With the approval of the governor, Commissioner Talon’s plan of having the course of the Mississippi explored was executed by two bold men:  Louis Joliet, citizen of Quebec, already known for previous voyages and for his deep knowledge of the Indian tongues, and the devoted missionary, Father Marquette.  Without other provisions than Indian corn and dried meat they set out in two bark canoes from Michilimackinac on May 17th, 1673; only five Frenchmen accompanied them.  They reached the Mississippi, after having passed the Baie des Puants and the rivers Outagami and Wisconsin, and ascended the stream for more than sixty leagues.  They were cordially received by the tribe of the Illinois, which was encamped not far from the river, and Father Marquette promised to return and visit them.  The two travellers reached the Arkansas River and learned that the sea was not far distant, but fearing they might fall into the hands of hostile Spaniards, they decided to retrace their steps, and reached the Baie des Puants about the end of September.

The following year Father Marquette wished to keep his promise given to the Illinois.  His health is weakened by the trials of a long mission, but what matters this to him?  There are souls to save.  He preaches the truths of religion to the poor savages gathered in attentive silence; but his strength diminishes, and he regretfully resumes the road to Michilimackinac.  He did not have time to reach it, but died near the mouth of a river which long bore his name.  His two comrades dug a grave for the remains of the missionary and raised a cross near the tomb.  Two years later these sacred bones were transferred with the greatest respect to St. Ignace de Michilimackinac by the savage tribe of the Kiskakons, whom Father Marquette had christianized.

With such an adventurous character as he possessed, Cavelier de la Salle could not learn of the exploration of the course of the Upper Mississippi without burning with the desire to complete the discovery and to descend the river to its mouth.  Robert Rene Cavelier de la Salle was born at Rouen about the year 1644.  He belonged to an excellent family, and was well educated.  From his earliest years he was passionately fond of stories of travel, and the older he grew the more cramped he felt in the civilization of Europe; like the mettled mustang of the vast prairies of America, he longed for the immensity of unknown plains, for the imposing majesty of forests which the foot of man had not yet trod.  Maturity and reason gave a more definite aim to these aspirations; at the age of twenty-four he came to New France to try his fortune.  He entered into relations with different Indian tribes, and the extent of his commerce led him to establish a trading-post opposite the Sault St. Louis.  This site, as we shall see, received soon after the name of Lachine.  Though settled at this spot, La Salle did not cease to meditate on the plan fixed in his brain of discovering a passage to China and