SOME IMPOETEJ) ARTICLES. 253
head of the procession, ended his weary and tedious discovery-voyage
down the solemn stretches of the great river—La Salle, whose name
will last as long as the river itself shall last. We quote from Mr,
Parkman—
' And now they neared their journey's end. On the sixth of April, the
river divided itself into three broad channels. La Salle followed that of the
west, and D'Autray that of the east; while Tonty took the middle passage*
As he drifted down the turbid current, between the low and marshy shores,
the bracMsh water changed to brine, and the breeze grew fresh with the salt
breath of the sea. Then the broad bosom of the great Gulf opened on his
sight, tossing its restless billows, limitless, voiceless; lonely as when born of
chaos, without a sail, without a sign of life/
Then, on a spot of solid ground, La Salle reared a column ' bearing
the arms of Ecance; the Frenchmen were mustered under arms; and
while the New England Indians and their squaws looked on in
wondering silence, they chanted the Te Deum, the Exaudiat, and the
Domine salvumfac reg&nj
Then, whilst the musketry volleyed and rejoicing shouts burst
forth, the victorious discoverer planted the column, and made pro-
clamation in a loud voice, taking formal possession of the river and
the vast countries watered by it, in the name of the King. The
column bore this inscription—
LOUIS LE GRAND, EOT DE FRANCE ET DE NAVARRE, REGNE; LE
NEUVTEMK AVRIL, 1682.
New Orleans intended to fittingly celebrate, this present year,
the bicentennial anniversary of this illustrious event; but when the
time came, all her energies and surplus money were required in
other directions, for the flood was upon the land then, making havoc
and devastation everywhere.