324 MICHILLIMACKINAC. [1763. 



a fancied resemblance, applied to the neighboring 

 island, and thence to the fort. 



Though buried in a wilderness, Michillimackinac 

 was still of no recent origin. As early as 1671, the 

 Jesuits had established a mission near the place, 

 and a military force was not long in following ; for, 

 under the French dominion, the priest and the 

 soldier went hand in hand. Neither toil, nor suf- 

 fering, nor all the terrors of the wilderness, could 

 damp the zeal of the undaunted missionary ; and 

 the restless ambition of France was always on the 

 alert to seize every point of vantage, and avail 

 itself of every means to gain ascendency over the 

 forest tribes. Besides Michillimackinac, there were 

 two other posts in this northern region. Green Bay, 

 and the Sault Ste. Marie. Both were founded at 

 an early period, and both presented the same char- 

 acteristic features — a mission-house, a fort, and a 

 cluster of Canadian dwellings. They had been 

 originally garrisoned by small parties of militia, 

 who, bringing their families with them, settled on 

 the spot, and were founders of these little colonies. 

 Michillimackinac, much the largest of the three, 

 contained thirty families within the palisades of 

 the fort, and about as many more without. Be- 

 sides its military value, it was important as a centre 

 of. the fur- trade ; for it was here that the traders 

 engaged their men, and sent out their goods in 

 canoes, under the charge of subordinates, to the 

 more distant regions of the Mississippi and the 

 North-west. 



During the greater part of the year, the garrison 



