At the age of 20 in 1618, Jean Nicolet went to Quebec, accompanying his patron and mentor, Samuel de Champlain. Nicolet spent time with Indian tribes, acting as agent and interpreter. He was the first European to see Lake Michigan and Green Bay and to set foot on what was to become Wisconsin. At the time, he believed he had reached Asia and that the Winnebago Indians were Asians. He was told, however, of the great waters to the West: the Mississippi River. Nicolet returned to Trois Riveres to report that he had learned of a sure route to China. Marquette and Joliet later learned that this was not the case.