village was striking and beautiful, it
being built on an eminence, whence the eye overlooked on all sides a
boundless extent of prairie, interspersed with groves and forests. The
soil was good, producing abundantly Indian corn, grapes, and plums.

Immediately on their arrival, Father Marquette and M. Joliet assembled
the chiefs, and explained to them the objects of their expedition,
expressing their determination to proceed at all risks, and making them
some presents. They requested the assistance of two guides, to put them
in their way; which request the natives readily granted, returning for
their presents a mat, which served them as a bed during the voyage. The
next day, being the 10th of June, the two Miamis, their guides, embarked
with them in sight of all the inhabitants of the village who looked with
astonishment on the hardihood of seven Frenchmen in undertaking such an
expedition.

They knew that within three leagues of the Maskoutins was a river, which
discharged itself into the Mississippi; and further, that their course
must be west southwest; but so many marshes and small lakes intervened,
that the route was intricate; the more so, as the river was overgrown
with wild rice, which obstructed the channel to such a degree, that it
was difficult to follow it. On this account their guides were necessary,
who conducted them safely to a portage, which was about two thousand
seven hundred paces across.[126-10] The guides aided them in
transporting their canoes over the portage to the river, which ran
towards the west, and then they left them and returned.

The travellers quitted the waters, which flow towards Quebec, five or
six hundred leagues from that place, and embarked on an unknown
stream.[127-11] This river was called _Mescousin_ (Wisconsin). It was
very broad, but its bottom was sandy, and the navigation was rendered
difficult by the shoals.[127-12] It was full of islands, overgrown with
vines; and the fertile banks through which it flowed were interspersed
with woods, prairies, and groves of nut, oak, and other trees. Numbers
of bucks and buffaloes were seen, but no other animals. Within thirty
leagues of their place of embarkation, they found iron mines, which
appeared abundant and of a good quality. After continuing their route
for forty leagues, they arrived at the mouth of the river, in forty-two
degrees and a half of latitude;[127-13] and on the 17th of June, they
entered with great joy the waters o