he
always calls the Indians, showed themselves "far gratfuller then many
Christians even to their {206} owne relations," for whenever they found
a good patch of berries they always called him and his brother to get a
full share. In due time they reached a strait full of islands (the St.
Mary's River), where an abundance of fish relieved their hunger, and
came to "a rapid that makes the separation of the lake that we call
Superior, or upper" (Sault Ste. Marie).[1]

Some of Radisson's Indian companions were now in their native region.
They had promised the two Frenchmen that they "should make good cheare
of a fish that they call Assickmack, wch signifieth a white fish," and
so it proved.[2]

{207}

Game, also, was most abundant; and, after their long hardships and
privations, the Frenchmen thought this country "like a terrestriall
paradise." Having rested and enjoyed the abundance of food for a
while, the party went on, "thwarted (crossed) in a pretty broad place
and came to an isle most delightfull for the diversity of its fruits."
Here they supped and enjoyed themselves until ten o'clock, when, the
night being fine, they embarked again and before daylight reached the
south shore of the lake. Here Radisson was shown a place where "many
peeces of copper weare uncovered." He and his brother were about to
take some specimens, when the Indians told them that they would find
far larger quantities at a place to which they were going.

The next evidence that we encounter of the accuracy of Radisson's
narrative is his description of the hills of shifting sand that form a
striking feature of this part of the coast. One of the Indians climbed
an especially high one, and, Radisson says, "being there, did shew no
more then a crow." These are the sand-hills, which the Indian legend,
in Longfellow's "Hiawatha," says were thrown up by Pau-puk-keewis when
he blew up a whirlwind. The sight of so much sand reminded Radisson of
{208} "the wildernesses of Turkey land, as the Turques makes their
pylgrimages" (the desert of Arabia).

Next the voyagers came to a very "remarquable place, a banke of Rocks
that the wildmen made a sacrifice to. They fling much tobacco and
other things in its veneration." Radisson thus describes this striking
object. "It's like a great Portall, by reason of the beating of the
waves. [He means that the dashing of the water against the mass of
rock has worn it away in the shape of an arch.] The lowe