12.07.2015 Views

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

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

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

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS
  • No tags were found...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

CHAPTER II.1669-1671.LA SALLE AND THE SULPITIANS.The French in <strong>West</strong>ern New York. — Louis Joliet. — The Sulpitianson <strong>La</strong>ke Erie ; at Detroit ; at Sadt Ste. Marie. —The Mystery <strong>of</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> : he discovers <strong>the</strong> Ohio ; hedescends <strong>the</strong> illinois j did he reach <strong>the</strong> mississippi?<strong>La</strong> Chine was <strong>the</strong> starting-point; <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> combinedparties, in all twenty -four men with sevencanoes, embarked on <strong>the</strong> <strong>La</strong>ke <strong>of</strong> St. Louis. With<strong>the</strong>m were two o<strong>the</strong>r canoes, bearing <strong>the</strong> party <strong>of</strong>Senecas who had wintered at <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>'s settlement,<strong>and</strong> who were now to act as guides.Fa<strong>the</strong>r Galine'erecounts <strong>the</strong> journey. He was no woodsman: <strong>the</strong>river, <strong>the</strong> forests, <strong>the</strong> rapids, were all new to him,<strong>and</strong> he dilates on <strong>the</strong>m with <strong>the</strong> minuteness <strong>of</strong> anovice. Above all, he admired <strong>the</strong> Indian birchcanoes. "If God," he says, "grants me <strong>the</strong> grace<strong>of</strong> returning to France, I shall try to carry one withme." Then he describes <strong>the</strong> bivouac: "Your lodgingis as extraordinary as your vessels; for, afterpaddling or carrying <strong>the</strong> canoes all day, you findmo<strong>the</strong>r earth ready to receive your wearied body.If <strong>the</strong> wea<strong>the</strong>r is fair, you make a fire <strong>and</strong> lie down

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!