IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) A Zc ^ 1.0 l.i I 1^ 12.0 1.8 l>-25 11.4 11.6 V <^ /y % > Phptographic Sciences Corporation \ V ^->^ % V 6^ # V^ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 I >^SiS¥3S-B :«*»isO*i«BS»«3S»3S^3^^aBa(«i**eis«i«- ' f/j ? CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibiiographlcally unique, which may alter any of the Images In the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checlted below. L'Institut a microfilm* le melileur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6t6 possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-Atre uniques du point de vue bibilographlque, qui peuvent modifier u:^o Image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la methods normale de fiimage sont indiqu6s ci-dessous. D D D Coloured covers/ Couverture de couieur Covers damaged/ Couverture endommag^e Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaur^ et/ou pellicul6e Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque □ Coloured maps/ Cartes gtographiques en couieur □ Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couieur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) D n n Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couieur Bound with other material/ Reii* avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La reliure serrde peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge int6rieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajouties lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, iorsque ceia 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont pas At* filmAes. □ Coloured pages/ Pages de couieur I — I Pages damaged/ Pages endommagies Pages restored and/or laminated/ Pages restaur^es et/ou peilicuides Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ Pages d6color6es, tachet^es ou piqudes D □ Pages detached/ Pages ddtachdes □ Showthrough/ Transparence □ Quality of print varies/ Quality in^gale de I'impresslon □ Includes supplementary material/ Comprend du materiel suppl^mentaire D D Only edition available/ Seuie Edition disponible Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been ref limed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partieliement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont 6t6 fiimtes A nouveau de fapon d obtenir la meilleure image possible. i D Additional comments:/ Commentaires supplimentaires: This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est film* au taux de reduction indiqu* ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X L 12X 16X 20X M 24X 26X 30X 28X 32X '6 6tail8 IS du nodifier ir une ilmage es f errata d to It le pelure, ;on d n The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: Library of Congress Photoduplication Service The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol -^ (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: 1 2 3 L'exemplaire filmA fut reproduit grAce A la gAnArositA de: Library of Congress Photoduplication Service Les images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et de la netteti de rexemplaire film6, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est ImprimAe sont film^s en commenpant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la dernidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second plat, salon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont film6s en commengant par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la derniAre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaftra sur la derniAre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbole — ► signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre filmfo d des taux de reduction diff6rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clichA, il est film6 d partir de Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n^cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants lllustrent la m6thode. m^ 1 2 3 4 5 6 ^^^^^^'^'^j^'^i a iiiiMiiti WBi i jfrs ii^a^i^sgit^i^a^a™.i^^^^feM;ins^;l^i^;. m^ ^m- -A? H^-" ■m T*^ffii" ^^v. JOUTEL'S HISTORICAL JOURNAL" OF MONSIEUR DE LA SALLE'S LAST VOYAGE TO DISCOVER THE RIVER MISSISSIPPI. 1 1 i*- - i,.-iff*-i.-^^«.,-^A.>vaK ,-^^f|i-lfM** Wm III8T0RICAI, COLLECTIONS OF LOUISIANA. turen resembling a rat, but as big as a cat, their hair reddish. Our men killed many of them and fed heartily on them, as they did on a good quantity of fmli, wherewith that coast abounds. We embarked again as soon as the two men who had strayed were returned, and on the 8th, being the Feast of the Conception of the Blessed Virgin, sailed in the morning, afler having heard mass, and the wind shifting, were forced to steer several courses. The 9th we discovered Capo Corriontcs, of the island of Cuba, where we were first becalmed, and then followed a stormy wind, which carried us away five leagues to the eastward. The 10th, wo spent the night making several trips. The 11th, the wind coming about, wo wea- thered Cape Corrientes, to make that of St. Antony ; and at length, after plying a considerable time, and sounding, we came to an anchor the 12th, upon good ground, in fifteen fathom water, in the creek formed by that cape, which is in 22° of north latitude, and 288* 35' of longitude. We stayed there only till next day, being the 13th, when the wind seemed to be favorable to enter upon the Bay of Mexico. We made ready ond sailed, steering N. W. and by N. and N. N. W. to wea- ther the said cape,piii) [ prosecute our voyage : but by the time we were five leagues from the place of our departure, we perceived the wind shifted upon us, and not knowing which way the currents sate, we stood E. and by N. and held that course till the 14th, when M. de Beaujeu, who was aboard the Joly, joined us again, and having conferred with M. de la Salle about the winds being contrary, pro- posed to him to return to Cope St. Antony, to which M. de la Salle consented, to avoid giving him any cause to complain^ though there was no great occasion for so doing, and accordingly we went and anchored in the place from whence we came. The next day, being the 15th, M. de la Salle sent some men ashore, to try whether we could fill some casks with water. They brought word, they had found some in the wood which was not much amiss, but that there was no convcniency for rolling of the casks ; for which reason rundlets were sent, and as much water brought in them as filled six or seven of our water casks. The same men reported that they had found a glass bottle, and in it a little wine, or some other liquor, almost dead. This was all the provision we found in that place, by which it appears how much M. Tonty was misinformed, since in his book, page 242, he says, we found in that island several tuns of Spanish wine, good brandy, and s^tin^^^^ ^iirtOT«.i^*tt*i?ijosr»*> ^>i«fi■.''ra»=r5•:TfT..K™«i^s3r:t-a5^-CT^*^- 'A. JOUTEL'b lUBTORrCAI. JOURNAL. reddish. Our m they did on a id strayed were nception of the icard mass, and I. The 9th we vhere we were liich carried us spent the night about, wo wea- and at length, me to an anchor r, in the crcelt e, and 288'=' 35' , when the wind ico. Wo made N. W. to wea- by the time we 'e perceived the le currents sate, I 14th, when M. ftin, and having g contrary, pro- M. de la Salle .in^ though there ly we went and sent some men h water. They h was not much g of the casks ; k'ater brought in ss bottle, and in rhis was all the s how much M. 12, he says, we x)d brandy, and Indian wheat, which the Spaniards had IcA or abandoned ; and it in a more invention, without anything of truth. The Kith, the weather licing still calm, the men went ashore again for five or six more casks of water. I was to have gone with them, had not an indisimsition, which I first felt in the Island of I'ines, and aAcrwanls turned to a tertian ague, prevented mo. Therefore I can give no account of that island, any further than what I could see from tlio ships, which was abundance of that sort of palm-trees in French called latanicrs, fit for nothing but making of brooms, or scarce any other use. That day we saw somo smokes far within the island, and guessed they might be a signal of the number of our ships, or else made by some of the country hunters who had lost their way. The next night preceding the 17th, the wind freshening from the N. W., and starting up all on a sudden, drove the vessel called La Belle upon her anchor, so that she came foul of the bowsprit of the Aimable, carrying away the spritsail-yard and the spritsail-top-saiU yard ; and had not they immediately veered out the cable of the Aimable, the vessel La Belle would have been in danger of pe|[ish> ing, but escaped with the loss of her mizen, which came by the board, and of about a hundred fathoms of cable and an anchor. The 18th, the wind being fresh, wo made ready, and sailed about ten in the morning, stand N. and N. and by VV., and held our course till noon ; the point of Cape St. Anthony bearing east and west with us, and so continued steering north-west, till the I9th at noon, when we found ourselves in the latitude of 22° 58' north, and in 287° 54' longitude. Finding the wind shifting from one side to another, we directed out course several ways, but that which proved advantageous to us was the fair weather, and that was a great help, so that scarce a day passed without taking an observation. The 20th we found the variation of the needle was 5° west, and we were in 26° 40' of north latitude, and 285'' 16' longitude. The 23d it grew very cloudy, which threatened stormy weather, and we prepared to receive it, but came off only with the apprehension, the clouds dispersing several ways, and we continued till the 27th in and about 28" 14', and both by the latitude and estimation it was judged that we were not far from land. The bark called La Belle was sent out to discover and keep be- fore, sounding all the way ; and half an hour before sunset we saw the vessel La Belle put out her colors and lie by for us. Being mii mm '^,?uaT/*'^*«-='='= r-'W™ft::-<^.;«^lVTaiv~' it I 94 HISTOnlCAL COLLECTIONS OF LOUISiANA. come up with her, the master told us he had found an oozy bottom at thirty-two fathom water. At eight of the clock we sounded also, and found forty fathom, and at ten but twenty-five. About midnight. La Belle sounding again, found only seventeen, which being a de- monstration of the nearness of the land, we lay by for the Joly, to know what M. de Beaujeu designed, who being come up, lay by with us. The 27th, M. de Beaujeu sent the Chevalier d'Aire, his lieutenant, and two pilots to M. de la Salle, to conclude upon the course we were to steer, and it was agreed we should stand W. N. W. till we came into six fathom water ; that then we should run west, and when we had discovered the land, boats should be sent to view the country. Matters being thus agreed on, we sailed again, sounding all the way for the more security, and about ten were in ten or eleven fathoms water, the Iwttom fine greyish sand and oozy. At noon, were in 26'=> 37' of north latitude. The 28th, being in eight or nine fathom water, we perceived the bark La Belle, which kept ahead of us, put out her colors, which was the signal of her having discovered something. A sailor was sent up to the main-top, who descried the land, to the N. E., not above six leagues' distance from us, which being told to M. de Beau- jeu, he thought fit to come to an anchor. There being no man among us who had any knowledge of that bay, where we had been told the currents were strong, and sate swiftly to the eastward, it made us suspect that we were fallen off, and that the land we saw must be the Bay of Apalache, which obliged us on the 29th to steer W. N. W., still keeping along the land", and it was agreed that the Joly should follow us in six fathom water. The 30th, the Chevalier d'Aire and the second pilot of the Joly came aboard us to confer and adjust by our reckonings what place we might be in, and ihey all agreed, according to M. de la Salle's opinion, that the currents had set us to the eastward, for which tea- son we held on our course, as we had done the day before, to the N. W., keeping along the shore till the 1st of January, 1685, when we perceived that the currents forced us towards the land, which obliged us to come to an anchor in six fathom water. We had not been there long before the bark La Belle made a sig. nal that she had discovered land, which we descried at about four leagues' distance from us. Notice was given to M. de Beaujeu, who drew near to us, and it was resolved to send some person to discover and take an account of the land that appeared to us. A ^.Ti-*--IV -^i«flfe--3i^-"'^l»'*'^'?**^^****~'->' .T ■■£«=,±-.-i-iff-S Lm^s^^m^i:^,^- ."-^"ig^^ ANA. i an oozy bottom we sounded also, About midnight, vhich boing a de- jy for the Joly, to ne up, lay by with ire, his lieutenant, he course we were . W. till we came vest, and when we view the country, mding all the way or eleven fathoms ; noon, were in 26° we perceived the her colors, which ing. A sailor was , to the N. E., not :old to M. de Beau- knowledge of that e strong, and sate we were fallen off, f Apalache, which keeping along the ff us in six fathom id pilot of the Joly konings what place to M. de la Salle's 'ard, for which tea- ly before, to the N. ,ry, 1685, when we land, which obliged a Belle made a sig- scried at about four M.de Beaujeu, who le person to discover I us. JOUTEL8 HISTORICAL JOUIINAL. 95 Accordingly a boat was manned, and into it went M. de la Salle, the Chevalier d'Aire, and several others ; another boat was also put out, aboard which I went with ten or twelve of our gentlemen, to join M. de la Salle, and the bark La Belle was ordered to follow, always keeping along tiie shore ; to the end that if the wind should rise we might get aboard her, to lose no time. Some of those wiio were in M. de la Salle's boat, and the foremost, went ashore and saw a spacious plain country of much pasture ground, but had not the leisure to make any particular discovery, because, the wind freshening, they were obliged to return to their boat, to come aboard again ; which was the reason why we did not go quite up to the shore, but returned with them to our ship. All that could be taken notice of was a great quantity of wood along the coast. We took an observation, and found 29° 10' of north latitude. The 2d, there arose a fog, which made us lose sight of the Joly. The next day, the weather clearing up, we fired some cannon-shot, and the Joly answered ; and towards the evening we perceived her to the windward of us. We held on our course, making several trips till the 4th, in the evening, when, being in sight and within two leagues of the land, we came to an anchor to expect the Joly, for which we were in pain. The 5th, we set sail, and held on our course, W. S. W., keeping along the shore till about six in the evening, when we stood away to the southward, and anchored at night in six fathom water. The 6th, we would have made ready to sail, but the pilot perceiving that the sea broke astern of us, and that there were some shoals, it was thought proper to continue at anchor till the wind changed, and we accordingly stayed there the 6th and all the 7th. The 8tii, the wind veerinf about, we stood out a little to sea, to avoid those shoals, which are very dangerous, and anchored again a league from thence. Upon advice that the bark La EsUe had discovered a small island, winch appeared between the two points of a bay, M. de la Salle sent a man up to the round-top, from whence both the one and the other were plainly to be seen, and according to the sea charts we had with us, that was supposed to be the bay of the Holy Ghost. The 9th, M. de la Salle sent to view those shoals. Those who went reported there was a sort of bank which runs along the coast ; that they had been in one fathom water, and discovered the little island before mentioned, and as for the sand-bank there is no such thing marked down in the charts. M. de la Salle having examined the ^e& 06 HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OP LOUISIANA. i ' ^ i y reckonings, was confirmed in his opinion that we were in the Bay of Apalache, and caused us to continue the same course. The 10th, he took an observation and found 29° 23' north latitude. The 11th, we were becalmed, and M. de la Salle resolved to go ashore, to endeavor to discover what he was looking for ; but as we were making ready, the pilot began to mutter because five or six of us were going with M. de la Salle, who too lightly altered his de- sign, to avoid giving offence to brutish people. In that particular he committed an irretrievable error ; for it is the opinion of judicious men who, as well as I, saw the rest of that voyage, that the mouth of one of the branches of the Mississippi River, and the same whose latitude M. de la Salle had taken when he travelled to it from Ca* nada, was not far from that place, and that we must of necessity be near the Bay of the Holy Ghost. It was M. de la Salle's design to find that bay, and having found it, he had resolved to have set ashore about thirty men, who were to have followed the coast on the right and left, which would infallibly have discovered to him that fatal river, and have prevented many misfortunes ; but Heaven refused him that success, and even made him regardless of an affair of such consequence, since he was satis, fied with sending thither the pilot, with one of the masters of the bark La Belle, who returned without having seen anything, because a fog happened to rise ; only the master of the bark said he believed there was a river opposite to those shoals, which was very likely ; and yet M. de la Salle took no notice of it, nor made any account of that report. The 12th, the wind being come about, we weighed and directed our course S. W., to get further from the land. By an observation found 25° 50' north latitude, and the wind shifting, and the currents which set from the seaward driving us ashore, it was found conve- nient to anchor in four or five fathom water, where we spent all the night. The 13th, we perceived our water began to fall short, and there- fore it was requisite to go ashore to fill some casks. M. de la Salle proposed it to me to go and see it performed, which I accepted of, with six of our gentlemen who offered their service. We went into the boat, with our arms ; the boat belonging to the bark La Belle fol- lowed ours, with five or six men ; and we all made directly for the land. We were very near the shore when we discovered a nuriber of naked men marching along the bank.s, whom we supposed to be na- *i.„ re in the Bay of I' north latitude. resolved to go for ; but as we ise five or six of altered his de* lat particular he lion of judicious liat the mouth of the same whose id to it from Ca- t of necessity be id having found len, who were to would infallibly prevented many , and even made ice he was satis. } masters of the lything, because said he believed very likely ; and y account of that led and directed y an observation and the currents IAS found conve> ire we spent all short, and there' M. de la Salle sh I accepted of, We went into irk La Belle foK i directly for the ed a nupiber of ipposed to be na* J0UTEL9 IIISTORICAl, JOURNAI,. 07 live savages. We drew witliin two musket shots of the land, and the shoro being flat, the wind setting from the ofTing, and tlie sea running iiigli, dropped our anchors, for fear of staving our boats. When tlie savages perceived we had stopped, they made signs to us with skins, to go to them, sliowed us their bows, whicii they laid down upon the ground, and drew near to the edge of tlio shore ; but because we could not get asiiore, and still they continued their sig- nals, I put my handkerchief on the end of my firelock, after tiie manner of a flag, and made signs to them to come tp us. They were some time considering of it, and at last some of them ran info the water up to their shoulders, till perceiving that the waves over- whelmed them, tliey went out again, fetched a large piece of timber, which they tiirew into tiie sea, placed themselves along botii sides of it, holding fast to it with one arm and swimming with the other ; and in that manner thty drew near to our boat. Being in hopes that M. de ia Salle might get some information from those savages, we made no dilliculty of taking them into our boat, one after another, on each side, to the number of five, and then made signs to the rest to go to the other boat, which they did, and we carried them on board. M. de la Salle was very well pleased to see them, imagininc; they might give him some account of the river he sought after ; but to no purpose, for he spoke to them in several of the languages of the savages, which he knew, and made many signs to them, but still they understood not what we meant, or if they did comprehend any- thing, they made signs that they knew nothing of what he asked ; so that having made them smoke and eat, we showed them our arms and the ship, and when they saw at one end of it some sheep, swine, hens, and turkeys, and the hide of a cow we had killed, they made signs tliat they had of all those sorts of creatures amon" them. We gave them some knives and strings of beads, after wliicii, they were dismissed, and the waves hindering us from cominn- too near the shore, they were obliged to leap into the water, after wo had made fast about their necks, or to the tuft of hair they have on the top of the head, the knives and other small presents M. de la Salle had given them. They went and joined the others wiio expected them, and were making signs to us to go to them ; but not being able to make the shore, we stood off again and returned to our ship. It is to be ob- served, that when we were carrying tliem back, they made some signs 8 I ":^: -■: ' ' L' I ;ti 08 IHSTORU'AL COLLECTIONS OF LOUISIANA. I to US, by wliicli we conceived they would signify to us tiiat there was If great river that way wo were passed, and that it occasioned the slioals we iiad seen. The wind changing the same day, we weighed anchor and stood to tiie southward, to get into the offing, till the I4th, in the morning, when we were becalmed. At noon we were in 28" 51' of north lati- tude. The wind freshened, and in the evening we held on our course, but only for a short time, because the wind setting us towards the shore, we were obliged to anchor again, whereupon M. de la Salle again resolved to send ashore, and the same persons embarked in the same boats to that effect. We met with the same obstacles that had hindered us the day be- fore, that is, the high sea, which would not permit us to come near the shore, and were obliged to drop anchor in fourteen feet water. The sight of abundance of goats and bullocks, ditFering in shape from ours, and running along the coast, heightened our earnestness to be ashore. We therefore sounded to see whether we might get to land by stripping, and found we were on a flat, which had four feet water, but that beyond it there was a deep channel. AVhilst we were consulting what to do, a storm arose, which obliged M. de 1l Salle to fire a gun for us to return aboard, which we did against our inclination, M. de la Salle was pleased with the report we made him, and by it several were encouraged to go ashore to hunt, that we might have some fresh meat. We spent all that night, till the next morning, in hopes of returning soon to that place ; but the wind changing, forced us to weigh and sail till the evening, when we dropped anchor in six fathom water. The land, which we never departed from very far. appeared to us very pleasant, and having lain there till the 16th, that morning we sailed W. S. W. We weathered a point, keeping a large offing, because of the sea's beating upon it, and stood to the southward. At noon we were in 28° 20' of north latitude, and con- sequently found the latitude declined, by which we were sensible that the coast tended to the southward. At night we anchored in six fathom water. The 17th, the wind continuing the same, we held on our course S. W., and having about ten discovered a sort of river, M. de la Salle caused ten of us to go into a boat to take a view of that coast, and see whether there was not some place to land. He ordered me, in case we found any convenient place, to give him notice either by fire or smoke. We set out, and found the shoals obstructed our descent. One of U ANA. US that there was it occasioned the anchor and stood I, in the morning, ' 51' of north lati- we held on our setting us towards pon M. de la Salle s embarked in the ed us the day be- us to come near rteen feet water. litFering in shape our earnestness to we might get to ich had four feet AVhilst wc were M. de k Salle to istour inclination. lade him, and by at we might have next morning, in 1 changing, forced iped anchor in six pd from very far. till the 16th, that point, keeping a , and stood to the latitude, and con- were sensible that anchored in six ?ld on our course ■er, M. de la Salle of that coast, and le ordered me, in tice either by fire descent. One of 1 JOUTELS lUSTOniCAr, JOURNAL. 99 our men wont naked into the water to sound that sand bank, which lay between us and the land ; and having shown us a place where we might pass, wc with much difliculty forced our boat into the ciiannel, and six or seven of us landed, after ordering the boat to go up into that which had appeared to us to be a river, to see whether any fresh water could be found. As soon as we were landed, I made a smoke to give notice to M. de la Salle, and then we advanced both ways, without straggling too far, that we might be ready to receive M. de la Salle, who was to come, as he did, soon after, but finding the surges run iiigh, he re- turned, and our boat finding no fresh water, cann.e back and anchored to wait for us. We walked about every way, and found a dry soil, though it seem- ed to be overflowed at some times ; great lakes of salt water, little grass, the track of goats on the sand, and saw herds of them, but could not come near them ; however, we killed some ducks and bus- tards. In the evening, as we were returning, we missed an English seaman ; fired several shots to give him notice, searched all about, waited till after sunset, and at last, hearing no tidings of him, we went into the boat to return aboard. I gave M. de la Salle an account of what we had seen, which would have pleased him had the river we discovered afforded fresh water. He was also uneasy for the lost man ; but about midnight we saw a fire ashore, in the place we came from, which we supposed to be made by our man, and the boat went for him as soon as it was day on the 18th. After that we made several trips, still steering towards the S. W.. and then ensued a calm, which obliged us to come to an anchor. Want of water made us think of returning towards the river, where we had been the day before. M. de la Salle resolved to set a consi- derable number of men ashore, with sufficient ammunition, and to go with them himself, to discover and take cognizance of that country, and ordered me to follow him. Accordingly we sai'ed back, and came to an anchor in the same place. All things necessary for that end being ordered on the 19th, part of the men were put into a boat ; but a very thick fog rising, and taking away the sight of land, the compass was made use of, and the fog dispersing as we drew near the land, we perceived a ship making directly towards us, and that it was the Joly, where M. de Beaujeu commanded, which rejoiced us ; but our satisfaction was not lasting, and it will appear by the sequel, that it were to have been wished that 4m. |!! 100 HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF LOUISIANA. M. de Beaujeu had not joined us again, but that he had ratiier gone away lor France, without ever seeing of us. Hfs arrival disconcerted tlie execution of our entcr|)risc. M. de la Salle, who was already on iiis way, and those who were gone be- fore him, returned aboard, and some iiours after, M. de Ucaujcu sent his Lieutenant, M. de Aire, attended by several persons, as well clergymen as others, among whom was the Sieur Gal.aret, second pilot of the Joly. M. de Aire complained grievously to M. de la Salle, in the name of ]\I. de Beaujeu, for thai, said he, we had left him designedly ; which was not true, for, as I have said, the Joly lay at anchor ahead of us when we were separated from her ; we fired a gun to give her notice of our departure, as had been concerted, and M. de lieaujeu answered it ; besides that, if we had intended to separate from him, we should not have always held our course in sight of land, as we had done, and that had M. de Beaujeu held the same course, as had been agreed, he had not been separated from us. There were afterwards several disputes between the Captains and the pilots, as well aboard M. de la Salle as aboard M: de Beaujeu, when those gentlemen returned, about settling exactly the place we were in, and the course we were to steer ; some positively aflirming we were farther than we imagined, and that the currents had carried us away ; and the others, that we were near the Magdalen River. The former of those notions prevailed, whence, upon reflection, M. de la Salle concluded that he must be past his river, w hich was but too true ; for that river emptying itself in the sea by two chan- nels, it followed that one of the mouths fell about the shoals we had observed on the 6th of the month ; and the rather because those shoals were very near the latitude that M. de la Salle had observed when he came by the way of Canada to discover the mouth of that river, as he told me several times. This consideration prevailed with M. de la Salle to propose his design of returning towards those siioals. He gave his reasons for so doing, and exposed his doubts ; but his ill fortune made him not be regarded. Our passage had taken up more time than had been ex- pected, by reason of the calms ; there was a considerable number of men aboard the Joly, and provisions grew short, insomuch that they said it would not hold out to return, if our departure were delayed. For tiiis reason M. de Beaujeu demanded provisions of M. de la Salle ; but he asking enough for a long time, M. de la Salle an- .svvered he could only give him enough ibr a fortnight, which was bad ratlicr gone er|)i'isc. M. de were gone be- dc IJcaujf'U sent crsons, as well Gala ret, second lie, in the name lim designedly ; at anciior ahead gun to give her ; M. de lieaujeu larate from him, t of land, as we 3 course, as had he Captains and M: do Beaujeu, tly the place we itively aflirming ents had carried gdalen River, upon reflection, ■iver, which was lea by two chan- le shoals we had r because those lie iiad observed le mouth of that 1 to propose his his reasons for so made him not be lan had been ex- rable number of omuch that they re were delayed, ions of M. de la de la Salle an- light, which was '•'W^'IH^* JOUTEl/s HISTORICAL JOURNAL. 101 more time than was requisite to reach the place lie intended to return to ; and that besides lie could not give him more provisions, without rummaging all the stores to the bottom of the hold, whicli would en- danger iiis lieing cast away. Tims nothing was concluded, and M. de Beaujeu returned to iiis own ship. In tiie meantime, want of water began to pinch us, and M. de la Salle resolved to send to look for some about the next river. Ac- cordingly he ordered the two boats that had been made ready the day before, to go off. He was aboard one of them himself, and di- rected me to follow him. M. de Beaujeu also commanded his boat to go for wood. By the way, we met the said Sieur de Beaujeu in his yawl returning from land, with the Sieur Minet, an engineer, wlio told us they had been in a sort of salt pool, two or three leagues from the place where the ships were at anchor ; we held on our way and landed. One of our boats, which was gone ahead of us, had been a league and a half up the river, without finding any fresh water in its chan. nel ; but some men wandering about to the riglit and left, had met with divers rivulets of very good water, wherewith many casks were filled. We lay ashore, and our hunters having that day killed a good store of ducks, bustards, and teal, and the next day two goats, M. de la Salle sent M. de Beaujeu part. We feasted upon the rest, and that good sport put several gentlemen that were then aboard M. de Beaujeu, among whom were M. du Ilarnel, tiie ensign and the king's clerk, upon coming asliore to partake of the diversion ; but they took mucli pains and were not successful in their sport. In the meantime many casks were filled witli water, as well for our ship as for M. de Beaujeu's. Some days after M. d'Airc, the lieutenant, came ashore to confer with M. de la Salle, and to know how he would mana,'e about the provisions ; but both of them per- sisting in their first proposals, and M. de la Salle perceiving that M. de Beaujeu would not be satisfied with provisions for fifteen days, which he thought suflScient to go to the place where he expected to find one of the branches of the Mississippi, which he with goo 1 rea- ■ son believed to be about the shoals I have before spoken of, nothing was concluded as to that affair. M. d'Aire returned to his captain, and M. de la Salle resolved to land his men ; which could not be done for some days, because of the foul weather ; but in the mean- time we killed much game. During this little interval, M. de la Salle being impatient to get u- Mi .iS&i**^-*'- '...iit**" 103 HlflTORIC'AIi C0LLECT10N8 OF LOUISIANA. some intelligence of wliat ho sought after, resolved to go himself upon discovery, and to seek out some more useful and commodious river than tliat where they were. To this purpose he took five or six of us along with him. We set out one morning in so thi- k a fog, that the hindmost could not perceive the track of the foremost, so that we lost M. de la Salle for some time. We travelled till about three in the afternoon, finding the country for the most part sandy, little grass, no fresh water, unless in some sloughs, the track of abundance of wild goats, lakes full of ducks, teals, water-hens, and having taken much pains returned without success. The next morning M. de la Salle's Indian, going about to find wild goats, came to a lake which had a little ice upon if, the weather being cold, and abundance of fish dying about the edges of it. He came to inform us ; we went to make our provision of them, there were some of a prodigious magnitude, and among the rest cxtraor- dinary large trouts, or else they were some sort of fish very like them. We caused some of each of a sort to be boiled in salt water, and found them very good. Thus having plenty of fish and flesh, we began to use ourselves to eat them both without bread. Whilst we lived thus easy enough, M. de la Salle expected with impatience to know what resolution M. de fieaujeu would take, that he might either go to the place where he expected to find the Missis- sippi, or follow some other course ; but at last, perceiving that his affairs did not advance, he resolved to put his own design in execu- tion, the purport whereof was to land one hundred and twenty, or one hundred and thirty men, to go along the coast, and continue it till they had found some other river, and that at the same time the bark La Belle should hold the same course at sea, still keeping along the coast, to relieve those ashore in time of need. He gave me and M. Moranget, his nephew, the command of that small company, he furnished us with ail sorts of provisions for eight or ten days, as also arms, tools, and utensils, we might have occasion for, of which every man made his bundle. He also gave us written instructions of what we were to do, the signals we were to make ; and thus we set out on the 4th of February. We took our way along the shore. Our first day's journey was not long ; we encamped on a little rising ground, heard a cannon shot, which made us uneasy, made the signals that had been appoint- ed, and the next day, being the 5th, we held on our march, M. Mo- ranget bringing up the rear, and I leading the van. -'mtfmmsumi^ i to go himself ind commodious he tooli live or 1 so thi' k a fog, the foremost, so ing tiie country , unless in some 9 full of ducks, !turned without )out to find wild if, the weather Jges of it. He of them, there le rest cxtraor- f fish very like 'd in salt water, fisli and fiesh, read. 5 expected with vould take, that find the Missis- ieiving that his ssign in execu- and twenty, or and continue it same time the I keeping along )mmand of that ■isions for eight t have occasion jave us written vere to make ; 's journey was eard a cannon i been appoint- march, M. Mo- joutbl's historical journal. 103 I will not spend time in relating several personal accidents, in- considerable in tiiemselves, or of no consc(|uencc, tho most considera- bio of them being the want of fresh water ; but will proceed to say, that after three days' march we found a great river, whore we halted and made the signals agreed on, encamping on a commodious spot ot around till we could hear of the boat, which was to follow us, or of our ships. But our provisions beginning to fall short, and none of our ships appearing, being, besides, apprehensive of some unlucky accident oc- casioned by the disagreement between M. de la Salle and M. de Beau- jeu, the chief of our company came together to know what resolu- tion we should take. It was agreed that we should spare our provi- sions to endeavor to goon to some place where we might find bullocks ; but it was requisite to cross the river, and we knew not iiow, because we were too many of us, and therefore it was decreed to set some carpenters there were among us at work to build a little boat, which took them up the eleventh and twelfth of February. The 13th we were put out of our pain by two vessels we discover, ed at sea, which we knew to be the Joly and La Belle, to whom w,e made our signals with smoke. They came not in then, because it was late, but the next day, being the 14th, in the morning, the boat, with the Sieur Barbier, and the pilot of the bark La Belle, came up, and both sounded the mouth of the river. Tiiey sounded on the bar from ten to twelve feet water, and within it from five to six fathom ; the breadth of the river being about half a quarter of a league. They sounded near the island, which lies between the two points of the bay, and found the same depth. The boat of the Joly came and sounded on the other side of the channel, and particularly along the shoals, I know not to what purpose. The same day M. de la Salle, for whom we were much in pain, came also, and as soon as he arrived he caused the boat to be laden with such provisions as we stood in need of, but the wind being contrary, it could not came to us till the next day, being the 15th. That same day M. de la Salle came ashore to view the place and examine the entrance into the river, which he found to be very good. Having considered all particulars, he resolved to send in tlie barks La Belle and L'Aimable, that they might be under shelter, to which purpose he ordered to sound, and to know whether those two vessels could both come in that same bay. M. de Beaujeu caused also the place to be sounded, and lay ashore on the other side of the river, where he look notice there were vines which run up the trees like ' '**i' 1 i,i I • ' i: i ' 1l 101 IIIKTORrr.M. COLLECTIONS OF LOUISIANA. our wall vinos, snmc woods, ami tho carcasses of bullocks, which lie HU|)|)osc'tl to liuvo (lied with thirst. Thu Kitii, tho pilots of tho Joly, L'Ai.naLlo, and La JJcllo, went ngani to sound. They found tho entrance lusy, and gav< it under their hands. The nth, thoy fixed stuiuH to murk out the way, that the vessels might con.o safe in. All things seemed to promise a Imp- py event. Tho \^ih the Chevalier d'Aire came ashore to confer with M. do ia Salic, who, being desirous to have tho flyboat L'Aimablo come in that day, ordered tho most weighty things in her to bo unloaded, as the cannon, tho iron, and some other things. It was my good fortune that my ciiest stood in tho way, and was also unloaded, but that un- lading could not bo done till the next day, being tho 19th. That being performed, the Captain afilrmcd it would go in at eight feet water. The 20tli I\I. do la Salle sent orders to that Captain to draw near tlic bar, and to come in at high water, of which a signal should be given him ; he also ordered tho pilot of tho bark La llello to go aboard the /lyboat, to bo assisting when it camo in. The Captain would not receive him aboard, saying ho could carry in his ship without his help. All these precautions proved of no uso ; M. do la Sallo could not avert his ill fate. Ho having taken notice of a large tree on tho bank of the river, which he judged fit to make a cano°c, sent 7 or & workmen to hew it down, two of whom returned some time after, in a great fright, and told him they had narrowly escaped being taken ly a company of savages, and that tliey believed tho others had fallen into their hands. M. do la Salle ordered us immediately to handle our arms, and to march with drums beating against the savages, who seeing us in tliat posture, faced abjut and went off. i\L de la Salle being desirous to join those savages, to endeavor to get some information from them, ordered ten of us to lay down our arms and draw near them, making signs to them at the same time, to como to us. When they saw us in that posture and unarmed, most of them also laid down their bows and arrows and came to meet us, caressing us after their manner, and stroking first their own breasts and then ours, then their own arms and afterwards ours. By these signs they gave us to understand that they had a friendship for us, which they expressed by laying their hands on their hearts, and we' did the same on our part. Six or seven of those savages went along with us, and the rest kept three of our men in the nature of hostages. Those who went '#HHISt«:U4RliaiAfi»Ui«fiMMaU«i«'«C^^ ::«&?/J^)r^>fl@tS^;^Jt«fj^^ -rf'WiVf ANA. illocks, wliicli lio 1 La JJcllo, went lul gavi it under out the wuy, tliui to |ii'uiiiisi,' a Imp- loiifer witli M. do Aiinablo come in I 1)0 unloaded, as I my good fortune Jed, but tiiat un- tho lOtii. Tiiat ) in at eight feet ain to draw near signal should be lello to go aboard aptain would not ship without his lo la Sallo could large tree on tho moe, sent 7 or 8 ne time after, in ped being taken nhers had fallen Jiately to handle the savages, who I, to endeavor to to lay down our he same time, to 1 unarmed, most ame to meet us, leir own breasts ours. By these riendship for us, hearts, and we IS, and the rest 'hose who went joutki/h msTOKic.\r, joi-rnal. 105 mmi*sAifis^iit»iiimi»ssis»t:'> with us wcro marlo much of, but M. do la Sallo could learn nothing of them, cither by signs or otherwise; all they could make us under, stand was, that ihero was good hunting of bullocks in tho country. _^We observed that their yea consisted in a cry, f.-tched from tho lx)t. torn of the throat, not unlike tho call of a hen to gather her chickens. M. do hi Sallo gave them some knives, hatchets, and other trifles, with whicli they seemed well pleased, and went away. M. do la Sallo was glad to be rid of those people, because he was willing to bo present when the flyboat camo in ; but his ill fate would not permit it. He thought lit to go himself along with those savages, and we followed him, thinking to have founil our men in the same place where we left them ; but perceived, on tho contrary, that the savages had carried them away to their camp, which was a league and a half from us, and M. do la Sablonniero, lieutenant of foot, be- ing one of those the savages had taken with them, M. de la Salle resolved to go himself to fetch him away, an unhappy thought which cost him dear. As we were on our way towards the camp of the .savages, happen- in^ to look towards the sea, we saw the .iade him very uneasy, but // still we advanced. We arrived at the camp of the savages, which stood upon an eminence, and consisted of about fifty cottages made of rush mat.s, and others of dried skins, and built with long poles bowed round at the top, like great ovens, and most of the .savages sitting about, as if they were upon the watch. We were still advancing into the village when we heard a cannon- shot, the noise whereof struck such a dread among the savages, that they all fell flat upon the ground ; but M. de la Salle and we were too sensible it was a signal that our ship was aground, which was confirmed by seeing them furl their sails ; however, we were gone too far to return, »ur men must be had, and to that purpose we must proceed to the hut of the commander-in-chief. As soon as we arrived there M. de la Salle was introduced ; many of the Indian women came in, they were very deformed, and all naked, excepting a skin girt about them which hung down to their knees. They would have led us to their cottages, but M. de la Salle had ordered us not to part, and to observe whether the Indians did not draw together, so that we kept together, standing upon our guard, and I was always with him. I t 100 HISTORICAL COIXKCTIONB OK LOUISIANA. They brought ui some pipccs of beef, Iwtli fresh and dried in the air ond Hiiioke, and pieces of |)or|)oise, which they cut with a Horl of knife made of stone, setting one fwt upon it and holding witl) one hand whilst they cut with \\w other. Wo saw nothing of iron among them./' They had given our men, that came with them, to ent, and M. do la Salle being extraordinary uneasy wo soon took leuvc ot them to return. At our going out wo observed about forty ciinoes, some of thorn like those M. do lu Holle had seen on the Mississippi, which made him conclude ho was not fur from it. Wo soon arrived ot our camp, and found the misfortune M. de la Salle had apprehended was but too certain. The Bliiji was stranded on the shoals. The ill management of t!io coplain, or of the pilot, who had not steered by the stakes placed for that jjurposo ; tlio cries of a sailor posted on the main-top, who cried amain, " lulf," w liich was to steer towards the passage marked out, whilst the wicked cap- tain cried out "Come no nearer," which was to steer the contrary course ; the same coptain's carelessness in not dropping his anchor as soon as the ship touched, which would have prevented her sticking aground ; the folly of lowering his main-sheet ond hoisting out his sprit-sail, the better to full into the wind and secure the shipwreck ; the captain's refusing to admit the pilot of the bark La Relic, whom M. de la Salle liad sent to assist him ; the sounding upon the shoals to no purpose, and several other circumstances reported by the ship's crew, and those who saw tho management, were infallible tokens and proofs that the mischief had been done designedly and advisedly, .which was ono of tho blockest and most detestable actions that man could be guilty of. This misfortune was so much tho greater, because that vessel contained almost all tho ammunition, utensils, tools, and other neces- saries for M. do la Salle's enterprise and settlement. He hrd need of all his resolution to bear up against it ; but his intrepidity did not forsake him, and he applied himself, without grieving, to remedy what might be. All the men were taken out of the ship ; he desired M. de Beaujeu to lend him his long boat, to help save as much as might be. We began with powder and meal. About thirty hogs- heads of wine and brandy were saved, and fortune being incensed against us, two things contributed to the total loss of all the rest. The first was, that our boat which hung at tho stern of the ship run aground, was maliciously staved in the night, so that we had none left but M. de Beaujeu's. The second, that the wind blowing in from the offing made the waves run high, which beating violently : - i»v«)j. '. ^n^U'. i^iiiUf^S»Mtn?!&'Sn^'i i< ■».^taKri>^i«k^'aW»£jrr.j;«9U«>dCi^n^^ kN A. and dried in tho cut with a sort of holding; with one iti^ ofiniii among tlicni, to cut, and ion toolt It'uvc of Ijout forty cunoi's, )n tlu! Mississippi, isfortunc M. de la sliip was stranded in, or of tho pilot, lurposo ; tho cries ain, " luir," wliifh st tiie wicked cap- steer the contrary popping his anchor rented her slicking id hoisting out his ire the sliipwreck ; ■k La Belle, whom ng upon the shoals )orted by tiie ship's ifallihlc tokens and dly and advisedly, ,0 actions that man Bcause that vessel s, and other neces- ent. He hrd need i intrepidity did not rieving, to remedy he ship ; he desired lip save as mueii as About thirty hogs, ine being incensed of all the rest, he stern of the ship jht, so that we had it the wind blowing ch beating violently Joi;tkl§ MI-TORK At Jor-RNAI.. 107 usrainst the ship split her, and ull the light goods wh ro carried out at the npctiiiijr hy the water. This last mittforUim iiuiipcncd uiiio in the nij^ht. 'I'liiis everything fell «._-, ,,inst unhappily, (or had that M*\- len in the dny uhunduiiee of things tm^'Ui Ikivc hwn s.avt(l. Whilst we were upn this nielanchofy iinployinent, al)out a iiUft. dred or a hundred nml twenty of the natives cniiie to our cnmp with their hows and arrows. M. de la Salle ordered us In handle our arms and stand upon our gnurd. About twenty of those ImlianN niiveil thetnselves among us to observe what we liad saved of the shipwreck, upon which there were several sentinels to let none come near the |)owder. The rest uf tho Indians stood in parcels, or peletons. M. do la Halle, who was acquainted with their woys, ordered us to observe their iiehavior, and to take nothing from them, which nevertheless did not hinder some of our men from receiving some pieces of meat. Some time after, when tho Indians were about departing, liiey made signs to us to go a hunting with them ; but, besides that there was sullleient cause to suspect them, we had enough other business to do. However, we asked whether they would barter for any of their ' canoes, which they agreed to. The Sieur Harbier went along with them, purchased two for hatchets, and brought them. Some days after, wo perceived a firo in tho country, which spread itself and burnt the dry weeds, still drawing towards us; whereupon M. de la Sallo made all tho weeds and herbs that were about us be pulled up, and particularly all about the place where the powder was. Being desirous to know the occasion of that fire, he took about twen. ty of us along with him, and wo marched that way, and even beyond the firo, without seeing anybody. We perceived that it run towards tho W. S. W., and judged it had begun about our first camp, and at the village next the fire. Having spied a cottage near tho bank of a lake, we drew towards It, and found an old woman in it, who fled as soon as she saw us ; but having overtaken and given her to understand that we would do her no harm, she returned to her cottage, where we found some pitchers of water, of which we all drank, j Some time after wo saw a canoe coming, in which were two women and a boy, who being landed, and perceiving we had done the old woman no harm, came and embraced , us in a very particular manner, blowing upon our ears,fe!lid making" signs to give us to understand that their people were a hunting. A few minutes after seven or eight of the Indians appeared, who, it is likely, had hid themselves among the weeds when they saw us *#»C' iiij!>Mimimk< I 108 mBTOIUCAL COLLECTIONS OF LOUISIANA. .«4 IP H coming. Being come up, they saluted us iiftcr tlie same manner as the. women had done, which made us laugh. We stayed there some time with them. Some of our men bartered knives for goats' skins, after which we returned tc our camp. Being come thi'licr, M. de la Salle made me go aboard the bark La Belle, where he liad embarked part of the powder, with positive orders not to carry or permit any fire to be made there, having suflicicnt cause to fear everything after what had happened. For this reason they carried me and all that were with me, our meat every day. During this time it was that L'Aimable opening in the night, the next moniing we saw all the light things that were come out of it floating about, and ^I. de la Salle sent men every way, who gathered up about 30 casks of wine and brandy, and some of flesh, meal, and grain. When we had gathered all, as well what had been taken out of the shipwrecked vcskcI as what could be picked up in the sea, the next thing wf . tc ; eguiate the provisions we had left proportionably to the number of men we were ; and there being no more biscuit, meal was delivered out, and with it we made hasty pudding with water, which was none of the best ; some large beans and Indian corn, part of which had taken wet ; and everything was distributed very discreet- ly. We were very much incommoded for want of kettles, but M. de Beaujeu gave iM. de la Salle one, and he ordered another to be brought from the bark La Belle, by which means we were all served. \Vc were still in want of canoes. M. de la Salle sent to the camp of the Indians to barter for some, and they who went thither observed that those people had made their advantage of our shipwreck, and had some bales of Normandy blankets, and they saw several women had cut them in two and made petticoats of them. They also saw bits of iron of the ship that was cast away, and returned immediately to n->ake their report to M. de la Salle, who said we must endeavor to (ret some canoes in exchange, and resolved to send thither again the next day. M. du Hamel, ensign to M. de Beaujeu, oflTered to go up in his boat, which M. de la Salle agreed to, and ordered MM. Moran- -ret, his nephew, Desloges, Oris, Gayen, and some others to bear him company. No sooner were those gentlemen, who were more hot than wise, landed, but they went up to the camp of the Indians with their arms in their hands, as if they had intended to force them, whereupon se- veral of those people fled. Going into the cottages they found others, to whom M. du Hamel endeavored to signify by signs that he would ; f.^.Jafesus^J5»jiairi-ft^iWa«>-'»i'JI»*»gS^»'^^ • [SIANA. ihe same manner as 'e stayed there some ives for goats' skins, )me tiii'licr, M. ile la ;re he had embarked carry or permit any fear everything after ried me and all that ing in the night, the were come out of it y way, who gathered le of flesh, meal, and been taken out of the 3 in the sea, the next proportionably to the lore biscuit, meal was ng with water, which Indian corn, part of ributed very discreet- it of kettles, but M. de rdered another to be is we were all served. 3alle sent to the camp went thither observed f our shipwreck, and y saw several women bem. They also saw- returned immediately [ we must endeavor to send thither again the lujeu, offered to go up [ ordered MM. Moran- )me others to bear him ) more hot than wise, ndians with their arms 3 them, whereupon se- ages they found others, )y signs that he would JOUTELS HISTORICAL JOUUNAL. 100 have the blankets they had found restored ; but the misfortune was, that none of them understood one anotlicr. The Indians thought it their bust way to witiidraw, leaving behind them some blankets and skins of beasts, wliich those gentlemen took away, and (Inding some canoes in their return, they seized two, and got in to bring them away. But having no oars, none of them knowing how to manage those canoes, and iiaving only some pitiful poles, which they could not tell the rigiit use of, and the wind being also against thcin, tiiey made little way, which the Sieur du Ilamol, who was in his boat, pcr^'piv- ing, and tliat night drew on, he made the best of his way, forsook them, and returned to the camp. Thus night came upon them, which obliged those inexperienced canoo-Micn, being thoroughly tired, to go ashore to take some rest, and the wcatiier being cold, they lighted a fire, about v/hich they laid them down and fell asleep; the sentinel they had appointed doing the same. The Indians returning to their camp, and perceiving our men had carried away two canoes, some skins, and blankets, took it for a declaration of war, resolved to be revenged, and discovering an* unusual fire, presently concluded that our men had halted there. A considerable number of them repaired to the place, without making the least noise found our careless people fast asleep, wrapped up in their blanket^, and shot a full volley of their arrows upon tiieni alto- gether on a sudden, having first given their usual shout before they fall on. The Sieur Moranget awaking with the noise, and finding himself wounded, started up and fired iiis piece successfully enougli ; some others did the same, whereupon the natives fled. Tlio Sieur Moran- get camo to give us the alarm, though he was shot through one of his arms, below the shoulder, and had another slanting wound on the breast. M. de la Salle immediately sent some armed men to the place, w ho could not find the Indians, but when day appeared they found the Sicurs, Oris and Desloges dead upon the spot, the Sieur Gayen much hurt, and the rest all safe and sound. Tills disaster, which happened the night of the 5th of March, very much afllictcd M. de la Salle ; but he ciiicfly lamented M. Desloges, a sprigiitly yorh, who served well ; but in short, it was their own fault, and contrary to the charge given them, which was to bo watchful, and upon their guard. We were under apprehensions for MM. Moranget and Gayen, lest the arrows should be poisoned. It Ik •I m ■*• 110 HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OP LOUISIANA. Ill mm "?. afterwards appeared they were not ; however, M. Moranget's cure proved diflicuh, because some small vessel was cut. The consequences of this misfortune, togetiier with the concern most of the best persons who had followed M. de la Salle were under, supported the design of those wlio were for returning to France, and forsaking him, of which number were M. Dainmaville, a priest of the seminary of St. Sulpicc, the Sieur Minet, engineer, and some others. The common discourses of M. de la Salle's enemies tending to discredit his conduct, and to represent the pretended rashness of his enterprise, contributed considerably towards the desertion ; but his resolution prevailing, he heard and waited all events with patience, and always gave his orders without appearing the least discomposed. He caused the dead to be brought to our camp, and buried them honorably, the cannon supplying the want of bells, and then consi- dered' of making some safer settlement. He caused all that had been saved from the shipwreck to be brought together into one place, threw up intrenchments about it to secure his effects, and per- ceiving that the water of the river, where we were, rolled down vio- lently into the sea, he fancied that might be one of the branches of the Mississippi, and proposed to go up it, to see whether he could find any tokens of it, or of the marks he had left when he went down by land to the mouth of it. In the mean time M. de Beaujeu was preparing to depart : the Chevalier de Aire had many conferences with M. de la Salle about several things; the latter demanded of M. de Beaujeu particularly the cannon and ball which were aboard the Joiy, and had been designed for him, whicii M. de Beaujeu refused, alleging that all those things lay at the bottom of the hold, and that he could not rummage it without evident danger of perishing ; though, at the same time, he knew we had eight pieces of cannon, and not one bullet. I know not how that affair was decided between them, but am sure he suffered the captain of the flyboat L'Aimable to embark aboard M. de Beaujeu, though he deserved to be most severely punished, had justice been done him. His crew followed him, contrary to what M. de Beaujeu had promised, that he would not receive a man of them. All that M. de la Salle could do, though so much wronged, was to write to France to M. de Saignelay, minister of state, whom he acquainted with all the particulars, as I was informed when I returned, and he gave the packet to M. dc Beaujeu, who sailed away for France. ■J-i^it^i-^,,^,*f^^>-, (/,ri>y^. j^j^v-^daaigua=^ai--.M*fc ^^jiJSff^'tfeiSS&riW^'^^^^'^ fe^5e*V§^,^1s^4«#**»s?'* SIANA. VI. Moranget's cure lUt. •r with tlie concern la Salic were under, ning to France, and maville, a priest of engineer, and some le's enemies tending etended rashness of the desertion ; but ed all events with appearing the least ip, and buried them ells, and then consi- ;aused all that had t together into one his effects, and per- ;re, rolled down vio- e of the branches of 'hether he could find en he went down by iring to depart : the H. de la Salle about ujeu particularly the id had been designed that all those things uld not rummage it t the same time, he le bullet. in them, but am sure lie to embark aboard 3t severely punished, ed him, contrary to Id not receive a man gh so much wronged, lister of state, whom v&s informed when I jeu, who sailed away JOUTEIiS HISTORICAL JOURNAL. Ill Having lost the notes I took at that time, and being forced to rely iiiucii upon memory for what I now write, I shall not pretend to be any longer exact in the dates, for fear of mistaking, and therefore I cannot be positive as to the day of M. de Beaujeu's departure, but believe it was the 14lh of March, 1685. Wlien M. de Beaujeu was gone, we fell to work to make a fort of the wreck of the ship that had been cast away, and many pieces of timber the sea threw up ; and during that time several men deserted, which added to M. de la Salle's affliction. A Spaniard and a Frenchman stole away and fled, and were never more heard of. Four or five others followed their example, but M. de la Salle, having timely notice, sent after them, and they were brought back. One of them was condemned to death, and the others to serve the King ten years in that country. When our fort was well advanced, M. de la Salle resolved toole«r his doubts, and to go up the river, where we were, to know whether it was not an arm of the Mississippi, and accordingly ordered fifty men to attend him, of which number were M. Cavelier, his brother, and M. Chedcville, both priests ; two RecoUet Friars, and severa^ volunteers, who set out in five canoes we had, with the necessary pro- visions. There remained in the fort about a hundred and thirty persons, and M. de la Salle gave me the command of it, with orders not to iiave any commerce with the natives, but to fire at them if they appeared. Whilst U. de la Salle was absent, I caused an oven to be built, which was a great help to us, and employed myself in finisiiing the fort, and putting it in a posture to withstand the Indians, who came fre- quenily in the night to range about us, howling like wolves and dogs; but two or three musket shots put them to flight. It happened one night that, having fired six or seven, shot, M. de la Salle, who was not far from us, heard them, and being in pain about it, he returned with six or seven men, and found all things in a good posture. He told us hejiad found a good country, fit to sow and plant all sorts of grain, abounding in beeves and wild fowl ; that he designed to erect a fort farther up the river, and accordingly he left me orders to square out as much timber as I could get, the sea casting up much upon the shore. He had given the same orders to the men he had left on the spot, seven or eight of whom, detached from the rest, being busy at that work, and seeing a number of the natives, fled, and unadvisably left their tools behind them. M. de la Salle returning thither, found a paper made fast to a reed which gave him *-, r I \iiuM ■^.T-^^;^ 'l' M»; 'wJ3j i " ' l i . i|--^ m . ■■ / 112 HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS' OP LOUISIANA. notice of that accident, which lie was concerned at, because of the tools ; not so much for the value of the loss, as because it was furnishing t! - natives with such things as they might afterwards make use of against us. About the beginning of April, we were alarmed by a vessel wiiich appeared at sea, near enough to discern the sails, and we supposed they might be Spaniards who had heard of our coming, and were ranging the coast to fmd us out. That made us stand upon our guard, to keep within tiie fort, and sec that our arms were fit for service. We afterwards saw two men in that vessel, who, instead of coming to us, went towards tiic other point, and by that means passed on without perceiving us. Haviii!^ one day observed that the water worked and bubbled up, • and afterwards perceiving it was occasioned by ti)e fisii skipping from place to place, I caused a net to be brought, and we took a prodigious quantity of fish; among which were many dorarfos, or gilt-heads, mullets, and otliers about as big as a herring, which afforded us good food for several days. This fishery, which I caused to be often followed, was a great help towards our subsistence. About that time, and on Easlcr-daij that year, an unfortunate accident befel M. le Gros. After divine service, lie took a gun to go kill snipes about the fort. He shot one, which fell into a marsh ; he took otr his shoes and stockings to fetch it out, and returning, through carelessness trod upon a rattle-snake, so called, because it has a sort of scale on the tail, which makes a noise. Tiie serpent bit him a little above the ankle ; he was carefully dressed and looked after, yet after having endured very much, he died at last, as I shall mention in its place. Another more unlucky accident befel us, one of our fishermen swimming about the net to gather the fish, was carried away by the current, and could not be helped by us. Our men sometimes went about several little salt water lakes, that were near our fort, and found on the banks a sort of flat fishes, like turbots, asleep, which they struck with sharp pointed stick^ and they were good food. Providence also showed us that there was salt made by the sun, upon several little salt water pools there were in divers places, for having observed that there grew on them a sort of white substance, like the cream upon milk, I tcok care every day to send and fetch that scum oil", which proved to be a very white and goiDcl salt, whereof I gathered a quantity, and it did us good service. SoiiBjof our hunters having seen a parcel of wild goats running asiftlqftwere frighted, judged they were pursued by the Indians, "•Bm^aaiwaBisi^iaaBaii'n; irnniil Wi*i't ij m&mmm£m»^-- 4i.u^-^i V . ' ; jvVi . ANA. at, because of the s because it was might afterwards by a vessel which , and we supposed coming, and were us stand upon our arms were (it for "ssel, who, instead md by that means !d and bubbled up, T the fisii skipping ht, and we took a ! many dorados, or a herring, which !ry, which I caused • subsistence. ir, an unfortunate 3, lie took a gun to 1 fell into a marsh ; out, and returning, ) called, because it e. The serpent bit >ed and looked after, t, as I shall mention )efel us, one of our li, was carried away ilt water lakes, that •t of flat fishes, like ted stick^ and they that there was salt pools there were in :w on them a sort of k care every day to be a very white and did us good service. ' wild goats running ued by the Indians, 1:3- J0UTEL3 lIISToniCAL JOURNAL. 118 and came for refuge to the fort, and to give me notice. AccordinTly some time after, wo discovered a parcel of natives, who came and posted tliomselveson an eminence, witliin cannon shotj some of them drew oir from tiie rest, and approaciied tlic fort by the way of tho downs, I caused our men immediately to handle their arms, and wet blankets to be laid on our huts, to prevent their being burnt by the fire the savages sometimes slioot with their arrows. All this time those who had separated themselves from the rest, being three in number, still drew nearer, making signs for us to go to them ; but M. de la Salle had forbidden me liaving any commerce with them j however, since tliey had neither bows nor arrows, we made signs to them to draw near, which they did without hesitating. We went out to meet them, M. Morangct made them sit down, and they gave us to understand by signs, that their people were hunting near us ; being able to make no more of what they said, M. Moranget was for knocking out their brains, to revenge their having murdered our companions, but I would not consent to it, since tliey had come confiding in us. I made signs to them to be gone, which they did as fast as they could, some small shot we fired into the air makin"- them run, and a cannon shot, I pointed towards the rising ground, wliere the rest were, put them all to flight. These accidents made us double our guards, since we were at open war with that crafty nation, vviiich let slip no opportunity to surprise us, and therefore penalties were appointed for sucii as should be found asleep upon sentinel ; the wooden- horse was set up for them without remission ; and by means of such precautions we saved our lives. Thus we spent the rest of the month, till the beginning of .Tune. In the meantime, M. de la Salle iiad begun to make another settle- ment, in the place he before told us of, looking upon it as better, be- cause it was further up the country. To tiiat purpose he sent to us the Sieur de Villeperdry, with two canoes and orders for the Sieur Moranget to repair to him, if he were recovered, and that all the men should march, except thirty of the ablest to make a good de- fence, who were to stay with me in the fort. The rest being seventy persons, as well men and women, as children, set out with the Sieur Moranget; and we-Tjeing but a small number remaining, I caused the fort to be brought into a less compass, to save posting so many sentinels. Our little company began to take satisfaction in tiie ease of getting, and the nature of our provisions, which a greater number has more .^ffii. ijii: ,{:<■"! b ','n- III 114 HISTOniCAl. C0LI.ECTI0N8 OF LOUISIANA. difficulty to be supplied with, and which we iiad plenty of, by means of hunting and fishing, those being our principal employments, and we lived well enough contented, expecting to be removed. However, there were some malecontenta, who resolved to desert ; but finding a difficulty to put it in execution, for that they could neitiier get arms, I nor powder, nor ball, because the Sieur le Gros and I kept all locked i up, and were very vigilant, that none might be lavishly spent, they I took the cruel resolution to rid themselves of us. J. L That bloody massacre was to begin by me, when I was asleep, and then to proceed to the Sieur le Gros, who lay in the magazine, or warehouse, and was in no condition to defend himself, because his leg was still swollen, and put him to much pain. The execution was to be by stabbing. One of the conspirators revealed this to the Sieur Davault, a hunter, who immediately came and acquainted me. I did not just then take notice of what 1 had been told ; but in the evening, when they returned from hunting, I caused one to be se- cured, who presently confessed all. His accomplice was also seized, and it was very troublesome to secure them till the time when we should remove. About the middle of July, the bark La Belle came and anchored near us. An order was brought me from M. de la Salle, directing me to put aboard it all the effects that were in our fort, to make a float of the timber I had caused to be squared, if time would permit, if not, to bury it in the ground. Every man set his hand to the work, with all possible diligence, and our two prisoners were put aboard, as was also M. le Gros and his surgeon, with all our effects. The float was begun with immense labor, but the weather proving very stormy, and holding very long, I was obliged to cause what had been done to be taken in pieces, and to bury the timber in the sand, the best we could, that the natives might not find it. We then set out towards the place where the Indians had been en- camped, when M. de la Salle went the first time to see them. We found no creature, and lay there that night, and so proceeded along the sea coast without any accident to the camp of Sieur Hurie, which was a post in the way, where M. de la Salle had ordered all our effects to be laid up. It had no other inclosure but chests and bar- rels, but there was nothing to fear from the Europeans. We spent the night at that post, and two canoes coming thither the next morning I went aboard one of them with part of my company, and joined M. de la Salle the next day at the place where he had resolved to make his new settlement. I gave him .n ar^uount of all > i '^msmmm^^ms^m^t^mM^i^mmkmm [SIAN.A. plenty of, by means; 1 employments, and emoved. However, esert ; but finding a lid neitiier get arms, ind I kept all locked lavishly spent, they when I was asleep, ay in the magazine, himself, because his lin. The execution ! revealed this to the I and acquainted me, leen told ; but in the mused one to be se- plice was also seized, II the time when we 5 came and anchored de la Salle, directing 1 our fort, to make a if time would permit, set his hand to the prisoners were put 1, with all our effects, t the weather proving ;ed to cause what had he timber in the sand, id it. ! Indians had been en- me to see them. We id so proceeded along of Sieur Hurie, which 1 had ordered all our e but chests and bar- iropeans. IOCS coming thither the part of my company, e place where he had him .n ai^jount of all M«^^HM^u^i^<^iu^^t«@>4#>^wigi JOUTELS HISTORICAL JOURNAI,. 115 that had iiappcned, and was amazed to see things so ill begun and so little advanced. As for the plantation, the seed and grain put into the ground was either lost tlirough drougiit or eaten by birds or beasts. There were several dead, and among them the Sieur de Villeperdry ; many sick, and of that number jM. Cavelier, the priest; no shelter but a little square place staked in, where the powder was and some casks of brandy ; many other inconveniences there were, which made all things appear in a miserable condition. It was requisite to think of building a large lodgment ; M, de la Salle designed it, but the difficulty was to get proper timber for build- ing. There was a little wood where a good quantity might be had, but it was a league up the country, and we had neither carts nor horses to carry it ; however, M. de la Salle sent workmen thither, with others to guard them. The trees were cut down and squared, but the carpenters were so ignorant that M. de la Salle was forced to act the master-builder, and to mark out the pieces for the work he designed. Some of those pieces of timber were dragged to the camp over the grass and weeds the plain was covered with, after- wards the carriage of a gun was made use of; but all cost so much- labor that the ablest men were quite spent. This excessive toil, the poor sustenance the laboring men had, and that of\en retrenched as a penalty for having failed in doing their duty, the uneasiness M. de la Salle was under to see nothing succeed as he had imagined, and which often made him insult the men when there was little reason for it, all these things together afflicted very many so sensibly that they visibly declined, and above thirty died. The loss of so many men was followed by that of the master-carpen - ter, who was returning one evening with me, but I happening to step aside to kill some wild fowl, when I came to our habitation I found him not, and it was never known what became of him ; an accident which added to our vexation, for though he had but little skill at his trade, yet we stood in need of him. Notwithstanding all these disappointments, enough timber was carried, or rather dragged, to build the house M. de la Salle designed, and he was himself the architect. He marked out the lengths, the tenons and mortices, and made good the defect of the workmen ; and calling to mind that I had buried several pieces of timber at our first habitation, which might be of use, he ordered me to take two canoes and twenty men to go fetch them in the bark La Belle, which was with us. Being come to the place, we found the natives had discovered our P' w "i-fr"-""'" '^'- ■ »B..«..W»..g.. i ll^t i iiriT'^'iii'^^''^^llirM-'¥-f- ' no lllSTOniCAIi COLLECTIONS OP LOUISrANA. timber, and carried away some planks, to pick out the nails there were in them, which they value very much, to point their arrows. We labored to make a float, loaded the bark La Belle with the rest of the planks and other effects, and set out again. Some of tiie na- tives appeared whilst wc were at work, but seeing us advance to- ward them, with our arms in our hands, they (led. We returned safe to M. dc la Salle, who was glad to see us, though we had lost one of the canoes for want of its being well made fast to the float ; but the timber we brought was a mighty help towards car- rying on his design, and much fitter than what we had hewed in the wood with so much labor ; so that this timber occasioned the raising another structure contiguous to the former. All was covered with planks, and bullocks' hides over them. The apartments were divided, and all of them well covered. The stores had a place apart, and that dwelling had the name of St. Louis given it, as well as the neighboring bay. The Sieur le Gros, who had remained aboard the bark La Belle ever since the first voyage she made to our former habitation, was carried ashore to the new one, and l)is leg still swelling, the surgeon was apprehensive of a mortification, and advised him to consent to have it cut oft'. He did so, though with regret ; the operation was made, but a fever followed immediately, and he lived but two days, dying on the feast of the decollation of St. John Baptist, much lamented by all the men, and particularly by M. de la Salle, to whom he was very serviceable by reason of his general knowledge, aiid his par- ticular fidelity towards him. M. Oarpentier, son to the master of the works, and the Sieur Thibault, both of Rouen, and some others, died about the same time. M. de la Salle being desirous to take a progress, to find his fatal Mississippi River, and only expecting the recovery of his brother M. Cavelier, who was to bear him company, he began to make some preparations towards it, and in the meantime took some small jour- neys of four or five leagues about, but could learn nothing further than that it was a very fine country, hemmed in on one side by a small mountain which appeared at about fifteen or twenty leagues distance, beautified with very fine trees, and watered by many little rivers, whereof that on which we had built our habitation was the least. We called it La Riviere aux Boeufs, that is, the River of Bullocks, by reason of the great number of them there was about it. These bullocks are very like ours ; there are thousands of them, but instead of hair they have a very long curled sort of wool. »Ta)s(uitetifg»seim/»fi'' .7Sl^aa«*^^-^ 'Irtrmt '^y . ■• -T: ff the nails there t thoir arrows, lie with the rest Some of tiio na- us advance to- te see us, tliough veil made fast to elp towards car- ad hewed in the oned the raising as covered with ipartments were ad a place apart, it, as well as the rk La Belle ever tion, was carried the surgeon was consent to have ation was made, two days, dying uch lamented by to whom he was ge, aiid his par- the master of the some others, died , to find his fatal y of his brother an to make some some small jour- 1 nothing further n one side by a r twenty leagues id by many little abitation was the , is, the River of ere was about it. inds of them, but wool. ■ siS^sw**^ JOUTEI. S UlSTOKICAL JOljRNAI.. 117 M. dc la Salle studying all ways to fmd nut the river Mississippi, imagined it miglit full into the adjacent bay, and resolved to go view all tiio coasts about it, and to make use of tlie bark La Belle. Ac- cordingiy, ho ordered me to repair to the said bark, with live men and a canoe, into which he put his clothes and other ell'ects in several chests. That short voyage was very troublesome to us, by reason of the foul weather, with contrary winds and storms, which had like to have overwhehned us ; and what was still worse, we did not find the bark where we had left her. Wo went on a league further to no purpose, and provisions beginning to fall short, because we had been six days on the way, instead of three, we resolved to return to the place from whence we came. M. de la Salle seeing us return at a distance, came to meet us. Our report troubled him for the bark, which he stood in need of, so that he resolved to go himself to seek her. He embarked in a canoe, and sent mc another way, in another. After having wandered about all that day, and the next night, and the day following, wc at last per- ceived her, where she lay under shelter in a little creek, having been in danger of perishing by the foul weather wc had been in, and liad lost her boat, which was not well made fast. The bark was also discovered by M. de la Salle, who was on the other side, which made him draw near and land, whence he sent his canoe to tiie said bark, and M. Moranget, who commanded it, went aboard to meet bim. The loss of the boat troubled M. de la Salle. I sent a canoe to bring bin), but to no purpose ; however, the trunks were put aboard the bark. M. Cavalier, the priest, being recovered, M. de la Salle prepared to set out with all speed. He was pleased to honor me with the command during his absence, and left me an inventory of all that was in our habitation, consisting of eight pieces of cannon, two hun- dred firelocks, as many cutlasses, a hundred barrels of powder, three thousand weight of balls, about three hundred weight of other lead, some bars of iron, twenty packs of iron to make nails, some iron work and tools, as hatchets and the like. As for provisions, all that were left me amounted to twenty casks of meal, one cask and a half of wine, three-quarters of a cask of brandy, and for living creatures some few swine, a cock, and a hen ; which is very short of what has been published by the author of a book entitled, " The First Establishment in New France :" but the reason of it is, that he compiled his work upon the credit of relations, i; . f JiUij-*' 118 IIISTOBICAI, rol.LECTIONS OF I.OtJIBIANA. which wore as FuIhc as to the point of the ammunition and provisions remaining in our habitation when M. de la Salle set out that tine, as concorning the fort well conditioned, and the magazines or storeliouses under ground, which arc all imaginary, there being nothing but tlie house I have mentioned, palisaded with some old stakes. M. do la Salle farther ordered me not to receive any man of those he took along with him, unless they brought an order from him in writing ; nor to hold or admit of any communication with the natives, but rather to fire upon them, and some other partirulurs he thought fit to bo observed. He had made himself a coat of mail with small laths, to secure himself against the arrows, which he took along with him; he also took the canoes, and promised to send me one back. Five cannon shots were the signal of his departure. He took his way along the lower part of the river, to march by land along the neighboring bay, which was called of St. Lojis, tho canoes keeping within sight. I was left in the habitation wiil. ihirty- four persons, men, women, and children, and of that number were three Recollet Friars, the Sieur Hurie, who was to command in my absence, one of tho Sieurs Duhaut, the Sieurs Thibault, and a sur- geon. Our provisions being very small, and it being requisite to spare them for tho sick, we were obliged to apply ourselves to fishing and shooting. Both of them at first proved very unsuccessful, especially the latter, because we were not yet well ve .s 'd in them, and M. de la Salle had taken our huntsman along with him ; but at length ne- cessity made us more expert. We killed beeves, some of which I caused to be dried, and they wore a considerable help to subsist us. Some days after, the canoe M. de la Sallo had promised mc, arrived with three soldiers, who brought us the news of the loss of the hunts- man M. de la Salle had taken with him, and who had been found dead with cold in a ditch, where he had lain down to rest after hunt- ing, which troubled us all very much. They also informed us that M. de la Salle, advancing towards some dwellings the natives had abandoned after a small resistance, some of whom had been wounded as they fled, they had taken and brought a girl and a woman, who was shot through the thigh, of which she died. The canoe was a great help to us to carry what we killed, which being brought to our habitation, found employment for all persons, some to flay, others to cut up, and others to dry it. At other times I set some of our men to throw up a trench about our habitation. Thus we spent our time till about the middle of January, 1686, '■-^i^i^i-AtitjiaiijtsiitfiaBistsjaaw: N.\. n and provisions out that tine, as les or storehouses nothing but the kcs. iny man of those ler from him in with the natives, ulurs he thought mail with small 3 took along with nd mc one back. ver, to inarch by of St. L'uis, the ation wnl. ihirty- lat number were command in my bault, and a sur- cquisitc to spare es to fishing and essful, especially them, and M, de but at length ne- some of which I ilp to subsist us. mised mc, arrived loss of the hunts- I had been found to rest after hunt- informed us that ! the natives had lad been wounded nd a woman, who we killed, which t for all persons, . At other times 3ur habitation. »f January, 1686, •f -mm^»m>iA^^^^^^»"-' Joi'TELS iiisTonicAi. jornwi.. IIU when, being all, one evening, in our mansion, tho sentinel camo in to accjuaint nie that he hcanl a voice townnls tho river. Some men ran tiiitiior imnieiiiatcly, and found a niuii in a canoe, crying Donii- nick, wiiich was tho name of young Duhuut, wiio was with us. The sight of that niado mo apprehensive lest some disaster was befallen M. de la Salle. I drew near and perceived it was Duhaut the elder that wns returned. I asked him whether he had any letters from M. do la Salle; he an- swered ho Imil not. It gave mc some uneasiness, considering I was forbid admitting any man without an order in writing, and I was almost resolved to secure him ; but tho account he gave mo of the occasion of his returning, wholly cleared him. I admitted him, and he told me the whole matter, as follows : M. de la Salic, having stayed some time on the sea shore, near the place where the bark was at anchor, he resolved to try the anchor- ing places of the coasts round alxiut, to know how near the bark La Belle might come. To that purpose he sent the pilot with five of tho best men to sound. The pilot did as he was ordered, he sounded and observed the pro- per places to come near several coasts. At night he and his men being in all likelihood tired, they thought fit to go ashore and lie upon the land. They made a fire, perhaps to dress some meat, but neglecting to stand upon their guard they were surprised, and all six of them killed by the suvages ; who also broke their canoe, and thus avenged themselves for the irruption M. de la Salle had lately made among them. More time being elapsed than M. de la Salle had allotted those men to return, he grew uneasy and went himself along the coast, to see if any news could be had of them, and keeping along the shore he found the sad remains of those unfortunate wretches, whose car- cases, scattered about, were torn and almost devoured by wolves or wild dogs, a spectacle which went to his heart. However, this loss which afflicted him, and particularly for the sake of the pilot, who was an able man, did not quite cast him down ; but exerting himself against his misfortunes he caused flesh to be dried, and with that and the other provisions he victualled the bark La Belle. He caused it to advance into the bay, put a good number of men on board to secure it, among whom were M. Chedeville, the priest, and Planterose of Rouen, and ordered them not to stir from that place till they heard from him, and not to go ashore, unless with a good guard and necessary precautions. i.^ 120 iriflToniCAI. ( Ol.l.f.rTloNH OF rnt'lHIWA. ■',' Next, ho clioso out Iwonty men, cmliarkcil im two canoes lir Imd left, mid lii'in;^ conu^ usiiorc, ciuiscil tin- cuiiocs tn Ix' sunk in llio riv(>r, uinl every man lo tnko u|t liis biinille, consisting of urnis, iciols, sonin utensils for the lutchen, ii few j,'oo(ls to trade with the natives, if ho should llnd any socialde, anil so advanced into tl;o country, to try if nny notice could he had of the Mississippi. After several ilays' march, they came to ii gfxid pleasant river, wiiich they aHerwards called lia Maligne. M. do la Salle marching at tho head of the company, and havinjf imlered M. Mciranget to kcip in the rear, it happened that Dulmut siopiiing to mend his knapsack and shoes which were in a had condition, the Sicur Morangc^t coming up, commanded him to march ; he desired him to stay a little, Moran- get would not, but held on his way. Duhaut followed some lime alter, but having stayed too long, he could not overtake the company, and found himself about night-fall in a plain full of weeds, where there were several Irackt. tho way cattle had gone, but knew not wh.ch of them to take, lie fired his piece several times without hearing any- thing of his company, and was obliged to pass the night in thar same place. In tho morning he shot again, spent the day and night again in that place, so that noc knowing what to do, he returned the same way he had gone, and after a month's march, for ho travelled only by night, for fenr of meeting with the savages, living upon what he killed with much ditTiculty and danger, having before spmt all his own provisions, at length, a*\cr most unaccountable hardships and suf. ferings, he arrived at the place where the canoes had been sunk, He took one of thorn uj), with incredible labor, and too long to relate, and so came to our habitation of St. Louis. Thus it ideased God that ho who was to be one of the murderers of M. do la Salle, should come otr safe, and surmount almost infinite dangers. This account, which seemed to carry the face of probability, pre- vailed with inc to receive the Sicur Duhaut, and in reality I could do no otherwise, and I made it my business to examiiie into his beha- ^vior, but could find nothing to lay to his charge. Wc continued .some time longer b3 we had been before; during which, I caused another little wooden structure to be made of timber 1 had got together, and in it I lodged the women and maidens by themselves. Having hitherto said nothing of the situation of our dwelling of St. Louis, nor of the nature of the country wc were in, I will here venture upon a plain but true description. We were in about the 27th degree of north latitude, two Icagueis i^^ltj.iHisKi'iSH.-nA^f'^A'^:*^ i .;ii»iW.&fei*ie"-^«*«**i'**«i*M!5«^^ canoes iir liail lio Hiitik ill tli(> |n; f)f urilis, tools, »itli tllO lllltivC8, 1 the country, to pleasant river, . Salle niiirihing liimnj^ct to keep ml Ills knapsack ilorangtit coming Y a little, Moian- sonic linio alter, e conipany, and [•(Is, where there lew not wh cli of out hcaiiii;^ any- glit in that same I night again in ed the same way ravelled only by [ upon what ho dire spt lit all his ardship:jand nut- had been sunk, oo long to relate, s it pleased God 5 la Salle, should probability, pre- cality I could do le into his beha- We continued which, I caused had got together, selves. Having ing of St. Louis, ill here venture ide, two leagues ■"^^ifi^ JOUTKI/S MIBTOniCAI. JdlHlNAi-, 191 ,«-te»»ftW-: up tlic e-untry, near the bay of St. Loui.s ond the hank of the river aux IJo'ijCs, on a little hillock, whence wo discovered vast and beau, tiful plu.ui extending very far to the westward, all level and full of greens, wliwh atlord pasture to an iiilinito number of beeves and other criaiureH. Turning from the west to the southward, there appoareil other plains ill orncd with several little woods of several sorts of trees. Towards tiio south and east were the bay and the plains that hem it in fio.n the east; to the northward was the river running along by a little hill, beyond which there were other large plains, with some little tufts of wood at small distances terminating in a border of wood, whith seemed to us to be very high. Between that little hill and our dwelling, was a sort of marsh, and in it abundance of wild fowl, os curlews, water hens and other sorts. In the marsh there were little pools full of fish. We had also an infi. nite number of beeves, wild goat-j, rabbits, turkeys, bustards, geese, swans, fieldfares, plovers, teal, partridges and many other sorts of fowl fit to cat, and among thorn one caded lo grand gosier, or the great gullet, because it has a very large one ; another us big and lleshy as a pul- let, which we called the spatula, because its beak is shaped like one, and the feathers of it being of a pale red, arc very beautiful. As for (ish, we had .several sorts in the river and in the lakes 1 liavo mentioned. The river allbrded a sort of barbel, dilleriiig from ours in roundness, in their having three bones sticking out, one on the back, the others on each side of the head, and in the (lesli, which is like cod, and without scales. The river supplied us with abundance of other fishes, whose names we know not. The sea allbrded us oysters, eels, trout, a sort of red fishes and others, whose long, sharp and hard beak tore all our nets. We had plenty both of land and sea tortoises, whoso eggs served to season our sauces. The land tortoises differ from those of the sea, as being smaller, round, and their shell more beautiful. They hide theniselv^ in holes they find or make int he earth. It was in looking for these tortoises that oneof ouv surgeons thrust his arm into a hole, and was bit by some venomous creature, which we supposed to be a sort of toad, having four feet, the top of his back sharp and very hard, with a little tail. Whether it was this creature or a * snake, his arm swelled very much ; however, he was cured by such applications as were made use of, tut it cost him a finger, which was cut off. Among the venomous sorts of snakes, as vipers, asps and others, !(i ^ m ..■t(^58t.V«iS»J=S''---'- m" -W'lTiir.ifrii m fSilSVi . 122 HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OP LOUISIANA. whereof there are many, those called rattle-snakes are the most common. They generally lie among the brambles, where they make a noise by the motion of two scales they have at the end of tlieir tail, which is heard at a considerable distance, and therefore they are called rattle-snakes. Some of our men had eaten of them and found their flesh was not amiss, and when we had killed any of them, our swine made a good meal. There are also many alligators in the rivers, some of them of a frightful magnitude and bulk. I killed one that was between four and five foot about, and twenty feet in length, on which our swine feasted. This creature has very short legs, insomuch that it rather drags along than walks, and it is easy to follow the track of it, either among the weeds or on the sands, where it has been. It is very ravenous, and attacks either men or beasts when they are within reach in the river, and comes also ashore to seek for food. It has this particular quality, that it flies from such as pursue, and pursues those who fly from it. I have shot many of them dead. The woods are composed of trees of several sorts. There are oaks, some of ♦.hem ever-green and never without leaves ; others like ours in Europe, bearing a fruit much like our galls, and lose their leaves in winter, and another sort not unlike ours in France, but the bark of them thicker ; these as well as the second sort bear an acorn, differing from ours both in taste and bigness. There is a sort of tree which bears small berries, which, when ripe, are red, and indifferent pleasant. It bears twice a year, but the second crop never ripens. There is another tree, bearing a fruit not unlike cassia, in taste and virtue. There are others of the sort I had seen in the islands, whose leaves are like rackets, whence the tree bears the name. The bios- soms grow out about the leaves, and of them comes a fruit somewhat resembling figs, but the leaves and the fruit are full of prickles, which must be carefully rubbed and taken off, before it is eaten, else they dangerously inflame the mouth and the throat, and may prove mortal, as happened to one of our soldiers, who had eaten of them too greedily, and without that precaution. I have seen some trees resembling the palm, whose lofty and long 'branches spread like that called the latanier, bearing a fruit said to be indiflferent good. Others of the same sort, but whose leaves are like gutters, harsh and so sharp pointed that they will pierce the thickest stufis. This tree has a sprout on the top which shoots out flowers in the shape of a nosegay, of a whitish yellow, and some of them at ilANA. ikcs are the most s, where they make he end of their tail, therefore they are I of them and found d any of them, our some of them of a : was between four m which our swine much that it rather le track of it, either been. It is very ;n they are within ik for food. It has )ursuc, and pursues n dead. sorts. There are leaves ; others like galls, and lose their in France, but the sort bear an acorn, erries, which, when s twice a year, but ler tree, bearing a the islands, whose B name. The blos- es a fruit somewhat re full of prickles, before it is eaten, le throat, and may s, who had eaten of hose lofty and long Eiring a fruit said to /hose leaves are like 1 pierce the thickest shoots out flowers in d some of them at JOUTEl/s HiaruUlCAL JOURNAL. 138 the top of that sprout have sixty or eighty flowers hanging down, not unlike the flower de luce, and after those flowers follows a fruit as long as a man's flngcr, and thicker than the thumb, full of little seeds, so that there is scarce anything but the rind fit to eat, the taste whereof is sweet and delicate. There are abundanceof creeping vines, and others that run up the bodies and to the tops of trees, which bear plenty of grapes, fleshy and sharp, not to compare to the delicacy of ours in Europe ; but we made verjuice of them, which was very good in sauce. Mul- berry trees are numerous along the rivers ; their fruit is smaller, but sweeter and more delicious than ours; their leaves are beautiful and large, which would be of good use for feeding of silkworms. The plains are strewed with a sort of small sorrel, the leaf whereof is like trefoil, and the taste of it sharp like ours. There are abun- dance of small onions no bigger than the top of a man's finger, but very well tasted, and when the heat has scorched up the plains, that plant shoots out first, and produces flowers which look like an agree- able enamel. Nothing is more beautiful than to behold those vast plains when the blossoms appear; a thousand sorts of different colors, whereof many have an agreeable scent, adorn those fields, and aflTord a most charming object to the eye. I have observed some that smelt like a tuberose, but the leaf resembles our borage. I have seen primroses having a scent like ours, African gilliflowers, and a sort of purple wind flowers. The autumn flowers are almost all of them yellow, so that the plains look all of that color. The climate is mild and temperate, though we were about 21° of north latitude, and yet the seeds I caused to be sowed did not thrive ; whether it was because they had been soaked in the sea water, or for any other reason. Some came up pretty well, as pompions, melons, parsnips and endive ; but the beasts and the insects left us not much. When we come to the Cenis, and have traversed so many nations as lay between us and them, I shall speak of the reli- gion, manners, -clothinaJiouses, and customs of the natives, wherein they differ but little fii«l«ne another, though of several countries. M. de la Salle IM beea^ow long gone, and we began to be in pain for him, wheniabottt t» middle of March, 1686, happening to be on the top of the>>^(mA spied seven or eight persons coming towards us. T presently ordered eight armed men to follow me, to go meet them, and as soon as we drew near them we knew M. de la Salle, M. Cavelier, his brother, M. Moranget, his nephew, and five or .AaatfSfi^'^'J^-aggia m HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OP LOUISIANA. m six men with tliem, the rest being gone another way to find out the bark La Belle, to give notice of M. de la Salle's arrival. They were in a bad condition, their clothes ragged ; M. Cavelier's short cassock hung in tatters ; most of them had not hat ), and their linen was no better ; however, the sight of M. de la Salle rejoiced us all. The account he gave us of his journey revived our hopes, though he had not found the fatal river, and we thought only of making ourselves as merry as we could. Only the sight of the Sieur Duhaut interrupted it for some time. M. de la Salle asked me in an angry manner, why I had received him, and Duhaut having given his reasons, as I and my men did, we were all satisfied. The next day, the Sieurs le Barbier, Biborel, Le Petit, Cavelier, the nephew, the surgeon and others, whom M. de la Salle had sent to find out and carry advice to the bark La Belle, returned, and said they could not find her, which was another fresh cause of much un- easiness to M. de la Salle. He had been guilty of the fault of put- ting aboard her, his clothes, his linen, his papers, and all his best effects, of all which he was then in the utmost need. Besides, that loss broke all the measures he had concerted during his last expedi- tion, because he had resolved to cause the said bark to go up one of the rivers he had discovered, to advance towards those nations, with whom he had contracted some friendship, and to send me in the same bark, with his nephew Moranget, to the islands to seek for some assistance, or else to return by sea to look for his river. All these designs being disappointed, he resolved to set out a second time, and travel by land, to find out his river. He stayed to rest him a while, and to provide for his departure, but having neither linen nor clothes, I supplied him with some I had ; I also afforded some linen to M. Cavelier, his brother, and M. Moranget, his nephew. All I had was at their service, and I deprived myself of all that was fit for them, even to ten or twelve pounds of strings of beads, and some knives and nails, which M. de la Salle took. The Sieur Duhaut, having several effecti other tools and commodities, which had wreck, M. de la Salle took linen to ma as also the tools they stood in need o MM. Thibault, Le Gros, and Carpentier' distributed. A great belt I had, served to ma. Salle and M. Cavelier. * All things being thus provided, M. de la Salle took twenty men along with him, among whom were M. Cavelier, his brother, F. linen, hatchets, and ed from the ship- 'pT such as wanted, thes belonging to re dead, were also shoes for M.. de l» <.i>4»ii i li»Atte i-iii wii'*""" ^mSStjf^msm?; i0' [ANA. vay to (ind out the irrival. ged ; M.Cavelier's not hat -9, and their le la Salle rejoiced revived our hopes, e thought only of f the sight of the , de la Salle asked ind Duhaut having all satisfied. Le Petit, Cavelier, i la Salle had sent returned, and said muse of much un- >f the fault of put- s, and all his best 3ed. Besides, that !ng his last expedi- irk to go up one of those nations, with ind me in the same to seek for some river. Ived to set out a rer. He stayed to but having neither id ; I also afforded anget, his nephew, self of all that was ings of beads, and inen, hatchets, and ('ed from the ship- br such as wanted, bthes belonging to 'e dead, were also shoes for M.. de l» ! took twenty men r, his brother, F. joutel's historical journal. 125 Anastasius, a Recollet, M. Moranget, his nephew, the Sieurs Riborel, Le Clerk, Hurier, Duhaut, the younger, Hicns, his surgeon, and his servants. He left behind those who were not fit to undertake that second journey, among whom were little M. Cavelier, his nephew, the Sieur Barbier, Canadien, and some others. Each of the travel- lers made up his pack, and they set out towards the latter end of April, 1686, after having given me the necessary orders, and we parted without ceremony, M. de la Salle desiring it should be so. Some days af\er he was gone, I heard a voice towards the lower part of the river, crying twice qui vive, or wiio arc you for. I made that way, and perceived the Sieur Chedeville, a priest, the Sieur de la Sablonniere, and some others of those who had been put aboard the bark La Belle, and were now in a canoe. I asked abruptly what was become of the bark, and was informed, our continual mis- fortunes still pursuing us, that it had run aground on the other side of the bay. I caused the canoe to be unloaded, there being in it, among other things, M. de la Salle's clothes, part of his papers, some linen, a small quantity of beads, and thirty or forty pounds of meal, which was all they had lefl. The next day, M. de Chedeville told me the particulars of that misfortune, and said, that having been some time with the bark, in the place where M. de la Salle had appointed them to wait, their water falling short, they had thought fit to send the boat ashore, with four or five casks to fill ; that the Sieur Planterose went in it with six of the best men. That towards evening they saw the boat coming back, but the wind bein^. contrary and night coming on, they put out a light, which going out and the captain neglecting to put up another, in all likelihood the boat could not see the bark, and they never heard of it after, nor of any of those in it, who, it was probable, had all perished. That nevertheless, they continued some days in the same place, during which time three or four of their men died ; and at last, having no water, they eat up their swine, before they died with thirst, and resolved to weigh anchor and draw near to the dwelling; but having few hands and those spent, and to add to their misfortune the wind proving contrary, they were driven to the other side of the bay, where they run aground. That having no boat, nor men enough to land their effects, they had endeavored to make a float with some casks and planks, but that being ill made and joined together, the first that went upon it had perished. That having made another float better fastened together • > 'k 1 i'i P .MiM^ T.' 'iTiifr,;-' , i-'^tii ^M& rag' :asBfv^ 126 mSTOKICAL COLLECTIONS OF LOUtSIANA. than the first, they had by that means saved some sails and rigging, several inconsiderable things, linen, clothes and papers belonging to M. de la Salle and others, and then stayed ashore, expecting to hear some news, and had found a canoe, being the same that was before lost on the edge of the bay, which had been driven to the other side ; and that provisions at last beginning to fall short, they went aboard the said canoe and came to us ; fortunate in that they had not been discovered by the natives, during their stay ashore, which was for the space of three months, and in finding the canoe to bring them back. When M. de la Salle went away, the Sieur Barbier had taken upon him to go a hunting, as also to provide bark to cover our houses, instead of hides, because the &un drying and contracting them, part of the top of our buildings was uncovered. I farther enjoined him to cut slakes, to make a palisade about our dwelling, and the Sieur Chedeville having told me they had buried several things they could not bring away, I sent the Sieur Barbier with two canoes and fifteen men to the place, where they found some pedreroes, rigging and sails. The natives having discovered the concealment, had taken away some pieces of linen and iron tools, which they very much covet. The Sieur Barbier after his return, continuing his exercise of hunting, happened to meet with a parcel of the natives, some of whom had firelocks which they had taken from our men, and with which they made some shots at him, but very weak ; and he firing three or four shot at them, they retired. He was then in a canoe on the river, and designed to have gone upwards ; but that rencontre having obliged him to take another way, and the savages perceiving it, eight of them swan over the river, hastening to get before the canoe, hid themselves among the weeds, near the way he was to pass, and when he was near enough, let fly their arrows, which wounded several men. One shot the Sieur Barbier made, put them all to flight again ; he held on his way and returned to our habita- tion. Some days after, we perceived a herd of bullocks flying, and guessed they were pursued by the savages, which afterwards ap- peared to be true. Some of them drew near to our habitation, but a cannon shot 1 pointed towards the gang of them, and a musket-shot M. Barbier fired at the nearest, made them all fly farther oflT. When the Sieur Barbier went out a hunting, I commonly sent with him some women and maids, to help the hunters to dress and ^i^t: .:^iA- UtSIANA. me sails and rigging, 1 papers belonging to ire, expecting to hear same that was before ,'cn to the other side ; ort, they went aboard lat they had not been shore, which was for canoe to bring them r Barbier had taken k to cover our houses, lontracting them, part farther enjoined him elling, and the Sieur cral things they could wo canoes and fifteen idreroes, rigging and icealment, had taken hich they very much luing his exercise of the natives, some of >m our men, and with weak ; and he Aring as then in a canoe on I J but that rencontre le savages perceiving ing to get before the r the way he was to their arrows, which irbier made, put them eturned to our habita- bullocks Hying, and ivhich afterwards ap- I our habitation, but a 3m, and a musket-shot fly farther off. ing, I commonly sent hunters to dress and JOUTELa IHSTORICAL JOURNAL. 127 dry the flosh ; but being informed that he used to slip aside from the company, with a young maid he had a kindness for, and which gave occasion to some well-grounded railleries, the said Uarbier being told I was acquainted with that affair, came and spoke to nie in pri- vate, desiring leave to marry that young woman. 1 made some diffi. culty of it at first, advising him to stay till M, de la Salle returned ; but at last, considering they might have anticipated upon matrimony, I took the advice of the Recollet Fathers, and of M. Chedeville, the priest, and allowed them to marry. M. le Marquis de la Sablonniere following tiiis example, asked the same liberty, being in love with a young maid, which I absolutely refused, and forbid them seeing one another. Some time passed in which nothing happened to us worth observ- ing; however, I will mention two things which befel our Recollet Fathers. One was, that Father Anastasius, being a hunting bullocks witii nn>, and coming too near one I had shot, and was fallen, the beast, as much hurt as he was, started up, attacked and threw him down ; he had much ado to get off, and I to rescue him, because I durst not shoot for fear of killing him. The bullock being weak, fell again ; the Father was delivered, but lay ill some months. The other was, that Father Maximus had written some memoirs concerning M. de la Salle's conduct, condemning him upon several occasions. I was told of it, found means to get those memoirs, threw them into the fire, and so the Father came off. About the same time, most of our men seeing M. de la Salle did not return, began to mutter. The Sieur Duhaut, who, perhaps, had been the first fomenter of those discontents, backed the complaints of the disgusted party, promised them great matters under his conduct, and offered to supply them with such effects as he had in possession, endeavoring, as I suppose, by those means to gain their affections, for a mischievous design, which it is likely he had even then con- ceived. It was not long Ijefore I had intimation of the whole affair, and I had done M. de la Salle a singular piece of service, had I then put to death the person who was to be his murderer ; but I rested satisfied with giving him a severe reprimand, and threatening to cause him to be secured if he persisted, being able to do no other under my circumstances. However, I talked to all concerned, and put them in such hopes of M. de la Salle's return, and that things would soon change to their satisfaction, that they were all pacified. But in regard that idleness often occasions uneasiness and impa- **•: ^ . MiM .. ?•', i "jfl ; v,f . 128 HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF LOUISIANA. i^ ^ ticnce, I used all possible means to keep them employed in tlio most obliging manner I could, setting some to cut down the bushes about our dwelling, others to hew down trees that hindered the prospect, others to mow the grass that fresh might grow up for our cattle ; and at night I made them divert themselves with dancing and singing. Whilst we thus passed away the time the best we could, M. de la Salle had penetrated very far up into the country, inclining towards the nortliern part of Mexico. He had travelled through several nations, the inhabitants whereof were, for the most part, sociable, and had concluded a sort of alliance with them, and particularly with the Cenis and others whose names I shall mention. He had discovered charming countries abounding in all things that could be wished, as well for sustenance as for making of easy settlements, and after he and his nephew Moranget had escaped two dangerous sicknesses, he returned to our habitation with five horses he had purchased, and arrived at it in August, 1686. Hearing of his voice, I was one of the first that ran towards the river. We took our canoes to bring him, his luggage and some pro- visions over, and the horses swam. We were extraordinary glad to see our commander-in-chief return safe, though his journey had not advanced his design. M. de la Salle had not found out his river, nor been towards the Illinois as we had hoped. Only eight men returned with him of twenty he carried out, and all the visible advantage of that journey consisted in five horses, laden with Indian wheat, beans and some other grain, which was put into the store. M. de la Salle asked me, as soon as he came, whether the Sieurs Clerc, Hurie, Duhaut the younger and two others, were come, be- cause they not being able to endure the fatigue of the journey, he had given them leave to return, and hearing they were not, he con- cluded the savages had killed them. We were also informed that the Sieur Biborel had strayed and was lost, so that there had been no news of him since ; that one of M. de la Salle's servants had been dragged down to the bottom of the water and devoured by an alii- gator, and that four others had deserted and abandoned M. de la Salle, when he was about the country of the Cenis. This was a very dismal and deplorable account; but the even temper of our chief made all men easy, and he found, by his great vivacity of spirit, expedients which revived the lowest ebb of hope. He rejoiced at the return and sight of M. Chedeville ; he was pleased at the recovering of his clothes and part of his papers ; and after some time of rest, he proposed to undertake a journey towards the ,'i':?'-ifm'^wi. ANA. iloyed in the most the bushes about !red the prospect, ar our cattle ; and ig and singing. '8 could, M. de la inclining towards 1 through several )st part, sociable, and particularly nention. He had ings that could be ' easy settlements, ed two dangerous ve horses he had t ran towards the age and some pro- raordinary glad to is journey had not and out his river. Only eight men nd all the visible laden with Indian t into the store, ivhether the Sieurs rs, were come, be- if the journey, he were not, he con- ilso informed that ; there had been no servants had been voured by an alii- landoned M. de la 3. unt ; but the even found, by his great awest ebb of hope, le ; he was pleased papers j and after lurney towards the sif; ■'M joutel's historical jouunal. 190 Illinois, and to make it the main business, by the way, to find the Mississippi ; but it was thought proper to let tiie great heats pass before tliat enterprise was taken in hand. In the mean time he gave orders to stake about a place to make a new magazine, or storehouse. He put to tliat use tiie timber I had caused to be cut, and would have more provided for the same use. Detachments being sent to work, seven or eight of our men, who were sent with the Sieur Barbier, were discovered by the savages, who being superior in number, made as if they would hem them in ; but each of our men iiaving taken a tree upon their shoulders and fired tlieir pieces, which made one of the natives drop, the others took him up and withdrew. Yet it was not long before they were revenged, for they killed us two men, one of them close by our dwelling, and the other, \tho had separated from tiie rest of the company to gather purslain, and could not be relieved. There being every day some discourse of the journey to the Illinois, M. de la Salle asked me one day whether 1 would make one of the company, and go by the way of Canada to France for succors. I assured him I was entirely devoted to his will, and would faithfully attend him. Then he began by degrees to provide what lie thought necessary for that expedition. I had two pair of sheets which he took to make him linen. Canvas clothes were made of tiie sails of the bark La Belle. The Sieur Duhaut having linen, he took some to distribute among several persons. Thus he hasted on the execu- tion of his design, but an accident put it ofi". It was occasioned by a flux which troubled M. de la Salle, who, having told me he could not perform that journey as long as he con- tinued in such condition, I oflTered to undertake it for him, if he would allow me his Indian, and about fifteen men ; but he answered, that his presence was requisite among the Illinois, and that it was requisite his brother should go to France. Thus he refused my offer, and could not shun the ill fate of that journey. We spent, some time longer after this manner, during which there arose a controversy about the privileges the King grants to the first-born of the French colonies in America. The Sieur Barbier's wife was with child, and he claimed the privilege granted for that child. The widow Talon had a child born in the passage from France to America, and alleged that her child, though born before our arrival, ought to be preferred ; but the Sieur Barbier's wife miscarrying, the dispute was not decided. M. de la Salle being recovered of liis indisposition, preparations 10 ifll .■l^;.^>ai^fc ..aiifi-m-*" 180 lltSTOniCAL COLLECTIONS OF LOUISIANA, were again made for his journey ; but we first kept the Ciiristmas holyilays. The midnight mass was solemnly sung, and on twclAh day, we cried, the king drinks (according to the custom of France), though we had only water ; when that was over we began to think of setting out. M. de la Salle gave the command of the settlement to the Sieur Barbier, directing him what he was to do and observe in his absence. There remained in that habitation, the Fathers Ma.ximus and Ze- nobius, Recollets, M. Chedeville the priest, the Marquis de la Sablon- niere, the Sieur Barbier, commander, his wife, a surgeon and others, to the number of twenty, among whom were seven women or maidp^ and only the Sieur Barbier married ; which is much short of the number some have given out remained in the dwelling, without any ground; for the truth is, there were no more, and particularly no natives, M. de la Salle having absolutely forbidden holding any com- munication with them. As for beasts they amounted to seventy, or seventy-five swine, great and small, which was a good stock ; for fowl, eighteen or twenty hens ; some casks of meal, which was kept for the sick ; powder, ball, and eight pieces of cannon, without any bullets. We set out the 12th of January, in the year 1C87, being seventeen in number, viz. M. de la Salle, M. Cavelier, the priest, his brother. Father Anastasius, the Recollet, MM. Moranget and Cavelier, nephews to M. de la Salle, the Sieurs Dehaut, the elder, L'Arcleveque, Hiensi Liotot, surgeon, young Talon, an Indian, and a footman belonging to M. de la Salle, &c. We carried along with us part of the best things every man had, and what was thought would be of use, where- with the five horses were loaded, and we took our leaves with so much tenderness and sorrow, as if wc had all presaged that wc should never see each other more. Father Zenobius was the person who expressed it to me most significantly, saying, he had never been so sensibly touched at parting with anybody. We went that day to the place we called Lo Boucon, because there we had often dried flesh (which the French call boucanner from the Indian word). This place was not far from our habitation. The 13th we crossed a plain, about two leagues over, where we saw seve- ral herds of beeves and flocks of goats, turkeys, bustards, and other sorts of wild fowl. We met with marshy lands, which tired our horses, and came to a wood that terminates the jilain, across which runs a branch of a river full of reeds, by M. de la Saile called the ^^mi^)>tmmmmmiS^i^^»MsmiW^fSS6i»^^Mi: ym^S^fM^-^> ii"''^r^-'' '-^ pt tlic Cliristmas ig, and on twclAh stoni of Frunce), ve began to tliink of tlio settlement Jo and observe in Maximus and Ze- }uis de la Sablon- irgeon and others, women or maids^ lucli short of the ling, without any 1 particularly no holding any com- ed to seventy, or good stock ; for 1, which was kept mon, without any r, being seventeen liest, his brother, I!avelier, nephews rcleveque, Miens, man belonging to part of the best be of use, where- ir leaves with so iresaged that we IS was the person 3 had never been an, because there Licanner from the habitation. The ere we saw seve- stards, and other which tired our in, across which Baile called the JOlITELa IIISTORICAI, JOUKNAI.. 181 Princess's river. That branch joins the otiier, and they both fell to- gether into the l)ay of St. Louis. We killed five beeves at the entrance into the wood, forded the river, and encamped half a league beyond it, whence M. do la Salle sent men with the horses to bring the flesh of the bullocks wo liad killed ; ihe hides of them, which served to cover us, b ;ing very use ful against a violent shower of rain that fell. The 14th, the rain ceasing, wc travelled over another spacious plain, where there is a multitude of beeves and wild fowl. Wo saw seve- ral tracks, leading every way, made by the bullocks, of which we saw several iierds, some moving on hastil", and others running out- right, which made us suppose they were driven by the natives. In short, having halted to help up one of our horses that had fallen, wc saw an Indian following them very close. M. de la Salle caused a horse to be immediately unloaded, which a man mounted, rode after, overtook, and brought the Indian. When the savage saw himself among us, he concluded he was a lost man j he quaked lor fear, and not without reason, for most of our men had resolved to kill him ; M. de la Salle opposed it, alleging that we were but a small number, that very few were left behind at the habitation, and therefore we ought not to render ourselves odious to the natives, but to use them kindly, that we might have peace ; an infallible maxim, the practice of whicli might have been fortunate to him, had he followed it sooner. He therefore caused a fire to be made, gave him to eat and smoke, and afterwards a bit of roll-tobacco, and some other trifles. M. de la Salle gave him to understand that he came not to hurt any man, but to settle peace in all places, and so dismissed him. The Indian recovered himself a little of his fright, but being still dubious what his fate might be, he at first walked away gently, still looking about him, and when at a good distance made olF as fast as he could. We held on our way, and soon after saw another Indian running after the bullocks. .M. de la Salic caused him to be taken, brought to us, and treated as the first had been. We had not gone far before we spied a company of natives com- ing towards us, on our left, but we held on our vay till they were over agninst us, when M. de la Salle caused us to halt. The sava- ges seeing us halt, stood still also, which M. de la Salle perceiving, he laid his firelock on the ground, and advanced towards thoni, mak- ing signs to him that commanded them, who was a handsome man, to draw near. That Indian came forward, and was followed by the 132 msToniCAT, cou.r.cTioNfl op i.ouipiana. 'W » ' rest, all of them caressing us after tlieir manner, which wc rrtumcd tlic l)esl wo W(>rc a\)\o, and then mmlc liicni smokn. Next M. lie la Snllo gnve tliem to nnderstiimi, that we were },'oing towards tiic Cenis, that we desired to he at peace with them all, and that we would return to our own coimtiy. whence we would bring liiciu all they had occasion for. Then we dislrihiitnl among them some hits of roU-tohacco, some strings of beads, and knives, which thoy seemed to be pleased with, and all tiiis was done by signs. Then every man went iiis own way. We advanced half a league farther, to get into a wood, where .M. de la Sullo had encamped when ho went that way before ; wc cut down trees to secure our post, and lay there that night. Before our entrenchment was fuiislied, wo discovered, first one Indian, then two, and afterwards three, coming one after another; which giving M. do la Salle some jealousy, he caused us to handle our arms, with orders to stand upon our guard. Tor fear of being surprised, and went towards them. They signified to him, that tlieir peoi)le had told them wc did not iiurt anybody, wiiicii was very well, and that they were come to see us. They were enter- tained as the others had licen, and then signs were made to them to withdraw, because night drew on, and having oljserved that they took notice of our fortifying ourselves, we kept a good guard all the night, without any disturbance. Tlie 15th, we marched on, intending to find out a ford, in the river called the Princess, wiiere M. de la Salle had passed before ; but missing it, and the river being swollen, we were obliged to go up higher, sometimes crossing curious meadows, and sometimes woods of tall trees of several sorts, but all young, of the same thickness, and straight, looking as if they had been planted by a line. The river running through the midst of those curious shady groves, which were also watered by several little brooks of very clear and good water, atfordcd a most delightful landscape. We also met with some woods so thick, that it was requisite to hew a passage for the horses. Towards the evening we killed a bullock, and went to encamp in a little coppice, with our usual pre- cautions. The Kith, wc continued our journey, still following the river up- wards, and from time to time meeting the same sort of j)asture grouniis and the obstacles of woods, where wc were fain to cut our way through, wliich fatigued us very much ; but the plenty of wild fowl, and particularly of turkeys, whereof we killed many, was an jfe;*SS&*''~- NA. liieli wo rrtvirned at wo were going n with thorn nil, vhriiec we would listriljutul nmong ^ads, niid knives, I'as dniio hy signs. !C(1 liulf a league d encamped wlien jure our post, and lovcred, first one 10 after another ; he caused us to uard, Tor fear of signified to him, ,rbody, wiiich was ['hey were entcr- } made to tliein to jbsorved tliat they ood guard all the ut a ford, in the Salle had passed iwollcn, we were )us meadows, and all young, of the I been planted by a osc curious shady tie brooks of very indscapo. t was requisite to jninc we killed a 'ith our usual pre- fing the river up- le sort of pasture ere fain to cut our the plenty of wild ed many, was an JOUTEl/tl IIIrtToBlCAI. JOUIINAI.. i»n ease to our suflerings, and help to bear our toil w ith more satisfac- tion. Tile 17th was a very toilsome day's journey, by reason of the woods and rivulets wo were to cross ; after which we came to a little iiill, on wliich there were 2 or 300 cottages of the natives. Those huts wrro like large ovens, consisting of long poles stuck in the earth in a circle, aud joining above to make the dome or round lo|i. They iiad been dwellings of the natives, who being gone, had carried away the hides that covered them, and the mats wliich arc used to liang tlio iiisides, and to make their beds of. After a march of some hours, our Indian having found a herd of beeves, we killed seven or eight, took tlio best of the meat, and held on our way across a wood. Wo forded a branch of the river, and proceeded to the bank of anotlu^r, the bottom whereof being foul, we encamped on the edge of it, and tho rain falling at night and con- tinning all the next day, wore obliged to stay tiiere. Tlie loth, tho rain ceasing, we proceeded through a thick fog, and over places where tho water was often up to our knees, and some- times higher; which, together with our being Ibrced to cut the way athwart tlio hushes, with our hatchets, gave us inexpressible trouble, and it had been much greater, had we not resolved to follow the ways beaten by the bullocks, whom a natural instinct always leads to tlioso parts which are easiest to ])ass. We were not free from anotlier inconveniency in those tracts, which was their being full of water and very rugged, a thing no way agreeable to our shoes, which wore no other than a piece of bullock's hide or goat's skin quite green, whereof we made a sort of buskins, to serve instead of shoes, but when those wretched boots were dried by the heat, upon our feet, they iiurt us very much, and we were often obliged to set our feet in the water, to soften those buskins. However, wo marched all the day, notwithstanding all those incon- veniences, without finding a proper place to encamp, and at last came to a river, whoso high bank atForded us a spot to rest on. The 20th, a small rain did not obstruci our march, and having crossed a wood, half a league athwart, and a marsh of the same ex- tent, we came into a large plain, cut across by great tracks of bul- locks, which went towards the river, and made us suppose there might be a ford. We followed that way, but found the river so swollen, and its stream so rapid, that it was impossible to cross it, but were obliged to halt upon its bank, whence we went to hunt bul- locks, whereof we had no want, nor of turkeys and other wild fowl. ^i^m&s^^i^^s^. • ,^^®iiitoB*ii<^i&^^«®!©»' IM iiiHTnnicAL c'fiM-r.rTroNs or louibiana. .-f Tho VJlst, wo proceeded up that river, and found a narrow dooji plnci', nnar vvliicli we licwcd down a tree, making it full so uh U.^ reacli from the oru' l)anl< to tiio other, in the nature of a plunk, niwi hamifd our bajj^agi' from ono to another over it. Tiio horms xwain over, and wo eneumped on the other niik', nearo very beautiful plain. Whilst we were hewing down some little wood to entrench uur- solves, we heard a voice, whereupon, handling our arms and ;joing to the place where wu heard it, we saw a company of fifteen f-avages, who were coming towards us, and made signs to us to go to them, laying down their Ixavs, in token of peace. We also made our sign to them to draw near ; they did so, and caressed us after their man- ner. Wo mailo them sit down and smoke, after which M. do la Sttllo began to converse with them by signs, and by help of .some words of tho language of the Cenis, which lie was skilful in, he un- derstood that these were their neighbors and allies ; that their village was not far oir, and that their nation was called Hebahamo. Some small presents were given them, and they withdrew, promising to return tho next day. Tho 22(1, our horses being spent and hurt, and we much tired, the day was given to rest, ond the natives did not fail to come, being twenty-live in number, some of whom lia4 Nuum y beautiful plain. If) rntri'Dcli our- nrniH and ;j inudf our sign \ advt tlicir man- !r wliit'li M. tlo la by help of wonio skilful in, ho un. ; that their village ebahamo. Some ew, promising to fc much tired, the I to come, being s or targets made gave IS to under. I.W., and told us ^s' journey from )pose it was New ige, which is very dt. As for their hown ns, that to- •e the way would ( them tn eat, and falling and hold> D 2r)th. wo travel, d that there were camp to the river 3 there are in it. ttle narrow river, , a, id went to en- a very bad night, \ rflowing of the iovrrxn iiibtoricai, joi-RNAt. Its river, which obliged us lo make a little Bort of Hcaflldd, to lay our powdiT suhI fdothes on, that thev might not be wet. The next day being llic' t,Hth, observing that iho water was still rising, we decamped to go u league furtlH'r, to a higher ground, where wo made a great fire to warm and dry us. Wo took notice the country was very good, the plains extending as for as the eye could reach, and adorned witli many little coppices, affording a very agreeable prospect. We morched over part of them the '2()th and ;t(»th ; after three hours' travel, fl)und a way full of water, which obliged us to encamp on the bank of a river ; paased it the !)lst, and encamped in a wood close by. The next day, being the first of February, 1087, M. de la Salle lefl me to guard the camp, and took along with him M. ('avclier, his brother, and seven men, to go see whether ho could find anybody in several cottages our hunters had discovered. Ilo found twenty-four or twenty-five of them, built round like those I have before mentioned, standing on a rising ground, almost encompassed by the river, in each of which there were four or five men, and several women and children. The savages were somewhat surprised at M. do la Salle's coming; however, they received him in a friendly manner, and conducted him to tlieir connnander's hut, which was immediately filled with people, who dime to see him. The elders came together there, bullocks' hides were laid upon the ground, on which they made M. do la Salle and his company sit. They gave them hung beef to eat, and then signified to them that some of their allies had given them notice of our being in this country, and that wo were going to the Cenis, and they had imagined that wo would pass through their country. M. do la Salle presented them with some knives and bits of tobac- co, and they gave him bullocks' hides, very well dressed with the hair ; they gave one for a knife, and would have given many more, but that we told them that we had no conveniency to carry them, and that if tircy had any horses, he would give them axes in ex- change. They answered, they had but two, which they could not part with. It being late when M. de la Salle returned, we stayed there the rest of the day, and several Indians came to see us, in hopes of receiving some present, offering us bullocks' hides dressed, which we would not burden ourselves with. The second, wc set out again, and halted some time in that village, where, by the way, we bartered for some collars, or a sort of knots made of bullocks' hides well dressed, which the natives make use of (*i|^ktV?»'i^iiJialSfe!'Sfife*s& ■ ■ji^WSs^C-i., 136 lirSTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF LOUISIANA. Iiri* Hi m to cany tlicir burdens, whether of wood, utensils, or tlic meat they kill. They proved of use both to us and our horses, because t'le thoncs of those collars served to make fent our burdens. We proceeded on our journey, through a country plea-sant enough, but sandy, and liaving crossed a largo plain, came to the bank of a fine river, called La Maligno, or the Mischievous, because in M. de la Salle's former journey, an alligator devoured one of his servants, who was swimming over it. This river is as wide as the Seine at Rouen, seems to be very navigable, and has a very pleasant country about it. We encamped in a little wood adjoining to it, and barked the aspen trees to hut. Our hunters killed beeves, wild goats, turkeys, and other wild- fowl ; and among the rest, some creatures as big as an indifferent cat, very like a rat, having a bag under their throat, in which they carry their young. They feed upon nuts and acorns, are very fat, and their flesh is much like pig. Hard by there, we found a place where M. de la Salle, in his former journey, had hid some parcels of strings of beads in the trunks of trees, and we rested there till the eighth of the month. During that time, no day passed without seeing some of the natives, who sometimes spent the whole day with us, and said they were of several nations. We made them smoke, and always gave them some small presents. They admired that after we had written down some words they spoke to us, v.-e repeated them, looking on the paper. Whilst we stayed, M. de la Salle set men at work to make a porta- ble canoe, of long poles, hewed and joined, and then covered with bullocks' hides sewed together, having pulled off the hair or wool, as it may be called there. That canoe was of great use to us, to cross rivers, as well for ourselves as for our baggage, but the horses swam over. The ninth, we put our canoe into the water, and passed the river in it, and encamped half a league from thence, on account of the grass, which our horses stood in need of to recover themselves a little. The tenth, we held on our journey, crossing several spacious plains, the grass whereof was burnt, whence M. de la Salle con- cluded that there were manj natives thereabouts. He thought it convenient to provide a store of dried flesh, for fear we should not find game in the country we were. going to enter upon, and accord- ingly caused several beeves to be killed for that purpose. For that reason, we continued there till the 12th, when we went 31A\A. s, or the meat they horses, because t'le irdens. ry plca'sant enough, Tie to the bank of a s, because in M. de one of his servants, ide as the Seine at ry pleasant country ing to it, and barked lys, and other wild- lig as an indifferent iroat, in which they icorns, are very fat, . do la Salle, in his ics of beads in the ightli of the month, some of the natives, id said they were of always gave them we had written down lem, looking on the ork to make a porta- id then covered with Fthe hair or wool, as at use to us, to cross but the horses swam and passed the river e, on account of the ecover themselves a sing several spacious M. de la Salle con- iits. He thought it r fear we should not er upon, and accord- t purpose. 12th, when we went JOUTELS HISTORICAL JOURNAL. 137 and encamped on tl bank of a river, which M. de la Salle had in his former journey c i i d'Eure. At night there arose a .storni, followed by thunder a.»d rain, which swelled the streams, and obliged us to stay there. The 13th and I4th, we crossed four or five large rivulets, and then a fine curious country, diversified with seve. ral little woods, hills, and small brooks, affording a delightful pros- pect. That pleasant country was terminated by a wood, which we were to cross, and were favored in it by a way beaten by the bullocks, and at night we encamped there. The 15th, we travelled along a fine meadow, then over plains that had been burnt, and at night went to take our rest on the bank of a small rivulet, about which we saw several footsteps of natives, which made us conclude wo were not far from them ; and therefore we doubled our guard, to prevent being surprised. The 16th, M. de la Salle lefl me at the juard of the camp, and took M. Cavelier his brother, and seven men with him, to go find out the Indians. They had not gone half a league before they spied horses and a number of cottages, without being themselves seen by the savages. That village stood on the side of a hill, and contained about forty huts, standing together, besides several others straggling. When M. de la Salle entered the village, the savages seeing him, came to meet and conduct him to the cottage oftheir chief, where he and his company were seated on bullocks' hides. The elders being come, he signified to them the occasion of his coming, as he had done the other nations, with which they seemed to rest satisfied. Some presents were made them, according to custom, and they olfered him a quan- tity of hides, which he refused, telling them, that when he returned from the Cei;'s he would trade with, and furnish them with all they had occasion for. They confirmed what the others had told us, con- cerning a nation, where some of them had been, the men whereof were like us, meaning the Spaniards; He named to them the nations we had passed through from our dwelling of St. Louis, to the river Maligne, which we had lately passed. The names of those nations are as follows ; The Spicheats, Kabayes, Thecamons, Theauremets, Kiahoba^.^ Choumenes, Kouans, Arhan, Enepiahe, Ahcnerhopiheim, Korenkake^ ■ Korkone, OmeaofTe, Keremen, Ahehoen, Maghai, Thecamenes, Oten- marhem, Kavagan and Meracouman. These are the nations that lay on our road ; those on the west and north-west of the said river, were the Kannehonan, Tohaka, Pehir, Coyabegux, Onapien, Pichar, ..»(«•.■■ mm^f'^- 188 HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF LOUISIANA. Tohan, Kiafiess, Chanzes, Tsera, Bocrettes, Tsepehoen, Fercoutoha, Pancgo, Pctao, Petzares, Peisacho, Peihoum and Orcampion. Those we were with then, were called Teao, whom wo !iad not before heard named. They talked of a great nation called Ayona and Canohatino, who were at war with the Spaniards, from whom they stole horses, and told us, that one hundred Spaniards were to have come to join the Cenis, to carry on that war, but that having heard of our march, they went back. M. de la Salle gave them to understand, that we were at war with the Spaniards, and that we feared them not ; and that he was sent on their account by the great captain of the world, who had charged him to do them all good, and to assist them in their wars against such nations as were their enemies. Those savages gave M. de la Salle notice, that he would find three of our men among the Cenis, wliich put him in hopes they were those ho had given leave to depart at his former journey, and of whom he never since heard. He proposed to them to barter for horses ; but they had caused them to be conveyed out of the way, for fear we should take them away, excepting only one bay, which M. de la Salle agreed for and returned to us. The 17th, we passed a small river, with some difficulty, and encamped beyond it. The 18th, one of our horses going along the edge of an upright bank, fell into the water, and came off with only a hurt on the shoulder ; but we were fain to unload him, and distri- bute his burden among us, every one making a pack ; and thus we crossed a curious plain diversified with woods, hills, rivulets, and delightful meadows. The 19th, we travelled along the tops of those hills, to avoid the bottoms, and found a difiiculty to get down, by reason of the rocks we met with at the end of them, and a river we were to cross. Whilst we were passing that river, we heard dogs hunting the bullocks, two of which coming near us, one of them was shot dead. The natives who were hunting spying us, sent out two of their number, who, creeping from tree to tree, drew near, and then stood still, without daring to proceed any further. We made signs to them to come, which they did, and we made them smoke till M. de la Salle returned, being gone a little way to observe the body of those people. When come, he told them he would entertain peace with them, that we were going to the Cenis, and he believed that these very men were of their nation, because they had their accent and some of their words. They told him their village was near that place, ••"'■i-vmimm^»mmM^SM lANA. shoen, Fercouteha, )rcampion. whom wo iiad not tion called Ayona liards, from whom Spaniards were to r, but that having 3alle gave them to iards, and that we icount by the great them all goal, and vere their enemies, le would find three 1 hopes they were er journey, and of hem to barter for ed out of the way, aly one bay, which me difficulty, and ies going along the came off with only lad him, and distri- lack ; and thus we hills, rivulets, and I hills, to avoid the reason of the rocks we were to cross, dogs hunting the of them was shot us, sent out two of rew near, and then r. We made signs e them smoke till to observe the body I peace with them, ed that these very ir accent and some ras near that place, -mwi "•'~*'^^^^§^»f" JOUTEL 8 HISTORICAL JOURNAL. 139 and bore us company to our camp, where, after some small presents given them, they were dismissed. The 20th, M. de la Salle sent M. Moranget and some others to the village of those natives, to try whether they could barter witli tiiem for some horses. In the meantime two savages came to us, one of them being the same that was with us the night before, ami they expressed much friendship for us. That particular Indian told us his name was Falaquechaune, that they were allies to the Cenis, that their chief had been among the Choumans with the Spaniards ; that the Choumans were friends to the Spaniards, from whom they got horses, and added some farther particulars, which the others had before signified to us ; so that we had good reason to judge wo were not far from North Mexico. He also told us, that the Choumans had given their chief some presents to persuade him to conduct us to them ; that most of the said nation had flat heads ; that they had Indian corn, which gave M. de la Salle ground to believe, that those people were some of the same he had seen upon his first discovery. That same native had a very fine goat's skin, which I purchased of him for four needles, after I had shown him how to use them, and that skin was of good use to make us shoes instead of raw bullocks' hides. Some time after M. Moranget returned, gave M. de la Salle an account of his short journey, and said that one of the natives, who saw us the night before, came to meet and conduct him to the chief's cottage, where forty ancient Indians were, by whom he had been kindly received ; that the chief had in his hand a reed, at the end )C whereof was made fast a leaf of a French book, which he had an extraordinary respect for ; that they had been made to sit on bullocks' hides, and treated with dried beef. That after these first ceremonies, the chief had given them to understand that some of their people had been conducted, by a man like us, to our habitation, and that the said man had promised to bring them to talk with us, in order to treat of peace j but that, on the contrary, we had fired on them and killed one of their men, which had obliged them to kill the man that led them, and that then they returned. It is not improper here to put the reader in mind, that 1 have before mentioned this accident, when the Sieur Barbier, crossing the river in a canoe, was called upon by some person, who was among the natives on the bank of the river, who had made two shots, as it had been only the priming of a piece, which the Sieur Barbier had looked upon as an insult, and therefore he had also ♦> ^^'^i AT 140 HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OP LOUISIANA. I tired, with all tlie other particulars, as mentioned before ; an acci- dent that happened for want of understanding one anotlicr ; which, together with M. de la Salle's forbidding us to have any comniuni- cation with tl)o natives, was very prejudicial to us aftenvards. After much other discourse, M. Moranget having given them some small presents, they made their return in bullocks' hides, and goats' skms well dressed. lie asked them for some liorses to barter ; they answered, they had no more than what they stood in need of. We immediately proceeded on our journey, and that day being the 21st, went to encamp at the edge of a wood. The a'-id, we went up to an eminence, terminated by a rock, at the foot whereof ran a little river, the bottom whereof was all of flat rocks, lit for building. Thence we descried two natives driving of bullocks, which made us stand upon our guard, and it appeared to be our Indian, who had met another, with whom he had been acquainted among the Cenis, and whom he had brought along with him. M. do la Salle was very glad to see him^ and remembered he was one of those of whom he had purchased a horse. He asked several questions of him, and among the rest, whether he had not seen the four men who deserted in his former journey, or heard any talk of the others, to whom he had given leave to return to our dwelling. He answered, he had seen one among the Cenis, and two others among the Assonis ; but that he had not heard of any more, and that they must needs be dead ; as also the Sieur Biborel, who was like- wise mentioned to him. He further told us that there were four or five cottages there- abouts, in which about fifteen men resided. At night he went away. Our Indian had killed a cow at a great distance, and shot her quite through, at which the other, who had been an eyewitness to it, stood a long time amazed, without speaking one word, admiring the effect of our pieces. That cow was sent for, and the flesh brought to our camp. The 23(1, we passed by the cottages we had been told of, where the natives were with their wives and children. M. de la Salle caused us to halt in the village. We were well received ; tiiey pre- sented us with dried beef, and we returned it in some knives. We saw two horses, one of them a little grey, indifferent handsome. They told us they would soon depart that place, to go join their companions, who were in war with their enemies. The rest of our men being come up, we went ou to encamp a league from thence, r > -s^iss ir^ ISIANA. ed before ; an acci- one anotlicr ; which, have any communi- js aftenvaids. ing given tliein some iks' hides, and goats' Kses to barter ; they x)d in need of. We t day being the 21st, inated by a rock, at hereof was all of flat ivo natives driving of I, and it appeared to whom he had been I brought along with remembered he was ;. He asked several • he had not seen the or heard any talk of iturn to our dwelling, lenis, and two others of any more, and that 3iborel, who was like- r five cottages there- t night he went away. ce, and shot her quite an eyewitness to it, le word, admiring the and the flesh brought d been told of, where ren. M. de la Salle II received ; they pre- in some knives. We indifferent handsome, dace, to go join their [lies. The rest of our I league from thence, JOUTELt? HISTORICAL JOURNAL. 141 on the bank of a rivulet, and at the foot of one of the highest moun- tains in the country. Unloading our horses, wn perceived there wanted a large axe, which served us for hewing down trees. M. de la Sullc sent his Indian to demand it, at the village we came from last ; tlio savages said they had not seen it, and it was lost. He brought back word that the savages had told him that if we would stay for tlieni, they would <;o along with, and show us the way. However, we went on the 2 Uh, and encamped on the edge of a marsli. The 25th, the rain hindered us from marcliing. Tiic 26th, M. de la Salle perceiving how difficult and dangerous it was to cross that marsi), sent his Indian to the others, to know whether tlicv really designed to go with us. They answered, we must return tliitiier to join them. The 27ih. we decamped, in order to it ; but took another way to go meet the Indians. The 28th, wc saw them marcliing at a distance. One of them was dc'ached to come tell us, tiiat he would show us the way to cross the marsh, and we went on and encamped at the foot of the high ftiountain I have spoken of. The 1st of March we joined the Indians, on the edge of the marsh, which we had just crossed, where the rains kept us till the ."ith, during which time we went to find out where we might pass a rapid torrent that discharges itself into the river, called Canoes, wliich we passed the 6tii, in the canoe we had made, and which did us good service, to pass other rivers we met with, the 7tli and the 8th, on our way. The 9th, we did not stir, because of the rain. The 10th, en- camped on the bank of a small river, which we crossed the 11th, and the same day another, and encamped on the bank of it, and found it adorned with very fine mulberry trees. The 12th, we crossed another river, and encamped near it. The 13th, came again to the river of Canoes, so called by M. de la Salle, because ho the first time put canoes into it, at his former journey. We passed it the 14th, and encamped on the otiier side, where wc again joined the Indians. Tlie l.'ith, we held on our journey with them, and found a plea santcr country than that wo had passed through : and M, de la Salle having, in his former journey, hid some Indian wheat and beans, two or three leagues from that place, and our provisions beginning to fall short, it was tliougiit fit to go to that place. Accordingly he ordered the Sieurs Duhaut, Hiens, Liotot, the surgeon, his own Indian, and his footman, whose name was Saget, who were followed •"-„ ^i^i&^^^:. ■■i^!0.§sme^m^^^m^^ w^ iS '.'01 143 HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF LOUISIANA. by somo natives, to go to the place lie described to them, where they found all rotten, and quite spoilt. The lOtii, in tlieir return, they met with two bullocks, which M. de la Salle's Indian killed, whereupon they sent back !iis footman, to give him notice of what they had killed, that if he would have the flesh dried he might send horses for it. The 17th, M. de la Salle had the horses taken up, and ordered the Sieurs Moranget and De Male, and his footman, to go for that meat, and send back a horseload im- mediately, till the rest was dried. M. Moranget, when he came thither, found they had smoked both the beeves, though they were not dry enough ; and the said Sieurs Llotot, Iliens, Duhaut, and the rest, had laid aside the marrow-bones and otiicrs to roast them, and eat the flesh tiiat remained on them, as was usual to do. The Sieur Moranget found fault with it ; he in a passion seized not only the flesh that was smoked and dried, but also the bones, without giving them anything ; but, on the contrary, ♦*"eat- cning tliey should not eat so much of it, as they had imagined, and that he would manage that flesh after another manner. This passionate behavior, so much out of season, and contrary to reason and custom, touched the Surgeon laotot, Heins, and Duhaut, to the quick, they having other causes of complaint against Moran- get. They withdrew, and resolved together upon a bloody revenge ; they agreed upon the manner of it, and concluded they would mur- der the Sieur Moranget, M. de la Salle's footman, and his Indian, be- cause he was very faithful to him. They waited till night, when those unfortunate creatures had supped and were asleep. Liotot, the surgeon, was the inhuman execu- tioner ; he took an axe, and began by the Sieur Moranget, giving him many strokes on the head ; the same he did by the footman and the Indian, killing them on the spot, whilst his fellow villains, viz., Du- haul, Iliens, Teissier, and Larchevaque, stood upon their guard, with their arms, to fire upon such as should make any resistance. The Indian and the footman never stirred, but the Sieur Moranget had so much vigor as to sit up, but without being able to speak one word ; and the assassins obliged the Sieur de Marie to make an end of him, though he was not in the conspiracy. This slaughter had yet satisfied but one part of the revenge of those murderers. To finish it, and secure themselves, it was requi- site to destroy the commander-in-chief. They consulted about the safest method to effect it, and resolved to go together to M. de la Salle, to knock out the brains of the most resolute immediately, and then it "-T^^ja^seSKi^ ■• jraiANA. 1 to them, where they o bullocks, which M. t back Ills footman, to f he would have the 'th,M.de la Salle had iranget and De Male, back a horseload im> they had smoked both ; and the said Sieurs ide the marrow-bones remained on them, as ault with it ; he in a ed and dried, but also n the contrary, ♦*"eat- 3y had imagined, and nanner. ason, and contrary to :, Heins, and Duhaut, plaint against Moran- on a bloody revenge; ded they would mur- m, and his Indian, be- ;unate creatures had is the inhuman execu- Moranget, giving him Y the footman and the ow villains, viz., Du- ipon their guard, with any resistance. Tlie ieur Morangct had so e to speak one word ; make an end of him, art of the revenge of mselves. it was requi- ' consulted about the ither to M. de la Salle, [nediately, and then it JOUTEL S HISTORICAL JOURNAL. 143 would be easier to overcome the rest. But i!ie river, wliicli was be- tween them and us, being much swollen, the difficulty of passing it made tliemput it off the 18tli and 19th. On the other hand, M. de la Salic was very uneasy, on account of their long stay. His impa- tience made him resolve to go himself to find out his people, and to know tlic cause of it. This was not done without many previous tokens of concern and apprehension. He seemed to have some presage of his misfortune, inquiring of some, whether the SieurLiotot, Hiens, and Duhaut, iiad not expressed some discontent ; and not hearing anything of it, lie could not forbear setting out the 20tli, with Father Anastasius and an Indian, leaving me the command in his absence, and charging me from time to time to go the rounds about our camp, to prevent being surprised, and to make a smoke for him to direct his way in case of need. When he came near the dwelling of the murderers, looking out sharp to discover something, he observed eagles fluttering about a spot not far from them, which made him believe they had found some carrion about the mansion, and he fired a shot, which was the signal of his death, and forwarded it. The conspirators hearing tiie shot, concluded it was M. de la Salle, who was come to seek them. They made ready their arms, and pro- vided to surprise him. Duhaut passed the river, with Larclieveque. The first of them spying M. de la Salle at a distance, as he was coming towards them, advanced and hid themselves among the high weeds, to wait his passing by, so that M. de la Salle, suspecting no- thing, and having not so much as charged his piece again, saw the aforesaid Larcheveque at a good distance from him, and immediately asked for his nephew Moranget, to which Larcheveque answered, that he was along the river. At the same time the traitor Duhaut fired his piece and shot M. de la Salle through the head, so that he dropped down dead on the spot, without speaking one word. Father Anastasius, who was then by his side, stood stock still in a fright, expecting the same fate, and not knowing whether he should go forwards or backwards; but the murderer Duhaut put him out of that dread, bidding him not to fear, for no hurt was intended him ; that it was despair that had prevailed with him to do what he saw ; that he had long desired to be revenged on Moranget, because he had designed to ruin him, and that he was partly the occasion of his uncle's death. This is the exact relation of that murder, as it was presently after told me by Father Anastasius. Such was the unfortunate end of M. de la Salle's life, at a time when KiiSSte«e?»5t®i8eiisfflfS«;»#»' 144 HISTORICAL COU.ECTIONS OF LOUISIANA. he miglit cntprtnin the greatest hopes, an the reward of his labors. He ha;*»5S*i.!«^i^SSi*»*#%Wi^^ 148 iiiBTonirAi. rni,T,r.rTiONB or i.ocisiana. Tlipn lliey niado ua Rinokp, nrnl brought to us a l''renrlitnnn of Pro- vrnco, who was ono of those tliat had forsaken the lato M. ile la Snllp, at his first jmiriify. Tho whole company conductod us after the same mntmor, to their cliiof 'a cottage ; and after we had stayed there a short time, they led us to a larger cotfoge, a quarter of a league from thence, being tho hut in whieh they have their public rejoicings, and the givut ossem- Mies. Wo found it furnished with mats for us to sit on. Tho elders seated lliemselves round about us, and they brought uh to eat some sngamile, whieh is their pottage, little beans, bread made of Indian corn, and another sort they make with boiled (lour, and at last ihoy made us smoko.)( During our repast, they entertained us with tho discourse of their design to make wnr on a nation, who were their enemies, and whom they colled Cannokantimo. When it was over, wc presented them, according to custom, with some knives and strings of beads for their wives. We desired them to afTonl us some Indian corn in exchange for other things, which they promised, and the Frenchman who was with them, having told us tlint there was a district which a(T5)rded more corn than that where we were, and where his cottage was, wo resolved to go thither. We proposed it to the elders, who would needs go along with us, attended by a great number of youth, and having got ready our horses, wo set out for that place. By tho way, we saw several cottages at certain distances, strng- gling up an When they design to till the ground, they give one another no- liue, and very often above a hundred of each sex meet logether. When they have tilled that piece of land, after their manner, and spent part of the day, those the land belongs to give tho others to eat, and then they s[iend tho rest of tho day in dancing and merry making. This same is practised from canton to canton, and so they till tiie land all together. This tillage consists in breaking up just the surface of the earth with a sort of wooden instrument, like a little i)icka.\e, which they make by splitting the end of a thick piece of wood, that serves for a handle, and putting another piece of wood sharp pointed at one end into the slit. This instrument si.Tves them instead of a hoe, or spade, for they have no iron tools. When tho land has oeen thus tilled or broken up, the women sow and plant the Indian corn, beans, pom|)ions, water melons, and other grain and gar^^i^':»u^^^'*- ■"T" 152 HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF LOUISIANA. gards those nations we saw ; there may be otlicrs that have some worship, and 1 remember I have heard M. de la Salle say, that the nation called Takensa, ncigliboring on the Illinois, adored tiie fire, and that they had cottages which they made use of as teniples. Before I conclude this short account of the religion, customs, and manners of the Cenis, which belonged properly to this place, it is fit here also to observe, that the word nation is not to be understood, among those Indians, to denote a people possessing a whole province, or vast extent of land. Tiiose nations are no other than a parcel of villages, dispersed for the space of twenty or thirty leagues at most, which compose a distinct people oi nation ; and they dilTer from one another rather in language than in manners, wherein they are all much alike, or at least they vary but little, as has been mentioned above. As for the names of them, here follow those of such as we travelled through, or were near the way we held from our leaving our habitation near the bay of the Holy Ghost, till we came among the Cenis. The Spicheats, Kabayes, Thecamons, Thearemets, Niabaha, Chaumenes, Kouans, Arhau, Enepiahe, Abonerhopiheim, Koienkahe, Konkone, Omeaosse, Keremen, Ahekouen, Meghty, Tctamcnes, Otenmarhen, Kouayon, and Meracouman. All these nations are on the north of tiie river called La Maligne. Those that follow, are on the west and north-west of the same river. The Kanneliouan, Tohaha, Pihir, Cagabegux, Onapien, Pickar, Tokau, Kuasses, Chancres, Teserabocretes, Tsepehouen, Fercou- teha, Panego, Petao, Petzare, Peisacho, Peihoun, Orcan and Piou. This last nation borders upon the Cenis, at the entrance into whose first village I left my reader, to give an account of the inhabitants, and tluther 1 return, to proceed with my relation on our journey to the village, the Frenchman who lived among the natives was to conduct us to. We arrived there at night, and found other elders coming out to meet us, much after the same manner as the others mentioned before. They led us to their cottage, made us sit down on mats and smoke, but not with so much ceremony as the others. That done, it was time for us to take our rest, having given them to understand that we were weary. The French provenqal would needs have us go to his cottage, that is, to the hut where he had his dwelling ; for, as I have said, there are several families in one of them, and that was one of the greatest feJ^efea- ■"T- lNA. that have some alle say, that the , adored tiie fire, as teiTiples. ion, customs, and this place, it is fit to be understood, 3. whole province, than a parcel of ' leagues at most, !y differ from one rein they are all ! been mentioned )se of such as we from our leaving we came among •emets, Niabaha, iheim, Koienkahe, ;hty, Tetamenes, ise nations are on hat follow, are on Onapien, Pickar, pehouen, Fercou- Orcan and Piou. trance into whose if the inhabitants, on our journey to le natives was to ers coming out to mentioned before. 1 mats and smoke. That done, it was o understand that to his cottage, that I have said, there one of the greatest joutel's iiistobical journal. 153 in the canton, having been the habitation of one of their chiefs lately deceased. They allotted us a place there for o- ,'oods and packs; the women immediately made sagamite or p^>t'age, and gave it us.a Having eaten, we asked the Frenchman whether we were safe, and ho answering we were, we lay down, but yet could not sleep sound. The next day, being the 1st of April, the elders came to receive and conduct us to the cottage where we had been the day before. After the usual ceremonies, we traded with them for corn, meal and beans, giving in exchange for the same, needles, knives, rings, and other toys. We also purchased a very fine horse, that would have been worth twenty pistoles in France, for an axe. The day was spent in driving our small bargains, and gathering provisions, which the women brought. When that was done, it was atrrced that I should remain there to lay up more store, and that the otliers should return to our company, which we had left near the river, to carry the provisions, and satisfy them they might come safely. Though I thought myself not over secure among the Indians, and, besides, had the dissatisfaction of understanding none of their Ian- guage, yet was I not unwilling to stay, that I might have an oppor- lunity of seeing the two other Frenchmen, who had forsaken the late M. de la Salle, when he first travelled into that country, that I might inquire of them, whether they had heard no talk of the Mississippi river, for I still held my resolution of parting from our wicked mur- derers. As soon as they were gone, I gave a young Indian a knife, to go bid those two other Frenchmen come to me, and whilst he was going I drove on my little trade for provisions, and had frequent visits from the elders, who entertained me by signs, with an account of their intended war j to which I still answered, nodding my head, though very often I knew not what they meant. It was some difficulty to me to secure my small merchandize, especially at night, for the natives were covetous of them. This care, which kept me from sleeping sound, was the occasion, that one night I heard somebody moving near my bed, and opening my eyes, by the light of the fire, which never goes out in those cot- tages, perceived a man stark naked, with a bow and two arrows in his hand, who came and sat down by me, without saying anything. I viewed him for some time j I spoke to him ; he made me no an- i M^ 154 HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF LOUISIANA. :i. '■ swer ; and not knowing what to think of it, I laid hold of my two pistols and my firelock, which the man perceiving, he went and sat by the fire- I followed, and looking steadfastly on him, he knew and spoke to me, throwing his arms about and embracing me, and then made himself known to be one of the Frenchmen I had sent for. We fell into discourse ; I asked him for his comrade, he told me he durst not come, for fear of M. de la Salle. They were both sailors ; this man, who was of Britany, was called Buter; the other, of Rochelle, Grollet. They had, in that short space of time, so per- fectly inured themselves to the customs of the natives, that they had become mere savages. They were naked, their faces and bodies with figures wrought on them, like the rest. They had taken several wives, been at the wars, and killed their enemies with their firelocks, which had gained them reputation ; but having no more powder nor ball, their arms had grown useless, and they had been forced to learn to shoot with bows and arrows. As for religion, they were not troubled with much of it, and that libertine life they led, was pleasing to them. I acquainted this man with the unfortunate death of M. de la Salle, his nephew, and the rest, at which he was surprised and con- cerned, at least in outward appearance. I asked him whether he had heard talk of the Mississippi ; he told m' -.e had not, but only that there was a great river forty leagues froi ;n le towards the N. W., where the natives said there were many . .tions along its banks. That made me believe it was the very river we were in search of, or at least that it must be the way to come at it. I gave him to eat, and we went to rest. The next and the following days I continued trading, and the elders their visits, and their discourse, by signs, concerning their intended war. Some of them gave me to understand that they had been among the Spaniards, who are, nevertheless, about two hundred leagues from them. They spoke some words of broken Spanish, as capita, instead of capitan, a captain, and cohavillo instead of cavallo, a hor.se, and so of some others. Buter, the Frenchman, returned to his dwelling ; I gave him some strings of beads for his wives, and desired him to send the other Frenchman to me. In the mean time my being alone, as to any person I could con- verse with, grew very irksome to me, and I know not whether an old man did not perceive it ; for he thought it would be proper to bring a companion to divert me, and at night I was surprised to see -ms^ •^ ANA. i hold of my two , he went and sat 30 him, he knew nbracir.g me, and 3hmen I had sent ade, he told me he were both sailors ; Br ; the other, of se of time, so per- natives, that they I, their faces and They had taken enemies with their It having no more ind they had been s for religion, they rtine life they led, death of M. de la surprised and con- >d him whether he id not, but only that towards the N. W., IS along its banks, were in search of, I gave him to eat, d trading, and the 3, concerning their stand that they had about two hundred broken Spanish, as instead of cavallo, ichman, returned to 1 for his wives, and person I could con- now not whether an would bo proper to was surprised to see JOUTEI.'s HISTORICAL JOUKVAL. 155 a young maid come sit down by me, and to hoar the old man tell me he had brought her to be my wife, and gave her to me ; but 1 had far different thoughts to disturb me. I spoke not one word to ^ that poor maid ; she stayed some time, expecting I would take notice of her, and perceiving I did not stir, or speak one word, she with- drew. r » •! Thus I continued without hearing any news till the 6th of Apnl, when the two Frenchmen I have spoken of, came both, in the Indian dress, each of them having only a coat about him, some turkey fea- thers on their shoulders, their heads and feet bare. The latter of them, whose name was GroUet, had not consented to have his face marked like the other, nor to cut his hair after the Indian manner ; for those people cut off all theirs, except a small lock on the crown of the head like the Turks, only some of them have small tresses on the temples. I repeated to them the narrative of M. de la Salle's unfortunate story. They confirmed what I had been told before, that the natives had talked to them of the great river, which was forty leagues off, towards the N.E., and that there were people like us that dwelt on the banks of it. This confirmed me in the opinion that it was the river so much sought after, and that we must go that way to return to Canada or towards New England. They told me, they would willingly go with us. T desired them to keep it secret, which they did not, for, being informed that M. Cavelier and the others were coming, they went to meet them, and I was again left alone. The 8lh, three men came to me, one of whom was the Frenchman of Provence, with each of them a horse, sent by our people to carry away all the provisions I had got together, having taken a resolution, as those persons they had sent told us, to return to the dwelling of St. Louis, about the bay of the same name, from whence we came ; designing, as they pretended, to build a boat there to carry them over to the islands of America : an impracticable notion, for all our car- penters were dead, and though they had been alive, they were so ignorant that none of them would have known which way to go about that work; besides that, we were destitute of all necessaries for that effect. However, we must obey, and set out with our provisions. The rain having detained us the 9th on the way, we could not come up to them till the next day, being the 10th. Father Anastasius gave me the confirmation of that design, and farther told me how roughly they had been treated by those mur- derers since my departure. I know not what it was that moved ma ,j^^^^,j^^|g**a^3i;iif»-'aife««»*'»'WBsa«i*i»,*fet<« 1S6 HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OP LOUISIANA. m m "Si. 'iiii them to it, but they had resolved to separate themselves from those villains, and that we should eat apart, viz., M. Cavelier, the priest, F. Anastasius, young Cavelier and I, which was very agreeable to us, because, at least, we could talk freely, which wo ciare not do before ; but, at the same, time, they allowed us no more provisions than would suffice to keep us from starving, wl'.hout giving us share of any flesh, though they often killed. Our tyrants still holding their resolution to return to our former habitation, thought they had not horses enough, and therefore deputed four of their number, one of whom was the Frencliman, half-turned Indian, to return to the village of the Cenis and endeavor to barter for some. At the same time we agreed together to let those gentlemen know, that we were too much fatigued to return with them to the said habitation, and were resolved to remain in the village of the Cenis. M. Cavelier undertook to be our speaker, and to desire Duhaut, who was master of all, to give us some axes, knives, and strings of beads, powder and shot, offering to give him a note of his hand for the same. To conclude, M. Cavelier made the proposal to Duhaut, disguised it the best he was able, and Duhaut took till next day to return his answer. He consulted with his companions, and acquainted us that they would deal handsomely by us, and give us half the effects, and all the axes, intending to make the most speed they could, to get to our former dwelling, and to put into execution what they had before designed, as to the building of a bark. But in case they could not succeed, for want of necessaries, they would immediately return to us, and bring F. Zenobius along with them, who would be serviceable to us, because, having been with M. de la Salle upon his first discovery, he understood the language of the nations about the Mississippi river. That whilst they were upon that journey, we should take care to gather a stock of provisions, and that if they succeeded in building the bark, they would send us word, that we might repair to them. M. Cavelier approved of all they said, though we had other designs. However, it proved we were all mistaken, for Providence had ordered affairs otherwise. We stayed there some time, expecting those who were gone to the Cenis, they staying longer than was requisite for that journey. The overflowing of the river was their pretence, but the true reason was the women, who, as I have said, are not so forward as to offer them- selves, but on the other hand, will not be over difficult in complying for some little present, and those who were sent did not grudge their I ANA. isclves from those ivelier, the priest, very agreeable to fi wo oare not do ) more provisions lit giving us share urn to our former i therefore deputed ihman, half-turned leavor to barter for it those gentlemen with them to the the village of the er, and to desire axes, knives, and '. him a note of his Duhaut, disguised ext day to return and acquainted us us half the effects, eed they could, to lion what they had But in case they I'ould immediately em, who would be e la Salle upon his t nations about the that journey, we , and that if they . us word, that we 11 they said, though were all mistaken, 10 were gone to the hat journey. The le true reason was rd as to offer them- ficult in complying id not grudge their -^ joutel's historical journal. 157 time. In the meanwhile the posture of our affairs changed as follows : One of our savage Frenchmen, whom I had acquainted with our design, communicated it to Hautot, telling him all the particulars he had before acquainted me with ; whereupon Duhaut changed his mind as to the design of going to the habitation of St. Louis, resolv- ing to follow our intended way and execute our project. He imparted his thoughts to his companions, who were of the same opinion, and all of them acquainted us that they were ready to put into execution the enterprise we had formed. This change troubled us very much, there being nothing we coveted more than to part with those miscreants, from whom we could at a long run expect no better usage than they had afforded our com- mander and his friends. However, it was still requisite to dissemble, there being no other remedy at that time : but God's justice provided for and rescued us. We continued in that camp all the remaining part of April, expecting the persons that had been sent to tlie Cenis, and Duhaut intending to begin to put in execution his design of going to find out the Mississippi with us, made us advance towards the river that was near, in order to pass it as soon as fallen, and repair to the village of the Cenis. We stayed three days longer in that post, at the end whereof he we called Larcheveque, one of those that had been sent out, crossed the river. He was Duhaut's creature, and an accomplice in the murder of M. de la Salle. He informed Duhaut that one they called Hiens, who also was one of our messengers, and had stayed on the other side of the river, had heard of Duhaut and the rest altering their resolution, and that he was not of their mind. Hiens was a buccaneer, and by birth a German. M. de la Salle had brought him from Petit Gouave, and he also was accessory to the late murders. After we had been some days longer in the same place, Hiens ar- rived with the two half savage Frenchmen and about twenty natives. He went immediately to Duhaut, and after some discourse, told him he was not for' going towards the Mississippi, because it would be of dangerous consequence for them, and therefore demanded his share of the effects he had seized upon. Duhaut refusing to comply, and affirming that all the axes were his own, Hiens, who it is likely had laid the design before to kill him, immediately drew his pistol, and fired it upon Duhaut, who staggered about four paces from the place, and fell down dead. At the same time, Ruter, who had been with 'I': ^ .vmKismmmiiimmatitvJs 168 HISTOniCAL COIiLECTIONa OP LOUISIANA. a r Hicns.fireil his piece upon Liotot.the surgeon, and shot him tlirough witii three balls. These murders committed before us, put mo into a terriolo constcr- nation ; for believing the same was designed for me, I laid hold of my firelock to defend myself; but Hiens cried out to me, to fearno- thing, to lay down my arms, and assured me he had no design against me ; but that he had revenged his master's death. He also satisfied M. Cavelier and Father Anastasius, who were as much frighted as myself, declaring he meant them no harm, and that though he had been in the conspiracy, yet had he been present at the time when M. de la Salle was killed, he would not have consented, but rather havo obstructed it. , i • Liotot lived some hours after, and had the good fortune to make his confession ; after which, the same Ruter put him out of his pain with a pistol shot. We dug a hole in the earth, and buried him in it with Duhaut, doing them more honor than they had done to M. de la Salle and his nephew Moranget, whom they left to be devoured by wild beasts. Thus those murderers met with what they had deserved, dying the same death they had put others to. The natives Hiens had brought with him, having been spectators of that murder, were in a consternation, and that affair was of dan- gerous consequence to us, who stood in need of them. It was there- fore requisite to make the best of it, giving them to understand that there had been reason for punishing those dead persons, because they had all the powder and ball, and would not give any to the rest. They remained satisfied with that excuse, and he who was called Larcheveque, and who was entirely devoted to Duhaut, being abroad a hunting since the morning, and not knowing what misfortune had happened to his protector, and Hiens being resolved to make away with him, Father Anastasius and M. Cavelier took so much pains, that they dissuaded him from it, and I went out and met Larcheveque, to give him notice of that disaster, and to inform him how he was to behave himself. Thus I requited him for having come to give me notice of M. de la Salle's death. I brought him to Hiens, who de- Glared he designed him no harm, and Larcheveque gave him the same assurances on his part. Thus all things are again composed, and nothing remained, but for us to set out, but first to know what we were to do, and which way to direct our course. Hereupon, Hiens took upon him to speak, and said he had promised the natives to go to the war with them, and designed to be as good aa his word J that if we would expect his return, we might by that time if^tf^"^ )UISIANA. , and shot hitn tlirough into a terrii)lc constcr- 1 for me, I laid hold of •d out to me, to fear no- e had no design against ?ath. He also satisfied as much frightid as nd that though he had nt at tiie time when M. isented, but rather have ;ood fortune to make his mt him out of his pain rth, and buried him in it ey had done to M. de la left to be devoured by what they had deserved, having been spectators that affair was of dan- of them. It was there- them to understand that ad persons, because they ot give any to the rest, and he who was called to Duhaut, being abroad ng what misfortune had solved to make away with ook so much pains, that and met Larcheveque, to brm him how he was to having come to give me it him to Hiens, who de- •cheveque gave him the ngs are again composed, but first to know what we jrse. and said he had promised designed to be as good as ■n, we might by that time JOUTELS HISTORICAL JOLKNAL. 150 consider which way he would move, and that in the mrantime we might stay in the village among the Cenis, This was resolved on ; wo loaded all our effects on our horses, and repaired to the same place and the same cottage where we had been before, the chief of it as- signing us the one-half to lodge and lay up our baggage. When the day for setting out for the war was come, Ilicns depart- ed with the natives, four of our comrades, and the two half-savage Frenchmen going along with him ; so that tliere were six of liiem, and cacii took a horse. Hiens left us all the effects, and desired we would stay for him, which we promised, not knowing how to avoid it, considering that the Indians might have done us harm, and even have obstructed our departure. Thus we resigned ourselves to Pro- vidence, and remained, six of us, together, viz.. Father Anastasius, M. Cavclier, his nepliew, young Cavelier, young Talon, another youth of Paris, and I. There also remained some old men, who could not go to the war, and the women. We were also joined by two other Frenchmen, who had been left on the other side the river, being the Provenqal and one Teissier. During our stay, and our warriors being abroad upon that expedi- tion, the old men often visited us, and told us news from tiie army by signs, which we understood nothing of. We were from time to time alarmed, seeing the women weep, without any visible cause. The late M. de la Salle had often told us that the women bewailed those that were to be killed ; but we were informed they did so when they called to mind some who had been slain in the former wars ; which dispelled our apprehensions. However, we were uneasy, be- cause those old men and women examined us every morning and evening when we performed our devotions. We laid hold of that opportunity to give them to understand that we paid our duty to one God, the only supreme sovereign of all things, pointing to heaven, and endeavoring in the best manner we were able, to signify to them that he was almighty, that he had made all things, that he caused the earth to produce its fruits to prosper, and the growtK of it, which maintained them to thrive; but this being only by signs, they did not understand us, and we labored in vain. The 18th, we were surprised to see several women come into our cottage, their faces all besmeared with earth, and they set up their throats, singing several songs as loud as they were able, whereof we understood not one word. That done, they fell a dancing in a ring, and we could not tell what to think of that rejoicing, which lasted ;i^^;^i^(«>^" b«i,'®)tt^lttS4»S1«i^'*S».^'!g^*«P*Sft^«^^^ ^S^.'jsi^rillafAeiaA-::. |w 100 llISTOBirAL COM.ECTIOX9 OF LOUISIANA. full three lioura; after which, we were informed they had recoivrd advice of tiiu victory ohlained by their warriors over their enemii-s. Tlie dance concluded, those in the cottage gave some bits of tobacco to tiiosc witliout. The same day, about noon, we saw him that had brought the news, who aflirmcd they had killed at least forty of their enemies. After the rejoicing, all the women applied themselves to make ready their provisions, some to pound Indian corn, others to boil meal, whicii tlicy call grouller, and others to bake bread, to carry to the warriors. Tiiey all set out on the lOth to meet them, and we thought it in policy convenient to send meat to our men, which was done by the Frenchman of Provence, who went with the women. Tiio same day, at night, the victorious army returned, and we were informed that their enemies, whom they call Cannohatinno, had expected them boldly, but that having heard the noise, and felt the oflects of our men's firearms, they all fled, so that the Cenis had cither killed or taken forty-eight men and women. They had slain several of the latter, who fled to the tops of trees, for want of time to make their escape otherwise ; so that many more women had perished 10 than men. y^ They brought home two of those women alive, one of whom had her head flayed for the sake of her hair and skin. They gave that wretched creature a charge of powder and a ball, and sent her home, bidding her carry that present to her nation, and to assure them, they should be a^ain treated after the same manner, that is, killed with firearms. )( The other woman was kept to fall a sacrifice to the rage and vengeance of the women and maids ; who, having armed themselves with thick stakes, sharp pointed at the end, conducted that wretch to a by-place, where each of those furies began to torment her, some- times with the point of their staff, and sometimes laying on her with all their might. One tore off her hair, another cut off her finger, and every one of those outrageous women endeavored to put her to some exquisite torture, to revenge the death of their husbands and kinsmen, who had been killed in the former wars ; so that the unfor- lunate creature expected her death stroke as mercy. At last, one of them gave her a stroke with a heavy club on the head, and another ran her stake several times into her body, with which she fell down dead on the spot. Then they cut that misera- ble victim into morsels, and obliged some slaves of that nation they had been long possessed of, to eat them. >^ V IIANA. they had rccoivnl )ver thrir onemies. )nje bits of lobacco t had brought the of their enemies, vcs to make ready liers to boil meal, d, to carry to the 2m, and wc thought vhich was done by romen. returned, and we , Cannohatinno, had noise, and felt the that the Cenis had . They had slain for want of time to vomen had perished one of whom had 1. They gave that , and sent her home, id to assure them, nner, that is, killed ce to the rage and sr armed themselves icted that wretch to torment her, some- laying on her with cut off her finger, rored to put her to their husbands and ; so that the unfor- rcy. '■ heavy club on the into her body, with sy cut that misera- of that nation they JOUTK.I.'S IIIHToniCAL JOURNAL. 101 10 J\ Tims our warriors returned triumphant from that c?:podilion. They spared none of the prJNoncrs tht!y had tuki-n, cxuepl two liltle boys, uiid hr(iuj,'ht home all tiio skins of their luads, with the hair, to be kept as trophies and ^dorious memorials of their victory. The next day all those savages met in their cliic^f's cottage, whi- ther ail lh(! above-mentioned heods of hair wen! carried in state. Then they made extraordinary rejoicings in thot cottage, whence they went to the huts of the other prime men, to perform the same ceremony. This rejoicing lasted three days, our French compani- ons, who had been the cause of their victory, being called to it, and highly entertained, after tiieir manner. It will not bo disagreeable to the reader, that I hero particularly d(!scribe that ceremony, which, after being performed in the cottages of the chief men, was repeated in ours. In the first place, the cottage was made very clean, ailorned, and abundance of mats laid on the floor, on which the elders and the most considerable persons sat ; after wiiich, one of them, who is in the nature of an orator, or master of the ceremonies, stood up and made a speech, of which wo understood not a word. Soon after that dis- course was ended, the warriors arrived, who had slain any in battle, marching in their proper order, each of them carrying a bow and two arrows, and before every ono of them went his wife, carrying the enemy's head of iiair. Two little boys, whoso lives they had spared, as has been said before, ono of them who was wounded, be- ing on horseback, closed the procession ; at the head wliereof was a woman, carrying a largo reed or cane in her hand. As they came up to the orator, the warrior took the head of hair his wife had brought, and presented it to him,, which the said orator received with both his hands, and after having held it out towards the four quarters of the world, he laid it down on the ground, and then took the next, performing the same ceremony, till he had gone over them all. When the ceremony was ended, they served up the s;igamite, in the nature of hasty pudding, which those women had provided, and before any one touched it, the master of the ceremonies took some in a vessel, which he carried as an ofiering to tliose heads of hair. Then he lighted a pipe of tobacco, and blew the smoke upon them. That being performed, they all fell to the meat. Bits of the woman that had been sacrificed were served up to the two boys of lier na- tion. They also served up dried tongues of their enemies, and the whole concluded with dancing and singing after their manner. Af- la SaSaSa»a'P^WaRBB!SaSBiraB;iSSSE«SI!Kffiii«^^ IIIHTORICAI, COLLKCTIONS OF I.OUIHIANA. ter whid., thoy went to other lottagcB to repeal the same cere monv. ... Tiicr- wa«notalkofoiir(l.-«i«n till tl.osc rejoicmRS were over, and 1 began to conceive goo.1 iu.pes of ouf suceess. The two mur- dcrers, Teissier an.l Larei.cve.iuo, wIk. ha-l botl. a l.an.l in the r eulh of M. do la Salle, had promised t.. go along with uh, provided M. Cavelier woul.l pardon them, and he had given then. \m word so to do. In this expectati.m wo continued till the 'iOth, when our V rcnch- men who had been at the war, repaired to our cottage, and wo con- suited about our business. I liens and others of his gang, disapproving of our design, ropre- sonted to us such dilTi.uiUies as they looked upon to be insurmount- able, under which we must inevitably perish, or at least be obliged to return to the same place. I liens told uh, that for his own part, ho would not hazard his life to return into France, only to have iis head chopped olT, and perceiving we answere.l nothing to that, but that we persisted in our resolution; it is requisite then, said he, to divide what edects remain. Accordingly he laid aside for F. Anastasius, MM. Cavelier, the uncle and tho nephew, thirty axes, four or five dozens of knives, about thirty pounds of powder, and the liko quantity of ball. Uo gave each of the others two axes, two knives, two or three pounds of powder, with as much ball, and kept tho rest. As for the horses, he kept tho best, and left us the three least. M.'Cavelier asked him for some strings of beads, which he granted, and seized upon all the late M. de la Salle's clothes, boggage and other effects, besides above a thousand livrcs in money, which belonged to the late M. le Gros, who died at our dwelling of St. Louis. Before our departure it was a sensible wfljktion to us to see that villain walk about In a scarlet coat, witlr^lS^tjpns, which had belonged to the late M. de la Salle, and'wh*PMis L^ve said, he had seized. After that, Hiens and his companions withdrew to their own cot- ta^e, and we resolved noi to put off our departure any longer. Ac co°rd'inMy we made ready our horses, which much alarmed the natives, and es^cially the chief of them, who said and did all he could to obstofcour journey, promising us wives, plenty of provisions ; repre- senting to us the immense dangers, as well from enemies who sur- rounded them, as from the bad and impassable ways and the many woods and rivers we were to pass. However, we were not to be moved, and only asked one kindness of him, in obtaining of which •there were many difficulties, and it was, that he would give us guides ^kk-' m^.--^^'^'^ lUIHIANA. •j'peal tlio same ccrc- n'joiciiiRH were over, IC00N8. The two imir. uth a band in tlic drulli with UH, proviilcd M. LMi llicni i\is word so to ^5tii, when ourFrcnch- r cottof^o, and wo con- ijT of our design, repro- upon to he insurniount- 1, or at least he obliged , tiiat for hin own part, b'rance, only to have his jrcd nothing to that, but 'quisitc then, said lie, to isius, MM. Cavelior, the r five dozens of knives, e quantity of hall. He s, two or three pounds of t. As for the horses, he [.'Cavelier asked him for 1 seized upon all the late r effects, besides above a I to the lato M. le Gros, fore our departure it was I walk about in a scarlet to the late M. de la Salle, ithdrew to their own cot- parture any longer. Ac- much alarmed the natives, i and did all he could to lenty of provisions ; repre- II from enemies who sur- sable ways and the many vever, we were not to be lim, in obtaining of which at he would give us guides JOUTBb'rt IIIHToBIt'AI. Jlil'KNAI,. ion to conduct us to Cappo.; but at Icngtii, after imitli Iroiibh- an.l many promises of a good reward, one was grnnt.d, and two others went along Willi liiin. All things being thus ordereil for our departure, we took leave of our hosts, passed by Hicns's cottage, and embraeeil him and his com- painons. We asked him for anotlier horse, wliicii he grunted. He d.-sirtd on attestation in Latin of M. Cavelier, that he hud not been concerned in the murder of M. de '.a Sulle, which was given him, because th.ie was no refusing of it ; and wo set forward without Liireheveciue an.l Meunler, who did not keep their word with us, but remiiiiied among those barbarians, being infatuated with that course of libertinism they had run themselves into. Thus there were only seven of us that stuck together to return to Canada, viz. : Father Aimstasius, MM. Cavelier, the undo and the nephew, the Siour do Marie, one Teissier, a young man born at Paris, whoso iiamew as Bar- tholomew, and 1, with six horses and the tlireo Iiuliuns, who wer.^ to bo our guides; a very small number for so great an enterprise, but wo put ourselves entirely into the hands of divine Providence, confid- ing in God's mercy, which did not forsake us. After the first day's journey we encamped on tho bank of tho river wo had left not long before ; lay there that night, and tho next day cut down trees to make a sort of bridge of planks to pass over it ; handing over our goods from one to another, and swimming over our horses; which work we were frequently obliged to rep-at, and as often as wo had afterwards occasion to pass rivers on our way, which we held on till the 29tli, every day meeting with some cottage, and at last, a hamlet or village, into which we went, and tho Indian in- habitants told us they were called Nahordikhe, and that they were allies to the Cenis. We bartered with them for some provisions, and their chief offered to go with us as far as the Assonys, who were not farther off than about three leagues, which ho accordingly did ; but it happening to rain when we came thither, and the Assonys having had no notice beforehand, we found but indifferent reception. However, we were conducted to the chief's cottage ; the elders had notice given them, they resorted thither, and when our horses were unloaded, and our goods placed in a corner of the cottage, which the chief had allotted us, we gave them to understand, that our intention was to go further, to fetch commodities to trade with them, at which they were pleased. They gave us to eat, and the elders stayed some part of the evening with us, which made us somewhat uneasy, and •'■ !|*» 1 I "■^ilt :;j;i9idBC^vnWGu«Cfi'«B>v^<»^^ ^a«£«*i5-3««».i^ijwai^iAs».'if ■■M*e-J.'^*4&ti£ft'iB-aafc'ii^.fia«ira " H^pW--^" 164 HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OP LOUISIANA. obliged us to be upon our guard ; however, the night passed without any disturbance. The next morning the elders came to us again. They had pro- vided mats witiiout the cottage, and made signs to ns to go thither and sit down upon them, as we did, leaving two of our company to guard the baggage. We' repeated to them what we had said the night before, and made them some presents of axes, knives, strings of beads and rings. They signified they were sorry we would go away, and endeavored the best they could to make us sensible of the same obstacles the others had signified to us> but* it was all in vain ; how- ever, we stayed till the first "^f June, all the while bartering and gathering the best stock of provisions we could. The second, we removed from that cottage, where we had some jealousy, and went to another, a quarter of a league from it, where the chief of it gave us a very good reception. An old woman, who was either his mother or governess of the cottage, took particular care of us. We were first served at eating, and to keep her in that good mind, we now and then made her some little presents, whilst she, by her care and kindness, spared our provisions, which were ne- cessary for our journey. ^ A continual rain obliged us to stay there till the 13th. During our stay the natives made several feasts, to which we were always invited ; and at length the rain ceasing we resolved to set out, notwithstand- ing all M. Cavelier and the priest's apprehensions, which we surmount- ed, and directed our course towards the N. E. with two Indians, who were to conduct us only a small way, and who accordingly soon left us, whatsoever promises we could make them. They deparied to return home, promising they would come to us again. We encamp- ed that night on the bank of a rivulei. The 14th and 15th, we held on our way, frequently meeting with sloughs, which very much fatigued us, because we were obliged to unload our horses for them to pass, and prevent their sticking in the mire and fat soil, whence we could not have drawn them out, and consequently we were fain to carry all our luggage on our own backs. Whilst we halted about noon tliat our horses might graze, as was usually done by us, we discovered our two Assony Indians returning towards us, at which we were much rejoiced, because they had a belter notion than our-selves of the way we were to go. We made them eat and smoke, and then set out again. m^^^^t,. "Tr JISIAN.*. night passed without ain. They had pio- ns to us to go thither of our company to lat we had said the xes, knives, strings of ■y we would go away, 1 sensible of the same ,vas all in vain ; how- while bartering and I. where we had some league from it, where An old woman, who ittage, took particular nd to keep her in that little presents, whilst isions, which were ne- he 13th. During our 3 were always invited ; set out, notwithstand- is, which we surmount- with two Indians, who I accordingly soon left n. They departed to again. VVe encamp- equently meeting with se we were obliged to nt their sticking in the drawn them out, and luggage on our own }s migiit graze, as was isony Indians returning ], because they had a i-ere to go. We made joutel's historical journal. 165 Tlie 16th, we came to a great river, which we passed as we had done the first, and after that met with very bad ways. The 17th, one of our company being indisposed, we could not set out till noon, and held on till the 21st, crossing several sloughs and rivers, and then one of our Indians bejng out of order, it obliged us to stay on the bank of a river we had passed. The other Indian, seeing his comrade sick, went a hunting, and brought a wild goat; for there are many in that country. The Indians have the art of dressing the heads of those crcatun .s, which they put upon their own, and imitate them so exactly, that Ihey can come very near to them, and then seldom fail of kitling. The same method Jhey use for turkeys and other wild fowl, and so draw them close to themselves. The 2"2d, our Indian being somewhat recovered, we decamped, and proceeded along abetter way and pleasanter country than that we had left behind, and as we inquired the best we could of those our In- dians concerning the neighboring nations and those we were going towards, among others they named to us, that they called Cappa. M. Cavelier told us he remembered he had heard his late brother, M. de la Salle, name that nation, and say that he had seen it as he went from Canada towards the Mississippi. This put us in hopes that we should succeed in our discovery. The 23d, being near a village we had been in search of, one of our Indians went before to give notice of our arrival. In the mean- time we crossed most lovely plains and meadows, bordered with fine proves of beautiful trees, where the grass was so high that it hin- dered our horses going, and we were obliged to clear the passage for them. When we were within half a league of the village, we saw an Indian mounted on a large grey mare, coming along with our native to meet us, and were told that horseman was the chief of the vi' lage, attended by some others of the same place. As soon as tliat chief came up to us he expressed very much kindness and affection ; we gave him to.under.stand that we did nobody any harm, unless we were first attacked. Then we made him smoke, and when tliat was done he made signs to us to follow him, which we did till we came to tlic bank of a river, where he again desired us to stay whilst he went to give notice to the elders. Soon after a number of them came, and having joined us, signi- fied that tliey were come to carry us to tlicir village. Our Indians nirde signs that it was the custom of the country, and we must sub- init and let them do as they thought fit. Though we were much out 'ii; ^^^^^^_g&0&^^'-^4[V0!Ssimxi'}iy.-^^^^' sSSaKS£'*?i^i*^««''W.»^'6ftWf!WKt«i^^V4i^T5 166 HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF LOUISIANA. r& of countenance at that ceremony, seven of the prime men among them would have us mount on their backs or shoulders. M. Cave- lier, being our chief, mounted first, and then the rest did the same. As for my own part, being of a pretty large size, and loaded with clothes, a firelock, a case of pistols, powder, and ball, a kettle, and other implements, there is no doubt but I made a sufficient burden for him that carried me, and because I was taller than he and my feet would have hung upon the ground, two other Indians held them up for me ; so that I had three to carry me. Other Indians took hold of our horses to lead them, and in that ridiculous equipage we arrived at the village. Our carriers, who had gone a long quarter of a league, had need enough to rest, and we lo be set down, that we might laugh in private, for it behoved us to take care not to do it before them. I' As soon as we were come to the chief's cottage, where we found above two hundred persons who were come to see us, and that our horses were unloaded, the elders gave us to understand that it was their custom to wash strangers at their first coming ; but that we be- ing clad, they would only wash our faces ; which one of those elders did with fair water they had in a sort of earthen vessel, and he only washed our forehead. After this second ceremony, the chief made signs to us to sit down on a sort of little scaffold raised about four feet above the ground, and made of wood and canes, where, when we were placed, the chiefs of the villages, being four in number, came and made speeches to us on- after another. We listened to them with patience, though we I, • stood not one word of what they said to us; being tired with the length of their harangues, and much more with the violent heat of the sun, which was just over our heads. When the speeclies were ended, the purport whereof, as near as we could guess, was only to assure us that we were very welcome, we gave them to understand that we were going into our own country, designing to return speedily, to bring them several sorts of commo- dities and such things as they should stand in need of. Next, we made them the usual presents of axes, knives, strings of beads, needles, and pins, for their wives, telling them, that when we returned we would give them more. We farther signified to them that if they would afford us some corn or meal we would give them other things in exchange^ which they agreed to. * After this they made us cat saganiite, or Iiai^ty- pudding, bread, beans, pumpkins, and other things.Yvhich we liad -^ I8IANA. prime men among oulders. M. Cave- rest did tlie same. size, and loaded with d ball, a kettle, and 3 a sufficient burden Her than he and my er Indians held them Other Indians took iculous equipage we gone a long quarter be set down, that we take care not to do it age, where we found see us, and that our nderstand that it was ling ; but that we be- ch one of those elders n vessel, and he only igns to us to sit down ibove the ground, and sre placed, the chiefs I made speeches to us I patience, though we us; being tired with I with the violent heat rt whereof, as near as e were very welcome, into our own country, veral sorts of commo- leed of. ixes, knives, strings of g them, that when we would afford us some gs in exchange' which It sagamite, or ha^ty- tlnngs,^Avhich we iiad JOUTELS HISTORICAL JOUUNAL, 107 sufficient need of, most of us having scarce eaten anything all that day, some for want, and others out of devotion, as M. Cavelier, who would observe the fast of St. John Baptist's Eve, whose name he bore. It is to be observed that the pumpkins are incomparably bet- ter there than with us. The a4tl), the elders met again in our cottage. We gave them to understand they would oblige us in furnishing guides to conduct us to the village of Cappa, which was in our way ; but instead of granting it, they earnestly entreated us to stay with them, and go to the wars against their enemies, having been told wonders of our fire- locks, which we promised to do when we returned, and that it should be shortly, and they seemed to rest satisfied. Thus our hopes increased, but the joy it occasioned was allayed by a dismal accident that befel us. M. de Marie, one of the prime men of our company, having breakfasted, would needs go bathe him- self in the river we had passed the day before, and not knowing how to swim, he went too far and stepped into a hole, whence he could not recover himself, but was unfortunately drowned. Young M. Cavelier having been told that M. de Marie was going to batlie him- self, ran after him, and coming to the river, saw he was ihowning, he ran back to acquaint us. We hasted thither with a number of Indians, who were there before us, but all too late ; some of them dived, and brought him up dead from the bottom of the water. We carried him to the cottage, shedding many tears ; the Indians bore part in our sorrow, and we paid him the last duties, offering up the usual prayers, after which he was buried in a small field behind the cottage ; and, wnereas, during that doleful ceremony, we prayed, reading in our books, particularly M. Cavelier, the priest and Father Anastasius, the Indians gazed on us with amazement, because we talked, looking upon the leaves, and we endeavored to give them to understand that we prayed to God for the dead man, pointing up to heaven. We must do this right to those good people, as to declare, that they expressed singular humanity upon that doleful accident, as appeared by the sensible testimony of their actions, and all the methods they used to let us understand how great a share they bore in our sorrow ; which we should not have found in several parts of Europe. During our short slay in that place, we observed a ceremony that was performed by the chief's wife, viz. : that every morning she went to M. de Marie's grave, and carried a little basket of parched II $ ^fK?s«^J3?(^e'S>?^^®5r=^^^«ta3!3^SSj;5ES£a^ssS^ii«&l«t^tf 16^ HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF LOUISIANA. 94 cars of L. Ill to lay on it, the meaning whereof we could not under- stand. l.'.efore our departure, we were informed that tlio villages belon-riiig to our hosts, being four in number, all allied togetiier, were callt Assony, Nathosos, Nachitos, and Cadodaquio. Oil the 27th, having been informed by the natives that we should find canoes to pass a river that was on our way. Father Anastasius and 1 v/ent to see whether what they told us was true. We found that river was a branch of the same we had already passed, the channel of it being pleasant and navigable, and saw some canoes, in one of which the Indians carried us over to the other side, whither we went to see what convenient place there was for our horses to come asiiore. We found a very proper place, and, returning, made our report to M. Cavelier, who being then much out of order, with pains in his feet, we were obliged to stay tliere till the 30th. During that time we were frequently visited by the Indians, both old and young, and of both sexes, and even the chiefs of the nation, called Janiquo, came to see us, and with them we often conversed in dumb show ; and every evening the women, attended by the warriors, with their bows and arrows, resorted to our cottage to sing a doleful sort of song, shedding tears at the same time. This would have, given us some uneasiness, had we not before seen the same cere- mony, and been informed that those women repair in that manner to the chief's cottage to entreat him, singing and weeping, to take revenge on those who have killed their husbands or relations, in former wars, as I have observed before. In all other respects, the manners and customs of this nation being much the same as those of the Cenis, I shall add no more concerning them. The 29th, at night, we gave notice to the chief that we would set out the next day ; we made him some presents in particular, and the like to his wife, because she had taken special care of us, and de- parted on the 30th. The chief, attended by many other Indians whom we found in the cottages on our way, went to conduct us as far as the river, which we crossed in canoes, and swam over our horses. There we took leave of our conductors, to whom we gave some strings of beads for their wives, and their chief would needs conduct us to the next village. By the way we came to a cottage, where our guide made us halt, and there they gave us to eat. Then we held on our journey to a village called Cadojlaquio, and were conducted to the chief's cottage, who received us courteously, being a friend to him that went with us. It was requisite to unload our horses to lie there, and we 3IANA. ve could not under- d that tlio villages illied togetiier, were uio. lives that we should Father Anastasius IS true. We found already passed, the saw some canoes, in ) other side, whither ts for our horses to ,nd, returning, made h out of order, with ill the 30th. by the Indians, both chiefs of the nation, e often conversed in ded by the warriors, ige to sing a doleful This would have, seen the same cere- pair in that manner nd weeping, to take inds or relations, in 11 other respects, the ch the same as those em. ef that we would set n particular, and the 1 care of us, and de- many other Indians snt to conduct us as and swam over our rs, to whom we gave ir chief would needs guide made us halt, on our journey to a to the chief's cottage, J him that went with lie there, and we JOUTKl's niSTORlCAL JOURNAL, IGO signified to the chief that wc stood in need of provisions. He spoke to the women, who brought us some meal, which we purchased with strings of beads, and the chief, who conducted us thitlicr, took his leave. Having no design to stay there any time, we had desired the chief to appoint some person to guide us to the village called Caliainihoua, which was in our way. It haj ,)ened by good fortune that there were then in that place some men and women of the said village, who were come to fetcli some wood fit to make bows, there being plenty of that sort of trees they make them of, about the village we were in. We signified our design to them, and they gave us to un- derstand they would be glad to bear us company. In the conversa- tion wc had with them, they made us comprehend that they had seen people like us, who had firelocks and a house, and that thoy were acquainted with the Cappas, which was very pleasing to us. Be- cause th'iy were not to depart till two days after, we resolved to stay for them. We observed, that there was a difierence between the language of those people and the inhabitants of the village we were in from that of the Cenis, and that they had some peculiar ceremonies, one whereof is, that when the women have their terms, they leave the company of their husbands and withdraw into other cottages appointed for that purpose, which no person is to come near, upon pain of being reputed unclean. Those v/omen have their faces still more disfigured than the others we had seen before ; for they make several streaks or scores on them, whereas the others had but one. They adorn themselves with little locks of fine red hair, which they make fast to their ears, in the nature of pendants. In other respects they are not disagree- able, and neither women nor maids are so ill-natured as to make their lovers pine for them. They are not difficult of access, and they soon make a return for a small present. The men wear their hair short, like our capucins ; they anoint it with a sort of oil or grease, and curl it like snails, after which they strew on it a sort of down or lint, dyeu red, as we do powder, which is done when they design to be very fine, in order to appear in their v' assemblies. They are very fond of their children, and all the way of chastisiii,!; them they use is to throw water at them, without ever beating or giving them ill words. The Indians that were of the village of Cohainihoua and to con- duct us thither, not being ready to set out on Wednesday, tiic 2d of n If (Mia6s«>ps;^^Kfjs^^«^^,^g,s«j^^^Sr:p».-1W"'.»«a«-«' 174 IIIHTORICAI. I.OI.LECTIONa OF LOUISIANA. of our coming nt tlio next villago, met with other parcels of Indians, .who wcro toiiiing to iiicot us, onti expressed extraordinary kindness. V Wo liulted iti one of their cottngcs, wliich ihey call besert, be- cause they are in tin- midst of tlieir fu-iiU und gui let's. There wo found several women wiio iiad brought i)read, gourds, boans, and watermelons, a sort of fruit proper to (juench tliirst, the pulp of it being no better than wuter.^ VVe set out ogain to come to the village, and by the woy met witlj very pleasant wtwds, in which there were obundanco of stately cedars. Being come to a river that was between us and the village, and looking over to the further side we discovered a great cross, und at a small distance from it, a house built after the French fashion. It is easy to imagine what inward joy wo conceived at the sight of that emblem of our salvation. We knelt down, lifting up our hands and eyes to heaven, to return thinks to the Divine Good- ness, for having conducted us so happi'y ; for we made no (juestion of finding French on the other side of the river, and of their being Catholics, since they had crosses. Jn short, having halted for some time on the bank of that river, we spied several canoes making towards us, and two men clothed coming out of the house we had discovered, who, the moment they saw us, fired each of them a shot to salute us. An Indian, being chief of the village, who was with them, had done so before, and we were not hackward in returning their salute, by discharging all our pieces. When we had passed the river, and were all come together, we soon knew each other to be Frenchmen. Those we found were the Sieurs Couture Charpentier, and De Launay, both of them of Rouen, whom M. do Tonty, governor of Fort St. Louis, among the Illinois, had left at that post when ho went down the Mississippi to look after M. de la Salle ; and the nation we were then with was called Accancea. It is hard to express the joy conceived on both sides j ours was unspeakable, for having at last found what we had so earnestly desir- ed, and that the hopes of returning to our dear country were in some measure assured by that happy discovery. The others were pleased to see such persons as might bring them news of that commander from whom they expected the performance of what he had promised them ; but the account we gave them of M. de la Salle's unfortunate death was so afflicting that it drew tears from them, and the dismal history of his troubles and disasters rendered them almost inconsolable. We were conducted to the house, whither all our baggage wag * JOUTK,l/s lltSToniCAI. JOIJUNAI-. ns I4IANA. r parcels of Indiana, raonliiiary kindness. Iicy call Jjcsort, be- jtti'lt'i's. There wo gourds, bcanfl, and thirst, the pulp of it jy the way met witii jundanco of stately n us and the village, tred a great cross, • the French fashion. )nccived at the sight lown, lifting up our to the Divine Good- ^0 made no question r, and of their being lankof that river, we I men clothed coming Tioment they saw us, idian, being chief of before, and we were rging all our pieces. I come together, we 3 we found were the »th of them of Rouen, ), among the Illinois, ssissippi to look after len with was called )oth sides j ours was ad so earnestly desir- iountry were in some Dthers were pleased to hat commander from ! had promised them ; ;'s unfortunate death id the dismal history }st inconsolable, all our baggage wa^ honc-tly carried by tln' Indians. There was a very givat tliroiig of those propU', both men and women, which being over, we came to the relation of the particular circumstances of our storieH. Ours was delivered by M. Cavelier, whuin we honored as our ebief, fir being brother to liim who had l)ccn so. Wo were informed by them, that they had been six, sent by M. Tonty, when ho returned from the voyage he had rnadn ilown tlio Colbert or Mississippi river, pursuant to the orders sent him by tlio late M. do la Salle, at his departure from Fraiiui-, and that the said Sieur Tonty had commanded them to i)uild the aforesaid house. That having never since received any news from the said M. de la Salle, four of them were gone buck to M. Tonty, at the fort of the Illinois. In conclusion, it was agreed among us to go away as soon as pos- sible, towards the Illinois, and conceal from the Indians the death of M. dc la Salle, to keep them still in awe and under submission, whilst we went away with the first ships that should happen to sail from Canada for Franco, to give an account at court of what had happened, and to procure succors. ''In the meantime the chief of the Indians came to invite us to eat. Wo found mats laid on the ground for us to sit on, and all the village met to see us. We gave them to understand, that we came from M. dc la Salle, who had made a settlement on the Bay of Mexico ; that we had passed through many nations, which we named, and that we were going to Canada for commodities, and would return down the river ; that we would bring men to defend them against their enemies, and then settle among them ; that the nations we had passed through had appointed men to guide us, and we desired the same favor of them, with some canoes and provisions, and that we would reward our guides and pay for what they furnished us. The conveniency of an interpreter, we then had, gave us the opportunity of making ourselves be easily understood, and the chief answered to our proposals, that he would send men to the other vil- lages to acquaint them with our demands, and to consult with them what was to be done in that case ; that as for the rest, they were amazed at our having passed through so many nations, without hav- ing been detained, or killed, considering what a small number we were. ^' When the discourse was ended, that chief caused meat to be set before us, as dried flesh, bread made of Indian corn of several sorts, and watermelons ; after which he made us smoke, j, and then we ^Ski*':' t'2KStei!6TJi«EmSr?J?W.Wi.' cUil liic^ r liiru ol M. ili" 111 Hallo, wliicli coiiliiiiu'd iis in liic ivs<.lution of conc:(ttlin>r liis ck'olli. Wu observed tho situation of tbut post, ami were rnudc uciiuiiinlnl with tbo niituro of tiic! (.nMiutry and ibc manners of tliose people, of whioli I shall }{ive the i;ill(,\ in;,' reniurks. Tlio house wo were then in, was built ot pieces of cedar loid one upon another, nnd romided uwuy at the corners. It is seated on a small eminence, half a Mjisket-sliot from the viUngo, in a country ahounding in all thinj^s. The iduins lyinn on one side of it arc .stored with beeves, wild j^i'ats.deer, turkeys, bustards, swans, teal and oilier game. The trees produce plenty of fruit, and very good, as peaches, plums, mulberries, grapes and nnlnuta. They have a sort of fruit they call piaguimina, not unlilie -nr medlars, Uut much better and more delicious. Such us live n^u- the rivers, as that house is, do not want for fish of all oris, and they have Indian wheat, whereof they make ^', . d bread. There .ire also fine plains diversified with several sorts of ■ ;ces, a> 1 iiavo said before. The nation o! the Accancear> consists of four villages. The first is called Otsotchove, near which w c were ; the second Toriman, both of Ihci.'i seated on the river ; the third Tongitiga, and the fourth Cappa, on the bank of the Mi.s.sissippi. These villages are built afier a ditrerent monner from the others we had seen before, in tliis point, that the cottages which arc alike as to their materials and rounding at the top, arc long, and covered with tho bark of trees, and so very large that several of them can hold two hundred persons, belonging to several familii '^^ The people arc not so neat as the Cenis, or the Assonis, in tlioir houses, for some of them lie on the ground, without anything under them but some mats or a dressed hide. However, some of them have more conveniences, but the generality has no:. All their moveables consist in some earthen vessels and oval wooden j)latters, which are neatly made, and with which they drive a trade. Thev are generally very well shaped and active ; the women are handsome, or at least have a much better presence than those of the other villages we passed through before. They make canoes all of one piece, which are well wrought. As for themselves they are very faithful, good-natured, and warriors, like the rest. The 25th, tho elders being assembled came to see us, and told the UISIANA. ,11 tliuNo iiii|ip(iiinpnts, at li>isurc, uiiii wf re (1 Ihii r lurii of M. do oil of coiitculiiijr liis mat, and were irmdo the manners of those urks. 3CC8 of cedar laid ono ■rs. It is seated on a village, in a country m one sid(! of it aro stards, swann, teal and ry good, as peaches, 3y have o, wort of fruit , Itut much better and s, as that house is, do ndian wheat, whereof plains diversified with jr villages. Tiic first • second Toriman, both "insta, and tiie fourth villages are built after •n before, in this point, natorials and rounding k of trees, and so very red persons, belonging 3r the Assonis, in their ithout anytliing under however, some of thcin has no:. All their I oval wooden j)latters, drive a trade, ictive ; the women arc ience than those of the ley make canoes all of r themselves they are I the rest, I to see us, and told the Sj-v... ,..';>;•■># % «>. »'■' m IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1^1 2.8 2.5 2.2 1.8 1-25 III 1.4 IIIIII.6 V Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 iV .§N^ «^ •^ '^V :^-.^^%^ '^-^^^,.1^ ''t' a- 4^ ^ '%'■ ifi CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques f "W^ joutel's historical journal. 177 / Sieur Couture, that they designed to sing and dance the calumet, or pipe ; because the others had sung it, some of them to the late M. de la Salle, and the rest to M. Tonty, and therefore it was but reasonable they should do the same to get a firelock, as well as the others. M. Cavelier was informed of it, and it was requisite to consent to it to please those Indians, because we stood in need of them. The ceremony began with M. Cavelier, who was led under the arms and seated on a hide without the cottage. The forks, the skins laid on it in honor of the pipe, the singing as loud as they could roar, both by men and women, and all the other ceremonies were observed, as I have mentioned them before ; so that M. Cavelier being weary of them, he caused the chief to be told that he was out of order, and desired his nephew might be put in his place, wliich was done ac- cordingly, and they spent the whole night in singing. In the morn- ing they performed some other ceremonies not worth relating. The solemnity being ended by every man's smoking of the pipe, the Indians took it, with some bullocks' hides, and goats' and otters' skins, and a collar made of shells, all which they carried to our house, and we gave them a firelock, two axes, six knives, one hun- dred charges of powder, as much ball, and some strings of beads for their wives. The chief having given notice of our coming to the other villages, their deputies came to see us ; we entertained them in the house, and proposed to them our designs, as had been done to the chief. They stood considering a while, then held a sort of con- sultation among themselves, which held not long without talking, and then agreed to grant us what >vc asked, which was a canoe and a man of each village to conduct us, upon tho promised consideration, and so they went away to the cottage of the chief of the village. The 27th, the chief and the elders met again to consult about what we demanded of them ; the length of the journey made them apprehensive for those who were to conduct us ; but at length we having dispelled their fears by our arguments, and they having again deliberated some time, agreed to our request. We again made them a present, promising a good reward to our guides, and so we prepared to set forwards. Little Bartholomew, the Parisian, having intimated to us that he would willingly stay in that house, because he was none of the ablest of body, we recommended him to the Sieur Cou- ture. We desired those that remained there to keep the secret of M. de la Salle's death, promised to send them relief, left them our horses, which were of great use to go a hunting, and gave them fifteen or sixteen pounds of powder, eight hundred balls, three hundred flints, 13 ! Ml i* '! n \ i \ i 't ^ 1 . : IW HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF LOUISIANA. V twenty-six knives, and ten axes, two or three pounds weight of beads; M. Cavelier left them part of his linen, hoping we should soon be in a place where we should get more ; and all oi' them hav- ing made their peace with God, by means of the sacrament of penance, we tooit leave of them, excepting the Sieur Couture, who went to conduct us a part of the way. We embarked on a canoe belonging to one of the chiefs, being at least twenty persons, as well women as men, and arrived safe, with- out any trouble, at a village called Toriman, for we were going down the river. We proposed it to these people, or rather demanded it of them to confirm what had been granted us by the others, and they referred giving us their answer till the next day ; for they do nothing without consulting about it, and we having brought a sack of Indian wheat from the Frenchmen's house, desired the chief to cause women to pound it, for which we would give them something. Immediately he made a sign to his officers to go call them, and they went as readily. There were seven or eight of those officers always about him, stark-naked, and besmeared, some after one fashion and others after another. Each of them had three or four calabashes, or gourds, hanging at a leather girdle about their waists, in which there were several pebbles, and behind them hung a horse's tail, so that when they ran the gourds made a rattling'lioisepand the tail being borne up by the wind, stood out at its full length, so that nothing could be seen more ridiculous ; but it behooved us to take heed of showing the least smile.^ The remaining part of the day was spent in going with Sieur Cou- tare to see the fatal river so much sought after by us, called Colbert, when first discovered, and Mississippi, or Mechassippi, by the natives that were near us. It is a very fine river, and deep ; the breadth of it about a quarter of a league, and the stream very rapid. The Sieur Couture assured us that it has two branches or channels which parted from each other above us, and that we had passed its other branch when we came to the first village of the Accanceas, with which nation we still were. The 28th,(i)ie chief and the elders being assembled, they granted our requests/'^ We were to part, in order to be entertained in several places, where we took notice of some particular ceremonies, which we had not seen among the other nations. One of them is, that they serve up their meat in two or four large dishes, which are first set down before the two principal guests, who are at one end, and when 3U1S1ANA. ree pounds weight of len, hoping we should ; and all oi' them hav- s of the sacrament of he Sieur Couture, who of the chiefs, being at and arrived safe, with- in, for we were going pie, or rather demanded I us by tiie others, and next day ; for they do having brought a sack se, desired the chief to d give them something. go call them, and they ers always about him, fashion and others afler calabashes, or gourds, its, in which there were Drse's tail, so that when ,nd the tail being borne 30 that nothing could be take heed of showing H going with Sieur Cou- ;er by us, called Colbert, chassippi, by the natives nd deep ; the breadth of tream very rapid. The nches or channels which we had passed its other of the Accanceas, with assembled, they granted 36 entertained in several ;ular ceremonies, which One of them is, that they hes, which are first set ■e at one end, and when joutel's historical journal. 179 they have eaten a little, those dishes are shoved down lower, and others are served up in their place, in the same manner ; so that the first dishes are served at the upper end, and thrust down lower as others come in. He who treats does not sit down with the company, nor does he eat, but performs the part of a steward, taking care of the dressing* and of the placing of the meat served up ; and to the end he may appear the finer, he never fails to besmear himself with clay, or some red or black coloring they make use of. X The 29th we set out from that village, and embarked on two ca- noes to cross the Mississippi. The chief and about a score of young folks bore us company to the next village, called Tonningua, seated on the bank of that river, where we were received in the chiefs cot- tage, as we had been in the others. The elders treated us in their turns, and the descriptions before given will serve for this place, there being but little difference between them and their neighbors. The 30th, we set out for Cappa, the last village of the Accanceas, eight leagues distant from the place we had left. We were obliged to cross the river Mississippi several times in this way ; because it winds very much, and we had some foul weather, which made it late before we could reach Cappa. A great number of youths came to meet us ; some of them conducted us to the chiefs cottage, and others |look care of our baggage, which was restored to us very ho- nestly. Wo found the elders waiting for us ; a great fire was kin- dled to iji-y us, and the cottage was lighted by several burning reeds, which f hey make use of instead of flambeaux j after which we were served as in other places. The 31st, we received visits from the elders. Their discourse ran upon the war they designed to make, thinking to engage 4is in it, and we returned the same answer as we had done to the others, that we should soon return with all things wp stood in need of. We asked a man of them, which was granted, and the day ended in feasting. We would willingly have set out the first of August; but the chief came and told us it could not be, because the women had not pound- ed our corn, which, however, was done ; but they made use of that pretence to oblige us to stay, and to have leisure to give us some di- version, afler their manner. Accordingly, about ten in the morning, the warriors and youth came together to dance. They were dressed afler their best manner, some of them wearing plumes of several colors, wherewith they adorn their heads ; others, instead of feathers, had two bullocks' horns, and were all besmeared with clay, or black 180 HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OP LOUISIANA. and red, so that they really looked like a company of devils or mon- stersifend in those figures they danced as I have described it, speak- ing ecause of the little Tipetuous beating of where the channels the earth, and bears' m little islands, that 1 one of those small n come into an ene- r Indians into great jre obliged to row in ent of the river, be- and rapid ; we were vel over miry lands, over burning sands, ilse over splinters of when we were come dress our meat, and t have done so much he bank of the river, le same toil, till the let on our way since ins, who had a great 1 it. I pursued and killed, and came to accordingly done. I JOUTEL.S HISTORICAL JOURNAL. 181 must here take notice of a ceremony our Indians performed when they came near the bullock, before they flayed it. In the first place they adorned his head with some swan's and bus- tard's down, dyed red, and put some tobacco into his nostrils, and between the clefts of tiie hoofs. When they had flayed him, they cut out the tongue and put a bit of tobacco into its place ; then they stuck two wooden forks into the ground, laid a stick across them, on which they placed several slices of the flesh, in the nature of an of- fering. The ceremony being ended, we parched or dried the best parts of the beast, and proceeded on our journey. The 9th, we found the banks of the river very higli, and the earth of them yellow, red and white, and thither the natives came to fur- nish themselves with it, to adorn their bodies on festival days. We held on our way till the I4th, when we met a herd of bullocks, wliereof we killed five, dried part of them, and proceeded till the 18th. The 19th, we came to the mouth of the river, called Houabache, said to come from the country of the Iroquois, towards New England. That is a very fine river, its water extraordinarily clear, and the cur- rent of it gentle. Our Indians offered up to it, by way of sacrifice, some tobacco and beefsteaks, which they fixed on forks, and left them on the bank, to be disposed of as the river thought fit. We observed some other superstitions among those poor people, one whereof was as follows. There were some certain days on which they fasted, and we knew them, when, as soon as they awaked, they besmeared their faces and arms, or other parts of their bodies, with a slimy sort of earth, or pounded charcoal ; for that day they did not eat till ten or eleven of the clock at night, and before they did eat they were to wipe off that smnaring, and had water brought them for that purpose. The occasion of their fasting was, as they gave us to understand, that they n)ight have good success in hunting, and kill abundance of bullocks. We hold on our way till the 25th, when the Indians showed us a spring of salt water, within a musket shot of us, and made us go ashore to view it. We observed the ground about it was much beaten by bullocks' feet, and it is likely they love that salt water. The country about was full of hillocks, covered with oaks and walnut trees, abundance "f plum trees, almost all the plums red and pretty good, besides great store of other sorts of fruits, whose names we know not, and among them one shaped like a middling 01 •3 a f >ii *j > I -I- 182 IIISTOKICAL COLLECTIONS OF LOUISIANA. pear, with stones in it as big as large beans. When ripe it peels like a peach ; the taste is indifferent good, but rather of the sweetest. The 27th, having discovered a herd of beeves, we went ashore to kill some ; I shot a heifer, which was very good meat ; we put aboard the best of it, and held on our way till the evening, when we en camped on an island, where we observed an alteration in the humor and behavior of our Indians. This put us under some appiehension, and the more, for that he who was reckoned a hermaphrodite, told us they intended to leave us, which obliged us to secure our arms, and double our watch during the night, for fear they should forsake us. With that jealousy we proceeded on our journey the 28th and 29th, coasting along the foot of an upripht rock, about sixty or eighty feet high, round which the rive glides. Held on the 30th and 31st, and the 1st of September passed by the mouth of a river called Missouri, whose water is always thick, and to which our Indians did not forget to offer sacrifice. The 2d, we arrived at the place where the fijgure is of the pre- tended monster spoken of by Father Marquet. That monster con- sists of two scurvy figures drawn in red, on the flat side of a rock, about ten or twelve feet high, which wants very much of the extra- ordinary height that relation mentions. However, our Indians paid homage, by offering sacrifice to that stone ; though we endeavored to give them to understand that the said rock had no manner of virtue, and that we worshipped something above it, pointing up to he&ven ; but it was to no purpose, and they made signs to us that they should die if they did not perform that duty. , We proceeded, t<,oasting along a chain of mountains, and at length, on the 3d, left the Missis- sippi, to enter the river of the Illinois. We found a great alteration in that river, as well with respect to its course, which is very gentle, as to the country about it, which is much more agreeable and beautiful than that about the great river, by reason of the many fine woods and variety of fruit its banks are adorned with." It was a very great comfort to us to find so much ease in going up that river, by reason of its gentle stream, so that we all stayed in the canoe and made much more way. Thus we went on till the 8th, without stopping any longer than to kill a bullock, and one of our Indians, who had a craving stomach, having eaten some of its suet hot and raw, was taken very ill, and died of it, as I shall mention in its place. BIANA. When ripo it peels but rather of the , we vent ashore to leat ; we put aboard cning, when we en ration in the humor some appiehension, hermaphrodite, told to secure our arms, they should forsake irney the 28th and ibout sixty or eighty n the 30th and 91st, h of a river called hich our Indians did figure is of the pre- That monster con- flat side of a rock, much of the extra- er, our Indians paid gh we endeavored to 10 manner of virtue, nting up to he&ven ; > us that they should proceeded, t<,oasting e 3d, left the Missis- well with respect to ry about it, which is bout the great river, )f fruit its banks are us to find so much entle stream, so that e way. ig any longer than to I a craving stomach, s taken very ill, and 1 JOUTEl's lUBTOBICAL JOURNAL, 183 The 9th, we came into a lake, about half a league over, which we crossed, and returned into the channel of the river, on the banks whereof we found several marks of the natives having been encamped there, when they came to fish and dry what they caught. The lOih, we ciossed another lake, called Primitehouy, returned to the river, and the 11th, saw Indians before us, encamped on the bank of a river, whereupon we stopped and made ready our arms. In the meantime, one of them came towards us by land, and we put on our canoe towards him. When that Indian was near, he stood gazing on us without speak, ing a word, and then drawing still nearer, wo gave him to understand that we were seni by M. de la Salle, and came from him. Then he made signs to us to advance towards his people, whom he went before to acquaint with what we had said to him, so that when we were come n*ar them they fired several shot to salute us, and we answered them with our firelocks. \fter that mutual salutation, they came into our canoe to signify they were glad to hear news of M. de la Salle. We asked them what nation they were of; they answered, they were Illinois, of a canton called Cascasquia. We inquired whether M. Tonty was at Fort Louis ; they gave us to understand that he was not, but that he was gone to the war against the Iroquois. - They invited us ashore to go with them to eat of such as they had ; we thanked them, and they brought us some gourds and watermelons, in ex- change for which we gave them some parched flesh. We had not, by the way, taken notice of a canoe, in which was a man with two women, who, being afraid of us, had hidden themselves among the reeds ; but that man seeing us stop among his countrymen, (a heart, came to us, and having told us that he belonged to a vil- \ :.ear Fort Louis, we set out together, and one of our Indians wJ .V into that canoe to help them to shove, so they call the way of pushing on the canoe with poles instead of rowing. On Sunday, the 14th of September, about two in the afternoon, we came into the neighborhood of Fort Louis. Drawing near, we were met by some Indians that were on the bank, who having viewed us well, and understanding we came from M. de la Salle, and that we belonged to him, ran to the fort to carry the news, and immediately we saw a Frenchman come out, with a company of Indians, who fired a vol- ley of several pieces, to salute us. Then the Frenchman drew near and desired us to come ashore, which we did, leaving only one in the canoe to take care of our baggage, for the Illinois are very sharp iiifinnnaiii I.tl. > 184 HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF LOUISIANA. at carrying off anything they can lay their hands on, and conse. quently nothing near so honest as the nations we had passed through. Wo all walked together towards tho fort, and found tlirec French, men coming to meet us, and among them a clerk who had belonged to the late M. de la Salle. They immediately asked us whore M. do la Salle was ; wo told them he had brought us part of the way, and left us at a place about forty leagues beyond the Cenis, and that he was then in good health. All that was true enough ; for M. Ca- velier and I, who were the persons that then spoke, were not present at M. do la Salle's death ; he was in good health when he left us, and I have told tho reasons we had for concealing his death, till we came into France. It is no less true that Father Anastasius, and he they called Teissier, could have given a better account, the one as an eyewitness, and the other as one of the murderers, and they were both with us ; but to avoid lying, they said nothing. We farther told them we had orders to go over into France, to give an account of the discoveries made by M. de la Salle, and to procure the sending of succors. At length we entered the fort, where we found and surprised several persons who did not expect us. All the French were under arms, and made several discharges to welcome us. M. de la Belle Fontaine, lieutenant to M. Tonty, was at the head of them, and complimented us. Then we were conducted to the chapel, where we returned thanks to God, from the bottom of our hearts, for having preserved and conducted us in safety ; after which we had our lodg- ings assigned us, M. Cavelier and Father Anastasius had one cham- ber, and we were put into the magazine or warehouse. All this while the natives came by intervals to fire their pieces, to express their joy for our return, and for the news we brought of M. de la Salle, which refreshed our sorrow for his misfortune, perceiving that his presence would have settled all things advantageously. The day after our arrival, one of the Indians who had conducted us having been sick ever since he eat the raw beef suet I mentioned before, died, and his companions took away and buried him privately. We gave them the promised reward, and the part belonging to the dead man, to be delivered to his relations. ■ They stayed some time in the fort, during the which we took extraordinary care of them, and at last they returned to their own homes. As far as we could gather by half words dropped there by one or other at the fort, something had been done there prejudicial to the service of M. de la Salle, and against his authority, and therefore aiANA. JOUTKI/fl III8TOBICAL JOUR\AI„ 185 mds on, and conse- had passed through, bund tlireo Frcnch- i who had belonged asked uh whore M. us part of the way, the Ccnis, and that •nough ; for M. Ga- te, were not present ih when he left us, ig his death, till we ind he they called ne as an eyewitness, were both with us ; ;r told them we had It of the discoveries ing of succors. )und and surprised French were under us. M. de la Belle head of them, and the chapel, where ir hearts, for having 3h we had our lodg- sius had one cham- arehouse. All this r pieces, to express wrought of M. de la line, perceiving that ageously. who had conducted !ef suet I mentioned tried him privately, art belonging to the y stayed some time nary care of them, ped there by one or e prejudicial to the ority, and therefore somn (Iroadcd his return, but more ospeciully a Jesuit was in great constornntion. lie was sick; M. Cavclior, Father Anastusius, and 1, went to visit him. lie inquired very purtieiilarly of ull points, and could not conceal his trouble, which wo would not seem to take notice of. Our design being to make the best of our way to Canada, in order to sot out aboard the first French ships that should sail for France, wo inquired how we were to proceed, and mot with several dillicul- ties. The navigation on that river was very dangerous by reason of tho falls there arc in it, which must be carefully avoided, unless a man will run an inevitable hazard of perishing. There were few persons capable of managing that affair, and the war with the Iro- quois made all men afraid. However, the Sieur Boisrondet, clerk to tho late M. do la Salle, having told us he had a canoe in which ho designed to go down to Canada, we prepared to make use of that opportunity. Care was taken to gather provisions for our voyage, to get furs to barter as we passed by Micilimaquinay. The visits of two chiefs of nations, called Cascasqui . i'eroueria and Cacahouanous, discovered by the late M. do la Salle, did not interrupt our affairs, and all things being got ready we took leave of those we left in the fort- M. Cavclier wrote a letter for M. Tonty, which ho left there to be delivered to him, and we repaired to the lake to embark. It would be needless to relate all the troubles and hardships wo met with in that journey ; it was painful and fruitless, for having gone to the bank of the lake in very foul weather, after waiting there five days for that foul weather to cease, and after we had embarked, not- withstanding the storm, we were obliged to put ashore again, to re- turn to tho place where we had embarked, and there to dig a hole in the earth to bury our baggage and provisions, to save the trouble of carrying them back to Fort Louis, whither we returned, and arrived there the 7th of October, where they were surprised to sec us come back. Thus were we obliged to continue in that fort all the rest of autumn and part of the winter, to our great sorrow, and not so much for our o»vn disappointment as for being, by that means, obstructed from sending succors as soon as we had expected, as well to the said fort as to those French of our own company, whom wo had left on the coast of the Bay of Mexico. It was then the good season for shooting. Those gentlemen at the fort had secured two good Indian sportsmen, who never let us want J IT INO HlrtTOBIf'AI. rOM.E(!TIO\i Or I.OiriBIANA. f -t \ for wild. fowl of all wirts; bcHiilos we had good bread, and aa good fruit, and Imil tliero boun anything to drink besidcH water, wc had fared well. The leiHuro wo had during our stay there, gave me an opportunity of making the following remarks, an well of my own ohservntion, as what I learned of the Trench residing there. Fort Louis is in the country of the Illinois, and seated on a steep rock, about two hundred feet high, the river running at the l>ottom of it. It is only fortified with stakes and palisades, and some houses advancing to the edge of the rock. It has a very spacious esplanade, or place of arms. The place is naturally strong, and might bo made so by art, with little expense. Several of the natives live in it, in their huts. I cannot give an account of the latitude it stands in, for want of proper instruments to take an observation, but nothing can bo pleasanter ; and it may be truly affirmed, that the country of the Illinois enjoys all that can make it accomplished, not only as to orna- ment, but also for its plentiful production of all things requisite for the support of human life. The plain, which i^ watereri by the river, is beautified by two small hills, about half a league distant from the fort, and those hills are covered with groves of oaks, walnut-trees, and other sorts I have named elsewhere. The fields are full of grass, growing up very high. On the sides of the hills is found a gravelly sort of stone, very fit to make lime for building. There are also many clay-pits, fit for making of earthenware, bricks, and tiles ; and along the river there are coal-pits, the coal whereof has been tried and found very good. There is no reason to question but that there are in this country mines of all sorts of metals, and of the richest, the climate being the same as that of New Mexico. We saw several spots, where it ap- peared there were iron mines, and found some pieces of it on the bank of the river, which nature had cleansed. Travellers who have been at the upper part of the Mississippi, affirm they have found mines there, of very good lead. That country is one of the most temperate in the world, and con- sequently whatsoever is sown there, whether herbs, roots, Indian, and even European corn, thrives very well, as has been tried by the Sieur Boisrondet, who sowed all sorts, and had a plentiful crop, and we eat of the bread, which was very good And whereas we were assured, that there were vines which run up, whose grapes are very good and delicious, growing along the river, it is reasonable to be- lieve, that if those vines were transplanted and pruned, there might lANA. bread, and as gonl idcB water, wc had there, gave mo an in well of my own ling there, il seated on a steep lug at the liottoni of 8, and some houses spaciou!) esplanade, and might bo made latives live in it, in Lide it stands in, for ]n, but nothing can 1 the country of the not only as to orna- things requisite for s beautified by two fort, and those hills d other sorts I have s, growing up very ivelly sort of stone, Uso many clay-pits, and along the river ried and found very are in this country lie climate being the 1 spots, wliere it ap> pieces of it on the Fravellers who have m they have found the world, and con- lierbs, roots, Indian, as been tried by the a plentiful crop, and id whereas we were lose grapes are very is reasonable to be- pruned, there might JOUTRI.'S IIIHTORirAI. lOIIBNAI.. Ifil bo very good wine made of them. There is also plenty of wild. apple and pcar-treoH, and of several other sorts, which would allord excel, lent fruit, were they grafted and transplanted. All other sorts of fruit, as plums, peaches, and others, wherewith the country oljounds, would become exfiuislte. if the same industry were used ; and other sorts of fruit we have in France would thrive well, if tliey were carried over. The earth produces a sort of hemp, « whereof cloth might he made and cordage. >L As for the manners and customs of the Illinois, in many particu. lars they are the same as those of the other nations we have seen. They are naturally fierce and revengeful, and/ among them the toil of sowing, planting, carrying of burdens, and doing all other things that belong to the support of life, appertaiuB peculiarly to the women. The men have no other business but going lo iho war and hunting, and tho women must fetch the game when they have killed it, which . sometimes they are to carry very far to their dwellings, and there lo parch, or dress it any other way. ' ' When the corn, or other grain, is sown, the women seeure it from the birds till it comes up. Those birds are a sort of starlings, liko ours in France, but larger, and fly in great swarm <./ The Illinois have but few children, and are extremely fond of them ; it is the custom among them, as well as others 1 have men- lioncii, never to chide or beat them, but only to throw water at *; (l.'iii, by way of chastisement. The nations we have spoken of before, are not at all, or very little, addicted to thieving ; but it is not so with the Illinois, and it behoves every man to watch their feet as well as their hands, for they know how to turn anything out of the way most dexterously. They are suDJcct to the general vice of all the other Indians, which is to boast ver . much of their warlike exploits, and that is (he main subject of their discourse, and they are very great liars. They pay a respect to their dead, as appt iU'.s by their special care of burying them, and even of putting into lofty coffins the bodies of such as are considerable among them, as their chiefs and others, which is also practised among the Accanceas, but they differ in this particular, that the Accanceas weep and make their complaints for some days ; whereas the Chahouanous, and other people of the Illi- nois nation, do just the contrary ; for when any of them die, they wrap them up in skins, and then put them into coffins made of the harks of trees, then sing and dance about them for twenty-four hours. Those dancers take care to tie calabashes or gourds about :\ :A 188 HISTORICAI> COLLECTIONS OP LOUISIANA. their bodies, with some Indian wheat in them, to rattle and make a noise, and some ftf them have a drum, made of a great eartiien pot,, ' on which t'ley extend a wild goat's skin, and beat thereon witli one stick, li'.> , our tabors. During that rejoicing, they throw their presents on the coffin, as bracelets, pendants, or pieces of earthenware, and strings of beads, encouraging the singers to perform their duty well. If any friend happens to come thither at that time, he immediately throws down his present, and falls a singing and dancing like the rest. When that ceremony is over, they bury the body, with part of the presents, making choice of such as may be most proper for it. They also bury with it some store of Indian wheat, with a pot to boil it in, for fear the dead person should be hungry on his long journey ; and they repeat the same ceremony at the year's end. A good number of presents still remaining, they divided them into several lots, and play at a game, called of the stick, to give them to the winner. That game is played, taking a short stick, very smooth and greased, that it may be the harder to hold it fast. One of the elders throws that stick as far as he can, the young men run after it, snatch it from each other, and at last, he who remains possessed of it, has the first lot. The stick is then thrown again ; he who keeps it then has the second lot, and so on to the end. The women, who^c husbands have been slain in war, often perform the same lerenio .y, and treat the singers and dancers whom they have before invite^. , •, The marriages of the Illinois last no longer than the parties ugree together ; for they freely part after a hunting bout, each going which way they please, without any ceremony. However, tljc men are jealous enough of their wives, and when they catch them in a fault, they generally cut up their noses, and I saw one who had been so served. Nevertlieless, adultery is not reckoned any great crime among them, and there are women who make no secret of having had to do with Frenchmen. Yet are they not sufficiently addicted to that vice to offer themselves, and they never fall, unless they are sued to, when they are none of the most difficult in the world to be prevailed on. The rest I leave to those who have lived longer there tlian me. We continued some time in Fort Louis witiiout receiving any news. Our business was, after having heard mass, which we had the good fortune to do every day, to divert ourselves the best way we could. The Indian women daily brought in something fresh ; we »„„.4.„„ .< IIANA. rattle and make a I great eartlien pot,, ' it thereon willi one ts on the coiTin, as I strings of beads, ell. If any friend lately throws down 3 the rest. When )art of the presents, for it. They also pot to boil it in, for long journey ; and y divided them into ck, to give them to stick, very smooth fast. One of the ng men run after it, imains possessed of ■in ; he who keeps it rhe women, whoso he same oerenio j y, 'e before invite^. an the parties :.gree ; bout, each going However, tljc men y catch them in a w one who had been Treat crime among of having had to do iddicted to that vice they are sued to, odd to be prevailed I longer there tiian lout receiving any ass, which we had Ives the best way we mething fresh ; we JOUTEUa HISTORICAL JOURNAL. 189 wanted not for watermelons, bread made of Indian corn, baked in the embers, and other such things, and we rewarded them by little presents in return. On the 27th of October, of the same year, M. Tonty returned from the war with the Iroquois. Our embraces and the relation of our adventures were repeated ; but still concealing from him the death of M. de la Salle. He told us all the particulars of that war, and said that the Iroquois having got intelligence of the march of the French forces and their allies, had all come out of their villages and laid themselves in ambush by the way ; but that having made a sudden and general discharge upn our men, with their usual cries, yet without much harm done, they had been repulsed with loss, took to flight, and by the way, burnt all their own villages. That M. d' Hennonville, chief Governor of New France, had caused the army to march, to burn the rest of their villages, set fire to their country and corn, but would not proceed any farther. That afterwards he had made himself master of the several canoes belonging to the Eng- lish, most of them laden with brandy, which had been plundered ; that the English had been sent prisoners to Montreal, they being come to make some attempt upon the Illinois. We continued after this manner, till the month of December, when two men arrived from Montreal. They came to give notice to M. Tonty, that three canoes, laden with merchandize, powder, ball, and other things, were arrived at Chicagon ; that there being too little water in the river, and what there was being frozen, they could come no lower ; so that it being requisite to send men to fetch those things, M. Tonty desired the chief of the Chahouanous to furnish him with people. That chief accordingly provided forty, men as well as women, who set out with some Frenchmen. The honesty of the Chahouanous was the reason of preferring them before the Illi- nois, who are naturally knaves. That ammunition and the merchandize were soon brought, and very seasonably, the fort being then in want. We stayed there till the end of February, 1088, at which time we fixed our resolution to depart, though we had no news from Canada, as we expected. We found there were some canoes ready to undertake that voyage, and we laid hold of that opportunity to convey each other to the Micili- maquinay, where we hoped to meet some news from Canada. M. Cavelier, the priest, had taken care, before the death of M. de la Salle, his brother, to get of him a letter of credit, to receive either a sum of money or furs in the country of the Illinois. He tendered 100 HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OP LOUISIANA. that letter to M. Tonty, who believing M. de la Salle was still alive, made no difficulty of giving him to the value of about 4000 livres in furs, castor and otter skins, a canoe and otiier effects, for which the said M. Cavelier gave him his note, and we prepared for our jour- ney. I have before observed that there was a Jesuit, whose name was Dalouez, at Fort Louis, and who had been very much surprised to hear that M. de la Salle was to come in a short time, being under great apprehensions on account of a conspiracy intended to have been carried on against M. de la Salle's interest. That father per- ceiving our departure was fixed, moved first, and went away fore- most, to return to Micilimaquinay ; so that they were left without, a priest at Fort Louis, which was a great trouble to us, because we were the occasion of it, and therefore, those who were to remain in the fort, anticipated the time, and made their Easter, taking the ad- vantage of the presence of F. Anastasius and M. Cavelier. At length, we set out the 21st of March, from Fort Louis. The Sieur Boisrondet, who was desirous to return to France, joined us ; we embarked on the river, which was then become navigable, and before we had advanced five leagues, met with a rapid stream which obliged us to go ashore, and then again into the water, to draw along our canoe. I had the misfortune to hurt one of my feet against a rock that lay under water, which troubled me very much for a long time ; and we being under a necessity of going often into the water, I suffered extremely, and more than I had done since our departure from the Gulf of Mexico. We arrived at Chicagon on the 29th of March, and our first care was 10 seek what we had concealed at our former voyage, having, as was there said, buried our luggage and provisions. We found it had been opened, and some furs and linen taken away, almost all of which belonged to me. This had been done by a Frenchman, whom M. Tonty had sent from the fort during the winter season, to know whether there were any canoes at Chicagon, and whom he had directed to see whether anybody had meddled with what he had con- cealed, and he made use of that advice to rob us. The bad weather obliged us to stay in that place till April. That time of rest was advantageous for the healing my foot ; and there being but very little game in that place, we had nothing but our meal or Indian wheat to feed on ; yet we discovered a kind of manna, which was a great help to us. It was a sort of trees, resembling our maple, in which we made incisions, whence flowed a sweet liquor, LOUISIANA. ! la Salle was still alive, e of about 4000 livres in ler effects, for which the i prepared for our jour- fesuit, whose name was very much surprised to short time, being under piracy intended to have erest. That father per- '., and went away fore- they were left withou*. a luble to us, because we who were to remain in ?ir Easter, taking the ad- id M. Cavelier. , from Fort Louis. The n to France, joined us ; become navigable, and ith a rapid stream which the water, to draw along [16 of my feet against a me very much for a long 3ing often into the water, done since our departure larch, and our first care former voyage, having, provisions. We found it iken away, almost all of 5 by a Frenchman, whom winter season, to know igon, and whom he had ;d with what he had con- >b us. It place till April. That ling my foot ; and there we had nothing but our sovered a kind of manna, t of trees, resembling our ie flowed a sweet liquor, j 'tfr . T -- *«fft^ya **-<-^-'<-'r~^rr7fi— JOUTEL9 HISTORICAL JOURNAL, 191 and in it we boiled our Indian wheat, which made it delicious, sweet, and of a very agreeable relish. There being no su^jar-canes in that country, those trees supplied that liquor, which being boiled up and evaporated, turned into a kind of sugar somewhat brownish, but very good. In the woods we found a sort of garlic, not so strong as ours, and small onions very like ours in taste, and some charvel of the same relish as that we have, but different in the leaf. The weather being somewiiat mended, we embarked again, and entered upon the lake on the 5tli of April, keeping to the north side to shun the Iroquois. We had some storms also, and saw swelling waves like those of the sea ; but arrived safe on the 1.5th at a river called Quinetonan, near a village, whence the inhabitants depart during the winter season, to go a hunting, and reside tliere all the summer. The sport is not there as in those countries from whence we came ; but, on the contrary, very poor, and we found nothing but some very lean wild goats, and even those very rarely, because the wolves, which are very numerous there, make a great havoc of them, taking and devouring great numbers after this manner. When the wolves have discovered a herd of wild goats, they rouse and set them a running. The wild goats never fail to take to the first lake they meet with. The hunting wolves, who are used to that, guard the banks carefully, moving along the edges of them. The poor goats being pierced by the cold of the lake, grow weary and so get out, or else the river swelling forces them out with its waves, quite benumbed, so that they are easily taken by their ene- mies, who devour thom. We frequently saw those wolves watching along the jide of the lake, and kept off to avoid frightening them, to the end the wild goats might quit their sanctuary, that we might catch some of them, as it sometimes fell out. The 28th, we arrived among the Poutoualannis, which is half way to Micilimaquinay, where we purchased some Indian corn for the rest of our voyage. We found no news there from Montreal, and were forced to stay some time to wait an opportunity to go down the river, no man daring to venture, because of the war with the Iroquois. There are some Frenchmen in that place, and four Jesuits, who have a house well built with timber, enclosed with stakes and pall- sades. There are also some Hurons and Outahouacs, two neighbor- ing nations, whom those fathers take care to instruct, not without 192 HIPTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF LOUISIANA. m!i':' I , very mucli trouble, tliose people being downright libertines, and there arc very often none but a few women in their churches. Those fathers have each of them the charge of instructing a nation, and to that effect have translated the proper prayers into the language peculiar to each of them, as also all other things relating to the Catholic faith and religion. They oflered Father Anastasius and M. Cavelier a room, which they accepted of, and we took up our lodging in a little hovel some travellers had made. There we continued the rest of May and part of June, till after the feast of Whitsuntide. The natives of the country about till the land and sow Indian corn, melons and gourds, but they do not thrive so well as in the country we came from. However, they live on them, and besides they have fish they catch in the lake, for flesh is very scarce among them. On the 4th of June, there arrived four canoes, commanded by M. dc Porncuf, coming from Montreal, and bringing news from the Marquis d'llennonville, and orders to send to the settlements which were towards the Lake des Puans and others higher up, towards the source of the river Colbert, to know the posture and condition of affairs. We prepared to be gone with the two canoes. M. Cavelier bought another, to carry our baggage, and left part of his furs with a merchant, who gave him a note to receive money at Montreal, I did the same with those few furs I had, the rest of them having been left at Micilimaquinay. We took leave of the Jesuits, and set out in four canoes, viz., two belonging to M. de Porneuf, and two to M. Cavelier, one of which had been brought from Fort Louis, and the other bought as I have just now said, we being twenty-nine of us in those four canoes. We rowed on till the 24th, when M. de Porneuf left us to go to St. Mary's Fall, to carry the orders given him. The 25th we got out of the lake of the Illinois, to enter that of the Hurons, on the banks whereof stands the village called Tcssalon, where M. de Porneuf came again to us, with a canoe of the natives, and with him we held on our way. We proceeded to Chebonany the 30th of June, and the 3d of July entered the French river, where we were forced several times to carry our canoes to avoid the falls and the rapid streams, observ- ing as we went a barren and dry country, full of rocks, on which grew cedar and fir trees, which take root in the clefts of those rocks. The 5th, we entered upon the little lake of Nipicingue, adjoining to a nation of that name. We got out of it again and entered upon JISIANA. right libertines, and in their churches, •ge of instructing a 3per prayers into the other things relating elicr a room, which n a little hovel some rest of May and part The natives of the I, melons and gourds, intry we came from, ave fish they catch in 3, commanded by M. ging news from the he settlements which gher up, towards the ire and condition of canoes. M. Cavelier part of liis furs with 3ney at Montreal. I of them having been four canoes, viz., two avelier, one of which her bought as I have n those four canoes, jf left us to go to St. 'he 25th we got out of urons, on the banks ^here M. de Porneuf md with him we held June, and the 8d of I forced several times •apid streams, observ- l of rocks, on which ! clefts of those rocks. Nipicingue, adjoining ;ain and entered upon JOUTELS HISTORICAL JOURNAL. 103 the great river, where, after having passed the great fall, we arrived the 13th at the point of the island of Montreal. We landed at a village called Lachine, which had belonged to the late M. de la Salle. M. Cavelier set out the 14lh for Montreal, where we came to him the 17th. At Montreal we found the Marquis d'Hennonville, M. de Noroy the Intendant, and other gentlemen, to whom we gave an account of our long and painful travels, with the particulars of what we had seen, which they listened to with satisfaction, but without mentioning M. de la Salle's death. We told them the occasion of our going over into France, and they approved of it, being of opinion with us that we ought to hasten our departure as much as possible. We made us some clothes, whereof we stood in need. The Sieur Teissier, who came along with us, and was of the reformed religion, knowing the exercise of it was forbid in France, abjured it in the great church of Montreal. The -iTth, we went aboard a bark to go down the river to Quebec, where we arrived the 29th. Father Anastasius carried us to the monastery of the fathers of his order, seated half a league from the town, on a little river, where we were most kindly received by the father-guardian and the other religious men, who expressed much Joy to see us, and we still more for being in a place of safety, after so many perils and toils, for which we returned our humble thanks to Almighty God, our protector. We chose rather to take up our lodging there than in the town, to avoid the visits and troublesome questions every one would be put- ting to us with much importunity, which we must have been obliged to bear patiently. M. Cavelier and his nephew, whom we had left at Montreal, arrived some days after us, and were lodged in the Seminaiy. We stayed in that monastery till the 21st of August, when we em- barked in a large boat, eighteen persons of us, to go down the river of St. Lawrence, aboard a ship, that was taking in and fishing of cod ; we went aboard it the 30th of the same month, and after hear- ing mass, made ready and sailed for our dear country ; arrived safe at Rochelle on Saturday, the 9th of October, 1688, whence setting out by land, the 15th, the same Providence, which had protected and conducted us, brought us without any misfortune to Rouen, the 7th of October, the same year. 14