58 FRANCE A^D ENGLAJs^D IN A3IERICA. [1679-1680. 



early life had passed, it is said, in connection with 

 the Jesnits, and his strong mind had hardened to 

 iron under the discipline of that relentless school. 

 To a sound judgment, and a penetrating sagacity, 

 he joined a boundless enterprise and an adamantine 

 constancy of purpose. But his nature was stern 

 and austere ; he was prone to rule by fear rather 

 than by love ; he took counsel of no man, and 

 chilled all who approached him by his cold 

 reserve. 



At the close of the year 1678, his preparations 

 were complete, and he despatched his attendants to 

 the banks of the river Niagara, whither he soon 

 followed in person. Here he began a little fort of 

 palisades, and was the first military tenant of a spot 

 destined to momentous consequence in future wars. 

 Two leagues above the cataract, on the eastern 

 bank of the river, he built the first vessel which 

 ever explored the waters of the upper lakes. ^ Her 

 name was the Griffin, and her burden was forty- 

 five tons. On the seventh of August, 1679, she 

 began her adventurous voyage amid the speechless 

 wonder of the Indians, who stood amazed, alike at 

 the unwonted size of the wooden canoe, at the flash 

 and roar of the cannon from her decks, and at the 

 carved figure of a griffin, which sat crouched 

 upon her prow. She bore on her course along the 

 virgin waters of Lake Erie, through the beautiful 

 windings of the Detroit, and among the restless 

 billows of Lake Huron, where a furious tempest 

 had well nigh ingulphed her. La Salle pursued 



1 Sparks, Life of La Salle, 21. 



