|
MICHIGAN AS A PROVINCE 1 - 5
The next serious attempt to despatch an expedition was when, in 1603, Samuel Champlain, under the favor and patronage of Henry IV, set sail with three barks. The chief object was to encourage the trade in peltries which had been already found to be of considerable importance. Champlain established himself on the site of the present city of Quebec, the first permanent settlement of Europeans in New France. He gave early attention to exploration of the surrounding country. He caused a site to be cleared in the vicinity of Montreal
for erecting a fort. He concluded a treaty of alliance and trade with the Hurons, the most friendly of the Indian tribes, a party of which nation, 200 in number, had come on a visit. The chiefs of that tribe gave him permission to commence a settlement in their country. In 1613 he ascended the Ottawa river nearly to its source. In 1615 he discovered Lake Ontario. In friendly confederation with the Hurons he ascended the Ottawa and passed over to Lake Nipissing, about sixty leagues northeast of Lake Huron; then descending southward he reached the point of rendezvous on Lake Ontario. He was the first European to navigate that "fresh water sea. " He was wounded in an engagement with the Iroquois and was obliged to spend the winter among the natives. He made himself acquainted with the Ontarian regions and visited the Neutral nation, a race of natives which kept up friendly relations with all the battling tribes around.
The French king and the French people were early impressed with the idea that their first duty toward the inhabitants of the new-found world across the sea was to bring to them a knowledge of the Christian religion. France herself was torn with religious strife and the Huguenots were driven from the country.
MICHIGAN
Page 4
|
|
Please consider making a donation to help keep these sites alive.
Thank you
|
