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

1678.] LA SALLE'S MEMORIAL. 123by the sample which the Sieur de la Salle hasbrought with him. Hemp and cotton grow herenaturally, and may be manufactured with good results;so there can be no doubt that colonies plantedhere would become very prosperous. They wouldbe increased by a great number of western Indians,who are in the main of a tractable and social disposition;and as they have the use neither of ourweapons nor of our goods, and are not in intercoursewith other Europeans, they willreadily adapt themselvesto us and imitate our way of life as soon asthey taste the advantages of our friendship and ofthe commodities we bring them, insomuch that thesecountries will infallibly furnish, within a few years,a great many new subjects to the Church and theKing." It was the knowledge of these things, joined tothe poverty of Canada, its dense forests, its barrensoil, its harsh climate, and the snow that covers theground for half the year, that led the Sieur de laSalle to undertake the planting of colonies in thesebeautiful countries of the West."Then he recounts the difficulties of the attempt, —the vast distances, the rapids and cataracts thatobstruct the way; the cost of men, provisions, andmunitions; the danger from the Iroquois, and therivalry of the English, who covet the westerncountry, and would gladly seize it for themselves."But this last reason," says the memorial, "onlyanimates the Sieur de la Salle the more, and impels