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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 The Publication Committee of the Caxton Club certifies that this copy is one of an edition of two hundred and sixty-six copies on hand-made paper, and three copies on Japanese vellum; that the printing was done from type which has been distribu^'d; and that the presswork was completed in the month of November, mdcccxcviii. RELATION OF THE DISCOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPI RIVER FROM THE NARRATIVE OF NICOLAS DE LA SALLE Relation of the Discovery of the Mississipi River Written from t\i^ Narrative of "t^iQohk^ DE La Salle, otherwise known as the little M. de La Salle THE TRANSLATION DONE BY MELVILLE B. ANDERSON CHICAGO THE CAXTON CLUB 1898 (1 . / US 177118 COPYRIGHT BY THE CAXTON CLUB, EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND NINETY-EIGHT TRANSLATOR'S NOTE ,HK^^°T', "^'"'f '^" narrative evidently adhered closely to the rough jottings of ^-iitde^ Nicolas who although a clerk anf presumably (like Chaucer's "hende Nicolas") fiandy with the pen, was perhaps no great stylist. L this ranslation but one deliberate departure from the original has been ventured upon. The?™ determinate pronoun .«, which is used through- put and which makes the whole narrative mpersonal, has been rendered throughoufby the more sympathetic pronoun we. This has been done because the continual repeti^n of /% would have involved the whole narrative °n a confusion which does not exist in the orirind Ine French text here reprinted is tha? of ten^^t^'T '^^°"^ '^^ unsigned notes the ,KK • °'' fe"^ "°'^' ^'^ distinguished by the abbreviation Tr. The marginaf notes and dates have been supplied by the translator. M. B. A. asfew-ii-n i I, ir^^^^^i'^'^^mm wmm ■■■Vi NARRATIVE OF NICOLAS DE LA SALLE Recit de Nicolas de La Salle' 1682. Relation de la descouverte que M. de La Salle a faite de la rivihre de Mississipi en 1682^ et de son retourjusquh ^'ebec. DE Qu6bec ^ Montreal, soixante lieues, et une isle form^e par la rividre de Saint-Laurent et celle des Outaouas, qui vient du nord-ouest ; celle du Saint-Laurent vient du lac des Hurons, et mesme de plus loing. De Montreal au fort de Frontenac, soi- xante lieues. II y a cinq portages. Le plus grand est d'une lieue. Le fort de Fron- tenac ' Ce Nicolas de La Salle est le meme que celui qui remplit les fonctions de Commissaire dans le premier etablissetnent de la Louisiane, de 1701 a 1709. II n'avait pas de lien de parente avec le chef de I'entre- prise, et etait fils, si je ne me trompe, d'un Premier Commis de la Marine, devenu en 1687 Commissaire general des galeres. L'auteur du rccueil manuscrit d'oii ce recit a ete extrait a mis en tete cette note: " J'ai ecrit cette rela- tion en 1685 j elle me fut donnee par le jeune de La Salle." iP\ Narrative of Nicolas de La Salle* 1682. Relation of the Discovery of the Mississipi River by M. de La Salle in 1682^ and of his Return to ^ebec. FROM Quebec to Montreal, sixty leagues, and an island formed by the River St. Lawrence and the Ottawa, which comes from the northwest; the St. Lawrence comes from the lake of the Hurons, and even from beyond. From Montreal to Fort Frontenac, sixty leagues. There are five portages. The longest is of one league. Fort Frontenac is a square with four bastions, the distance from ""This Nicolas de La Salle is he who served as Commissary in the first settlement of Louisiana, from 1 70 1 to 1709. He had no tie of relationship with the head of the enterprise and was, if I am not mistaken, the son of a Chief Clerk of the Marine, who became in 1687 Commissary General of the galleys. The author of the manuscript collection from which this narrative is drawn, prefixed the following note: ^' I wrote thiJ . '! Le lendemain, ^ sept lieues de 1^, sur la rive gauche, en descendant le Mississipi, on trouva un village nomm€ Tamaroa. Les habitants estoient allez ^ la chasse. — Les Fran9ois laissdrent des couteaux et de la rassade pendus ^ une perche pour faire con- noistre k ces Sauvages que leurs amis avoient pass6 par iSi. On fut cabaner k deux lieues plus loing sur la rive droite. On y resta deux jours. On y tua sept bceufs, quatre chevreuils et qiiantit6 de poules d'Inde, cygnes et outardes. Le pays est beau. Sur le bord de la rividre il y avoit des noyers, pruniers, chesnes, Arables, ou le pays a de petits costeaux de temps en temps et une grande herbe fine comme celle de nos prez. II y faisoit un peu froid, mais il n'y avoit ny neige ny glace. Le troisiesme jour on alia cabaner envi- ron ^ dix lieues de \\ dans un pays fort plat qui noyoit dans les desbordemens. Le lendemain on alia cabaner sur la rive gauche. En cet endroit la riviere est fort estroite, estant resserr^e entre deux mon- tagnes, et dans le milieu il y a un gros rocher qui forme une isle. — On s6journa la trois jours pour chasser. Le pays est plein de h\ i *{ rive fort tion- ros Ha la lein de Narrative o/* Nicolas de La Salle. The next day, at a distance of seven leagues farther down, we found on the left bank a village named Tamaroa. The in- habitants had gone away hunting. — The French left knives and glass beads fastened to a pole to inform these Savages that their friends had passed that way. We encamped two leagues farther down, on the right bank, remaining there two days. We killed seven bullocks, four deer, and a number of turkeys, swans, and bustards. The country is fine. Along the river there were walnut- trees, plum-trees, oaks, maples; again there is open rolling country covered with tall fine grass like that of our fields. It was somewhat cold, but there was neither snow nor ice. The third day we encamped about ten leagues farther down, in a very flat coun- try subject to overflow. The next day we encamped on the left bank. Here the river is very narrow, being shut in between two mountains, and in the middle is a great rock forming an island. — We remained here three days in order to hunt. The country is rocky, but in the interior there is a fine country. The fourth day we departed and en- camped on the left, about fourteen leagues below. — During this whole day the river was shut in on the right and on the left by mountains II Winter of 1682. A letter to the Tamaroas. The river shut in between mountains. "*:< f t. t %ja 12 Recit de Nicolas de La Salle. U I Hiver de de rochers, mais dans les terres c'est un beau '^^*- pays. Le quatriesme jour on partit et on fut cabaner ^ gauche, \ environ quatorze lieues de 1^. — Pendant tout ce jour la rividre estoit bord6e ^ droite et ^ gauche de montagnes, il y avoit sur le bord de la rividre quantity de Cannes. Le lendemain, aprds avoir fait onze lieues, le soir, ^ une heure de soleil, on rencontra k gauche I'embouchure de la rividre de Saint-Louis ou de Ouabache, ou bien de Chicagoua. Cette riviire qui vient du pays des Iroquois avoit fait croire qu*en la suivant, on pourroit trouver un passage pour la Chine. On fit encore une lieue et on cabana \ droite, vis-k-vis I'embouchure de Ouabache. Les Cicaca ou Chicacha sont au sud de cette rividre, assez loing de son embouchure. Le pays oit on cabana estoit plat et remply de grands bois, comme ormes et autres sem- blables. Le lendemain, aprds avoir fait six lieues, on vit sur la gauche des costeaux qui s'6le- voient en s'esloignant de la rividre. Cette terre est rouge, ce qui paroissoit par les ravines de ces costeaux. On alia cabaner \ cinq lieues de 1^, \ gauche, aprds avoir pass6 deux isles; la premidre a une lieue de long et ■^ Narrative o/* Nicolas de La Salle. 13 mountains, and upon the banks were quan- Winter of titles of cane. ci^Ji i The next day after making eleven leagues, in the afternoon, within an hour of sunset, , we discovered on the left the mouth of the St. Louis River, or the Wabash, or perhaps the Chicago. Of this river, which comes jf^ passage from the country of the Iroquois, the belief bad to China been held that, by following it, a passage to J-^ ^qi,'{ China might be discovered. We made an- juvtr. other league and encamped on the right, opposite the mouth of the Wabash. The Chickasaws are south of this river, some distance from its mouth. The coun- try where we encamped was low and wooded with great trees, as elms and the like. The next day, having made six leagues, we saw on the left hills running back from the river. This soil is red, as appeared from the ravines in these hills. We en- camped five leagues farther down, on the left, after having passed two islands: the islands. first a league in length and a quarter of a league in width; the second a league in circumference; the country the same as before. The next day, the wind being favorable, we made twenty leagues, in order to find a higher country for hunting. We en- camped on the left, at a place where the river r n r f . . hi' II) I'f H Recit de Nicolas de La Salle. Hiver de et un quart de large, la seconde a une l^'eue '^^*- de tour; pays comme le pr6c6dent. OO^V) Le lendemain, pour trouver un pays haut pour la chasse, on fit vingt lieues, parce que le vent estoit favorable. On cabana ^ la gauche, dans un endroit oCi la rividre fait une grande anse et devant une isle qui a une lieue de long et trois quarts de large. On s6journa un jour ^ cause de la pluye et du vent contraire. Faute de vivres, il fallut jeusner. Le second jour, le beau temps venu, on partit, et aprds avoir fait sept lieues, le canot de M. de Tonty creva en passant sur un arbre qui estoit dans I'eau et que Ton ne voyoit pas, tant I'eau est trouble. Aprds avoir raccommod6 le canot, on continua la route, et aprds avoir fait cinq lieues, tous- jours des costeaux k sa gauche, on cabana. — Les Loups alldrent a la chasse, et appor- tferent sept chevreuils qui firent grand bien. II y avoit quinze jours que Ton jeusnait faute de vivres. Le lendemain les Fran9ois alldrent ^ la chasse avec les Loups. Un Fran9ois, nomm6 Prudhomme, armurier, s'escarta. On le chercha pendant dix jours, et enfin on le vit revenir sur la rividre, sur un morceau de bois qu'il avoit pouss6 au large. II n'avoit point mang6 pendant ces dix jours. M. de La Salle fit faire une redoute ■ I K^i Narrative of Nicolas de La Salle. i 5 on 1901s Un trier, ours, sur : au ces une oute river makes a great bend, and over against an island a league in length and three- quarters of a league in width. On account of rain and a head wind, we stayed there a day. For want of provisions, we were compelled to fast. On the second day, the fine weather having returned, we set out, and, when we had made seven leagues, M. de Tonty's canoe was staved in by a tree in the water, which was so turbid that the obstacle was not seen. The canoe having been repaired, we continued on our way, always with hills on the left, and, having made five leagues more, we encamped. — The Wolf Indians went hunting and returned with seven deer, which did us much good. For want of provisions, we had been fasting for a fort- night. On the following day the French- men went hunting with the Wolf Indians. A Frenchman named Prudhomme, an armorer, got lost. For ten days search was made for him, and he was finally found floating down the river upon a piece of wood which he had pushed into the stream. During these ten days he had eaten noth- ing. M. de La Salle had a block house built for security while searching for this Frenchman. He named it Fort Prud- homme. While on the search we discov- ered the footprints of Savages, beaten paths, and Winter of 1683. Tonty strikes a snag. Prud. hammers adventure. ««■ 1 6 Recit de Nicolas de La Salle. Mi; % w w Hiverde rcdoute de bois pour se mettre en seuret6 1682. lorsque Ton cherchoit ce Fran9ois. II nomma ce fort le fort Prudhomme. En le cherchant on descouvrit des pistes de Sau- vages, des chemins battus et mesme une cabane de Sauvages qui s'enfuirent. Un jour, le sieur Barbier en amena deux. lis dirent qu'ils estoient Chicacha. On leur fit des pr^sens. Le lendemain, M. de Tonty alia cabaner k dix lieues de 1^, ^ I'embouchure d'une petite rividre que les Chicacha appellent Chicacha. M. de La Salle, avec les Loups, estoit demeur6 pour chasser. lis tu^rent dix-huit chevreuils, et le lendemain il vint joindre M. de Tonty, qui avoit veu, proche la petite rividre, des costeaux pleins d'arbres, comme lauriers, meuriers et chesnes. Le lendemain, tous ensemble furent ca- baner ^ douze lieues de 1^, ^ la droite. II y a des costeaux. On s^journa un jour ensemble pour chasser. On tua un ours fort puissant. Un des deux Chicacha voulut demeurer avec les Fran9ois, quoyqu'on luy dist qu'il pouvoit s'en aller. On avoit ren- voy6 I'autre vers ses gens, aussitost aprds sa prise, avec des pr6sens, pour s9avoir si le Fran9ois esgar6 n'estoit point avec eux, et le Chicacha ne revint point. Mais I'autre, qui Narrative o/* Nicolas de La Salle. 17 and even a lodge from which the Savages Winter of took flight. One day the Sieur Barbier '^**- brought in two who said they were Chick- ^^^^^ asaws. We made them presents. The next day M. de Tonty went ten ^^^ leagues farther down, encamping at the cbuka- mouth of a small river which the Chick- '"""* asaws call Chickasaw. M. de La Salle, with the Wolf Indians, had remained to hunt. They killed eighteen deer; the fol- lowing day he rejoined M. de Tonty, who had seen, near the little river, hills covered with trees such as laurel, mulberry, and oak. The next day all encamped together twelve leagues farther down on the right. Here there are hills. We remained a day in order to hunt, and killed a mighty bear. One of the two Chickasaws wished to jsmt- remain with the Frenchmen, although he hearted was told that he was free to go away. The ^^'/^^'^ other one had been sent back with presents to his people, soon after his capture, to find out whether the lost Frenchman was not with them, and had not returned. But this one who was a little, elderly man, and very resolute, wished to follow the Frenchmen. The next day we encamped eight leagues far<^ber down on the right. This country is subject to overflow. On the next day, after having made six leagues. ^S 1"» I 'I ;*1 MK i ;■( i n I 'J *«' 1 i8 Mars, 1682. Recit de Nicolas de La Salle. qui estoit un petit homme assez ag6, fort r6solu, voulut suivre les Fran9ois. Le lendemain, on fut cabaner a huit lieues sur la droite. Ce pays est noy6 dans les desbordemens. Le lendemain, aprds avoir fait six lieues, d'une grande brume, on entendit des cris sur la droite. Le Chicacha dit que c'estoit un village d'Akansa sur le bord de la rividre. M. de La Salle alia sur I'autre coste de la rividre pour se retrancher en cas d'attaque. Les Akansa creurent que c'estoient leurs en- nemis. lis envoydrent dehors leurs femmes et enfans. Dans ce temps la brume cessa, et un canot des Akansa vint aux Fran- 9ois k la portee de la flesche. lis en tirerent une. Si on leur en eust tire aussi, c'estoit signe qu'on demandoit la guerre; mais voyant qu'on ne leur en tiroit point, ils I'alldrent dire a leur village et que c'estoient des gens de paix. Le chef envoya un autre canot avec six hommes et le calumet. lis entrdrent dans le retranchement et present- 6rent k fumer a M. de La Salle et ^ tous les autres, et lirent signe qu'on allast a leur vil- lage. On fut fort bien receu. Ils firent festin. Le lendemain ils danserent le calu- met. Pour danser le calumet, ils viennent tous sur la place, principalement les guerriers, et les chefs mettent des perches tout autour comme Narrative o/' Nicolas de La Salle. leagues, we heard shouts upon the right. The Chickasaw said that it was a village of Akansas on the bank of the river. M. de La Salle landed on the opposite bank to entrench himself for fear of attack. The Akansas, thinking their enemies were upon them, sent away their women and children. Meanwhile the fog lifted, and an Akansa canoe came within bow-shot of the French- men. They shot an arrow. Had the shot been returned, it would have been a signal that we meant war; but, seeing that we did not shoot, they went back to their village and reported us to be men of peace. The chief sent a second canoe with six men and the calumet. They entered the entrench- ment and offered the calumet to M. de La Salle and to all the others, and made signs that we should go to their village. We were well received and feasted. The fol- lowing day they danced the calumet. In order to dance the calumet they all come intO/ the place, especially the warriors, and the chiefs set poles all about, as for drying linen, and upon them display what they intend to give. They brought two calumets adorned with plumage of all colors, and red stones full of tobacco. — These were given to the chiefs, who were in the middle of the place. These chiefs and the warriors have gourds full of pebbles and two drums, which 19 March, 1682. The alarm of the Akansas, t I The Calumet Dance. \^U 20 Mars, 1682. Recti de Nicolas de La Salle. comme quand on veut faire s6cher du linge, arrangent dessus tout ce qu'ils veulent don- ner. lis apportdrent deux calumets de plu- mage de toutes couleurs et des pierres rouges pleines de tabac. — On les donna aux chefs qui estoient au milieu de la place. Ces chefs et les guerriers ont des gourdes pleines de cailloux et deux tambours. Ce sont des pots de terre couverts d'une peau pass6e. Les premiers commencerent une chanson qu'ils accompagnerent du carillon de leurs gourdes. Ceux-la ayant fini, d'autres re- commenc^rent la mesme chose, puis ceux qui ont fait de belles actions vont frapper avec un casse-teste un poteau plant6 au milieu de la place. Et ayant conte leurs prouesses, ils donndrent des presens a M. de La Salle pour qui ils faisoient la feste. Si quelqu'un en frappant disoit des menteries, celuy qui le s9auroit iroit avec une peau essuyer le poteau, et diroit qu'il essuye la menterie. Pendant cela, les chefs fument dans le calumet et le font porter a tout le monde Jl la ronde pour y fumer. M. de La Salle receut cinquante ou soixante peaux de bceufs. Les Fran9ois, excepte M. de La Salle, alldrent frapper au poteau, et contdrent ieurs prouesses, et firent leurs presens de ce que Iv < Narrative of Nicolas de La Salle. 2 1 ii LS le ide^ ;alle de La jrent [e ce que March, 1682. '•VXJ which are earthen pots covered with dressed skin. The first hegan a song accompanied by the chime of their gourds. These hav- ing ended, others struck up the same thing; then those who have done brave deeds go to a post set in the midst of the place and smite it with their tomahawks. And, after relating their gallant achievements, they gave presents to M. de La Salle, for whom they made the festival. If anyone striking the post told lying stories, he who knew it would go to the post and wipe it with a Ug„ ^^^ skin, saying that he was wiping away the Akansas ijg discouraged Meanwhile the chiefs are smoking the calumet and are having it carried to every- one in succession to smoke. M. de La Salle received fifty or sixty oxhides. The Frenchmen, with the exception of M. de La Salle, also struck the post, related their valorous deeds, and made gifts from that which M. de La Salle had given them for that purpose. The Akansas said that they had four vil- lages, and showed by signs where they were. We found among them an Illinois slave, who served as interpreter. He told us they ere called Akansa. They go quite nude, like all the other nations. They made gifts to the French of maize, of beans, and of a quantity of dried fruits, such as medlars. 22 Recit de Nicolas de La Salle. ,1 ord ir le lient leux liez. lis Narrative o/* Nicolas de La Salle. medlars, plums, and raisins for beverage. They make a drink by crushing these raisins in water. We stayed among them three days. We set up the king's arms, singing the TV Deum, and discharging three volleys of musketry. These are good folk who were willing to do anything for the French. The country is good, somewhat high, abounding in great trees, such as the elm, the peach, the plum, the mulberry, and others of unknown names. It was in the month of March that this took place; a sweet breath was in the air; the peach trees were in bloom. The fourth day we departed. The Akansas escorted us to the water's edge, passing their hands over our bodies. This is their caress, signifying that we should take courage. They gave us two of their men to guide us to their allies. They did not molest the Chickasaws,* though these two nations are at war. We made about eight leagues and saw an Akansa village on the left. They were all away hunting. We made six leagues more and reached the river named Akansa. Here is another Akansa village, where we encamped. They gave *Only one Chickasaw has been mentioned as accompanying the party. — Tr. 23 March, 1682. Kindness of the Akansas. 'U; Their caresses. PS i vl! The second Akansa village. ii -«^■».^■ y.»i«aiy»w"T»M»« i .«wt *« ' r .. * V%Mv« a^^^A^^ ■v,i I U 24 Mars, 1682. Recit de Nicolas de La Salle. lis ne firent point de mal aux Chicacha, quoyque ces deux nations ayent guerre. On fit environ huit lieues, et sur la gauche on trouva '"> village d'Akansa. lis estoient tous ^ la chasse. On fit encore six lieues, et on arriva ^ la riviere qui se nomme Akansa. II y a encore un village d'Akansa, on y coucha. lis receurent fort bien les Fran9ois, les pridrent de rester pour danser le ca'iumet; mais on les remercia, et on partit le lendemain de bon matin. Le lendemain, on ne fit que quatre lieues ^ cause d'un grand vent de sud qui obligea de cabaner k la gauche, en un endroit qui noye. II y avoit quantity de petits trem- bles. Le vent cessa, et sur les six heures du soir on partit au clair de la lune.. A la pointe du jour on avoit fait dix lieues. On se reposa jusqu'Jl environ dix heures dans une isle longue d'une lieue et large de demi-lieue, terrain qui noye et qui a de petits arbres trembles. On partit sur les dix heures du matin. Apres avoir fait en- viron sept lieues, on cabana sur les six heures du soir dans une tres-belle isle plate, longue de deux lieues et large de demi-lieue, pleine de meuriers, l^uriers et autres grands bois. On fit un abbatis de bois autour de soy, crainte de surprise par les Sauvages. Le lendemain, on partit a cinq heures du matin. '■A Narrative of Nicolas de La Salle. 25 en- jures igue leine Ibois. soy, :sdu Latin. gave the Frenchmen a good reception, beg- March, gingthem to remain to dance the calumet; '68*' but we thanked them and set forth early ^^^»^' the next morning. That day we made only four leagues, because of a strong south wind which forced us to encamp on the left upon bottom land, where there were many small aspens. The wind fell and, at about six o'clock in the evening, we set forward by moonlight. 2V» By daybreak we had made ten leagues, leagues by We rested until about ten o'clock upon an """"^'i^*- island a league in length and half a league in width, subject to overflow and covered with small aspens. About ten in the morn- ing we set forth again. After having made about seven leagues, we encamped at about six in the evening upon a fine level island, two leagues in length and a half-league in width, covered with mulberry-trees, laurels, and other large trees. We made an abatis of wood around us, for fear of surprise by the Savages. The next day we set out at five in the morning. After making about five leagues, we killed two deer which were crossing the river. W^e landed, skinned them, then, reembarking, made four leagues more. The two Akansas wished us to take the left j^^ny branch (at this point the river forms three large very large islands) in order to make war '"''"'^^■ upon 1 i! ''i\ \ t .fmuf'vmmt,^ i6 Recti de Nicolas de La Salle. \ \ I Mars, 1682. l»i matin. Aprds environ cinq lieues, on tua deux chevreuils qui passdrent la rividre. On mit pied ^ terre. On les escorcha, puis, ayant rembarqu6, on fit encore quatre lieues. Les deux Akansa vouloient qu'on prist sur la gauche (la rividre fait 1^ trois fort grandes isles) pour aller faire la guerre aux Tonica, leurs ennemis, qui y ont un village. Mais M. de La Salle ne voulut point aller par ce cost6, ne voulant point de guerre avec qui que ce soit. — Les deux Akansa dirent que sur cette branche gauche du Mississipi, il y avoit encore d'autres nations. On fit en- core quatre lieues ce mesme jour sur la branche droite du Mississipi. On cabana sur le bord des costeaux, a gauche. On ne put aller ^ la chasse, le pays estant noye entre la rividre et les costeaux. Le lendemain, ayant fait six lieues, la riviere toujours bord6e de grands arbres, quoyque ce pays noye, M. de La Salle tua un cocodrille [sic). On le mangea, et ^ sept lieues de 1^, on fut cabaner. On fit festin avec le cocodrille, qui sembla fort bon. On estoit cabane dans une isle pareille ^ la prec6dente. On y fit aussi un abbatis de bois. La riviere serpente fort en cet endroit, de sorte qu'on estoit fort peu es- loigne du lieu d'oCi Ton estoit parti. Le ; . H' '} I '\ ♦;.va la res, tua t a fit ort iUe atis cet es- Le Narrative of Nicolas de La Salle. 27 upon their enemies, the Tonicas, who have March, a village there. But M. de La Salle vi^ould -ifj^ not go that way, not wishing to have war ^'^^'^ with anyone whatever. — The two Akansas told us that upon this left branch of the Mississipi there were still other nations. That same day we made four leagues more on the right branch of the Missis- sipi. We encamped on the side of the bluffs, on the left. We could not go hunt- ing, the country being overflowed between the river and the blufl?s. The following day when we had made six leagues, — the river being constantly bordered with large trees, although the country is subject to inundation, — M. de La Salle killed an alligator.* We ate it, ^y^^j, encamping seven leagues farther on. We upon ain- made a feast upon the alligator, which i"*'"'-^''^*' tasted very good. Our camp was upon an island like the preceding one, and again we made an abatis of wood. Here the river winds so much that we were not far from the place whence we had started. The next day, after making eight leagues, we killed an alligator. We put it into a boat; then, after making six leagues, we encamped at a bend upon the right. The '''I do not attempt to render the metathesis of the author, who writes cocodrille. — Tr. li MS \\ i ) \\ i a8 Mars, 1682. V 1 ' Recit de Nicolas de La Salle. Le lendemain, aprds huit lieues, on tua un cocodrille (sic). On Tembarqua, puis aprds encore six lieues, on cabana dans une anse, sur la droite. Les Akansa dirent qu'il y avoit 1^ une nation de leurs alliez nommez les Tinsa. Dans cette anse, il y a un petit ruisseau qui a communication avec un lac qui en est esloign^ peut estre d'un quart de lieue. Ce lac a la figure du croissant. Le village des Tinsa est sur ce lac. M. de La Salle y envoya trois Fran9ois avec les Akansa. lis furent bien receus. — Le chef du village envoya vingt canots avec des vivres, comme mahis et fruits sees, du sel. II y avoit aussi des figures d'hommes, de boeufs, de cerfs, de cocodrilles et de poules d'Inde, faites d'une paste avec des fruits. On leur demanda s'ils avoient des eaux salees, ils montrdrent le soleil cou- chant, et qu'il falloit aller de ce costd-R. On leur demanda si en descendant la ri- viere on trouveroit Teau sal6e, ils respondi- rent en tournant la teste, faisant entendre qu'ils n'en s9avoient rien, n'y ayant jamais est6. Ils firent aussi entendre qu'il y avoit de meschantes nations qui mangeroient les Fran9ois. Quatre Loups eurent peur et restdrent en ce village, et les deux Akansa s'en retourndrent chez eux. M. de La Salle n'alla point au village. Plusieurs d'entre Il . , Narrative of Nicolas de La Salle. 29 The Akansas informed us that there was here a nation allied to them named the Tinsas. In this bend there is a small stream, the outlet of a lake which is at a distance of perhaps a quarter of a league. This lake is crescent-shaped and on it is the Tinsa village. M. de La Salle sent with the Akansas three Frenchmen, who were well received. — The chief of the vil- lage sent twenty canoes with victuals, such as maize, dried fruits, and salt. There were also figures of men, cattle, deer, alligators, and turkeys, made of fruit pulp. They were asked if there was salt water; they pointed to the setting sun and said one must go in that direction. Being asked whether salt water could not be reached by going down the river, they replied by shak- ing the head, meaning that they knew nothing of the matter, having never been there. They also gave us to understand that there were bad tribes, who would devour the Frenchmen. Four Wolf Indians took fright and remained in this village, the two Akansas returning home. M. de La Salle did not go to the village. Some of them had pearls, but small ones, around the neck and in the ears. M. de Tonty bargained for about a dozen of these. He bought also a little slave, who cost him two knives and a small kettle. A chief of the village March, 1682. The Tinsa village. The mouth of the river unknown to the Tinsas. Tontfs pearls. •» \. y :il mmmmmtm «p HI V t > 30 Redt de Nicolas de La Salle. Mars, 1682. d'entre eux avoient des perles, mais petites, au col et aux oreilles. M. de Tonty en traita environ une douzaine. II acheta aussi un petit esclave qui lui cousta deux couteaux et une petite chaudi^re. Un chef de village fit present ^ un Loup d'un esclave qu'il avoit pris en guerre. Le Loup lui donna une chaudidre. lis estoient tous les deux Coroa. Enfin on partit. On trouva un grand courant dans la rividre. A la pointe de I'anse, le pays estoit plein de beaux grands arbres. On battit une isle pour chercher des chevreuils, on n'en trouva point; et, aprds encore trois lieues, on cabana dans une isle longue d'une lieue et large de trois quarts. On fit un abbatis crainte de sur- prise, parce qu'on avoit veu de la fum^c. Le lendemain on battit I'isle, et on ne trouva rien. — Les costez de la rividre comme cy-devant. — On s'embarqua. Aprds avoir fait trois lieues, on vit un canot qui traver- soit la rividre pour gagner son village, qui estoit ^ gauche. Comme on nageoit de force pour I'attraper, on se trouva dans un lieu oCi il y avoit des Sauvages qui pes- choient. lis estoient environ deux cents, avoient tous leurs flesches et leurs casse- teste en main. lis firent le sacacayou, la hu6e. On traversa de I'autre bord. M. de Tonty ne ime ivoir iver- qui it de IS un pes- tents, ;asse- ju, la [. de lonty Narrative of Nicolas de La Salle. 3 1 village presented a Wolf Indian with a March, slave, whom he had taken in war. The ,1??^ . Wolf gave him a kettle. Both these slaves ^^^*^ were Coroas. At length we departed. We found a strong current in the river. At the extrem- ity of the bend the country was covered with fine large trees. We scoured an island for deer, but found none ; and, after making three leagues more, we encamped on an island a league in length and three-fourths PrecauthHs of a league in width. We made an abatis ^1"'"^' err • t- • I surprise. tor rear or surprise, having seen smoke. '^ The next day we scoured the island, find- ing nothing. — The banks of the river as before. — We embarked and, having made three leagues, saw a canoe crossing the river fhe to reach a village on the left. Pushing on Naubez. to overtake it, we found ourselves in a place where there were Savages fishing. They were about two hundred, with arrows and tomahawks in hand. They gave the saca- cayoUy the war-cry. We crossed to the other side. M. de Tonty went to them with five men bearing the calumet of peace. He smoked with them and made peace, and they rubbed him in sign of friendship. They sent a canoe to invite M. de La Salle to their village, promising that they would give provisions. M. de Tonty returned; we crossed to their side and encamped where i mm «p 32 Mars, i68z. ' ■* 111 . t U^f/V ^i^ Nicolas de La Salle. Tonty alia ^ eux avec cinq hommes et le calumet de paix. II fuma avec eux et fit la paix, et ils le frottdrent en signe d'amiti^. lis envoydrent un canot prier M. de La Salle d'aller Jl leur village, avec promesse qu'ils donneroient des vivres. M. de Tonty revint. On traversa de leur cost6, et on y cabana oCi ils peschoient. M. de La Salle alia, luy huitiesme, a leur village, ^ trois lieues de la riviere, sur des costeaux. II y demeura trois jours, le chef luy faisant en- tendre qu'il avoit envoys querir d'autres chefs pour luy parler. M. de Tonty voy- ant que M. de La Salle ne revenoit point, au bout de deux jours, envoya huit Fran- 9ois le chercher. lis revinrent tous sans parler ^ ces chefs, qui n'estoient pas encore venus. On demeura encore deux jours. lis envoy drent un peu de bled d'Inde. II ne paroist pas y avoir grande chasse en ces quartiers. Les Loups cependant firent deux canots d'escorce d'orme, les leurs estant usez. Cette nation s'appeloit les Natch6. On nous dit que plus loin nous trouverions les Coroa. Le cinquiesme jour on partit avec quatre Natch6. Aprds huit lieues on arriva au village des Coroa, ^ gauche, situ6 sur le penchant d'une montagne qui vient tomber au Narrative of Nicolas de La Salle. 33 uatre a au ur le iber au where they were fishing. M. de La Salle went with seven of his men to their village, which was three leagues from the river upon the hills. There he remained for three days, the chief giving him to understand that he had sent for other chiefs to talk with him. Seeing that M. de La Salle did not return at the end of two days, M. de Tonty sent eight Frenchmen to seek him. They all returned without an interview with these chiefs, who had not yet arrived. We remained two days longer. They sent a little Indian corn. There seems to be no large game in these regions. During this time the Wolf Indians made two canoes of elm-bark, their others being worn out. This nation was named the Natchez. We were told that w ; should find the Coroas farther on. On the fifth day we set out with four Natchez. After making eight leagues we came to the Coroa village on the left, situated on the side of a mountain which slopes down to the bank of the river. We went to the village, where they received us well and made a feast. A number of Nat- chez had come there by land. At this village we remained two days. — A fine roll- ing prairie country. The lodges are dome- shaped, supported from ground to roof with great reeds. They are fifteen feet high, windowless. March, i68z. Their temporiz- ing policy. The Coroa village. Coroa arthitet- tun. «Hn mmmm JT 34 Recit de Nicolas de La Salle. F: Mars, au bord de la rividre; on fut au village. 1682. Qjj £m \yisxi receu. On y fit festin. Plu- ^^^^ sieurs Natch6 y estoient venus par terre. On resta deux jours a ce village. — Beau pays, belles prairies, petits costeaux. Les cabanes sont faites en ddme, avec de grandes Cannes qui les soustiennent depuis la terre jusqu'au haut. Elles sont hautes de quinze pieds, n'ont point de fenestres, mais une porte carr6e haute de quatre pieds dans chaque cabane. lis ont toute la nuit un flambeau allum6. II est fait de cannes liees ensemble. — Je crois, dit le petit M. de La Salle, que les Tinsa, les Natch6 et les Coroa ont les mesmes manidres, mais leur langage est difF<§rent. Les gens sont bons, hospi- taliers aux estrangers, mais cruels \ leurs ennemis. lis ont des couvertures qui res- semblent \ des hamacs de coton. lis s'en couvrent pour ceinture; ils ont un cordon qui a deux grandes houppes aux bouts. Les couvertures et cordons sont extremement blancs. lis ont aussi des couvertures de peaux de chevreuil. Ils parent leurs ca- banes avec de grands ronds de cuivre fort reluisant, faits comme des couvercles de niarmites. Ils ont des perles, dont je tro- quois quatorze pour un petit meschant peigne de buis, dit le petit M. de La Salle. Le troisiesme jour on partit. Le petit esclave 1: Narrative of Nicolas de La Salle. 35 windowless, but with a square door four March, feet in height in every lodge. At night '^^** there is in each a lighted torch, made of ^^^'^^ canes tied together. — I think, says little ohstrva- M. de La Salle, that the Tinsas, the Nat- tions of chez, and the Coroas have the same customs, J^/^ but their languages are different. The peo- ple are kind, hospitable to strangers, but cruel to their enemies. They have cover- lets resembling cotton hammocks. With these they cover themselves about the waist, fastening them with a cord which has two great tassels at the ends. These coverlets and cords are extremely white. They have also deer-skin coverlets. They adorn their lodges with great round plates of shining copper, made like pot covers. They have pearls, fourteen of which, says little M. de La Salle, I secured in exchange for a paltry little comb of boxwood. On the third day we departed. M. de Tonty's little slave deserted. He was, like the other, a Coroa, but the Wolf Indian led his slave home to his country. We encamped at a distance of five leagues — white soil. The next day, after making thirteen leagues, we encamped upon overflowed land. We cut reeds or canes to raise our- , , ^ , , , A platform selves above the water; on our way we tamp. killed a deer upon an island a league in length and half a league in width; a number I^^^HP miKmsmmm immn 36 [I i I 't %4l Mars, 1682. Recit de Nicolas de La Salle. esclave de M. de Tonty d6serta. II estoit Coroa aussi bien que I'autre, mais le Loup mena le sien en son pays. On alia cabaner apr^ cinq lieues; terre blanche. Le lendemain, on fiit, aprds avoir fait treize lieues, cabaner en pays noy6. C'est pourquoy on coupa des roseaux ou Cannes pour se lever de I'eau ; k moiti6 chemin on tua un chevreuil dans une isle longue d'une lieue et large d'une demy-lieue; plusieurs autres chevreuils se sauvdrent ^ la nage. — Le lendemain on fit encore treize lieues, et on cabana dans un endroit oCi le pays estoit beau. II y a des costeaux. II y a appa- rence que ces costeaux sont. . . Le lendemain, aprds neuf lieues, on ca- bana ^ la droite, en pays plat, plein de grands bois; de I'autre cost6, il y a des montagnes. L' esclave du Loup dit que Ton estoit alors vis-2l-vis des Ouma, mais M. de La Salle n'y alia point. Le lende- main on fit lieues, et on cabana en pays noy6 ^ la rive droite; ^ la gauche il I'cstoit encore davantage. On abattit des Cannes pour s' Clever de I'eau. Ce jour, on rencontra une isle pleine de grands bois, longue de deux lieues et large d'une demi- lieue; plusieurs autres isles rondes d'une lieue et demie de tour. Le I ca- i de 1 des que mais nde- ana eil des on ois, mi- *une Lc Narrative of Nicolas de La Salle. 37 number of other deer escaped by swim- ming. — The next day we again made thir- teen leagues, encamping in a place where the country was fine. There are hills which are apparently * * * The next day, after making nine leagues, we encamped on the right in a flat country full of great trees; on the other side there are mountains. The slave of the Wolf Indian said that we were opposite the Oumas, but M . de La Salle did not go to them. The next day we made .... leagues, and encamped in an overflowed country on the right bank; on the left it was still more flooded. We cut canes to raise ourselves above water. This day we passed an island two leagues in length and a half-league in width, and covered with great trees. There are several round islands a league and a half in circumference. The next day, after making six leagues, we encamped upon flooded land. The next day, after making two leagues, we stopped at the foot of blufis, while the Wolf Indians searched for roots to dress the foot of the Sieur Barbier. That day we made nine leagues, encamping on the left, a little below the mouth of a river which we saw very plainly on the right, and which ap- peared to come from the west. At its mouth it is a half league in width; at a distance March, 1682. The Oumas. Another platform. A great river com- ingfrom the West. \\\ if mm 38 t Mars, 1682. f Recti de Nicolas de La Salle. Le lendemain, aprds six lieues, on cabana en pays noy6. Le lendemain, aprds avoir fait deux lieues, on s'arresta k des costeaux, et les Loups cherchdrent des racines pour panser le pied au sieur Barbier. On fit ce jour encore neuf lieues; puis on cabana ^ gauche, un peu au-dessous de 1' embouchure d'une rividre, sur la droite fort claire, qui paraissoit venir de Touest. A son embou- chure elle est large de demy-lieue; au loin un voyoit dedans comme des isles. Le lendemain, aprds dix lieues, on fut cabaner ^ la gauche. Cette journ6e on ne vit quf* des arbres. Le lendemain on fit douze lie;^^. A moitid chemin on vit des montagnes sur la gauche et une rividre qui en sortoit; on la nomma la rividre aux Risques; on cabana en pays noyd ^ I'ordi- naire. Le lendemain, aprds cinq lieues, on len- contra neuf canots amarez ^ terre sur la droite. II n'y avoit personne; mais les pistes estoient toutes fraisches. On attendit k une heure; n'ayant point de nouvelles de ces Sauvages, on fit encore une lieue; puis on vit des Sauvages qui peschoient i. la droite. lis s'enfuirent a leur village, aban- donnant leur pesche et un panier oil il y avoit dedans un poisson, un pied d'homme et la main d'un enfant, le tout boucane. On 3 111 Narrative of Nicolas de La Salle. 39 3ana Lvoir aux, pour it ce .na 2i :hure , qui ibou- i loin n fut on ne on fit rit des re qui e aux I'ordi- ri len- sur la lis les tendit les de puis k la aban- ily lomme lucane. On distance we saw what looked like islands in it. The next day, after making ten leagues, we encamped on the left. On that day we saw nothing but trees. The following day we made twelve leagues. Midway we saw mountains on the left and a river issu- ing from them; we called it the Aux Risques; we encamped in a country usually overflowed. The next day, after making five leagues, we found nine canoes moored to the bank upon the right. No one was to be seen, but the tracks were still fresh. We waited there an hour; hearing nothing of these Savages we went on for a league, when we saw Savages on the right engaged in fishing. They fled to their village, abandoning their fishing and leaving a basket containing a fish, a man's foot, and a child's hand, all smoke-dried. We landed and sent them a Frenchman and a Wolf to tell them that we came in peace; but they shot arrows, desiring war. We reembarked, and had made a league and a half, when we saw on the left another village, and near it many eagles and crows. We went to the village and saw only the carcasses of men, and ruined lodges. Some were still entire, but filled with dead bodies. The canoes were all broken up; they seemed to have been cut with April, 1682. A river breaking through the bluffs on the East, Gruesome contents of a basket. A sacked village. i/ 40 Avril, 1682. il I Kecit de Nicolas de La Salle. On descendit ^ terre; on leur envoya un Fran9ois et un Loup leur dire qu'on venoit en paix; mais ils tiroient des flesches, vou- lant la guerre. On se rembarqua et on fit une lieue et demie. On vit sur la gauche un autre village; on vit proche quantity d'aig^es et de corbeaux. On alia au village et on ne vit que carcasses d'hommes et ca- banes ruin6es. II y en avoit quelques-unes entidres, mais pleines de corps morts. Les canots estoient tous brisez. lis paroissoient coupez avec de tr^s-bonnes baches. Le pays commen9oit k se noyer. On se rem- barqua aprds avoir fait encore deux lieues ou environ. On cabana sur la gauche; on fit un abbatis d'arbres et de Cannes, crainte de surprise. On s6journa R un jour ^ cause de la pluye continuelle. C'estoit sur la fin de la semaine, vers le 15 Avril 1682. Le deuxiesme jour on partit, et, apr^s sept lieues, on cabana en pays noy6. II faut que ce pays ne noye pas longtemps, car oCi il noye on y voit des lauriers, des ormes et des meuriers, sur lesquels il y avoit desj^ des meures vertes. Le lendemain, aprds trois lieues, on vit de loing comme de grandes prairies. Estant proche, on vit le pays noy6 plein de ro- seaux, les arbres esloignez de la rividre et le bord lu Narrative of Nicolas de La Salle. 41 Ion vit )stant le ro- et le bord April, 1682. ^^^v\^ Continual the water. with very good axes. The country was beginning to be overflowed. We reem- barked, after having made two more leagues, or thereabouts.* We encamped on the left, making an abatis of trees and canes to guard against surprise. We remained here a day, on account of the continual rain. This was near the end of the week, about the rain, 15th of April, 1682. The second day we went on, making seven leagues and encamping in a flooded country. This country cannot remain flood- ed long, as we saw in the midst of the water yy.^^^ laurels, elms, and mulberry-trees on which growing in there were already green mulberries. The next day, having made three leagues, we saw from a distance what looked like great prairies. Coming near, we saw the flooded land to be covered with reeds, the trees at a distance from the river, the bank of which was somewhat high. After travel- ing three leagues farther we found a little cluster of aspens, where we encamped. Some Frenchmen climbed trees and said they saw in the distance a great bay. M. de La Salle went with two others to see whether it was the ocean. On his return he '"The last clause probably belongs to the following sentence. The date below should evidently be the 5th instead of the 15th. — Tr. First view of the sea. mf^^l^^^^ 42 Avril, 1682. Recti de Nicolas de La Salle. bord de la rividre un peu 6lev6. Aprds encore trois lieues on trouva un petit bou- quet de bois de trembles; on y cabana. Quelques Fran9ois montdrent sur les arbres et dirent qu'ils voyoient de loing une grande baye. M . de La Salle alia, luy troisiesme, pour voir si c'estoit la mer. A son retour il dit qu'il avoit trouv6 I'eau saumastre. II y avoit une quantity de tourlourous' qui se fichent en terre. Le lendemain, aprds avoir fait environ trois lieues, on trouva que la rividre faisoit trois branches. On prit le canal du milieu, et ayant fait une lieue, I'eau montoit, et il y avoit mar6e d' environ deux pieds; on eschoua le long de la terre sur un gros arbre que I'eau y avoit amen6, qui estoit arrests 1^; on ne put cabaner en ce lieu, tout estant couvert d'eau. II n'y avoit que des herbes fort hautes ; on remonta et on descendit par le canal de la branche droite; on cabana vis-^-vis une isle i gauche. On tua dans cette isle quantity de corbeaux blancs, de herons rouges et d'autres qui ont les pieds de canards, le bee long, le col court, et sur le dos du duvet com me de la soye; ils per- chent sur les arbres. Le lendemain, M. de La Salle envoya M. de Tonty par la branche gauche, et luy de- scendit I Espece de crabes. m^^i m Narrative of Nicolas de La Salle. 43 Apr^ t bou- ibana. arbres rrande iesme, retour re. II s* qui inviron faisoit milieu, it, et il ds; on 3S arbre arrests t estant herbes dit par cabana a dans |ncs, de s pieds et sur ils per- [oya M. lluy de- scendit he said he had found the water brackish. There were numbers of land-crabs, which burrow in the ground. The next day, having made about three leagues, we found that the river formed three branches. We took the middle chan- nel and, after we had gone about a league, the water rose, and there was a tide of about two feet; near the shore we ran upon a big tree which had Hoated down and stuck there; we could not encamp here, all being covered with water. There was nothing but very high grass; we went back and de- scended the channel of the right branch, encamping opposite an island on the left. On this island we killed a number of white crows, red herons, and others having duck's feet, a long bill, a short neck, and a silky down on the back; they roost upon trees. The next day, M. de La Salle sent M. de Tonty by the left branch, and him- self with ten men descended the right, where we had encamped. They started at about eight in the morning. About five in the afternoon M. de La Salle returned, say- ing that he had found the mouth of the river, which river ran far out into the sea, making an embankment on each side; that he had carried his canoe over the right embankment, and that the water, which does April, 1682. The Delta. An unknown bird. La Salle reaches the mouth of the right branch. ^m^mmm mam l\ r I ^ 44 Avril, 1682. Recit de Nicolas de La Salle. scendit avec dix hommes la droite, oCi on estoit caban6. lis partirent sur les huit heures du matin. M. de La Salle revint sur les cinq heures du soir, disant qu'il avoit trouv6 I'embouchure de la rividre, 1 quelle rividre s'avan9oit beaucoup en mei, faisant de chaque cost^ une chauss6e; qu'il avoit port6 son canot de I'autre cost6 de la chauss6e droite, et disoit que I'eau, qui ne communique pas avec la rividre, estoit saumastre. Quoyque les six hommes dissent d'abord le contraire, ils dirent aprds que cela estoit vray. Estant Ik, il alia dans une petite isle, ^ une lieue de la chauss6e. Ils trouv6rent dans cette isle un cancre, une coquiP d'huistre qu'ils apportdrent au camp a' de I'eau sal6e qu'ils avoient trouv^e dan. cette isle dans une mare. M. de Tonty re- vint le lendemain matin ^ neuf heures. II dit que cette branche gauche se deschar- geoit dans une grande mer, k sept lieues, oCl ils avoient veu une isle qui paroissoit cou- verte de grands bois. Ils ne peurent y aller k cause du grand vent. lis beurent de I'eau; elle estoit douce et bourbeuse et pleine de cocodrilles ou de caymans. M. de Tonty fut aussi par le canal du milieu; on re- monta la rividre et on alia cabaner k quatre lieues E. , oCi on es huit ; revint It qu'il ifere, 1 sn mei, e; qu'il ,i€ de la , qui ne ;, estoit d'abord la estoit 5tite isle, ouvdrent coquir mp a^ y6e dauw fonty re- ures. II deschar- ieues, oCi soit cou- it y aller deVeau; }leine de e Tonty on re- 2i quatre lieues Narrative of Nicolas de La Salle. 45 April, 1682. does not communicate with the river, was brackish. Although at first the six* men said the contrary, they afterwards said that this was true. While there, he went to a small island at a distance of a league from the embankment. In this island they found a crab, an oyster-shell which they brought to camp, and salt water which they found in a pond in this island. M. de Tonty returned the following morning at nine o'clock. He said that this left branch emptied into an open sea at a distance of seven leagues, whence they had seen an island which seemed to be covered with great trees. They could not go to it on account of the high wind. They drank of the water; it was fresh and muddy, and full of alligators or cayman^. M. de Tonty went through the middle channel also; we reascended the river and encamped at a distance of four leagues on the left, going up. There were small trees here; we made an abatis for the purpose of set- ting up the arms of the King. — The next The King's day M. de Tonty returned, saying that the arms set up. middle channel emptied into a great sea of fresh water. We hewed a tree, making a stake, which was planted, and to it we fas- tened * Ten is the number given above. — Tr. 46 Avril, 1682. Recti de Nicolas de La Salle. lieues sur la gauche en remontant. II y a avoit Ik de petits arbres; on fit un abbatis pour y planter les armes du Roy. — Le len- demain, M. de Tonty revint. II dit que ce canal du milieu se deschargeoit dans une grande mer d'eau douce. On esquarit un arbre dont on fit un poteau qu'on planta, et on y attacha les armes du Roy, faites du cuivre d'une chaudidre. On planta aussy une croix ei: on enterra dessous une plaque de plomb, oCl il y avoit ces mots escrits: "Au nom de Louis XIV, Roy de France et de Na- varre, le 9 Avril 1682, on chanta le Vexilla regis au plantement de la croix, puis le Te Deum et Ton fit trois descharges des fusils. Les vivres manquoient et on n'avoit par jour qu'une poign^e de mahis." RETOUR EN REMONTANT LA RIVlfeRE MISSISSIPI. Le lendemain 10 Avril 1682, on alia cabaner k quatre lieues en pays noy6. II I'estoit plus qu'Si I'ordinaire k cause du d6- gel du nord. — Ayant navigu6 sept jours, on arriva au village destruit; on y cabana. Les Loups virent un canot k Tautre rive de la riviere, qui a une demi-lieue de large en cet endroit. On y alia; on vit un chemin fraye et quatre hommes cabanez k terre sous un % LE. . II y a n abbatis — Le len- lit que ce dans une quarit un anta, eton du cuivre une croix de plomb, "Au nom 2t de Na- i le Vexilla puis le Te 5 des fusils. I'avoit par Narrjtive of Nicolas de La Salle. 47 April, 1682. [ISSISSIPI. 2, on alia J noye. H ause du d6- jpt jours, on y cabana, lutre rive de de large en un chemin 5i terre sous un tened the King's arms, made of the copper of a kettle. We planted a cross also, and buried beneath it a leaden tablet inscribed ^^^'^ with these words: " In the name of Louis XIV., King of France and of Navarre, the 9th of April, 1682." At the planting of the cross, the Vexilla Regis was sung, then the Te Deum, and there were three dis- charges of musketry. Provisions were lacking, and we had only a handful of maize each day.* RETURN BY ASCENDING THE MISSISSIPI RIVER. On the next day, the loth of April, 1682, we encamped four leagues above in a flooded country. It was the more so on account of the thaw northward. — After voyaging seven days, we arrived at the ruined village, where we encamped. The Wolf Indians saw a canoe on the other side of the river, which is there half a league wide. We went thither, and found a beaten path, and four persons lodged on the ground under a great tree. The next day all the Frenchmen went over, resolved to * The last two sentences, obviously a part of the narrative, are in Margry's French text included in the quotation marks, as if a part of the inscription. — Tr. m liSjfr-. ^!^ f 48 Avril, 1682. Recit de Nicolas de La Salle. un gros arbre. Le lendemain, tous les Fran9ois y furent, r^solus de se battre pour avoir des vivres. On trouva \^ quatre femmes nues commc la main; on les mena au village destruit, oCl on retourna; elles firent entendre que c'estoit les Oiiiria et Chigi- lousa qui avoient destruit ce village. Elles dirent qu'il n'y avoit point de village oCi on les avoit prises. On partit le mesme jour, et avec ces quatre femmes on alia camper oCi on avoit trouv6 en descendant ces Sau- vages qui tirdrent des fldches, mais de I'autre bord de la rividre. Quelque temps aprds il vint de ces Sauvages a la port6e de la fldche, tesmoignant qu'ils vouloient la guerre. M. de La Salle alia a eux dans un canot avec un calumet de paix. Mais ils n'en- tendoient point cela. On mit ^ terre, de leur cost6, deux de ces quatre femmes, et on leur donna deux haches et deux cou- teaux pour porter k ces Sauvages; aiors ils envoydrent deux ostages. M. de La Salle leur en envoya aussi deux. On alia cabaner de leur cost6, et ils envoy- drent un peu de bled d'Inde, mais par leurs guerriers. Les deux Fran9ois ostages revin- rent le soir et dirent que ces Sauvages avoient ferm^ toutes leurs cabanes, danse, pris le calumet, puis leurs bonnets et che- mises, LE. tous les tre pour L quatre mena au les firent t Chigi- ;. Elles ge oCi on me jour, L camper ces Sau- ie I'autre )S aprds il la fldche, ;rre. un canot ils n'en- terre, de mmes, et leux cou- aiors ils ussi deux, s envoy- par leurs yes revin- Sauvages s, danse, s et che- mises, Narrative of Nicolas de La Salle. 49 to fight in order to obtain food. We found there four women naked as your hand; we returned with them to the ruined village; they made us understand that it was the Oumas and the Chigilousas who had de- stroyed this village. They said that there was no village where they had been cap- tured. The same day we departed, and, with these four women, we landed opposite the spot where we had met, as we de- scended, the Savages who discharged the arrows. A short time after, some of these Savager came within bow-shot, indicating that t'ley desired war. M. de La Salle went to them in a canoe with a calumet of peace. But they did not understand that. We put ashore on their side two of the four women, giving them two axes and two knives to carry to these Savages; then they sent two host- ages, M. de La Salle also sent them two. We went to encamp on their side, and they sent a little Indian corn, but by their war- riors. The two French hostages ref ned at evening, and said that the Savages had shut up all their lodges, danced, taken the calumet, then their caps and shirts, — for they gave each one the scalp of a man and a dress made of cords and of the down of the turkey. — They drank of a beverage April, 1682. Four women with nothing to wear. The Sluin- ipisias do not under- stand the calumet. The war- dance. V so Recti de Nicolas de La Salle. i Avril, mises, pourquoy ils donndrent chacun une 1682. chevelure d'homme et une robe faite de ^^'^ cordes et de duvet de poules d'Inde. — lis beurent d'un breuvage qui est une espdce de th6. — Ces Sauvages se nomment les Quenipisa ou Cenepisa. Ils ont beaucoup de peaux de chevreuil. On renvoya les deux autres femmes chez elles. La nuit, ces Sauvages, environ trois cents, attaqud- rent les Fran9ois par terre et avec neuf canots. Ils tirdrent toute la nuit des fleches. Les Franfois y respondirent a coups de fusil, ce qui les empeschoit d'approcher. Le jour venu, ils s'enfuirent tous, laissant leurs peaux et canots dans les bois, sur un petit ruisseau. On trouva deux Sauvages tuez. Les Fran9ois leur enlevdrent la cheve- lure et plant^rent les testes sur des pieux en cet endroit. Les Loups vouloient manger ces corps; mais ils prirent seulement les coeurs qu'ils firent s^cher pour montrer en leur pays qu'ils avoient tu6 des hommes, et, selon leur coustume quand ils ont remporte une victoire, ils tuerent leurs chiens et en firent festin. On partit de 1^ sur les huit heures du matin; on fit cinq lieues, et, ne pouvant cabaner a terre, le pays estant inonde, on coucha dans les canots. Aprds six jours de navigation, pendant lesquels on ne mangeoit que des peaux de boeuf, faute de LLE. acun une faite de nde. — lis ne espdce ment les beaucoup nvoya les La nuit, attaqud- Lvec neuf 2s fleches. coups de pprocher. s, laissant is, sur un Sauvages la cheve- pieux en t manger ment les antrer en mmes, et, remporte ns et en les huit es, et, ne ys estant Aprds squels on uf, faute de Narrative of Nicolas de La Salle. 51 beverage which is a kind of tea. — These April, Savages are called the Quenipisa or Cene- ^^^^' pisa. They have much buckskin. We ^^»^ sent to them the two other women. That night these Savages, to the number of three hundred, attacked the French by land ?nd y^^ „{ y^ with nine canoes. They shot arrows all attack. night long. The French replied with gun- shots, which prevented them from coming near. Daylight being come, they all took flight, leaving their skins and boats in a little stream in the woods. We found two Sav- ages killed. The French scalped them and set their heads upon stakes at this place. The Wolf Indians desired to eat the bodies; but they took only the hearts, which they dried, in order to show in their country that they had killed men, and, according to their custom when they have gained a victory, they killed their dogs and made a feast upon them. We started thence at about eight o'clock in the morning; we made five leagues, and, being unable to camp upon land, the country being flooded, we slept in the boats. After six days of subsisting travel, during which we ate nothing but fir six oxhides, for want of victuals, we came ^^y^^P"" to the blufl^s and encamped at the Aux Risques river. We expected to have good fishing there, but caught nothing. The Wolf Indians killed two bears, three bucks, and ■•B. ~ — _.. ^^P" 11 i •l-n . f"'. l^f": ( ■ 52 Mai, 1682. !^ f jRff/V ^/(? Nicolas de La Salle. de vivres, on rencontra des costeaux et on cabana ^ la rividre aux Risques. On croyoit faire bonne pesche; mais on ne prit rien. Les Loups tudrent deux ours, trois che- vreuils et deux poules d'Inde. On resta la deux jours. Le troisiesme on partit. Aprds avoir fait cinq lieues, on tua un cocodrille, que Ton mangea de bon appetit, quoyque la chair de cet animal sente le muse. Aprds cinq jours de navigation, on trouva la grande rividre qui vient de I'ouest; on la nomma le fleuve Seignelay. On cabana a droite, au-dessous de I'embouchure de cette riviere. On tua deux caimans. Les meures commen9oient a estre bonnes. Aprds sept jours de navigation, on arriva aux Koroa; on cabana et on nettoya ses armes, crainte d'en avoir besoin. Les Fran9ois estoient tres-foibles. Le lendemain, entre sept et huit heures, on arriva au pied de leurs cos- teaux, oCi il y a un grand chemin battu. Le chef de la nation estoit sur le bord de I'eau avec trois de ses hommes. II fit mille caresses a M. de La Salle. Pendant quel- que temps on refusa la farine qu'ils pr^sen- toient pour leur faire croire qu'on n'en avoit pas besoin; mais la faim obligea a en prendre. lis avoient prepare un festi*^ dans la X et on I croyoit rit rien. ois che- resta la &s avoir ille, que lyque la in trouva St; on la cabana ^ de cette !S meures pres sept : Koroa; s, crainte estoient sept et eurs cos- in battu. : bord de fit mille mt quel- s pr6sen- on n'en igea a en ;sti-" dans la Narrative of Nicolas de La Salle. and two turkeys. We remained there two days. The third day we set out. After making five leagues we killed an alligator, which we ate with good appetite, although the flesh of this animal has a musky flavor. After five days* travel we reached the great river coming from the West; we called it the Seignelay. We encamped on the right, below the mouth of this river. We killed two caymans. The mulberries were beginning to be good. After seven days' travel, we reached the Coroas; we encamped and cleaned our arms, for fear of needing them. The Frenchmen were very weak. The next day, between seven and eight o'clock, we reached the part of their bluffs where there is a great beaten road. The chief of the nation was at the water's edge, with three of his men. He gave M. de La Salle a thousand caresses. For some time we refused the flour which they offered, in order to make them think we had no need of it ; but hunger compelled us to accept it. They had prepared a feast in the public place of their village; it is square, and as large as the place in front of the Palais Royal at Paris. At their instance we went and seated ourselves upon mats. This place is smooth and level; they hold here all their games and dances. They set before 53 May, 1682. The Seignelay River. The Coroas. Their pre- tended hospitality. «tp % 54 Mai, 1682. m Kb In 1< 11 1/' 11 ' If Recti de Nicolas de La Salle. la place de leur village; elle est quarr6e et grande comme la place de devant le Palais- Royal, \ Paris. A leurs instances on y alia; on s'assit sur des nattes. Cette place est unie et plate; ils y font tous leurs jeux et danses. lis pr^sentdrent force mahis ac- commode de plusieurs fa9ons. Ils ne pa- roissoient qu' environ cinquante ou soixante hommes et six ou sept femmes. Aprds avoir \ moiti^ mange, on se vit tout a coup entour€ d' environ deux mille hommes bar- bouillez de rouge et de noir, le casse-t6te en main avec Tare et les fldches. lis pa- roissoient avoir mauvais dessein. lis de- mandoient ce que les Fran9ois avoient veu dans leur voyage. L'esclave Coroa, que le Loup avoit achet6 aux Taensa, leur dit tout et que Ton avoit tue des Quinipisa, leurs alliez ; on leur en donna les chevelures. lis creurent que les Fran9ois estoient immor- tels. M. de Tonty dit qu'il falloit se re- tirer; mais M. de La Salle vouloit coucher Ik. On mangeoit le fusil et la hache prds de soy. — Le chef conseilla d'aller chez les Natche, disant que cette jeunesse avoit mauvais dessein. Les Coroa ont tous la teste plate; leurs meres la leur aplatissent aussitost qu'ils sont nez. On prit les vivres que Ton avoit laissez Ik en descendant et on alia aux Natch6. On passa par un petit ruisseau irr6e et Palais- s on y te place irs jeux ahis ac- ne pa- soixante Apr^s t a coup nes bar- :asse-t6te lis pa- lls de- )ient veu a, que le r dit tout isa, leurs jres. lis immor- )it se re- coucher le prds de chez les sse avoit tous la platissent ies vivres indant et un petit ruisseau Narrative of Nicolas df La Salle. before us much maize, prepared in several manners. There appeared only some fifty or sixty men and six or seven women. After having half eaten, we saw ourselves suddenly surrounded by some two thousand men bedaubed with red and black, armed with bows and arrows, and tomahawks in hand. They seemed to have an ill design. They inquired v/hat the Frenchmen had seen upon their journey. The Coroa slave whom the Wolf had bought of the Taen- sas, told them all, — how we had killed two of the Quinipisas, their allies; the scalps were given th.m. They believed the Frenchmen to be immortal. M. de Tonty said that we must retire; but M. de La Salle wished to sleep there. We ate with gun and hatchet at hand. — The chief ad- vised us to go on to the Natchez, saying that these young warriors had an ill design. All the Coroas have flat heads ; their mothers flatten their heads as soon as they are born. We took the provisions which we had left there as we descended, and went on to the Natchez. We passed through a small channel made by the river, and so short- ened the way by six leagues. We en- camped opposite the Natchez, on the other side of the river. We saw no one; we feared lest they were in ambush. We made cries ss May, 1682. Their treachery. La Salle and his men saved by the ttvo ^inipisa scalps. The Natchez passed in safety. I fi 56 Juin, 1682. Recit de Nicolas de La Salle. ruisseau que la rividre fait, ce qui abr^gea le chemin de six lieues. On cabana vis-^- vis les Natch6, de I'autre cost6 de la rivifere. On ne vit personne; on craignit qu'ils ne fussent en embuscade. On fit des cris de ces Sauvages que Ton auroit tuez. Le lendemain, aprds trois lieues, on ren- contra sur la rividre un Taensa sur un mor- ceau de bois sur un cajeu. II dit que lorsque les Coroas estoient embarrassez a tendre des embusches aux Fran9ois, il s'es- toit sauve, il y avoit trois jours, et que, croyant estre plus haut que son village, il se laissoit deriver. Le premier jour de juin 1682, on arriva aux Taensa; M. de La Salle envoya quatre Fran9ois, dont le petit La Salle estoit un, ramener ce Taensa. Estant proche, il chanta; c'estoit la nuit, deux vieillards vin- rent avec des flambeaux sur le bord du lac, pour voir ce que c'estoit. lis mendrent les Fran9ois \ la cabane du chef. Le petit La Salle dit que ce chef estoit au coin de la cabane sur une estrade, sur une natte aussi bien travaill6e que ces paniers d'osier que font les Religieuses en France; qu'il avoit veu dans cette cabane une vieille espee \ I'Espagnole et trois vieux fusils. Le chef fit raconter a.ux Fran9ois leur voyage; il tesmoigna E. abr^gea a vis-2i- rivi^re. u'ils ne cris de on ren- Lin mor- dit que rassez a J, il s'es- et que, illage, il on arriva ^a quatre jstoit un, roche, il ards vin- d du lac, idrent les Le petit J coin de jne natte ;rs d' osier ce; qu'il lille espee Le chef Dyage ; il tesmoigna Narrative of Nicolas de La Salle. 57 cries like those Savages whom we would have killed.* The next day, when we had made three leagues, we met upon the river a Taensa floating upon a piece of wood called a cajeu. He said that when the Coroas were preoccupied with laying an ambush for the French, three days before, he had escaped, and that, thinking himself above his village, he was letting himself float down. The first day of June, 1682, we arrived among the Taensas; M. de La Salle sent four Frenchmen, of whom the little La Salle was one, to conduct this Taensa home. Having come near, he sang; it was night, and two old men came with torches to the shore of the lake to see what it was. They led the Frenchmen to the chief's lodge. Little La Salle said that the chief was on a platform in a corner of the lodge, seated upon a mat as well wrought as those willow paniers made by the nuns in France; that he had seen in this lodge an old Spanish sword and three old muskets. The chief made the Frenchmen describe their jour- ney, and showed pleasure in learning that men *This sentence seems to mean: "We raised the war-whoop in imitation of the Indians with whom we had fought." — Tr. June, i68z. The lone Taensa. Little La Salle's description of Taensa state and decorum. I f ■r I -if ■. f ■I ! :■ 58 Juin, 1682. Ricit de Nicolas de La Salle. tesmoigna de la joye d'apprendre qu'on avoit tu6 des hommes. Tous ceux qui en- troient dans la cabane saluoient le chef, levant leurs mains par-dessus leur teste et disant: "Hou! Hou! Hou!" Le chef respondoit: "Negoudez! Negoudez!" On fit manger les Fran9ois et on leur donna des nattes pour se coucher. Ces gens sont fort s6rieux et fort respectueux envers leur chef. lis portdrent le canot des Fran9ois dans leur temple et le chef fit porter des raffraischissements aux autres Fran9ois. M. de La Salle envoya le lendemain un canot avec cinq Fran9ois nous qu6rir. Nous nous promenasmes par toutes les cabanes du vil- lage, et c'estoit ^ qui nous feroit plus de caresses et de vivres et des grandes mannes pour les mettre, c'estoit du mahis et des fruits. Ce village a une lieue de long le long du lac. Le temple, la cabane et sept ou huit cabanes des anciens sont entourez de pieux et font une espdce de fort; sur les pieux, il y a des testes d' hommes plant6es, le temple est fait en d6me, la porte pein- tur^e de rouge, gard^e jour et nuit par deux hommes. Un des Fran9ois y entra presque malgr6 les gardes, dont un le suivit et ' suyoit avec ses mains la terre oCi Ir T 9ois avoit mis les pieds et se fr le corps avec sa main. Le e qu'on qui en- le chef, teste et Le chef z!" On r donna jens sont vers leur Fran9ois DFter des jois. M. un canot Tous nous ;s du vil- : plus de s mannes is et des ; long le le et sept entourez t; sur les plant6es, )rte pein- par deux a presque vit et ^^ r Le Narrative of Nicolas de La Salle. 59 men had been slain. All who entered the June, cabin saluted the chief, raising the hands ,J^^ above the head, and saying : "Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!" The chief replied: "Nay -goo- day ! Nay-goo-day ! " The Frenchmen were provided with food and with mats upon which to lie. These people are very serious and very respectful toward their chief. They bore the Frenchmen's canoe into their tem- ple, and the chief had provisions sent to the other Frenchmen. On the morrow M. de La Salle sent a canoe with five Frenchmen to seek us. We visited all the lodges of the village, and all the people The lake vied in caressing us, and in giving us pro- village. visions of maize and fruits and great ham- pers to contain them. This village lies for a league along the lake. The temple, the 7.^^ lodge, and seven or eight lodges of the Taensa elders, are surrounded with piles, forming "'"P^^- 2l kind of fort ; on the stakes are set human heads; the temple is dome-shaped; the door is covered with paintings in red, and guarded day and night by two men. One of the Frenchmen entered, almost in spite of the guards, one of whom followed him, wiping with his hands the ground where the Frenchman had set foot, and afterwards rubbing his own body with his hand. The Frenchman reported that this temple is oval, thirty feet long, twelve feet wide, inside i i , m I p i 111 dv M il 60 Recti de Nicolas le La Salle. Juln, 1682. Le Fran9ois dit que ce temple est ovale, long de trente pieds, large de douze en dc- ^^^^ dans, orn6 d'ouvrages faits de cannes et tout peint de rouge. Le d6me est convert d'une fort belle natte et les has, de terre. Les bois qui font le faistage sortent dehors par le milieu de deux pieds en croisant les uns sur les autres. Toutes les nuits, il y a de- dans deux flambeaux allumez. Nous vismes que les femmes pr6sentoient leurs enfans au soleil et qu'elles leur frottoient le corps avec leurs mains, qu'elles avoient montrees aussi au soleil. Nous allasmes dire adieu au chef, il fit rendre le canot et donner quantit6 de vivres. II vint voir M. de La Salle accompagne de trente canots, luy apporta tant de vivres qu'il en fallut jeter, les canots estant trop chargez. Des Sauvages balaydrent la terre par oCl leur chef devoit passer. II parla avec M. de La Salle assis sur une natte. M. de La Salle luy donna une vieille robe de chambre de toile peinte et un petit esclave Mosopolea, qu'on avoit eu des Acansa; le chef luy donna sa robe ou couverture, fa9on de CO ton. Le quatriesme jour, on partit et, aprds trois lieues, on fut oblig6 de jeter des vivres pour all6ger les canots. Le lendemain, M. de .E. t ovale, ; en de- 5 et tout rt d'une 5. Les lors par les uns y a de- 5 vismes ifans au rps avec :es aussi if, il fit ; vivres. igne de I vivres nt trop la terre 1 park te. M. obe de esclave nsa; le , fa9on aprds vivres in, M. de Narrative of Nicolas de La Salle. 6i inside measurements, decorated with cane- work, and painted throughout in red. The dome is covered with a very handsome mat, '^nd the lower parts with earth. The pieces forming the ribs of the dome are crossed in the middle at the top, and project some two ^^ feet above the dome. Every night two torches are lighted within. We noticed that the women held up their children to the sun, and that they held their hands up to the sun and then rubbed the bodies of the children. We went to bid adieu to the chief, who caused the canoe to be returned and a quantity of provisions to be given us. He paid a visit to M. de La Salle, accompanied by thirty canoes, and brought such a quan- tity of provisions that it was necessary to throw some of them away, the canoes being overladen. Savages swept the ground where their chief was to pass. He talked with M. de La Salle seated upon a mat. M. de La Salle gave him an old dressing- gown of printed calico and a little Moso- po!ea slave whom he had got from the Akansas; the chief gave him his robe or coverlet of cotton fabric. On the fourth day we departed, and, after making three leagues, were compelled to throw some provisions overboard in order to lighten the canoes. The next day M. de La Salle, June, 1682. A visit of state. Compelled to jettison provisions. \ >i w 'W fc I IP Wi on* K( III u IT i H ill, Li ■l^ ) • I 62 Juin, 1682. i?^«/ urs de \ et un 'Akan- 5 inon- lin qui 'il eust e la ri- ;st6 par s autres , il prit rds six ge des parti le r. Les ran9ois, uerriers lage du int; on et on village chien, aiss6 en >s qui y demeu- ce pays Aprds June, 1682. La Salle, with the best canoe and five men, went on in advance. The other Frenchmen, after six days' travel, met an Akansa and a Taensa who were returning from war. The Akansa embarked with them and, the land being overflowed, showed them a course shorter j^ygrt by twenty leagues than that which they cut. would have been obliged to take had they followed the windings of the river. M. de La Salle, who had taken the ordinary route, arrived after the rest and encamped with them. The next day he again went on in advance. The others arrived in six days at the first Akansa village. M. de La Salle had gone on the day before ; they remained one day. The Akansas made a dog-feast yr^^ in honor of the French, saying that they Akamas were true warriors for having been so far "^^^y^"^' without being killed. On the second day, we went to the middle village on the right bank, going up; they set up a great feast of bear and beef, and showed us a thousand tokens of friendship. On the morrow we reached the third Akansa village, where we partook of an- other great dog-feast. Here we took the baggage, which we had left there on the way down the river, and two of the four Wolf Indians who had remained there, the other n 64 M\ I Juillet, 1682. Recti de Nicolas de La Salle. Aprds cinq jours de navigation, on trouva sur une pointe de sable, au bout d'un baston, un billet qui marquoit que M. de La Salle estoit malade. Au bout de deux jours, on le trouva en- core fort mal. II avoit pens6 mourir. II envoya M. de Tonty devant, luy sixiesme, aux Miamis, chercher des marchandises qu'il avoit cach6es dans le sable. Sept ou huit jours aprds, M. de La Salle partit avec les autres Fran9ois. Aprds cinq lieues, on cabana ^ la droite; on y demeura deux jours. Apres quinze jours de marche, on arriva aux Tamaroa ; on y coucha. lis voulurent danser le calumet, M . de La Salle alia au village, on luy pr^senta une natte pour s'asseoir, on luy donna deux esclaves Panis, une femme et un jeune gar9on; il leur donna deux fusils. Au bout de deux jours, on irriva ^ la ri- vidre des Illinois; on la remonta; on y trouva quantity d'outardes, cygnes et ca- nards qui muoient, on les tuoit ^ coups de baston. On tua ^ coups de fusil quantite de boeufs et de chevreuils et poules d'Inde, II y avoit quinze jours qu'on estoit parti de Tamaroa quand on arriva au fort de Creve- CcBur, sur u;; petit lac nomme Pimiteoui; on — . .i:-.w' ,E. I trouva baston, ^a Salle uva en- rir. II xiesme, landises Sept ou tit avec ;ues, on a deux n arriva )ulurent alia au te pour s Panis, il leur a la ri- ; on y ; et ca- oups de [juantite d'Inde. parti de ; Creve- niteoui ; on Narrative of Nicolas de La Salle. 65 other two not wishing to leave this country July. without having killed men. »682. After voyaging five days we found upon ^'^'^^^'^ a sandspit a note attached to the end of a stick, informing us that M. de La Salle , « /,. was ill. tlf In two days more we found him, still '"''"^' very ill. He had been near dying. He sent M. de Tonty on before with five men to the river of the Miamis to look for goods which he had hidden in the sand. Seven or eight days later, M. de La Salle set out with the other Frenchmen. After niaking five leagues we encamped on the right, and remained there two days. After voyaging a fortnight we reached the Tamaroa village, where we encamped. They wished to dance the calumet ; M. de La Salle went to the village, where they seated him upon a mat, and presented him with two Panis slaves, a woman and a youth; he gave them two guns. In two days we reached the river of the Illinois; as we ascended it we found mul- titudes of bustards, swans, and ducks, which were moulting, and killed them with sticks. We shot a number of cattle, deer, and turkeys. A fortnight after leaving the Tamaroa village, we reached Fort Creve- CoBur, situated upon a small lake named Pimiteoui ; .i,;^«w.«i~ & ■ m m 66 Juillet, 1682. Rea't de Nicolas de La Salle. on trouva tout destruit et la barque brus- l<§e. On alia au village des Illinois, il n'y avoit personne; c'estoit le 15 Juillet 1682. M. de La Salle, ay ant laiss6 au fort de Crdve-Coeur huit Fran9ois', alia par terre au lac des Illinois. De la, en canot aux Miamis ; de la, k Michilimakinak, il y a cent vingt lieues par terre. II renvoya M. de Tonty avec neuf Fran9ois ^ Crdve-Coeur, joindre les autres. M. de La Salle y arriva aussi au bout de quelque temps, fit decamper les Fran9ois et les mena vis-a-vis I'endroit oCi estoit le village des Illinois. On y tua quantity de boeufs et de cerfs que Ton fit boucaner pour I'hyver. II fit faire un fort de bois sur un rocher sur le bord de la ri- vidre des Illinois, vis-a-vis de leur village; de I'autre coste de la rividre, il fit semer du mahis. Les Illinois qui avoient este battus par les Iroquois revinrent. M. de La Salle fit faire alliance aux Illinois avec les Mia- mis, les Chaouanons et les Mascoutins, pour se secourir les uns les autres centre les Iro- quois. Apres cela, M. de La Salle partit pour Quebec et France, oCi il mena le petit M. » Du fort de Creve-Coeur aux Miamis, par terre, 100 lieues ; des Maskoutins a Creve-Coeur, 150 lieues ; de Michilimakinak aux Illinois, 120 lieues. hi i. ■■ LE. [ue brus- !s, il n'y et 1682. I fort de par terrc anot aux 1 y a cent a M. de /e-Coeur, i y arriva iecamper Tendroit On y tua e Ton fit e un fort de la ri- r village; semer du ste battus ! La Salle les Mia- itins, pour e les Iro- ille partit la le petit M. , par terre, 1 50 lieues } Narrative of Nicolas de La Salle. 67 Pimiteoui; we found that everything had been destroyed and the bark burned. We went to the Illinois village, — no one was there; it was the 15th of July, 1682. Leaving at Fort Creve-Coeur eight Frenchmen, M. de La Salle went by land to the lake of the Illinois.* Thence in a canoe to the Miami river; thence by land to Michilimakinak it is one hundred and twenty leagues. He sent back M. de Tonty with nine Frenchmen to join the others at CrSve-Coeur. After some time M. de La Salle also returned, made the Frenchmen break camp, and led them opposite the spot where the Illinois village was. We killed a quantity of cattle and deer, which were smoke-dried for the winter. He caused a wooden fort to be built upon a rock on the bank of the Illi- nois river opposite the village ; on the other side of the river he caused maize to be sowed. The Illinois, who had been beaten by the Iroquois, returned. M. de La Salle caused the Illinois to make an alliance with the Miamis, the Shawanoes, and the Mas- coutins, for defence against the Iroquois. After *From Fort Creve-Coeur to the Miami River, by land, 100 leagues; from the Maskoutin village to Creve-Coeur, 150 leagues; from Michilimakinak to the Illinois village, 120 leagues. July. 1682. Rough estimates of distances. A fort built upon a rock. The gathering of the tribes. ■WW" »9I^ 68 Recit de Nicolas de La Salle. Novembre, M. dc La Salle. lis arrivdrent k Quebec 1682. |g j^ Novembre 1682', et k La Rochelle ^^^^ le 17 Janvier 1683*. ill faut lire, sans aucun doute, 1683 et 1684. Le memoire adresse au Roi vers 1720 par I'abbe Jean Cavelier, dit que son frere arrivait a Versailles au mois de Decembre 1683. 1^ ^^^ certain que M. de La Barre, gouverneur de la Nouvelle-France, ne I'avait pas encore vu le 4 Novembre de cette derniere annee, date a laquelle il ecrivait tres-fortement et avec beau- coup de malveillance contre le decouvreur. ) ■> .E. Quebec .ochelle 384. Le bbe Jean s au mois [. de La le I'avait re annee, 'ec beau- Narrative of Nicolas de La Salle. 69 After this, M. de La Salle departed for November. Quebec and France, taking with him the '68*- little M. de La Salle. They reached Quebec ^^^^^^ on the 13th of November, 1682,* and La , Rochelle the 1 7th of January, 1683.* ^"r"'' * We must certainly read 1683 and 1684. The Memorial addressed to the King about 1720 by the Abbe Jean Cavelier, says that his brother arrived at Versailles in the month of December, 1683. It is certain that M. de La Barre, Governor of New France had not yet seen him on the 4th of November of this' last year, at which date he was writing violently and with great malevolence against the discoverer. i i V t PRINTED FOR THE CAXTON CLUB BV R. R. DONNELLEY AND SONS COMPANY AT THE LAKESIDE PRESS CHICAGO ):