Settlement at Albany.

9

Champlain they beheld their champion who could lead them to victory against their ancient enemies, the Iroquois, or Five Nations, who inhabited the present State of New York. Their central seat of power was located on the banks of Onondaga lake, among the cluster of lakes which was then, and is now, the paradise of the region thereabouts.

Without discussing the merits of the dispute between these traditionary enemies, Champlain consented to lead a war party of his allies, of the St. Lawrence, against the Iroquois. It was in 1609, the next year after the settlement of Quebec, that he, with a canoe fleet of noisy Indians, paddled his way up the river, then without a name, which connects the waters of Lake Champlain with the St. Lawrence river. Following the Western Bank of the Lake nearly to the present site of Ticonderoga, at midnight they saw the enemy, who, like themselves, were on some adventure. The two parties held a parley and agreed to land and wait till daylight before commencing the fight. In accordance with this truce, each band chose their positions like duelists on a field of honor. Champlain opened the battle by piercing two Iroquois chiefs through the body at a single shot of his rifle, and the brave but astonished Iroquois fled before the effective weapons of warfare, which had been so unexpectedly introduced among them. But the end was not yet. The same year Henry Hudson sailed up the river, which bears his name, to the present site of Albany, and built Ft. Orange. Around this nucleus of German power (ultimately English power,) the Iroquois gathered with amicable intentions, all the more abiding from the fact that the French had assaulted them at first sight, and thus made them their enemies.

This good fellowship was reciprocated. The Indians wanted guns, kettles and knives, and the Dutch wanted furs in exchange for them. In a few years they wanted more. As the aggressive spirit of the French on the St. Lawrence began to make itself manifest, the Dutch found their Iroquois allies a convenient bulwark, behind which to take shelter from their Canadian foes, both French and Indian, who at an early day often threatened the Northern border with destructive forays; meantime Champlain's colony soon began to feel the weight of Iroquois vengeance, relieved only by treacherous intervals of peace. In 1615 Champlain pushed his explorations to the banks of Lake Huron, and fourishing missionary stations were established in the country of the Hurons on the Eastern shore of the lake, which still perpetuates their memory. In 1641 two zealous missionaries, Jogues and Rambault reached the falls of St. Mary, and in 1658, two venturesome fur traders, one of whose names was De Groseilles, reached the Western extremity of Lake Superior and wintered

The lake took its name from him.

among the Sioux, the same people whose descendants overwhelmed the army of Gen. Custer in the Black Hills, during the summer of 1876. At that time these tribes numbered 40,000* and held the country far to the West-even beyond the Mississippi river. They told the French traders about the great river which flowed southwardly through the interior, which were the first direct tidings which came to them of this stream. The next spring the two traders returned to Canada with an escort of 250 Indians and a valuable cargo of furs. A great sensation was produced by this imposing delegation. The news they brought of the great river was particularly inspiring to the French, whose passion for water channels of communication into the interior was overweening. An expedition to return with the Sioux to their distant lodges beyond the great lakes, was immediately set on foot; all classes were eager to join it, the fur traders for peltries and the missionaries to open new fields for gospel cultivation. The former provided themselves with trinkets for barter with the Indians, and the latter with baptismal basins wherewith to put the seal of Christianity upon their disciples, who were to be converted from heathenish darkness into the light of Christianity. Armed with these and other appliances, the hosts of the devil were to be attacked in the very heart of his dominion, to use the language of the Jesuit relations during those days of chivalric piety. And in truth, when these hardy old Soldiers of the Cross appropriated the watchwords of the battle field, as fitting expressions to symbolize the work before then, it cannot be denied that the metaphor was not far-fetched, especially after Jogues, Lallemant, Brebeuf, Garreau, and Garnier, had fallen victims of Iroquois vengeance. The expedition started from Montreal the next spring, numbering thirty young Frenchmen, to whom were added Fathers Leonard Garreau and Gabriel Dreuilletes, † and the Sioux delegation who had accompanied the traders. The eyes of the ever watchful and jealous Iroquois were upon them, and they had but little more than lost sight of their starting place, when they were waylaid by these ubiquitous foes. Father Garrau and several others were killed on the spot, the other French*Charlevoix, Carver, Pike.

†This emenent missionary had been stationed for several years among the Abenaquis of Sagadehoc, (Maine). Returning from thence to Canada, by order of his superiors, he was soon commissioned to go to Boston on an embassy, to bring about a comity of interest, both religious and secular. Canada at that time, was oppressed by the burdens of impolitic legislation, such as the banishment of Huguenots and onerous restrictions on the fur trade, and her Statesmen beheld with amazement the rising power of the Massachusetts colony, and felt a strong desire to negotiate a treaty with the Bostonians, for the purpose of working in harmony together for the conversion of the Indians, and also to keep them under a wholesome restraint by a concert of action between the English and French. In response to this overture, the prudential Bostonians, under the counsels of such men as Winslow, Dudley, Bradford, and Eliot, declined the proposal. Every

French Take Possession of the North-West.

11

men saved themselves by flight, leaving their canoes and merchandise in the hands of the victors. No cause for a quarrel had yet had place between the Iroquois and Sioux, and the latter were allowed to depart in peace for their homes. It was not till 1665 that any further progress was made in Western exploration. At this time, Father Alouez reaching the Falls of St. Mary in September, coasted along the southern shore of Lake Superior to the great village of the Chippewas. Here he summoned a council of Indian nations, composed of delegations from all the tribes of the adjacent countries, among whom were representatives from the Illinois tribe, which is the first mention made of them. In Father Alouez, they beheld a champion of human rights, and to him they unbosomed their griefs by first informing him of their ancient grandeur, and then of their diminished numbers from hostile visitations of the Sioux on the West and the Iroquois from the East, who had extended their conquests over the prairies, even before the white man had come among them. Alouez addressed them with words of paternal care, offering them the Christian religion and promising them protection against the Iroquois.

Soon after this, missions were established at Green Bay, St. Marys and LaPoint, but the next notable event which took place was the grand gathering at St. Marys. Nicholas Perrot was the moving spirit of this convention. Thither he summoned Chiefs from no less than fourteen tribes to help celebrate the ceremonials, for a great deed was to be executed. Possession was to be taken of the country. Fifteen Frenchmen were present, among whom were Alonez and Joliet. A large wooden cross was consecrated, and elevated like a liberty pole of modern days. This done, around it knelt the priests, who sang, chanted, and prayed with suitable impressment, and went through the forms of taking possession of the country along the upper lakes and "Southward to the sea," a description of an unknown quantity, for up to that time no explorer had ventured very far into the interior. It was well known, however, that a great river coursed Southwardly through the country, but whither did it lead? The hopeful theory was, that it opened into waters lead

possible token of respect was shown their distinguished guest. But these considerate representatives of the New American Idea, based on religious toleration, determined not to dilute the force of it by complicity with the elements in Canada, which were carrying weights in the exciting race for National grandeur between the two contestants. Moreover, the Iroquois had never raised the hatchet against Massachusetts, and if they had swept Canada with the fire brand and scalping knife, even as the sickel reaps the wheat field and the fire consumes the stubble, might it not be in the providence of God to punish them for their persecutions of the Huguenots? Therefore the disappointed Priest was dismissed with a refusal to grant his request, softened with courtly blandishments, but withal, an air of independance, as much as to say we are willing to trust to the provi dence of God for our future destiny, and you must also do the same.

ing to China, for this pleasing illusion, which had been the incentive to Columbus when he penetrated the secrets of the ocean, was still the golden dream of the Canadian adventurers. Pending these speculations, Father Marquette and Joliet obtained leave from Talon, the Intendant of Canada, to start on an expedition for the purpose of bringing to light the mysteries of this river, the country it drained and whither it went.

Joliet was born in Canada and was educated for a priest, but was evidently better fitted by nature for an explorer than for a father confessor. But Marquette had not mistaken his calling. With peculiar fitness and grace his sacerdotal robes depended from his shoulders, belted around his waist by the inevitable chord of his priestly order. The love of God and man, and the deep adoration of the blessed Virgin who was his patron Saint, were ever visible in his face, which was cast in a mould of benevolence. The tender passions of his youth found vent in the pious devotions, which were his every-day routine, and which for nearly twenty years, had made him conspicuous among his Jesuit brethren in the vanguard of that army of pioneers. The two distinguished men started from St. Ignace, a small missionary station on the north shore of the Straits of Mackanaw. Two birch bark canoes, five men, a bag of corn meal, a string of dried beef and a blanket apiece, constituted their outfit, except the all-important appliances for religious devotions, such as beads and crosses, so necessary to the success of the enterprise. Their route lay along the north shore of Lake Michigan and the west bank of Green Bay. Father Alonez and Dablon had established the mission of St. Francis Xavier here, four years previously, and welcomed the adventurers on their laudable enterprise, with that hearty unction which can only be appreciated by men who have missions to perform, big with future destiny. Resuming their journey, they passed through the waters of Lake Winnebago, and thence accompanied by Indian guides, continued up the Fox river to the carrying place across to the Wisconsin river.. Into this stream they launched their canoes, and for the first time dipped their paddles into the tributary waters of the Mississippi. Down its current they passed under cedar-crested precipices of solid rock, through forest glooms and across long stretches of sandy prairie. No marks of human life were apparent along these then silent grandeurs which are now the admiration of tourists in the picturesque State of Wisconsin. On the 17th of June they emerged from the prairie copse which fringed the banks of the Wisconsin, entered the forest shades which stud the Mississippi, and soon found themselves on its broad surface of moving waters, "with a joy I cannot express " says the devout Marquette.*

*Marquette named it Conception River, in honor of the day on which it was discovered.

First Interview with the Indians,

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As they passed down its waters the scenery was changed. The banks were less precipitous than the bold headlands of the Wis consin, and the country looked more promising, as they obtained occasional views of it through the openings along its wooded margin. Herds of buffalo were seen grazing on the ample pas. turage of the prairies, which must have struck the beholders as a waste of nature's gifts. In the neighborhood of the Des Moines river, they discovered human foot prints and hesitated not to follow them. Leaving their canoes in charge of five men, Marquette and Joliet took the Indian path, and after two leagues travel, came in sight of their villages. The two adventurers shouted to attract attention and four chiefs advanced to meet them with friendly tokens. They were of the Illinois tribe and hailed the advent of the two Frenchmen with delight. They feasted them with roast buffalo, fish and sagamite (hominy), and even honored them with the proffer of roast dog. The distinguished guests, however, declined this dainty repast, although they did not call in question the spirit of hospitality with which it was offered. After suitable prayers, benedictions and compliments, the Frenchmen took their leave, continuing their course down the river. Just above Alton is a high bluff of solid rock. On its time-worn surface, some artistic Indian, had in time past, exhibited his accomplishments by painting a monstrosity in human form. Marquette was startled at the sight. But the departed spirit of the savage artist whose genius inspired it and im mortalized his own memory did not come to his rescue. Therefore the pious Marquette was indignant at the sight of the impious device, and doubted not that the devil was its author. Fain would he have effaced the sacriligious picture, but it was beyond his reach. Painfully he ruminated on this evidence of demonology in the land, as the two bark canoes were borne along as if propelled by the forces of nature, till suddenly they found themselves in the breakers of the Missouri river, whose eddies whirled their light water craft like chaff in a miniature hurricane. This momentary danger diverted his thoughts from the unpleasant subject, and they proceeded along with extra caution. They passed the site of the present city of St. Louis, slumbering beneath the shades of a full-grown forest, with no premonition of her future destiny. The giddy heights of Grand Tower and the Ohio river were passed without meeting any more signs of life, but on the left bank below this river they again saw Indians. A friendly interview was secured by means of the calumet, and to their astonishment they found them

*No historic authority can be quoted for this assumption, but the theory is plausible enough to warrant its belief in absence of contravailing testimony. Portions of this picture were visible as late as 1850, and might have been till this day had not the stone on which it was painted been quarried out for building purposes.