6 THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY: 
and the official head of the expedition, was Sieur Jolliet, a 
native of Canada, a man of enterprise and tact, well qual- 
ified for the position to which he had been assigned, at 
present geographically commemorated by the thriving Ili- 
the June rise, these adventurous travelers pursued their 
journey down the course of this majestic stream, to which 
the present name, under a slightly changed orthography 
(Michisipi), was then applied. The peculiar features of the 
country on either hand drew their earnest attention, while 
| they were oppressed by the death-like silence that brooded 
over its unpeopled shores. By the third or fourth day they 
must have passed Rock Island, of which, however, no 
special mention is made. The rapids being then covered 
up by the swollen waters, also seem not to have attracted 
attention. 
At some point not far below the present town of Keo- 
kuk, on the 25th of June, an Indian trail is noticed on 
the western shore, leading from the river bank across the 
narrow neck of land between the Mississippi and Des Moines 
rivers. Intent on acquiring some knowledge of the inhabi- 
tants adjoining this wonderful but apparently deserted 
stream, the two adventurers left their canoes in charge of 
their attendants, and followed the track six miles, to an In- 
dian village on the banks of the Des Moines. Here their 
hazardous enterprise was rewarded by being kindly re- 
n<is town which bears his name. On the swelling tide of 
ceived and hospitably entertained by the no less wondering | 
natives. After a prolonged stay of six days, during which 
Father Marquette improved the opportunity to speak to 
them by expressive signs both of the French king, and the 
Great Heavenly Mastcr, they again started on their voy- 
age, being escorted back to their canoes by a large retinue 
of warriors. On their final parting, they received as a gift 
an ornamented peace-pipe, to be used as a sacred calumet 
against the foes and dangers to which they might be ex- 
posed on their route. 
| ESN ee ria oe ea Fer 
