Page:History of the Ojibway Nation.djvu/427

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EARLY POSTS ON LAKE SUPERIOR.
417

of Lake Superior. The first trading post of Du Luth at Kaministigoya was given up, while a post existed at Chagouamigon, Lemipiscki (Nepigon), and at the River Bagouache, on the north shore, a short distance east of the outlet of Lake Nepigon.

SAULT STE. MARIE ABANDONED.

After 1689, the trading post and mission house was abandoned at Sault Ste. Marie, and Mackinaw became the central point for traders and missionaries.

In May, 1690, Governor Frontenac sent M. de Louvigny, a half-pay captain, to relieve Sieur du la Durantaye, at Mackinaw, and Nicholas Perrot accompanied him, with presents and messages for the upper nations. As a result of this visit, in August, five hundred of the upper Indians arrived at Montreal to trade, and the merchants rejoiced, as so large a number had not appeared for a long time.

On the 25th, Count Frontenac, the Governor, gave them a grand feast of two oxen, six large dogs, two barrels of wine, some prunes, and plenty of tobacco to smoke.[1]

MACKINAW A.D. 1700.

Sieur de Lamothe Cadillac, commandant at Mackinaw for several years, has left an accurate description of the place. After describing the island of Missilimackinak he writes:[2] "Opposite this island is a large sandy cove on the border of the lake, and in the middle of this is the French fort, where the garrison and commandant reside. The post is called the Fort de Buade. The monastery of the Jesuits, the village of the French, and that of the Hurons and Ottawas adjoin one another and fill up the border at the bottom of the anse or cove."

The Hurons and Ottawas were the same which had once

  1. Occurrences of 1689–90, N. Y. Col. Docs. ix. 478, 479.
  2. Margry, vol. v. p. 80.