hey
supposed would bear them to the far-off western sea. They had reached
the "father of waters." No sight could be more charming than that
which presented itself to their vision as they beheld on either side,
alternately stretching away to a vast distance, immense forests of
mountain and plain.

At length, on the 25th of June, as they were sailing along near the
eastern shore, they discovered foot-prints in the sand. At sight of
these they landed and fastening their canoes, that they might again
look upon the face of human beings, they followed an Indian path which
led up the bank. They were not long in finding two Indian villages,
which proved to be those of the "Pewa-rias" and "Moing-wenas." In
answer to a question proposed by Marquette, who addressed them in
Indian, and inquired who they were; they answered, "We are Illinois."
After an exchange of friendly greetings with these peaceable Indians,
the voyagers re-embarked and passed on down the river. They continued
on their downward passage until they reached the mouth of the
Missouri, which poured its turbid flood into the Mississippi; and
still further until they passed the mouth of the Ohio, and then on
down until they passed the Arkansas, and arrived within thirty miles
of the mouth of the Mississippi. It was not necessary to proceed any
further to satisfy the explorers that the river entered into the Gulf
of Mexico, instead of that of California.

Having accomplished the end of the expedition, the company started out
upon their return trip on the 17th of July. When they reached the
mouth of the Illinois river, they determined on returning by that
route to Mackinaw. Arriving at the portage of that river they fell in
with a tribe of Indians who called themselves the Kaskaskias, who
kindly volunteered to conduct them to Lake Michigan, where in due
time they arrived. After sailing along the western shore of the lake
they again found themselves at Green Bay, and were heartily welcomed
by the brethren at the mission of St. Francis Xavier. Worn down with
fatigue, Marquette determined to remain here to recruit his health
before returning to his missionary labors. He spent his time at this
mission post in copying his journal of the voyage down the Mississippi
and back, which he accompanied by a map of the river and country, and
sent by the Ottawa flotilla to his superiors at Montreal. The return
of this flotilla brought him orders for the establishment of a mission
am