Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 26.djvu/89

Rh that these virgin hunting grounds would yield rich returns and were willing to advance the necessary funds.

The plan was to establish posts for trade with the Indians and to send peltries to Montreal each summer. That Verendrye regretted the necessity which obliged him to place the success of his mission at the mercy of these associates is apparent from his journal. He speaks of the arrangement with a misgiving which was to be only too well justified by events.

In the spring of 1731, the party set out by canoe from Montreal. It consisted of Verendrye, three of his four sons, his nephew the Sieur de la Jemeraye—a Canadian officer who had been stationed among the Sioux on Lake Pepin-and some fifty Canadian voyageurs.

Verendrye chose a new and better route than that previously taken. It became known as the Grand Portage route, and followed Pigeon River, the great chain of Lakes, and Rainy River along what is now the northern boundary of Minnesota for 300 miles; it became, and for over a hundred years continued to be, the main route of travel to the North West.

Almost at once the difficulties began which were to beset Verendrye's gallant undertaking to the end. His voyageurs, daunted by the long portage over the height of land between the water sheds of Superior and Lake Winnipeg, mutinied and refused to proceed. Some authorities believe they had been tampered with either by rival traders in Montreal, or by the English, who did not wish to see the stream of furs that had poured from the northwest wilderness to their posts on Hudson's Bay, diverted to the French.

But with that power over men which is the indispensable asset of true leaders, Verendrye kept the mutineers in hand. A certain number were persauded to proceed to Rainy Lake under La Jemeraye and there Ft. Pierre was established.