Page 167 - La Société canadienne d'histoire de l'Église catholique - Rapport 1961

I started by that route, and the next day was taken down
with the ague and fever, and the day following one of my men
was also taken with the same complaint, whichleft me with one
Indian and one Frenchman to paddle my canoe. I did not
provide a sufficiently large stock of provisions when I left St.
Louis, presuming that I could get plenty on the Illinois. But
all I was able to obtain was, one ham full of maggots, and one
peck of Indian meal. I saw but one house from the mouth of
the Illinois to Fort Clark, where Peoria now is; at which latter
place one French trader resided. When we reached there, I
was completely exhausted, and remained a few days to recruit
a little, when we left to prosecute our journey. We continued
up the Illinois to the junction of the Kankakee and Eau
Plaine, and thence up the Eau Plaine to where I supposed
we had to make a portage to Chicago River; but I could not
see any signs of the portage. There had been heavy rains for
several days, which had so raised the streams that they over-
flowed their banks. I concluded that I had gone far enough
for the portage, so I left the Eau Plaine and took a north-east
direction. After traveling a few miles, I found the current
of the Chicago River. The ahole country was inundated; I
found not less than two feet of water all the nay across the
portage.
That night I arrived at Chicago, pitched my tent on the
bank of the Lake, and went to tlie Port for provisions. I was
not, howcver, able to obtain any; the commissary informing me
that the public stores were 80 reduced, that the garrison mere
subsisting on half rations, and he knew not when they would
get any more. I went to Col. BEAUBIEN, who furnished me
with a small supply. I found two traders there from Macki-
naw; and as my men were all sick, I exchanged my tent and
canoe for a horse, and took passage on board the Mackinaw
boat as far as 2rIanitowoc. One of our party had to go by
land and ride the horse. There were at this timc but two
families residing outside of the Fort at Chicago, those of Mr.
KINZIE and Col. BEAUBIEN.