96 GEORGE BRYCE: OUTLINES OF 
1753.—Fort à la Corne was erected near the forks of the Saskatchewan. 
1755.—Before this date, Fort Poskoiac had been erected in the same region. 
_1757.—Before this year, Fort des Prairies was built on the Saskatchewan. 
(2) JosePH La FRANCE. 
This adventurer was born at Michilimackinac, in 1704, a French half-breed. He had 
traded furs on the Upper Lakes and had visited Fort Frontenac. In 1738, La France, who 
was a species of free-booter, was seized by the governor and a party whom he chanced to 
meet on Nipissing River. Escaping from his captors, with his gun and only five charges 
of powder, the forest ranger reached Sault Ste. Marie—through two hundred miles of 
trackless wilderness. Having now lost everything, La France determined “to go to the 
English on Hudson Bay.” 
1740.—He followed La Verandrye’s route down Rainy Lake and River (du Pluis)—then 
through Lake of the Woods (Lac des Bois, also des Iles), reached, by way of River 
Winnipeg, the Lake of the same name, and on its banks joined Cris or Chris- 
tinaux (Cree) Indians, and tells of a flat country full of meadows on its shores. 
1742.—Visited Lake Winnipegoosis with the Indians. Turned now towards the bay, 
and passing Lakes Du Siens and Cariboux, reached Pachegoia. This is the meet- 
ing place of the Indians who go down River Nelson to York Factory. April 4, 
one hundred canoes having been built from the birch trees which abound at 

Pachegoia, the furs were shipped and La France chosen captain of the expedi- 
tion, which, June 29, arrived at York Factory. La France was the first man 
certainly known to have followed the “ watery way” through the country from 
Lake Superior to Hudson Bay. 
[Nore—It is well-known that the French Huguenot traders, Groselliers and 
Radisson, claimed to have discovered Hudson Bay, crossing through the country from 
Lake Superior to Hudson Bay, before 1670, the year in which the Hudson’s Bay Company 
was formed. There is no certainty as to their expedition !] 
(3) SamuEL HEARNE. (“The Mungo Park of Canada.”) 
The Hudson’s Bay Company had for a hundred years clung to the coast. Their 
connections were with bands of Indians living in the interior, so far west as Athabasca 
and the Saskatchewan, who came with their furs every year to the sea coast. The North- 
West Company of Montreal was penetrating the country, whence their trade came, and 
they found it necessary to extend their explorations to the interior, and built posts at 
leading points. The man who took chief part in this inland enterprise was Samuel 
Hearne, an officer of the Hudson’s Bay Company. 
1769.—The explorer was provided with an escort, with astronomical and other instru- 
ments, and with instruments from Moses Norton, Governor of Prince of Wales 
Fort. His orders were, in passing through the country, to cultivate friendly rela- 
