HISTORY. 85 



infinitely varied ; and never, perhaps, was there more cause 

 to think that nature w^as to be destroyed, and the world 

 coming to an end. 



" The first shock lasted half an hour, without cessation ; 

 but, at the end of a quarter of an hour, it began to be less 

 violent. The same day, at eight o'clock in the evening, 

 there was a second shock, as violent as the first ; and, in the 

 space of a half-hour, there were two others. Some persons 

 counted thirty-two in the following night, some of which were 

 very strong. * * * * 



'^ Half way from Tadoussac to Quebec two mountains were 

 levelled, and of the earth which was thrown down by them, a 

 point was formed, which was advanced a half-quarter of a 

 league into the river." 



These several voyages of Hennepin, La Sale, and La- 

 hontan, had made the world acquainted with the noble Missi- 

 sippi from St. Ajithony's to the Gulf, and with the St. Peter's, 

 and Missouri, and Wisconsin, and Illinois, and with a vast 

 extent of territory, containing the richest soil upon the earth, 

 and some of the richest deposits of metals within it. 



The dominion of the French in America had been extend- 

 ed by the discovery and acquisition of all that territory lying 

 west of the Lake Michigan to the River Missisippi, and of 

 the much greater and more magnificent region comprehended 

 under the name of Louisiana : embracing all that country 

 which it is within the scope of this work to describe. La- 

 hontan, it should be named, took formal possession of the 

 country of St. Peter's, by setting up landmarks of his travel ; 

 and Louisiana included the Missouri River, of which it does 

 not appear that the French gained any jurisdiction by his 

 visit beyond what might be claimed by the right of discovery 

 merely. 



The earliest visitors to Lake Superior had become ac». 



