Travels in North Amerîcà, 221 



LETTER XXI. 



Journey to the Rt^er St, ]oseph. Remarks on the Risers njohzch 

 run into Michigan frcm the Eaji Of Father Mar- 



quette's Ri'very and the Origin of its Name, Tivo Games 

 of the Savages. Some Remarks on the Character of thejk 

 People,. 



Madam, St. Joseph, ^^/^^ j6. 



IT is eight Days fince I arrived at this Poll, where we have 

 a Miffion, and where there is a Commandant with a fmall 

 Garrifon. The Houfe of the Commandant, v/hich is a trifling 

 Thing, is called the Fort, becaufe it is furrounded with a poor 

 Palifade, and it is much the fame Thing in all other Places, 

 excepting the Forts of Chamhly and Cataracoui^ which are rea} 

 . FortreiTes, There are however in all of them lorne Pieces of 

 Cannon or Pattereroes, which, in Cafe of Need, are fufficient ta 

 prevent a Coup de Mainy and to keep the Savages in Awe. 



We have here two Villages of Savages, one of Miamis and 

 D ffh AT other of Foi^teouatamies, they are both for 



ang roj e a- mo'à.Yzxt Chriftiajzs, but they have been 

 ESan ^ long Time without Pailors, and the Mif,. 



^ * lionary that was lately fent hither will have 



no little Trouble to reftore the Exercife of Religion. The 

 River St, Jofepb comes from the South Eaft to difcharge itfelf 

 into the Bottom of Lake Michigan^ the Fail Goaft of which we 

 ^lu^l range, which is a hundred Leagues long, before we enter 

 this River. Then we go up it two hundred Leagues to arrive 

 at the Fort : This Navigation requires niuch Care, becaufe 

 when the Wind comes from the open Lake, that is, the Weft, 

 the Waves are the whole length of the Lake ; and the Weft 

 Winds are very common here. Jt is alfo very probable that 

 the Number of Rivers, which run into the Lake on the Well Side, 

 contribute by the Shock of their Currents with the Waves, to 

 render the Navigation more dangerous : It is certain that there 

 are few Places in Canada where there are more Wrecks.— —Bu| 

 I take up my Journal again where I left off, 



Tl;a 



