Narrative and Critical History of America, Vol. 4 (of 8): French Explorations and Settlements in North America and Those of the Portuguese, Dutch, and Swedes 1500-1700
History
Narrative and Critical History of America, Vol. 4 (of 8): French Explorations and Settlements in North America and Those of the Portuguese, Dutch, and Swedes 1500-1700
America -- Discovery and exploration; America -- History; United States -- History
“It indicates,” says Mr. Neill, “the post which had been recently
established by Du Lhut near the lower extremity of Lake Huron, and
gives the present name, Manitoulin, to the large island of Lake Huron,
and marks on the west shore a Baye de Saginnam. It places the mission
on the south shore of Sault Ste. Marie, and names the rivers and points
on the north and south shores of Lake Superior. A stream near the
present northern boundary-line of the United States is called ‘R. des
Grossillers,’ after the first explorer of Minnesota. The river entering
Lake Superior at the present Fort William is ‘Kamanistigouian, ou Les
Trois Rivières.’ Isle Royale is called ‘Minong;’ upon the northeast
part of ‘Lac Alepimigon’ is Du Lhut’s post, ‘Fort La Tourette.’ At the
portage between the sources of the St. Croix and a stream entering
Lake Superior is ‘Fort St. Croix,’ which Bellin says was afterward
abandoned. The St. Croix River is called ‘R. de la Magdelaine.’ At
the lower extremity of Lake Pepin is ‘Fort St. Antoine;’ and the
site of the present town of Prairie du Chien, near the mouth of the
Wisconsin, appears as ‘Fort St. Nicolas,’ named in compliment to the
baptismal name of Perrot. The Minnesota River is marked ‘Les Mascoutens
Nadouescioux,’ indicating that it ran through the country of the
Prairie Sioux. After Pierre Le Sueur had explored this river, De
l’Isle, in his map of 1703, gives it the name of St. Pierre, as it is
supposed in compliment to Le Sueur.”
A map of the next year (1689), also in the Archives, claims to be based
on “Mémoires et relations qu’il a eu soin de recueillir pendant pres
de 17 années.” Harrisse thinks this also a copy by De la Croix, and
notes others of the probable dates of 1692 and 1699 respectively.[620]
Harrisse also records[621] a manuscript map, “composée, corrigée,
et augmentée sur les journaux, mémoires, et observations les plus
justes qui en ont été f^{tes}. en l’année 1685 et 1686,” which is also
preserved in the French Archives; and a _Carte Gēralle du voyage que
Mons^r De Meulles ... a fait; ... commencé le 9^e Novembre et finy le
6^e Juillet, 1686_,[622] which was dedicated to Seignelay in the same
year.
Parkman[623] says of the maps of Franquelin subsequent to his Great Map
of 1684, that they all have more or less of its features, but that the
1684 map surpasses them all in interest and completeness.
* * * * *
It is convenient to complete here this enumeration of the maps of the
western lakes and the Mississippi basin before we turn to La Salle’s
explorations from the Gulf side.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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