s proved by
Radisson's giving the first description of notable objects on the
shores of the lake. His account of the memorable experiences of this
journey, considerably abridged, fills the remainder of this chapter.

One cannot but wonder that, until a very recent time, the name of this
interesting discoverer has not even been mentioned by historical
writers. {200} Here was a man who certainly was of considerable
importance in his day, since he was one of two who suggested the
formation of the famous Hudson Bay Fur Company, and yet who, until
lately, never was spoken of by historians who recorded the achievements
of Pathfinders in America. What was the cause of this singular
neglect? Chiefly the fact that in his time Canada was full of
adventurous _voyageurs_. The fur-trade was the great and only avenue
to wealth, and it attracted the most daring spirits. These hardy
fellows penetrated the wilderness in all directions, and it was chiefly
they who made the northern portion of our country known to white men.
Radisson and his brother-in-law, who was his constant companion,
belonged to this class. Their journeys were not made for scientific,
but for commercial, purposes. They were simply in quest of furs, and
whatever discoveries they made were accidental. Thus, little account
was made of them at the time.

The chief reason, however, is that the importance of Radisson's journal
escaped attention. It was mistaken for a mere record of wanderings.
Places not being named--at that time they had no names but the Indian
ones--close attention {201} to the descriptions in the narrative was
needed in order to identify them and determine his route. Thus it came
to pass that this singularly interesting journal remained unpublished,
that is, practically unknown, for more than two hundred years. When,
happily, the Prince Society of Boston recognized its value and printed
it, in 1885, the writer at once took his rightful place among the
Pathfinders.

Radisson and his brother-in-law, in the spring of 1661, applied to the
Governor of Canada for permission to go on a trading journey up the
lakes. On his refusing, except on the condition of their taking with
them two of his servants and giving them half of the profits, they
slipped away at midnight without leave, having made an agreement with
some Indians, probably Ojibways, of the Sault (Sault Ste. Marie,
between Lake Huron and Lake Superior), that these would wait for them