INTRODUCTION. V 



narrated in very animated style, large extracts have been 

 transcribed literally, as better than a reproduction in new 

 shape. 



The history has been collected from a variety of sources : 

 some of them of undoubted authenticity. Some of the 

 older relations, hov^^ever, to which resort must be had to 

 ascertain the early events connected with the discovery of 

 the country, are not to be received without caution. The 

 practice among the French of publishing books in names of 

 other persons, not the authors of them, has thrown doubts 

 over some of its story. M. Tonti disclaimed the author- 

 ship of the volume published in his name ; and it is proba- 

 ble the same liberty may have been taken with others. 



Parts III. and IV. are principally the result of the writer's 

 observation, aided in some particulars by Mr. Wetmore's 

 Gazetteer of Missouri, by a contribution of a gentleman of 

 Wisconsin, and by some few public documents. 



The reports of Mr. Owen and Nicollet, being very full 

 and correct on the geology of this region, large extracts from 

 them have been transcribed in the Appendix, and that part of 

 the volume consists of little else than extracts from these 

 reports and Mr. Keating's descriptions. These form the 

 most complete and satisfactory account of the geology of the 

 district that can be furnished ; and it was thought best to in- 

 sert them literally. On that account this has been placed in 

 the Appendix, though the subject would make it more ap- 

 propriate to the body of the work. In the Appendix also is 

 a very curious and interesting extract from Mr. Owen's 

 Report, giving a minute description of some earth work 



