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

12 CAVELIER DE LA SALLE. [1666.generous offer; and he accepted it. This was thegratuitous grant of a large tract of land at the placenow called La Chine, above the great rapids of thesame name, and eight or nine miles from Montreal.On one hand, the place was greatly exposed toattack; and, on the other, it was favorably situatedfor the fur-trade. La Salle and his successors becameits feudal proprietors, on the sole condition of deliveringto the Seminary, on every change of ownership,a medal of fine silver, weighing one mark. 1 Heentered on the improvement of his new domain withwhat means he could command, and began to grantout his land to such settlers as would join him.Approaching the shore where the city of Montrealnow stands, one would have seen a row of smallcompact dwellings, extending along a narrow street,parallel to the river, and then, as now, called St.Paul Street. On a hill at the right stood the windmillof the seigniors, built of stone, and pierced withloopholes to serve, in time of need, as a place ofdefence. On the left, in an angle formed by thejunction of a rivulet with the St. Lawrence, was asquare bastioned fort of stone. Here lived themilitary governor, appointed by the Seminary, andcommanding a few soldiers of the regiment ofCarignan. In front, on the line of the street, werethe enclosure and buildings of the Seminary, and,1Transport de la Seigneurie de St. Sulpice, cited by Faillon. LaSalle called his new domain as above. Two or three years later itreceived the name of La Chine, for a reason which will appear.