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

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

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1669.] LOUIS JOLIET. 23<strong>of</strong> <strong>La</strong>ke Ontario, <strong>of</strong>fered to guide <strong>the</strong>m to his village<strong>and</strong> show <strong>the</strong>m a better way to <strong>the</strong> Ohio. They left<strong>the</strong> Senecas, coasted <strong>the</strong> south shore <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> lake,passed <strong>the</strong> mouth <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Niagara, where <strong>the</strong>y heard<strong>the</strong> distant roar <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> cataract, <strong>and</strong> on <strong>the</strong> twentyfourth<strong>of</strong> September reached Otinawatawa, whichwas a few miles north <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> present town <strong>of</strong>Hamilton. The inhabitants proved friendly, <strong>and</strong> <strong>La</strong><strong>Salle</strong> received <strong>the</strong> welcome present <strong>of</strong> a Shawanoeprisoner, who told <strong>the</strong>m that <strong>the</strong> Ohio could bereached in six weeks, <strong>and</strong> that he would guide <strong>the</strong>mto it. Delighted at this good fortune, <strong>the</strong>y wereabout to set out ; when <strong>the</strong>y heard, to <strong>the</strong>ir astonishment,<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> arrival <strong>of</strong> two o<strong>the</strong>r Frenchmen at aneighboring village.One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> strangers was destined to hold a conspicuousplace in <strong>the</strong> history <strong>of</strong> western <strong>discovery</strong>.This was Louis Joliet, a young man <strong>of</strong> about <strong>the</strong> age<strong>of</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>.Like him, he had studied for <strong>the</strong> priesthood;but <strong>the</strong> world <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> wilderness had conqueredhis early inclinations,<strong>and</strong> changed him to anactive <strong>and</strong> adventurous fur-trader. Talon had senthim to discover <strong>and</strong> explore <strong>the</strong> copper-mines <strong>of</strong><strong>La</strong>ke Superior. He had failed in <strong>the</strong> attempt, <strong>and</strong>was now returning. His Indian guide, afraid <strong>of</strong>passing <strong>the</strong> Niagara portage lest he should meetenemies, had led him from <strong>La</strong>ke Erie, by way <strong>of</strong>Gr<strong>and</strong> River, towards <strong>the</strong> head <strong>of</strong> <strong>La</strong>ke Ontario;<strong>and</strong> thus it was that he met <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>Sulpitians.

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