Although Europeans did not visit Southern Ontario in the 16th century, European goods had begun to make its way into the region as early as the late-1500s. During the 17th century, nearly half of Southern Ontario's First Nations population was wiped out from as a result of the transmission of communicable diseases between Europeans and First Nations groups. The population loss, along with the desire to secure furs for trade, saw the Iroquois Confederacy to the south, defeat the Huron inhabitants of the area. Although some Huron refugees fled the area, the majority were absorbed and eventually integrated into the Iroquois. After the Iroquois secured the Toronto area, several Iroquois settlement of the north shore of Lake Ontario were established. The Seneca (one of the five Iroquois nations), established two settlements in present-day Toronto, "Teiaiagon", near the Humber River, and "Ganatsekwyagon" near the Rouge River. The two communities provided the Iroquois control of the north–south passage in Toronto. Roman Catholic missionaries visited the two settlements in the 1660s and 1670s. However, by 1687, the two settlements were abandoned by the Seneca.