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

154 LA SALLE ON THE UPPER LAKES. [1679.against him, they took pains to allay hisdistrust bya show of welcome.The " Griffin " fired her cannon, and the Indiansyelped in wonder and amazement. The adventurerslanded in state,and marched under arms to the barkchapel of the Ottawa village, where they heardmass. La Salle knelt before the altar, in a mantleof scarlet bordered with gold. Soldiers, sailors, andartisans knelt around him, — black Jesuits, grayRe*collets, swarthy voyageurs, and painted savages ; adevout but motley concourse.As they left the chapel, theOttawa chiefs came tobid them welcome, and the Hurons saluted themwith a volley of musketry. They saw the " Griffin "at her anchorage, surrounded by more than a hundredbark canoes, like a Triton among minnows.Yet itwas with more wonder than good-will that theIndians of the mission gazed on the "floating fort,"for so they called the vessel.A deep jealousy of LaSalle's designs had been infused into them. Hisown followers, too, had been tampered with. In theautumn before, it may be remembered, he had sentfifteen men up the lakes to trade for him, with ordersto go thence to the Illinois and make preparationagainst his coming. Early in the summer, Tontyhad been despatched in a canoe from Niagara to lookafter them. 1 It was high time. Most of the menhad been seduced from their duty, and had disobeyed1 Relation de Tonty, 1684 ; Ibid., 1693. He was orertaken at theDetroit by the " Griffin."