1678-9 (upper left inset, U.S. 20,
2B --
Mass by Fr. Hennepin[9]
-- lower left, 6A:7A, belts of wampum
and conference at Sonnontuan).
The Griffon, 2A, first vessel to sail
on Lake Erie and up the St.
Clair River past the present site of Detroit into Lake Michigan,
was loaded with furs near Green Bay Wisconsin, and sent back on
its return voyage. It never was heard of again. In order to cover
this loss, LaSalle, walking much of the way, went back East and
organized another expedition with which he explored the Mississippi
river and mouth, completing the exploration which had been begun
by Joliet and Fr. Marquette. Henri de Tonty of the silver hand,
whose father was author of Tontine life insurance, was master
of Fort Crèvecoeur[10]
near the present Joliet, Illinois. A valuable fur trade was stimulated
between the Illinois Indians and Québec: the French undertook
to protect the Illinois from the Iroquois, their enemies. The
Iroquois, made arrogant by many conquests, attacked the Illinois
with deadly fury but ultimately were defeated.
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