JOURNEYS IN RUPERT’S LAND. 95 
there. He returned to Canada invalided, with his rank of lieutenant, but this was not 
recognized in Canada. In consequence, the young lieutenant entered the fur trade, and 
found at Michilimackinac and in the Upper Lakes his field of labour. He was in charge 
of Fort Nepigon in 1728. Here La Verandrye heard of the interior, from Ochagach, a 
savage, who drew a map on birch bark, which was sent to the Governor, Beauharnois. 
Authority was given to La Verandrye and a Jesuit missionary, Gonor, to penetrate these 
little known regions, where no white man had trod. The following are the main points 
of the exploration :— 
1731.— Aug. 26.—La Verandrye’s party left Lake Superior, by way of Pigeon River, for 
the interior. In the same year the explorers reached Rainy Lake and built at its 
foot Fort St. Pierre, whose ruins are still visible. 
1732.—The party discovered Rainy River and entered Lake of the Woods (Lac des Bois, 
also Minitie), and on its south-west shore built Fort St. Charles. Here, on 
Massacre Island, La Verandrye’s son, a priest, and a number of the party were 
murdered by the Sioux. 
1734.—By descending Winnipeg River, Lake Winnipeg (Owinipique, ‘muddy water,” 
Ojibway) was reached, and at the mouth of the river Fort Maurepas was built. 
1735.26.— Crossing Lake Winnipeg, and entering Red River (Miskouesipi, “ blood-red 
river,” Ojib.) at the mouth of the Assiniboine River, called by La Verandrye 
“St. Charles,” was built Fort Rouge, on the site of the present city of Winnipeg. 
1738.—At some time before this year, at Pointe des Bois, some two hundred miles up 
Red River, above Fort Rouge, was built a fort. In this year, also, Fort de la 
Reine was erected on the site of the present town of Portage la Prairie. 
1743.—La Verandrye’s sons ascended the Assiniboine, left it to explore one of the 
tributaries, the Souris River, called by them “ Riviére de St. Pierre” by portage 
from its head-waters to the Missouri, and up this river to the foot of the Rocky 
Mountains (Montagnes de pierre). After this, in the same year, La Verandrye 
returned to Quebec. 
1743=8.—During these years were discovered Lakes Manitoba (Manitowaban, “ Spirit’s 
Straits”), Winnipegoosis (“Little Winnipeg”), and Dauphin, and Forts Dauphin 
and Bourbon were erected. 
1748.—Ta Verandrye’s son ascended the Saskatchewan (“ Rapid River.”) 
1749.—La Verandrye was on the point of joining his sons to seek the sources of the 
Saskatchewan, when he died in Montreal, at the age of sixty-four. La Verandrye’s 
sons now lost their license, and were succeeded by Legardeur de St. Pierre. 
1752.—Fort Jonquière was built near the site of the present town of Calgary, on Bow 
River, near the Rocky Mountains by direction of St. Pierre, 
