on Mackinac Island. In the yard, near the dwelling, there is a rock of the same formation as the island Sugar Loaf, but not quite as broad at the base. It is the Temple or Ghost rock-"Gebi-wau-beek" (or "Chete")—of the Indians, and in front there is a flattened projection-their altar-where the savages were wont to worship and perform sacrifices. The credulous natives say the spirits still linger there, but we have never been able to see them.

After the departure of Marquette and Joliet from St. Ignace, Fathers Henry Nouvel and Phillip Pierson erected a more substantial log church and residence, protected by a palisade enclosure, twenty-five feet high.

In the spring of 1673 several bands, Ottawas and others, Algonquins, arrived and settled about Rabbit's Back, on the shores of Lake Huron. At that place, a little over two miles from the Huron settlement and church, another church, roofed with bark, was built. In 1677 there were 1,300 souls at that mission ("Algonquin Village") the principal band being Kishkakons.

In 1677, or before, a new "Ottawa Village" was started between Point La Barbe, and Gros-Cap, by the arrival of other bands of Algonquins.. Near them a log chapel was built, the church of St. Francis Borgia," Father Nouvel in charge. During the winter of 1677-8, Father Enja'ran lived, with Father Nouvel, in a rude wigwam adjoining the chapel. In 1699 there were fifteen hundred (1,500) souls in that village. All Indian villages about the straits, unless fortified, were generally strung along the beach, in one or two lines, near or convenient to the water. That year Buisson de St. Côme (Missionary) and Henry de Tonty visited them. They walked through the portage to Gros-Cap, and sent their canoes around the point.

St. Côme was on a journey by way of Michili

mackinac, to the Lower Mississippi, and mentions these facts in his journal.

From the time Father Allouez passed through the straits in 1699, en route to Green Bay (and visited Mackinac Island), the population of "Point Iroquois" (St Ignace) was floating and not permanent until the mission was established. From November 5 to 11, 1699, Allouez was wind-bound on Little St. Martin's Island. He crossed, St. Martin's Day," to the main land, by way of Big St. Martin's Island, after the storm abated. Then he met some Indians and two Frenchmen, who tried to persuade him not to go to Green Bay so late in the season. (See Journal of Allouez, "Relations.") Father Dablon, Superior of the Jesuits, selected Point St. Ignace for a mission, by reason of its position and superior advantages for defense, productive soil, game and fish.

In the spring of 1677 Father Nouvel took charge of the Ottawas and Father Pierson retained the Huron part of the mission of St. Ignace. Year after year there are the same movements of the bands of restless savages, and the annual trips to and fro of the French fur traders and Indians for the market at Montreal.

The First Vessel on the Upper Lakes. Built by La Salle, 1679.

1679. LA SALLE AND HENNEPIN.-VOYAGE OF THE

"GRIFFON."

During the expedition of Marquette and Jolliet, both kept journals. Jolliet's was lost by the upsetting of his canoe in the St. Lawrence rapids, 1674, on his return to Quebec. The fame of their discovery fired the minds of the sanguine Frenchmen. Robert Cavalier de la Salle, in command at Fort Frontenac ("Kingston") obtained a concession from Count Frontenac, and with his approval, another from the French King, which allowed him the exclusive trade in buffalo skins and all other articles (excepting the fur trade of the lakes), in the territory to be discovered.

Late in November he sailed from Fort Frontenac, in a tenton vessel, fully equipped, with Tonty and a corps of mechan

ics and marines, across Lake Erie to ("Onghiara") Niagara Falls. Here they disembarked near the foot of the Falls and carried their merchandise, anchors, chains and provisions above the cataract, making a portage of at least twelve miles. That took them to where the current was less rapid. The thick forests, rugged heights, and deep snows caused this work to be delayed until the 22d of January, 1679. During the rest of the winter and early summer they built, at the mouth of "Cayuga" creek, a sixty-ton vessel, the "Griffon.” Here Father Louis Hennepin, who had been appointed acting missionary of the expedition, and two other monks of the Franciscan order joined them.

All being ready, whilst cannon were fired and the Te Deum chanted, on the 7th of August, 1679, the little craft unfurled her sails and swept boldly out on Lake Erie. There were thirty-four men all told on board, most of them fur-traders for the Mississippi valley.

In three days they made the length of the lake, over waters that had never before been sailed by so large a ship, and rounded northward "between the verdant isles of the majestic Detroit." On either side of the strait was an ever-varying panorama to delight the eye. Groves of trees and intervening prairies, forests of maple, beech, walnut, chestnut, oak and wild plum, with grape vines twining through their branches. There were herds of wild deer, bear and beasts of unknown name; flocks of wild turkeys, quail, grouse and other land and water fowl that made Hennepin, enraptured, exclaim how "extraordinarily relishing."

Detroit was then a wilderness, unsettled by white men. Up the river they sailed, and enter and cross the shallow St. Clair lake. And thence up through the next strait, and into broad Lake Huron.

Again they chant the Te Deum and offer thanks to Almighty God for their prosperity. Gentle breezes waft them onward until they near the boisterous "Sagina," when they encounter a fierce gale that threatened to swallow the little ship and crew. The fury of the tempest made even La Salle quake with fear and call on all to commend themselves to heaven. But the godless pilot anathematized his commander "for having brought him after the honor he had won on the ocean, to drown at last, ignominiously, in fresh water." They all clamored to the saints, and with La Salle and Hennepin, proclaimed "St. Anthony" their patron. The winds abated and the vessel "plunged on her way through foaming surges that still grew calmer as she advanced."

Thunder Bay was passed, and soon to the left the island of "Bois Blanc" (white wood) came in view, and on the right (east) in the dim distance, could be outlined the Manitoulins of Georgian Bay. Onward they sailed, and turning the foot of Bois Blanc, in front of them, to the westward, up looms a highland ahead, "sitting like an emerald gem in the clear, pellucid wave, is the rock-girt fairy isle of Michilimackinac." In the back ground, to the northward, is the Mission of St. Ignatius, nestling at the head of a small narrow bay, where they soon come to anchor near by.

The following is Hennepin's:* "The 27th, 1679, in the morning, we continued our course northwest, with a southeast wind, which carried us the same day to Michilimackinac, where we anchored in a bay at six fathom water, upon a shiny white bottom. That bay is sheltered by the coast and a bank

* Laluman says Hennepin was "Daring, vain, and determined, ambitious to reap the glory of discovery and not too scrupulous as to the means.