84 THE FORMER RANGE OF THE BUFFALO. 
statements he drew the first rude map of the Great River, and 
marked upon it the names of the nations that dwelt upon its 
ders. He says ‘‘as we were going to seek unknown countries, We — 
took all possible precautions, that if our enterprise was hazardous 
it should not be fool-hardy ; for this reason we gathered all possi- 
ble information from Indians, who had frequented those parts, 
and even from their accounts traced a map of all the new countty, 
marking down the rivers on which we were to sail, the names of 
the nations and places through which we were to pass, the course 
of the great river, and what direction we should take when 
got to it.” * i 
- It was on the 17th of May, 1673, that they started from the 
the Wild-Oat Indians, or, as they are called in French, the 
Avoines, a nation that dwelt upon the borders of the bay and 
voyage, at which they were much surprised. They tried to dik 
suade him from the undertaking by telling him of hostile n 
parties constantly in the field; that the Great River was 
dangerous, unless the difficult parts were known; that it was 
of frightful monsters who swallowed up men and canoes tog 
that there was a demon there who could be heard from afar, ™ 
stopped the passage and engulfed all who dared to approach 
finally, they told him of heat that was so excessive in those 
tries, that it would infallibly cause their death. 
The zealous missionary thanked them for their good advices 
told them that he would only be too happy to lay down his ®™ 
the salvation of souls. They entered Fox River, of which 
quette says: “it is very beautiful at its mouth, and flows 
it is full of bustards, duck, teal, and other birds attracted p 
wild-oats,+ of which they are very fond.” On the 7th of 
they arrived at a village of the Mascoutins, where they found 
nations— the Miamis, the Maskoutens and Kikabous, livi 
*Journal of Father Marquette. 
tThe Zizania aquatica Linn. 
