[Footnote 30: "The People of the Sea"--that is, the Winnebagoes--were frequently at war with the Hurons, Nez Percés, and other nations on the Georgian bay, which fact was well known to the governor of Canada. Now, the good offices of Nicolet were to be interposed to bring about a reconciliation between these nations. He, it is believed, was also to carry out Champlain's policy of making the Indian tribes the allies of the French. Vimont (_Relation_, 1643, p. 3) says, he was chosen to make a journey to the Winnebagoes and treat for peace with them _and with the Hurons_; showing, it is suggested, that it was not only to bring about a peace _between the two tribes_, but to attach them both to French interests. The words of Vimont are these: "Pendant qu'il exerçoit cette charge, il [_Nicolet_] fut delegué pour faire vn voyage en la nation appellée des Gens de Mer, et traitter la paix auec eux et les Hurons, desquels il sont esloignés, tirant, vers l'Oüest, d'enuiron trois cents lieuës."] [Footnote 31: "Il [_Nicolet_] s'embarque au pays des Hurons avec sept Sauuages."--Vimont, _Relation_, 1643, p. 3.] [Footnote 32: Saint Mary's strait separates the Dominion of Canada from the upper peninsula of Michigan, and connects Lake Superior with Lake Huron.] [Footnote 33: The route taken by Nicolet, from the mouth of French river, in journeying toward the Winnebagoes, is sufficiently indicated by (1) noting that, in mentioning the various tribes visited by him, Nicolet probably gave their names, except the Ottawas, in the order in which he met them; and (2) by calculating his time as more limited on his return than on his outward trip, because of his desire to descend the Ottawa with the annual flotilla of Huron canoes, which would reach the St. Lawrence in July, 1635.] [Footnote 34: The Ouasouarim, the Outchougai, and the Atchiligoüan.--Vimont, _Relation_, 1640, p. 34.] [Footnote 35: Called Amikoüai (_Rel._, 1640, p. 34), from _Amik_ or _Amikou_--a beaver.] [Footnote 36: The Manitoulin islands stretch from east to west along the north shores of Lake Huron, and consist chiefly of the Great Manitoulin or Sacred Isle, Little Manitoulin or Cockburn, and Drummond. Great Manitoulin is eighty miles long by twenty broad. Little Manitoulin has a diameter of about seven miles. Drummond is twenty-four miles long, with a breadth varying from two to twelve miles. It is separated from the American shore, on the west, by a strait called the True Detour, which is scarcely one mile wide, and forms the principal passage for vessels proceeding to Lake Superior.] [Footnote 37: The Oumisagai.--Vimont, _Relation_, 1640, p. 34.] [Footnote 38: These falls are distinctly marked on Champlain's map of 1632; and on that of Du Creux of 1660.] [Footnote 39: In giving Nicolet this credit, it is necessary to state, that the governor of Canada, in 1688, claimed that honor for Champlain (N. Y. Col. Doc, Vol. IX., p. 378). He says: