Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1838-04-14
discoveries. La Sale proceeded in ca

michigan, sometimes called the lake
'of the Illinois. They landed at the
mouth Of the river of the Miamis, sup
pose to be Chicago, which they reached
1.-The first Of November. Here he OPEN
ed negotiations with the Illinois con-
.Ifederacy Of Indians, proposed trade,
induced them to put themselves under
the protection of his sovereign, and
with their consent took possession Of
the whole country for the crown Of
France. He erected a fort and opened
prosperous trade with the Indians.
The chevalier Tonti has been left
with party of men at the bay Of Pu-
ants, and having received an additional
force of fifteen, who had been scnt'out
the preceding autumn, and had winter
ed at station Of Jesuits north of lake
Huron, proceeded in canoes TO join La
Salle.-They encountered stormy wea-
Their in navigating the lake, his men
refractory and mutinous, they were
once driven on shore, but finally reach
ed the garrison at the mouth of the riv-
Ter Of the Miamis.
La Salle was much pleased with this
addition to his force, viewing it as es-
sential to the completion Of his plan.
Little did he then think that these men
would be to him source Of vexation
and distress, and continual obs,ruc-
ton to his view.
Having been successful in trade, and
in the erection Of his fort, he turned
his attention towards the prosecution
Of his journey into the interior OF Hi
nois, leaving ten men in the new fort.
The company, consisting of forty-four
men besides the three recollct monks.
Proceeding up the river of Miamis, and
across the portage, with their canoes,
they reached the Illinois river in four
days. Tonti says, eve fell down the
river by easy Journeys, the better to
observe the country, and supply our
selves with provisions.-Thc banks OF
that river are as charming to the eye
as useful for life. Tho meadows, fruit
;rees and forest, affordinng every
thing that is necessary for men and
beasts, SO that being amused by that
agreeable variety, we spent six days
from the portage, where we embarked,
to the first village of Indians"
This village, consisting of 500 cabins,
they found entirely deserted, which
were open and at the mercy of every
traveller. The historian describes their
cabins as divided into two apartments,
made with logs, int .rIaccd with branch
es, the roofs covered with bark, the
outside plaistered with mud, and the
inside covered with mats. Under each
was cellar full Of corn, an article the
French needed, and with which they
supplied themselves. The name Of
this village as they afterwards discov-
cred, was Prntdai0miu.
/ Pursuing their voyage about ninety
|miles further they came to lake, a.
bout twenty miles long, and in which
they found an abundance offish. After
passing through the lake, which the
reader will recognize as Peoria lake,
they came again TO the channel Of the
river, and found themselves between
two Indian encampmcnts. On per-
ceiving the strangers, the Indians sent
their women and children inio the
! woods, and arranged themselves in order
OF battle on both sides Of the river. Ii
Sale having put his men in posture
Of defence, one Of the chiefs came for
ward and enquired who they were, and
what was their object? They were
answered by the Interpreter that they
were French; their object was to make
the God Of heaven know to them to OF
fer them the protection of the king OF
France, and 10 trade with them. The
Illinois rendered the calumet ofpeace,
and the explorers made presents, of
which brandy appears to have been
literally used. They were soon on
most amicable terms, and great feast
was held, which lasted three days, at
tended with dancing on the part Of the
natives, and firing guns and other de-
,nonstratiops of Joy on the part Of the
French, who told their new friends OF
the depreciation they had been compel
led to make on their corn ut the VII
|lage, and offered liberal remuneration
lin toys'and brandy.-[T onti, -Charle-
voix, -Hennepin,- Martin.
We were standing in the Post Office,
shor, time since, when a large, noble