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

ich must have been awakened in the breast of C

have kindled when told of the numerous Indian nations which had been visited! But, above all, how fondly he hoped one day to bring all these distant countries under the dominion of his own beloved France! But the heart thus beating quick with pleasurable emot

mpany of One Hundred" had passed its affairs into the hands of those who were wholly engrossed in the profits of trade. Instead of sending out colonists, the Hundred Associates "granted lands, with the condition that the grantees should furnish a certain number of settlers to clear and till them, and these were to be credited to the company." The Iroquois, who, from th

women and children. On the eighteenth of May, 1642, Montreal began its existence. The tents of the founders were "inclosed with a strong palisade, and their altar covered by a provisional chapel, built, in the Huron mode, of bark." But the Iroquois had long before become the enemies of the French, sometimes seriously threatening Quebec. So, upon the Island of Montreal, ever

him."[93] And, again, on the seventh of the following month, he is found visiting, with one of the missionaries, a sick Indian, near the fort, at Three Rivers.[94] His official labors were performed to the great satisfaction of both French and Indians, by whom he was equally and sincerely loved. He was constantly assisting the missionaries, so far as his time would permit, in the conversion of the savages, whom he knew

hey were a small class of men, whose home-some of them-was the forest, and their companions savages. They followed the Indians in their roamings, lived with them, grew familiar with their language, allied themselves, in some cases, with their women, and often became oracles in the camp and leaders on the war-path. Doubtless, when they returned from their rovings, they often had pressing need of penance and absolution. Several of them were

parents, and hostages for the safety of missionaries and traders in the Indian towns. In the summer of 1636, Father Daniel, descending from the Huron country, worn, emaciated, his cassock patched and tattered, and his shirt in rags, brought with him a boy, to whom two others were soon added; and through the influence

out of his canoe and jump upon one of the floating pieces. He saved himself with much difficulty and labor. This happened in April, 1637.[99] On the twenty-seventh of the same month Nicolet was present at Quebec

n August, the enemy threatened Three Rivers in force. The French and Indians in the fort could not be decoyed into danger. However, a boat was sent up the St. Lawrence, conducted by Nicolet. The bark approached the place where the Ir

ld-a daughter. Nicolet continued his residence at Three Rivers, largely employed in his official duties of commissary and interpreter, remaining there until the

his arrival, in endeavoring to make a trip to his place of residence to release an Indian prisoner in the possession of a band of Algonquins, who were slowly torturing him, his zeal and humanity cost him his life.[106] On the 27th of October,[107] he embarked at Quebec, near seven o'clock in the evening, in the launch of M. de Savigny, which was headed for Three Ri

dark, and the bitter cold had covered the river banks with ice. Savigny, feeling his resolution and his strength failing him, made a vow to God, and a little after, reaching down with his feet, he felt the bottom, and stepping out of the water, he reached Sillery half dead. For quite a while he was unable to speak; then, at last, h

orrow. It was not the first time he had exposed himself to danger of death for the good of the Indians. He had done so frequently. Thus

be healed of the injuries he had received from his captors. They had stripped the flesh from his arms, in some places to the bone. The nuns at the hospital cared for him with much sympathy, and cured him so quickly that in a month's time he was able to return to his country.

and missions of Canada contained fifteen Fathers and five Brothers of the Society of Jesus. At Quebec, there were also formed two seculars-ecclesiastics. One of these was a brother of Nicolet.[113] He had come from Cherbourg to join him upon the St. Lawrence; and, during his residence in the colony, wh

d, finally, great results. He had unlocked the door to the Far West, where, afterward, were seen the fur-trader, the voyageur, the Jesuit missionary, and the government age

ced the people of Three Rivers to perpetuate his memory. The example had been given before his death. We read in the Relation of 1637 that the river St. John, near Montreal (now the river Jésus), took its name

pying "the country around a rapid, in the midst of the channel by which Lake Superior empties into Lake Huron," inviting them to visit their tribe. These "missionaries were not displeased with the opportunity thus presented of knowing the countries lying beyond Lake Huron, which no one of them had yet traversed;" so Isaac Jogues and Charles Raymbault were detached to accompany the Chippewa deputies, and view the field simply, not to establish a mission. They passed al

END

RISH CHURCH REGISTER, OF THREE RI

gée d'environ deux ans, fille du capitaine des Montagnetz Capitainal.[118] Elle fut nommée Marie

I

s Buteux, fut baptisée par le Père Claude Quentin et nommée Fran?oise par M. Nicollet so

I

ude Pijart) une femme Algonquine. Elle fut nommée

V

s Buteux un petit Algonquin agé d'environ deux ans,

monies de l'Eglise, Anisk8ask8si, et fut nommé Paul par M. Nicollet, son parrain; sa marraine fut mademoiselle Marie

I

lle agée de 2 ans appelée Nitig8m8sta8an, fille de Papitchitikpabe8, capitaine de la Petite-Nation. El

I

8stig8an, Algonquin de l'Isle, et Sk8esens, sa femme. Le fils agé d'environ quatre ans fut nommé Thomas par M. Nicolet

I

ignan agé d'environ vingt ans, fils de Fran?ois Nenascouat,[123] habitan

X

uis Godefroy, fils de M. Jean Godefroy[124] et de Damoisselle Marie Le Neuf.

pt? ad Tria Flumina baptizavit cum ceremoniis, Ognatem, 4 circiter menses, natem patre 8kar8

I

t? Virginis Concept? ad Tria Flumina baptizavit cum ceremoniis Marinum, filium patria ins

I

er annos nomine Abdom Chibanagouch, patria insularem, quem nominavit Dominus Joannes Nicolet nunc Joseph 8masatick8e." [1639. 9th October. Nicolet wa

I

um, nomine Ombrosuim Katank8quich, filium defuncti 8tagamechk8, patria 88echkarin

I

Ik8esens patria insularem natam circiter 28 annos, cujus patrinus fuit Joann

V

us in c?meterio item filius Domini Joannis Nicolet inte

V

m circiter 4 annos filium Ching8a defuncti, patria -- Khin8chebink educatur apud 8abirini8ich Patrinus f

V

t Joanna Ennart conjugum Rothomagensium. Patrinus fuit Dominus Franciscum de Champflour moderator et Dna Margarita Couillard conjux

II

? conceptionis beat? Virginia ad Tria Flumina dicta, baptizavi solemniter in eodem ecclesia Paulum 8abirim8ich annum Trigesimum cerciter qu?ntum doct

I

recens natam patre Abdon 8maskik8eia, matre Michtig8k8e, nomen Cecilia impositum est. Patr

X

baptisavi puellum recens natam. Patre Joannes Nicolet. Matre Margarita Couillard ejus uxor. Nomen Margarit

X

ad Tria Flumina baptisavi infantem recens natam. Patre Dno Jacobo Hartel. Matre Marie Marguerie[131] ejus uxore. Nomine Francis

X

a Flumina, duos puellas recens nata, unum ex patre Augustino Chipak8etch et matre 8t8ribik8e; Alizon dicta est a patrinis Joanne Nicolet et Perrett

PUBLISHED OF THE LIFE AND E

ember of the Society of Jesuits; and that the other, although a layman, was distinguished by singularly meritorious acts towards the Indian tribes of Canada. He sketches briefly the career and

ce dependent upon hunting; to be perpetually hearing rude outcries; to be deprived of the pleasant society of one's own people; and to be constantly exposed, not only to derision and insulting words, but even to daily peril of life. There was a time, indeed, when he went without food for a whole week; and (what is really wonderful) he even spent seven weeks without having any thing to eat but a little bark. After this preliminary training[134] was completed, being sent with four hundred Algonquins to the Iroquois to treat o

t-when he was two days distant, he sent forward one of his own company to make known to the nation to which they were going, that a European ambassador was approaching with gifts, who, in behalf of the Hurons, desired to secure their friendship. The embassy was received with applause; young men were immediately sent to meet them, who were to carry the baggage and equipment of the Manitouriniou (or wonderful man), and escort him with honor. Nicolet was clad in a Chinese robe of silk, skillfully ornamented with birds and flowers of many colors; he carried in each hand a small pistol.[135] When

the very great influence which he possessed over the savages, with the efforts of the fathers of the Society [Jesuits], he might bring as many as he could to the Church; until, upon the recall to France of Olivier, who was the chief commissary of Quebec, Nicolet, on account of his merits, was a

, addressing him calmly said: "Savigny, since you know how to swim, by all means consult your own safety; I, who have no such skill, am going to God; I recommend my wife and daughter to your kindness." In the midst of this conversation, a wave separated them; Nicolet was drowned; Savigny, who, from horror and the darkness of the night, did not know where he was, was torn by the violence of the waves from the boat, to which he had clung for some time; then he struggled for a while, in swimming, with the hostile force of the changing waves; until, at last, his strength failing, and his courage almost forsaking him, he made a vow to God (but what it was is not related); the

tters from Montmagny, on payment, no doubt, of a ransom. He was already disfigured with wounds, great numbers of which these most savage men had inflicted upon him with careful ingenuity, one after another, according to their custom; but in proportion to the ba

hardly be expected of a man entangled in the bonds of marriage; they were indeed eminent, and rose to the height of apostolic perfection; and, therefore, was the loss of so great a man the more grievous. Certain it is that the savages themselves, as soon as they heard what had befallen

DE

17, 36, 42, 60,

Isles des Allumett

, M.,

her Claudius

on of the Beave

settlements in North Am

not visited b

, an Algonqu

waerrhonon), Huron name for

Baie des Puants)

n, 45, 48, 5

e, Nich

n de, 20, 24

ames, 78, 80, 93

John, v

Sebasti

, the

a Montagnai

mes, 11, 12

es, in 1603, a survey

founds Qu

Iroquois,

n 1610, to

reaches the St

back to F

re reaches the S

wa to the Isle de

for Fran

n sails for N

the Hur

hose Indians, t

to Que

ment for New

of the Hundred

bec against th

surrenders

isoner to

es command in

explore th

Nicolet to the

f Champ

erred to, 31, 35, 36, 38, 51

oyages of 161

cited, 36, 38, 51

des Lacs du Canada

Nouvelle F

tain of the Fr

tanding Hair-Ottaw

38, 53, 54,

. See

Christop

of New F

mine early known t

al, Gas

d, Guill

uerite, 81, 84,

s de bo

é, M.

, Fran?

ahs.-See Sioux

ne, a Jesuit

a Jesu

émery, 20

, Willi

leur, Fra

fort, Bras-

nche, Augus

Fran?ois

ce, Jac

he, the M

n Francis, see L

bin, M

apart,

ertuis,

Jean-Baptiste

ns Puans-Des Puants-Des

hes, M.

(Historia Canadensis), c

1660, referred to

quois name for

quois name of th

Histoire du Canada

Registres de Notre-Dam

es Gens de Feu)

issippi Valle

mis-Les Renards-Mus

een Bay, 61, 64

ade, t

de Eaux de Mer).

y, Jean

oy, Lo

y, Thom

établissement de Cavali

liet, referre

56, 60, 6

tary, record

Guilla

Guilleme

Fran?o

, Jacq

ungara-Winne

, Guill

d Partners), 21, 22, 23, 2

42, 43, 47, 48, 49, 51, 62

s (Indi

18, 20, 29,

elations

33

44, 4

5, 60, 77,

78, 8

38

39

51, 53, 56, 57, 62, 6

41

42

8, 49, 58, 60, 62, 72, 74,

-38,

-38,

-62,

64, 6

53, 5

elations

the, 68

t, Je

Louis, 6

ather Isa

eau, N

a, town

Quicapou, Kickapoux, Kickap

Davi

La Grande Baie-La Baye des Puans-L

h-Lake Dauphin-Lac des Illinois-Lac Missihiganin-M

uperio

of the Puants-Lake

and, Jea

stopher Crevie

Margue

, Mari

(La Nation des Puant

Annie d

, Pierre

ée, Cla

t of Champlain's Wo

Father Jos

Paul, 24

, famil

Maria, 94

Avoine. See

livier, 82,

s Gazetteer

Roberval

Nicolas,

, Strait

n Islands

eouee-Makoueoue

al Général de l'Instruct

, Fran?oi

ie, Mar

Father Ja

Nicolas,

hkoutens-Maskoutench-Machkoutenck-Les Gens de Feu-The Fire Nation-Assi

the Jes

-Malhominies-Les Fol

mis

nification of

meaning of

gnais,

. de, 70, 75

. See M

des Puants-Nation of St

Nation of Beavers)

he Sault. S

, an Indian

ation, 51

iz percez). Se

Gilles,

, arrives in

18, to the Algonquins of

on of peace to

idence with the

he government

as interp

o send him on a west

eard of the W

634, to visit this a

on his jo

that Nicolet made his westwa

tawa to the Isle

o the Huron

his missio

the Winne

ult Sainte

e Lake Su

Lake Mic

the Menomon

to the homes of th

east with the

iver to the M

Illinois

the Winne

in 1635-he calls upon

Manatoulin to see a

t. Lawrence i

ee Rivers as i

ss to the

escape from

Rivers from an Ir

rriage

o Queb

mmissary of the Hu

or Three

deat

ndians alike mo

y perpetu

etic char

parish register of Thr

ublished of his life and

Madame,

t, Pie

t, Tho

isiriniens), 29

ets,

Hist. of New York

Col. Doc.,

. See C

hungarand). S

s. See C

0, 52, 54,

uarim

Oumaominiecs).

gai, 5

significa

. See Win

n. See

ougai

n North America, ci

d the Discovery of th

of France in th

he Falls." S

he Sea." See

Nicol

ation,

Claudi

Josephus

é, merch

attami

er Claude, 77

, Clau

, Etie

s. See C

er Charles, 83,

u, Cardi

of the Puants-River St.

, Mari

. See

s-Saukis-S

oire du Canad

Sainte

Marie, town o

agigroone). S

igny), 83, 84

Years with the Indi

e." See W

ry, in Wis. Hist

lic Missions

loration of the Mississippi

Hennep

ssion of, f

cotas), 3

of Wisconsin, ci

air, the.

Fort, esta

, in L'Opinion

que Trifluvien

'Histoire et de Litt

Shallow Cataract

church register of,

, 32, 33, 42, 45, 74, 77,

ion. See Pe

ano, Jo

43, 44, 45, 46, 48, 49, 50, 57, 58,

erivation of

river, 5

n, Cyr

river,

. 1

MISCELLANEOUS

CLARK

INNA

urch History. Translated by Rev. T. J. Pabi

Six Weeks in No

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f the Use of the Bib

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ender of French Verbs

ar East; or, Letters from Egy

the Northwest in 1634, by John Nicole

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Improved and Cheapened. Edite

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tno

of the prese

eople of the province of Quebec all pronounce the name "Nicollette," though improperly, the same as the word would be p

ibes they came in contact with; and their hopes and fears as to Christianizing them were freely expressed. Accounts of their journeys were elaborated upon, and their missionary work put upon record. Prominent persons, as well as important events, shared their attention. Details concerning the geography of the country were also written out. The intelligence thus collected was sent every summer by the superiors to the prov

y upon what is now Wisconsin-were made some years since by Cyrus Woodman, of Mineral Point, translations of which are to be found in Smith's history of that S

Canada (1861), Vol. I., p. 324, note. But, in his "Notes sur les Registres de Notre-Dame de Québec" (Quebec, 1863, p. 30), he corrects the mother's name, gi

ns seul de Fran?ois, accompagnant tousiours les Barbares dans leurs courses et voyages, auec des fatigues qui ne sont imaginables qu'à ceux qui les ont veües; il passa plusieurs fois les sept et huiet iours sans rien manger, il fut sept semaines entieres s

evere winters in the woods, under a covering of cedar or birch bark; to have one's means of subsistence dependent upon hunting; to be perpetually hearing rude outcries; to be deprived of the pleasant society of one's own people; and to be constantly exposed, not only to derision and insulting words, but even to daily peril of life. There was a time, indeed, when he wen

ions pas à present les calamitez qui nous font gemir et donneront vn estrange empeschement à la conuersion de ces peuples. Apes cette paix faite, il alla demeurer huict ou neuf ans auec la nation des Nipissirinien

oistre vn iour, touchant les Nipisiriniens, auec lesquel

llé et estably Commis et Interpre

sseurance dans l'vsage des Sacremens, faute desquels il y a grande risq

hat of 1636 (pp. 57, 58), respecting Nicolet's retiring from his Indian life, unl

ebec. In 1633, Three Rivers was virtually founded; but the fort erected there

rom its situation at the confluence of three rivers, one whereof is that of St. Lawrence, and lies almost in the midway between Quebec and Montreal. It is said to be a well-built

t of an extensive trade in lumber on the river St. Maurice and its tributaries, which had heretofore been neglected, and also by increased energy in the manufacture of iron-ware, for which the St. Maurice forges, about three miles distant from the town, have always been celebrated in Canada. Three Rivers is the residence of a Roman Catholic bishop, whose diocese bears the same name; and contains a Roman Catholic cathedral, a church of England, a Scotch kirk, and a Wesleyan chapel, a

otesque appearance, yet it possesses much value. It shows where many savage nations were located at its date. By it, several important historical problems concerning the Northwest are solved. It was first published, along with Champlain's "Voyages de la Novelle France," in

ain marks an island "where, there is a copper mine." Instead of being placed in L

l hereafter be shown, the Mississip

t, Naduessue, Nadouesiouack, Nadoue

bands.... [One of these divisions-the most easterly-was the Issanti.] The other great divisions, the Yanktons and the Tintonwans, or Tetons, lived west of the Mississippi

e Ojibwas used it to designate this people, and occasionally, also, the Iroquois-being at deadly w

, calling the nation "Men of the Stinking-water;" or, rather, "the Nation of Stinkards"-"la Nation des Puans." And they are so designated by Champlain in his "Voyages," in 1632, and on his map of that year. By Friar Gabriel Sagard ("Histoire du Canada," Paris, 1636, p. 201), they are also noted as "des Puants."

nous n'auons point de cognoissance, et par consequent il ne faut pas les appeller la nation des Puans, mais la nation de la mer." The same is reiterated in the Relations of 1648 and 1654. Consult, in this connection, Smith's "History of Wisconsin," V

let to those people; nevertheless, that it was the chief purpose had in view by him, is fairly deduc

esuits in North A

bagoes is first noticed by Vimont, in the Relation of 1640, p. 35. He says: "Ie visiteray tout maintenant le costé du Sud, ie diray on passant que le sieur Nicolet, interprete en langue Algonquine et Huronne pour Messieurs de la nouuelle France, m'a donné les noms de ces nations qu'il a visitées luy mesme pour la p

ons at that date, see Parkman's

in Sulte. See his article entitled "Jean Nicolet," in "Mélang

n Nicolet, en son voyage qu'il fit auec nous iusques à l'Isle

Could the missing record be found, it would be seen to contain, without doubt, some references to Nicolet's presence at Three Rivers. As the Relation of 1640 mentions Nicolet's visit to the Winnebagoes, it could not have been made subsequent to 1639. It has already been shown how improbable it is that his journey was made previous to 1634. It only remains, therefore, to give his whereabouts

t enabled him to call the attention of the public to the extent of the discoveries of Nicolet. The claims of the latte

qu'vn de nos Fran?ois, pour aller auec eux passer l'Este dans vn fort qu'ils ont fait, pour la crainte qu'ils ont des A8eatsi8aenrrhonon, c'est

Lake Huron], came to demand of us some one of our Frenchmen to go with them to pass the summer in a fort which they have made, by reason of the fear which they have of the Aweati

n the Relation of 1636, is supposed to be eq

sques à l'Isle souffrit aussi tous les trauaux d'vn des

Jesuits in North

terward the French, passed by the Mattawan, Mattouane, or Mattawin ("the residence of the beaver"), went over the small space of land called the "portage,

where parties had to "port" their baggage

, Relation,

n langue Algonquine et Huronne," e

e, great friends, having constant intercour

nterposed to bring about a reconciliation between these nations. He, it is believed, was also to carry out Champlain's policy of making the Indian tribes the allies of the French. Vimont (Relation, 1643, p. 3) says, he was chosen to make a jou

e en la nation appellée des Gens de Mer, et traitter la paix auec eux et les Huron

pays des Hurons avec sept Sauuage

n of Canada from the upper peninsula of Michig

ious tribes visited by him, Nicolet probably gave their names, except the Ottawas, in the order in which he met them; and (2) by calculating his time as more limited on h

hougai, and the Atchiligoüan.

el., 1640, p. 34), from

. Great Manitoulin is eighty miles long by twenty broad. Little Manitoulin has a diameter of about seven miles. Drummond is twenty-four miles long, with a breadth varying from two to twelve miles

ai.-Vimont, Rela

arked on Champlain's map of 1632;

e, that the governor of Canada, in 1688, claimed that honor

re then residing near the place called the Sakiman [that part of the present State of Michigan lying between the head of Lake Erie and Saginaw bay, on Lake Huron]; from that he went to the Algonquin and Huron tribes, at war against the Iroquois [Five

date. Locating the Mascoutins "near the place called the Sakiman," is as erroneous as that Champlain ever visited those savages. The reported distance between him when at the most westerly point of his journeyings and the Mascoutins is shown by himself: "After having visited these people [the Tobacco Nation, in December, 1615] we left the place and came to a nation of Indians which we have named the Standing Hair [Ottawas], who were very much rejoiced to see us again [he ha

ouis [the rapids in the St. Lawrence];"-but he nowhere intimates that he had made discoveries west of that lake. It is, therefore, certain that the first white man who ever saw or explored any p

ts of the falls;" in the Relation of 1648, as Paouitagoung-"nation of the Sault;" on Du Creux' map of 1660, "Pasitig8ecü;" and they were sometimes known as Pao

tiagigroone-the termination, roone, meaning men, being applied to Indians of the Algonquin family. They were designated b

the foot of the rapids, on the southern side. Id., p. 361. Besides, when the missionaries first visited the Sault, they we

tate of Michigan, is that to be found on Du Creux' Map of 1660

positions, are shown in the following from Vimont (Relation, 1640, p. 34), ex

t les Atchiligoüan. Au delà sur les mesmes riues de ceste mer douce sont les Amikoüai, ou la nation du Castor, au Sud desquels est vne Isle dans ceste mer douce longue d'enuiron trente lieu?s habitée des Outaouan, ce sont peuples venus de la nation des che

it appears as "Grand Lac." Was it seen by Nicolet? This is a question wh

áry), county-seat of Chippewa county, Michigan,

pon the pages of American history: Mackinac, Michillmakinaw, Michillimakinac, Michilimakina, Michiliakimawk, Michilinaaquina, Mis

lier representation of this lake than that on Du Creux' map of 1660. It is there named the "Magnus Lacus Algonquinorum, seu Lacus Foetetium [Foetentium]." This is equivalent to

into the second fresh-water sea [Lake Michigan and Green bay]." It is true Vimont speaks of "the small lake" as lying "beyond the falls;" but his meaning is, "nearer the "Winnebagoes." If taken literally, his words would indicate a lake further up the strait,

La Baye, Enitajghe (Iroquois), Baie des

Relation of 1640, p. 34-probably the Noq

1671, or Mantoueouee of the map attached thereto. They are mentioned, at that date, as living near t

du Nord sont les Roquai. Au Nord de ceux-cy sont Mantoue, ces peuples ne nauig

y on the northwest side. The earliest location, on a map, of a Menomonee village, is that given by Charlevoix on his "Carte des Lacs du Canada," accompanying his "Histoire et De

nquin, wild rice (Zizania aquatica of Linn?us). The French called this grain wild o

conde mer douce, sur les riues de laquelle sont

subsequent to Nicolet's visit. (Compare Marquette's account in his published narrative, by Shea.) Vimont seems not to have derived any kn

the Hurons, for he says (Hist. Canada, p. 360): "When he [Nicolet] was two days distant [from the Winnebagoes], he sent forward one of his own company to make known to the nation to which they were going, that a European ambassador was approaching with

à ces peuples la pensée de les prendre pour ennemis et de les massacrer. A deux iournées de cette nation, il enuoya vn de ces Sauuages porter la nouuelle de la paix, laquelle fut bien receu?, nommément quand on ente

] estoit reuestu d'vne grande robe de damas de la Chine, toute parsemée d

west, and, after a further course of one hundred and eighteen miles, with a rapid current, reaches the Mississippi river, four miles below Prairie du Chien. Its entire length is about four hundred and fifty miles, descending, in that distance, a little more than one thousand feet. Along the l

6 (note) and 268; Foster's Mississippi Valley, p. 2 (note); Sch

Vol. I., p. 111, and Webster's Dic., Unabridged, p. 1632.) The first-"the gathering of the waters"-has no corresponding words in Alg

." In Marquette's journal, published by Thevenot, in Paris, 1681, it is noted as the "Meskousing." It appeared there for the first time in print. Hennepin, in 1683, wrote "On

nt, voyant vn homme porter le tonnerre en ses deux mains (c'est ainsi qu'

mention the fact), the more timid persons, boys and women, betook themselves to flight, to escape as quickly as possible from a man who (they said) carried the thunder in both his hands." And thus Parkman ("Discove

outz-Gens de Mer, Gens de Eaux de Mer-Des Puans, Des Puants,

elation, 1636, p. 92); by the Sioux, as Ontonkah; but they ca

that location. La Jeune (Relation, 1639,

ur celle des Algonquains, espars de tous costez, et au Midy, et au Septentrion de nostre grand Lac; sur celle de la Nation neutre, qui est vne maistresse porte

: on that of the Algonquins, scattered on every side, both to the south and north of our great lake [Huron]; on that of the Neuter nation, which affords a principal entrance to

twelve miles, to the head of Lake Buffalo, in the southern part of which is now Marquette county, Wisconsin. It now begins a wide curve, which brings its direction finally around due east. Lake Buffalo is merely an expansion of the river, thirteen and one-half miles long and half a mile wide. From the foot of this lake, the river runs in an irregular, easterly course, with a somewhat rapid current, to the head of Puckaway lake, which is eight and one-fourth mi

rse, when it soon takes a northeasterly direction, which it holds until it empties into the head of Green bay. The stream gets its name from the Fox tribe of Indians formerly residing in i

les Ouinipigou [Winnebagoes], peuples sedentaires qu

é les Hurons, qui ont vne langue à part, comme aussi

were the only Dakotas that crossed the Miss

de sa venu? s'espandit incontinent aux lieu circonuoisins:

ened somewhat by the Re

trois mille hommes dans vne assemblée qui se fit

thousand men together in one assemblage, for the purpose of making a

en l'vn desquels on seruit au moins six-vi

s evidently caught the true idea of Nicolet's mission to the Winnebagoes. H

ire; by the Hurons, "Assistagueronons" or "Atsistaehronons," from assista, fire and ronons, people; that is, Fire-People or Fire-Nation. By Champlain, they were

of trees,' such as that which these people inhabit; but because by the change of a few letters, the same wo

auks, Saukis, Ou

utagamis, Les Re

nce with the earliest accounts of canoe navigation upon that stream. The first white persons to pass up the river a

Green bay], at the entrance of the River of the Puants [Fox river], which we have named 'St. Francis;' in passing, we saw clouds of swans, bustards, and ducks; the savages take th

re to have its place. From one side of the river to the other, they made a barricade, planting great stakes, two fathoms from the water, in such a manner that there is, as it were, a bridge above for the fishers, who, by the aid of a little bow-net, easily take st

eaning, it is said, the place of the fish. In the fall of 1851, a village was laid out there, which is known as Kaukauna]; our sailors dr

by the astrologers, which lasted from mid-day until two o'clock. The third, or near it, of the body of the sun appeared eclipsed; the other two-thirds formed a crescent. We arrived, in the evening, at the entrance of the Lake of the Puants [Winneba

at is now Oshkosh], that comes from a lake of wild rice [Big Butte Des Morts lake], which we came into; at the foot [head] of which we found the river [the Wolf] which

river, which leads to the Machkoutench [Mascoutins], called Assista Ectaeronnons, Fire Nation ["Gens de Feu"], by the Hurons.

e Mascoutins], and left our canoe at the water's edge, after a walk of a l

ellent Assistagueronon, qui veut dire gens de feu, esloignez d'eux de dix iournées." Sagard, in 1636 ("Histoire du Canada," p. 201), is equally indefinite as to locality, though placing them westward of the south end of the Georgian bay of Lake Huron, "nine or ten days' journey by canoe, which makes about two hundred leagues, or more." He s

rtainty. Unless, under the name of "Rasaoua koueton," the Mascoutins were not mentioned by Nicolet, in the l

iamies, Oumis, Oumiamies, Oumiamiwek, Oumamis, Twightwees

u, Quicapou, Kickapoux, Kickap

si, great, and sepe, water, or river. The popular not

s m'a asseuré que s'il eust vogué trois iours plus auant sur vn grand fleuue q

ly day, in their navigation. It has, however, been extensively published that Nicolet did reach the Wisconsin, and float down its channel to within three days of the Mississippi. Now, Nicolet, in speaking of a large river upon which he had sailed, evidently intended to convey the idea of its being connected with "ce

he been upon the Wisconsin; as that river is only one hundred and eighteen miles in length, below the portage, and the time of its canoe navigation between three and

re was, three leagues from Maskoutens [Mascoutins], a river [Wisconsin] emptying into the Mississippi; we knew, too, that the point of the compass we were to hold to reach it, was the west-southwe

on his map accompanying it, where the home of the Mascoutins is marked as indicated by Allouez in the Relation of 1670. See, also, the map of Joliet, before alluded to, as recently published by Gravier, where the same location is given. Joliet

fine place, where we see beautiful plains and level country, as far as the eye reaches. Their ri

ly settled by the Relation

Lake Michigan-'Lac de gens de mer'] to the sea;" where "the sea,"

s?ait pas où tire ce grand lac, ou cette mer douce, ce seroit vne entreprise genereuse d'aller descouurir ces contrées. Nos Peres qui sont aux Hurons, inuités par quelques Algonquins, sont sur le point de donner

e set out from the lake or river Quinibequi in Acadia, where the English have a settlement, in order to search for a passage through thes

outhern coast from Virginia to Quinebiqui to try whether I could not find some large river or some large lake which should bring me to tribes having knowledge of this sea, which is northw

Hurons [Lake Michigan and Green bay] and through the country of the nations we have named [as having been vi

ini, Illiniweck, Tilliniwek, Ilimouek

the Relation, 1656 (p. 39), says: "The Liniouek [Illinois], their neighbors [that is, the neighbors of the Winnebagoes], number about sixty villages." Champ

ys' sail up the Fox river of Green bay, of course, the "Nadvesiv

tamis, Pouteouatamis, Pouutouatami, Po

few years after the visit of Nicolet. The

ion of 1643, it is expressly stated that Nicolet

pour la plupart visités par Nicolet sont les Malhominis ou Gens de la Folle Avoine [Menomonees], les Ouin

gation opened in the spring, he would have only about ten weeks to reach the St. Lawrence by the middle of July-the time, probably, of his return, as previously mentioned; whereas, having left Quebe

[Cheveux Relevés]."-Vimont, Relation, 1640, p. 34. In William R. Smith's translation of so much of this Relation as names the various tribes visited by Nicolet (Hist. Wis., Vol. III., p. 10), what relates to the Cheveux Relevés i

of the Hurons. It was he who gave them the name Cheveux Relevés-Standing Hair. Sagard saw s

, in his "Voyages" and Map, places them in an opposite direction, not far from the south end of the Nottawassaga bay of Lake Huron. Says J. G. Shea (Wis. Hist. Soc. Coll., III., 135): "There is no trace in the early French writers of any opinion then entertained that they [the Ottawas] had ever been

ween the 15th and 23d of July, 1635, it is highly probable that Nic

et's return trip from the Winnebagoes: "La paix fut conclu?; il r

les Algonquins aux Trois Riuieres, vint donner aduis aux Peres, qui demeuroient en la Residence de la Conception sise au m

r, comme nos Peres éuentoient ses mines, et la decreditoient, il ne pouuoit les supporter en sa Cabane. Cependant comme son fils tiroit à la mort, ils prierent le sieur Nicolet de faire son possible

iamais prester l'oreille au Pere; on luy enuoya le Sieur Nicolet truchement, qui exerce volontiers semblables actions de charité; elle l'escoute paisiblement; mais comme ses occupations le diuertissent ailleurs, il ne la pouuoit visiter si souuent: c'est pourquoy le Pere Quentin s'effor?a d'apprendre les premiers rudimens du Christianisme

ls il estoit esgalement et vniquement aymé. Il conspiroit puissamment, autant que sa charge le permettoit, auec nos Peres, pour la conuersion de

o, Relation,

exposé plusieurs fois sa vie pour Dieu, parmy les dangers des glaces et du mauuais temps. Il se contenta de leur donner quelque instruction, sans en baptiser aucun, ne les voyant ny en peril de mort, ny suffi

an's "Jesuits in North

vingt-huictiéme d'Aoust, voila que le Pere Buteux me mande le départ du Pere Ioques, l'arriuée d'vne autre troupe de Hurons, de qui le sieur Nicolet a encore obte

e, Relation,

Ib.,

Ib.,

Ib.,

his "Notes sur les Registres de Notre-Dame de Québec," p. 30, notes; and

t an uncommon thing in New France in early days, but has not been allowed in Canada for about a century past. The contract was drawn up by Guitet, a notary of Quebec. There were present Fran?ois D

rom March 19, 1638, to January 9, 1639) is shown by reference to the Relations

, Relation,

ioye, et consolation sensible qu'il eut de se voir dans la paix et la deuotion de Quebec. Mais il n'en ioüit pas long-temps: car vn mois ou deux aprés son arriuée, fa

Nouuelle France; il mourut dix iours apres le Pere [Charles Raymbault, décédé le 22 Octobre, 1642], il auoit demeuré vingt-cinq ans

ne horrible tempeste sur la grande riuiere, remplit la chalouppe d'eau et la coula à fond, apres luy auoir fait faire deux ou trois tours dans l'eau. Ceux qui estoient dedans n'allerent pas incontinent à fond, ils s'attacherent quelque temp

America. Her son, Augustin le Gardeur de Courtemanche,-"officier dans les troupes, se distingua, par de longs et utiles services dans l'ouest, fut un

eath was October 27, 1642. Compare Margry, in Journal Géné

es de race algonquine dont les parrains et marraines furent 'Jean Nicolet avec Perrette (nom

rance. (Relation, 1643, p. 46.) Cette Relation écrite vers la fin de l'ét

e de commis-général de la compagnie des Cent-Associés, par son beau-frère Nicolet, qui descendit des Trois-R

(Relation, 1643, p. 46.) Les Pères Jésuites et M. des Rochers, le commandant du fort, ayant épuisé tous les arguments qu'ils croyaient pouvoir employer pour induire ces

démarches paraissent avo

n n'était pas arrivée à Sillery, qu'un coup de vent du nord-est qui avait soulevé une grosse tempête, la remplit d'eau et la coula à fond. M. de Chav

acte qui suit: 'Le 29 octobre, on fit les funérailles de monsieur Nicollet et de trois hommes de M. de

it repartir de là le lendemain, soit à la voile (en chaloupe) ou en can

a à Québec douze jours après le naufrage de Nicolet (Relation, 1643, p. 4), le 9 nov

cadavres ne put se faire que le lendemain, surtout lorsque nous songeons que Sillery n'est pas Quebec, quoiqu'assez

lundi 27 octobre comme c

éda le 22 octobre, et que la mort de Nicolet eut lieu dix jours après; mais l'acte du 29 octob

à Québec, tandis que nous voyons par ce que j'expose ci-dessus qu'il n'a guère été plus

éfutable."-M. Sulte, in L'Opinion

glacé les bords de la riuiere. Le dit sieur de Sauigny, sentant le c?ur et les forces qui luy manquoient, fit vn v?u à Dieu, et peu aprés frappant du pied il sent la terre, et se tirant hors de l'eau, s'en vint en nostre maison à Sillery à demy mort. Il demeura assez long-temps sans pouuoir parler; puis enfin il nous raconta le funeste accident, qui outre la mort

estoit pas la premiere fois que cet homme s'estoit exposé au danger de la mort pour le bien et le salut des Sauuages: il l'a faict fort souuent, et nous à laissé des exemple

layes et blessures que les Algonquins luy auoient faites apres sa capture: ils luy auoient emporté la chair des bras, en quelques endroits iusques aux os. Les Religieuses hospitalieres le receurent auec beaucoup de charité, et le firent panser fort soigneusement, en sorte qu'en trois semaines ou vn mois, il fut en estat

is one of the first "prêtres seculiers"-that is, not belonging to congregations or institute

Beauport and Cape Tourmente. Ferland's "Cours

ges d'Histoire et de

de Wolfe, township de Ham; l'autre, celle du sud ouest, qui passe dans le comté de Richmond, a donné le nom de Nicolet à un village situé sur ses bords, dans le township de Shipton. Ce village que les Angla

ne désigner cet endroit que par les mots 'la rivière de Laubia ou la rivière Cressé.' M. de Laubia ne concéde la seigneurie qu'en 1672, et M. Cressé ne l'obtint que plus

he establishment of that place, 1634, to 1651 when, on his sec

mongst his people to impress upon the mind of Champlain the necessity of erecti

re mentioned, supposed to be equivalent to "w,

Neuf, they all came together (36 people) to Canada, when the branch of Le Gardeur settled at Quebec and

fe of Gourdin, the brewer, who resided at

that time acting as

d with the history of the first settlement of his pe

any years before. His brother Thomas is well known in the history of those years for his services both to the missionaries and to the colonists; he was burned by t

ily became very numerous and prosperous. The descendants of Crevier still exist in the district of 3-Riv

the spring of the year 1642 to what is now Sault Ste. Marie, Michig

the autumn of 1645. For several year

one of the first settlers of 3-River

ied 1652. His son Fran?ois was one of the greatest sons of Canada. Louis XIV. made him a nobleman. His descenda

chand, widow, was t

Rivers. He has left his name to a river flowing into the St. La

as an interpreter, with 3-Rivers, b

ed, that not until the investigations of John Gilmary Shea, in 1853, were the "Ouinipigou" identified as the "Winnebagoes," and their having been visited by Nicolet established. It was this locating of the objective point of

soldier; and so, generally, the first period of tr

ls are described in the author's Latin: "Sclopos minores, e

omerante." Literally, perhaps, "the north wind blowing more persistently, and gathe

t of the dry land, but of the sloping land under

riber'

een repaired, otherwise spelling and punctuation are true to th