HISTOBICAL SKETCH. H 



1680, LaSalle.] 



across a divide and a swampy prairie to reach the river Eakaling, which falls into the bay of the 

 Puans, and perhaps further. The Misconsing runs between two hill-ranges, which recede from 

 time to time and leave between them and the river prairies of considerable size, and lands 

 untimbered, which are sandy and sterile. At other times the patch which is between these ridges 

 and the river is, in places, more low and marshy ; and then it is covered with timber and is 

 flooded by the overflows of the river. The mountains diminish imperceptibly in size as one 

 ascends the river, and at length, about three leagues from the portage, the land becomes flat and 

 marshy, open on the side from which the portage sets out, and covered with pines on the other 

 side. The place where the canoes are carried is marked by a tree, on which there are two canoes 

 rudely delineated by the savages ; whence, after having walked about half a league, the river 

 Kakaling [Fox] is found, which is only a rivulet rising from a marsh, and which winds about 

 exceedingly, forming little lakes by enlarging itself, and then often becoming narrow. It is followed 

 about 40 leagues, in the course of the bends it makes, and then is found the village of the Outaga- 

 mies. At one-half league from the river, on the north side, before arriving there, the river falls into 

 a lake which may be eight leagues long and three leagues wide ; and after passing the village about 

 two leagues are found the Kakaling rapids, which are difficult to descend on account of the swiftness 

 of the water, the frequency of rocks which it encounters, and three waterfalls where it is 

 necessary to carry the canoes and their burden. They continue six leagues. Three leagues 

 below them, at the debouchure of this river into the bay of the Puans, is a house of the Jesuits, 

 who truly have the key to the country of the beaver, where a brother blacksmith whom they 

 have, and two companions, have changed more iron into beaver than the Fathers have of savages 

 into Christians. 



About 23 or 24 leagues to the north, or northwest, from the mouth of the Ouisconsing [Wis- 

 consin], which has also a rocky coast on the south side and a beautiful prairie on the north, near 

 to three beautiful basins or bays of quiet water, is the river Noire [Black], called Chabadeba by 

 the Nadouesioux. This is of inconsiderable size, and at its mouth it is bordered on both sides by 

 alders. Ascending about 30 leagues, all the way in nearly the same direction, we have the river 

 Bceufs [Chippewa], about as large at its mouth as that of the Illinois. It is so called because of the 

 number of these animals which are there found. It was explored ten or twelve leagues, and it 

 remains of the same size and without rapids, bordered by mountains, which are separated farther, 

 occasionally, so as to form prairies. There are several islands at its mouth, and it is lined with 

 woods on both shores. 



LA SALLE'S OPINION OF DU LUTH. 



Thirty-eight or forty leagues higher is found the river by which Du Luth descended 

 to the Mississipi. For three years he had been, contrary to orders, with a band of coureurs 

 det bois, in the lake Superior region. He had acted very boldly there, publishing every- 

 where that at the head of his braves he did not fear the Grand Provost, and that he would 

 forcibly make him grant him amnesty. The coureurs des bois, to whom he first had revealed his 

 pretence, have been several times in the settlement, and have returned carrying merchandise and 

 furs, of which they have meantime despoiled lake Superior, from all the approaches to which 

 they have kept out the Outaouac during this year, so that they could not descend to Montreal. 



During this time and while he was at lake Superior, the Nadouesioux, invited by the presents 

 which the late Sieur Randin had made them in behalf of Count Frontenac, and the Sauteurs, who 

 are the savages that bring the most peltries to Montreal, and who dwell at lake Superior, wishing 

 to observe the repeated injunctions of said Frontenac, concluded a peace, which was to unite the 

 nation of the Sauteurs to the French, and to allow them to go in trade to the country of the 

 Nadouesioux, distant about 60 leagues to the west from lake Superior. Du Luth, in order to 

 conceal his desertion, took this occasion to give it some excuse, and causes himself, with two of 

 his fellow-deserters to pass as an envoy of the Count and charged with his orders, for the purpose 

 of negotiating that peace during which his comrades negotiate for a great number of beaver. 

 He had a number of conferences with the Nadouesioux, and as he had no interpreter, he bribed 

 one of mine, named Faffert, till then a soldier at Fort Frontenac. Finally, the Sauteurs having 

 been several times back and forth to the Nadouesioux, and the Nadouesioux to the Sauteurs, seeing 

 that there was nothing to fear, and that it was possible to increase the number of their beaver, he 



