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CHAPTER VII.

 

ERA OF THE DISCOVERY.

 

Preliminary remarks—Visit of Claude Allouez to the Bay of Shag-a-waum-ik-ong, as known to the Ojibways—Definition of "Wa-metig-oshe," the Ojibway name for Frenchman—Antique silver crucifix found near La Pointe—Ancient prophecy foretelling the coming of the white race—The singular dream of Ma-se-wa-pe-ga—He goes in search of the white spirits—Finds them and returns to his people with presents—He makes a second journey and returns with the fire-arms and fire-water—Anecdote of the first trial and effect of fire-water—Anecdote of the effect of the fire-arm among the Dakotas—Two white traders found starving on the island of La Pointe—First white visitors to the Ojibways in the Bay of Shag-a-waum-ik-ong—Two hundred years ago—Establishment of traders and priests at the Ojibway village—Remarks, etc.

 

The era of their first knowledge of, and intercourse with the white race, is one of most vital importance in the history of the aborigines of this continent.

So far as their own tribe is concerned, the Ojibways have preserved accurate and detailed accounts of this event; and the information which their old men orally give on this subject, is worthy of much consideration, although they may slightly differ from the accounts which standard historians and writers have presented to the world, and which they have gleaned from the writings of the enterprising and fearless old Jesuit missionaries, and from the published narratives of the first adventurers who pierced into the heart of the American wilderness. This source of information may be considered as more reliable and authentic than the oral traditions of the Indians, but as we have undertaken to write their history as they themselves tell it, we will do so without respect to what has already been written by eminent and standard authors. The