what
course this river pursued, and at what place it disembogued itself into
the sea. There were three opinions on this subject. First, that it ran
towards the southwest, and entered the Gulf of California; secondly,
that it flowed into the Gulf of Mexico; and thirdly, that it found its
way in a more easterly direction, and discharged itself into the
Atlantic Ocean somewhere on the coast of Virginia. The question was not
less important in a commercial and political view, than interesting as a
geographical problem.

To establish the point, and to make such other discoveries as
opportunities would admit, M. de Frontenac, the governor of Canada,
encouraged an expedition to be undertaken. The persons to whom it was
intrusted, were M. Joliet, then residing at Quebec, and Father
Marquette, who was at Michillimackinac, or in the vicinity of that
place. Marquette wrote an account of his tour, and voyage down the
Mississippi, which was sent to France, and published eight years
afterwards in Paris. From this account the following particulars are
chiefly taken. In some parts the translation is nearly literal, and all
the prominent facts are retained.

On the 13th of May, 1673, Father Marquette and M. Joliet, with five
other Frenchmen, embarked in two canoes, with a small provision of
Indian corn and smoked meat, having previously acquired from the Indians
all the intelligence they could afford respecting their proposed
route.[123-3]

The first nation[123-4] through which they passed, was the _Folles
Avoines_ (Wild Rice),[123-5] so called from the grain of that name,
which abounds in the rivers and marshy lands. This plant is described as
growing about two feet above the water, resembling European oats, and is
gathered by the savages during the month of September. The ears are
dried, separated from the chaff, and prepared for food either by
pounding into meal, or simply boiling the grain in water.

The natives, having been made acquainted by Father Marquette with his
design of visiting the most remote nations, and preaching to them the
Gospel, did their utmost to dissuade him from it, representing the
cruelty of some of the tribes, and their warlike state, the dangerous
navigation of the river, the dreadful monsters that were found in it,
and, finally, the excessive heat of the climate.

He thanked them for their good advice, but declined following it;
assuring them, that, to secure the success of his undertaking, he would