Two Years Later The Aged
Jesuit Mesnard Attempted To Plant A Mission On The Southern Shore Of The
Lake, But Perished In The Forest By Famine Or The Tomahawk.
Allouez
succeeded him, explored a part of Lake Superior, and heard in his turn of
the Sioux and their great river, the "Messipi." - Introduction to Parkman's
Discovery of the Great West.
There can be no doubt but that the "two
daring traders who in 1658 penetrated to Lake Superior," and dwelt on the
great river, were Radisson and Des Groseilliers, who repeated their journey
a few years after, described in this narrative. The "Pictured Rocks" and
the "Doric Rock" were so named in Governor Cass's and Schoolcraft's
Travels in 1820.] that ever saw it. There is in that place caves very
deepe, caused by the same violence. We must looke to ourselves, and take
time with our small boats. The coast of rocks is 5 or 6 leagues, and there
scarce a place to putt a boat in assurance from the waves. When the lake is
agitated the waves goeth in these concavities with force and make a most
horrible noise, most like the shooting of great guns.
Some dayes afterwards we arrived to a very beautifull point of sand where
there are 3 beautifull islands, [Footnote: "Three beautiful islands." In
Cass's and Schoolcraft's Travels (1820) through the chain of American
lakes these islands are called Huron Islands, and the bay beyond is marked
on their map "Keweena Bay."] that we called of the Trinity; there be 3 in
triangle. From this place we discovered a bay very deepe, where a river
empties its selfe with a noise for the quantitie & dept of the water. We
must stay there 3 dayes to wait for faire weather to make the Trainage,
which was about 6 leagues wide. Soe done, we came to the mouth of a small
river, where we killed some Oriniacks. We found meddows that weare squared,
and 10 leagues as smooth as a boord. We went up some 5 leagues further,
where we found some pools made by the castors. We must breake them that we
might passe. The sluce being broaken, what a wounderfull thing to see the
industrie of that animal, which had drowned more then 20 leagues in the
grounds, and cutt all the trees, having left non to make a fire if the
countrey should be dried up. Being come to the height, we must drague our
boats over a trembling ground for the space of an houre. The ground became
trembling by this means: the castor drowning great soyles with dead water,
herein growes mosse which is 2 foot thick or there abouts, and when you
think to goe safe and dry, if you take not great care you sink downe to
your head or to the midle of your body. When you are out of one hole you
find yourselfe in another. This I speake by experience, for I meselfe have
bin catched often.
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