1656 and 1658, this flotilla was the first of the mighty brigades, which annually during the next one hundred and eighty years, found their way from Lake Superior down the Ottawa route to the trading posts on the St. Lawrence.

On their arrival at Three Rivers our adventurers learned to their cost that they had not been forgotten by the authorities. They had departed without official license and were now to suffer the consequences. The great company of the One Hundred Associates controlled the affairs of New France, and whatever came in the way of wealth from the far off forests of the Northwest was grist to their mill. The exactions from the company and the fines imposed reduced their profits fully one-third.

The treatment thus received, drove these adventurous explorers, who had done so much to revive and develop the trade, to the British. The result was the organization of the great rival to the French, the Hudson's Bay Company, which in after years not only diverted a great portion of the fur trade to England by way of Hudson's Bay, but exerted a great deal of influence toward giving the whole country to the ancient enemy of France.

"Sault Ste. Marie was the central mart of the whole Northwest, regarded by the Ottawas as their preserve, but poached on by the Iroquois with varying success.

A shrewdness of business policy was shown by the Ottawas and Mascoutins in trading with their distant neighbors, the Crees, not excelled by modern tradesmen. They combined to prevent the Crees from trading directly with the French. The Crees might purchase hatchets and knives, but not guns. The Sioux in turn envied the Crees, their enemies, because they could procure hatchets and knives, which they very much desired. They solved 1 Canada and its Provinces, vol. i, p. 75.

the difficulty by making peace with the Crees, thus opening the avenues of trade.

We learn also that a number of French traders were at the Sault and accompanied Radisson and Groseilliers westward in 1659. Whether they were there all the time it is not possible to determine. Doubtless most of them came and went as their business required, now journeying to more or less distant tribes to secure their peltries, and again going with the annual flotilla to the markets on the St. Lawrence. They would have valuables to protect, which would lead us to conclude that some of them at least, would remain at the Sault constantly.

That the Indians of Green Bay had reason to think they would find French traders here is shown by the fact -"that the Mascoutins wished to go to the Sault to trade" and accompanied the explorers thither in the autumn of 1659. There must, then, have been Frenchmen there constantly. This leads us to the question, whether we are not warranted in fixing the date of the settlement of the Sault by Europeans eight, ten or twelve years prior to the establishment of the first permanent mission in 1668, which is the date of settlement usually given.

CHAPTER X

The Charter of the One Hundred Associates Surrendered-The Iroquois Subdued-Battle at Point Iroquois—Mission at La Pointe Established -Sault Mission Founded-The Name Ste. Marie du Sault Bestowed Upon It.

THE Company of "One Hundred Associates" had controlled the affairs of New France for thirty-six years and had given the colony such government as it had received during that time.

Like the preceding monopoly it had failed in most of the obligations it had assumed. No adequate protection had been given the colonists against the forays and atrocities of the Iroquois, who had in consequence driven the allies of the French from their homes, and had carried terror, fire and murder to the very walls of the fortified cities. The Company had agreed to transport to New France four thousand emigrants by the year 1643, and a certain number each year thereafter. The failure in this, as well, is seen in the earliest census of Canada taken in 1660 which shows a total population of 3,418 souls, a considerable portion having been born in the New World. The inhabitants of New England at the same time numbered not far from 80,000. The Indian element was not included in either enumeration. 1

I

In 1661, on the death of Mazarin, Louis XIV took the reins of government into his own hands, and Colbert was made his principal adviser. Two years later the From Cartier to Frontenac, Winsor, p. 187.

charter of the Hundred Associates was surrendered and the crown assumed direct control of New France. Lawlessness was to be repressed, trade and commerce regulated and stimulated; exploration and discovery to be extended, strategic points were to be fortified and garrisoned; the English to be confined to the Atlantic seaboard and in no wise allowed to advance west of the Alleghanies. Manufactures were to be built up by the construction of factories, agriculture fostered and the whole vast territory south, west and north, brought under the dominion of France.

The first crying need was to secure safety for the people. The tomahawk and scalping knife must no longer be allowed to levy their ghastly toll; the Iroquois must be brought to respect the lives of the French at least, if not those of their ancient enemies.

The Marquis de Tracy, who had been appointed lieutenant-general of all New France, arrived June 30th, 1665. With him came the first detachment of regular troops to operate in the colony, the famous CariganSoliers regiment, which soon brought the Iroquois to terms. Terrified by repeated and successful invasions, the destruction of their villages and the erection of French forts at commanding points, the heretofore unconquered Five Nations were glad, in 1667, to enter into a peace which lasted twenty years.

2

Previous to the subjugation of the Iroquois, they received a chastisement by a party of Saulteurs, Ottawas, Nipissings and Amigones engaged in securing whitefish a few miles above the Sault. Discovering the smoke of an encampment of about one hundred Iroquois they cautiously approached, surprised and defeated their dreaded foes. This was at Iroquois Point at the entrance to

1 Canada and its Provinces, vol. i, p. 82.
'Ontario Historical Society Records, vol. iv, p. 20.

Whitefish Bay, which is said to take its name from that battle. I

The Relation' thus gives the story:

Last year the hautiest of the Iroquois Nations formed an expedition of a hundred men to go and lie in Ambush for the Ontaoux who constitute our Upper Algonquins, and to fall upon them when passing some difficult rapid. With this purpose they set out early in the Spring of 1662, depending on their muskets for provisions. After following the hunters calling for a considerable time, they turned into warriors, seeing that they were approaching the enemies country. So they began to prowl along the Lake of Hurons, seeking their prey; and while they were planning to surprise some straggling huntsmen, they were themselves surprised by a band of Saulteurs (for thus we designate the Savages living near the Sault). These latter having discovered the enemy, made their approach near day-break with such boldness that, after discharging some muskets and then shooting their arrows, they leaped, hatchet in hand, upon those whom their fire and missiles had spared. The Iroquois, although they are very proud, and have never yet learned to run away, would have been glad to do so, had they not been prevented by the shafts leveled at them from every direction. Hence only a few escaped to bear such sad news to their country, and to fill their village with mourning instead of the joyful shouts they were wont to ring out on the warriors return. This shows clearly that these people are not invincible when they are attacked with courage.

The story as handed down to the Indians living at this day about the Sault has a still more tragic form. Their legendary story is to the effect that the Iroquois were victorious in the opening battle. They slew many and took many of the Chippewas and their allies prisoners. The survivors escaped to their canoes and to save their 1 Narrative and Critical History of America, Winsor.

• Vol. xxxxviii, p. 75.