Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/384

 346 Readings in European History were hazardous it should not be foolhardy. To that end we obtained all the information that we could from the savages who had frequented those regions; and we even traced out from their reports a map of the whole of that new country. On it we indicated the rivers which we were to navigate, the names of the peoples and of the places through which we were to pass, the course of the Great River, and the direc- tion we were to follow when we reached it. . . . With all these precautions, we joyfully plied our paddles on a portion of Lake Huron and on that of the Illinois [i.e. Lake Michigan] and on the Bay des Puants [i.e. Green Bay]. The first nation that we came to was that of the " Wild Oats." I entered their river to go and visit these peoples, to whom we have preached the gospel for several years, — in consequence of which there are several good Christians among them. . . . I told these peoples of the " Wild Oats " of my design to go and discover those remote nations in order to teach them the mysteries of our holy religion. They were greatly sur- prised to hear it, and did their best to dissuade me. They represented to me that I would meet nations who never show mercy to strangers, but break their heads without cause ; and that war was kindled between various peoples who dwelt upon our route, which exposed us to the further manifest danger of being killed by the bands of warriors who are ever in the field. They also said that the Great River was very dangerous for one who does not know the difficult places ; that it was full of horrible monsters which devoured men and canoes together ; that there was even a demon who was heard from a great distance, who barred the way and swallowed up all who ventured to approach him ; finally, the heat was so excessive that it would inevitably cause our death. I thanked them for the good advice they gave me, but told them that I could not follow it because the salvation of souls was at stake, for which I would be delighted to give my life. . . . Embarking then in our canoes, we arrived shortly afterward at the bottom of the Bay des Puants, where