296 An Hijîorlcal yournol of 



they find On both Sides the River Lead Mines, difcovered for- 

 merly by a famous Traveller of Canada, named Nicolas Perroff 

 and v/hich bear his Name* Ten Leagues above the Oui/conjiug^ 

 on the fame Side, begins a Meadow fixty Leagues long, bordered 

 by Mountains, which make a charming Profpe6l. There is 

 another Meadow on the Weft Side, but not fo long. Twenty 

 Leagues higher than the Extremity of the firH, the River grows 

 wider, and they have named the Place the Lake de hon Secours, 

 (of good Succour), It is a League wide, and feven Leagues ia 

 Compafs, and it is alfo environed with Meadows, Nicolas Per- 

 iTQt built a Fort on the Right. 



At coming out of the Lake, we meet with UlJIe Pelee, (the 

 hald Ijland) ; fo called, becaufe there is not one Tree in it ; but 

 It is a very fine Meadow. The French of Canada have often 

 made it the Centre of their Trade in thefe Weftern Parts ; and 

 many have wintered here, becaufe all the Country is very fit for 

 Hunting. Three Leagues below Uljlg Pelee, we leave on the 

 Right Hand the River of St, Croix, (the Holy CrôfsJ, which 

 comes from the Environs of the Upper Lake. They fay that 

 Copper has been found pretty near its Mouth. Some Leagues 

 further, we leave on the Left Hand the River of St. Pierre, (St. 

 Peter), the Sides of which are peopled with Sioux, and the 

 Mouth of which is not far from the Fall of St. Anthony* The 

 Mijflljippi is little known above this great Cafcade, 



To return to t\\& Illinois.— li it is true which I have been af« 

 fured of in many Places, and v^'hich xht Mijfourite Woman I men- 

 tioned before confirmed to me, that they and the Miamis come 

 from the Borders of a Sea very diftant to the Weft (a), it ap- 

 pears that their firft Station, Vv'hen they came down into this 

 Country, was the Moingona : At leaft it is certain that one of 

 their Tribes bears that Name. The others are known by the 

 Names of the Peorias, the Tamarouas, the Caoquias, and the Kaf- 

 kafquias : But thefe Tribes are now much intermixed, and re- 

 duced to be very inconfiderable. There remains at prefent but 

 very few of the Kajkafquias ; and the two Villages that bear 

 their^Name, are almoft wholly compofed of Tamarouas, and of 

 Metchigpjnias, a ftrange Nation, who came from the Borders of 

 a little River, which we fliall meet with going down the 

 Jippi^ and whom the Kajkafquias have adopted. 



This is, Madam, all that I can at prefent inform you of,.con- 

 cerning Louijiana, into which I am but newly come. But be- 

 fore I finifh this Letter, I miift communicate to you fome Ac- 



(a) A Woman of the Mwmh, Prifoner of the Shux^ afiured Father 

 ht. P<?, at prerent Superior of the Miffions of Neiv France^ that fhe was ear- 

 Fied by th« 'omix to a Villsgç of her own Ration, that was v-ery near th^ 

 Sea. 



I 



