Jacques
Marquette was
born in Laon, France, in 1637. He was
sent to New France in 1666 and worked as a Roman
Catholic missionary around Lake Superior.
In 1673 Marquette and Luis Joliet explored
the central portion of the Mississippi River and eventually reached
the mouth of the Arkansas River. A journal of his voyage was published
in 1861. Marquette died in 1675.
(1) In 1673 Jacques
Marquette and Luis
Joliet
travelled along the Illinois River. He later recorded what he saw.
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,
swans, ducks, parroquets, and even beaver. There are many small lakes
and rivers. we found on it a village 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 Illinois.
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