Section II., 1904 [ 223 ] Trans. R. S. C 



V. — Eadisson in the Nortliivcst, 1661-63. 

 By B. SuLTE. 



(Read June 24, 1904.) 



Suwmary: — In ICGl Eadisson ascends tlie Otta\va (not the St. 

 Lawrence), proceeds to Sanlt Ste. Marie, thence to the bay of Chagou- 

 amigon. He spends the winter (16G1-62) at Mille Lacs, amongst the 

 Sioiix Beef Nation. During the summer of 1663 he goes to James Bay, 

 and, on his return, passes the winter of 1662-63 at Chagouamigon In 

 the spring of 1663 he makes known to the Assiniboincs that he cannot 

 visit their country, mnch though he regrets not to see the lake that they 

 eay is greater than Lake Superior. He declares to the people of 

 Chagouamigon that he has told the Indians of James Bay of his intention 

 to go to them again by the Atlantic Ocean, as they occupy the country 

 of the beaver, par excellence. Eadisson departs to descend to Quebec, 

 through Sault Ste. ]\Iario, Lake Nipissing and the Eiver Ottawa. 



'Tihis is the Fourth Voyage of Pierre-Esprit Eadisson,* in which I 

 find that the author and his brother-in-law Chouart reached Hudson 

 Bay by land., starting from Lake Superior. Here is his own text: 



" We stayed att home alt rest that yeare (1660) The 



spring following we weare in hopes to meet with some company, having 

 ben so fortunate the yeare before. Now, during the winter, whether 

 it was that my brother ^ revealed to his .wife what we had seen in our 

 voyage and what we further intended, or how it came to passe, it was 

 V known ; so much that the ffather Jesuits weare desirous to find out a 

 way how they might gett downe the castors from the bay of the north 

 by the Sacgnes, and so make themselves masters of that trade. They 

 resolved to make a tryall as soone as the ice would pcrmitt them. So 

 to discover our intentions they weare very earnest with me to ingage 

 myself e in that voyage, to the end that my brother would give over his, 

 which I uterly denied them, knowing that they could never bring it 

 about, becaus I heard the wild men say that although the way be easy, 

 the wildmen^ that are feed att their doors would have hindred them, 

 because they make a livelyhood of that trade. . . . Nevertheless 

 the ffathers are gone ^ with the Governor's son"* of the three rivers 

 and 6 other ffrench and 12 wildmen. 



" During that time we made our proposition to the governor of 

 Quebec that we weare willing to venture our lives for the good of the 



