The Irish standard., 1896-04-18
Work OF the Catholic Mission
aries in Exploring the
Wilderness.
Historian Bancroft Contributes
Valuable Information. ON
the Subject.
Travelling Immense Distances and
Making Peace With
the Indians.
Continued from last week.l

On the 18th Of May, Marquette, Joliet
and five other Frenchmen set forth in
two birch bark canoes on Lake Michigan
and soon Green Bay was reached. They
then proceeded to the Fox river and All
the last village on this river ever visited
by the French the natives assembled III
council to receive the pilgrims. MY COM
panion,' said Marquette to them. 'is an
envoy of France tn discover new coua-
tries; and am an ambassador from God
to enlighten them with the gospel" and
offering them presents, he begged tive
guides for the morrow The wild men
answered coulteously, and gave In re-
turn a mat, to serve as coucA during thu
long voyage. After following the Fox
river for many leagues, il brought them
at last to the portage. where they took
their canoes from the water and carried
them a mile and a nalf over the prairie
and through the marsh. AIT this point
the Algonquin guides, fearful OF advanc-
ing any farther, returned, as Marquette
says, leaving us alone Id This IN
known land, in the hands OF Providence"
The Frenchmen launched their canoes or
the Wisconsin river, bade farewell To the
waters that flowed to the ST. Lawrence,
and committed themselves to the current
which would bear thern. they knev rot
whither-perhaps to the Pacific ocean
No sound broke the appalling stiffness,
~, l,rYy,.ar, fO,~-,,4 r.y.ra-.1yl ax.d ~ la~t
after sailing seven days, on the t7th OF
June their tiny canoes emerged upon the
mighty waters OF the Mississippi 5ov
that could find no utterance in words
filed the grateful heart of Marquette
The broad river Of the Conception AZ lie
named it, now lay before them stretch
| ing away hundreds OF miles to nn un-
known sea. With the feelings of men
who have discovered a new world they
passed the mouth Of many noble tribu-
tary. gliding past islets that swelled from
the bosom OF the stream, with their tufts
OF massive thickets, and between the
wide plains OF Illinois and Iowa. ali gar
landed with majestic forests, or raecIz-
| cred by island groves and the open vaft-
ness Of the prairie.
They journeyed more than fortnight
without meeting human being, when
on the 25th, about sixty leagues below
the mouth Of the Wisconsin. they diseov-
cred footprints OF man On the wost bank
and path that led to the adjacent prai-
rie. Leaving the canoes Marquette and
Joliet resolved alone TO brave q meeting
with the sagages After following the
path and walking six miles they came to
three villages on the banks Of river OF
which the name was Mou-in-gou-e-Ha. or
Moingona, which we have corrupted into
Des Moines. Marquette and Joliet were
the first white men who trod the soil or
Iowa. Commencing themselves to God,
they uttered loud cry. The Indians
hearing them, four Old men advanced
slowly, bearing peace-pipe brilliant
with many y-coiored plnrnes. The scene is
beautifully described sn Longfellow's
song of Hiawatha:
From the distant land Of Wabun,
From the farthest realm of morning.
Came the Black-robe chief. the prophet.
He the priest Of prayer, the pale-face.
With his guides end hts companions.
And the noble Hiawatha,
With his hand aloft extended
Held aloft in sign of welcome.
Waited, full Of expectation"
TO the indians greeting the missionary
replies.
/ Peace be with you, Hiawatha,
Peace be with you and your people,
i Peace Of prayer and peace OF pardon,
Peace of Christ and Joy Of Mary"
| II honor Of their visitors the Indians
gave a magnificent festival and held a
great council, at which Marquette. adj
| dressing them in Algonquin, published
othem the one true Cod. their Creator
| He added few words, touching the pow
Ter and glory Of the Count de Froateaac
and concluded by asking for information
Iconcerning the Mississippi and the tribes
Ialong Its banks, whom he was on his way
| to visit. The Indians listened with re-
spect to the new doctrines preached BY
him, and the great chief of all the Hin
ois replied with speech OF compliment,
Iassuring his g2ests that their presence
padded flavor 10 his tobacco, made the
lriver more calm. the sky more serene and
the earth more beautiful. In conclusion
he begged them to abandon their purpose
of descending the river and 10 form
perma nent settlement where they were.
but as they were intent Oh going he in
vited them to new visits. After enter
1 tanning the explorers for six days the In
4 dams gavesthem provisions for their jour-