The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-07-05
. pa c.
NAVIGATION CO

entails Marco Polo had written about seYefal |
centuries before and that In finding them, the |
longsought new route to China might be discoV
cred That was why Nicolet carried with him "a
superb robe of Chinese damask, embroidered an
over with flowers and birds" He was prepared
to make proper appearance on meeting Tug
Chinese mandarns.
Nicoet left Three Rivers Que. July !, 1854,
In company with three Jesults, Fathers Brebeuf,
Daniel and Dayost who were accompanying a
hand of Hurons on their way home from their
annual trading visit to Quebec. He Travelled with
them to the Isles des Allumettes where he lin
gered for time with his friends, the Algon-
uuins Later he Joined the Jesuits at lhonatira'
where he assembled a party OF seven Hurohs
and embarked In fra canoe for his journey
into the West
Crossing Lake Huron, the party journeyed up
ST Mary's river to what Is now Sault Ste Marie
returned south. then proceeded west through the
Straits of Mackinac and padded out into Lake
Michigan which was known then and for many
years afterward as the Lake OF the Illinois. Con-
timing southwark Nicolet and his Indian friends
entered Green bay and near the head OF that
-hotiv -wateF he found the people he had neen
sent to And--the Wlnnebagoes who had come 10
blows with the Hurons allies OF the French, and
with whom he had been charged to negotiate
peace.
aWhen he neared the Winnebago town, he sent
q messenger ahead to announce his coming and,
having put on his gorgeous robe, followed MIN
on the scene" writes William Henry Johnson In
"French pathfnders in North America. Never
did circus, making Its grand entry INTO VII
lage in all the glory OF gilded chariots and brass
band. inspire deeper awe than this primitive am
bassador, with his flaming robe and pair OF
nistols which he fired continually. Ills pale face
the first the Winnebagoes had ever seen, gave
them sense of something unearthly. The squaws
and children fled into the woods, shreking that
II was a mantou (spirt) armed with thunder
and lightning The warriors, however. stood their
ground bravely and later entertained him with
feast of one hundred and twenty beaver
"But II Nicoet did not succeed In opening
relations with Cathay and Cipango (Chlna and
Iapan), he did something else that entities nm
to he commemorated among the Pathfnders. lie
assembled Fox river to Its headwaters. crossed
the little divide that separates the waters noWlls
into the Lakes from those that empty INTO the
Gulf of Mexico and launched his canoe on the
Wisconsin, first white man, so far as we know,
who noated on one of the upper tributaries OIL
the mighty river
Nicolet made such a favorable Impression on
the Winnebagoes that he was able to negotiate
treaty with them by which they agreed 10 take
their furs to the French posts on lhe o.. Ia"
renee. He also won the friendship OF the Mas
coutns, spent the winter with them and returned
to Quebec in 1886 to report to Champlain OF MS
adventures in the west
Eight years after this historic journey, Nico'
let met tragic death In the ST Lawrence river
BY this time he was the CHIEF oflcial % Inv
trading company of Quebec and his influence
among the Indians was perhaps greater thai
that of any other man of his time
In 1g42 word reached Quebec that Sokok