After a month's navigation, while descending Missisipi from the
42nd to the 34th degree, and beyond, and after preaching the Gospel
as well as I could to the nations that I met, we start on the 17th
of July from the village of the Akensea, to retrace our steps.
We therefore reascend the Missisipi which gives us much trouble
in breasting its currents. It is true that we leave it, at about
the 38th degree, to enter another river, which greatly shortens
our road, and takes us with but little effort to the lake of the
Ilinois.
We have seen nothing like this river that we enter, as regards
its fertility of soil, its prairies and woods; its cattle, elk,
deer, wildcats, bustards, swans, ducks, parroquets, and even
beaver. There are many small lakes and rivers. That on which
we sailed
is wide, deep, and still, for 65 leagues. In the spring and during
part of the surnmer there is only one portage of half a league.
We found on it a village of Ilinois called Kaskasia, consisting
of 74 cabins. They received us very well, and obliged me to promise
that I would return to instruct them. One of the chiefs of this
nation, with his young men, escorted us to the lake of the Ilinois,
whence at last, at the end of September, we reached the Bay des
Puantz, from which we had started at the beginning of June.
Had this voyage resulted in the salvation of even one soul, I
would consider all my troubles well rewarded, and I have reason
to presume
that such is the case. For, when I was returning, we passed
through the Ilinois of Peouarea, and during three days I preached
the
faith in all their cabins; after which, while we were embarking,
a dying
child was brought to me at the water's edge, and I baptized
it shortly before it died, through an admirable act of Providence
for the salvation of that innocent soul.
