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

1673.] EXPEDITION OF FRONTENAC. 87vigorously, and on the third of June left Quebecwith his guard, his staff, a part of the garrison ofthe Castle of St. Louis, and a number of volunteers.He had already sent to La Salle, who was then atMontreal, directing him to repair to Onondaga, thepolitical centre of the Iroquois, and invite theirsachems to meet the governor in council at the Bayof Quinte* on the north of Lake Ontario. La Sallehad set out on his mission,but first sent Frontenac amap, which convinced him that the best siteproposed fort was the mouth offor histhe Cataraqui, whereKingston now stands. Another messenger was accordinglydespatched, to change the rendezvous tothis point.Meanwhile, the governor proceeded at his leisuretowards Montreal, stopping by the way to visit theofficers settled along the bank, who, eager to paytheir homage to the newly risen sun, received himwith a hospitality which under the roof of a log hutwas sometimes graced by the polished courtesies ofthe salon and the boudoir. Reaching Montreal,which he had never before seen, he gazed, we maysuppose, with some interest at the long row ofhumble dwellings which lined the bank, themassivebuildings of the Seminary, and the spire ot thechurch predominant over all.It was a rude scene,but the greeting that awaited him savored nothing ofthe rough simplicity of the wilderness. Perrot, thelocal governor, was on the shore with his soldiersand the inhabitants, drawn up under arms and firing