they gathered sufficient information to enable them to form the conclusion that the great river before their eyes found its way, not to the Atlantic or Pacific oceans, but to the Gulf of Mexico. Then they decided not to pursue their expeditions further at that time, but to return home and relate the story of their discovery. When they came to the mouth of the Illinois River, they took that route in preference to the one by which they had come, followed the Des Plaines River,--where a hill still bears Jolliet's name--crossed the Chicago portage, and at last found themselves at the southern extremity of Lake Michigan. It was then the end of September, and Jolliet did not reach Canada until the following summer. When nearly at his journey's end, Fate dealt him a cruel blow, his canoe was capsized after running the Lachine Rapids just above Montreal, and he lost all the original notes of his journey. Frontenac, however, received from {181} him a full account of his explorations, and sent it to France. Two centuries later than this memorable voyage of Jolliet, a French Canadian poet-laureate described it in verse fully worthy of the subject, as the following passage and equally spirited translation[1] go to show: LA DECOUVERTE DU THE DISCOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI. MISSISSIPPI. Jolliet . . . Jolliet . . . O, Jolliet, what splendid faery quel spectacle feerique dream Dut frapper ton regard, quand Met thy regard, when on that ta nef historique mighty stream, Bondit sur les flots d'or du Bursting upon its lonely grand fleuve inconnu unknown flow, Quel eclair triomphant, a cet Thy keel historic cleft its instant de fievre, golden tide:-- Dut resplendir sur ton front Blossomed thy lip with what nu? . . . stern smile of pride? What conquering light shone on thy lofty brow? Le voyez-vous la-bas, debout Behold him there, a prophet, comme un prophete, lifted high, L'oeil tout illumine d'audace Heart-satisfied, with bold, satisfaite, illumined eye, La main tendue au loin vers His hand outstretched toward l'Occident bronze. the sunset furled, Prendre possession de ce Taking possession of this domain domaine immense, immense, Au nom du Dieu vivant, au nom In the name of the living God, roi de France. in the name of the King Et du monde civilise? . . . of France, And the mighty modern world.