Travels in North America. 211 

 prevent a Surprife which is a great Injury to the Trade be- 

 tween the two Colonies. 



I met in the Bay fome Sioux^ of whom I made many Enqui- 

 rr . ries about the Countries, which are to the 



to tZ^Nonh ^""'^^ ' ^^""^ 



m/ofclnzZ ^'^f^^ "'"^ ^""'"fl <lepend on 

 what the oavages fay ; yet by comparing 

 what I have heard from them, with that which I have heard 

 from many others, I have great Reafon to believe that there 

 are on this Continent fome Spaniards or other European Colo- 

 nies, much more North than any we know of AW Mexico and 

 California^ and that in going up the Mijfouri as far as it is na- 

 vigable, we come to a great River that runs to the Weft, and 

 difcharges itfelf into the South Sea. Independent of fuch Dif- 

 covery, which I believe more eafy this Way than by the North, 

 I can make no Doubt, on weighing the Information I have 

 had from many Places, and which agree pretty well together, 

 that by endeavouring to penetrate to the Source of the Mijfou- 

 ri, one fhould find wherewithal to make one Amends for the 

 Charges and Fatigues of fuch an Enterprizc. 



/ amy &c. 



LETTER XX. 



Departure from Michillimakinac. Remarks on the Currents of 

 the Lake. Portrait of the Savages^ Canada. Their good 

 and bad ^alities* 



Madam, Lake Michigan, July ^i. 



I Departed from Michillimakinac Ûi^ Day before Yeflerday at 

 Noon, and I am detained here in a little Ifland that has 

 no Name ; a Canoe that came from the River 6*/. Jofeph, whither 

 I am going, cannot go out, no more than our's, though they 

 have the Wind favourable for them ; but they fay it is too Itormy, 

 and the Lake too rough, which gives me a frefh Opportunity of 

 writing to you. 



Though the Wind was againft me, when I embarked the 

 Remarks on the ""^^h ^ went eight good Leagues that Day, 

 Currents of the ^^^^^ proves that I was onven by the Cur- 

 Lakes, rents. I had already obferved the fame 



Thing upon entering the Bay, and was fur- 

 prifed at it. It is certain that this Bay, having no other Outlet, 

 difcharges itfelf into Lakè Michigan i and Lak« Michigun^ for 



Ee 2 the 



