A colony must be planted at the mouth of the Mississippi, to control its navigation and shut out the Spaniards.2.

A strong fort must be built on the Illinois, to overawe the Indians.
In order to overawe the Indians, La Salle now hurried back to the Illinois River, where, in December, 1682, near the present town of Ottawa, on the summit of a cliff now known as "Starved Rock," he built a stockade which he called Fort St.Louis.In 1684, while on a voyage from France to plant a colony on the Mississippi, he missed the mouth and brought up on the coast of Texas; and, landing on the sands of Matagorda Bay, the colonists built another Fort St.Louis.But death rapidly reduced their numbers, and, in their distress, they parted.

Some remained at the fort and were killed by the Indians.

Others, led by La Salle, started for the Illinois River and reached it; but without their leader, whom they had murdered on the way.
SUMMARY 1.

After the settlement of Quebec (1608) the French began to explore the regions lying to the west, discovered the Great Lakes, and heard of a great river--the Mississippi.
2.