FINDING THE MISSING LINK 

 It was LaSalle's plan and idea, when he left 

 France and sailed from his home in Rouen to 

 the French possessions in Canada, to accumu- 

 late a fortune by trading European merchandise 

 to the Indians for their furs and pelts which they 

 got along the lakes and northern rivers. With 

 this object in view he explored many lakes and 

 rivers in what is now Indiana, and established 

 trading posts on the frontier. After establishing 

 trading posts, as I have said before, LaSalle 

 traded with the - Indians such articles of mer- 

 chandise as guns, ammunition, knives, hatchets, 

 kettles, blankets and beads in exchange for their 

 valuable furs. This was the motto of the Indian 

 "You Can Do Me GoodI Do You Good." 

 The Indians soon learned that the Frenchman 

 was a benefactor and not an enemy, therefore 

 in a few years they were carrying on a big fur 

 trade with the Indians on the northwest frontier. 

 Tradition tells us that every wigwam in those 

 days welcomed the visit of a Frenchman, Hav- 

 ing carried out his plans so far successfully, this 



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