first published, and by fur the fullest account of La Salle's first ex- pedition. Such it pretends to be, nnJ accordingly opens with an account of that ndven-.urer's project of reaching China, his ottempt with some Sulpitians, iu 1669, imd his establishment at Fort Frontcnac. Hennepin introduces himself to us, for the first time, ou page twelve, as having established a mission at that fort with Father L«!;o Buisset; then mentions Joliet's voyage down the Missis- sippi OF far as the Illinois (Indians), which he represents as the work of La Salle's enemies Then follow the lattor's voyage to Fronce, in 1677, his return the next year with an order for the author to accompany him in his discoveries, and his own voyage to Fort Frontenac, which he details os though it were his first trip to that place. A^. Fort Frontenac Iia Salle's expedition begins, and our au- Ihor relates all tlmt happened with great detail, and a vast profusion of nautical expresfdons, down to the building of Fort Crevecoeur, and his own departure from it, February 29th, 1080. His journal from this point being given in the present volume, we need not anolyze it further than to say, thot being sent to explore the Blinois to its mouth, in the Mississippi (p. 184), he reached that point on the 8th of March (192), and after being detained there by floating ice till the 12th, continued his route, traversing and sounding the river. Then follows, not a journal of his voyoge, but a geographical description of the upper Mississippi, from the Illinois river to Mille lake and the Sioux country. After this descrip- tion, he resumes his journal and tells us (p. 206), that he was taken by the Indians on the eleventh of April, after having sailed two hundred leagues (p. 21 P), from the Illinois (Indians). He was taken by them to their villages, relieved by de Luth in JiUy, and returned to Mackinaw by woy of the Wisconsin and Green bay. Tlience, in the spring, he proceeded to the Seneca country. Fort Fron- tenac and Montreal. His work contains, besides the journal given, only some account of the porty he left at Fort Crevecoeur, from letters he saw at Quebec, and of La Salle's descent to the gulf from others received by him in France. This is followed by an account of the manners of the savages (p. 107). Takiri^; this volume by itself, the render is struck by the unclerical character of the '^ ter, his intense vanity and fondness for exaggeration. The manner in which he rises in importance, is truly amusing ; not only does he, to all appear- ance, make himself the superior of the little band of missionaries in La Salle's expedition, bui even a kind of joint commander with La Salle himself. Take as a specimen the following passage, which we select the more readily, as it bears on hia voyage to the Mississippi Fort Crevecceur was almost built, the Dauphin bad THE WORKS OF FATHER HENNEPIN. 101 sent no tidings of her voyage, the men were discontented and mutinous, all was dark and gloomy around the exploring party in Illinois. " We must remark," says Hennepin, "that the winter in the Ilinois country is not longer than tiiat in Provence ; but, in 1679, the snow lasted more than twenty days, to the great astonishment of the Indians who had never seen so severe a winter, so that the rieur de la Salle and I beheld ourselves exposed to new hardships that will ap- pear incredible to those who have no experience of great voyages and new discoveries. Fort Crfivecoeur was almost completed, the wood was all prepared to finish the bark, but wo had not cordage, nor sails, nor iron enough ; wo re- ceived no tidings of the bark we had left on Lake Dauphin, nor of those sent to find what had become of her; meanwhile the sieur de lo Salle saw that summer was coming on, and that, if he waited some months iu vain, our enterprise would be retarded one year, and perhaps two or three, because being so far from Can- ada, he could not regulate affairs, nor iiave the necessary articles forwarded. In this extremity we both took a resolution as extraordinary as it was difficult to execute, I to go with two men in unknown countries where we are every mo- ment in great danger of death, and he on foot to Fort Frontenac more than five hundred leagues distant We were then at the close of winter, which had been, 08 we have said, as severe in America as in France; the ground was still cov- ered with snow, which was neitlier melted nor able to bear a man in snowehoes. He had to carry the usual equipment in such eaees, that ip, a blanket, pot, axe, gun, powder, and lead, with dressed skins to make Indian shoes, which last only a day, French shoes being of no use in the western countries. Besides, he had to resolve to pierce through thickets, march through marshes and melting snow, sometimes waist high, for whole days, at times with nothing to eat, because he and his three companions could not carry provisions, being compelled to rely for subsistence on what they killed with their guns, and to expect to drink only tho water they found on the way. Finally he wos exposed every doy, and especially every night, to be surprised by four or five nations at war with each other, with this difference that the notions through which he had to pass all know tho French, while those where I was going had never seen Europeans. Yet all these difficulties did not astound him any more than myself ; our only difficulty was to find some of owr men stout enough to accompany us and prevent the rest already mxich shaken from deserting on our departure." This is a remarkable passage, and has struck almost every writer on La Salle as their accounts often seem inspired by this grapliic sketch of Hennepin. It is more than we said at first : Hennepin is here even greater than La Salle in the resolution he took at this trying crisis. After this wc expect to see the two commanders depart on their dangerous expeditions, we run over the succeeding pages, the highflown language cools down, and we come to some details of La Salle's appointment of Tonty to command, which, are followed by these matter-of-fact words, com- pletely destroying the delusion created by tae preceding passage. "He begged me to take the trouble to go and discover in advance the route he would have to take as far as the river Colbert on his return from Canada, but as I had an abscess in my mouth which had suppurated constantly ior a year ond o half, / showed my reptignance, and told him that I needed to go back to Canada to have medical treatment. He "^epijod, that if I refused this voyage, '% amm& 'M' !|l ; 1' 103 BIBLIOORAPBIOAL NOTIOB. he would write to my superiors that I would be the cause of the failure of onr new missions ; the reverend father Gabriel de la Ribourde, who had been my novice master, begged me to go, telling me, that if I died of that infirmity, God would one day be glorified by my apostolic labors. 'True, my son,' said that venerable old man, whose head was whitened with more than forty years' austere penance, 'you will have many monsters to overcome, and precipices to pass^ in this enterprise which requires the strength of the most robust ; you do not know a word of the language of these tribes whom you are going to endeavor to gain to God, but take courage, you will gain as many victories as you have combatsi' Considering that this father had at his age been ready to come to my aid in the second year of our new discoveries, with the view of announcing Christ to un- known tribes, and thiit this old man was the only male descendant and heir of his father's house, for he was a Burgundian of rank, I offered to make the voyage and endeavor to make the acquaintance of the tribes among whom I hoped soon to establish myself, and preach the faith. Tlie sieur de la Salle showed me his satisfaction, gave me a calumet of peace, and a canoe with two men, one of whom was called the Picard du Gay, who is now at Paris, and the other, Michael Ako ; the latter he intrusted with some merchandise fit to make presents, and worth ten or twelve thousand livres ; and to myself he gave ten knives, twelve awls, a little roll of tobacco to give to the Indians, about two pounds of white and black beads, a little package of needles, declaring that he would have givei. me more, if he could. In fact, he is quite liberal to his friends. Having received the blessing of the reverend father Gabriel, and taken leave of the sieur de la Salle, and embraced all tiie party who came down to see us ofi; Father Gabriel concluding his adieu with the words, ' Viriliter age ct confortetur cor tuum,' we set out from Fort Crdveeoeur on the 29th of February," Ac. Can anything be more striking than the difference of these two accounts; in one he seems a leader, in the other, a reluctant member of the expedition? But La Salle is not the only one sacrificed to his vanity. Delivered by de Luth from his Sioux captivity, he seems to lay that officer under great obliga- tions to him, and disposes of him so summarily, that the name of de Luth, after being only three times mentioned, disappears from his pages, and he seems to be the commander of tl\i united parties. He passes by one Jesuit mission at Green- bay without mentioning its existence, winters at another at Mackinaw, not only without uttering a word to induce us to suppose a missionary there, but actually using expressions which give us the idea that he was the only missionary to be found in all those parts, to minister to the Christians and instruct the heathen. When he leaves Mackinaw, in April, 1681, our Recollect rises still higher in im- portance ; he is fired at the wrongs of an Ottawa chief, and apparently consider- ing it beneath him to look for La Salle, or give him any account of the expedi- tion on which he had been sent^ proceeds to the Seneca country, convenes a council, compels that haughty tribe to make amends to the injured Ottawa, and reti.rns to Fort Frontennc, after this somewhat curious proceeding in a good friar who never meddled in civil affairs, as some other people did. He crowns the whole by telling us at the close of the volume, that La Salle descended to the gul^ "aal had made peace wiih the nations of the north and northwest, five hundred leagues up the river Colbert, who made war on the Ilinois and southern tribes." ('* THE WORKS OF FATHER nEWNEPIN. loa This it enough to show to what extent even then he pushed his self-glorifl- oation. As to the object of his expedition, we are completely in the dark ; wo can not tell whether he was sent to explore the Illinois to its mouth, or to open intercourse with some tribe or tribes, where it was intended to begin a mission. At all events, he says nothing of having been sent up the Missiesippi ; but what- ever was his mission, he seems to have so well avoided La Salle, that thoy never met again. Hennepin hastened back to France, and by the 8d of September, 1682, had the royal permission to print his work, which issued from the press on the 6th of January, 1688, though most copies have on the titlepage the date 1684. He was then for a time, it would seem, at Chateau Cambrensis, till or- dered by his superiors to return to America ; this he refused, and was in conse- quence compelled to leave France. Falling in with Mr. Blaithwait, secretary of war to William HI., he passed to the service of the English king, as a Spanish subject^ by permission of his own sovereign, and his clerical superiors, as he avers. He assumed a lay dress in a convent at Antwerp, and proceeding to Utrecht, published in 1697, o new work entitled— II. "Nouvelle description d'un triSs grnnd pays situ6 dans I'Amerique entre le nouveau Mexique et la mer glaciale," reprinted the next year as "Nouvelle Decou- verte d'un pays plus grandque I'Europe," a translation of which appeared in England, in 1699, entitled: "A new discovery of a vast country in America, ex- tending above four thousand miles between New France and New Mexico." This work begins with his own personal hi8tx>ry, and from it we derive the following data for a life of this worthy, should any one deem it worth while to attempt it He was born at Ath, in Hainault, and feeling a strong inclination to retire from the world, entered the order of St. Francis. He wos soon seized with a desire of rambling; and while studying Dutch ot Ghent, was strongly tempted to go to the East Indies, but was appeased by a tour through the Fran- ciscan convents of Italy and Germany, back to Hainault, where, for a whole year, he was compelled to discharge the ministry. This year of permanent resi- dence in one spot seems to have been an epoch in his erratic life. He next roamed to Artois, thence set out to beg at Calais, returned by Dunkirk to Dies, and after sauntering through several Dutch towns, spent eight months at Mae- stricht, in the oare of an hospital, where acquiring some military ardor, he was next an army chaplain nt the battle of Senef (1674), immediately after which he was sent to Rochelle to embark for Canada. A convent life was, it is dear, irksome to him, and how little he wns sensible of the dignity of the priesthood, either before God or man, we may judge by this extraordinary admission: "I used oftentimes to skulk behind the doors of victualling houses, to hear the sea- men give an account of their adventures. .... This occupation was so agree- able to me, that [despite, he tells us, the nausea caused by their smoking] I spent whole days and nights at it without eating." Arrived in Canada, he preached the Advent and Lent to the hospital nuns at Quebec, being chosen by Bishop Laval, whose favor he had secured on the voyage by a display of zeal which by a train of incidents drew on him all La Salle's enmity. This brings him to 1676, when after rambling around Quebec, as far as Three-Rivers, he was sent to Fort Frontenac, with Father Buisset to direct the Indians gathered there. This now became the centre of new ramblee^ which he extended to the cantons of the ■t' . ' 104 BIBLKKIUAPIIKIAL NOTIOK. f*»-\' Five Nationis vinitinpf Onon<1iii!n, Oncidn, nnd the Mnlmwk, in the loat of whioh while ontcrtninod by the .ToKiiit mix- nmry (prnhaMy FnUipr nruyas), lie copied his Iroquois dictioimry, for in this work, ns if (o spite his former friends, lie nien< tions tiioso niissioimries in s^V'-ral i)lao«'H with tcriiis of prnisp. lie then vigits Alhnny, and thouph entreate«' ■ lio Dutch to stay, returned to Fort Front iiina In lft78, he went down to Que ■ , und soon nfter his nrrivnl received orders to join lift Halle's expedition. From this point his journal rolls on us in the "De- scription d(> In Loiiisiano," do vn t<« Hie I'ith of Mnreli, ItiSO, till which day he Wns detained liy the floating ice, hut here n new Mceii - breaks on the startled rottdi.'; Hennepin tells us, timt he actually went down the Mississippi to the leidf, but liad not published tli' "f tonv«iirl the hostility of LnSalle. Anuized at 80 unexpected n revelation, we n I on carefully, but find tliat ho waited till the twelfth, yet started on the eiufhtli, being consequently in two places at once, each moment during those fnur days; thus n.ded, he reoehcd the mouth of the Mississippi by the twenth fifth, or at most, twenty-sixth of March, after cele- brating, on the 23d of March, the festival of Faster which, unfortunately for his nceuracy, fell that year on the 21st of April, as he himself knew, for in liis former work (p. 2-12), ho states that he reaehed the Issati village about Faster, which, in his loose style, means some days after it Hut to return to liis voyage down, achieved in thirteen, or at nmst, eighteen days; he planted a cross and wished to wait a few days to make observations, but his men refused, nnd he wns compelled to embark again. ITiey did wait, however, some days it seems, for he started only on the first of April; by the twenty-fourth, he had reached and left the Arkansas, as he tells us in two different places (pp. \'i^, 137), and ogcending toward the Illinois, advanced only by night for fear of a surprise by the French of Fort (V6veca'ur. IJy the twelfth of the same month of April, being twelve days before he reached the Arkansas, he was taken by the Sioux a hundred and fifty leagues above the mouth of the Illinois, making nil that dis- tance from the gulf in eleven days, and the distance from the Arkansas, in con- siderably less than no time nt all. From this point, it continues with but occasional variations, ns in the De- scription (/<■ la J.iiuiniiini; except thai de Luth appears more frequently down to their ascendinir the Wisconsin. Tlie second part, or second volume, contains nn account of Ln Salle's last voyage, in which Father Anastnsius is frequently cited ; the subsequent part, from page 49 to Ifd, treats of the manners, and customs of the Indians, nnd their conversion, and then follows an account of the capture of Quebec, in 1628, by the English, niil of the early Recollect missions. Two things in this volume at once meet us, the horrible confusion of dates, and the utter impossibility of performing the voyages in the times given. These objections were nmde at the time, but were stoutly met by Hennepin, al- thougli the former seems not to have been much attended to by him. He gives us, however, a dissci lation on the variation of the needle, and the diflfcrenee of time in Europe and America, which had confused him somewhat in his ideas, and prevented his nceuracy in that point. As to the impracticability of the mat- ter, he denies it, averring that he had time enough and to spare, as a bnrk canoe can, if necessory, go ninety miles a day up streani ! Ill';; THE WOBKS OF FATirEK UENNKI'IN. 106 But A heavier clinrKO wni nmdo wlicri his new work ^K^aii compared to the Etahliufm»nt de la Foi ; hia now jouriiul duwn wiw but. n int uf lorap* from that of Father Meinhrc, niid thu reader may verify the truth of this cliarije b} xain- iiiing tile |iiirallel (lasMigeH given l>y tlie aeeiirate and jiidieioUH Spnrl(», in hiit iifo of LaSitlh', or liy eonipuring Mrtniir^'t's journal in tliii* voliimn with the English Hennepin, or even witli tlie abridi^iiient of it in vol. i., of lliHtorieai Collection! of Louisiana. Hennepin admits the HJmilarity, and aeeuses leClerec^ or le Koux, whom he aMcrtit to be the real author, of having published at MeinbrnV, hii^ Hennepin's journal, which he had lent to le Koux, at Quebec. Let us hoor his own .voi'dn: "Hut if I do not blame Father le Clercq for the honorable n.ontion he niaki'x of his relative (Membr*''\ I think everybody will condemn him Tor hia concealiiii^ the name of tli'' (luthor he has transcribed, and thereby attributing to himself (If Memt)i'6 or !• > j), the glory of my perilous voyage. This pieue • '' injustice is eoinmon enoiiifh in thin oK"-" SparkH, who has I! Hun ing completely exposed Hennepin, ond "the in- justice eoMunun in tli.'i -liieh induced Hennepin, le Clercq, Douny, .loutel, and others, to cndeavc, , .»i. Alari be groundless. We might stop to examine it, if only here he had copied le ( It-rcrj; but, on txamination, we find that almost oil the additional matter in the Konvelle Dcroiii'crte is drawn from the KtahliiM- ment de la Foi, and almost literally. This Ih the ease with the whole second ])art, where, though he cites Father Anastnsius, he copies the renuirks of the author of the Ktithlmnncnt. What relates to the Indians is full of extracts from tlie latter work, and the copture of Quebec, and the early missions are mere copies. In the edition of 1720, which Ciinrlevoix calls the second, and, perhaps, in some previous edition the amount of stolen mutter is still larger ; but some was of such a nature as to bring eeelesiustical censure on the work. For, strange ns it may seem, Hennepin residing unfrocked in Holland, the flatterer and pen- sioner of William IH., seems to have remained n Catholic and Franciscan to the Inst; ot least I have seen nothing to establish the contrary. Hod interest or ambition been his only motive, lie would certainly have thrown off both titles at a time when the frenzy of religious animosity possessed the English public. But wliile doing him this justice, that lie does not seem to have been led by interest or ambition of place, while admitting that many of his descriptions ore graphic, and to some extent relie.ble, we say all that enn be said in his favor. Where in the main fact he is supported by others, we have followed him with caution in details, but we must admit that the charges brought against him ore too well substantiated to allow us hesitate ns to Iiis elmrncter. A question still remains ns to what he really did do on leaving Fort Crt^ve- coBur. In his first work, as we have already remarked, he states that he woe sent to exj)loro the Illinois to its mouth, or to visit some tribes where a mission was to bo established ; and he tells u: that he hnd some design of going down the Mississijn i to the gulf, but he nowhere says that he oscended it before he was token. In the lost, he was sent to the Mississip]>i, and the tribes on it to get the friendship of the nations inhabiting its banks, ond as he tells us he went down. In both, at a very late period he tells us that La SoUe promised to send him further supplies at the mouth of the Wisconsin, u "% s^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) d^ 1.0 I.I l^|2£ 125 m __ ^ 13.6 Mb |j6 1^ ■ 40 lU IL25 III 1.4 2.0 I HI m 1.6 Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WESt MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 145E0 (716) S73-4S03 ^^^ '^ o^ f^ 106 BIBLIOOBAPHIOA^ NOTKn. In neither hare we any journal of his voyage np the rirer ; the geogmpUeal description is not that of a traveller ascending^ a« he describe* first what he saw last ; and though voyaging with Sioux; gives the Wisconsin the same name as Marquette, who reached it through the Outagamis. What then did he do b«> tween March 12th, and April 12th I This must remain a mystery. That he went down to the gul( is too absurd to be received for a moment ; that he went up is nowhere asserted by him, an4 i», I think, very doubtful. For my own part; I should rather believe that he was taken in an attempt to descend, or in some way acting contrary to the directions of La Salle. His evident avoiding of the latter is suspicions; and shows that he could not give a satisfactory no- count of his proceedings; for wintering at Mackinaw, he must have known that La Salle had passed out to rejoin them at Fort Crdvecoeur, and that his own companions had br.cn compelled to leave the fort, and were then at Green bay.* Then, too, as to his description of the upper Mississippi, I am inclined to think it due to de Luth, who, as le Cleroq tells us; was the first to reach the lake of the Issatis; and open the way to the missionaries; this seems more probable as in his last work Hennepin attacks de Luth, and endeavors to destroy the credit^ as though de Luth could and, perhaps, did tell another story. It will, therefore, be a matter of interest to learn whether any reports of his are still to be found, as the mere fact of Hennepin's attacking him gives them considerable value. In the meantime Hennepin's account of the upper Mississippi must stand as first published, though we can not tell how much of it he really saw; standing on its own merits; it is an account which the first American explorers of the upper river compared as they went along, and found sufficiently accurate in one who could only guess at the various distances which he had to mention. As a valual'e paper connected with the discoveries of the Mississippi, we insert it here, regretting our inability to give in justice a more flattering portrait of the writer. ■ Hennepin left Mackinaw on Easter week, 1681 (April 6-13), and F. Membrt arrived there on the 13th of June, and La Salleirom nUnols, about the fifteenth. On VoL I., p. 59, of this series, diete ia a typographical error Fete Dinn, in October, should be OctsTe of Corpus Chriati, being that year June 13th. me Th( Dai in En{ on< (gnphieal Mtheww e n«n« u hedob*- Tliathe it he went p my own send, or in t avoiding factory no- :nown that lat his own reen bay.* id to think the lahe of )bablea8in le credit, as I, therefore, ,0 be found, B Tolne. ut stand as r; standing >rerB of the irate in one ition. As a we insert it irtrait of the rrived diere on , of this leriot, I Chrbti, being NARRATIVE OF THE VOTAOE (I TO THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI, BT FATHER LOUIS EENNEPIN. FROM HIS "DESCRIPTION DE LA LOUISIANE," PRIMTED AT PARIS, Of IflBS. WE set out from Fort Cr^vecoeur the 29th of February, 1680, and toward evening, while descending the Seignelaj [Ilinois], we met on the way several parties of Isiinois* returning to their village in their periaguas or gon- dolas, loaded with meat. They would have obliged us to return, our two boatmen were even shaken, but as they would have had to pass by Fort Gr^vecoeur, where our Frenchmen would have stopped them, we pursued our way the next day, and my two men afterward confessed the design which they had entortained.f * We have retained Hennepin's orthography of proper names throughout Uiia narrative. f Hennepin's party, according to his account, consisted of himself and two men, Anthony Auguelle, commonly called the Picard du Gay, and Michael Ako. The latter was intrusted by La Salle with the goods, and is probably the sieur Dacan of some other writers, as Mr. Sparks informs me, that he saw manuscripts in which it was written d'Acau. Hennepin in the preface to the first port of the English volume, charges La Salle with having maliciously caused the death of one of his two companions, meaning Ako^ as he represents the other to be alive. m. ; ^\ ^■w ,i> 108 ITABBATIVE OF FATHER HENNEPIN. The river Seignelay on which we were sailing, is as deep and broad as the Seine, at Paris, and in two or three places widens out to a quarter of a league. It is lined with hills, whose sides are covered with fine large trees. Some of these hills are half a league apart, leaving between them a marshy- strip often inundated, especially in the spring and fall, but producing, nevertheless, quite large trees. On ascending these hills, you discover prairies further than the eye can reach, studded at intervals, with groves of tall trees, appa- rently planted there intentionally. The current of the river is not perceptible, except in time of great rains ; it is at all times navigable for large barks about a hundred leagues, from its month to the Islinois village, whence its course almost al- ways runs south by southwest. On the 7th of March, we found, about two leagues from its mouth, a nation called Tamaroa, or Maroa, com- posed of two hundred familes. They woiild have taken us to their village west of the river Colbert (Mississippi), six or seven leagues below the mouth of the river Seigne- lay; but our two canoemen, in hopes of still greater gain, preferred to pass on, according to the advice I then gave them. These last Indians seeing that we carried iron and arms to their enemies, and unable to overtake us in their periaguas, which are wooden canoes, much heavier than our bark ones, which went much faster than their boats, despatched their young men after us by land, to pierce us with their ar- rows at some narrow part of the river, but in vain ; for soon after discovering the fire made by these wamors at their ambuscade, crossed the river at once, and gaining the other side, i. amped in an island, leaving our canoe loaded and our little dog to wake as, so as to embark with all speed, should the Indians attempt to surprise us by swimming across. ^ DTBOOVEBIES IN THE KISBISBIPFI TALLET. 109 Soon after leaving these Indians, we came to the month of the River Seignelay, fifty leagues distant from Fort Cr^ve* coBur, and about a hundred from the great Islinois village. It is between 36° and 37° N. latitude, and consequently one hundred and twenty or thirty leagues from the gulf of Mexico. In the angle formed on the south by this river, at its mouth, is a flat precipitous rock, about forty feet high, very well suited for building a fort. On the northern side, opposite the rock, and on the west side beyond the river, are fields of black earth, the end of which you can not see, all ready for cultiva- tion, which would be very advantageous for the existence of a colony. The ice which floated down from the north kept us in this place till the 12th of March, when we continued our route, traversing the river and sounding on all sides to see whether it was navigable. There are, indeed, three islets in the mid- dle, near the mouth of the river Seignelay, which stop the floating wood and trees from the north, and form several large sand-bars, yet the channels are deep enough, and there is sufficient; water foi barks ; large flat-boats can pass there at all times. The Itiver Colbert runs south-southwest, and comes from the north and northwest; it runs between two chains of mountains, quite small here, which wind with the river, and in some places are pretty far from the banks, so that between the mountains and the river, there are large prairies, where you often see herds of wild cattle browsing. In other places these eminences leave semi-circular spots covered with grass or wood. Beyond these mountains you discover vast plains, but the more we approach the northern side ascending, the earth became apparently less fertile, and the woods less bean- tiful than in the Islinois country. ^nl IF ■'• 1 ■' ''! 1 ■^■■■. m m 4'^ I ii K r niBCOVKRIKS IN THE MIflSISSTPPT VAlLltf. iS than onrs, with which, nftcr sniling a hundred loagucs, wo loaohed Missiliinackinac, where we were obliged to winter. To em- ploy the time usefully, I preached every holyday, and on tlie Sundays of Advent and Lent.* The Ottawas and Ilurons were often present, rather from curiosity than from any in- clination to live according to the Christian maxims. These last Indians said, speaking of our discovery, that they wore men, but that wo Frenchmen were spirits, because, had they gone so far, the strange nations would have killed them, while we went fearlessly everywhere. During the winter, wo took whitefish in Lake Orleans (Huron), in twenty or twenty-two fathoms water. They served to season the Indian corn, which Avas our usual faro. Forty- two Frenchmen trading there with the Indians begged me to give them all the cord of St. Francis, which I readily did, making an exhortation at each ceremony. "We left Missilimackinac in Easter week, 1681, and were obliged to drag our provisions and canoes on the ice, more than ten leagues on Lake Orleans; having advanced far enough on this fresh-water sea, and the ice breaking, we em- barked after Low Sunday, which we celebrated, having some little wine which a Frenchman had fortunately brought, and which served us quite well the rest of the voyage. After a hundred leagues on Lake Orleans, we passed the strait (De- troit), for thirty leagues and Lake St. Clare,f which is in the middle and entered Lake Conty, where we killed, with sword * In the English edition he tells us that he enjoyed, during the winter, the hospitnlity of Father Pierson, n Jesuit and n fellow-townsmen of his own, whom he eulogizes there, but posses over in perfect silence here. What was his reason in each ease f In neither he mentions the church nt Green bay. f This name is commonly written St, Clair, but this is incorrect; we should either retain the French form Claire, or take the English Clare. It received its name in honor of the founder of the Franciscan nuns, from the fact that La Salle reached it on the day consecrated to her. •mst, to get wild grapes which began to ripen, and we made very good wine which served us to say mass till the second disaster, which happened a few days after. The clusters of these grapes are of prodigious size, of very agreeable taste, and have seeds larger than those of Europe.* * In Brown's "History of American Trees," we fail to find any notice of the DISC0VEEIE8 IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 158 With regard to conversions, I can not rely on any. During the whole time Father Gabriel unraveled their language a little, and I can say that I spoke so as to make myself under- stood by the Indians on all that I wished ; but there is in these savages such an alienation from the faith, so brutal and narrow a mind, such corrupt and antichristian morals, that great time would be needed to hope for any fruit. It is, how- ever, true that I found many of quite docile character. We baptized some dying children, and two or hree dying per- sons who manifested proper dispositions. As these people are entirely material in their ideas, they would have submitted to baptism, had we liked, but without any knowledge of the sacrament. We found two who had joined ns, and promised to follow us everywhere ; we believed that they would keep their word, and that by this means we would insure their baptisms ; but I afterward felt great scruples when I learned than an Indian named Ghassagouache, who had been bap- tized, had died in the hands of the medicine-men, abandoned to their superstitions, and consequently doubly a child of hell. During the summer, we followed our Indians in their camps, and to the chase. I also made a voyage to the My- amis to learn something of their dispositions ; thence I went to visit other villages of the Ilinois all, however, with no great success, finding only cause for chagrin at the deplorable state and blindness of these nations. It is such that I can not ex- press it fully. Thus far we enjoyed a pretty general peace, though mean- early wine-making in the country by the catholic missionaries. They were cer- tainly the first in the northern parts. Sagard, in his " History of Canada" (ch. 9), details the modus operandi of probably the first wine-making in the country. The Jesuit missionaries were afterward frequently compelled to do so, in order to say mass, as we find repeated allusions to it in the Relations from Maine to the Mississippi 164 NARRATIVE OF FATHER MEMBRB. f'^l' while, a cruel war, which we knew not, was machinating. While we were still at Fort Frontenac, the year before the sieur de la Salle learned that his enemies had, to baffle his designs, excited the Iroquois to resume their former hostilities against the Ilinois, which had been relinquished for several years. They sought too to draw the Myamis into the same war. This is a tribe which formerly dwelt beyond the Il- inois, as regards the Iroquois and Fort Frontenac. They had persuaded them to invite the Iroqnois by an embassy to join them against their common enemy ; those who came to treat of this aflfair with the Iroquois, brought letters from some ill-disposed Frenchmen who had correspondents in those tribes, for there were at that time many coureurs de bois. The sieur do la Salle happened to be among the Senecas when this embassy arrived ; the moment seemed unfavorable, and the embassadors were privately warned that they risked their lives, if they did not dejiart as soon as possible, the sieur de la Salle being a friend of the Ilinois. The Myamis, how- ever, left his former country, and came and took up a posi- tion where he is now between the Iroquois and the Ilinois. This was afterward believed intentional, and we having to pass through both these nations suspected by each other, might become so to one of them who would then prevent our progress. Monsieur de la Salle, on his arrival at the Ilinois last year, made peace between the two nations ; but as the Indians are very inconstant and faithless, the Iroquois and the Myamis afterward united against the Ilinois, by means which are diflferently related. Be that as it may, about the 10th of September, in the pres- ent year, 1680, the Ilinois allies of Chaouenons (Shawnees), were warned by a Shawnee, who was returning home from an Ilinois voyage, but turned back to advise them, that he diil wl DI800VEKIE8 IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLET. 166 had discovered an Iroquois army, four or five hundred strong, who had already entered their territory. The scouts sent out by the Ilinois t^narmed what the Shawnee liad said, adding that the sieur de la Salle was there. For this there was no foundation, except that the Iroquois chief had a hat and a kind of vest. They at once talked of tomahawking us, but the sieur de Tonty undeceived them, and to show the falsity of the report, offered to go with the few men he had to fight the Iroquois with them. Tlie Ilinois had already sent out to war the greater part of the young men, yet the next day they took the field against the enemy, whom the Myamis had rein- forced with a great number of their warriore. This multitude terrified the Ilinois ; nevertheless, they recovered a little at the solicitation of the sieur de Tonty and the French ; they at first mingled and wrangled, but the sieur de Tonty having grounds to fear for the Ilinois who had almost no firearms, offered to put mattere in negotiation, and to go to the Iroquois as a man of peace, bearing the calumet. Tlie latter hoping to surprise the Ilinois, and seeing their hopes baffled by the state in which they found them resolved for battle, received without any demiu* a man who came with a calumet of peace, telling them, that the Ilinois were his brothers, friends of the French, and under the protection of Ononto, their common fa- ther. I was beside the sieur de Tonty, when an Iroquois, whom I had known in the Seneca village, recognised me. These proposals for peace did not, however, please some young men whose hands itched for fight ; suddenly a volley of balls and arrows came whizzing around us, and a young Onondaga ran up with a drawn knife and struck M. de Tonty near the heart, the knife fortunately glancing off a rib. They imme- diately surrounded him, and wished to cany him off; but when, by his ears, which were not pierced, they saw that ho m^m ft -i "f '^i 1 'i ■ ■ 1 '.■'■1. v« 1 ■■■;,r. , ' ., :, 1 ■t -Vaiii; ^ ' "^mm J ; t^l^^^B f : ; . ;alumet. j.nd feasted him and all his party. We here, as elsewhere, . ;ii,de presents in return. They told us that we had still tea days to sail to the sea. " ' The Sicacha (Chickasaw) whom we had brought thus far, obtained leave to remain in the village, which we left on Easter Sunday, the 29th of March, after having celebrated the divine mysteries for the French, and fulfilled the duties of good Christians. For our Indians, though of the most advanced and best instructed, were not yet capable. About six leagues below, the river divides into two arms, or channels, forming a great island, which must be more than sixty leagues long. We foUowec! the channel on the right) although we had intended to take ll.^o other, but passed it in a fog without seeing it. We had a guide with us, who pointed it out by signs ; but his canot; being then behind, those in it neglected when the India a told them to overtake us, for we were considerably ahead. We were informed that, on the * Marquette's roap mentions this tribe as lying inland, on the western side. He writes it "Akoroa." f ■' h' 1 .i \ 174 KABBATIVB OF FATHKB MEMBRE. '. Z, I ill), other channel, there are ten different nations, numerous, and well-disposed. On the second of April, after having sailed forty leagues, we perceived some fishermen on the bank of the river; they took flight, and we immediately after heard sasacoiiest, that is, war-cries, and beating of drums. It was the Quinipissa nation. Four Frenchmen were sent to offer them the calu- met of peace, with ordere not to fire ; but they had to return in hot haste, because the Indians let fly a shower of arrows at them. Four of our Mohegans, who went soon after, met no better welcome. This obliged the sieur de la Salle to con- tinue his route, till two leagues lower down, we entered a vil- lage of the Tangibao,* which had been recently sacked and plundered ; we found there three cabins full of human bodies dead for fifteen or sixteen days. At last, after a navigation of about forty leagues, we ar- rived, on the sixth of April, at a point where the river divides into three channels. The sieur de la Salle divided his party the next day into three bands, to go and explore them. He took the western, the sieur Dautray the southern, the sieur Tonty, whom I accompanied, the middle one. These three channels arc beautiful and deep. The water is brackish; after advancing two leagues it became perfectly salt, and advancing on, we discovered the open sea, so that on the ninth of April, with all possible solemnity, we performed the ceremony of planting the cross and raising the arms of France. After wg had chanted the hymn of the church, " Vexilla Eegis," and the " Te Deum," the sieur de la Salle, in the name of his majesty, took possession of that river, of all rivers that enter it, and of all the country watered by them. An authentic act was drawn up, signed by all of us * Called in act of possession, "Maheouala." , ll:|:) l;'ii i: " I -m DISCOVBBIES IN THE MISSISSIFFI VALLEY. 175 there, and amid a volley from all our muskets, a leaden plate inscribed with the arms of France, and the names of those who had just made the discovery, was deposited in the earth * The sieur de la Salle, who always carried an astrolabe, took the latitude of the mouth. Although he kept to himself the exact point, we have learned that the river falls into the gulf of Mexico, between 27° and 28° north, and, as is thought, at the point where maps lay down the Rio Escondido. This mouth is about thirty leagues distant from the Rio Bravo, (Rio Grande), sixty from the Rio de Palmas, and ninety or a hundred leagues from the river Panuco (Tampico), where the nearest Spanish post on the coast is situated. "We reck^ oned that Espiritu Santo bay (Appalachee Bay), lay north- east of the mouth. From the Ilinois' river, we always went south or southwest ; the river winds a little, preserves to the sea its breadth of about a quarter of a league, is everywhere very deep, without banks, or any obstacle to navigation, al- though the contrary has been published. f This river is reckoned eight hundred leagues long ; we travelled at least three hun- dred and fifty from the mouth of the river Seignelay. We were out of provisions, and found only some dried meat at the mouth, which we took to appease our hunger ; but soon after perceiving it to be human flesh, we left the rest to our Indians. It was very good and delicate. At last on the tenth of April, we began to remount the river, living only on potatoes and crocodiles (alligators). The country is so bordered with canes, and so low in this part, that we could not hunt, without a long halt. On the twelfth we slept at the * See De la Salle's proces verbal of the taking possession of Louisiana, in the Hist. Coll. of Louisiana, vol. i., p. 45. ■]• We do not know to what Fatlier Mcmhre refers. Marquette's work makes no such assertion of the Mississippi. Hennepin, indeed, says that an Illinois had eo stated before La Salle went down. — Description de la Louisiane, ]). 177. i r i 176 NABBATTVE OF FATHEB MGMBBB. village of the Tangibao, and as the sienr de la Salle wished to have corn willingly or by force . . . Our Abnakis perceived, on the thirteenth, as we advanced, a great smoke near. We thought that this might be the Quinipissa, who had fired on us some days before ; those whom we sent out to reconnoitre brought in four women of the nation, on the morning of the fourteenth, and we went and encamped opposite the village. After dinner some periaguas came toward us, to brave us ; but the sieur de la Salle having advanced in person with the calumet of peace, on their refusal to receive it, a gun was fired which terrified these savages who had never seen fire- arms. They called it thunder, not understanding how a wooden stick could vomit fire, and kill people so far off with- out touching them. This obliged the Indians to take flight, although in great force, armed in their manner. At last the sieur de la Salle followed them to the other side, and put one woman on the shore with a present of axes, knives, and beads, giving her to understand that the other three should follow soon, if she brought some Indian corn. The next day a troop of Indians having appeared, the sieur de la Salle went to meet them, and concluded a peace, receiving and giving hostages. He then encamped near their village, and they brought us some little corn. We at last went up to the village, where these Indians had prepared us a feast in their fashion. They had notified their allies and neighboii^, so that, when we went to enjoy the banquet in a large square, we saw a confused mass of armed savages arrive one after another. We were, however, welcomed by the chiefs, but having ground for suspicion, each kept his gun ready, and the Indians seeing it, durst not attack us. The sieur de la Salle retired with all his people, and his hostages into his camp, and give up the Quinipissa women. m i BISCOYEBIES IK THE MISSISSIPPI VALLET. 17T The next morning before daybreak, our sentinel reported that he heard a noise among the canes on the banks of the river. The sieur Dautray said that it was nothing ; but the sieur de la Salle, always on the alert, having already heard noise, called to arms. As we instantly heard war-cries, and aiTOWs were fired from quite near us, we kept up a brisk fire, although it began to rain. Day broke, and after two hours' fighting, and the loss of ten men killed on their side, and many wounded, they took to flight, without any of us having been injured. Our people wished to go and bum the village of these traitors ; but the sieur de la Salle pru- dently wished only to make himself formidable to this nation, without exasperating it, in order to manage them in time of need. We, however, destroyed many of their canoes. They were near, but contented themselves with running away and shouting. Our Mohegans took only two scalps. We set out then the evening of the same day, the eighth- teenth of April, and arrived on the first of May, at the Koroa, after having sujffered much from want of provisions. The Koroa had been notified by the Quinipissa, their allies, and had, with the intention of avenging them, assembled Indians of several villages, making a very numerous army, which ap- peared on the shores, and often approached us to reconnoitre. As this nation had contracted friendship with us on our voyage down, we were not a little surprised at the change ; but they told us the reason, which obliged us to keep on our guard. The sieur de la Salle even advanced intrepidly, so that the Indians durst not undertake anything. When we passed going down, we were pretty well pro- vided with Indian corn, and had put a quantity in cache, pretty near their village. We found it in good condition ; and having taken it up, continued our route ; but were sur- m HU 178 NAEKATIVE OF FATHEB MEMBBE. >. -''il <■ ,!. '. :'^ li prised to see the Indian corn at this place, which, the twenty- ninth of March, was jnst sprouting from the ground, already fit to eat, and we then learned that ic ripened in fifty days. We also remarked other corn four inches above ground. "We set out then the same day, the first of May in the evening, and after seeing several difierent nations on the fol- lowing days, and renewed our alliance with the Taensa, who received us perfectly well, we arrived at the Akansa where we were similarly received. "We left it on the eighteenth, the sieiu' de la Salle went on with two canoes of our Mohegans and pushed on to a hundred leagues below the river Seignelay, where he fell sick. We joined him there with the rest of the troop on the second of June. As his malady was dan- gerous, and brought him to exti*emity, unable to advance any further, he was obliged to send forward the sieur de Tonty for the Ilinois and Miamis, to take up our caches^ and put everything in order, appointing Tonty to command there. But at la^t the malady of the sieur de la Salle, which lasted forty days, during which I assisted him to my utmost, having somewhat abated, we started at the close of July, by slow journeys. At the end of September, we reached the Miami river, where we learned of several military expeditions made by the sieur de Tonty after he had left us. He had left the sieur Dautray, and tlie sieur Cochois among the Miamis, and other people among the Ilinois, with two hundred new cabins of Indians, who were going to repeople that nation. The said sieur de Tonty pushed on to Missilimakinac, to render an ac- count, more at hand, of our discovery to the governor, the count de Frontenac, on behalf of the sieur de la Salle, who prepared to retrace his steps to the sea the next spring with a larger force, and families to begin establishments. The river Seignelay is very beautiful, especially below the t ■:■*. \ik TWf- DISCOVERIES IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 179 Dinois (Indians), wide and deep, forming two lakes as fai* as the sea {jusqu'a la mer\ edged with hills, covered with beautiful trees of all kinds, whence you discern vast prairies on which herds of wild-cattle pasture in confusion. The river often overflows, and rendei-s the country around marshy, for twenty or thirty leagues from the sea.* The soil around is good, capable of producing all that can be desired for sub- sistence. "We oven found hemp there growing wild, much finer than that of Canada. The whole country on this river is charming in its aspect. It is the same with what we have visited on the river Col- bert. "When you are twenty or thirty leagues below the Maroa, the banks ai'e full of canes until you reach the sea, except in fifteen or twenty places where there are very pretty hills, and spacious, convenient, landing-places. The inunda- tion does not extend far, and behind these drowned lands you see the finest country in the world. Our hunters, French and Indian, were delighted with it. For an extent of at least two hundred leagues in length, and as much in breadth, as we were told, there are vast fields of excellent land, diversi- fied here and there with pleasing hills, lofty woods, groves through which you might ride on horseback, so clear and unobstructed are the paths. These little forests also line the rivere which intersect the country in various places, and which abound in fish. The crocodiles are dangerous here, so much so that in some parts no one would venture to expose himself, or even put his hand out of his canoe. The Indians told us that these animals often dragged in their people, where they could anywhere get hold of them. The fields are full of all kinds of game, wild-cattle, stags, • I can not see what he means by the term sea in these two places ; unless in the former it means the mouth, and in the latter, the bed of the river. ill'' 180 NABBATIVE OF FATHEK MEMBBK. >l does, deor, bears, turkeys, partridges, parrots, quails, wood- cock, wild-pigeons, and ring-doves. There are also beaver, otters, martens, till a hundred leagues below the Maroa, es- pecially in the river of the Missouri, the Ouabache, that of the Chepousseau (the Oumberland?), which is opposite it, and on all the smaller ones in this part ; but we could not learn that there were any beavers on this side toward the sea. There are no wild beasts, formidable to man. That which is called Michybichy never attacks man, although it de- vours the strongest beasts ; its head is like that of a lynx, though much larger ; the body long and large like a deer's, but much more slender ; the legs also shorter, the paws like those of a wild-cat, but much larger, with longer and stronger claws, which it uses to kill the beasts it would devour. It eats a little, then carries off the rest on its back, and hides it under some leaves, where ordinarily no other beast of prey touches it. Its skin and tail resemble those of a lion, to which it is inferior only in size. The cattle of this country surpass ours in size ; their head is monstrous, and their look frightful, on account of the long, black hair with which it is surrounded, and which hangs be- low the chin, and along the houghs of this animal. It has on the back a kind of upright crests (coste), of which that near- est the neck is longest, the others diminish gradually to the middle of the back. The hair is fine, and scarce inferior to wool. The Indians wear their skins which they dress very neatly with earth, which serves also for paint. These ani- mals are easily approached, and never fly from you; they could be easily domesticated. There is another little animal (the opposum) like a rat, though as large as a cat, with silvery hair sprinkled with black. The tail is bare, as thick as a large finger, and about DISOOVBBIES IS THE MISSISSIPPI VALLET. 181 a rat, with about a foot long ; with this it suspends itself, when it is on the branches of trees. It has under the belly a kind of pouch, where it carries its young when pursued. The Indians assured us that inland, toward the west, there are animals on which men ride, and which carry very heavy loads, they described them as horses, and showed us two feet which were actually hoofs of horses. We observed everywhere wood of various kinds fit for every use ; and among others the most beautiful cedars in the world, and anot* r kind shedding an abundance of gum, as pleasant to burn as the best French pastilles. We also re- marked everywhere, hemlocks, and many other pretty large ti'ees with white bark. The cotton-wood trees are large ; of these, the Indians dig out canoes forty or fifty feet long, and have sometimes fleets of a hundred and fifty below their vil- lages. We saw every kind of tree fit for ship-building. There is also plenty of hemp for cordage, and tar might be made remarkably near the sea. You meet prairies everywhere ; sometimes of fifteen or twenty leagues front, and three or four deep, ready to receive the plough. The soil excellent, capable of supporting great colonies. Beans grow wild, and the stalk lasts several years, always bearing fruit ; it is thicker than an arm, and runs up like ivy to the top of the highest trees. The peach-trees are quite like those of France, and very good ; they are so loaded with fruit, that the Indians have to prop up those they cul- tivate in their clearings. There are whole forests of very fine mulberries, of which we ate the fruit from the month of May ; many plum-trees and other fruit-trees, some known and others unknown in Europe ; vines, pomegranates, and horse-chestnuts, are common. They raise three or four crops of com a year. I have already stated that I saw some iiiiiiiiii 182 STARRATIYE OF FATHEB MEMBBE. I ft', "'I ripe, while more was sprouting. Winter is known only by the rains. We had not time to look for mines ; we only found coal in several places ; the Indians who had lead and copper wished to lead us to many places, whence they take it ; there are quarries of very fine stone, white and black marble, yet the Indians do net use it. These tribes, though savage, seem geaerally of very good dispositions, affable, obliging, and dc jile. They have no true idea of religion by a regular ^^rship ; but we remarked some confused ideas, and a particular veneration they had for the sun, which they recognise as him who made and preserves all. It is surprising how different their language is from that of tribes not ten leagues off ; they manage, however, to un- derstand each ; and, besides, there is always some interpreter of one nation residing in anothei*, when they are allies, and who acts as a kind of consul. They are veiy different from our Canada Indians in their houses, dress, mannere, inclina- tions, and customs, and even in the form of the head, for theirs is very flat. They have large public squares, games, assemblies ; they seem lively and active ; their chiefs possess all the authority ; no one would dare pass between the chiefs and the cane-torch which burns in his cabin, and is carried before him when he goes out ; all make a circuit around it with some ceremony. The chiefs have their valets and of- ficers, who follow them and serve them everywhere. They distribute their favors and presents at will. In a word, we generally found them to be men, "We saw none who knew firearms, or even iron or steel articles, using stone knives and hatchets. This was quite contrary to what had been told us, when we were assured that they traded with the Spaniards, who were said to be only twenty-five or thirty leagues off; DISOOYEBIES IN TUE MISSISSIPPI VALLET. 188 they had axes, guns, and all commodities found in Europe.^ We found, indeed, tribes that had bracelets of real pearls ; but they pierce them when hot, and thus spoil them. Mon- sieur de la Salle brought some with him. The Indians told us that their warriore brought them from very far, in the di- rection of the sea, and receive them in exchange from some nations apparently on the Florida side. There are many other things which our people obsoi'ved on advancing a little into the country to hunt, or which we learned from the tribes, through whom we passed ; but I should be tedious were I to detail them ; and, besides, the particulars should bo bettei* known. To conclude, our expedition of discovery was accomplished without having lost any of our men, French or Indian, and without anybody's being wounded, for which we were in- debted to the protection of the Almighty, and the great cap- pacity of Monsieur de la Salle. I will say nothing here of conversions ; formerly the apostles had but to enter a coun- try, when on the first publication of the gospel, great conver- sions were seen. 1 am but a miserable sinner, iufinitely des- titute of the merits of the apostles ; but we must also acknowl- edge that these miraculous ways of grace are not attached to the exercise of our ministry ; God employs an ordinary and * Here again it is difficult to decide wlietlier he alludes to Marquette, or some other account that may have been given. Father Marquette found some guns rather for show than for use in the hands of the first Illinois party, west of the Mississippi, which Father Membrd did not visit. He also met a tribe coming from the east to war on the Mississippi tribes, also supplied with firearms^ these Father Membr6 did not meet As to the Arkansas, Marquette states that he found among them, knives, axes, and beads, bought from other Indian trib<» on the east, and from the Illinois. Speaking of their trade, he makes no allu- sion to the Spaniards, although he must have supposed that the lower tribes traded with either Florida or Mexico. It is somewhat strange that Father Membre, who here seems to make light of Marquette's fear of being taken, and held a prisoner by the Spaniards, should have escaped only by a bloody death the detention to which the survivors of Fort St Louis were subjected. ill, ^ - * ' 1 ^'i; ' *. ill Hi'. li'i ft w&M 184 VAKRATTVH OF FATHER HEMBBK. common way, following which I contented myself with an- nouncing, as well as I could, the principal truths of Christi- anity to the nations I met. The Ilinois language served me about a hundred leagues down the riven, and I made the rest understand by gestures and some term in their dialect which I insensibly picked up ; but I can not say that my little ef- forts produced certain fruits. "With regard to these people, perhaps, some one by a secret effect of grace, has profited ; God only knows. All we have done has been to see the state of these tribes, and to open the way to the gospel and to miS" sionaries; having baptized only two infants, whom I saw struggling with death, and who, in fact, died in our presence. '■h. )/ AND OF THE ACCOUNT Of LA SALLE'S ATTEMPT TO REACH THE MISSISSIPPI BY SEA, ESTABLISHMENT OF A FRENCH COLONY IN ST, LOUIS BAY, BY FATHER CHBISTIAN LE CLERCQ. THE first design of the sieur de la Salle had been to find the long-sought passage to the Pacific ocean, and al- though the river Colbert (Mississippi) does not lead to it, yet this great man had so much talent and courage, that he hoped to find it, if it were possible, as he would have done, had God spared his life. The IHnois territory, and vast countries around, being the centre of his discovery, he spent there the winter, summer, atid beginning of autumn, 1683, in establishing his posts. He at last left Monsieur de Tonty, as commandant and resolved to return to France to render an account of his fulfilment of the royal orders. He reached Quebec early in November, and Eochelle, France, on the twenty-third of December. His design was to go by sea to the mouth of the river Col- « 186 KARRATIVK OF FATIIKK L j|CI\>t^<^« , I. . I ' bert, and there found powerful colonies under th .1 good pleas- ure of the king. These proposals* were favorably received by Monsieur de Seignelay, minister and secretary of state, and superintendent of commerce and navigation in France. His nuijesty accepted them and condescended to favor the undertakincf not only by new powers and commissions, which he conferred upon him, but also by the help of vessels, troops, and money, which his royal liberality furnished him. The first care of the sieur do la Sallo, after being invested with these powers, was to provide for the spirUual, to advance especially the glory of God in this enterprise. He turned to two different bodies of missionaries, in order to ob- tain men able to labor in the salvation of soids, and lay the foundations of Christianity in this savage land. He accord- ingly applied to Monsieur Tronjon, superior-general of the clergymen of the seminary of St. Sulpice, who willingly took part in the work of God, and appointed three of his ecclesi- astics full of zeal, virtue, and capacity, to commence these new missions. They were Monsieur Cavolier, brother of the sieur de la Salle, Monsieur Chefdeville, his relative, and Mon- sieur de Maiulle,t all three priests. As for nearly ten years the Recollects had endeavored to second the designs of the sieur de la Salle for the gloiy of God and the sanctification of souls throughout the vast coun- tries of Louisiana, depending on him from Fort Frontenac, and had accompanied him on his expeditions, in which our Father Gabriel was killed, he made it an essential point to take some one of our fathers to labor in concert to establish the kingdom of God in these new countries. For this pm*- pose, he applied to the Rev. Father Hyacinth le Febvre, who * See M. de la Salle's Memoir in Hist. Coll. of Louiiiiana, vol. i., p. 26. f Called by Joutel Dainmaville. See Hist. Coll. of Louisiana, voL L, jd DI80OVSRIK8 IN TUB MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 187 had been twice r.-ovincial of our province of St. Anthony, in Artois, and was tlien, fur the second time, provincial of that of St. Denis in France, who, wishing to second with all his power the pious intentions of the sieur de la Salle, granted hiui the religious he asked : namely, Father Zunobius Membr6 superior of the mission, and Fathers Maximus Le Clercq and Anastasius Douay, all three of our province of St. Anthony, the first having been for four years the insepar- able companion of the sieur de la Salle during his discoveiy on land ; tlio second liad served for five years with great edi- fication in Canada, especially in the mission of the seven islands, and Anticosti. Father Dennis Morguet was added as a fourth priest; but that religious finding himself extreme- ly sick on the third day after embarking, he was obliged to give up and return to his province. The reverend father provincial had informed the Congrega- tion de propaganda fide, of this mission, to obtain necessary au- thority for the exercise of our ministry ; he received decrees in due form, which we will place at the end of the chapter, not to interrupt the reader's attention here. His holiness Innocent XI., added by an express brief, authentic powers, and permissions in twenty-six articles, as the holy see is ac- customed to grant to missionaries whose remoteness makes it morally impossible to recur to the authority of the ordinaiy. It was granted against the opposition of the bishop of Quebec, Cardinal d'Estr^es having shown that the distance from Que- bec to the mouth of the river was more than eight or nine hundred leagues by land.* The hopes that were then justly founded on this famous ex- pedition, induced many young gentlemen to join the sieur de i^ * Similar opposition compelled tlie first Jesuits in Louisiana to leave soon after their arrivol with Iberville. fh' '^ 188 NAREATTVE OF FATHER LE CLEBCQ. il I' ^ni* l«t. o la Salle as volunteers ; he chose twelve who seemed most resolute ; among them, the sieur de Morang6, and the sieur Cavdlier, his nephews, the latter only fourteen years of age. The little fleet was fitted out at RocheUe, to be composed of four vessels — the Joly, a royal ship, a frigate called the Belle, a storeship called the AimaWe, and a ketch called the St. Francis. The royal vessel was commanded by Captain de Beaujeu, a Norman gentleman known for valor and expe- rience, and his meritorious services ; his lieutenant was M. le chevalier d'Aire, now captain in the navy, and son of the dean of the parliament of Metz. The sieur de Ilamel, a young gentleman of Brouage, full of fire and courage, was ensign. Would to God the troops and the rest of the crew bad been as well chosen ! Those who were appointed, while M. de la Salle was at Paris, picked up a hundred and fifty soldiers, mere wretched beggars soliciting alms, many too de- formed and unable to fire a musket. The sieur de la Salle had also given orders at Rochel^e to engage three or four mechanics in each trade ; the selection was, however, so bad, that when they came to the destination, and they were set to work, it was seen that they knew nothing at all. Eight or ten families of very good people presented themselves, and ofltered to go and begin the colonies. Their offer was ac- cepted, and great advances made to them as well as to the artisans and soldiers. All being ready, they sailed on the 24:th of July, 1684. A storm which came on a few days later, obliged them to put in at Chef-de-Bois to repair one of their masts broken in the gale. They set sail again on the 1st of August, steering for St. Domingo ; but a second storm overtook them, and dis- persed them on the fourteenth of September, the Aimable and the Belle alone remaining together, reached Petit Goave i'i DIS0OVEEIE8 IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 189 % in St. Domingo, where they fortunately found the Joly. The St. Francis being loaded with goods and effects, and unable to follow the others, had put in at Port de Paix, whence she Bailed after the storm was over to join the fleet at the rendez- vous ; but as during the night, while quite calm, the captain and crew thinking themselves in safety, were perfectly off their guard, they were surprised by two Spanish periaguas, which took the ketch. This was the first mishap which befell the voyage ; a dis- aster which caused universal consternation in the party, and much grief to the sieur de la Salle, who was just recovering from a dangerous malady, which had brought him to the verge of the grave. They stayed, indeed, some time at St. Do- mingo, where they laid in provisions, a store of Indian com, and of all kinds of domestic animals to stock the new coun- try. M. de St. Laurent, govenior-general of the Isles, Begon, intendant, and de Cussy, governor of St. Domingo, favored them in every way, and even restored the reciprocal under- standing so necessary to succeed in such undertakings ; but the soldiers, and most of the crew, having plunged into every kind of debauchery and intemperance, so common in those parts, were so ruined and contracted such dangerous disor- ders that some died in the island, and others never recovered. The little fleet thus reduced to three vessels, weighed an- chor November 25th, 1684, and pursued its way quite suc- cessfully along the Cayman isles, and passing by the Isle of Peace (pines), after anchoring there a day to take in water, reached Port San Antonio, on the island of Cuba, where the three ships immediately anchored. The beauty and allure- ment of the spot, and its advantageous position, induced them to stay and even land. For some unknown reason the Span- iards had abandoned their several kinds of provisions, and > - <• 190 NAEEATIVE OF FATHER LB CLEHCQ. vri? among the rest some Spanish wine, which they took, and after two days' repose, left, to continue the voyage to the gulf of Mexico. The sieur de la Salle, although very clear-headed, and not easily mislead, had, however, too easily believed the advice given him by some persons in St. Pomingo ; he discovered, too late, that all the sailing directions given him were absolute- ly false ; the fear of being injured by northerly winds, said to be very frequent and dangerous at the entrance of the gulf, made them twice lie to, but the discernment and courage of the sieur de la Salle made them try the passage a third time, and they entered happily on the Ist of January, 1685, when Father Anastasius celebrated a solemn mass as a thanksgiv- ing, after which, continuing the route, they arrived in fifteen days in sight of the coast of Florida, when a violent wind forced the Joly to stand off, the store-ship and frigate coasting along, the sieur de la Salle being anxious to follow the shore- He had been persuaded at St. Domingo, that the gulf- stream ran with incredible rapidity toward the Bahama chan- nel. This false advice set him entirely astray, for thinking himself much further north than he was, he not only passed Espiritu Santo bay (Appalachee) without recognising it, but even followed the coast far beyond the river Colbert, and would even have continued to follow it, had they not per- ceived by its turning south, and by the latitude, that they were more than forty or fifty leagues from the mouth, the more so, as the river, before emptying into the gnlf, coasts along the shore of the gulf to the west, and as longitude is unknown to pilots, it proved that he had greatly passed his parallel lines. The vessels at last, in the middle of February, met at Espiritu Santo bay, where there was an almost continual DISCOTEBIES IN TUB MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 191 litiet at Intimial roadstead. They resolved to return whence they came, and advanced ten or twelve leagues to a bay which they called St. Louis bay (St. Bernard), As provisions began to fail, the soldiers had already landed, the sieur de la Salle explored and sounded the bay which is a league broad, with a good bottom. He thought that it might be the right arm of the river Colbert. He brought the frigate in without acci- dent on the eighteenth of February' ; the channel is deep, so deep in fact, that even on the sand bar, which in a manner bars the entrance, there are twelve or jfifteen feet of water at low tide. The sieur de la Salle having ordered the captain of the Btore-ship not to enter without the pilot of the frigate, in whom he put all confidence, to unload his cfiinon and water into the boats to lighten his cargo, and lastly, to follow exactly the channel staked out ; none of his orders were exe- cuted, and the faithless man, in spite of the advice given hira by a sailor who was at the main-top, to keep off, drove his vessel on the shoals where he touched and stranded, so that it was impossible to get off. La Salle was on the seashore when he saw this deplorable maneuvre, and was embarking to remedy it, when he saw a hundred or a hundred and twenty TnJiar.s come; he had to put all under arms, the roll of «he drini put the savages to flight; he followed them, presento'i the calumet of peace, and conducted them to their canr-. regaled them, and even made them presents ; and the sieur de la Salle gained them so that an alliance was made with them ; they brought meat to the camp the following days ; he bought some of their canoes, and there was every reason to expect much from this neces- sary union. Misfortune would have it that a bale of blanketing from "'f? 192 NABBATIYE OF FATHKB MEMBBE. J'^ . c '^IXI* >i the wreck was thrown on shore ; some days after a party of Indians seized it, the sienr de la Salle ordered his men to get it out of their hands peaceably ; they did just the con- trary ; the commander presented his musket as if about to fire ; this so alarmed them, that they regarded us only as enemies. Provoked to fury they assembled on the night of the 6th and 7th of March, and finding the sentinel asleep, poured in a destructive volley of arrows. Our men ran to arms, the noise of musketry put them to flight, after they had killed on the spot the sieurs Oris and Desloge, two cadets volunteers, and dangerously wounded the sieur de Moranger, lieutenant and nephew of the sieur do la Salle, and the sieur Gaien, a volunteer. The next day they killed two more of our men, whom they found sleeping on the shore. ■ Meanwhile, the store-ship remained more than three weeks at the place of its wreck, without going to pieces, but full of water ; they saved all they could in periaguas and boats, when a calm allowed them to reach it. One day Father Ze- nobius having passed in a boat, it was dashed to pieces against the vessel by a sudden gust of wind. All quickly got on board, but the good father who remained last to save the rest, would have been drowned had not a sailor thrown him a rope, with which he drew himself up as he was sinking. At last Monsiaur de Beaujeu sailed in the Joly with all his party on the twelfth of March, to return to France,* and the sieur de la Salle having thrown up a house with planks and pieces of timber to put his men and goods in safety, left a hundred men under the command of the sieur de Moranger, * Le Clercq it will be observed, is Eilent as to the misunderstanding between La Salle and Beaujeu, which is mentioned by others, and borne out by letters of the latter. To him m\i8t in no snicl! degree be ascribed the failure of La Salle's attempt For the detail of their disagreement see Sparks's excellent life of La Salle, and Joutel's journal in Historical Colleclion of Louisiana. DISCOVERIES IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLBT. 193 and set out with fifiy others ; the sieur Cavelier and fathers Zenobius and Maximus intending to seek at the extremity of the bay, the mouth of the river, and a proper place to fix his colony. The captain of the frigate had orders to sound the bay in boats, and to bring his vessel in as far as he could ; he fol- lowed twelve leagues along the coast, which runs from south- east to northwest, and anchored opposite a point to which the sieur Hurler gave his name ; he was appointed commander there ; this post serving as a station between the naval camp, and the one the sieur de la Salle went, on the second of April, to form at the extremity of the bay, two leagues up a beauti- ful river called Cow river, from the great number of those wild animals, they found there. Our people were attacked there by a party of Indians, but repulsed them. On the twenty-firet, holy Saturday, the sieur de la Salle came to the naval camp, where the next day and the three following, those great festivals were celebrated with all possi- ble solemnity, each one receiving his Creator. The follow- ing days all the effects, and generally all that could be of service to the camp of the sieur de la Salie, were transferred from those of the sieurs de Moranger and Hurler, which were destroyed. For a month the sieur de la Salle made them work in cultivating the ground ; but neither the grain nor the vegetables sprouted, either because they were dam- aged by the salt water, or because, as was afterward re- marked, it was not the right season. The fort which was built in an advantageous position, was soon in a state of de- fence, furnished with twelve pieces of cannon, and a maga- zine under ground, for fear of fire, in which all the effects were safely deposited. Th*? maladies which the soldiei-s had con- tracted at St. Domingo, were visibly carrying them off, and 13 194 NARRATIVE OF FATHER LE CLERCQ. K .(!£■■: l-- 30 a hundred died in a few days, notwithstanding all the relief afforded by broths, preserves, treacle, and wine, which were given them. On the 9th of August, 1685, three of our Frenchmen being at the chase which is plentiful in these parts, in all kinds of game and deer, were surroimded by several troops of aimed savages, but our men putting themselves on the defensive, firet killed the chief and scalped him; this spectacle terrified and scattered the enemy, who nevertheless, some time after, surprised and killed one of our Frenchmen. On the thirteenth of Oc^>l)or, the sieur de la Salle seeing himself constantly insulted by the savages, and wishing, moreover, to have some of their canoes by force or consent, as he could not do without them, resolved to make open war on them in order to bring tVunu to an advantageous peace. He set out with sixty men armed with wooden corslets to protect them against arrows, and arrived where they had gathered ; in different engagements by day and night, he put some to flight, wounded several, killed some ; others were taken, among the rest some children, one of whom a girl three or four years old was baptized and died some days after, as the first fruits of this mission, and a sure conquest sent to heaven. The colonists now built houses, and formed fields by clearing the ground, the grain sowed succeeding better than the first. They crossed to the other side of the bay in canoes, and found on a large river a plentiful chase, e5>peci:'.ily of cattle and turkeys. In the fort they raised all iiiads of domestic animals, cows, hogs, and poultry, which multiplied greaii_y. Lastly, the execution done among the Indians had rendered the little colony somewhat more se- cure, when a new misfortune succeeded all the preceding. The sieur de la Salle had ordered the captain of the frigate ^1-^^ DISCOVERIES IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEf. 195 frigate to sound the bay carefully as he advancecl, and to recall all his men on board at nightfall ; but this captain and six of his strongest, stoutest, and ablest men, charmed with the agreeableness of the season, and the beauty of the country, left their canoe and arms on the sand at low-water, and ad- vanced a gun shot on the plain to be dry ; here they fell asleep, and an Indian party esj^ying them, surprised them, aided by their sleep and the darkness, massacred them cruelly, and destroyed their ai*ms and canoe. This tragical adventure produced the greatest consternation in the camp. After rendering the last honors to the murdered men, the eieur de la Salle leaving provisions for six months, set out with twenty men and his brother, the sieur Cavelier, to seek the mouth of the river (Mississippi) by land. The bay which he discovered to be in latitude 27° 45' N., is the outlet of a great number of rivere, none of which, however, seemed large enough to be an arm of the river Colbert. The sieur de la Salle explored them in hope that a part of these rivers was formed further up by one of the branches of the said river ; or, at least, that by traversing the country to some distance, he would make out the course of the Missisipi. He was longer absent than he had expected, being compelled to make rafts to cross the rivers, and to intrench himself eveiy night to protect himself against attacks. The continual rains, too, formed ravines, and destroyed the roads. At last, on the 13th of February, 1G86, he thought that he had found the river ; he fortified himself there, left a part of his men, and with nine others continued to explore a most beautiful country, traversing a number of villages and nations, who treated him very kindly ; at last, returning to find his people, he arrived at the general camp, on the 31st of May, charmed with the beauty and fertility of the fields, the incredible ■'!l 196 NARRATIVE OF FATHER LE OLEROQ. r,f c n quantity of game of every kind, and the numerous tribes he had met on the way. The Almighty was preparing him a still more sensible trial than the preceding, in the loss of the frigate, his only re- maining vessel in which he hoped to coast along, and then pass to St. Domingo, to send news to France, and obtain new succor. This sad accident happened from want of pre- caution on the part of the pilot. All the goods were lost iiTe- coverably ; the vessel struck on the shore, the sailors were drowned ; the sieur de Chefdeville, the captain, and four others, with diflSculty, escaped in a canoe which they found almost miraculously on the shore. They lost thirty-six bar- rels of flour, a quantity of wine, the trunks, clothes, linen, equipage, and most of the tools. We leave the reader to im- agine the grief and affliction felt by the sieur de la Salle at an accident which completely ruined all his measures. His great courage even could not have borne him up, had not God aided his virtue by the help of extraordinary grace. All these measures being thus disconcerted, and his aflaira brought to extremes, he resolved to try to reach Canada by land ; he returned some time after, and undertook a second in which he lost his life by the cruelty of his men, some of whom remaining faithful, continued their route and reached France, among the rest Father Anastasius Douay. Although the detail of his remarks was lost in his many wrecks, the following is an abridgment of what he could gather from them, with which, perhaps, the reader will be better pleased than if I gave it in my own style. .; I i: m NARRATIVE OF LA SALLE'S ATTEMPT TO ASCEND THE MISSISSIPPI IN 1687, BY I ,„. FATHER AIJ'ASTASIVS BOUAT, BECOLLECT* THE sieur de la Salle seeing no other resource for his af- fairs, but to go by land to the Ilinois, to be able to give in France, tidings of his disasters, chose twenty of his best men, including Nika, one of our Shawnee Indians, who had constantly attended him from Canada to France, and from France to Mexico ; Monsieur Cavelier, the sieur de Moranget and I also joined them for this great journey, for which we made no preparation but four pounds of powder, and four of lead, two axes, two dozen knives, as many awls, some beads, and two kettles. After celebrating the divine mysteries in * Of Father AnostasiuB Douay we know little ; Hennepin makes him a native of QueBnoy, in Hainault He had never been in America before, but after being connected with La Salle's expedition, from 1684 to 1688, he reached France, as we shall see, in safety. He was, says Hennepin, vicar of the Recollects of Cam- bray, in 1697. Certain it is that he subsequently revisited America in 1699, with Iberville, but we can trace him no further. A man of observation and ability, he seems to have been quite sweeping in his charges, as we siiall observe in the course of his narrative. The only point against him besides this, which was an excess of party feeling, was his share in the deception practised on Tonty. m NARRATIVE OF FATHER DOUAY. c c the cliapel of tlio fort, and invoking ^)gether the help of Heaven, we set out on the 22d of April, 1686, in a north- easterly direction. On the third day we perceived vu ,iome of the finest plains in the world a number of people, Home on fout, oflicrs on horseback; these came galloping toward us, booted and spur- red, and seated on saddles. They invited us to their town, but as they were six leagues to tl.o northwest, out of our route, we thanked them, after learning in conversation, that they had intercourse with the Spaniards. Continuing our inarch the rest of the day, we cabined at night in a little in- trenched stockade fort, to be beyond reach of insult ; tliis we always after practised with good results. Setting out the next morning, we marched for two days througli continual prairies to the river which we called Ro- bek, meeting everywhere so prodigious a quantity of Cibola, or wild cattle, that the Buiallest herds seemed to us to con- tain two or three hundred. We killed nine or ten in a mo- ment, and dried a part of the meat so as not to have to stop for five or six days. A league and a half further we met an- other and finer river, wider and deeper than the Seine at Paris, rikirted by some of the finest trees in the world, set as regularly as though they had been planted by man. Among them were many mulberry and other fruit trees. On one side were prairies, on the other woods. We passed it on rafts, and ''!\lled it La Maligne. Passing through this beautiful country, its delightful fields, and prairies skirted with \ ines, fruit-trees, and groves, we, a few days after, reached a river which we called Hiens, after a German from Wittemburg, who got so fast in the mud that he could scarcely get out. One of our men, with an axe on Lis back, swam over to the other side, a second followed DISCOVEBreS IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 109 at once ; tlioy then cut down the largest trees, while othei-s on our side did the same. These trees were cut so as to fall on each side into tlio river, where meetiiif^, they formed a kind of bridge on which we easily passed. Tliis invention we had recourse to more than thirty times in our journeys, finding it surer than the Cajou, which is a kind of raft formed of many pieces, and branches tied together, on which we passed over, guiding it by a jiole. Hero the sieur de la Salh' (-hanged his route from northeast to east, for reasons which i. Hd not tell us, and which we could never discover. After several days' march, in a I'lutty fine country, crossing ravines on rafts, we entered a much more agreeable and per- fectly delightful territory, where wo found a very numerous tribe who received us with all possible friendship, even the women coming to embrace our men. They made us sit down on well-made mats, at the upper end, near the chiefs, who presented us the calumet adorned with feathere of every hue, which we had to smoke in turn. They served up to us among other things a sagamity, made of a kind of root called Toqu^, or Toquo. It is a shrub, like a kind of bramble with- out thorns, and has a very large root, which they wash and dry perfectly, after which it is pounded and reduced to pow- der in a mortar. The sagamity has a good taste, though astringent. These Indians presented us with some cattle- skins, very neatly dressed, to make shoes ; we gave them in exchange beads, which they esteem highly. During our stay the sieur de la Salle so won them by his manners, and insinu- ated 60 much of the glory of our king, telling them that he was greater and higher than the sun, that they were all rav- ished with astonishment. WT The sieur Oavelier and I endeavored here, as everywhere ill. i w> ' IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) "iC^S 1.0 I.I 1.25 •so ■•* :^ 1^ 12.0 Wtou ■ 2.2 I; i 1.8 1.4 V] -% Kiotographic Sciences Corporation 23 WIST MAIN STRUT WEBSTER, N.Y. 14SS0 (716) 873-4503 >f ^ 4^ 4Si > w^\ 900 KABRATIVX OF FATHEB D0T7AT« else, to give them some first knowledge of the trae Ood. This nation is call Biskatrong^, but we called them the nation of weepers,* and gave their beantifnl river the same name, be- cause at onr arrival and entrance, thej all began to weep bit- terly for a good qnarter of an honr. It is their custom when they see any who come from afar, because it reminds them of their deceased relatives whom they suppose on a long jour- ney, from which they await their return. These good people, in conclusion, gave us guides, and we passed their river in their periaguas. We crossed three or four others the following days, without any incident of note, except that our Shawnee, firing at a deer pretty near a large village, so terrified them all by the report that they took to flight. The sieur de la Salle put all under arms to enter the village, which consisted of three hundred cabins. We entered the largest, that of the chief, where we found his wife still, unable to fly from old age. The sieur de la SnJle made her understand that we came as friends ; three of her sons, brave warriors, observed at a dis- tance what passed, and seeing us to be friendly, recalled all their people. We treated of peace, and the calumet was danced till evening, when the sieur de la Salle, not trusting them overmuch, went and encamped beyond the canes, so that, if the Indians approached by night, the noise of the canes would prevent our being surprised. This showed his discernment and prudence, for during the night a band of warriors, armed with arrows, approached ; but the sieur de la Salle, without leaving his intrenchment, threatened to thunder his guns; and in a word spoke so bold and fiimly, that he obliged them to draw off. After * Caben de Yaoa from (he some oironmstanoe gives a nmilar name to a tribe in that quarter. smoovEBiEs m the misbibbippi TALunr. aoi their retreat the night passed off qnietlj, and the next day after reciprocal marks of friendship, apparent at least on the side of the Indians, we pursued onr route to five or six leagues beyond. Here we were agreeably surprised to find a party of Indians come out to meet us, with ears of com in their hands, and a polished, honest air. They embraced us, inviting us most pressingly to go and visit their villages ; the sienr de la Salle seeing their sincerity, agreed. Among other things these Indians told us that they knew whites toward the west, a cruel, wicked nation, who depeopled the country around them. (These were the Spaniards.) We told them that we were at war with that people ; when the news of this spread through the village called that of the Kironas, all vied with each other in welcoming us, pressing us to stay, and go to war with the Spaniards of Mexico. We put them off with fair words, and made a strict alliance with them, promising to return with more numerous troops ; then after many feasts and presents, they carried us over the river in periagnas. As we constantly held on our way to the east, through beautiful prairies, a misfortune befell us after three days' march. Onr Indian hunter ISTika suddenly cried out with all his might, " I am dead I" We ran up and learned that he had been cruelly bitten by a snake; this accident stopped us for several days. We gave him some orvietan, and ap- plied viper's salt on the wound after scarifying it to let out the poison and tainted blood ; he was at last saved. Some days after we had many other alarms. Having reached a large and rapid river, which we were told ran to the sea, and which we called Misfortune* river, we made a raft to cross ; the sieur de la Salle and Oavelier with a part * Tliia river differs from the Maiigne, and is sappoeed to be the Oolondo ofTexaa 202 NABBATTVB OF FATHER DOUAT. of our people got on ; but scarcely had they got into the on^ rent, when by its violence it carried them off with incredible rapidity, so that they disappeared almost instantly. I re- mained ashore with a part of our men : our hunter was absent, having been lost for some days. It was a moment of extreme anguish for us all, who despaired of ever again seeing our guardian-angel, the sieur de la Salle. God vouchsafed to in- spire me constantly with courage, and I cheered up those who remained as well as I could. The whole day was spent in tearo and weeping, when at nightfall we saw on the oppo- site brink La Salle with all his party. We now learned that by an interposition of Providence, the raft had been stopped by a large tree floating in the middle of the river. This gave them a chance to make an effort and get out of the current, which would otherwise have carried them out to sea. One of his men sprang into the water to catch the branch of a tree, and then was unable to get back to the raft. He wtis a Bre- ton named But; but he soon after appeared on our side, having swam ashore. The night was spent in anxiety, thinking how we should find means to pass to the other side to join the sieur de la Salle. We had not eaten all day, but Providence provided for us by letting two eaglets fall from a cedar-tree ; we were ten at this meal. The next day we had to pass; the sieur de la Salle advised us to make a raft of canes ; the sieur Moranget and I, with three othera, led the way, not without danger, for we went under every moment, and I was obliged to put ow breviary •n owr* cowl, because it got wet in the sleeve. The sieur * The FVanoifloans were foanded at a time when commerce was taking ^an- tio steps, and men all became inflamed with desires of rapidly acquiring wealth. 8t Francis arose to counteract this spirit so fatal to real Christianity in the heart Example ia the easiest mode of teaching, and his poor friars rejecting DISOOVEBIES IN THE HI88I88IPPI TALLKT. 308 de la Salle sent two men to swim out and help ns push the canes on, and they brought us safely in. Those who re- mained on the other side did not at all like risking it, but they had to do it at last, on our making show of packing up and continuing our march without them ; they then crossed at less hazard than we. The whole troop except the hunter being now assembled, we for two days traversed a thick cane-brake, the sieur de la Salle cutting his way with two axes, and the others in like manner to break the canes. At last, on the third day, our hunter Kika came in loaded with three dried deer, and an- other just killed. The sieur de la Salle ordered a discharge of several guns to show our joy. Still marching east, we entered countries still finer than those we had passed, and found tribes that had nothing bar- barous but the name ; among others we met a very honest Indian returning from the chase with his wife and family. He presented the sieur de la Salle with one of his horses and some meat, invited him and all his party to his cabin ; and to induce us, left his wife, family, and game, as a pledge, whil^ he hastened to the village to announce our coming. Our hunter and a servant of the sieur de la Salle accompanied him, so that two days after they returned to us with two horses loaded with provisions, and several chiefs followed by warriors very neatly attired in dressed skins adorned with feathers. They came on beai'ing the calumet ceremoniously, and met us three leagues from the village ; the sieur de la Salle was received as if in triumph, and lodged in the great chief's cabin. There was a great concourse of people ; the young men being drawn out and under arms, relieving one the word mine, showed in their whole deportment that contempt of stealth and property, which seemed a comment on the words^ " Blessed are the poor in spirit* '/ t.i S04 NABBATIVB 07 FATHBB DOTTAT. another night and day, and besides loading ns with presents and all kinds of provisions. Nevertheless, the sienr de la Salle fearing lest some of his party might go after the women, encamped three leagues from the village. Here we remained three or four days, and bonght horses and all that we needed. This village, that of the Goenis, is one of the largest and most populous that I have seen in America. It is, at least, twenty leagues long, not that it is constantly inhabited, but in hamlets of ten or twelve cabins, forming cantons each with a different name. Their cabins are fine, forty or fifty feet high, of the shape of bee-hives. Trees are planted in the ground, and united above by the branches, which are cov- ered with grass. The beds are ranged around the cabin, three or four feet from the ground ; the fire is in the middle, each cabin holding two families. We found among the Ooanis many things which undoubt- edly came from the Spaniards, such as dollars, and other pieces of money, silver spoons, lace of every kind, clothes and horses. We saw, among other things, a bull from Eome, ex- empting the Spaniards in Mexico from fasting during sum- mer. Horses are common, they gave them to us for an axe ; one Ooenis offered me one for our cowl, to which he took a fimcy. They have intercourse with the Spaniards through the Ohoiimans, their allies, who are always at war with New Spain. Tke sienr de la Salle made them draw on bark a map of their country, of that of their neighbors, and of the river Oolbert, or Mississippi, with which they are acquainted. They reckoned themselves six days' journey from the Span- iards, of whom they gave us so natural a description, that we no longer had any doubts on the point, although the Span- iards had not yet undertaken to come to their villages, their DIBOOySBIES IN THB MIB8I88IFFI TALLET. 205 warriors merely joining the Ghoumans to go war on New Mexico. The si ear de la Salle, who perfectly underetood the art of gaining the Indians of all nations, filled these with ad- miration at every moment. Among other things he told them, that the chief of the French was the greatest chief in the world, as high as the sun, and as far above the Spaniard as the sun is above the earth. On his recounting the vic- tories of our monarch, they burst into exclamations, putting their hand on their mouth as a mark of astonishment. I found them very docile and tractable, and they seized well enough what we told them of the truth of a God. There were then some Ghoumans embassadors among them, who came to visit us ; I was agreeably surprised to see them make the sign of the cross, kneel, clasp their hands, raise them from time to time to heaven. They also kissed my habit, and gave me to understand that men dressed like us instructed tribes in their vicinity, who were only two days' march from the Spaniards, where our religious had large churches, in which all assembled to pray. They expressed very naturally the ceremonies of mass, one of them sketched me a painting that he had seen of a great lady, who was weeping because her son was upon a cross. He told us that the Spaniards butchered the Indians cruelly, and finally that if we would go with them, or give them guns, they could easily conquer them, because they were a cowardly race, who had no courage, and made people walk before them with a fan to refresh them in hot weather. After remaining here four or five days to recruit, we pur* sued our route through the Nassonis, crossing a large river which intersects the great Goenis village. These two nations are allies, and have nearly the same character and customs. Four or five leagues from there, we bad the mortification iii 206 KARRATIVK OP TATHEB DOTIAT. to Bee that four of our men had deeerted under cover of night, and retired to the Nassonis ; and, to complete our chagrin, the sienr de la 8a1Ie and his nephew, the sieur de Moranget, were attacked with a violent fever, which brought them to extremity. Their illness was long, and obliged us to make a long stay at this place, for when the fever, after frequent re- lapses, left them at last, they required a long time to recover entirely. The length of this sickness disconcerted all our measures, and was eventually the cause of the last misfortunes which befell us. It kept us back more than two months, duiing which we had to live as we could ; our powder began to run out; we had not advanced more than a hundred and fifty leagues in a straight line, and some of our people had de- sorted. In so distressing a crisis the sieur de la Salle re- solved to retrace his steps to Fort Louis ; all agreed and we straightway resumed our route, during which nothing hap- pened worth note ; but that, as we repassed the Maligne, one of our men was carried off with his raft by a crocodile of prodigious length and bulk. After a good month's march, in which our horses did us good service, we reached the camp on the 17th of October, in the same year, 1686, where we were welcomed with all im- aginable cordiality ; but, after all, with feelings tinged alike with joy and sadness, as each related the tragical adventures which had befallen both since we had parted. It would be difficult to find in history courage more intrep- id or more invincible than that of the sieur de la Salle ; in adversity he was never cast down, and always hoped with the help of Heaven to succeed in his enterprises, despite all the obstacles that rose against it. He ^omained two months and a half at Saint Louis bay, DIBC0VEBIE8 IN THK MW9TB8IPPI VALLKT. 207 and we viflitod together all the rivers which empty into it. To my own knowledge, I am sure that there are more than fifty, all navigable, coming from the west and northwest; the place where the fort stands is somewhat sandy ; everywhere else the ground is good. On every side we saw prairies on which the grass is, at all seasons of the year, higher than wheat with us. Every two or three leagues is a river skirted with oaks, thorn, mulberry, and other trees. This kind of country is uniform till within two days' march of the Span^ iards. The fort is built on a little eminence which runs north and south ; it has the sea on the southwest, vast prairies to the west, and on the southwest two small lakes, and woods a league in circuit ; a river flows at its foot. The neighboring nations are the Quoaquis, who raise Indian corn, and have horses cheap, the Bahamos, and the Quinets, wandering tribes with whom we are at war. During this time, the sieur de la Salle forgot nothing to console his little infant colony, in which the families began to increase by births. He advanced greatly the clearing of land, and the erection of buildings ; the sieur de Ghefdeville, priest, the sieur Gavelier, and we three Recollects, laboring in concert for the edification of the French, and of some Indian f imilies who withdrew from the neighboring nations to join u During all this time the sieur de la Salle did his utmost to render the Indians less hostile ; peace with them being of the utmost consequence for the es- tablishment of the colony. At last Monsieur de la Salle resolved to resume his Binois voyage, so necessary for his plans ; he made an address full of eloquence, with that engaging way so natural to him ; the whole colony was present, and were almost moved to tears, persuaded of the necessity of his voyage, and the uprightness m SOS VABBATITB OF FATHBB DOUAT. of hlB intentions. Would to God that all had ponevered in these sentiments I He completed the fortification of a great encloBura, encircling all the habitations and the fort, after Mrhich he chose twenty men, the sieur Gavelier, his brother, the sieurs Moranget and Gavelier, his nephews, with the sieur Joutel,* pilot and myself. After public prayers we set out on the 7th of January, 1687.t * Joutel waa not in the previoiu ezounion of the Genii^ of whioh the minion- ary't is the only aooount f The fate of the party left in the fort is involTed in loDie obeonrity; it ii cer- tain that they were killed by the Indiana. The period of thia diaaster aeenu to have been some time after La Salle'i departure. The Spanish aooount of the fate of La Salle's colony in Texas, iVom the Ensayo Cronologioo of Baroia (p. IM\ is as follows:— In the month of January, 1680, Don Alonso de Leon set out from the province of Qnagtiila (CoahuilaX with some horses, marching north of the sea, crossing great mountains^ and the river whioh runs near Valladolid, and those of Sanceda, Nasas, Salina% the river Florido^ and others^ to Cnovil, a Spanish town in New Mexico^ whioh is also called Calhuila ; he then turned to his right, and crossing the Rio Bravo (whioh is «lso called Del Norte, or Rio Verde, and rises in the lake of the Ganibas) below Fort St John, he entered the province of the Quelanhubeches and Bahamos Indians, and in the interior of the country, came in his opinion to the bay, called St. Bernard's; it had many estuaries and severul large rivers flowed into it The French called it St Louis Bay. He arrived at the fort whioh Robert de la Salle had built with palisades, and ship timbers: he reconnoitred itt and found nothing there but the dead bodies of some foreigners^ inside and outside the fort^ killed by arrows and blows^ and eighteen ii;pn oannon on navy gun oarriages. The destruction he witnessed excited his greatest compassion, and, as the novelty of Don Alonso's squadron had congregated many Indians^ he asked them the motive of that deed, but the Indians, who had perpetrated it, pretended not to understand his signs, and showed by others that, if any one knew the whole matter, it would be five companions of the deceased, who were siok, in the province of the Tejas^ a hundred leagues distant ; that they would go and inform ihem ; and although Don Alonso ascertained that the Indians of the neighbor- hood had conspired and put to death all the French, reserving only two children, boming the powder, destroying the arms^ and carrying off all tiiey could, and then celebrating the victory in all their towns with great feastings and daneea they constantly denied having any hand in the slaughter. Bach waa the end of Fort St Louis^ whioh coat the unhappy Robert de la Salle ■0 much toil and amdely. Don Alonso could not then ascertain whether there had been any motive for this cruelty, beyond the hatred of the Indians, or wheth- er the Frendi had given any cause ; nor did he deem it pmdent to examine the }i elaSaUe her there or wheih- unineihe DI800VERIUS IN TIIK MISSIHSIPPI VALLEY. ■■ Tho very first day wo mot an army of Buhamos going to war with tho Krigonnna; tho sicnr do hi Hallo mado an al- Indinna moro closely, lu he saw \>y their looks thnf, wore ho not ncconiimiiUMl by 80 woll-niipointcd and wuli-nrniuil a body of cavalry, |>roi)arcd to niuut thcrii, thoy would hnvo cUmudtho trn^^udy with tho Spniiiardii. At tht! cloHO of May Tonty know it, hein)^ tlitn ono day's march from tho PalaqucRonoR : ho otatca that tliu Froiiuh of Fort Ht, Loiiiw, \mnff unalilo to kocp to^othcr, had either mixed with tho Indiann, or Htarted for French ])08t«, and that, without cxaminini; further, lio returned to Illinois. In order to deliver tho five Frenchmen who wero anion^; tho Tejas, Don Alonso noooptcd tho pro|>oHal mado to inform them. Ho aeeordin^ly wrote to them in French, by means of an interpreter, telling thorn, with many kind cxpresHions, tliat^ having; heard of tho shipwreck, and peril of their oompanionn, he had como by order of tho viceroy of New Hpain, to deliver them from tho slavery of those ■avngcH, and savo their lives; that ho rei^retted extremely his having known tho misfortune of their companions so late, as to have been unable to como more speedily, and prevent tho munlers which tho Indians had perpetrated on them ; that if thoy chose to como to him, ho would free them, and treat tlicm aa became a Christian and a gentleman. Four Indiana carried thia letter, and durinj^ tho few days that it took them to return, Don Alonso ordered the French to be buried ; this tho Spaniards did, weeping over this catastrophe, and misfortune, and praying most earnestly for tlie salvation of their souls. This shows how ill-informed he was, who edited Joutel's account of La Salle's voyage, when he says, at the end, that when La Salle's death was known by the Spaniards, thoy sent a party who carried off the garrison of Fort St. Louis, and then put them to death, thus defrauding Don Alonso and his soldiers of the meed their piety deserved, by so ungrateful and notorious a falsehood. The Indiana arrived, with letter, in tho province where the five Frenchmen were ; when they had read it., their opiniona as to it were divided. Three said that they could not believe that the Indiana had killed their companions, and destroyed the fort ; that it must have been the Spaniards, who now called them to do tho same with them. " For why," they added, " can we expect a better fate, did we come into thia country to do them any good f If they do not treat us as usurpers of territories they have occupied thia many years, for having come now, without any ground, to despoil them and excite the Indians, by peace and war, ngainat them, endeavoring to make them out horrible and abominable, by pretending cruelties, inventing tyrannies, and describing slaughters that never took place, at least they will treat us as robbers and pirates." James Grollet, and John Larchevfique, of Bordeaux, endeavored to moderate their comrades' fears, saying that, "if the Spaniards had killed the French, the Indians of the country put to flight will relate the story, and will not confirm the bearers of the letter, and its contents ; that they did not, and eould not have anything to do with usurpation of countries, nor piracies, as a body of soldiers coming with their ofRcers, would always go where their king sends them, and that the greatest evil would be, that they would be sent prisoners to Mexico. 14 210 KARRATTTE OF FATHER DOUAT. liance with thorn. lie wished also to treat with the Quinets, who fled at our approach; but having overtaken them by means of our horses, we treated them so kindly that they promised an inviolable peace. The fourth day, three leagues further to the northeast, wo came to thfj first Cane river. Our route lay througli prairies, with scattered groves ; the soil is so good that the grass grows ten or twelve feet high. There are on this river nmny popu- lous villages ; we visited only the Quaras and the Anachore- mas. In the same direction, three leagues further, we came to the second Cane river, inhabited by different tribes ; here we found fields of hemp. And how much better," said they, "live among Christiani, even ns staves, than among these savages, exposed to the whim of their cruelty, and risking, or aban- doning their salvation. If we were to invito the Spaniards, and they came under assurance of life, would we butcher them, without their giving fresh cause for their destruction ? No. Why then should we presume that their feelings will be unlike ourst" Finding, however, that the moro they argued, the more obstinate the others became, GroUet and Larchev^que came with the four Indians without any suspicion. They all reached Don Alonso, who ordered the Indians to be rewarded for tlii'ir diligence, and the two Frenchmen to be supplied with necessary food and clothing. Following his instructions, he questioned them on different points, and taking them into his company, returned to Quaguila by May without meeting any accident on the way. He informed the viceroy of oil that he had seen, observed, or discovered, and sent him Grollet and Larchev^que, directing those who conducted them to treat them well. Tliey orrived and delivered the viceroy the letters of Don Alonso. Before interrogating the Frenchmen at all, he summoned Don Andres de Pes, as a person so well informed in the matter, and then, in the presence of both the Frenchmen, stated La Salle's voyage in search of the mouth of the river Missis- sippi, his landing in St Bernard's Bay, the building of the fort, the reason of their being among the Tejas, and other matters. By the letters and statements made by Don Alonso, and the information else- where acquired, they saw the great injury to be done to New Spain by this project of the French, already, though unsuccessfully, attempted. The viceroy asked Don Andres de Pes to go to Spain, to represent the danger, and the great advantage of fortifying Pensacola. Don Andres, having obtained the necessary instructions, set out with the two Frenchmen, and embarking at Vera Cru^ reached Cadiz safely on tlie 9th of December. I.V DU0OTERIK8 IN THE MIBSISBIPPI VALLET. 211 Five leaguos further, wo pnssod tho Sandy river, so called from the sandy strip along it, though all the rest is good land and vast prairies. Wo marched seven or eight leagues to Hobec river, passing through prairies, and over three or four rivers, a league from one another. Eobec river has many populous villages, where the people have a language so guftural, that it would require a long time to form ourselves to it. They are at war with the Spaniards, and pressed us earnestly to join their warriors ; but there was no hope of keeping us. We stayed, however, five or six days with them, endeavoring to gain them by pres- ents and Christian instruction, a thing they do not get from the Spaniards. Continuing our route, we crossed great prairies to the Ma- ligne. This deep river, where one of our men had been de- voured by a crocodile, comes from a great distance, and is inhabited by forty populous villages, which compose a nation called tho Quanoatinno ; they make war on the Spaniards, and lord it over the neighboring tribes. We visited some of these villages ;^ they are a good people, but always savage, the cruelty of the Spaniards rendering them still more fierce. As they found us of a more tractable nature, they were charmed with our nation; but after these mutual presents, we had to part. They gave us iiorses cheap, and carried ub over their river in hide canoes. In the same direction, after four leagues of similar land, extremely fertile, we crossed Hiens river on rafts ; then turn- ing north-northeast, we had to cross a number of little rivers and vavines, navigable in winter and spring. The land is di- versified with prairies, hills, and numerous spruigs. Here we * Joutel says they merely heard of the Canohatino, and calls them afterward enemies of the Genis. I 1: ( > 212 KARRATIVE OF FATHER DOTJAT. found three large villages, the Taraha, Tyakappan, and Falona, who have horses. Some leagues further on, we came to the Falaquesson* composed of ten villages, allies of the Spaniards. After having passed these nations, the most disheartening of all our misfortunes overtook us. It was the murder of Monsieur de la Salle, of the sieur de Moranget, and of some others. Our prudent commander finding himself in a coun- try full of game, after all the party had recruited and lived for several days on every kind of good meat, sent the sieur Moranget, his lackey Saget, and seven or eight of his people, to a place where our hunter, the Shawnee Nika, had left a quantity of buffalo meat (boeuf) to dry, so as not to be obliged to stop so often to hunt. The wisdom of Monsieur de la Salle had not been able to foresee the plot which some of his people would make to slay his nephew, as they suddenly resolved to do, and actual- ly did on the 17th of March, by a blow of an axe, dealt by one whom charity does not permit me to name (Liotot). They also killed the valet of the sieur de la Salle, and the Indian Nika, who, at the risk of his life, had supported them for more than three yeare. The sieur de Moranget lingered for about two hours, giving every mark of a death precious in the sight of God, pardoning his murderers, and embracing them; and making acts of sorrow ^nd contrition, as they themselves assured us, after they recovered from their unhap- py blindness. He was a perfectly honest man, and a good Christian, confessing every week or fortnight on our march. I have every reason to hope that God has shown him mercy. . The wretches resolved not to stop here ; and not satisfied • According to Joutel, Hint. Coll. of Louisiana, vol. i., p. 147. Palaquechaune was an Indian, whose tribe were allies of the Cenis, and who knew the Choo- mans, the friends of the Spaniards. DISCOVERIES IN THE MISSISSIPPI TALLET. 213 with this murder, formed a design of attempting their com- mander's life, as they had reason to fear his resentment and chastisement. "We were full two leagues off; the sieur de la Salle, troubled at the delay of the sieur de Moranget and his people, from whom he had been separated now for two or three days, began to fear that they had been surprised by the Indians. Asking me to accompany him, he took two Indians and set out. All the way he conversed with me of matters of piety, grace, and predestination ; expatiating on all his ob- ligations to God for having saved him from so many dangers during the last twenty years that he had traversed America. He seemed to me peculiarly penetrated with a sense of God's benefits to him. Suddenly I saw him plunged into a deep melancholy, for which he himself could not account ; he was so troubled that I did not know him any longer ; as this state was far from being usual, I roused him from his lethargy. Two leagues after we found the bloody cravat of his lackey ; he perceived two eagles flying over his head, and at the same time discovered some of his people on the edge of the river, which he approached, asking them what had become of his nephew. They answered us in broken words," showing us where we should find him. "We proceeded some steps along the bank to the fatal spot, where two of these murderers were hidden in the grass, one on each side with guns cocked ; one missed Monsieur de la Salle, the one firing at the same time shot him in the head ; he died an hour after, on the 19th of March, 1687. I expected the same fate, but this danger did not oc- cupy my thoughts, penetrated with grief at so cruel a spec- tacle, I saw him fall a step from me, with his face all full of blood ; I watered it with my tears, exhorting him, to the best of my power, to die well. He had confessed and fulfilled his 214 KABBATIVE OF FATHEB DOUAT. devotions just before we started ; he had still time to recapit- ulate a part of his life, and I gave him absolution. During his last moments he elicited all the acts of a good Christian, grasping my hand at every word I suggested, and especially at that of pardoning his enemies. Meanwhile his murderers, as much alarmed as I, began to strike their breasts, and de- test their blindness. I could not leave the spot when he had expired without having buried him as well as I could, after which I raised a cross over his grave.* Thus died our wise commander, constant in adversity, in- trepid, generous, engaging, dexterous, skilful, capable of everything. He who for twenty years had softened the fierce temper of countless savage tribes, was massacred by the hands of his own domestics, whom he had loaded with cares- ses. He died in the prime of life, in the midst of his conree and labors, without having seen their success. Occupied with these thoughts, which he had himself a thousand times suggested to us, while relating the events of the new discoveries, I unceasingly adored the inscrutable de- signs of God in this conduct of his providence, uncertain still what fate he reserved for us, as our desperadoes plotted noth- ing less than our destruction. We at last entered the place where Monsieur Gavelier was ; the assassins entered the cabin unceremoniously, and seized all that was there. I had ar- rived a moment before them ; I had no need to speak, for as soon as he beheld my countenance all bathed in tearp^ the sieur Cavelier exclaimed aloud, "Ah! my poor brother is dead!" This holy ecclesiastic, whose virtue has been so often tried in the apostolic labors of Canada, fell at once on his knees, his nephew, the sieur Cavelier, myself, and some * This and the oiroumstanoes of Moranget's death, are denied by Jontel in Eiit. Coll. of Louiriana, vol. i. DISOOVEBIES m THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 215 Joat«l in othore did the same, to prepare to die the same death, but the wretches touched by some sentiments of compassion at the sight of the venerable old man, and besides half penitent for the murders they had committed, resolved to spare us, on condition that we should never return to France ; but as they were still undecided, and many of them wished to return home, we heard them often say, that they must get rid of us ; that otherwise we would accuse them before the tribunals, if we once had them in the kingdom. They elected as chief the murderer of the sieur de la Salle (Duhaut), and, at last, after many deliberations, resolved to push on to that famous nation of the Coenis. Accordingly, after marching together for several days, crossing rivers and rivers, everywhere treated by these wretches as servants, having nothing but what they left, we reached the tiibe with- out accident. Meanwhile the justice of God accomplished the punish-, ment of these men, in default of human justice. Jealousy and desire of command arose between Hiens and the sieur de la Salle's murderer ; each one of the guilty band sided on one side or the other. We had passed the Coenis, after some stay there, and were already at the Nassonis, where the four desertere, whom I mentioned in the first expedition, rejoined us. On the eve of Ascension seeing all together, and our wretches resolved to kill each other, I made them an exhor- tation on the festival, at which thoy seemed affected, and re- solved to confess ; but this did not last. Those who most re- gretted the murder of their commander and leader, had sided with Hiens who, seizing his opportunity two days' after, sought to punish crime by crime. In our presence he shot the murderer of La Salle through the heart with a pistol ; he died on the spot, unshriven, unable even to utter the names "ifr- : X 216 NABRATIVE OF FATHER DOFAT. of Jesns and Mary. Another who was with Hiens, shot the murderer of the sieur de Moranget (Liotot), in the side with a musket-ball. He had time to confess, after which a French- man fired a blank cartridge at his head ; his hair, and then his shirt, and clothes, took fire and wrapped him in flames, and in this torment he expired. The third author of the plot and murder fled ; Hiens wished to make way with him, and thus completely avenge the death of the sieur de la Salle, but the sieur Joutel conciliated them, and it stopped there.* By this means Hiens remained chief of the wretched band ; we had to return to the Coenis where they had re- solved to settle, not daring to return to France for fear of punishment. A Coenis army was ready to march against the Kanoatino, a hostile tribe, cruel to their enemies, whom they boil alive ; the Coenis took our Frenchmen with them, after which Hiens pressed us strongly to remain with them, but we would not consent. Six of us, all French, accordingly set out from the Coenis, among whom were the sieure Cavelier, uncle and nephew, and the sieur Joutel. They gave us each a horse, powder and lead, and some goods to pay our way. We stopped at the Nassonis to celebrate the octave of Corpus Chi'isti. They spoke to us daily of the cruelty of the Span- iards to the Americans, and told us that twenty Indian na- tions were going to war against the Spaniards, inviting us to join them, as we would do more with our guns than all their braves with their warclubs and arrows ; but we had very dif- ferent designs. We only took occasion to tell them that we came on behalf of God to instruct them in the truth and save * Tills was Larcheveque, Hist. Coll, of Louisiana, vol. i., p. 168. With Grol- let who had deserted from La Salle on his first excursion, he surrendered to a Spanish party under Don Alonzo de Leon. See extract from the Ensajo Crono- logico. DISCOVERIES IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 217 their souls. In this we spent ten or twelve days, till the 3d of June, the feast of St. Anthony of Padua whom the sieur de la Salle had taken as patron of his enterprise. Having received two Indians to guide us, we continued our way north-northeast, through the finest country in the world ; we passed four large rivei*s and many ravines, inhabited by many diflferent nations • we reconnoitred the Haquis on the east, the Nabiri, and J^aansi, all numerous tribes at war with the Ccenis, and at last, on the 23d of June, we approached the Cadodacchos.* One of our Indians went on to announce our coming ; the chiefs and youth whom we met a league from the village, received us with the calumet, which they gave us to smoke ; some led our horses by the bridle, others as it were, earned us in triumph, taking us for spirits and people of another world. All the village being assembled, the women, as is their wont, washed our head and feet with warm water, and then placed us on a platform covered with a very neat, white mat ; then followed banquets, calumet-dances, and other public re- joicings, day and night. The people knew the Europeans only by report; like other tribes through which we had passed, they have some very confused ideas of religion and adore the sun ; their gala dresses bear two painted suns ; on the rest of the body are representations of buffalo, stags, ser- pents, and other animals. This afforded us an opportunity to * These were, doubtless, the Caddoes, a tribe which is not yet extinct. Ac- cording to Joutel, Hist. Coll. of Zouisiana, vol. 5., p. 168, the tribe consisted of four allied villages, Assony, Nathosos, Nachitos, and Cadodaquio. Tonty de- scribes them as forming three villages, Cadodaquis, Nachitoches, and Nasoui, all on the Ked river, and speaking the same language. Two of these tribes, the Nasoui and Nachitoches bear a strong resemblance to the tribes found by Mus- coso, the successor of De Soto, in the same vicinity, and called by Biedma, Nis- sione (Hist. Coll. of Louisiana, vol. iii., p. 107), and by the gentleman of Elvas, Nissoone and Naquiscoza, while the Daycao, as their river is called, is not incom- patible with Cado-Daquio. — Hist. Coll. of Louisiana, vol. iii., p. 201. u il S18 NABBATIVE OF FATHEB DOTTAT. give them some lessons on the knowledge of the true Qod, and on our principal mysteries. At this place it pleased God to traverse us by a tragical accident. The sieur de Mame, in spite of all that we could say, went to bathe on the evening of the 24th, the younger sieur Oavelier accompanied him to the river side, quite near the village ; de Mame sprang into the water and instantly disappeared. It was an abyss where he was in a moment swallowed up. A few hours after his body was recovered and brought to the chief's cabin ; all the village mourned his death with all ceremony; the chiefs wife herself neatly wound him in a beautiful cloth, while the young men dug the grave which I blessed the next day, when we buried him with all possible solemnity. The Indians admired our cere- monies, from which we took occasion to give them some in- Btruction during the week that we remained in this fatal place. Our friend was interred on an eminence near the vil- lage, and his tomb surrounded by a palisade, surmounted by a large cross, which we got the Indians to raise, after which we started on the 2d of July. This tribe is on the banks of a large river, on which lie three more famous nations, the Katchoos, the Natchites, the Ouidiches, where we were very hospitably received. From the Goenis river, where we began to find beaver and otter, they became very plentiful as we advanced. At the Ouidi- ches, we met three warriors of two tribes called the Gahinnio and the Mentous, twenty-five leagues further east-northeast, who had seen Frenchmen. They offered to guide us there, and on our way we passed four rivers on rafts. We were received with the calumet of peace, and every mark of joy and esteem.* Many of these Indians spoke to us of a great * Joutel calls this village Cahaynahoua. See Joutel's journal published in French's Historical Collections of Louisiana, toL L, pp. 86-198. DISOOVEBIES IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLET. 219 captain, who had only one arm (this was Monsieur de Tonty), whom they had seen, and who told them that a greater cap- tain than he would pass through their village ; this was Mon- sieur de la Salle. The chief lodged us in his cabin, fiom which he made his family retire. We were here regaled for several days on every kind of meat ; there was even a public feast, where the calumet was danced for twenty-four hours, with songs made for the occasion, which the chief intoned with all his might, treating us as people of the sun, who came to defend them from their enemies by the noise of our thunder. Amidst these rejoicings the younger Gavelier fired his pistol three times, ci7ing "Vive le roi," which the Indians repeated loudly, adding, " Vive le soleil." These Indians have pro- digious quantities of beaver and otter skins, which could be easily transported by a river near the village ; they wished to load our horses with them, but we refused, to show our disin terestedness ; we made them presents of axes and knives, and set out with two Gahinnio to act as guides, after having re- ceived embassies from the Analao and Tanico, and other tribes to the northwest and southeast. It was delightful to traverse for several days the finest country, intersected by many rivers, prairies, little woods, and vine-clad hills. Among others, we passed four large navigable rivers, and at last, after a march of about sixty leagues, we reached the Osotteoez, who dwell on a great river which comes from the northwest, skirted by the finest woods in the world. Beaver and otter- skins, and all kinds of peltries, are so abundant there, that being of no value they burn them in heaps. This is the famous river of the Achansa, who here form several villages. At this point we began to know where we were, and finding a large cross, bearing below the royal arms, with a French- 230 NARRATIVE OF FATTIER DOITAT. looking house, our people discharged their guns ; two French- men at once came forth, and the one in command, by name Couture, told us that the sieur de Tonty had stationed them tlicre to serve as an intermediate station to the sieur de la Salle, to maintain the alliance with those tribes, and to shield them against attacks by the Iroquois. "We visited three of these villages, the Torimans, the Doginga, and the Kappa; everywhere we had feasts, harangues, calumet-dances, with every mark of joy ; we lodged at the French house, where the two gentlemen treated us with all desirable hospitality, putting all at our disposal. Whenever any affaira are to be decided among these nations, they never give their resolution on the spot ; they assemble the chiefs and old men, and de- liberate on the point in question. "We had asked a periagua and Indians to ascend the river Colbert, and thence to push on to the Ilinois by the river Seignelay, offering to leave them our horses, powder, and lead ; when the council was held, it was said that they would grant us the periagua, and four In- dians to be selected, one from each tribe, in token of a more strict alliance. This was faithfully executed, so that we dis- missed our Oabinnio with presents, which perfectly satisfied them. At last, after some time stay, we embarked on the 1st of August, 1687, on the river Colbert, which we crossed the same day in our periagua forty feet long ; but as the current is strong, we all landed to make the rest of our journey on foot, having left our horses and equipage at the Akansa. There remained in the canoe only the sieur Cavelier whose age, joined to the hardships he had already undergone on the way, did not permit him to accomplish on foot the rest of our course (at least four hundred leagues), to the Ilinois. One Indian was in the canoe to perch it along, one of his com* DIBOOVERIES W THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 221 radea relieving him from time to time. As for the rest of us, we used the periagua only when necessary to cross some dan gerous passages or rivers. All this was not without much suffering ; for the excessive heat of the season, the burning Band, the broiling sun, heightened by a want of provisions foi several days, gave us enough to endure. "We had already travelled two hundred and fifty leagues across the country from St. Louis bay, viz.: one hundred leagues to the Goenis (sixty north-northeast, the last forty east- northeast) ; from the Coonis to the Nassonis, twenty-five to the east-northeast ; from the Nassonis to the Cadodacchos, forty to the north-northeast ; from the Cadodacchos to the Oahinnio and Mentous, twenty-five to the east-northeast; from the Cahinnio to the Akansa, sixty to the east-northeast. "We then continued our route, ascending the river through the same places which the sieur de la Salle had previously passed when he made his first discovery, of which I have heard him frequently speak, except that we went to the Sica- cha, where he had not been. The principal vUlage is twenty- five leagues east of the Akansa. This nation is very numer- ous; they count at least four thousand \, arriors, have an abundance of every kind of peltry. The 'ihiefs came several times to offer us the calumet, wishing to form an alliance with the French and put themselves under their protection, offering even to come and dwell on the river Oiiabache (Ohio) to be nearer to us. This famous river is full as large as the river Colbert, re- ceiving a quantity of others by which you can enter it. The mouth, where it empties into the river Colbert, is two hun- dred leagues from the Akansa, according to the estimate of the sieur de la Salle, as he often toM me; or two hundred and fifty, according to Monsieur de Tonty, and those who accom- 222 NARRATIVE OF FATHER DOUAY. panied him in hie second voyage to the sea, not that it is that distance in a straight line across the prairies, but following the river which makes great turns, and winds a great deal, for by land it would not be more than five days' good march. "We crossed the Oiiabache then on the 26th of August, and found it full sixty leagues to tlie mouth of the river Ilinois, still ascending the Colbert. About six leagues a])ove this mouth, there is on the northwest the famous river of the Mas- sourites or Osages, at least as largo as the river into which it empties ; it is formed by a number of other known rivers, everywhere navigable, and inhabited by many populous tribes ; as the Panimaha who had but one chief and twenty- two villages, the least of which has two hundred cabins ; the Fancaesa, the Pana, the Paneloga, and the Matotantes, each of which, separately, is not inferior to the Panimaha. They include also the Osages who have seventeen villages on a river of their name, which empties into that of the Massou- rites, to which the maps have also extended the name of Osages. The Akansas were formerly stationed on the upper part of one of these rivers, but the Iroquois drove them out by cruel ware some years ago, so that they, with some Osage villages, were obliged to drop down and settle on the river which now beare their name, and of which I have spoken. About midway between the river Oiiabache and that of the Massourites is Cape St. Anthony. It was to this place only and not further that the sieur Joliet descended in 1673 ; they were there taken, with their whole party, by the Mansopela. These Indians having told them that they would be killed if they went further ; they turned back, not having descended lower than thirty or forty leagues below the mouth of the Ilinois' river. <' ^ * I had brought with me the printed book of this pretended DISCOVERIES IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 223 discovery, and I remarked nil nlonp my route thnt tlioro wns not a word of tnith in it. It is said tlint he went as fur as the Akansa, and that he was obliged to return for funr of being taken by the Spaniards; and yet the Akansa assured us that they had never seen any Europeans before Monsieur de la Salle. It is said that they saw painted monsters that the boldest would have difficulty to look at, and that there was something supernatural about them. This frightful monster is a horse painted on a rock with matachia,* and some other wild beasts made by the Indians. It is said that they can not be reached, and yet I touched them without difficulty. The truth is that the Miamis, pursued by the Matsigamea, having been drowned in the river, the Indians ever since that time present tobacco to these grotesque figures wheiTever they pass, in order to appease the manitou. I would not be inclined to think that the sieur Joliet avowed the printed account of that discovery which is not, in fact, under his name, and was not published till after the first discovery made by the sieur de la Salle. It would be easy to phow that it was printed only on false memoirs, which the author, who had never been on the spot, might have followed in good faith.f • An old term for paint used by the Indians. f In this short passage a heavy charge is brought against the narratire of Father Marquette, altliough it is amusing to see how they all, in denying i(^ Beem to have dreaded to mention his name, as though his injured spirit wotild have been evoked by the word. As Father Anastasius says expressly, that there is not a word of truth in it^ we moy examine the grounds which he adduces. Ist It was not published till after the discovery made by La Salle. This is incorrect Thevenot published Marquette's journal from a mutilated copy, in 1681, and La Salle reached the mouth of the Mississippi only in April, 1682, while his discovery was not known in France before January, 1683. 2d. The Arkansas said that they had never seen any European before La Salle. Making every allowance for the difficulty of conversing with a trib« whose language was utterly unknown to him, and admitting the fact, it remains 'm SS4 KTARRATIVK OF FATHER IWtTAY. At Iftst, on tlio 5th of Si>i)tcinl)cr, wo nrrivcd nt tlio mouth of tho Iliuols' rlvor, whcnco thoy reckon nt Icnst n Inindrod loaguefl to Fort Crovcco'ur, tho wholo route presenting nvery easy navigation. A Shawnoo named Turpin, having por- to hIidw tliiit tlio ArkitnHnR wlioiii ho nut, wvro tlio inmo u tho«o viHited by Manpiottf. TliiR dues not appear to bo certain, at they were on ilifTereut tidei of tho MixHixxipiii, 3d. Tho ]iiiiiiti'd ruck, of which ho exngf(ornte* and rofutoa Marqiiottu'* ac- count. Now, thoiifjh Fnthor AiiiiKtiininn hnd tho book of tho prelendi'd diicov* ery in hin liiirxl, ho diil not road it oiirofiilly. Mnniuolto doHoril.u'n n mok above the mouth of tho MlKHoiiri, AnaiitnHiim i*a\v nnothor below tho mouth, and half way betwoon it and tho Ohio, and, a* it did not answer Maniuetto'a account, there in nut n word of truth in bin book I .Toutol, wIioho work nppoarod only in 1713, avoid thJH dittloulty, whothoroonnoioUH of DoiiayV error, wo do not know. From tho words of Fathor Annstasiui', I nm inclined to think, that they never sow Murciuotto's rook ; but doooived by 'Diovenot'H map which (?ivoH a finuro and t^o word Mnnitou at the place below the MisHoiiri, which Marquette men- tions OS the demon of the Illinois, mistook it for tho painted rock. Hero aa Father Annstnsius tellis some Indians actually perished, and their countrymen ■upposing them engulfed by some demon, propa^intcd the belief in the exist- ence of one there. This worsihipping of rapids was common, and several cases are mentioned in tho narratives of the time. As to tho cxnirgcrntions made of Morquette's account, n moment's examination will show that he represented the figures he saw as terrible to superstitious Indians, and so high up on the rock that it was not easy to get up there to paint thorn. His estimate of the skill dis- played is, indeed, too high ; but there is nothing, beyond this, strange in his ac- count 4th. Last of all, comes his positive assertion that Marquette and Joliet went only as far ns Capo St. Anthony.thirty or forty leagues below tho mouth of the Illinois. For this ho gives no authority; but it may bo inferred that ho found the Mansopelas there, and from his little knowledge of the Indians, concluded thot being there, in 1687, they must have been there in 1073, and consequently, that Marquette went no further. Enough, however, is hero admitted to convict the author of the Etoblissoment de la Foi of injustice to Marquette, whom ho uovor names, but who, even by their own statements, descended the Mississippi to the Mansopelas, many years before La Salle's expedition. Yet in tho previous part of the work no mention at all is made of this voyage, and no opportunity passed to treat it as pretended in tho accounts of their own. Joutel, whose narrative was published subsequently to this, mentions (See Hist. Coll. of Louisiana, vol. i., p. 182) Father Marquette, and though he saw nothing extraordinary in the painted figures, does not make any of the eharges here brought by his companion on the voyoge whom he contradicts directly on two other points. DU0OVKBIE8 IN THK MI88U0IPPI VALLEY. 225 ceived us from hb village, ran on to the fort to carry the . news to the »«iour de I3elle Fontaine, the commander, who wonld not credit it; we followed close on the Indian, and ei,^«^red tho t'uit on the 14th of September. We were con- ducted to the chapel whore tho To Denm was chanted in thanksgiving, amid the noise and volleys of the French and Indians who were immodititely put under arms. The sieur de Tonty, the governor of tho fuit, had gone to the Iroquois to conciliate the minds of those Indians, we, nevertheless, ro* ceived a very cordial welcome ; the commandant neglecting nothing to show his joy at our arrival, to console us in our misfortunes, and restore us after our hardships. Although the season was advanced, we had, nevertheless, set out in hopes of reaching Quebec soon enough to sail to France ; but head-winds having detained us a fortnight at the entrance of Lake Dauphin, we had to give it over and win- ter at the fort, which we made a mission till the spring of 1688. The sieur de Tonty arrived there at the beginning of win- ter with several Frenchmen ; this made our stay much more agreeable, as this brave gentjieman was always inseparably attached to the interests of the sieur de la Salle, whose la- mentable fate we concealed from him, it being our duty to give the first news to the court. He told us that, at the same time that we were seeking the river Missisipi by sea, bo V- 1 made a second voyage, de- scending the river with si ne French and Indians to the mouth, hoping to find us tuere ; that he remained there a week, visitad all the remarkable points, and remarked that there was a very fine port with a beautiful entrance, and wide channel ; and, also, places fit for building forts, and not at all inundated as he had supposed, when he descended the first time with the sieur de la Salle ; adding, that the lower 15 'I I U 'M f' 226 NABRATIVE OF FATHER DOUAT. river is habitable and even inhabited by Indian villages ; that ships can ascend the river a hundred leagues above the gulf; that, besides the tribes which he had discovered when de- scending the first time, he had seen several others on the second, as the Picheno, the Ozanbogus, the Tangibao, the Otonnica, the Mausopelea, the Mouisa, and many others which I do not remember. Oar conversations together confirmed me in the opinion of the sieur de la Salle, that St. Louis bay could not be more than forty or fifty leagues from the mouth of one of the arms of the river Colbert in a straight line, for though we struck that river only at the Akansa, it was because we took the Ili- nois route across the country, God having led us through these parts to enable us to discover all those tribes which dwell there. I had remarked one hundred and ten populous nations on my route, not including a great many others of which I heard in those through which we passed, who knew them either in war, or in trade. The greatest part of these tribes are un- known to Europeans. These are the finest and most fertile countries in the world; the soil, which there produces two crops of every kind of grain a year, being ready to receive the plough. From time to time there 9,re vast prairies where the grass is ten or twelve feet high at all seasons ; at every little distance there are rivers entering larger ones, everywhere navigable, and free from rapids. On these rivers are forests full of every kind of trees, so distributed that you can everywhere ride through on horseback. . ^ The chase is so abundant and easy, especially for wild- cattle, that herds of thousands are discovered ; there are deer and other animals of the stng kind in numbers, as well as A 1 ^ 1 f'^ '^ '■' ii% I rf- y^i (* m i ') t'orld ; DISC0VEEIE8 IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLITT. 22T turkeys, bustards, partridges, parrots, rabbits, and bares. Poultry are common tbere, and produce at all seasons, and swine several times a year, as we observed at the settlement where we left more than two hundred. The rivers are unusually abundant in all kinds of fish, so much so that we took them at the foot of the fort with our hands, without basket or net. Our people one day took away from the Indians a fish-head which was alone a load for a man. No settler arriving in the country will not find at first enough to support plenteously a large family, or will not, in two years time be more at his ease than in any place in Europe. I have already remarked that horses for every use are there very common, the Indians thinking themselves well paid when they get an axe for a horse. The commerce might be very great there in peltries, tobac- co, and cotton. Hemp grows very fine ; and as the fields are full of mulberry-trees which also line the rivers, silk might be raised in abundance. Sugar-canes would succeed there well, and could be easily got by trade with the "West Indies, as the Europeans nations have done in Terra-firma, where they are neighbors to Louisiana.* Besides, the great * These observations from which Coxe {Hist. Coll. of Louisiana, vol. iii,, pp. 262-65), doubtless, took a hint, entitle Father Douay to the credit of pointing out sources of wealth to Louisiana. Cotton and sugar are already staple prod- ucts, and silk may soon be. The valley of the Mississippi owes the introduc- tion of the sugar-cane to the Catholic missionaries, for the Jesuits brought in some plants from which the colony was supplied, after they had shown in their gardens at New Orleans how successfully it could bo raised. The same mis- sionaries were also the first to raise wheat in Illinois, and engage others to do so ; as one of their lay-brothers was the first to work the copper-mine of Lake Superior, to make articles for the church of Sault St Mary's. In the east they deserve no less a place even in commercial history ; they not only called the attention of New York to her salt-springs, and brought about a commeroinl in- tercourse between the French of Canada, and the English and Dutch in their colonies, but, by showing the identity of our ginseng with that of Tartary, en- abled France for some time to carry on a very lucrative trade with China. \M .,■ In 228 NABBATIVE OF FATHEB DOUAT. quantity of wool which thd cattle of the country are loaded, the vast prairies everywhere afford means of raising flocks of sheep, which produce twice a year. The various accidents that befell us, prevented our search- ing for the treasures of this country : we found lead quite pure, and copper ready to work. The Indians told us that there were rivers where silver mines are found : others wished to conduct us to a country known to the Spaniards, abound- ing in gold and silver mines. There are also some villages where the inhabitants have pearls, which they go to seek on the seacoast and find, they say, in oysters. We found few nations within a hundred and fifty or two hundred leagues of the sea, who are not prejudiced against the Spaniards on account of their great cruelty. These tribes are all populous ; and there is one which, in war, would fur- nish as many as five thousand men. The shortness of our stay among these tribes gave us no time to lay solid foundations of Christianity; but we re- marked good dispositions for the faith ; they are docile, char- itable, susceptible of good impressions ; there is even some government and subordination, savage though it always be. By the help of God, religion might make progress there. The son is their divinity, and they offer it in sacrifice the best of their chase in the chief's cabin. They pray for half an hour, especially at sunrise ; they send him the first whiff of their pipes, and then send one to each of the four cardinal points. I left St. Louis bay on the second voyage to remain among the Coenis and begin a mission there. Here Father Zenobius was to join me, to visit the neighboring tribes while awaiting from France a greater number of gospel laborers, but the melancholy death of the sieur de la Salle having compelled ^SiitStmu^k^Uik^m DISOOVEBIKS m THX lOBSISSIPPI VALLBT. 229 me to proceed, Father Zenobius no donbt went there to meet me, and is, perhaps, there yet vith Father Maximus (le Glercq), having left M. de Ohefdeville at the mission in the fort, to which he was destined at our departure. There were there nine or ten French families, and, besides, several of onr people had gone to get and had actnally married Indian women to multiply the colony. What has befallen them since, I do not know. This, adds le Glercq, is a faithful extract of what Father Anastasius could remember of his toilsome voyage. He left the Hinois in the spring of 1688, with M. Cavelier, his nephew, the sieur Joustel, and an Indian now domiciled near Versailles. They arrived at Quebec on the 27th of July, and sailed for France on the 20th of August, where, Ood enabling them to be still together, after having passed through so many perils, they presented on account of all to the late mar- quis of Seignelay. de vo 16 I'e qu les efi et lu) et dec Ch nic Ics oil '''''tiiiirF REGIT DES VOYAGES ET DES DECOUVERTES Da P. JACQUES MARQUETTE, DE LA COMPAGNIE DE JESUS EN L'ANNEE 1673, ET AUX SUIVANTEa CHAPITRE P«- Du Premier Voyage qu'afait le P, Marquette vers le Nouveau Mexique et com- ment s'en eatform& le dessein. IL y avoit longtemps que le Pere premeditoit cette entreprise, porte d'un tres ardent desir d'estendre le Royaume de J. Ch. et de le faire connoistre et adorer par tous les peuples de ce pays. II se voioit comme a la porte de ces nouvelles nations, lorsque des I'annee 1670, il travailloit en la mission de lapointe du St. Esprit qui est a I'extremite du lac Superieur aux Outaoiiacs, il voioit mesme quel- quefois plusieurs de ces nouveaux peuples, desquels il prenoit toutes les connoissances quil pouvoit, c'est ce qui luy a fait faire plusieurs efforts pour commencer cette entreprise, mais tousiour inutilement, et mesme il avoit 'perdu I'esperance d'en venir about lorsque Dieu luy en fit naistre cette occasion. En I'annee 1673, M. Le Comte de Frontenac nostro gouverneur, et M. Talon alors nostre Intendant, connoissant I'importance de cette decouverte, soit pour chercher un passage d'icy jusqu'a la mer de la Chine, par la riviere qui se d6charge ala mer Vermeille au Califor- nie, soit qu'on voulu s'asseurer de ce qu'on a dit du depuis, touchant les 3 Royaumes de Theguaio et de Quivira, limitrophes du Canada, on I'on tient que les mines d'or sont abondantes, ces Messieurs, dis- ^': 232 NARBATTVE OP FATHEK MARQX7ETTE. ie, nommerent en mesme temps pour cette entreprise le sieur Jolyet quils jugerent tres propres pour un si grand deasein, estant bien aise que le P. Marquette fut de le partie. II ne se tromperent pas dans le chuix quils firent du sieur Jolyet, car c'estoit un jeune homme natif de ce pays, qui a pour un tel des- sein tous les advantages qu'on peut souhaiter : II a I'experience et la Connoissance des Langues du Pays des Outaoiiacs, ou il a pass6 plusieurs unnees, il a la conduitte et la sagesse qui sont les princi< pales parties pour faire reussir un voyage egalement dangereux et difficile. Enfin il a le courage pour ne rien apprehender, ou tout est a craindre, aussi a-t-il remply I'attente qu'on avoit de luy, et si apres avoir passe mille sortes de dangers, il ne fut venu malheur* eusement faire nuuflrage 'auport, son canot ayant tourne au dessoubs du Sault de St. Loiiys proche de Montreal, ou il a perdu et ses hommes et ses papiers, et d'ou il n'a eschape que par une espece de miracle, il ne lassoit rien a souhaiter au succoz de son voyage. SECTION I. Depart du P. Jacques Marquette pour la decouvcrte de la grande Riviere appelUe par les sauvages Miasisipi qai conduit au Nouveau Mexique. Le jour de I'Immaculee Conception de la Ste. Yierge, que javois tousjour invoqud depuisque je suis en ce pays des Outaoiiacs, pour obtenir de Dieu la grace de pouvoir visiter les nations qui sont sur la riviere de Missis-pi, fut justement celuy auquel arriva M. Jollyet avec les ordres de M. le comte de Frontenac nostre gouverneur et de M. Talon nostre Intendant, pour faire avec moy cette decouverte. Je fus d'autant plus ravy de cette bonne nouvelle, que je voiois que mes desseins alloient etre accomplis et que je me trouvois dans une heureuse necessite d'exposer ma vie pour le salut de tous ces peuples et particulierement pour les Ilinois qui m'avoient prie avec beaucoup d'instance lorsque j'estois a la pointe du St. Esprit de leur porter chez eux la parole de Dieu. Nous ne fusmes pas long temps a preparer tout nostre equippage quoyque nous nous engageassions en un voyage dont nous ne pouvions pas prevoir la dur^e ; du Bled d'Inde avec quelque viande boucanee furent toutes nos provisi^^r'S, l' ac lesquelles nous nous embarquam- DISCOVERIES IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 233 mes sur 2 canots d'ecorce, M.Jollyet et moy avec 5 hommes, bien resolus a tout faire et a tout souflrir pour une si glorieuae enterprise.' Ce fut done le 17e jour de May, 1673, que nous parttmes de la mission de St. Ignace a Michilimackinac, ou j'estois pour tors ; la joye que nous avions d'etre choisis pour cette expedition animoit nos courages et nous rendoit agreables les peines que nous avions a ramer depuis le matin jusqu'au soir ; et parceque nous allions cher- cher des pays inconnus, nous apportammes toutes les precautions que nous pOmes, affinque si nostre entreprise estoit hazardeuse elle ne fut pas temeraire ; pour ce sujet nous primes toutes les connois* sances que nous p6mes des sauvages qui avoient frequente ces en- droicts la et mesme nous tracames sur leur raport une carte de tout ce nouveau pays, nous y flmes marquer les rivieres sur lesquelles nous devious naviger, les noms des peuples et des lieux par lesquels nous devions passer, le cours de la grande riviere, et quels rund devenl nous devions tenir quand nous y serions. Surtout je mis nostre voyage soubs la protection de la Ste. Vierge Immaculee, luy promettant que si elle nous faisoit la grace de de- couvrir la grande riviere, je luy donnerois le nom de la Conception et que je ferois aussi porter ce nom a la premiere mission que j'etablyrois chez ces nouveaux peuples, ce que j'ay fait de vray chez les Ilinois. liiii iii 1 II 1' lu hI Hllj ■ f'! W f' SECTION II. Le Pere visite en patBant les Peuples delafolle avoine; Ce queerest que cette folle avoine. 11 entre dans la haye des Puants, quelques particvlaritez de cette haye, il arrive a la nation dufeu. Avec toutes ces precautions nous faisons joiier joyeusement les avirons, sur une partie du Lac Huron, et celuy des Ilinois, et dans la biiye des Puans. Le premiere nation que nous rencontrfimes, fut celle de la folle avoine. I'entray dans leur riviere pour aller visiter ces peuples aus quels nous avons presche I'Evangile depuis plusieurs ann^es, aussi se trouve-t-il parmy eux plusieurs bons Chrestiens. La folle avoine dont ils portent le nom, parcequelle se trouve sur leurs terres est une sorte d'herbe qui croit naturellement dans les m 1 ,;-'Y'l- 1 ■■'.': /■•. liiliiiilii'i; lit' lii.' ■ S84 NABBATIVE OF FATHEB MARQUETTE. ;,^y f '• petites rivieres dont le fond est de vase, est dans les lieux mares* ageux ; elle est bien semblable a la foUe avoine qui croit parmy nos bleds. Les epics sont sur des tuyeaux noiies d'espace en espace, ils sortent de I'eau vers le mois de juin et vont tousjour montant jusqu'- acequils 8urnagent de deux pieds environ ; Le grain n'est pas plus gros que celuy de nos avoines, mais il est une fois plus long, aussi la farine en est elle bien plus abondante. Yoicy comme les sauvages la cueillent et la preparent pour la manger. Dans le mois de Sep- tembre qui est le terns propre pour cette recolte, ils vont en canot au travers de ces champs de folle avoine, ils en seooiient les espies de part et d'autre dans le canot, a mesure qu'ils avancent ; le grain tombe aisement sil est meur, et en peu do temps ils en font leur pro- vision. Mais pour le nettoyer de la paille et le depouiller d'une pellicule dans laquelle il est enform^, ils le mettent secher a la fumee, sur un gril de bois soubs lequel ils entretiennent un petit feu, pendant quelques jours, et lorsque I'avoine est bien seche, ils la mettent dans une Peau en forme de pouche, laquelle ils enfoncent dans un trou fait a ce dessein en terre, puis ils la pillent avee les pieds, tant et si fortement que le grain s'estant separo de la paille, ils le vannent tres aisement, apres quoy ils le pillent pour le reduire en farine ; or mesme sans etre pille ils le font cuire dans I'eau, qu'ils assaisonnent avec de la graisse et de cette fa^on on trouve la folle avoine presque aussi delicate, qu'est le ris, quand on n'y met pas de meilleur assaisonnement. Je racontay a ces peuples de la folle avoine, le dessein que j'avois d'aller decouvrir ces nations esloignees pour les pouvoir instruire des mysteres de nostre Ste. Religion : ils en furent extremement surpris, et firent tons leur possible pour m'en dissiiader; ils me representerent que je rencontrerois des Nations qui ne pardonnent jamais aux estrangers ausquels ils cassent la teste sans aucun sujet; que la guerre qui estoit allumee entre divers peuples qui estoiont sur nostre Route nous exposoit a un autre danger manifesto d'estre tu^z par les bandes de guerriers qui sont tousjours en campagne ; que la grande riviere est tres dangereuse, quand on n'en scait pas les Endroicts difficiles, qu'elle estoit pleine de monstres efTroyables, qui devoroient les hommes et les canots tout ensemble ; qu'il y a mesme un demon qu'on entend de fort loing qui en ferme le passage et qui abysme ceux qui osent en approcher, enfin que les chaleurs sont si excessives en ces pays la qu'elles nous causeroient la mort infaillible- ment. DI80OVEBIE8 IN THS MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 985 Je les remerciay de ces bona advis qu'ila me donnolt, mais je leur die que je ne pouvois pas les suivre 'usqu'il s'agissoit du salut des ames pour lesquelles je serois ravy ..e donner ma vie, que je me moquois de ce demon pretendu, que nous nous defTenderions bien de ces monstres marins, et qu'au reste nous nous tienderions sur nos gardes pour eviter les autres dangers dont ils nous mena9oient. Apres les avoir fait prior Dieu et leur avoir donne quelque Instruc- tion, je me separay d'eux, et nous estant embarquez sur nos canots nous arriv&mes peu de temps apres dans le fond de la Baye des Fuantz, ou nos Peres travaillent utilement a la conversion de ces peuples, en ayant baptise plus de deux mille depuis qu'ils y sent. Cctte baye porte un nom qui n'a pas une si mauvaise signification en la langue des sauvages, car ili I'appellent plustost la baye sallce que la Baye des Puans, quoyque parmy eux ce soit presque le mes<- me, et c'est aussi le nom qu'ils donnent a la mer ; cequi nous a fait faire de tres exactes recherches pour decouvrir s'il n'y avoit pas en ces quartiers quelquea fontaines d'eau saline, comme il y en a parmy les hiroquois ; mais nous n'en avons pas trouve nous jugeons done qu'on luy a donnd ce nom a cause de quantity de vase et de Boiie, qui s'y rencontre, d'ou s'eslevent continuellement de meschantes vapeurs qui y causent les plus grands et les plus continuels Tonner- res, que j'aye iamais entendu. La Baye a environ trente lioiies de profondeur et huict de large en son commencement ; elle va tousjour se retrecissant jusques dans le fond, ou il est aise de remarquer la maree qui a son flux et reflux regie presque comme celuy de la Mer. Ce n'est pas icy le lieu d'examiner si ce sent des vrayes marees ; si elles sent causees par les vents ou par quelqu'autre principe ; s'il y a des vents qui sent les avant-coureurs de la Lune et attachez a sa suitte, lesquels par conse- quent agitent le lac et luy donnent comme son flux et reflux toutes les foia que la Lune monte sur I'horison. Ce que je peux dire de certain est que quand I'eau est bien calme, on la voit aisdment monter et descendre suivant le cours de la lune, quoyqne je ne nie pas que ce mouvement ne puisse estre cause par les ventz qui sont bien eloignez et qui pesant sur le milieu du lac font que les bords crois- sent et decroissent de la faqon qui paroit a nos yeux. Nous quittflmes cette baye pour entrer dans la riviere qui s'y d6charge ; elle est tres belle en son embouchure et coulo douce- ment ; eile est pleine d'outardes, de Canards, de cercelles et d'autres oyseaux qui y sont attirez par la fuUe avoino,dont ils sont fort frians. # II 286 KARRATIVE OF FATHER MARQUETTE. mais quand on a un peu avance clans cette riviere, on la trouve trea difficile, tant a cause des cournnts que des Roches affil6es, qui coup- pent les canots et les pieds de coux qui sont obliges de les traisner, surtout quand les eaux sont basses. Nous franchlmes pourtant heureusement ces rapidesct en approchant do Machkoutens, le nation du feujjeula curiosity de boire des eaux mineralles de la riviere qui n'est pas loing de cette bourgade, je pris aussi le temps de recon- noistre un simple qu'un sauvage qui en scait le secret a enseign^ au P. Alloiies avec bcaucoup de ceremonies. Sa racine sert contre la morsure des serpents, Dieu ayant voulu donner ce remede contre un venin qui est tres frequent en ces pays. Elle est fort chaude, et olle a un gout de poudre quand on I'escrase sous la dent ; il faut la mascher et la mettru sur la piquurre du serpent, qui en a une si grande horreur, qu'il s'enfuit mesme de celuy,qui s'en est frott^, elle produit plusieurs tiges, hautes d'un pied, dont la feuille est un peu longue et la fleur blanche et beaucoup semblable a la giroflee. J'en mis dans mon canot pour Texammer a loisir pendant que nous avan- cions tousjour vers Maskoutens, ou nous arrivflmes le 7 de Juin. SECTION III. ,115 V I K Description de la S-^urgade de Maskoutens, Cequi iy passu entre le Pere et let sauvages ; Les Frunfois emnmencent cFentrer dans un Pays nouveau et ineonnu et arrivent a Missispi. Nous voicy rendus a Maskoutens. Ce mot en Algonquin peut signiiier, nation du feu ; aussi ect ce le nom qu'on luy a donne. C'est ici le terme des decouvertes qu'ont fait les Francois, car lis n'ont point encore pass^ plus avant. Ce Bourg est compose de trois sortes de Nations qui s'y sont ramass^es, des Miamis, des Maskoutens, et des Kikabous. Les pre- miers sont les plus civils, les plus liberaux, et les mieux faitz ; lis portent deux longues moustaches sur les oreilles, qui leur donnent bonne grace, ils passent pour les guerriers, et font rarement des parties sans succez ; ils sont fort dociles, ils escoutent paisiblement ce qu'on leur dit et ont paru si avides d'entendre le P. Alloiies quand il les instruisoit, qu'ils luy donnoient peu de repos, mesme pendant la nuict. Les Maskoutens et les Kikabous sont plus grossiers et DIB0OYERIE8 IN TUt it- mufnifin, Inir fijure tt It'itr iiatun/.—J-fe* ptniiieri^ viUiiffru dm llinoi»on let Franroia arrU'ent, Noi;« voyla done sur cotto rivioro hI ronomm6o dont iiiy tach6 d'en romanjuer nitentivcmont toiitcs Ics siiigularitos ; la rivioro do MiNHJHipi tiro son originu do divers lacs qui aont dtuis lo pnyt .es poupU's du nord ; elle eat cstroitte a na dcchnrge do Minkous. Son cournnt qui porto du costo du sud eat lent ct pnisiblo. A la droitte on voist uiio grandn ehaiano do montiigiics furt hautcH ct a lu gauclie de belles tcrres ; cUo est coupco d'ialca en divers cndroictz. En sondant nous avons trouviss dix brasses d'cau, sa largeur est fort inegale, ello a quelquefois trois quartz do lieiies, et quelqucfois elle so rctressit juscpiu trois arpens. Nous suivons doucenient son cours, qui Ta au sud ct au sudest jusqu'uux 42 dcgr^s d'elcvation. Coat icy quo nous noCis appercevons bien qu'elle a tout change do face. II n'y a prosquo plus de bois ny de montagnes, les isles sent plus belles et couvcrtes do plus benux arbres ; nous no voions que des chevreils ct des vaches, des outardes et des cygnes sans aisles, par- cequ'ils qu.ttont leurs plumes en ce pays. Nous rencontrons de temps en temps des poissons monstrucux, un desquels donna si rude- ment contre nostro canot, que jo crii quo c'estoit un gros arbre qui I'alloit metlre en pieces, line autrefois nous apperccumes sur I'eau un monstre qui avoit une teste de tigre, le nez pointu commo celuy d'un chat sauvage, avec la barbe ut des oreilles droittes elevees en haut, la teste estoit grize et le col lout noir, nous n'en vismes pas davantage. Quand nous avons jette nos retz a I'eau nous avons pris des esturgeons et une espece de poisson fort extresordinairo, il res- semble a la truitte avec cette difference, qu'il a la gueulo plus grande, il a proche du nez (qui est plus petit aussi bien que les yeux) une grande areste, comme un bust do femme, large de trois doigts, long d'une coudee, aubout de laquelle est un rond largo commo la main, Cola I'oblige souvent en saultant hors de I'eau de tomber en derriere. Estar,'. descendus jusqua 41 degrea 28 minuittes suivant le mesmo rund, nous trouvons que les coos d'inde ont pris la place du gibier et Jos pisikiuus ou boeufs sauvages celles des autres bestes. A'. 240 Vn '^■^^ NABEATIVE OF FATHER MAKQUETTE. Nous les appelons boeufs sauvages parcequ'ila sont bien semblables a nos boeufs domestiques, ils ne sont pas plus longs, mais ils sont pres d'une fois plus gros et plus corpulentz ; nos gens en ayant tu^ un, trois personnes avoient bien de la peine a le remiier. Ils ont la teste forte grosse, le front plat et large d'un pied et demy entre les comes qui sont entierement semblables a celles de nos boeufs, mais elles sont noires et beaucoup plus grande. Ils ont sous le col comme une grande falle,.qin pend en bas et sur le dos une bosse assez elevee. Toute la teste, la col et une partie des espaules sont cou- vertz d'un grand crin comme celuy des chevaux, c'est une hure longue d'un pied, qui les rend hideux et leur tombant sur les yeux les empeche de voire devant eux. Le reste du corps est revetu d'un gros poil frise a peu pres come celuy de nos moutons, mais bien plus fort et plus espais, il tombe en este et la peau devient douce comme du velours. C'est pourlors que les sauvages les employent pour s'en faire de belles Robbes qu'ils peignent de diverses couleurs ; la chair et la graisse des pisikious est excellente et fait le meilleur mets des festins. Aureste ils sont tres mechants et il ne se passent point d'annee qu'ils ne tuent quelque sauvage ; quand on vient les attaquer, ils prennent s'ils peuvent un homme avec leurs comes, I'enlevent en I'air, puis ils le jettent contre terre, le foulent des pieds et le tuent. Si on tire de loing sur eux ou de I'arc au du fusil, il faut si tost apres le coup se jetter a terre et se cacher dans I'herbe, car s'ils apercoivent celuy qui a tire, ils courent apres et le vont attaquer. Comme ils ont les pieds gros et assez courtz, ils ne vont pas bien viste pour I'ordinaire, si ce n'est lorsqu'ils sont irritez. Ils sont espars dans les prairies comme des troupeaux; j'en ay veu une bande de 400. Nous avancons tousjours mais comme nous ne s9avions pas od nous alliens ayant fait deia plus de cent lieiies sans avoir rien de- couvert que des bestes et des oyseaux nous nous tenons bien sur nos gardes ; c'est pourquoy nous ne faisons qu'un petit feu a terre sur le soir pour preparer nos repas et apres souper nous nous en eloignons le plus que nous pouvons et nous allons passer la nuict dans nos canotz que nous tenons a I'ancre sur la riviere assez loing des bords ; ce qui n'empeche pas que quelqu'un denous ne soit tousjour en sen- tinelle de peur de surprise, Allant par le sud et le sud suroiiest nous nous trouvons a la hauteur de 41 degrez et jusqua40 degrez quelques minutes en partie par sudest et en partie par le suroiiest apres avoir mri- DISCOVERIES IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 241 i'ila de- nos irle Inons no8 prds; sen- (nous Iques lavoir avanc^ plus de 60 lieiies depuis nostre entree dans la Riviere sans rien decouvrir, Enfin le 25e Juin nous aperceiimes sur le bord de I'eau des pistea d'hommes, et un petit sentier asscz battu, qui entroit dans une belle prairie. Nous nous arrestames pour Tcxaminer, et jugeant que cestoit un chemin qui condiiisoit a quelque village de sauvages, nous primes resolution de I'aller reconnoistre : nous laissons done nos deux canotz sous la garde de nos gens, leur recommandont bien de ne se pas laisser surprendre, apres quoy M. Jollyet et moy entre- prlmes cette decouverte assez hazardeuse pour deux liommes seuls qui s'exposent a la discretion d'un peuple barbare et inconnu. Nous suivons en silence ce petit sentier et apres avoir fait environ 2 lieiies, nous decouvrlmes un village sur le bord d'une riviere, et deux autres sur un costeau escarle du premier d'une demi lievie Ce fut pour lors que nous nous recommandames, a Dieu de bon c(Bur et ayant im- plore son secours nous pass&mes outre sans 6tre decouverts et nous vinsmes si pres que nous entendions mesme parler les sauvages. Nous crumes done qu'il estoit temps de nous decouvrir, ce que nous fismes par un cry que nous poussames de toutes nos forces, en nous arrestant sans plus avancer. A ce cry les sauvages sortent prompte- ment de leurs cabanes et nous ayant probablement reconnus pour frangois, surtout voyant une robe noire, ou du moins n'ayant aucun suject de deflliance, puisque nous n'eslions que deux hommes, et que nous les avions advertis de nostre arrivee, ils deputerent quattre viel- liards, pour nous venir parler, dontz deux portoient des pipes a pren- dre du tabac, bien ornees et empanachees de divers plumages, ils marchoient a petit pas, et elevant leurs pipes vers le soleil, lis sem- bloient luy presenter a fumer, sans neamoins dire aucun mot. lis furcnt assez long temps a faire le peu de chemin depuis leur village jusqu'a nous. Enfin nous ayant abordes, ils s'arresterent pour nous considercr avec attention ; je me rassuray, voyant ces ceremonies, que ne so font parmy eux qu'entre amys, et bien plus quand je les vis couvertz d'estoffe, jugeant par laqu'ils estoient de nos alliez. Je leur parlay done le premier et je leur demanday, qui ils estoient, ils me repondirent qu'ils estoient Ilinois et pour marque de paix ils nous presenterent leur pipe pour petuner, ensuitte ils nous inviterent d'entrer dans leur village, oil tout le peuple nous attendoit avec im- patience. Ces pipes a prendre du tabac s'appellent an ce pays des calumetz ; ce mot sy est mis tellement en usage, que pour estre en- tendu je seray oblige de m'en servir ayant a en parler bien des fois. 16 e 4 If 242 NARRATIVB OF FATUEB MARQUKTTB. !!.1 [i r^^ SECTION V. Comment let liinoia receurent le Pere dan» leitr JBourgade. A LA porte de la cabane od nous devions estie receus, eatoit un vielliard qui nous attendoit dans une posture assez surprenanle, qui est la ceremonie qu'ils gardent quand ils recoivent des estrangers. Cet homme estoit debout et tout nud.tenant ses mains estendus et levees vers le soleil, comme s'il eut voulu se defTendre de ses rayons, les- quels neamoins passoient sur son visage entre ses doigts ; quand nous fusmes proches de luy, il nous fit ce compliment ; que le soleil est beau, fran9ois, quand tu nous viens visiter, tout nostre bourg t'attend, et tu entreras en paix dans toute nns cabancs. Cela dit, il nous introduisit, dans la sienne, od il y avoit une foule de monde qui nous devoroit des yeux, qui cependant gardoit un profond silence, on entendoit neamoins ces paroles qu'on nous addressoit de temps en temps et d'une voix basse, que voyla qui est bien, mes freres, de ce que vous nous visitez. Apres que nous eusines pris place, on nous fit la civilite ordinaire du pays, qui est de nous presenter le calumet ; il ne faut pas le refuser, si on ne veut passer pour ennemy, 6u du moins pour in- civil, pourveu qu'on fa'sse semblant de fumer, c'est assez ; pendant que tons les anciens petunoient apres nous pour nous honorer, on vient nous inviter de la part du grande capitaine de tons les Tlinois de nous transporter en sa Bourgade, ou il vouloit tenir conseil avec nous. Nous y allames en bonne cqmpagnie, car tous ces peuples, qui n'avoient jamais veu de fran^ois chez eux ne se lassoient point de nous regarder, ils se couchoient sur I'herbe le long des cheinins, ils nous devan9oient, puis ils retournoient sur leurs pas pour nous venir voir encor. Tout cela se faisoit sans bruit et avec les marques d'un grand respect qu'ils avoient pour nous. Estant arrivez au Bourg du grand Capitaine, nous'le vismes a I'entree de sa cabanne, au milieu de deux vielliards, tout trois debout et nud tenant leur calumet tourne vers le soleil, il nous harangua en peu de motz, nous felicitant de nostre arriveo, il nous presenta en- Buitte son calumet et nous fit fumer, en mesme temps que nous entrions dans sa cabanne, od nous receumes toutes leurs caresses ordinaires. ou pnit Ce I. "Spw DISCOVERIES IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 243 Ivismes a Lis debout ratigua en isenta en- Ique nous caresses Voyant lout le monde assemble et dans le silence, je leur parlay par quaUre presents que je leur lis, par le premier je leur disois que Tious marchions en paix pour visiter les nations qui s'etoient sur la riviere jusqu'a la mer ; par le second je leur declaray que Dieu qui les a crees avoit pitie d'eux, puisqu'apres tant de temps qu'ils I'ont ignore, il vouloit se faire connoistre a tous ces peuples, que j^stois envoy6 de sa part pour ce dessein, que c'estoit a eux a le reconnois- tre et a luy obeir, Par le troisieme que le grand capitaine des fran- <^o\h leur faisoit s(^avoir que c'estoit luy qui mettoit la paix partout et qui u\ ') dompt^ I'lroquois. Enfin par le quatrieme nous les prions do iini -, donner toutes les connoissances qu'ils avoient de la mer, et des nations par lesqueiles nous devions passer pour y arriver. Quand jeu finy mon discour, le capitaine se leva, et tenant le main sur la teste d'un petit esclave qu'il nous vouloit donner il par la ainsi. le te remercie Robe Noire, et toy franqois (s'addressant a M.Jollyet), de ce que vous prenez tant de peine pour nous venir visiter, jamais la terre n'a este si belle ny le soleil si ^clatant qu'au« jourdhui ; jamais notre riviere n'a est^ si calme, n'y si nette de rochers que vns canotz ont enlevees en passant, jamais nostre petun n'a eu si bon gout, n'y nos bleds n'ont paru si beau que nous les voions maintenant. Voicy mon fils que je te donne pour te faire con- noistre mon coBUr, je te prie d'avoir pitie de moy et de toute ma nation, c'est toy qui connoist le grand Genie qui nous a tous faits, c'est toy qui luy parle et quy escoute sa parole, demande luy qu'il me donne la vie et la sante et vient demeurer avec nous, pour nous le faire con- noistre. Cela dit il mit le petit esclave proche de nous,et nous fit un second present, qui estoit un calumet tout mysterieux, dont ils font plus d'estat que d'un esclave ; il nous t6moignoit par ce present I'es- time qu'il faisoit de monsieur nostre gouverneur, sur le recit que nous luy en avions f;iit ; et pour un troisieme il nous prioit de la part de toute sa nation, de ne pas passer oultre, a cause des grands dangers ou nous nous exposions. Je repondis que je no craignois point la mort, et que je n'estimois pniiit de plus prand bonheur que de perdre la vie pour la gloire de Celuy que a tout fait. C'est ce que ces pauvres peuples ne peuvent comprendre. Le conseil fut suivy d'un grand festin qui consistoit en quatlre metz, qui'l fallnt prendre avec toutes leurs faQons, lo premier service fut un grand plat de bois plein de sajrnniitt!, c'est-a-dire de farine do bled d'inde qu'on f?it boiiillur avec de I'eau qu'on assaisonne de graisse. ■ (ii>' i ! 244 KABBATIVE OF FATHEB MAEQUETTS. Le maistre des ceremonies avec une cuillier ploine de aagamit^ me la presenta a la bouche par trois ou 4 fois, comme on feroit a un petit enfant, il fit le mesme a M. JoUyet. Pour second mets il fit par* oistre un second plat oil il y avoit trois poissons, il en prit quelquea morceaux pour en oster les arestes, et ayant souffle dessus pour les rafraichir, il nous les mit a la bouche, comme Ton donneroit la beschee a un oyseau. On apporte pour troisieme service un grand chien, qu on venoit de tuer, mais ayant appris que nous n'en mangions point, on le retira de devant nous. Eiifin le4<^rut une piece de boeuf sauvage, dont on nous mit a la bouche les morceaux les plus gras. Apres ce festin il fallut aller visiter tout le village, qui est bien compose de 300 cabannes. Pendant que nous marchions par les rues, un orateur haranguoit continuellement pour obliger tout le monde a nous voir, sans nous estre importuns ; on nous presentoit partout des ceintures, des jartieres et autres ouvrages fails de poil d'ours et de bueuf et teins en rouge, en jaune, et en gris, ce sent toutes les raretez qu'ils ont ; commes elles ne sent pas bien consider- bles, nous ne nous en chargeamee point. Nous couchames dans la cabane du capitaine etle lendemain nous prismes conge de luy, promettant de repasser par son bourg dans quatre lunes. II nous conduisit jusqua nos canotz avec pres de 600 personnes qui nous virent embarquer, nous donnant toutes les marques qu'ils pouvoient de la joye que noire visile leur avoit causae. Je m'engageay en mon particulier, en leur disant adieu que je vien drois Tan prochain demeurer avec eux pour les instruire. Mais svant que de quitter le pays des llinois, il est bon que je rapporte ce que j'ay recuunu de leurs coustdmes et fa9ons do faire. '^W^ DIBOOYEBIBS IX THE MISSISSIPPI VALLET. 246 SECTION VI. Du naturel de» Ilinoi*, de leurt meurt, et de leurt eouitumei, de Peitime qu'ilt ont pour le Calumet ou pipe a prendre du Tabae el de la dante qriiltfont en ton honneur. Qui dit Ilinois, c'est comme qui diroit en leur langue les homines, comme si les autres sauvages, aupres d'euxnepassoientque pour des bestcs, aussi faut il advoiier qu'ils ont un air d'humanit^ que nous n'avons pas remarquc dans les autres nations que nous avons veiies sur nostre route. Le peu de sejour que jay fait parmy eux ne m'a pas permis de prendre toutes les connoissances que j'aurois souhaite ; de toutes leurs fa9on8 de faire voicy ce que j'en ay remarque. lis sont divis^s en plusieurks bourgades dont quelquesunes sont ass^s ^loignees de celle dont nous parlons qui s'appelle Peoiiarca, c'est ce qui met de la diflference en leur langue, laquello universalle- nient tient de Tallegonquin de sorte que nous nous entendions facile- ment les uns les autres. Leur naturel est doux et traitab'.e, nous I'avons experimente dans la reception qu'il nous ont faitte. lis ont plusieurs femmes dont ils sont extremement jaloux, lis les veillent avec un grand soin et ils leur couppent le nez ou les oreilles quand elles ne sont pas sages, j'en ay veu plusieures qui portoient les marques de leurs desordres. lis ont le corps bien fait, ils sont lestes et fort adroits a tirer de Tare et de la fl^che. lis se servent aussi des fusils qu'ils acheptent des sauvages nos allies qui ont commerce avec nos fran^ois ; ils en usent particulierement pour donner I'epouvante par le bruit et par la fumee a leurs ennemys qui n'en n'ont point I'usage et n'en ont jamais veu pour estre trop 61oigne vers le couchan* Ils sont belliqueux et se rendent redoutables aux peuples eloigi.cj du sud et de Toiiest, od ils vent faire des esclaves, dcsqucls ils se ser- vent pour trafiquer, les vendant cheremertt a d'autres nations, pour d'autres marchandises. Ces sauvages si eloigncs chez qui ils vont en guerre n'ont aucune connoissance d'Europeans ; ils ne savent ce que c'est ny de fer ny de cuivre et n'ont que des couteanx de pierre. Quand les Ilinois partent pour aller on guerre, il faut que tout le bourg en soit adverty par le grand cry qu'ils font a la porte de leurs cabanes, le soir et ie matin avant que de partir. Les capi- ( a 246 NABRATITE OF FATHEB MABQUBTTE. taijies 86 distinguent des soldats par des escharpos rouges qu'ils por- tent, elles sont failles de crin d'ours et du poil de bmufs sauvages avec assez d'industrie ; ils se peigiient le visage d'un rouge de san- guine, dont ily a grande quantity a quelques juurn^es du bourg. Ils vivent de chasse qui est abondante en ce pays et de bled d'inde dont ils font tousjour une bonne recolte, aussi n'ont ils jr.mais souflert de famine, ils sement aussi des febves et des melons qui sont exc«l- lentz, surtout ceux qui ont la groine rouge, leurs citrouilles ne sont pas des meilleures, ils les font secher au soleil pour les manger pendant I'hyver et le primptemps. Leur cabanes sont fort grandes, elles sont couvertes et pavees de nattes failtes de jimcs : ils trouvent toutes leur vaiselle dans le bois et leurs cuilliers dans la teste de boBufs dont ils savent si bien accommoder le crane qu'ils s'en servent pour manger aisement leur sagamite. Ils sont liberaux dans leurs maladies, et croyent que les medica- mens qu'on leur donne, operent a proportion des presents qu'ils auront fais au m^decin. Ils n'ont que des peaux pour habitz, les femmes sont tousjours vestiies fort modestement et dans une grando bien seance au lieu que les hommes ne se mettent pas en peine de 80 couvrir. Je ne scai'3 par quelle superstition quelques Ilinois, aussi bien que quelques Niidoiiessi, estant encore jeunes prennent I'babit des femmes qu'ils gardent toute leur vie. II y a du mystere ; car il ne se marient jamais, et font gloire de s'abaisser a faire tout ce que font les femmes ; ils vont pourtant en guerre, mais ils ne peuvent se servir que de la massiie, et non pas de I'arc ny de la fleche qui sont les armes propres des hommes, ils assistent a toutes los jonglerios et aux danses solemnelles qui se font a I'honneur du calumet, ils y chantent mais ils n'y peuvent pas danser, ils sont ap- pelles aux conseils, ou Ton ne peut rien decider sans leurs advis ; enfin par le profession qu'ils font d'une vie extresordinaire, ils pas- sent pour des manitous, c'est-adire pour des Genies ou des personnes de consequence. II ne reste plus qu'a parler du calumet. II n'est rien parmy eux ny de plus mysterieux ny de plus recommandable, on ne rend pas tant d'honneur aux couronnes et aux sceptres des Roys qu'ils luy en ren- dent; il semble estre le dieu de la paix et de la guerre, I'arbitre de la via et de la mort. C'est assez de le porter sur soy et de le faire voir pour marcher en assurance au milieu des ennemys, qui dans le fort du com- bat mettent bas les armes quand on le montre. C'est pour cela que les Ilinois m'en donnerent un pour me servir de sauvegarde parmy toutes niSCOVERIKS IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLKY. m les nations, pnrlesquelles jo devois pnHser Jans mon voyage. II ya un ciilumct pour In paix et un pour la guerro, qui ne sunt distingue quo par la couleur des plumages dontz ils sont ornes. (Le Rouge eef marque de guerre), lis s'en servcnt encor pour terminer leur difier ents, pour aflermir leurs alliances et pour parler aux ostrangers.* II est compose d'une picrre rouge pulie comme du marbre et perc^e d'une telle faqon qu'un bout sert a recevoir le tabac et I'autre 8'en« clave dans le manche, qui est un baston de deux pieds de long, gros comme utie canne ordinaire et percce par le milieu; il est embelly de la teste et du col de divers nyseaux, dont le plumage est trda beau; ils y ajoutent aussi de ^randt^s plumes rouges, vertes et d'autres couleurs, dont il est tout empanache ; ils en font estat par> ticulierement, parcequMls le regardent comme le calumet du soloil ; et de fait ils le luy presentent pour Turner quand ils veulent obtenir du calme, ou* de la pluye ou du beau temps. lis font scrupule de se baigner au commencement de TEst^, ou de manger des fruits nouveaux qu'apres I'avoir dance. En voicy la fa<;on. La danse du calumet, qui est fort celebre parmy ces peuples, ne ee fait que pour des sujets considerables ; quelque fois c'est pour af- fermir la paix ou se reiinir pour quelque grande guerre ; c'est d'au- tres fois pour une rejoiiissance publique, tantost on' en fait honneur a une nation qu'on invite d'y assister, tantost ils sen servent a la re- ception de quelque personne considerable comme s'ils voul Jient luy donner le divertissement du Bal ou de la Comede ; Thyver la cere- monie se fait dans une cabane, TEste c'est en raze c&mpagne. La place etant choisie, on I'environne tout a I'entour d'arbres pour metlre tout le munde a I'ombre de leurs feiiillages, pour se defendre des chaleurs du soleil ; on etend une grande natte de joncs peinte de diverses couleurs au milieu de la place ; elle sert comme de tapis pour mettre dessus avec honneur le Dieu de celuy qui fait la Dance ; car chacun a le sien, qu'ils appellent leur manitou, c'est un serpent ou un oyseau, ou chose semblable qu'ils ont resve en dor- mant et en qui ils mettent tout leur confiance pour le succez deleur guerre, de leur pesche et de leur chasse ; pres de ce manitou et a sa droite, on met le calumet en I'honneur de qui se fait la feste ct tout a I'entour on fait comme une trophee et on estend les armes dont se servent les guerriers de ces nations, s^avoir la massiie, la hache d arme, Tare, le carquois et les fleches. * From this to the next star is from Thevenot. m 248 NARBATIVK OF FATHER MAHQUETTK. -: V -^ r-f— ' i Lea choses estant aiiisi disposdes ot I'iicuro do la danre appro- chant, coux qui Hont nommoz pour chantor prennnnt k pliico la plui» honorable sous lea fodillagos ; co sont les hommes et les foniinefi qui ont les plus belles voix, et qui s'accordent parfaitement bien ensem- bio ; tout le monde vient ensuitte se placer en rond souu lea branches, mais chacun en arrivant doit saliier lo inaititou, ce qu*il fait en petu- nant et jettant de sa bouche la fuinee sur luy commo s'il luy pro- sentoit de I'encens ; chacun va d'abord avec respect prendre le cal- umet et le soutenunt des deux mains, il lo fait dancer en cadence, s'accnrdant bion avec I'uir des chansons ; il luy fuit fnire des figures bien diflerontes, tantost il le fait voir a toute I'usscmbl^e se tournant de cote et d'autro ; npres cela, celuy qui doit commencer la dance paroist au milieu de rassemblce ot va d'ubord et tantoat il le presente au soleil, comme s'il le vouloit faire Turner, tantost il I'incline vers la terre, d'autrefois il luy cstend les aisles comme pour voler, d'autres fois il Tapproche de la bouche des assistans, aiinqu'ils fument, le tout en cadence, et c'est comme la premiere scene du Ballet. La seconds consiate en un combat qui ae fait au aon d'une eapece de tambour, qui auccode aux chansons, ou mesme qui s'y joignant s'accordent fort bien ensemble ; le Dunseur fait signo a quelque guerrier de venir prendre les armes qui sont sur la natte et I'lnvite a se battre au son des tambours ; celuyci s*approche, prend Tare et la ileche, avec la hache d'armes et commence le diiel contre I'autre, qui n'a point d'autre defense que le calumet. Ce spectacle est fork agreable, surtdut les faisant tousjours en cadence, car Tun attaque, I'autre se defend, Tun porte des coups, I'autre les pare, I'un fuit, I'uutre le poursuit et puis celuy qui fuyoit toume visage et fait fiiyr aon en- nemy, ce qui se passe si bien par mesure et a pas comptez et au son regie des voix et des tambours, que cela pourroit passei! pour une aasez belle entree de Ballet en France. La troisieme scene conaiste en un grand discours que fait celuy qui tient le calumet, car le combat estant fini sans sang repandu, il raconte les batailles o'u il s'est trouve, les victoiresqu'il a remportees, il nomme les nations, les lieux et les captifs qu'il a faitz, et pour re- compense celuy qui preside a la ilanse luy fait present d'une belle robe de castor ou de quelque autre chose et I'ayant roceu il va pre- senter le calumet a un autre, celuyci a un troisieme, et ainsi de tous les autre^, jusqu'aceque tous ayant fait leur devoir, le President fait present du calumet mesme a la nation qui a este invitee a cette ceremo- nie,pour marque de la paix eternelle qui seraentro les deux peuples. >!i%''-| DIS00VRRIB8 IN TIIK MISBIRBim VALLKY. 2i9 Voicy quolqu'nne dos chansoim qn'ila ont coustume de clianlor, ils Icur donnent un certain tour qu'on iie pout aasez exprimer par la notte, qui nuamoiiis en fait toute la grace. " Ninahftni, ninaltani, ninaliani, nanioDgo." I celuy idu, il |)rtee8, [)ur re- belle Ira pre» ie tous |nt fait sremo- »uples. SECTION VII. NoiTR prenons conge de nos Ilinois sur la fin de Juin vera les trois heures apres midy, nous nous embarquons a laveiie de tous ces peuples qui adiniroient nos petits canotz, n'en ayant jamais veu de semblahles. Nuus descendons suivant le courant de la riviere appellee Pekit- anoiii, qui se decharge dans Missisipi venant du Nordoiiest, de la quelle j'uy quelque chose de considerable k dire apres que j'auray racont6 ce que j'ay remarqu6 sur cette riviere.* Passant proche des rochers assez hautz qui bordent la riviere j'apperceu un simple qui m'a paru fort extraordinaire. I^a racine est sombluble a des petitz naveaux atlacliez Iss uns aux autres par des petitz fiietz qui ont le gout de carote ; do cette racine sort une feuille large comme la main, espaisses d'un demi doigt avec des taches au milieu ; de cette feuille naissent d'autres fouilles rosemblables aux plaques qui scrvent de flambeaux dans nos sales et chasque feuille porte cinq ou six fleurs jaunes en forme de clochettes. Nous trouv&mes quantity de meures aussi grosses que celle de France, et un petit fruict que nous prismes d'abord pour des olives, mais il avoit le gout d'orange et un aultre fruict gros comme un oeuf de poule, nous le fendismes en deux et parurent deux separations, dans chasqu'une desquelles il y a 8 ou 10 fruicts enchassez, ils ont la figure d'amande et sont fort bons quand ils sont meurs ; Tarbre neamoins qui les porte a tres mauvaise odeur et sa feuille ressemble a celle de noyer, il se trouve aussi dans les prairies un fruit sembla- ble a des noisettes mais plus tendre : les feuilles sont fort grandes et viennent d'une tige au bout de laquelle est une teste semblable a celle d'un tournesul, dans laquelle toutes ces noisettes sont propre- ment arrangees, elles sont fort bonnes et cuites et crues. Comme nous coltoions des rochers afTreux pour leur haulteur et pour leur longeur, nous vismes sur un de ses rochers deux monstres r m 3S0 NARRATIVE OF FATHKR MAUQUKTrE. en pcinturn qui nouH firciit pour d'ubonl ot 8ur leHquolH \cn Nnuvn^es lea pluH hanlyH n'oHoiit piiH nrro.stor luiiKtoinpH I«>h ycux ; IIn hoiiI gros uomiitH uii veau ; iU orit den curncs on toNio comnieH duH cluivruils ; un rcgtiril iiflrcux, dcH yeux rou^os, uno Imrbo roinmo d'un lyiiro, la I'lico a (|uol(|Uo rhuHO do riioinine, le corps cnuvort d'oc-iiilleH vt la quuiiu si loiiguo qu'elle fait tout lo tour du corps pnHNiiiit pur desHUH la testo et rotournant entre Ioh jnmbeM elle ho tcrmine ou quoue de poisBon. Le vert le rouge et le uoirastre soiit les trois couleurs qui le cotnposcnt ; nu reste ceti 2 nionatreH noiit si bion point que nous ne pouvons pas entire qu'aucun sauvago en soil I'liuthonr, puis(pielen bona peintres en France auroient peine a si hien faire, vouque d'ail- leurs ils sent si hauts sur le rocher qu*il est difTicile d'y uttoindro commodenient pour les poindre. Vuicy apeupres la figure de cua nionstres coinnie nous I'uvons contretiree. Comme nous entreteniuns sur ces nionstres, vcguant pnisibleinent dans une belle enu claire et dormante nous entendisme le bruit d'un rapide, dans lequel nous allions tomber. Je n'ay rien vou de plus aiTreux, un ambaras de gros arbros entiers, de branches, d'isletz do* tans, sortoit de I'emboucliure de la riviere Pokitanoiii avec taut d'im- petuosite qu'on ne pouvoit s'expose a passer au travers sans grand danger. L'ogitation estoit telle que I'euu en estoit toute boueuse et ne pouvoit s'epurer. Pekitanoiii est une riviere considerable q' I venant d'ussez loing du coste du noroiiest, so decharge dans Mis- sisipi, plusieurs Bourgades de sauvages sont placees le long de cette riviere et jespere par son moyen fuiro la dccouverte de la mer Ver- meille ou de Californie. Nous jugeons bien par le rund de vent que tient Missisippi, si elle continue dans la mesme route, qu'elle a sa decharge dans le golphe mexique ; il seroit bien advantageux de trouver celle qui conduit a la mer du sud, vers la Californie et c'est comme j'ay dit ce que j'espere de rencontrer par Pekitanoui, suivant le rapport que m'en ont fait les sauvages, desquels j'ay appris qu'en refoulant cette riviere pendant 5 ou 6 journees on Irouve une belle prairie de 20 ou 30 lieiies de long, il faul la traverser allant au noroiiest, elle so termine a une autre petite riviere, sur laquelle on pent s'embarquer, n'etant pas bien dif- ficile de transporter les canotz par un si beau pays telle qu'est cette prairie. Cette 2de riviere a son cours vers le souroUest pendant 10 ou 15 lieiies, apres quoy elle entre dans un petit lac, que est la source d'une autre riviere profonde, laquelle va au couchant, ou elle se jette dans la mer. Je ne doubto presque point que ce ne soit la Mer Vermeille, DUOOVUItlKS IN TlIK MUaHHIPl'I VALLRT. 961 et je ne dcneHpore pax d'en fairn un jour la decouverto, si Dinu m'en fait 111 ^raco otine donne la Bttnte aflin da pouvoir puldicr rEvaiiKile a touN loA poupleH de co noiiveuu mcmdo, qui out croupi si loiigtemps dans lea tenebreH de riiifidclil^. Reprenons noatro route nprca nous estro eachnpo commo nnua avona pik do ce dangureux rupido cuuso par Tumb^rua dont j'uy parle. SECTION VIII. Dei nouveaux pay* que le Pere decouvre. — Divereee parlicularitii, — Renenntrt de quelqufi Muvagee ; premieres nouvcllei de la Mer et dee Europeane. — Grand danger evite par le moi/en du calumet, Apres avoir fait environ 20 lieiies droit au sud et un peu moins an sudest nous nous trouvons a une riviere nominee Ouiiboukigou dont I'eiiibouchure est par les 3G degrez d'elevation. Avant que d'y arriver nous passons par un lieu redoutable aux sauvnges piircequ'ils estimeiit qu'il y a un manitou, c'est a dire un demon qui devore les passans et c'est de quoy nous mena^oient les suuvages qui nous vouluient detourner de nostre enterprise. Voicy ce demon, c'est une petite anse de rochers haulte de 20 pieds ou se degorge tout le courant de la riviere lequel estant repousse contre celuy qui le suit et arreste par une isle qui est proche, est contraint de passer par un petit canal, ce qui ne se fait pas sans un furieux combat de toutes ces eaux qui rebroussent les uns sur autres et sans un grand tintamarre qui donne de la terreur a des sauvnges qui craignent tout, mais cela ne nous emp6che point de passer et d'arriver a Uab8kig8. Cette riviere vient des terres du levant oH soot les pouples qu'un appelle Chaoiianons, en si grand nombre, qu'en un quartier on compte jusqua 23 villages et 15 enun auUre, assez prochcs les uns des aultres ; ils ne sont nullement guerriers, et ce sont les peuples que les Iroquois vont chercher si loing pour leur faire la guerre sans aucun sujet, et parceque ces pauvres gens ne scavent pas se dciTendre, ils se lais- sent prendre et emmener comme des trouppeaux, et tout innocents qu'ils sont, ils ne laissant pas de ressentir qudlque fois la barbarie des Iroquois qui les bruslent cruellement. Une peu au dessus de cette riviere dont ie viens de parler sont des falaises ou nos franqois ont apperceu une mine de fer, qu'ils I iij ( . •,! y J 1 t j ! J 1 253 NARRATIVK OF FATIIKB MAUQCKTra. jugont trcH abuiulanto, il y en a pliinirurnN voiitei et un lit d'un pied de hauteur; on en voit de groH morcraux licz avec doa cailloux. II a'y trouve d'uno terro graase de truin aortca de couleura, do poiirpre de violet Pt doa Rouges. I/oau dans laquollo on Ih lave prond la couleur de aang. II y a auaai d'un aabln rougo fort pesant. J'en mia sur un aviron qui en prit la couleur ai fortoment, quo Toau ne la p6t efTiicer pendant 15 joura que je m'en servoia pour nagor. C'eat icy que nous cominencona a voir dca cannea ou groa roaeaux qui aont aur la bord do la riviere, cilea ont un vert fort agrcable, toua leH ncpuda aont couronnuz de feiiillea longuea, eatroittoa et pointilea, ellea oont fort haulea et on si grando quantite que lea bceura aauvagea ont peine de les forcer. Jua lu'a present noua n'aviona point eat^z incommod^a dca marin* gouina, mais nous cntrona comme dana Icur paya. Voicy co quo font lea aauvagea de cea qunrticra pour s'on deflTondre ; ils elovent un ca> chafiault dont le plancher n'est fait que de perches, el par consequent eat porc6 a jour aflinque la fumce du feu qu'ila font dessous passe au travers et chasse ces petitz animaux qui iic la peuvent supporter, on so couche aur lea perches au dessus deH(]uclles sont des escc-coa estendijos contre la pluye. Get eschaiTault lour sort cncor contra lea chaleurs excessives et insupportablcs do co pays, car on a'y met a I'ombre a I'ostage d'on bas ot on s'y garantit dcs rayons du Boleil, prenant le frais du vent qui passe librement autravers de cet eschaflfault. Dans le mesme dessein nous fusmes contraints de faire sur I'eau une espece de cabano avec nos voiles pour nous mettre a convert et des maringouins et des rayons du soleil, comme nous nous laissona aller en cet estat au gre de I'oau, nous apperceumes a tcrre des sauvages armez de fusilz avec lesquels ils nous attendoient. Je leur presentay d'abord mon calumet empanachc, pendant que nos frant^oia se mettent en deiTense, et attendoient a tirer, que les sauvages ; eussent fait la premiere decharge, je leur parlay en Huron, mais ils me repondirent par un mot qui me sembloit nous declarer la guerre, ils avoient neamoins autant de peur que nous, et coque nous prenions pour signal de guerre, estoit une invitation qu'ils nous faisolt de nous approcher, pour nous donner a manger, nous d^barquons done et nous entrons dans leur cabanes oil ils nous presente du bcBuf sauvage e* de I'huile d'ours, aver des prunes blanches qui sont tres excellentes. Ils ont des fusils, des baches, des hoiies, des coust- eaux, de la rassade, des bouteilles de verre double ou ils mettent leur DI80OVRRIK8 TN TIIK MIHHIHHiri'I VALLRT. 908 poudro, ils ont lea chnvnux longs ct sn mnrqiiPiit pnr In corps a U fa^on drs hiroquois, Ivs fomnios noiit coifToH ot vphIUos a lii rM<;oii des huronnoa, ils nuua asHurernnt qu'ils ii'y avoit pins quo dix journ6oa juaqu{^ la mcr, qu'ila jcheptoient lea ostofTea ot toiitcN nutrcs nmr> chandJNea doa Europeans qui ostoitMit du coh\6 de I'EHt, quo rra Europenna avoient dea chapeletz et u .. imagea, qu'ila juiloit'iit des inatrumoniz, qu'il y en nvoit qui estoient faitz comme moy <>t qu'ila •n estoient bien receu ; cependnnt jo ne vis peraonne t^ i me pnrut avoir receu aucune instruction pour la Toy, le leura en donnoy cequ9 je pAs avec quelquea meduillcs, Ces nouvellcs animerent nos courages et nous firent prendre Taviron avec une nouvelle nrdeur. Nous BVBn<;ons done et nous ne voions plus tant de prairies pnrceque lea 2 cosl6z de la riviere sont bordez de hauts boia. Les cottonniers, Ics ormes et les boisblancs y sont admirnblos poi'.r leur haulteur et leur grosseur. La grande quanta^ de boeufs sauvagea que noua entendiona meugler nous fait croire que les prairies sont proclies, nous voions aussi des cnillea le bord de I'eau, nous avons tu6 un petit perroquet qui avoit la moiti^ de la teste rouge, I'autre et le col jaune ct tout le corps vert. Nous estions dcscendus proche des 33 dtgrez d'eslevation aynnt presque tousjour este vers le sud, quand nous apperceumes un village sur le bord de I'ep.u nommd ^4itchigamea. Nous i.usmes rerours a nosire Piitronne et a nostre conductrice la Ste. Yierge Iinmaculee. et nous avions bien besoin de son asHistance, car nous entendismes de loing les sauvages qui s*aniinoient at' combat par leurs crys continu- els, ils estoient arm^s d'arcs, de Arches, de baches, de niHssues et de boucliers, ils se mirent en estat de nous attaquer par terre ct par eau, une partie s'embaraue dans de grands canotz de bois, les una pour monter la riviere, les autres pour la descendre, aflin de nous coupper chcmin, et nous envelopper de tous costez ; ceux qui es- toient a terre alloient et venoient coinme pour commencer I'attaque. i)e fuit de jeOnes hommes se jetterent a Teau, pour venire sniser de mon canot, mais le courant le*; ayant contraint de reprendre terre, un d'eux nous jetta sa massiie qui pnssa par dessus nous sans nous frapper ; j'avois beau montrer le calumet, et leur faire signe pur gestes que nous ne venions pas en gu jrre, I'alarme continuoit tounjour et I'on se preparoit deiu a nous percer de fl6ches de toutes parts, quand Dieu toucha soAdainement le coeur des vieilfards qui estoient sur le bord de I'oau sans doulite par la veiie de nosire cahmiet qu'ils n'a- Tuient pas bien reconnu de loing, mais comme je ne ccssois do le n a 264 NARRATIVE OF FATIIKR MARQUETTIB. faire paroistre, ils en furent tuuchcz, arresterent I'ardeur de leur jeunesse et mesine deux de cea anciens ayant jettez dans nostra canot comme a nos pieds leurs arcs et leurs carqnois pour nous mettre en asseurance, ils y enlrerent et nous firent approcher de terre, ou nous debarquames non pas sans crainte de nostre part. II fallut au commencement parler par gestes, parceque personne n'en- tendoit rien des six langues que je scavois, il se trouva enfin un vielliard qui parloit un peu I'llinois. Nous leurs ftmes paroistre par nos presens que nous alliens a la mer, ils entendirent bien ce que nous leur roulions dire, mais je ne scay s'ils con^eurent ce que je leurs dis de Dieu et des choses de leur salut, c'est une semence jettee en terre qui fructifira en son temps. Nous n'eusmes point d'autre reponse si non que nous ap- prendrions tout ce que nous desirions d'un aultre grand village nom- m^ Akamsea qui n'estoit qu'a 8 ou 10 lieiies plus bas, ils nous pre- aenterent de la sagamite ct du poisson et nous pass^Lmes la nuict chez eux avec assez d'inquietude. SECTION IX. Reception yu'on fait aitx Frangoit dans la dcmiere des Bourgades qu'ih orU veHes. — Lcs moiurs et fa^ons de faire de ces sauvages. — Raisons pour ne pas passer outre. Nous embarqu&mes le lendemain de grand matin avec nostre in- torprette ; un canot ou estoient dix sauvages alloit un peu devant nous, estant arrives a une demie lieiie des Akamsea, nous vismes pa- roistre deux canotz qui venoient au devant de nous ; celuy qui y com- mandoit estoit debout tenant en main le calumet avec lequel il faisoit plusieurs gestes scion le coustume du pays, il vint nous joindre en chantant assez agreablement et nous donna a Turner, apres quoy il nous presenta de la sagamite et du pain fait de bled d'inde, dont nous mangeammes un peu, ensuitle il prit le devant nous ayant fait signe de venir doucement apres luy ; on nous avoit prepare une place sous I'eschaifault du chef des guerriers, elle estoit propre et tapissee de belles nattes de jonc, sur lesquelles on nous fit asseoir, ayant antour de nous les anciens, qui est<»ienf pins proches, apres les guerriers et enfin tout le peuple en foule. Nous truuv&tnes Ta par bonlieur un ■ng- MXLg ' I L.J H» | DISCOVERIES IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 255 itre in- levant s pa- com- faisoit idre en juoy il nous |t signe ;e sous isee de autour riers et keur un jedne hoinme qui entendoit rilinois beaucoup mieux que I'lnterprette que nous avions amene de Mitchigamea, ce fut par son moyen que je parlay d'abord a toute cette assemblee par les prescns urdinaires ; ils admiroient ce que je leur disois de Dieu et des mysteres de nostre Ste foy, ils faisoient paroistre un grand desir de me retenir avec eux pour les pouvoir instruire. Nous leurs demandSmes ensuitte ce qu'ils scavoient de la mer ; ils nous repondirent que nous n'en estions qu'a dix jonrnees, nous aurions pA fa ire ce chemin en 5 jours, qu'ils ne connoissoient pas les nations qui I'habitoient a cause que leurs ennemys les empechoient d'avoir commerce avec ces Europeans, que les baches, cousteaux, et rassade que nous vuions leur estoient vendues en partie par des na- tions de I'Est et en partie par une bourgade d'llinois placee a roii^t a quattre journees de la, que ces sauvages que nous avons rencontres qui avoient des fusils estoient leurs ennemys, lesquels leur fermoient le passage de la mer et les empechoient d'avoir connoissnnce des Europeans et d'avoir avec eux aucun commerce ; qu'au reste nous nous exposions beaucoup de passer plus oultre a cause des courses continuelles que leurs ennemys font sur la riviere, qui ayantdes fusils et estant fort agguerris, nous ne pouvions pas sans un danger evident avancer sur cette riviere qu'ils occupent continuellement. Pendant cet entretien on nous apportoit continuellement a manger dans de grands platz de bois, tantost de la sagamite, tantost du bled entier, tantost d'un morceau de chien, toute la journee se passa on festins. Ces peuples sont assez officieux et liberaux de ce qu'ils ont, mais ils sont miserables pour le vivre, nosant aller a lachasse des boeufs sauvages a cause de leurs ennemys, ils est vray qu'iis ont le bled d'inde en abondance, qu'ils sement en toute saison, nous en visme en mesme temps qui esioit en maturite, d'autre qui re faisoit que pousser et d'autre qui estoit en laict, de sorte qu'ils sement trois fois I'an. lis le font cuire dans de grands potz de terre qui sont fort bien faits ; ils ont aussi des assictes de terres cuitte dontz ils se servent a divers usages. Les hommes vont nuds, portent les cheveux courtz, ont le nez perce d'ou pend de la rassade aussi bien que de leurs oreilles. Les femmes sont vestiies de meschantes peaux, noiient leurs cheveux en deux tresses, qu'elles jettent derriero les oreilles, et n'ont aucune rarete pour se parer. Leurs festins se font sans aucuno ceremonie, ils prcsentent aux invilez de grands platz dontz chascun mange a discretion, et se donnent les restcs les uns 256 NAKRATIVB OP FATHER MARQUETTB. pw| l'1^ V r ^' ''. t# '' i if \ aux aultres. Leur languo est extremement difficile et je ne pouvois Tonir about d'en prononcor quelques motz, quelque eiTort que je pusse fuire. Leurs cabanes qui sont faittes d'oscurce, sunt longues et larges, ils cuuchent aux deux bouts elevez do deux piods de terre, lis y gardent leur bled dans de grands panniers fails de Cannes, ou dans des gourdes grosses comme des demy bariques. Ils ne scavent ce quo c'est que le castor, leurs richesses consistent en peaux de boeufs sauvages, ils ne voient jamais de neige chez eux et ne con- noissent Thyver que par les pluyes qui y tombent plus souvent qu'en est6 ; nous n'y avons pas mange de fruictz que des melons d'eau. S'ils scavoient cultiver leur terre ils en auroient de toutes les sortes. Le S'lir les anciens iirent un conseil secret dans le dessein que qbelque'uns avoient de nous cassegp la teste pour nous piller, mais le chef rompit toutes ces menees. Nous ayant envoye querir, pour marque de parfaitte assurance, il dansa le calumet devant nous, do la faQon, que jay descript cy dessus, et pour nous oster toute crainte, il m'eii fit present. Nous fismes M. Jolliet et moy un aullre conseil, pour deliberer sur ce que nous avions a faire, si nous pousserions oultre o'u si n. v> nous contenterions de la decouverte que nous avions faite. A;^rt..- '>».f attentivement considerc que nous n'estions pas loing du g' > ^^- > mexique, dont le bassin estant a la haulteur de 31 degrez 60 minutes {sic), et nous nous trouvant a 33 degrez 40 minutes nous ne pouvions pas en estre eloignes plus de 2 ou 3 journees, qui indubitablement la riviere Missisipi avoit sa decharge dans la floride ou golphe Mex- ique, n'on pas du coste de Test dans la Yirginie, dont le bord de la mer est a 34 degrez que nous avons passez sans neamoins estre encor arrives a la mer ; non pas aussi du coste de Toiiest a la Califomie, parceque nous devious pour cela avoir nostre route a Toiiest ou a roiiest soroiiest et nous I'avons tousjour en au sud. Nous consider- &mes de plus que nous nous exposions a perdre le fruict de ce voyage duquel nous ne pourrions pas donner aucune connoissance, si nous allions nous jetter entre les mains des Espagnols qui sans doubte nous auroient du moins retenus captifs. En oultre nous voyions bien que nous n'estions pas en estat de resister a des sauvages allies des Euro- peans, nombreux et expertz a tirer du fusil qui infestoiont continuel- ment le bas de cette riviere. Enfin nous avions pris toutes les con- noissances qu'on pent souhaiter dans cette decouverte. Toutes ces raisons firent conclure pour le retour, que nuu° declarames aux sau- vages et pour lequel nous nous prepardmes apres un jour de repos. MMI /■ \- DISOOVEBIES m THB MISSISSIPPI VALLET. 267 SECTION X. JUiawr du Pert et det F\ranfois,—Bapteme d^un enfant mnribond, Apres un mois de navigation en descendant sur Missisipi depuis le 42*' degre jusqu'au 34" et plus, et apres avoir public I'Evangile, autnnt que j'ay pit, aux nations que j'ay rencontr^es nous partons le 17^ Juillet du village des Akensea pour retourner sur nos pas. Nous remontons done a Missisipi qui nous donne bien de la peine a refouler ses courans, il est vray que nous le quittons vers les 38e degr6 pour entrer dans une aultre riviere qui nous abbrege de beau- coup le chemin et nous conduit avec peu de peine dans le lac des Ilinois. Nous n'avons rien veu de semblable a cette riviere ou nous entrons pour la bonte des terres, des prairies, des bois, des boeufs, des cerfs, des chevreux, des chatz sauvages, des outardes, de cygnes, des canards, des perroquetz et mesme des castors, il y a quantite de petitz lacs et de petites rivieres. Celle sur laquelle nous navigeons est large, profonde, paisible pendant 65 lieiies le primptecnps et une partie de I'est^, on ne fait de transport que pendant une demy lieiie. Nous y trouvames une bourgade d'llinois nomme Kaskaskia com- posee de 74 cabanes, ils nous y ont tres bien receus et m'ont oblig^ de leur promettre que je retournerois pour les instruire. Un de chefs de cette nation avec sa jeunesse nous est venu conduire ju« su'au lac des Ilinois, d'ou enfin nous nous sommes rendus dans la baye des Puantz sur la fin de Septembre, d'ou nous estions partes vers le commencement de Juin. Quand tout ce voyage n'auroit cause que le salut d'une ame, j'es- timerois toutes mes peines bien recompensees, et c'est ce que j'ay sujet de presumer, car lorsque je retournois nous passames par les Ilinois de PeSarea, je fus trois jours a publier la foy dans toutes leurs cabanes, apres quoy coitome nous nous embarquions, on m'ap- porte au bord de I'eau un enfant moribond que je baptisay un peu avant qu'il mourut par une providence admirable pour le salut de cette ame innocente. 17 Il I ill 1 !i • ^ UNFINISHED LETTER OF FATHER MARQUETTE TO FATHER CLAUDE DABLON, SUPERIOR OP THE MISSIONS^ CONTAIKINO A JOURNAL OF HIS LAST VISIT TO THE ILINOIS. i f • MoN Reverend Pere— Pax Xi :— Atant et6 contraint de demeurer a St. Fran<;ois tout I'est^ a cause de quelque incommodite. En ayant este guery dez le mois de Sep- tembre j'y attendois I'arrivee de nos gens au retour de la bas pour s9avoir ce qu ie ferois pour mon hyvernement ; lesquels m'apporter- ent les ordres pour mon voyage a la mission de le Conception des Ilinois. Ayant satisfait aux sentiments de Y. R. pour les copies de mon iournal touchant la Riviere de Missisipi je partis avec Pierre Porteret et Jacque , le 25 Oct., 1674, sur les midy le vent nous contraignit de coucher a la sortie de la riviere ou les PtIteUatamis s'assembloient, les anciens n*ayant pas voulu qu'on allast du costez des Ilinois, de peur que la jeunesse amassant des robbes avec les marchandises qu'ils ont apportez de la bas, et chassant au castor ne voulut descendre le printemps qu'ils croient avoir suiet de craindre les NadHessi. 26 Oct. Passant au village nous n'y trouvasmes plus que deux cabannes qui partoient pour aller hyverner a la Gasparde, nous ap- prismes que 5 canots de Ptitetiatamis et 4 d'llinois estoient partis pour aller aux Kaskaskia. 27. Nous fusmes arrestez le matin par la pluye, nous cusmes beau temps et calme Tapresdisnce que nous rencontrasmes dans I'ance a I'esturgeon les sauvages qui marchoient devant nous. DKCOVKRIES IN THK MISSISSIPPI VALLKT. 259 28. On arrive au portage, un canot qui avoit pris le devant est cause (que) qu*on ne tue point de gibier ; nous commen^ons notre portage et allons coucher de Tautre bord, ou le mauvais temps nous fist bien de la peine. Pierre n'arrive qu'a une lieure de nuit s'es- garant par dHin scntier ou il n'avoit iamais cstd, apres la pluye et la tonnerre, il tombe tie la neige. 29. Ayant este contraint de changnr de cabannage, on continue de porter les paquets, le portage a pres d'une lieiie et assez incommode en plusieurs endroits, les Ilinols s'estant assembles le soir dans notre cubanne demandent qu'on ne les quitte pas, comme nous pouvions avoir besoin d'eux et qu'ils connoissent mieux le lac que nous, on leur promet. 30. Les femmes Ilinoises achevent le matin notre portage ; on est arreste par le vent, il n'y a point de bestes. 31. On parte par un assez beau temps et I'on vieut coucher a une petite riviere. Le chemin do I'ance a I'esturgeon par terre est tres difficile, nous n'en marchions pas loing I'automne passee, lorsque nous entrasmes dans le bois. Nov. 1. Ayant dit la Ste. Messe on vient coucher dans une riviere, d'ou Ton va aux Ptitebatamis par un beau chemin. ChachagBessiB Ilinois fort considere parmy sa nation, a raison en partie qu'il se mesle des aflfaires de la traitte arrive la nuit avec un chevreux sur son dns, dont il nous fait part. 2. La Ste. Messe dit, nous marchons toute la iournde par un fort beau temps, on tiie deux chats qui n'ont quasi que de la graisse. 3. Comme i'estois par terre marchant sur le beau sable tout le bordde I'eaii estoit d'herbes semblables a celle qu'on pesche aux retz St. Ignace, mais ne pouvant passer une riviere, nos gens y entrent pour m'embarquer, mais on n'en put sorter a cause de la lame, tous les autres canots passent a la reserve d'un seul qui vient avec nous. 4. On est arreste. Ily a apparence qu'il y a quelque isle au large le gibier y passant le soir. 5. Nous eusmes assez de peine de sorter de la riviere our le midy'on trouva les sauvages dans une riviere, ou ie pris occasion d'instruire les Ilinois, a raison d'un festin que NaUaskingtie venoit de faire a une peau de loup. 6. On fist une belle iournee, les sauvages estant a la chasse de- couvrirent quelques pistes d'hommes ce qui oblige d'arrester le len- demain. 9. On mit a terre sur les 2 heures a cause d'un beau cabannage, 260 NARRATIVE OF FATHER MARQUETTE. T' ou I'on fust arreste 5 iours, a cause de la grande agitation du lac sans aucun vent, ensuilte par la neige, qui fust le lendemain fondiie par le soleil et un vent du large. 15. Apres avoir fait assez de chemin on cabanne dans un bel en- droit ou Ton est arreste 3 iours Pierre raccommode le fusil d'un sau- vage, neige tombe la nuit et fonde le iour. 20. On couche aux ecors assez mal cabannez les sauvages de- meurent derriere durant qu'on est arreste du vent 2 iours et demy Pierre allant dans le bois trouve la prairie a 20 lieiies du portage, il pnsse aussi sur un beau canal comme en voute, haut de la hauteur d'un homme, ou il y avoit un pied d'eau. 23. Estant embarque sur le midy nous eusmes assez de peine de gagner une riviere, le froid commen9a par Test et plus d'un pied de neige couvrit la terre qui est tousiours depuis demeure ou fust arreste la 3 iours durant lesquels Pierre tua un chevreux, 3 outardes, et 3 cocqs d'inde, qui estoiant furt bons, les autres passerent iusques aux prairies, un sauvage ayant descouvert quelques cabannes nous vint trouver, Jacques y alia le lendempin avec luy, 2 chasseurs me vinrent aussi voir, c'estoient des MtiskBtens au nombre de 8 uu 9 cabannes, lesquelles s'estoient separez les una des autres pour pou- voir vivre, avec des fatigues presque impossibles a des fran^ois ils raarchent tout I'hyver, dans des chemins tres difliciles, les terres estant pleines de ruisseaux, de petits lacs et de marests, ils sont tres mal cabannez, et mangent ou ieiisneiil selon les lieux ou ils se ren- contrent ; estant arrestez par le vent nous remarquasmes qu'il y avoit de grandes battures au large uu la lame brisoient continuelle- ment ; ce fust la que ie sentis quelques atteintes d'un flux de ventre. 27. Nous eusmes assez de peine de sortir de la riviere et ayant fait environ 3 Heiies nous trouvasmes les sauvages qui avoient tuez des boRufs et 3 Ilinois qui estoient veiiu du village, nous fusmes ar- restez la d'un vent de terre, des lames prodigieuses qui veuoient du large, et du froid. Decembre 1. On devance les sauvages pour pouvoir dire la Ste. Mcsse. 3. Ayant dit la Ste. Messe, eataiit embarque nou!> fusmes con- train! de gagner, une pointe pour pouvuir mettre a terre a cause des bourguignons. 4. Nous partismes heiireusemetit pour venir a la riviere du portage qui estoil gelee d'liii demy pit'd, ou il y nvoit plus de neige que par- tout ailleurs,. comme aussi plus He pistes de bestes et de cocqs d'ln- It DI8COVKEIE8 IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALtET. 201 de. La navigation du lac est aasez belle d'un portage a I'autre, n'y ayant aucune traverse a faire ct pouvant mettre a terre partout, moyennant qu'on ne soit point opiniastre a vouloir marcher dans lea lames et de grand vent. Les terres qui le bordent ne valent rien, excepte quand on est aux prairies, on trouve 8 ou 10 rivieres assez belles, la chasse du chevreux est tres belle a mesure qu'on s'esloigne des PtiteUatamis. 12. Comme on commenqoit hir 9, traisner pour approcher du portage les Ilinois ayant quUtez les PSteSatamis arriverent avec Sien de la peine. Nous ne pusmes dire la Ste. Messe le iour de la Conception a cause du ' ' 1 is temps et du froid, durant notre seiour a i'entr^e de la riviere Pierre et Jacques tuerent 3 boeufs et 4 chev- reux dont un coumt assez loing ayant le cceur coupe en 2 on se con- tente de tuer 3 ou 4 cocqs d'inde de plusieurs qui venoient autour de notre cabanne, parcequ'ils mouroient quasi de faim ; Jacques ap- porta un perdrix qu'il avoit tuez, semblable en tout a celles de France, excepte qu'elle avoit comme deux aislerons de 3 ou 4 aisles longues d*un doigt proche de la teste, dont elles couvrent les 2 costez du col ou il n'y a point de plume. 14. Estant cabannez proche le portage a 2 lieues dans la riviere nous resolusmes d'hyverner la, estant dans Timpossibilite de passer outre, estant trop embarasse, et mon incommodite ne me permettant pas de beaucoup fatiguer. Plusieurs Ilinois passerent hier pour aller porter leur pelleterie a Natiaskingbe, ausquels on donne un bceufs et un chevreux que Jacque avoit tuc le iour auparavant ie ne pense pas avoir veu de sauvage plus afiam^ de petun Franqois qu'eux, ils vin- rent ietter a nos pieds des castors pour en avoir quelque bout mais nour leur rendismes en leur en donnant quelque pipe, parceque nous n'avions pas encore conclu si nous passerions outre. 15. Chachag8es6i8 et les autres Ilinois nous quitterent pour aller trouver leur gens, et leur donner les marchandises qu'ils avoient ap- portez pour avoir leur robbes en quoy ils se gouveiiient comme des traitteurs et ne donnent guere plus que les Fran9ois ; ie les instruisis avant leur depart, remettant au printemps de tenir conseil quand ie serois au village ; ils nous traitterent 3 belles robbes de boeuf pour une coudee de petun, lesquelles, nous ont beaucoup servi cet hy ver, estant ainsi desbarassez, nous dismes la Messe de la Conception ; depuis le 14 mon incommodite se tourna en flux de sang. 30. Jacque arriva du village des Ilinois qui n'estoit qu'a six lieues d'icy ou ils avoient faim le froid et la neige les empeschant de chas- ;i i 262 KABBATIVB OF FATHEB MARQUETTE. H 4 " » r 1 1- !, r| i ^.,—1 ■si 1 1 i i' , 1 i ser, quelques una ayant adverti la Toupine et le chirurgien que nom estions icy et ne pouvant quitter leur cabanne avoient tellement don* nez la peur aux sauvages crnyant que nous aurions faiin demeurant icy que Jacque eust bien de la peine d'empescher 15 jeunes gens de venir pour emporter toute nostie affaire. Janvier 16, 1675. Aussitot que les 2 fran^ois sceorent que mon mal mempesclioit daller chez eux le chirurgien vint icy avec un sauvage pour nous apporter des bluets et du bled ; ils ne sont que 18 lieiiea d'icy dans un beau lieu de chasse, pour les boeufs et les cbeT- reux et les cocqs d'inde qui y sont excellents, ills avoient aussi amas- sez des vivres en nous attendant ; et avoient fait entendre aux san- vages que leur cabanne estoit a la Robbe noire, et on peut dire qu'ils ont fait et dit tout ce qu'on peut attendre d'eux : le chirurgien ayant icy seioume pour faire ses devotions : j'envoiay Jacquo avec luy pour dire aux Ilinois qui estoient proche de la, que mon incommodite m'empeschoit de les aller voir et que iaurois mesme de la peine d'yaller le printemps si elle continuoit. 24. Jacque retourna, avec un sac de bled et d'autres rafraichisse- ment que les Fran9oi3 luy avoient donnez pour moy : il apporia aussi les langues et de la viande de deux bopufs qu'un sauvage et luy avoient tuez proche d'icy ; mais toutes les bestes se sentent de mauvais temps. 26. 3 Ilinois nous apporterent de la part des Anciens 2 sacs de bled, de la viande seche, des citrouilles et 12 castors, 1°, pour me faire une natte, 2'^, pour me demander de la poudre, 3°, pour que nous n'eussions faim, 4°, pour avoir quelque peu de marchandises ; ie leur repondis 1°^ que i'estois venu pour les instruire, en leur parlant de la priere, &c. 2"', que ie ne leur donnerois point de poudre, puisque nous taschions de mettre partout la paix, et que ie ne voulois qu'ils commen9a88ent la guerre avec les Miamis. 3"^ que nous n'appre- hendions point le faim. 4°', que iencouragerois les fran9coi8 a leur apporter des marchandises, et qu'il falloit qu'ils satisfissent ceux qui estoient chez eux pour la rassade qu'on leur avoit pris, dez que le chirurgien fust party pour venir icy. Comme ils estoient venus de 20 lieiis, pour les payer do leur peine et de ce qu'ils m'avoient ap- portez ie leur donnay une hache, 2 couteaux, 3 iambettes, 10 brasses de rassade et 2 mirouirs doubles, et leur disant qui ie tascherois d'al- ler au village seulement pour quelques iours si mon incommodite continuoit, ils me dirent de prendre courage de demeurer et de mourir daus leur pays et qu'on leur avoit dit que i'y resterois pour longtemps. DI80OTKRIE8 IN THE MIS8I8BIPPI YALLGT. M Fevrier 9. Depuis que nous nous sommes addressoz a la Ste. Yierge Immacul^e que nous avons commrncez une neufvaine par une messe a laquelle Pierre et Jacque qui font tout ce qu'ils peu- vent pour me soulager, ont communies pour demander a Dieu la sante, mon flux de sang m'a quitte, 11 ne me rcste qu'un foiblesse d'es« tomac, ie commence a meporter beaucoup mieux et a reprendre mos forces : il ne cabanne d'llinois qui s'estoit rangee proche de nous depuis un mois une partie out repris le chemin des' Ptit et quelques uns sont encore au bord du lac ou ils attendent que la navigation soit libre, ils emportent des lettres pour nos P. P. de St. Fran9ois. 20. Nous avons eu le temps de remarquer les mareez qui vien^ nent du lac lesquels haussent et baissent plusieurs fois par iour et quoyqu'il n'y paraisse aucune abry dans le lac, on a veu les glaces aller contre le vent, ces mareez nous rendoient I'eau bonne ou mau- vaisse parceque celle qui vient d'en hault coule des prairies et de petits ruisseaux, lestchevreux qui sont enquantite vers le bord du lac sont si niaigres qu'on a este contraint d'en laisser quelques uns de ce qu'on avoit tuez. Mars 23. On tue plusieurs perdrix dont il n'y a que les raals qui ayant des aislerons au col, les fem ' s u'en ayant point, ces perdrix sont assez bonnes mais non pas comme celle de France. 30. Le vent de nord ayant empesche le degeal jusques au 25 do Mars il commen9a par un vent de sud, dez le lendemain le gibior commenqa de paroistre, on tua 30 tourtres que ie trouvay meilleures que celles de la bas, mais plus petites, tant les vieilles que les ieunes ; le 28 les glaces se rompirent et s'arresterent au dessus de nous, le 29 les eaux crurent si fort que nous n'eusmes que le temps de descabanner au plutot, mettre nos affaires sur des arbres et tascher de chercher a coucher sur quelque but I'eau nous gagnant presque toute la nuit, mais ayant un peu gele et estant diminue com- me nous estions aupres de nos paquets, la digue vient de se rompre et les glaces a s'escouler et parceque les eaux remontent desia nous allons nous embarquer pour continuer notre route. La Ste. Yierge Immaculee a pris un tel soin de nous durant notre hyvernement que rien ne nous a mauque pour les vivres, ayant en- core un grand sac de bled de reste, de la viande et de la graisse ; nous avons aussi vescu fort doucement, mon mal ne m'ayant point empesche de dire la Ste. Messe tous les iours ; nous n'avons point pu garder du caresme que les Yendredys et samedys. 31. Estant hier party nous fismes 3 lieiies dans la riviere en re- I '^ I S64 KABBATIVE 07 FATHEB MABQT7ETTB. montant sans trouver aucUn portage, on traisna peut estre environ un demy arpant outre cette descharge, la riviere en a une autre par ou nous debvons descendre. II n'y a que les terres bioit hautes qui ne soient point inondeez, celle ou nous sommes a cru plus do 12 pieds a-ce fut d'icy que nous commen^aHmes notre portage ily a 18 mois; les outardos et les canards passent continuellement ; on a'est contente de 7, les glaces qui derivent encore nous font icy demeureur ne sachant pas en quel estat est le has de la riviere. Avril 1 . Comme ie ne scais point encore si ie demeuroray cet este au village ou non a cause de mon flux de ventre, nous laissons icy une partie de ce dont nous pouvons nous passer et surtout un sac de bled, tandis qu'un grand vent de sud nous arreste, nous esperons alierdemain ou sont les Francois, distant de 15 lieues d'icy. 6. Les grands vents et le froid nous empeschent de marcher. Les deux lacs par ou nous avons passez sont plains d'outardes, d'oyes, de canards, de grues et d'autres gibiers que nous ne connoissons point. Les rapides sont assez dangereux en quelques endroits, nous venons de rencontrer le chirurgien avec un sauvage qui montoit avec une canottee de pelleterie, mais le froid estant trop grand pour des per- Bonnes qui sont obligez de traisner les canots dans Teau, il vient de faire cache de son castor et retourne demain au village avec nous. Si les Frangois ont des robbes de ce pays icy, ils ne les desroh- bent pas tant les fatigues sont grands pour les en tirer. LA SALLE'S PATENT OF NOBILITY. (PariiDoo. in Secy's. Office, Albany, vol. iL pp. S-11,) 4 Donn^es d Compeigne le 13 May, 1675. Louis, par la grace de Dieu Roy de France et de Navarre, 4 tous presona et 4 venir salut. Les Roys nos predecesseurs ayant tou- jours estinie que I'honneur etait le plus puissant motif pour porter leurs sujots aux gen^reuses actions, ils ont pris soin de reconnaitre par des marques d'honneur ceux qu'une vertu extraordinaire en avait rendu dignes, et comme nous sommes inform^s des bonnes ac'Jons que font journellement les peuples de Canada, soit en reduis' ant ou disciplinant les sauvages, soit en se defendant contre leurs frequentes insultes, et celles de Iroquois et eniin en meprisant les plus grands perils pour ^tendre jusques au bout de ce nouveau monde, nostre nom et nostre empire, nous avons estim^ qu'il es< tait de nostre justice de distinguer par des recompences d'honneur ceux qui se sont le plus signalez pour exciter les autres k meriter de semblables graces, a ces causes, desirant traiter favorablement nos- tre cher et bien aime Robert Cavelier sieur de la Salle pour le bon et louable rapport qui nous a ete fait des bonnes actions qu'il a faite dans le pays de Canada od 11 s'est estably depuis quelques annees et pour autres considerations i ce nous mouvans, et de notre grace speciale, pleine puiiisance, et autorit^ royale, nous avons annobly, et par ces presentes signees de nostre main annoblissons, et decorons du titre et qualite de noblesse le d. Sr. Cavalier, ensemble sa femme et enfans posterite et lignee tant males que femelles nes et 4 naitre en loyal manage ; Voulons et nous plait qu'en tous actes tant en jugement que dehors ils soient tenus, censes et reputes nobles por- tant la qualite d'escuyer, et puissant parvenir 4 tous degres de chev- allerie et de gendarmerie, acquerir, tenir, et posseder toutes sortes do < 1 260 LA 8ALLR 8 I'ATKNT OF NOBILITT. fiefH «t Bftigneuriea et heritfigoH nobles de quelque titre ct quality qii'ilH aoiont, et qu'ils juuiHHont de toiiit honneurH, nutorilcs, prrrog- ntives, prt-eminences, privileges, rrniu-hiNCB, exemptions et irnmu- nilds, dont jouissent et nnt accoutiinie de jouir et user les autres nobles de nostre Royaume et de porter telles armos qu'elles sont cy empraintes, sans co que pour ce lu dit Robert Cavelier soit tenu nons payer, ny & nos Hucccsseurs Roys, aucune finance ni indemnity, dont d quelque somme qu'elles se puissent monter, nous I'avons decharg^, et deohargeons et lui avons fait et faisons don par cesdites presentes, le tout par les causes et raisons porteos en I'arrest de notre concil de cejourdhui donne nous y etant dont copie demeurera cy attach^e sous lo contreseil de nostre chancellcrie. Si donnouns en mande- ment a nos aimes et feaux con*" les gens tenants nostre cour de parlement de Paris, chambre des comptes, cour des aydes au dit lieu qiie ces presentes lettres d' annoblissement ils ayent d registrer, et du contenu en icelles faire souflrir et laisser jouir et user le dit Robert Cavelier, ses Enfans et posterite nds et ii naitre en loyal manage, pleinement, paisiblement et perpetuellement, cessant et faisnnt cesser tous troubles et empeschemens nonobstant tous Edits et declarations, arrests, reglemens, et autres choses d ce contraries, aux quels nous avons derog6 et derogons par ces presento car tel est notre plaisir. Et afin que ce soit chose ferme stalile et ii toujours, nous y avons fait mettre nostre 8c6l. Donne A compeigno le 13 May, Tan de grace mil six cens soixante quinze, et de nostre regne le trento- troisieme. senll de sent a. LA 8ALLK*8 PATENT OF NOBILITT. 267 LA SALLE'S SECOND COMMISSION. (Same vol., p. 276.) I ' e lU et rt er ». us lir. ms de to- A Versailles, le 14 Avril, 1684. Louis, par la grace de Dieu Roy de France ot de Nauarre, Sulut. Ayant resulu de faire quelques entreprises dans TAmeriqiie Septen* triunale pour assujetir sons nostre domination plusieurs nations sauvages, et leur porter les lumidres de la foy et de I'evangile, nous avons cru que nous ne pocvions faire un ineillcur choix que du sieur de la Salle, pour comma lier en nostro noui tons les Frangais et sauvages qu'il employera pour Texccution des ordrcs dont nous Tavons charge. A ces causes, oi autre ^ d ce nous mouvans, et 6tant d'ailleurs bien informez de son aiT''< ion et (^ sa fiJolit^ u nostre service, Nous avons le d. Sr. de la Salle con <8 et ordonne, com* mettons et ordonnons par ces presentes sigl:..'J^ de nostre main, pour sous nostre autorite commander tar* dans les pays qui - i JU.. l ' l.-L JLJ- i t- i L ' J ^rojr^oA- lORlDE 3 f-% wnf ^ ^5 3"f 5^ s J^ JJ- now mm tiw nn(j»mi» nmyum^.-'-JKTOTttir^ rwt. "We think, Indnod. that w" hHv« in>v»r iiii>r «iili Hnvtl.iin. t) at cnrrie* ua to entirplv <»it -hp iii> terior lite of French •ooletjr in tlint hnvi."~Atbn'iti Kti-"> "T i Hiuo isaea ^19- i'/ ?«. FAC SIWILE MISSISSIPPI o/» •f^" FATHER MAftqUETTE at the tnne of his voya fg From thf Original pivsaifed at St. Marys Colleeie MONTfitAL . li ■l'> 1^ ^ 4 ■utt S»K»m'- » M*j§H mtwotK m 4 ','•■> ■,''■ )i . ,.'. o MAh A. ^7urVf/JfJ''A ^vrnJ^alii/L. UC X^Hfc J» My^Nu»t.K • ■---. ■■^~ 1. ;.V^^> /I ,-'n 'ii 7 /.' / 1 c '^v -.^ ^"^A ■■--H/"-'.-. ■■■i Mli/iii'7'CN" K;»il'KVA-'» * ../-^ y V 5 l^ ^ tctifum l> p> m W ■•/ ^ \i3 M CAHATCI PAN A A) X3 FANIasJa An KAhJA /m 5 o a 2 fcV/i^6f ylTTOrCH-iJ"/ M/lTC^tA PS ;tl KACHKA/tSA ^ 0^' Ot^Jh-PEU'-A h BASSllM DE L.A FLOfilOE }o KACHKA//(ji 4 ,•' f /L ^^' OJslJis-pEU'A CHaVAI^ojy \ ■ I KAKinvNg/] MAT/tHALL o ^ 3S 3? 3^ 3^ » use A ■''Cisrojtto^' 3f 33 mot: Flo RIDE 32- 31- ?^ ■T»W- I f q CI t p p f :i p '«.'#* c C n *)9k clfgnnt nnnugh lor the ccntrc-tBhlo, witty fnouuli tor Hfter dinner, and wise ennueh for the ttudy sml the «fhool-rootii. One of the heHUIifiil lessnnn of thJH work is the kindly view it'tukea of nature. Nothing is made in vHin not only, Imt notlnni? i» iniide ugly or repulnive. A itliarm is thrown Hrouiid every ohject, and life Bntfiisod throuijh all, i!ii({)ieBtivB of the Creator's goodness ^nd wisdom." — ;V. Y. ErangtliM. " Mollis, (ilow-worms, lailybirds, Ninyflii-s, been, ami a variety of other inhabitants of tlie insect world, are drscantt^d up.in in a nli'flsinfr ntyle, combining scientific information with romance, in a manner piKuliarly attractive."— CommCTrm/ Adrerther. "The book ini'ludps solid instruction a* w.-ll an (.'"niiil ami captivating mirth. The scientific know)- edi^e of the writer is thoroughly reliable."— Crnmidn-. • V>',- b'tvc in this work, di-ep philo-iiphy. ami an "ndle^B Hiiw of bumor, and lessons set belore uc, drawn liom ant«, beetlcH. and buttertbi'S. whi<-h we mmbi do wi'li to ponder. We can itiink ol nnth- inf more culculati'd tu deliiiht th" paxaing hour, than the beautiful delineationi we find in tliese three ^m\xmei."— Christian Intellig(niir, i , ^ MEN AND WOMEN OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. By Ahsknk HorssATE, with heautifully Engraved Portraits of Louis XV., and Madame tie Pompoduur. Two volumes, I'Jmo., 450 pages each, extra superfine paper, |.iice $2.50. CoNTFNTS — Dufresny, Fontenelle, Mnrivaux. Piron, The Alib< Prevost, Qendl-Bernard, Kloriaij, Bout!lera, Diderot, Orftry, Kiverol, I.ouis XV., Greuze. Boucher, The Vanlnoa, Lantara, Watleau, La Motte Delile, Abb« Trublet, Bufton. Dorat, Cardinal de B<-rnii, Crgblllon the Guy. Marin An- toinette, Made, do Pompadour, Vadf, Mile. Canmrgo. Mile. Clairon, Mad. de la Popelinitrc, Sophie Amouid, Cr«billon the Tragic, Mile, (iuimard, Three Pages in the Life of Danconrt, A Promenade In the Palais Royal, the Chevalier de )a Clos. "A more fascinating book than this rarely issues rom the teiniii'7 press. Kaaeinatlne in Its subject ; fascinating In Itn style; fascinatlii!/ in its power to b-ad the render into castle-building of the moot gor- aeouB and tjewltchlng doerlplinn "— Cnui'i'T If Enquirer '• We have 6|ient some delii/lilful hours in llic r, a limr "f the»e interejting rolumes. 1 he hiogra phles of the c.'l.lirated persoiitiges incliid-d ii- lliis vv.irk str- iviitten in a jiecniiarly pb'ajf.oii -ind at- tractive style. The author has trHiisl.rreif wlb « laiiiili«r p.W'r .if composiUon. the lliiiii; .liHrao. t«T of his subjects to hii pages "—/.»«'*i''Vi<' J.iiirnrt/ . , . ,. , .i. ,_. •'It presents hy far the bent portrmt of the p'omi"""' H-'urc ol the age to which U reli'is. that we know of in the Kiiglisli lsn)jiiniic."-AVii<«^ /'«-(. , ., i , . .u i_ "Wh think. Indeed thafw- bnv- .inv..r ,„..t «iib Hi.vfl mu tl at nnrriei us Boentir.'iv «'■» he Uw t«rlor life ol French «;«>«• ■MMM P' REDF1ELD8 NRW A\D POPULAR PUni.ICATIONS, POETICAL WORKS OF FITZGUKESH IIALLECK. New and only C<)m|)Iero Kditiori, rontuininK sevcrnl New Poems, together with many now first collpoicii. Dne veil., I'Jmo., price one dollar. "HiillTk in nni> of thn hriiihtriit vtnrs In our Atncrlrnn litfrnturn, Rnd hii miu'j U like a home- hnM wonl whrrrvor thr K.iii!li«li IntimiBuc in »|)iiki'n "— /Ifftnnjf Ezprun. "Ti) ttie numcrou* Hdiniririi ii( Mr. llHl'rck, tliis will !»• h wi'lriifni' hook ; for It It ■ i-hnrnrtprlitlc dp«irf in liiimnn nnnim to have the production! of our favorite authori in an elrgunt and aubstantial form" — Ckrulian /•'nrmnn " Mr. Ilallerk nevi-r appi-arcd In a nrater driMi, and few po<>tJ ever dewrvpd a better one." — Chrit- tian tnulligrnrir. "Then- tirv few poema to bo IVninil. in Hnv language, that lurpats, in beauty of thought and •tructun*, •cine ol mete." — Botlon Cummontceatih, LILLIAN, A\D OTHER POEMS. Now tirst Collected. One Vol., l2mo. By WiTfTiiRop Mackworth Prakd. Price One Dollar. "A timely pulilication ia this voliinnv A more chiimiiMff ronipanion (in tlio shape of a book) cnn •rarocly Ik- fmitid for thi' )"U'iun>'r liolydiiyi"." -jVftr Vurk Tribune. " They an- iimiiHiiiu' hk''trtii"<. tiiy mikI cpri.;'!!!'- in iliiir I'lmrnctcr, exhibiting great facility of com- pofition, and coiii'iil«'nil)li' powirn of BHtin"," — llorifnrd Onirant. " Then' is aliri" Mi.r pliiy of fiinry in ' l.i.ijiii,' unci a iiioviiii} tciidrrnci'K in ' Jowpliiiic' for which t would \if bard u> .nil cniinln. VW nv i.'oiin' thin tir*t collccd'il edition of IiIh workx." — Albany Kipref^. '■ A« a writer f rem at tocirtt lit i i>i unounced to Ix- wilhoiit an equal hmioiii; Kni;lii
  • urn.' They are lull of lyric energy graphic description, and ceiiume U}ih\ig:"- Home Journal. •• 'I'he fine ballad of • Montroso' in this collection 1* alone worth tho price of the book."— Boston " Th> »•• strains bolone to stlrrinir and pathetic events, and until ptw'.ic descriptions of them shall be disregariled, we think .Mr, Aytoun's productions well CHlculated to iiiaiiitaiii a lavorite place in public ( tiinati •— Literary Gazette. ,.,...,, 'Chi.... 1 from the ample ranue of .'"coltinb history, clear in leelinir, simple nnil direct in expreasion, Aiid happily varied an.! .. triable in mtasure. they vvill. we are conlili-ni, outlive many, if not all, of ilia more prctensiotu at?.' nauirnted coutemporaries."— /^itcrory IVurld. ^ i , THE BOOK OF BALLADS. By Bos GAULTiK.a. One volnine. l'2iiio.. price, seventy-five cnts. " Mere is a hook for evervhody who loves pU.sic fun It U ?na |e up of ballads ot all sorts, each a capital parody upon tbe stvl.. of -onie mie „f the lest lyric writers .,1 th- .i.ne Ir.m the lliunder.n, Tcr.ificHtion .,f l.iK-UbMM an.l .Ma "ulav to the ►w.H-test and simpl. -i sirHies ol Word.w.-rtli .ind lenii,)- •on The author is one .it the Hrst s.in.'m h. and one of tlie most li.ii-i.e.l »,iti-rr-. ol the day, and this production is but the frolic ol In- ui'iiiua in pl.iy tim.-."— r««riVr /, K,„iH,r.r •• W.. .lo not ku.iw t.i whom i.clont!. this no« rf« plumt. but he is . eria iil> a humorist of no common Dower" — Prnriilnirr Jiiiirual. ... < . .u« i> i . i •■ Hon (iaullier's It.iok of Itsllmls. is simelv the wiftii-.t snd tiesl thori ol the k ...I since the Kejecte.l Addresses. Its parodies ol L.-ekliart (in -he -.liosh Itallnd-i •,' T. nnv.on (lo- v. ly sini. song puer- llitie-). of Macailav (the sou,, u,vj II n -t, i,,,, ol .M..-e. U putt .e.eti.a, , i-- «'!';" '""'''''h ' ers. ill v,„i,.u«WHy-. nnvi.t th- al t.. the lain.ms Ciai.be. and .Xc.t. and Coler.dgo ot there. ascending Orury Lain'." — /.itiiary tfWW. 1 f^'rtf •IONS. ALLECK. V Poems, together e dollar. I nau'J ii like a houae- for it ii a ch«r«c|prl«tic 1 elfgiint and substantial ed a better one." — ChrU- beauty of thought and redfield's nkw and popular PUBIICATIONS. 8 I. One Vol., l2mo. thfl Bh»pe of a book) cnn iting groat facility of con i- 1 ' Josi'pliiiir.' for wliirh it worlf-'."— -<""»''y K^prf 1111)11)! Kn«lisli KUthors." — th poets tliiit liBVC shone in l»ly easy and airy, and his TERS. Ipllps-Lettros in the ln"U/.inc. One vol., I t(i lie ciiniiarcd in spirit, liBtoricai iiicidciiU of Scot- ,.y nr.' luli of lyric energy ■ice cif the boolc." — Bos'on •i-iiptKinn of thrm shall be II a iHvorit.' place in public !.■ iin.l direct in expreMion, ullivo many, it nut all, of cnty-five crtJts. ti«!l,tcU 111 all mirta, each • tjiiH' 1i"iii llie lliiiiiderinf „| Wi>riliiw..rlii iind Tcnnj- iit.MK ul lilt! day, and thia /ii Imiiioriist of no common ih,. V ".1 "ince the Hrjecti d , (I,,. , v,ly Kjnj I'onn puer. 1. Bi'i i>!" *i'l' " diizcn oth- 11 HiiU Oolrridii>i ot the re. LYRA, AND OTHER POEMS. By Alice Carkt. In one volume, 12mo, cloth, price 75 cts. "Whether poetry he defined as the rhythmlcnl crention of bpHuty, as passion or eloquence In har- monious niimhers, or as thmiirbt and I'eellriL' nianileDted by processes of the iniBirliiation, Alice Carey Is inconteM»tily and inconipHrably the tirnt livini,' Ainericnn pneteas— frenh, inilliienmis, nationiil— rich beyond preceifent In suitably and sensuous Inisgery— of the rinest and hiahest oualities of leclin? and such powers of creHliun as the Almi| tries." — nnmnn Trantrript. •''I'he genuine InspirBtlon of poetic feelinsf, . . . replete with tenderness and beauty, earnestneis and truthful simplicity, nnd all the Rttrlbut<'s ot a powerful iinau'inBtion and vivid fancy. We know of no superior to Miss C'arey aiiioiiL' tlie femHloBiithors ot tlii« eouiitiy." ~;V. J'. Joiirnnl of Conmcrcr.. " Al: .■ Orey's book is full of lieHUtifiil tbou^rlits ? there is dniuiibt after draught of pure pleasure for thi' lover of sweet, tender fancies, and iniBgeiy wliicb captivates while it enforces truth."— iVeie York Cniirirr and Inqnirrr. " ' I.yra anil other Poems,' just published by Redtield. Bttrncts everywhere, a remarkBble deeree of attention. A dozen of the leading journiils, Biid many eminent critics, have pronounced the authoress the greatest poetess living."— iVeto York Mirror. CLOVERNOOK; Or, Recollections of our Neighborhood in the West. By Amok Caret. Illus- trateil by Darlky. One vol., Timo, price iSI.Ol). (Foui-th edition.) '•In this volume there is a freshneiis which perpelunlly charms the reader. You seem to be made free of western homes at once."-OW Coluny Memminl. " They bear the true stamp of eeiiius- simple niitiinil, truthful — and evince a kpcn sense of the hu Dior and patboH, of the comedy Bnd trflKCily, of life iii the country '—J G. Whitliirr. •■ Alice Carey has perhaps the strongest imaginBtlon ninong the women ot this country. Her wrl tings will live It- :!r than those of any ether woman among i\i>:'—Amcrir.an Whig Rtview. '• Miss Careys sketches are remnrkably fresh and exquisite iu delicacy, humor, and pathos booked for immortality."— //(»«« Journal. She is ;;ng 'ii:;i)u J. uirr" which i. pccuiiany one of p.Bsioa aud sentiment."— .flr(A'a.j REDFIELD's new and popular PUDLICATI0N8. LADIES OF THE COVE!at and moat clnvhted."~W. Y KvangtlUt. " It in s ri-cord which, whilu it riiiitrn hoiiiir on thi* wx, will eluvato thu heart, and (trengthuD it to the Ix'iu r pt'rtciriiiniiD'i ol>TPry duty." — Rtli/fioiu Htrald. (Va.) " It !• a hiMilt III tinnX atlrnctiTcncM, having not only the ireibneu of noTelty, but every element of hlttoriCHl int«T»»t. — Conrirr if Knqutrrr. •• 'I'ht' Hiithor dflineatea with grcnt Hdt-llty the atrugglea and iutferlngi of the noble I'etiiKle worthie* of HcotlnnJ III thi> raiKe of civil and rflitfioua liberty. It ii r«l'n>ahlng to read theae actual and heroic live* of C'brietiKD women in both the bigner and lower wnllia of life. — iVai'He Herald. ^ CHARACTERS IN THE GOSPEL, Illustrating Phases of Character at the Present Day. By Rev. E. H. CHAPift One vol., I'Jmo., price fiO cents. (Second edition.) " Aa we read hia pngra, the reformer, the aenaualiat, the akeptic, the man of the world, the aeeker, the aiatir iit chanty and of faith, aiaad out Irom tho Hcripturva, and join Ibcraaelvoa with our own liv- ing world." — ChrUtian Enquirrr. " Mr. Chapiii baa an eaay, graceful atyle, neatly loiichini; the outline! of hia picturea, and giving great conai«t<'ii(-y and b<>auty to the whole. 'I'he remler will hnd admirable deacriptiona, aomo moat wholo- ■ome leaaona, and a tine aplrit"— iVne York Etangilut. ■• The woric ia done with a akilful band, and in a atyle attractive and impreaaive. Tho book fumiahes not only agiwalple, but very uaeful and liiatructive reailing." — Homon Trarrllrr. •• \Vi' commend thia volume to thove who im»i^iiie that the teaching* of the pulpit are nothing if not dull. I'a lirillinnt vivHcity of atyle form* an admirable combination with iu aouDuncu of thought and depth ol feeling." — Triiune. A LECTURES AND MISCELLANIES. Bt HKPtRr James. One vol., 12mo., cloth, price $1.25. " A aerie* of eai>ays by one of the moat generoua thinhera snd alncere lovera of truth In the country. (Te iooka at mK-ieiy from an Independent point ol view, and with the noblest and moat intelligent aym. pathv"— W""!' Joumni "1'hia !• the pnxluctiun id a mind rirhly endowed of a very peculiar mould. All will concede to him the merit of a vigonni* and brilliant intellect." — Alhnny Ar/fut. •• A p,'ruul i>f the eaaaya leada ua li> (Aim*, not iiiiT. ly heonuBe of the ideas which they contain, but mure >H-rauae the ideaa areearneaiiv pot torlh, and the aubjecta diacuaaed are intereating and important to every one " — Worct»ttT Natiimnl Mfi*. " They have attrarti-d much attention both here and in Kurope, where the author la conaidered as boldiOK a iliatinctive and prominent poaition in the Hehiiol of modem philoauphy."— /4{6any Allan. "The writer wielda a maat«rly and aiiurale pen, nnd hia atyle ia good. — Aoai alrikiiig anil nri riiml iiii''li"nlion'< ol the dav. wiih luilliiii'.' ol linrilneaa, dull- neta. or clrvie •- ahml it. liut alto^-ther tv<..ii 1 ,■ Iv Hiel ••iiii'rta'nio.i " — Hoilnii F.rruln/f Trnnrller. "Thi* V'ltiiiii" ^vMj Im- Iiiiiii'I ex '.'e'liiiLdv ii ''';: ^"T't; ,',','''''' 'which the irrnphic and "These legeiuls of love and chivalry .onlHiii some ol "''^.'''''f ''''■?''' ,V«rn", powerful p..,i of Herbert has yet given to tlie lighter hterature ot '''/'J"-^;, '[^ n^ n i ■ a-t. He ^ "Mr. Herbert has a .p.ick and accurate eye lor the P''" "'•'■71"'^ /™,'" f ' :, ^VinT^^^^^ e ^ pursues the study of b'storv with the soul of the P-':' ,«"' ,^,f ' "' " ;^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ng tr»diti,.ns and incidents, has produced a series ol ''"' \'' '"('.P''''™ "'"^ip „i^^^^^^ .ime. should not a vivid idea of tlie social and domentic traits of !• ranee and (.rest Hritain m the olUeu tunc, suouia no tail to read the Ufo-lile descriptions of this volume."- //nr/in- a Magazine. ^ •m 6 REPFIELDS NKW AND POPULAR PUBLICATIONS. c I, n NiPIEWS rKyiNSULAK WAli. Hifttnrv of fhfl Wnr in the IVninsuln, and i tho South of France, from the V.hV IMor to 1H14. IJy \V. F V. Nai'ivu. C. |J., Col. 43(1 !{.•«., ry l» rrjnrilril lijr tliP riitic" M one of r .• boit nnrritim that him ri'ivntly hr«Ti wr'ttcn. Hi* "ivli" in itlrM-t, turnlili'. hikI iiii|»tninin. cBrrN.uK 'In. rPNiliT iiI"hb oUiii In -iiiti- 'i»r> " •rilM, hiiiI tnilliliil liilrlily, nrmrnlit ulronij rliiii"« upon llif Hit. Mlion of hII Arn»>ri<-Mii cilizi'n* : lioi m 'Iih K.illiur i" « iHrgeiuult'ii |ilillanl)iro|iiitt Rnil HO inrtfoMi' in. my to i'crli'«iioilii iil lyninny unil •ci-un, cli>»|iotii " /'»»(. '■ ITn- I'Xi'illfiHV ol Nmi'Iitk tlliitory n unlit tioin lln' wiiIit'« lin|iiiy IhW-iiI fur ini|ii>tiioua, iilrMi(jlil- torWHrl. •oiil •liriini.' nmi >' •' nnil iiiclnrina torlli of I'lmmclfiH. Tlii' iiiiIiihiv nmiuMiivri'. nnocli, •nd fli'ry on»''l. !li<> wlioli' vviurlwlnii vuiuitudt'i ot ll ' ili'i|iriHlu fight, ho il< ncrilii-s wil.i liruninlic force."— MrrfkanW Mn^miue. ^% GRiscoM oy Vi:yTILAT10N. Th*' T'»c« niiil Alinsfxof Air; showine it-* Tiifl'iPMc in Sustninini,' Tiiff. nnil F'ro- (licinji i) -I'dse. with ]{• mnrks on ilic X'cniiliiiion of Houses, ami the Ixvst Mftliodsof Securing a Pure nml Wliolcsoinn .Vtniiisplit'rc insiilf of Dwi'llin!.'-*, Chnrchrx, Shop •lionlil li>' n ii.l l.v iill wlio wish to twrun- hciilth, iind i'B|M'i'iBlly by thouc i-on-lriirtiii:; rlmrchM, l.ilurc room', »c houi lioui..'«, Ac- It In iimloulilicl, lliut tininy ir« ttr.' ( irKii'il Hn'l mriiul in conHiniiinci' of tin' little ntliMiiion piiid to projM.r vi'ntilallon. Dr (j. writt.-* knowingly nml plmiily upon lliirt »ll iniporttml topic. "—.Vdwir* Ailrmiftr. '■Till- who!.' Iio.ik in* coMiplrti' itiHiiunl ol Ihi- Pul>Tt ol w)ili h it trc«t«; Rnil we vt-nlun- lo say thnt Ih' . UinU't or ronlriviT ol » ilwi'llin«, whool lionnc. churi'h, ihcMrn, iihli), or ^.tiKnihoHt. whoiicij. liTt" lo iiilori.i liiinwil of Ihi- iiioiiK'ntoiin triiiln it auBftU. coniiiiiti virtually a criiuo a«Hinrt Bociuty nioi hit li llowri-r<«;uri-»."~ V )'. Mrirni>iiti>. •• Wild "liHli wi' Icain to i-liiimt«' at tlu'ir propor vhIup, pntr- wnii r and piiro air, which (l.d pro- videJ fnt roin licforc he inmli' iiinn. anil a very Io.il' time Ipiture he p. riiiilteil the existilii I « lioc'- lor f \Vi- cnniineiiil the X'k-h nikI Ahu»i'« it \ir In our re«ilerH, aumirini: them that lliey will liiid it to i- Mitaln ilir.ctioii" I'lr the vcniilation of dw iingi, which every uue who valuri health iiud comlbrt ■ii.juM |)ul w prai ticj."— ..V. i'. VitpalcA, ^ BIloyCHlTlS. J.VD KiyDRI'W DISEASES. In lanpunpp adapted to common readers. Hy W. W. Hall, M. D. One vol. 12 mo, price Si. 00. "It la written in a plain, ilireot, commonscnan alyle, and la free from the i|uarkery which ninrka nianv of lli- populiir loedicHl liooln ol the day. It will prove uiielid to ihoae who need it "—Ch. Herald. '■ I lioM! who arp rl'-rityincn, or who ar' preparing for the nacrcd railing;, and public apeak.'rs yen- crallv. ahould not lall it lu'cuiinit thin ». i ,» "—Ch Amhn>tailitr. " It ia In!) ol hli'lK m the nature ol the vital orgaiix, and duca away with much lupcratitiout dread in rftard to I !i.uinpti )U "— tfrrcif Ciiw't'y '>'*'4'- ••Thi» Work givM aunie valuable iintiuiMion iu regard to food and hygienic iiiflucncea. '—iVaaAMd REICllEyBACII oy DYyAMfCS. Phvsico-PhysioIo{,'ical Research*"* on the Dynamics of .Magnetism, Electricity, Hear. Lifiht. Crystalli/ittion. and Chemisin. in their relation to Vitii! Force: Uy HarnirCiiARLKs Vo.n Kkichk.nhach. With the Addition of .. Preface and Critical Notes, by John Ashbir.nkr, M. U. With all the Plates. In one Volume, 12ino, 4^ pp. Price, .Sl.-jr). "ThialKM.k la a vainaWo addition lo aci.'niirtc, kniiwledij." upon »ul>)ecla that tmve been involved In obacuritv and my^tirlam. ("hHrliitana have ao loiiu' availed tli.ni»elvea ol a alight knowl.due ol tho phenomi'iia ol maitn.ti.ni (or tncicenary pmpo.ea, that diac,, lit haa been thrown up..n thewholo aubj.-ct and men ol acience have been deurred from pnr«uin. i at ha-t tnini puMiKliinu' t leir ro- •earchoa The work IhMore ua u'ivea the reault ol a viiat number ..I expenin(-nta con.lucted wiili lirt^at philoaophlcHi acumen, tealinn the truth of both niodern theorie* i.nd an, i. lit ,-uper»tiliona. Ph.noine. iia atlribub-d in ii-t n«ea lo a aupi-rnntural auency, and liy tb- Mipeilli ml ^kc•ptlclam ol later tiiii. « dia- tniraed a, inir aiurea, ar.' in immy inalnncea traced with ureiit .1. arncH- to natural and ixpUca- blc ittuaea It re. .re- and la emiii.iiliy worthy ol an micutivo pcruaal."— C'Ky lum. REDFIELD'h NKW and popular PUni-irATIONi. CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY. MEN OF THE TIME OK HIvKTCIIIvS OF LIVIX(} N0TAI5LES, AUTIIOHH ENfilNKKllH r.( I'UILANTIIUOI'IST.S AKCIIITI'CIN JDUKVAI.IS'I'H rUKACIIKIH ARTIHTM MINI.1TKRH HAVANM CUJtPOfKKS MUNAUfllH HTATKHMKN DEMACiOOUKfl NUVi;i.lMTH TUAVIJ.I.KItfl OIVINKrt I'UI.ITK'IANM VOYAfU'-Rfl lH;AMATIrtTrt I'oKTrt WAIHUOR'? In One Vol., l2mo, containing nrarh/ Nine Hundred Biographical ISkcUlw.,, Prp '; $l.r)0. " I am );la(l to li'srn Hint you »r.- ng thin work. It in prccl«cly llmt klml of Inforiimtinn th«t ovcry pulilic riuI inlclliKriit iimf "i h.t, pfjxTJHlly in rfli'iiMuc to tlin iliHtiiifjuiHiK'd iiu'ii of Kuropi'. I. lit whic-h I Imvo louiid i, ,i,. v •htlicultlo ol>luiu."—Ertract frim a Letter of the PntiJent of thf Viiilrd Slain M Ikr piililinker "It loriin a vuluiililc iimiiiml lur ri't'Tiii' ■Hpciiiilly In tlif Aincrionn (Irpiirtimnt, which wo ran tint wrll ill) without ; wi> ciininii'nil it to tli- iiitnilinn of our ' iindinii puMio.' "— '/V/AiiHf. " It In u hook of ri'li'rrmi' which I'vny iii» -piiiitr iniclci -Im.uiI Iihvc itt his I'lhow— hh iii(li»pcn»nhlo B« a limp or u (llclioiiary— Bud Iroin wliioli tlio bt'nt-llifuriiit'd will Udiive luntructiun and ple««uro."— Eraiifclht. " Tlili hook thcriforo lillii n plnn In litprnturc , nnd once published, wo do not «ee how any one could do without it." — Atham/ /■.'r/^n .-.<. " It it evidently coinpili'il with girtit cnrn and iiilmr, nnd rvrry pomitjUi mrann mrinH to liavn been u»i'i| to secure the Idulienl decree of correcinesii. It containa a gr1.00. " Ho U a powerful and graphic writer, and Irom what we have seen of the pages of the 'Master BuiMer,' it is a romance of excillent ami iind i-nciess."— ,S((itf Register. "The ' Muster liuiUler' is the miislir proiliirtioo It is ronmnce into which is instilled the reality of life: and incentives are put hirlh to iiolile exertion and virtue. The story is pleasing — hlmoet laacina- ting ; thft moral is pure and unditiled." — Daily iimif. "Its di-scriptlonsare, many of them,strikiiii.'iy In aiitilul : commini;llnn in good proportions, the witty, the LToti'Siiue, the jwthetic, and the heroic. It niav " read with prolit ns well iw pleasure."— .,4r|?«s. "The work will commend itself to tl iissesl ,t. piitinii us it dues must Mriiphically the strugulcs und privations which i.wait the unknown and ijiicareilii.r Mechanic in his journey threUKh life. It is wliat might be called a romance, but not of love, jealousy and revenge order."— ioc*;K»r« Courier. ^ HAGAR, A STORY OF TO-DAY. By Aluk Cauky, author of " Cbvernook," "Lyru, and Other Poems," &c. (Jiie vol., r.'ino. [irice Sl-OO. "'Ilii.'ar' is dchtiiieii tuliav.' a arealrini nmnn,' the renders of roniniitic fiction ; in its kind, it is thn book ol the season ; and it Iuh the iih'rif ol' conveviiiL'. with a IcHrlul loiiires-ivenets. a lesson in morals iH just and lis striking as tin -ijcculation and ti ndeiicies of the tiiou have iiiaile It necessary. —Hmrie .foiininl. 1 , J 1 " The story w written In a beautiful sivle. nnd is worthy of beiuL' rend in every well-reuulnu-rt do- meslic circle, bir while it calls up the hner teelini.-> of the soul, it guides the reader to Lie superior bleisiiigs of a reliance on Diviiui Providence. '—/<;o"W;/« Journal. ^. ^^^r.%, .V^.^. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I ■50 "^^ M^H U III ^ Ufi 112.0 Hi 11-25 11.4 I 1.6 Photographic Sciences Corporation <^v^ ^v •SJ A \ ^\ W^ 23 WIST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14S80 (716) 872-4503 6^ ^ 6 redfield's new and popular publications. SORCERY AND MAGIC; Narratives of Sorcery and Magic, from the mo8t authentic Sources. By Thom* as Wright, A. M. &c. One vol., 13mo, price 1.25. " W« have no hMltHtion in pronouncing thia one of the most Intoresting works which hM for • long time liauod from the prftt."— Albany Exprai. ' Thn narnitivpi are intpniely interesting, and the more so, us thev sre evidently written by a msn whose olijprt is simply to tell the truth, aud who is not himsell bewitched by any favorite theory." — Nat York Rtrorder. " The rsnice of information in the book is extraordinarily wide, and it is popularly set forth through- out, without a touch of pedantry ur a dull page."~£zam; season — albeit the reader's liair will occasionally rise on end as he turns over the pages, especially if he reads aluue far into the oighL"— Zi'oit's Herald. ^^ THE CELESTIAL TELEGRAPH: Or, Secrets of the World to Come, revealed through Magnetism ; wherein the Existence, the Form, and the Occupations of the Soul, after its Separation from the Body, are proved by Many Years' Experiments, by the Means of eight Ecstatic .Somnambulists, who had eighty Perceptions of thirty-six Deceased Persons of various Conditions. A description of them, their Conversation, etc., with Proofs of their Existence in the Spiritunl World. By L. Alph. Cahag?