1649.1 DECISION OF THE PRIESTS. 395 



Several of the priests set out to follow and 

 console the scattered bands of fugitive Ilurons. 

 One embarked in a canoe, and coasted the dreary 

 shores of Lake Huron northward, among the wild 

 labyrinth of rocks and islets, whither his scared 

 flock had fled for refuge ; another betook himself to 

 the forest with a band of half-famished proselytes, 

 and shared their miserable rovings through the 

 thickets and among the mountains. Those who 

 remained took counsel together at Sainte Marie. 

 Whither should they go, and where should be the 

 new seat of the mission ? They made choice of the 

 Grand Manitoulin Island, called by them Isle Sainte 

 Marie, and by the Hurons Ekaentoton. It lay near 

 the northern shores of Lake Huron, and by its posi- 

 tion Avould give a ready access to numberless Algon- 

 quin tribes along the borders of all these inland 

 seas. Moreover, it would bring the priests and 

 their flock nearer to the French settlements, by the 

 route of the Ottawa, whenever the Iroquois should 

 cease to infest that river. The fishing, too, was 

 good ; and some of the priests, who knew the is- 

 land well, made a favorable report of the soil. 

 Thither, therefore, they had resolved to transplant 

 the mission, when twelve Huron chiefs arrived, and 

 asked for an interview with the Father Superior 

 and his fellow Jesuits. The conference lasted thi'ee 

 hours. The deputies declared that many of the 

 scattered Hurons had determined to reunite, and 

 form a settlement on a neighboring island of the 

 lake, called by the Jesuits Isle St. Joseph; that 

 they needed the aid of the Fathers ; that without 



