His first winter was spent on the spot, or in the immediate neighborhood of where Chicago now stands.  Here he invited to his camp the neighboring Indians, and endeavored to learn as much as possible of the geography of the country he was about to explore.  Parties were sent out with these Indians to ascertain if there was any stream or water-communication leading from Lake Michigan to the West, and which might connect it with the Mississippi.  Sufficient of the language of the tribes about him had been acquired to establish a means of intelligent intercourse with them.  They were curious to know the objects of the visit of the white strangers to their country.  Always suspicious of strangers—­supposing all, like themselves, treacherous and cruel—­they kept on the alert and were chary of giving any information they might possess as to this, or any other matters about which the white men asked; but, watchful of their movements, and seeing from their explorations their intentions, they became convinced of the sincerity of their inquiries, and readily pointed out the portage dividing the waters of Chicago Creek and those of the Illinois River.

When the spring came, and the snows had melted away, and the boats were all over the portage, with the assistance of the savages, the expedition was renewed in the descent of the Illinois.  The Indians had been so kindly treated, and so sincerely dealt with, that every suspicion that made them fear the whites was dissipated, and they were loath to part from them, and many accompanied the party until they were about entering the territory of hostile neighbors.  Of these they seemed to entertain great fears, and every means of persuasion and warning were used to prevent their white friends hazarding themselves to the power of these enemies.  When the last were to leave, they manifested more emotion than is usual with the savage, and one of La Salle’s party more facetious than the Indian designated them the Crying Indians.

La Salle was a wise as well as a bold adventurer.  His policy with all the tribes he encountered was kindness and truth.  These were human beings, and he correctly judged influenced by the motives and impulses of men.  They had never seen white men before, and there could be no cause of quarrel, and there was little in the possession of the whites, the use of which was known to the Indian to tempt his cupidity.  He manifested no fears in approaching them.  Their curiosity tempted them to come to him, and once met, his kindness and gentleness won them; and he experienced no opposition or trouble from any he met; but succeeded in gaining much information from his communications with them.  When he reached the Mississippi he began to doubt the accepted theory of its discharging its waters into the Pacific, and upon reaching the mouth of the Missouri and counseling with the chief of the tribe he met there, he at once determined the speculation a delusion, and decided to prosecute his journey to the mouth of the mighty