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MICHIGAN AS A PROVINCE 1 - 5
Upon reaching the mouth of the Illinois river on their return
they were informed by the Indians that that stream offered a more feasible and shorter route to Lake Michigan than by the way of the Wisconsin and Fox, and so they decided to try it. Marquette had long heard very favorable accounts of the Illinois Indians and had contemplated visiting them in the interest of the Church whose servant he was. He therefore embraced with pleasure the opportunity thus offered him of gratifying his cherished wish. The travelers proceeded up the Illinois to a point near the site of the present city of Ottawa where they found a considerable village.
Here they disembarked and after spending a few days were guided by friendly natives to Lake Michigan which they reached by way of the Chicago river. Thence they coasted along the west shore of the lake until they reached the mission near the mouth of the Fox river to which in the meantime Marquette had been transferred. The journal of this expedition kept by Marquette was unfortunately lost by the capsizing of Joliet's canoe in the Lachine rapids just as he was nearing Montreal upon his return.
In the autumn of 1674 Marquette set out to visit the Illinois, of whom he had gained a most favorable opinion, and to spend the winter in missionary labor among them. His health had been greatly impaired by the hardships and privations of his pioneer life and especially by the exploration trip of the previous year. Though suffering from weakness and pain he
preached at the village and assemblages of the natives until it became evident that he must seek rest and relief.
MICHIGAN
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