Page:History of the Ojibway Nation.djvu/413

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THE VOYAGEURS OF GROSEILLIERS DISCOVER COPPER.
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about five leagues above the rapids. Some Ojibways, Ottawas, Nepissings, and Amikouëts were in the vicinity engaged in catching white fish and hunting in the forests. Two of their number discovered the smoke of the Iroquois encampment, and informed the Ojibway chief, who sent a canoe of warriors to reconnoitre.

CONFLICT AT IROQUOIS POINT, LAKE SUPERIOR.

Under the cover of a dense forest, they advanced and discovered the number of Iroquois, and came back and reported. The Ojibways and allies then marched by night and arrived near the Iroquois, and hid behind a ridge of earth. The dogs of the enemy were kept from barking, by throwing food at them,[1] and as soon as it was sufficiently light they gave the war-whoop. The Iroquois roused from sleep, wished to seize their arms, but could not face the discharge of arrows. The Ojibways then, tomahawk in hand, entered the tents of their ancient foes, slaughtered many, and were elated with their complete victory. After this, the Ojibways and their allies visited Keweenaw, and Chagouamigon.[2]

THE VOYAGEURS OF GROSEILLIERS DISCOVER COPPER.

Some of the voyageurs who left Montreal, in 1660, with Groseilliers, did not return until the summer of 1663, and were the first to give an extended account of Lake Superior. Pierre Boucher, an honored citizen of Canada, in a little book published in Paris, in 1664, mentions that a

  1. Perrot's Memoir, edited by Tailhan. Leipzig and Paris, 1864.
  2. Schoolcraft defines Shaugwamegin as low lands. A writer in the Canadian Antiquarian and Numismatic Journal, vol. ii., alludes to a tavern of the last century in Montreal, known as the "Chagouamigon," and thinks it is the Algonquin word Chaboumikon, eye of a needle. Baraga in his Otchipwé Dictionary defines Jabonigon as needle. The low sandy point projected like a long needle.