, 1842-03-05

v
of peril and suffering, the survivors of the
expedition, less than three hundred men
reached the to- n of France on the Mexican
coast.
The survivors in fact, were blackened,
haggard. half naked and starved; clad only IN
The skins of deer of buffalo, ana as the Span
ish narrator relates, looked more like wild
beasts than men.
The history of this expedition was written
both in Portuguese and Spanish, within a few
wears alter the return of De Moscoso, and
the fragments of his army. The P%"rtugues
narrative was written by a soldier who was
in he expedition. An English translation
of this work was published by Hackluyt, in
1909, and an imnerfect abridgement is to be
found in Purchas, Pilgrims, 1886. The Span
ish history is by Inca Garcilaso de la Vega.
a Spanish ecclesiastic, and written from the
journals of the men, and from conversations
with the survivors.
a complete work, ia two volumes, has
been collated and published from both those
authorities by Theodore Irving, Esq. Mr..
Bancroft, in his History of the United States.
vol, l.. has given an outline of this expedl-
ton, and Aefrera, the Spanish historian so
frequently referred to by DR.. Robertson, in
his history of America copied n large proper
ton of tine narrative of Garacilaso.
We shall now leave the "Great River" to roll
its turbid waters, unnoticed and undisturbed
BY European adventures, for the period Of
one hundred and thirty years, when the light
canoe of Joliet and Marquette entered it
from Canada by the route of the Wisconsin,
Tor rs governor Dory has nick-named it. the
Wiskonsdn, for which there is not 4 particle
of Indian or French authoriiy.) Ii does
not appear from any authority we have no.
,iced that the French explorers possessed
any knowledge Of the discovery of DE Soto.
About 1910, the notion prevailed amongst
the French who had visited Canada. that a
western passage to the Pacific Ocean existed
by means Of a great river. This idea they
had gotten from the Indians along the north
ern lakes, but of its course or termination
they knew nothing.
VI. Talon the intendant Of New France.
as Canada was then called, was n person OF
singular genius and enterprise. and ne se'ec-
ted Joliet and Marquette to settle this ques-
ton, Joliet was an enierprlsing trader oil
Quebec, and largely acquainted with the In.
dlans-Marquette was Il Jealous missionary
of the Recollect order, and OF much expert
ence. They conducted an exnedition through
the lakes, up Green hay and Fox river, across
The portage to the Wisconsin, and descended
that river to the Mississippi, which they
reached on the l7lh Of June, 1878. They
descended that river to the Arkansas, and
having satisfied themselves its course was 10
the Cult of Mexico, and their stock OF pro-
visions being nearly exhausted, they, deemed
it unsafe to proceed further amongst un-
known tribes of savages. and they returned
to Canada by the way of the Illinois river
and Chicago. Coun, de Frontonac gave the
name Of Gilbert, to the river they had ex-
plored. in compliment to the French minister
OF Marine.
The services of Joliet were rewarded by
a grant of the island of Antlcosti, near the
mouth of the river ST. Lawrence.
Marquette returned to his missionary Ia
bors amongst the Indians. ChaIlevolz re-
Ia,es. that on the I8t, of May. 1915. while
on his wav form Chicago to Michilimaclnac.
he entered q river now bearing his own name.
where he let drop some expressions, which
pIainlv indicated that he should end his days
at hat place. Soon as the boat landed, he
erected his alter and said mass; after which
he retired a short distance TO return thanks,
desiring the men with him to absent them
selves for half an hour. On their return
they found him dead!
Judge Martin, in his History of Louisiana,
remarks:-
"This important discovery filled all Cana
da, with Joy, and the inhabitants OF the CAPT.
tai followed the constitutional authorities OF
the colony 10 the cathedral church, where
the bishop. surrounded by his clergy. sung a
solemn re Deum. Little did they suspect
that the event, for which they were render.
ing thanks to heaven, was marked in the
book of fate, as a principal one among those
which were to lead to the expulsion of the
French nation from North America, that
Providence had not designed the shores OF
! the mighty stream for the abode OF the vas,
sal Of any European prince; but had decreed
. that it should be for a while the bound ~
, and forever after roll its waves IN me- mos
of those free and prosperous c~onrhqni'Ie:
:. that now form the confedefacy e.S'ne UNI
ted States" ~
Several years passed by before Any at
tempt was made 10 follow up the discove
; ries Of Joliet and Marquette. As IN all nhl
, ,ary expeditions Of the Spanish and French
u.. ,Iu. comn,niOn of the soldier