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

140 LA SALLE AT NIAGARA. [1678,La Motte now began the building of a fortifiedhouse, some two leagues above the mouth of theNiagara. 1 Hot water was used to soften the frozenground; but frost was not the only obstacle. TheSenecas of the neighboring village betrayed a sullenjealousy at a design which, indeed, boded them nogood. Niagara was the key to the four great lakesabove; and whoever held possession of it could, inno small measure, control the fur-trade of the interior.Occupied by the French, it would in time of peaceintercept the trade which the Iroquois carried onbetween the western Indians and the Dutch andEnglish at Albany, and in time of war threaten themwith serious danger. La Motte saw the necessity ofconciliating these formidable neighbors, and, if possible,cajoling them to give their consent to the plan.La Salle, indeed, had instructed him to that effectHe resolved on a journey to the great village of thsSenecas, and called on Hennepin, who was busied inbuilding a bark chapel for himself, to accompanyhim. They accordingly set out with several menwell armed and equipped, and bearing at their backspresents of very considerable value. The villagewas beyond the Genesee, southeast of the site ofRochester. 2After a march of five days, they reachedit on the last day of December. They were con-1Tonty, Relation, 1684 (Margry, i. 573).* Near the town of Victor. It is laid down on the map of Gallne'e,and other unpublished maps. Compare Marshall, HistoricalSketches of*he Niagara Frontier, 14.