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

6 INTRODUCTION.Mississippi and its great confluent the Missouri.Two years later, the aged Jesuit Mdnard attemptedto plant a mission on the southern shore of LakeSuperior, but perished in the forest by famine or thetomahawk.Allouez succeeded him, explored a partof Lake Superior, and heard, in his turn, of theSioux and their great river the "Messipi." Moreand more, the thoughts of theJesuits — and not ofthe Jesuits alone — dwelt on this mysterious stream.Through what regions did it flow; and whitherwould it lead them, — to the South Sea or the"Sea of Virginia;" to Mexico, Japan, or China?The problem was soon to be solved, and the mysteryrevealed.