Thus, in the course of a few years, the Jesuits had planted missions at La Pointe, on Lake Superior, at Sault St. Marie, its outlet, at the Straits of Michilimackinac, and Green Bay. All were first fishing-places, next missions, and then outposts of civilization in the western world.
In the spring of 1671, with much ceremony, the French took formal possession of Sault St. Marie, the lakes Huron and Superior, and all the country as far as the western sea. In token of sovereignty a cross of wood was reared with the arms of France fixed upon it. Amid volleys of musketry, and shouts of "God save the king!" France thus proclaimed herself mistress of the Great West.
FOOTNOTES
[1] Hurons, or Wyandots, occupied the east shore of Lake Huron and contiguous country between this and Lake Simcoe. "Their women were their mules."—Champlain. The Wyandots now live in Kansas, and are civilized.
[2] Iroquois, called so by the French; by the English, Five Nations, and subsequently Six Nations. The confederated Mohawks, Oneidas, Cayugas, Onondagas, Senecas, to whom the Tuscaroras of North Carolina being joined, made the sixth. They attributed their origin to five different handfuls of seed, sowed by the Creator.
[3] Niagara River is properly laid down. That Champlain knew of the Falls, is evident from the words "Saut d'eau," meaning waterfall, which he has put down not quite where they belong, but not far out of the way.
[4] The Jesuits, or Society of Jesus, founded by Ignatius Loyola, 1534. The brothers were vowed to chastity, poverty and obedience. See Encyclopædia; also article Jesuit's Bark, or Cinchona.
[5] Richelieu, at this time minister of Louis XIII.
[6] Did not restore Quebec till the arrears of Queen Henrietta's dowry (queen of Charles I.) had been paid in full.
"How strange are the freaks of destiny! Mary de Medicis, widow of Henry IV., exiled and abandoned, had a daughter, Henrietta, widow of Charles I., who died at Cologne, in the house where, sixty-five years before, Rubens, her painter, was born."—V. Hugo.