CHAPTER II.

1669-1671. LA SALLE AND THE SULPITIANS. The French in Western New York.--Louis Joliet.--The Sulpitians on Lake Erie; at Detroit; at Saut Ste. Marie.--The Mystery of La Salle: he discovers the Ohio; he descends the Illinois; did he reach the Mississippi? La Chine was the starting-point; and the combined parties, in all twenty-four men with seven canoes, embarked on the Lake of St. Louis. With them were two other canoes, bearing the party of Senecas who had wintered at La Salle's settlement, and w…