400 ON THE EARLY DISCOVERIES OF THE 



prising, as they appear to have penetrated beyond the Straits of 

 Mackinaw, and one can hardly account for their knowing nothing of 

 the opposite shore. 



From this period the progress of discovery was rapid. Perrot was 

 very succesful in his negotiations with the tribes round Lake Michigan, 

 who, at a great gathering at Mackinaw, acknowledged the supremacy 

 of France ; and the new Governor, Count Frontenac, built the fort 

 which long bore his name, where Kingston now stands. This was the 

 first step which curbed the power of the Iroquois, and afforded any 

 security to the French trade on Ontario. Other forts were soon after 

 built at Niagara, Detroit, and on Lake Huron, which rendered French 

 influence predominant over all the great Lakes. Important discoveries 

 followed each other rapidly. Joliet and Marquette «ascended the Outa- 

 gami from Green Bay on Lake Michigan, and carrying across to the 

 Wisconsin River, followed it down to the Mississippi, which they de- 

 scended as far as the confluence of the Arkansas, when being satisfied 

 that it flowed into the Gulf of Mexico, they returned by the way of 

 Illinois River to the extremity of Lake Michigan. The latter route 

 was soon after pursued by La Salle with larger means, the Mississippi 

 was followed to its mouth, and a colony founded there. 



I have copied Joliet' s own map, and his letter to Frontenac giving a 

 brief description of the newly discovered countries.* Father Marquette 

 published a short account of their journey, with a very indifferent map, 

 but this is the only record from Joliet himself, and he gives a pathetic re- 

 lation of its conclusion ; how after escaping all the dangers of a diffi- 

 cult and unknown navigation, amidst hostile Indians, his canoe was 

 upset in sight of the house from which he started, two of his party, 

 his journal and all his baggage were lost, and he brought home nothing 

 but his life.f The inscription in red ink is apparently of a later date, 



* Accurate tracings of this and the other maps referred to, in illustration of the paper, 

 have been deposited by the author in the Library of the Canadian Institute. 



t The following letter of Joliet to Frontenac, copied from the above map, is interesting as 

 the sole memorial he has left of his expedition : — 



Mouseigneur le Comte de Frontenac, Conseiller du Roy en ses Conseils, Gouverneur et 

 Lieutenant-general pour sa Majeste' en Canada, Acadie, Isle de Terreneuve et autres pays de 

 la France septentrionale. 



Mouseigneur,— C'est avecbien de lajoye que j'ay le bonheur au.jourd-hni de vous presente 

 cette carte, qui vous ferra con noitre la situation des rivieres et des lacs sur lesquels ou na- 

 vigue au travers du Canada ou Amerique septentionale, quia plus de 1200 lieus de Testa 

 Touest. Cette grande riviere, qui porte le nom the Riviere Colbert, pour avoir est6 decouverte 

 ces derniers annees 1G73 and 1674, par les premiers ordres que vous me donnates entrant dans 

 votre gouvernement de la Nouvelle France, passe au-dela des Lacs Hurons e-t Illinois, entre 

 la Floride et le Mexique, et pour se decharger dans la mcr coupe le plus beau pays qui se 

 puisso voir sur la Terre. Je n'ay rien veil de plus beau dans la France que la quantit6 de 

 prairies que j'y ay admired tous les jours, ny rien d'agr6able comme la diversity des bocage 

 et des forets, ou se ceuillcnt des prunes, de3 porames, des grenades, des citrons, des meures, 



