History of the Discovery of the Northwest by John Nicolet in 1634 / With a Sketch of his Life

d to the life of the woods-to the language, manners, customs, and habits of the savages. His object was to open, through them, as advisers and

mysteries of savage life; for, in that year, John Nicolet[2] arrived from France, and was dispatched to the woods.[3] The new-comer was born i

als of Canada, as Algonquins of the Isle. But all Algonquins, wherever found, were afterward designated as Ottawas by the French. To "the Nation of the Isle," then, was sent the young Norman, that he might learn their language, which was in general use upon the Ottawa river and upon the north bank of the St. Lawrence. With them he remained two years, following them in their wand

remained eight or nine years. He was recognized as one of the nation. He entered into the very frequent councils of those savages. He had his own cabin and establishment, doing his own fishing and trading. He had become, indeed, a naturalized Nipissing.[6] The mental activity displayed by him while sojourning among these savages ma

ian interpreter.[8] It is probable, however, that he had signified his desire to leave the Nipissings, as he could not live without

not but admire his remarkable adaptation to savage life-the result of his courage and peculiar temperament; at least, this admi

ith the Nipissings during the occupation of Quebec by the English-from July, 1629, to July, 1632. The month during which, in the early days of New France, the trade of the Ottawa was performed on the St. Lawrence, was July; and, in 1632, this trade was largely carried on where the city of Three Rivers now stands, but which was not then founded.[11] The flotilla of bark cano

he return of the French to Quebec the preceding year. With this large fleet of canoes Nicolet probably returned to civilization; for it is certain that he was upon the St. Lawrence as early as June, 1634, ready to embark in an undertaking which, of necessity, would have caused so much consultation and preparation as to preclude the idea of his arrival, just then, from the Ottawa. An Indian interpreter-one well acquainted with the Algonquins of the Ottawa, and to a certain extent with the Hurons of Georgian bay-who could Champlain more safely depend upon than Nicolet to de