CONTENTS

Page
INTRODUCTION[3]
CHAPTER I.
1643-1669.
CAVELIER DE LA SALLE.

The Youth of La Salle: his Connection with the Jesuits; he goes to Canada; his Character; his Schemes; his Seigniory at La Chine;his Expedition in Search of a Western Passage to India.

[7]
CHAPTER II.
1669-1671.
LA SALLE AND THE SULPITIANS.

The French in Western New York.—Louis Joliet.—The Sulpitians onLake Erie; at Detroit; at Saut Ste. Marie.—The Mystery of LaSalle: he discovers the Ohio; he descends the Illinois; did hereach the Mississippi?

[19]
CHAPTER III.
1670-1672
THE JESUITS ON THE LAKE.

The Old Missions and the New.—A Change of Spirit.—Lake Superior andthe Copper-mines.—Ste. Marie.—LaPointe.— Michilimackinac.—Jesuits on Lake Michigan.—Allouez and Dablon.—The Jesuit Fur-trade.

[36]
CHAPTER IV.
1667-1672.
FRANCE TAKES POSSESSION OF THE WEST.

Talon.—Saint-Lusson.—Perrot.—The Ceremony at Saut Ste. Marie.—The Speech of Allouez.—Count Frontenac.

[48]
CHAPTER V.
1672-1675.
THE DISCOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI.

Joliet sent to find the Mississippi.—Jacques Marquette.—Departure.—Green Bay.—The Wisconsin.—The Mississippi.—Indians.—Manitous.—The Arkansas.—The Illinois.—Joliet's Misfortune.—Marquette at Chicago: hisIllness; his Death.

[57]
CHAPTER VI.
1673-1678.
LA SALLE AND FRONTENAC.

Objects of La Salle.—Frontenac favors him.—Projects of Frontenac.—Cataraqui.—Frontenac on Lake Ontario.—Fort Frontenac.—La Salle and Fénelon.—Success of La Salle: his Enemies.

[83]
CHAPTER VII.
1678.
PARTY STRIFE.

La Salle and his Reporter.—Jesuit Ascendency.—The Missions and theFur-trade.—Female Inquisitors.—Plots against La Salle: his Brother thePriest.—Intrigues of the Jesuits.—La Salle poisoned: he exculpates theJesuits.—Renewed Intrigues.

[106]
CHAPTER VIII.
1677, 1678.
THE GRAND ENTERPRISE.

La Salle at Fort Frontenac.—La Salle at Court: his Memorial.—Approval of the King.—Money and Means.—Henri de Tonty.—Return to Canada.

[120]
CHAPTER IX.
1678-1679.
LA SALLE AT NIAGARA.

Father Louis Hennepin: his Past Life; his Character.—Embarkation.—Niagara Falls.—Indian Jealousy.—La Motte and the Senecas.—A Disaster.—La Salle and his Followers.

[131]
CHAPTER X.
1679.
THE LAUNCH OF THE "GRIFFIN."

The Niagara Portage.—A Vessel on the Stocks.—Suffering andDiscontent.—La Salle's Winter Journey.—The Vessel launched.—Fresh Disasters.

[144]
CHAPTER XI.
1679.
LA SALLE ON THE UPPER LAKES.

The Voyage of the "Griffin."—Detroit.—A Storm.—St. Ignace ofMichilimackinac.—Rivals and Enemies.—Lake Michigan.—Hardships.—A Threatened Fight.—Fort Miami.—Tonty'sMisfortunes.—Forebodings.

[151]
CHAPTER XII.
1679, 1680.
LA SALLE ON THE ILLINOIS.

The St. Joseph.—Adventure of La Salle.—The Prairies.—Famine.—The Great Town of the Illinois.—Indians.—Intrigues.—Difficulties.—Policy of La Salle.—Desertion.—Another Attemptto poison La Salle.

[164]
CHAPTER XIII.
1680.
FORT CRÈVECŒUR.

Building of the Fort.—Loss of the "Griffin."—A BoldResolution.—Another Vessel.—Hennepin sent to theMississippi.—Departure of La Salle.

[180]
CHAPTER XIV.
1680.
HARDIHOOD OF LA SALLE.

The Winter Journey.—The Deserted Town.—Starved Rock.—LakeMichigan.—The Wilderness.—War Parties.—La Salle's Men giveout.—Ill Tidings.—Mutiny.—Chastisement of the Mutineers.

[189]
CHAPTER XV.
1680.
INDIAN CONQUERORS.

The Enterprise renewed.—Attempt to rescue Tonty.—Buffalo.—AFrightful Discovery.—Iroquois Fury.—The Ruined Town.—A Nightof Horror.—Traces of the Invaders.—No News of Tonty.

[202]
CHAPTER XVI.
1680.
TONTY AND THE IROQUOIS.

The Deserters.—The Iroquois War.—The Great Town of theIllinois.—The Alarm.—Onset of the Iroquois.—Peril ofTonty.—A Treacherous Truce.—Intrepidity of Tonty.—Murder ofRibourde.—War upon the Dead.

[216]
CHAPTER XVII.
1680.
THE ADVENTURES OF HENNEPIN.

Hennepin an Impostor: his Pretended Discovery; his Actual Discovery; captured by the Sioux.—The Upper Mississippi.

[242]
CHAPTER XVIII.
1680, 1681.
HENNEPIN AMONG THE SIOUX.

Signs of Danger.—Adoption.—Hennepin and his IndianRelatives.—The Hunting Party.—The Sioux Camp.—Falls of St.Anthony.—A Vagabond Friar: his Adventures on theMississippi.—Greysolon Du Lhut.—Return to Civilization.

[259]
CHAPTER XIX.
1681.
LA SALLE BEGINS ANEW.

His Constancy; his Plans; his Savage Allies; he becomesSnow-blind.—Negotiations.—Grand Council.—La Salle'sOratory.—Meeting with Tonty.—Preparation.—Departure.

[283]
CHAPTER XX.
1681-1682.
SUCCESS OF LA SALLE.

His Followers.—The Chicago Portage.—Descent of theMississippi.—The Lost Hunter.—The Arkansas.—TheTaensas.—The Natchez.—Hostility.—The Mouth of theMississippi.—Louis XIV. proclaimed Sovereign of the Great West.

[295]
CHAPTER XXI.
1682, 1683.
ST. LOUIS OF THE ILLINOIS.

Louisiana.—Illness of La Salle: his Colony on the Illinois.— Fort St. Louis.—Recall of Frontenac.—Le Febvre dela Barre.—Critical Position of La Salle.—Hostility of the NewGovernor.—Triumph of the Adverse Faction.—La Salle sails for France.

[309]
CHAPTER XXII.
1680-1683.
LA SALLE PAINTED BY HIMSELF.

Difficulty of knowing him:his Detractors; his Letters; vexationsof his Position; his Unfitness for Trade; risks ofCorrespondence; his Reported Marriage; alleged Ostentation;motives of Action; charges of Harshness; intrigues against him;unpopular Manners; a Strange Confession; his Strength and hisWeakness; contrasts of his Character.

[328]
CHAPTER XXIII.
1684.
A NEW ENTERPRISE.

La Salle at Court: his Proposals.—Occupation of Louisiana.—Invasion of Mexico.—Royal Favor.—Preparation.—A Divided Command.—Beaujeu and La Salle.—MentalCondition of La Salle: his Farewell to his Mother.

[343]
CHAPTER XXIV.
1684, 1685.
THE VOYAGE.

Disputes with Beaujeu.—St. Domingo.—La Salle attacked with Fever: his Desperate Condition.—TheGulf of Mexico.—A Vain Search and a Fatal Error.

[366]
CHAPTER XXV.
1685.
LA SALLE IN TEXAS.

A Party of Exploration.—Wreck of the "Aimable."—Landing of Colonists.—A Forlorn Position.—IndianNeighbors.—Friendly Advances of Beaujeu: his Departure.—A Fatal Discovery.

[378]
CHAPTER XXVI.
1685-1687.
ST. LOUIS OF TEXAS.

The Fort.—Misery and Dejection.—Energy of La Salle: his Journey of Exploration.—Adventures and Accidents.—Buffalo.—Duhaut.—Indian Massacre.—Return of La Salle.—A NewCalamity.—A Desperate Resolution.—Departure for Canada.—Wreckof the "Belle."—Marriage.—Sedition.—Adventures of La Salle'sParty.—The Cenis.—The Camanches.—The Only Hope.—The LastFarewell.

[391]
CHAPTER XXVII.
1687.
ASSASSINATION OF LA SALLE.

His Followers.—PrairieTravelling.—A Hunters' Quarrel.—The Murder of Moranget.—The Conspiracy.—Death of La Salle: his Character.

[420]
CHAPTER XXVIII.
1687, 1688.
THE INNOCENT AND THE GUILTY.

Triumph of the Murderers.—Danger ofJoutel.—Joutel among the Cenis.—White Savages.—Insolence of Duhaut and his Accomplices.—Murder of Duhaut and Liotot.—Hiens, theBuccaneer.—Joutel and his Party: their Escape; they reach the Arkansas.—Bravery and Devotion of Tonty.—The Fugitives reachthe Illinois.—Unworthy Conduct of Cavelier.—He and hisCompanions return to France.

[435]
CHAPTER XXIX.
1688-1689.
FATE OF THE TEXAN COLONY.

Tonty attempts to rescue the Colonists: hisDifficulties and Hardships.—Spanish Hostility.—Expedition of Alonzo de Leon:he reaches Fort St. Louis.—A Scene of Havoc.—Destruction ofthe French.—The End.

[464]
APPENDIX.

I. Early Unpublished Maps of the Mississippiand the Great Lakes.

[475]

II. The Eldorado of Mathieu Sâgean.

[485]
INDEX.[493]

LA SALLE

AND THE

DISCOVERY OF THE GREAT WEST.



LA SALLE

AND THE