La Salle and the discovery of the great West - North Central ...

1675.] THE MISSIOK AT KASKASKIA. 79join him in a novena, or nine days' devotion to theVirgin. In consequence of this, as he believed, hisdisease relented;he began to regain strength, and inMarch was able to resume the journey. On thethirtieth of the month, they left their hut, which hadbeen inundated by a sudden rise of the river, andcarried their canoe through mud and water over theportage which led to the Des Plaines. Marquetteknew the way, for he had passed by this route on hisreturn from the Mississippi. Amid the rains ofopening spring, they floated down the swollen currentof the Des Plaines, by naked woods and spongy,saturated prairies, till they reached its junction withthe main stream of the Illinois, which they descendedto their destination, the Indian town which Marquettecalls "Kaskaskia." Here, as we are told, he wasreceived "like an angel from Heaven." He passedfrom wigwam to wigwam, telling the listening crowdsof God and the Virgin, Paradise and Hell, angelsand demons; and, when he thought their mindsprepared, he summoned them all to a grand council.It took place near the town, on the great meadowwhich lies between the river and the modern villageof Utica. Here five hundred chiefs and old menwere seated in a ring ; behind stood fifteen hundredyouths and warriors, and behind these again all thewomen and children of the village. Marquette,standing in the midst, displayed four large picturesof the Virgin ;harangued the assembly on the mysteriesof the Faith, and exhorted them to adopt it.