An introduction to American history, European beginnings . which set out in 1673 and whichwas headed by Louis Joliet. Ascending the Fox Riverfrom Lake Michigan, the party carried their canoesfrom its headwaters to the Wisconsin, down whichthey floated till they came to the Mississippi. Theywere sure at first that the great stream flowed into thePacific Ocean. They journeyed southward until theyreached the Arkansas, \vhere they learned that theMississippi entered the Gulf of Mexico. The French now knew that they could travel fromthe Gulf of St. Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico bywater, carrying t
An introduction to American history, European beginnings . which set out in 1673 and whichwas headed by Louis Joliet. Ascending the Fox Riverfrom Lake Michigan, the party carried their canoesfrom its headwaters to the Wisconsin, down whichthey floated till they came to the Mississippi. Theywere sure at first that the great stream flowed into thePacific Ocean. They journeyed southward until theyreached the Arkansas, \vhere they learned that theMississippi entered the Gulf of Mexico. The French now knew that they could travel fromthe Gulf of St. Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico bywater, carrying their canoes only a few miles over thedivide even at low water. A series of forts and tradingposts along this line of water communication would notonly give the French control of the Mississippi Valleybut would prevent the English from settling in the West. La Salle. Another famous French explorer namedRobert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle, continued the workbegun by Joliet. La Salle belonged to a wealthy familyof Normandy in France. When he was twenty-three. French Explorations on the Great Lakes and the Mississippi 281 282 INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN HISTORY years old he came to Canada (1666), where he at oncebegan a careful study of the languages and customsof the Indians. He was particularly friendly with theIroquois, living with them and accompanying themon their hunting trips. Count Frontenac, governor ofCanada, soon made him commandant of the new FortFrontenac, located near the outlet of Lake Ontario. LaSalle then went to France, where he secured from theking a grant of the territory surrounding Fort Frontenac,which he proceeded to rebuild and develop as an exten-sive trading station. The following year he again wentto France and secured from the king the right to tradefor furs and to build forts in the Mississippi Valley,provided that the king should be at no expense. LaSalle brought back with him a young lieutenant namedTonty. They made their way to Niagara Falls, theirparty
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