given an interest to the early details, on this
head, which invests mere private, or at least*
missionary adventure, with the importance of
history. And it is from this consideration that.
I have-inserted, in a translationj the journal of
Father Le Moine, a Jesuit, who appears to have
been one of the earliest, if not the first ecclesiastic
of his order, who entered the country. This
exploratory journey was, commenced at Montreal,
in July 1653, and completed in that month,
and August and September following. The Iroquois
gave their new visitor the name of Ondes*
sonk. He was very respectful oftheircustoms in
conducting public councils; a good observer of
character and motives, as well as of the natural
features of the-country; and his visit appears to
have been well taken. The notice he gives of
the salt springs at Onondaga lake, is ptobably the
earliest for which we are to look to French authors.
His allusion to the war with the Erics*
an obscure subject* in some respects^ is important
in adjusting the chronology of their final defeat
and expulsion; arid the notices which appear,
incidentally, of the quadrupeds, and the crops
ofi£ea maize, raised by this people, denote the
substantial independence of the early Iroquois
means of support. The journal commences in
the following words.
On the 17th day of July, 1653, I set out from
Montreal, and embarked for a land, as yet. unknown,
accompanied by a young man of piety
and courage, whb has long been a resident of
the country,
July i 8fh. Following the course of the ‘Saint
Laurens;* we found nothing but breakers and
impetuous'rapids, full of rocks and shoals.
I 19th. We petssed into a beautiful lake, eight
or ten, leagues long;::*At evening an army of
importune musqüitoes; gave us warning of a
storm, by Ayhich we were drenched the whole
night.
26th- Islands, more beautiful than any in the
vyorld, here and there diyidcthe placid stream.
The land on the north side is excellent. Towards
tfie west there is a chain of high mourn
tains, which we named after ,St. Maguerite.
,, 21sb.The:islands continue. In the evening
we broke our bark' canoe. It rained all night.
The'naked rocks served ns for bed, covering and
all. He who has faith intXod, sleeps sweetly
every where.
22d. The rapids, which for a season are not
rniyigable, compelled us to carry our baggage
and canoe on our shoulders: On the opposite
side X perceived a herd of wild cattle, feeding at
their ease, in the greatest- security. Four or five
hundred are sometimes seen in this neighborhood
in one drove.
23d and 24th- Our guide being wounded, we
were forced to encamp, a prey to the musquitoes.
We took if patiently. A task the more difficult
from there being no cessation from this incon