Expedition, and among them were three Recolets, whom he carry'd over to try what might be done as to Christianity among the Savages; he was well acquainted with, and had a just Esteem for the Virtue, the Capacity and the Zeal of those good, religious Men, who alone first undertook the Mission into that new World, and who being seconded by others, have carry'd it on there, with so much Edification.
Source of the Missisipi.
Islinois River.
Monsieur de la Sale having spent two Years in going
and coming, still thwarted by those who envy'd him in the
Country, to such a Degree, that had it not been for an
Antidote, he must have dy'd of Poison given him by some
Villains, could not order his Affairs and begin his Expedition
till the Year 1682. He set out at length, and to the
End his Discovery of the Missisipi might be compleat, he
caus'd Father Hennepin, a Recolet, with some others, to
travel to the Northward, that they might find out the
Source of that River, and they found it, about the 50th
Degree of North Latitude. For his own Part, he proceeded
to the Westward and found the River of the Islinois,
which he call'd the River of Seignelay, and following its
Course, came into the Missisipi, where the other discharges
it self. He then concluded he had no more to do, but to
run down to its Mouth, whether in the South Sea or the
Gulph of Mexico. All along its Banks he found many
Savage Nations, with whom, by Means of his Presents, he
enter'd into Alliances, and gave the Country the Name of
Louisiana, to honour the Name and Memory of our August
Monarch, in whose Reign those Discoveries were made.
At length, the Course of the Missisipi convey'd Monsieur
de la Sale to its Mouths, as falling into the Gulph of Mexico
in two Streams, and he arriv'd there in the Month of April
1682 or 1683, for the Dates of those who have writ concerning
it, make either of those Years. He stay'd there
some Days, to take Observations and place some Marks
which he might know again, when he return'd. Being satisfied
with having found some Part of what he sought, he
return'd the same Way he had gone, and came again to
