venture upon so dangerous and extraordinary an Undertaking We were inform'd that within three Leagues of the Maskoutens there was a River which runs into the Mississipi and that we were to go directly to the West-South-West to find it but there are so many Morasses and Lakes between it that had it not been for our Guide we had never been able to find it and the River upon which we row'd to find the Place we were to land and carry our Canow into the other was so full of Wild-Oats that it lookt rather like a Corn-Field than a River insomuch that we cou'd hardly discover its Channel As the Miamis frequented this Place they conducted us to the usual Place of Portage and help'd us to carry our Canow over-land into the other River distant from the former about two Miles and a half from whence they return'd home leaving us in an unknown Country having nothing to relie upon but the Divine Providence We made a solemn Vow in this place and resolv'd to use some particular Prayers every Day to the Blessed Virgin to recommend our Persons and Enterprize to her Protection and afterwards embark'd This River is call'd Mesconsin It is very broad but the Sands make its Navigation difficult and this Difficulty is incrceas'd by an infinite Number of Islands cover'd with Vines The Country thro' which it flows is very sine the Groves dispos'd at certain Distances in the Meadows make a noble Prospect and the Fruit of the Trees discovers the Fertility of the Soil Those Groves are full of Wallnut-Trees as also of Oaks and of another sort of Tree unknown to us in Europe the Boughs whereof are arm'd with long Thorns We saw no other Game in these Meadows but abundance of Wild-Goats and Wild-Oxen Within thirty Leagues of this Place where we embark'd we found some Iron-Mines and one of our Company who had formerly seen such Mines told us that these were extraordinary good They are not above three Foot deep and are situate near a Row of Rocks the Foot whereof is cover'd with fine Woods After having row'd ten Leagues further that is forty Leagues in all from the Place where we embark'd we came into the Mississipi on the 17 th of Iune The Mouth of the Mesconsin is about 42 Degrees and a half of Latâ—tude The Satisfaction I had to see this famous River is almost incredible for tho' the Savages had often spoken of it to our Men none of them had been so bold as to venture so far in this unknown Country This oblig'd me to consider this River with a greater Attention than otherwise I wou'd have done as the Reader will perceive in perusing the following Account The Mississipi is form'd by several Lakes in the North-Country from whence it s runs to the South It s Channel is pretty narrow at the Mouth of the Mesconsin being streighten'd by a Row of high Mountains on the other side but however its Stream is very gentle because of its depth for we found there 19 Fathom Water But a little below that Place it enlarges it self and is about three quarters of a League broad Its Banks are very fine but three Days after we discover'd a much better Coâ—ucirc ntry The Trees are higher and the Islands so beautiful that I verily believe there is nothing like it in the World The Meadows are cover'd with an infinite number of Wild-Goats and Oxen and the River with Bustards and Swans without Wings because their Feathers fall in this Country about that time We saw extraordinary Fishes and one of them was so big that our Canow was like to be broke into into Pieces because it run against it We saw also a very hideous Sea-Monster his Head was like that of a Tyger but his Nose was somewhat sharper and like a Wild-Cat his Beard was long his Ears stood upright the Colour of his Head being Grey and the Neck Black He look'd upon us for some time but as we came near him our Oars frighted him away This is the only one we saw We caught abundance of Sturgeons and another sort of Fish somewhat like our Trouts except that their Eyes and Nose are much lesser and that they have near the Nose a Bone like a Woman's Busk three Inches broad and a Foot and a half long the End whereof is flat and very broad insomuch that when they leap out of the Water the Weight of that Bone makes them fall backwards We saw also abundance of Turky-Cocks on the Banks of the River The Pisikious which we call Wild-Oxen are not much unlike ours they are not altogether so long but twice as big We shot one of them and Thirteen Men had much ado to drag him from the Place where he fell Their Head is of a prodigious bigness their Forehead broad and flat and their Horns between which there is at least a Foot and a half distance are all black and much longer than those of our European Oxen. They have a Bump on the Back and their Head Breast and part of the Shoulders are cover'd with long Hair They have in the middle of their Forehead an ugly Tuff of long Hair which falling down over their Eyes blinds them in a manner and makes them look dreadful The rest of the Body is cover'd with curl'd Hair or rather Wooll like our Sheep but much thicker and ruffer Their Hair falls in Summer-time and then their Skin is as soft as Velvet nothing remaining but a kind of short Downe The Savages make use of their Skins for Gowns which they paint with several Colours Their Flesh and Fat is excellent and the best Dish of the Savages who destroy abundance of them tho' they are very fierce and dangerous and if they can but take a Man with their Horns they toss him up and then tread upon him The Savages hide themselves when they have shot at them for else they shou'd be in great danger of their Lives those Beasts being fiercer when wounded They follow them at certain distances till they have lost so much Blood as to be unable to do them any hurt or to defend themselves They graze upon the Banks of the River and I have seen above 400 together We continu'd to fall down the River having seen nothing for above 100 Leagues but Beasts and Birds however we were always upon our Guard and especially during the Night for fear of any Surprize We landed in the Evening to dress our Supper and made but a little Fire and then left the Shore casting an Anchor near the middle of the River where we lay as the safest Place and yet one of us watch'd always by turns On the 25 th of Iune we went a-shore and found some fresh Traces of Men upon the Sand and then found a Path which led into a Meadow We call'd our Men together and it was resolv'd that our Men shou'd continue in the Canow's while M. Ioliet and I shou'd follow that Path and endeavour to
great Pots of Earth which are curiously made They go nâ—ked and wear their Hair very short boring their Ears which they adorn with Rings of Glass-Beads but their Women are cover'd with Skins having their Hair divided into two Tresses which they throw behind their Back without any other Ornament Their Feasts are without any Ceremony They serve their Meats in great Dishes and every one eats as much as he pleases Their Language is very difficult and I could never pronounce any Word Their Cabins are made with the Barks of Trees and are generally very long they lie at the two ends their Beds being about two foot higher than the Floor They keep their Corn in Paniers made of Rushes or in great Gourds They have no Beavers and all â—heir Commodities are the Skins of Wild Oxen. It never Snows in their Country and they have no other Winter than some violent Rains which makes the only difference between Summer and Winter They have no other Fruit but Water-Melons though their Soil might produce any other did they know how to cultivate it They held a Council wherein some proposed to murther us because of our Commodities but their Chief oppos'd that base Design and having sent for us danc'd the Calumet in our Presence which he presented me with to seal our common Friendship M. Ioliet and I in the mean time call'd our Men together to advise whether we shou'd proceed any further or return home from thence and having consider'd that the Gulph of Mexico lying in the Latitude of 31 Degrees and 40 Minutes cou'd be but within three or four Days Journey from the Akamsca and that therefore the Mississipi discharg'd it self into it and not to the Eastward of the Cape of Florida or into the Californian-Sea as it was expected it was resolv'd to return home We consider'd likewise that the Advantage of our great Voyage wou'd be altogether lost to our Nation did we fall into the hands of the Spaniards from whom we cou'd expect no other Treatment but Death or Slavery and therefore it was more prudent to content our selves with this Discovery and make a Report thereof to those who had sent us So that having rested another Day we left the Village of the Akamsca on the 17 th of Iuly having follow'd the Mississipi from the Latitude of 42 to 34 and preachâ—d the Gospel to the utmost of my Power to the Nations we visited We went up the River with great Difficulty because of the Rapidity of the Stream and left it in the Latitude of 38 Degrees and went into a River which conducted us into the Lake of the Illinois which Way is much shorter than the other by the River Mescousin thro' which we came I never saw a more pleasant Country than the Banks of that River The Meadows are cover'd with Oxen Stags Wild-Goats and the Rivers and Lakes with Bustards Swans Ducks Beavers We saw also abundance of Parrots Several small Rivers fall into this which is deep and broad for 65 Leagues and therefore navigable almost all the Year long There is but a Portage of half a League into the Lake of the Illinois We found on the Banks of the said River a Village of Illinois call'd Kuilka consisting of 74 Cabins They receiv'd us with all the Kindness imaginable and oblig'd me to promise that I wou'd return to instruct them and live in their Country Their Captain with most of their Youth accompany'd us to the Lake of the Illinois from whence we return'd to the Bay of Puans where we arriv'd towards the latter end of September having been about three Months in our Journey Altho' my tedious Journey shou'd be attended with no other Advantage than the Salvation of one Soul I shou'd think my Pains sufficiently rewarded and I hope I may presume so much for having preach'd the Gospel to the Illinois of Perouacca for three Days together in our Return my Words made such an Impression upon that poor People that as we were imbarking they brought to me a Dying Child to Christen him which I did about half an Hour before he dy'd by a special Providence of God who was pleas'd to save that innocent Creature Frequent mention having been made in the preceding Iournal of M. dâ— Salles it may be expected some Account should be given of his latter Discoveries the unfortunate Success thereof and his own Tragical End which so discourag'd the French that they never after made any further Attempt MR. du Salles with divers French who did accompany him fell down to the Mouth of the Great River where it disembogues it self into the Gulf of Mexico but neither he nor any of his Company understanding Navigation or wanting Instruments fancy'd they were in the Latitude of 27 Degrees whereas really it was 29 and not being able to inform themselves of its Longitude or distance from the most Westerly End of the Gulf they presum'd they were within a few Leagues of the River of Magdalen which is 60 Leagues North of the River of Palms and 120 from the River Panuco as it is represented in Hennepin's Chart and on the Great Globe of Coronelli which great Mistake was the cause of all his Misfortunes For after his return up the River and through the Great Lakes to Canada he embrac'd the next Opportunity of returning by Shipping for France where he to the King and his Ministers gave such a favourable Representation of the Country and Commodities therein contain'd the Populousness of the Country Civility of the Inhabitants far exceeding all the other Natives of America they had the Knowledge of The King thereupon order'd him a Fleet and a very considerable Equipage viz. a Man of War carrying 56 Guns a great Fly-boat a Patache and a Brigantine with things convenient for establishing a Colony and Traffick with the Natives This Fleet was Commanded by M. Beaujeau an Experienc'd Sea-Captain who was Victuall'd for a Year and M. du Salles had under his Command 150 Land-men who were to settle in the Country The Fleet pass'd by Martinico and Guardaloupe where they took in fresh Provision and Water together with divers Voluntiers and by M. du Salles's Direction sail'd thence to the North-West end of the Gulf in 27 Degrees When they arriv'd there they were in great confusion not being able to come near the Coast of Florida by reason of a long Bank Reciff or as the French call it Contre-coste which they search'd for some hundred Miles It was no-where above a Musket-shot over and every 20 or 30 Miles there was a Breach by which the Waters issu'd out of a vast Lagune whose breadth they could not learn They went in their Ship-Boat above 40 Miles and could not gain sight of the main Land or Continent This Lagune was shallow in some Places six foot in few above nine or ten there are scatter'd up and down in it divers smaâ—l Islands upon one of them they found above four hundred Indians who did not inhabit
Design I look'd upon the Employment of a Missionary as a most Honourable Post for me so that whenever I found the opportunity of a Mission I willingly embrac'd it tho' it oblig'd me to travel more than Twelve hundred Leagues off Canada Yet I perswaded several to accompany me in my Voyage and neglected not any thing that might tend to the furtherance of my Design At first for a Trial I was sent in Mission about a Hundred and twenty Leagues beyond Quebec I went up the River St. Laurence and arriv'd at length at the brink of a Lake call'd by the Natives Ontario which I shall describe afterwards Being there I perswaded several of the savage Barbarians to cultivate the Ground and dress some Wood for building a Lodge to us I caus'd 'em make a Cross of an extraordinary heighth and bigness I caus'd 'em likewise build a Chapel near to the Lake and establish'd my self there with another of my own Order by Name Father Luke Buisset whom I had induc'd to come along with me and who dy'd since in our Franciscan Convent upon the Sambre I shall have occasion afterwards to speak of him for that we cohabited in Canada for a long time and were Fellow-Labourers in our Establishment at Catarockouy which was the Place where we oft-times concerted the Measures of making this Discovery I am about to relate I there gave my self much to the reading of Voyages and encreas'd the Ambition I had to pursue my Design from what Light the Savages imparted to us in that matter In fine I plainly perceiv'd by what Relations I had of several Particulars in different Nations that it were not a matter of great difficulty to make considerable Establishments to the South-East of the great Lakes and that by the conveniâ—ncy of a great River call'd Hoio whch passes through the Country of the Iroquois a Passage might be made into the Sea at Cape Floride While I resided in that place I made several little Tours sometimes with the Inhabitants of Canada that we had brought along to settle at our Fort of Catarockouy sometimes in company of the Savages alone with whom I convers'd frequently And as I foresaw that the Iroquois might become jealous and suspicious of our Discoveries I resolv'd to make a Tour round their Five Cantons and in pursuance of this Design threw my self among 'em being accompany'd only with a Soldier of our Fort who travell'd with me Seventy Leagues or near the Matter on this Occasion we having our Feet arm'd with large Rackets to prevent the Injury of the Snow which abounds in that Câ—untry in time of Winter I had already acquir'd some small Knowledge of the Iroquois Language and while I travell'd in this manner among them they were surpriz'd to see me walk in midst of Snow and lodge my self in the wild Forests that their Country is full of We were â—blig'd to dig Four foot deep into the Snow to make Fire at night after having journey'd Ten or Twelve Leagues over-day Our Shooes were made after the Fashion of those of the Natives but were not able to keep out the Snow which melted as soon as our Feet touch'd it it having receiv'd heat from the motion of us walking along We made use of the Barks of Trees to cover us when we went to sleep and were carefully sollicitous to keep on great Fires to defend us from the nipping Colds in this lonesome Condition spent we the Nights waiâ—ing the welcomâ— return of the Sun that we might go on in our Journey As for Food we had none save the Indian Corn grinded small which we diluted with Water to make it go down the better Thus we pass'd through the Countries of the Honnehiouts and Honnontages who gave us a very kind reception and are the most Warlike People of all the Iroquois When they saw us they put their Fore-fingers on their Mouths signifying the surprizal they were in at the troublesom and difficult Journey we had made in the middle of Winter Then looking upon the mean and mortifying Habit of St. Francis they cry'd aloud Hetchitagon that is Barefoot and did with all manner of passion and astonishment pronounce the Word Gannoron intimating that it must needs have been a Business of great Importance that mov'd us to attempt such a difficult Journey at so unseasonable a time These Savages regal'd us with Elk and Venison dress'd after their own fashion which we eat of and afterwards took leave of 'em going further on in our Journey When we departed we carry'd our Bed-cloaths on our Backs and took with us a little Pot to boyl their Corn in We pass'd through ways quite inundated that would have been absolutely impracticable â—o any European For when we came at vast Marshes and overflowing Brooks we were oblig'd to climb along by the Trees At length with much difficulty we arriv'd at Ganniekez or Agniez which is one of the Five Cantons of the Iroquois situated about a large Day 's Journey from New-Holland call'd at present New-York Being there we were forc'd to season our Indian Corn which we had us'd to bruize betwixt two Stones with littlâ— Frogs that the Natives gather'd in the Meads towards Easter when the Snow was all gone We stay'd some time in this Kingdom lodging with a Iesuite that had been born at Lions to transcribe an Iroquiese Dictionary When the Weather began to be more favourable we chanc'd one day to meet with three Dutch-men on Horse-back who had come thither to treat about the Beavers They were sent and orderâ—d thither by Major Andrews the Man who subdu'd Boston and New-York to the King of England and is at present Governour of Virginia These Gentlemen alighted from their Horses that we might mount em taking us along with them to New-Orange to be regal'd So soon as they heard me speak Dutch they testifi'd a great deal of Friendship to me and told me they had read several Histories of the Discoveries made by those of our Franciscan Order in the Northern Parts of America but had never before seen any wear the Habit in these Countries as we did They likewise express'd great Gladness to see me abiding among them for the Spiritual Comfort and Advantage of many Catholicks who had come from our Netherlands and setled there And I should very willingly have yielded to their Intreaties in residing there but that I was afraid of giving any umbrage to the â—esuites who had receiv'd me very kindly and besides was aware of offending the Colony of Canada because of the Commerce they had with the Savages of my Acquaintance in Beavers and Skins We therefore return'd all Thanks to the Gentlemen for their Kindness and return'd again to Catarockouy with much less difficulty than we went But all this had no other effect than to augment the Itching I had to discover remoter Countries CHAP. V. A Description of the Fort Catarockouy call'd since Frontenac THis Fort is situated a Hundred Leagues from
the way is very good and the Trees are but few chiefly Firrs and Oaks From the great Fall unto this Rock which is to the West of the River the two Brinks of it are so prodigious high that it would make one tremble to look steadily upon the Water rolling along with a rapidity not to be imagin'd Were it not for this vast Cataract which interrupts Navigation they might sail with Barks or greater Vessels more than Four hundred and fifty Leagues crossing the Lake of Hurons and reaching even to the farther end of the Lake Illinois which two Lakes we may easily say are little Seas of fresh Water Sieur de la Salle had a design to have built a Fort at the mouth of the River Niagara and might easily have compass'd it had he known how to keep himself within bounds and to have confin'd himself there for one Year His design was to curb and keep under the Iroquois and especially the Tsonnontouans who are the most numerous People and the most given to War of all that Nation In fine such a Fort as this might easily have interrupted the Commerce betwixt these People and the English and Dutch in New-York Their custom is to carry to NewYork the Skins of Elks Beavers and several sorts of Beasts which they hunt and seek after some 2 or 300 Leagues from their own home Now they being oblig'd to pass and repass near to this mouth of the River Niagara we might easily stop them by fair means in time of Peace or by open force in time of War and thus oblige them to turn their Commerce upon Canada But having remark'd that the Iroquois were push'd on to stop the execution of this Design not so much by the English and Dutch as by the Inhabitants of Canada who for a great part endeavour'd by all means to traverse this our Discovery they contented themselves to build a House at the mouth of the River to the Eastward where the Place was naturally fortifi'd To one side of this House there is a very good Haven where Ships may safely ride nay by help of a Capstane they may easily be hall'd upon Land Besides at this Place they take an infinite quantity of white Fish Sturgeons and all other sorts of Fishes which are incomparably good and sweet insomuch that in the proper Season of Fishing they might furnish the greatest City in Europe with plenty of Fish CHAP. VIII A Description of the Lake Eriâ— THe Iroquois give to this Lake the Name of Erie Tejocharontiong which extends it self from East to West perhaps a hundred and forty Leagues in length But no European has ever been over it all only I and those who accompany'd me in this Discovery have view'd the greater part of it with a Vessel of Sixty Tun burden which we caus'd to be made on purpose about two Leagues above the fore-mention'd Fall of Niagara as I shall have occasion to observe more largely hereafter This Lake Erie or Tejocharontiong encloses on its Southern Bank a Tract of Land as large as the Kingdom of France It divides it self at a certain place into two Channels because of a great Island enclos'd betwixt them Thus continuing its course for fourteen Leagues it falls into the Lake Ontario or Frontenac acquiring the name of the River Niagara Betwixt the Lake Erie and Huron there is almost such another Streight thirty Leagues long which is of an equal breadth almost all over except in the middle that it enlarges it self by help of another Lake far less than any of the rest which is a of a circular Figure about six Leagues diameter according to the Observation of our Pilot. We gave it the Name of Lake St. Claire tho' the Iroquois who pass over it frequently when they are upon Warlike Designs call it Otsi Keta The Country which borders upon this most agreeable and charming Streight is a pleasant Champain Country as I shall relate afterwards All these different Rivers which are cloath'd with so many different Denominations are nothing else but the continuation of the great River St. Laurence and this Lake St. Claire is form'd by the same CHAP. IX A Description of the Lake Huron THe Lake Huron was so call'd by the People of Canada because the Savage Hurons who inhabited the adjacent Country us'd to have their Hair so burn'd that their Head resembled the Head of a Wild Boar. The Savages themselves call'd it the Lake Karegnondy Heretofore the Hurons liv'd near this Lake but they have been in a great measure destroy'd by the Iroquois The circumference of this Lake may be reckon'd to be about seven hundred Leagues and its length two hundred but the breadth is very unequal To the West of it near its mouth it surrounds several great Islands and is navigable all over Betwixt this Lake and that of the Illinois we meet with another Streight which discharges it self into this Lake being about Three Leagues long and one broad its course running West-North-West There is yet another Streight or narrow Canal towards the upper Lake that runs into this of Huron about Five Leagues broad and Fifteen Leagues long which is interrupted by several Islands and becomes narrower by degrees 'till it comes at the Fall of St. Mary This Fall is a Precipice full of Rocks over which the Water of the upper Lake which flows thither in great abundance casts it self with a most violent impetuosity Notwithstanding which a Canow may go up it on one side provided the People in it row strongly But the safer way is to carry the Canow over-land for so little space â—ogether with the Commodities that those of Canada carry thither to exchange with the Savages that live to the Northward of the upper Lake This Fall is call'd the Fall of St. Marry Missilimakinak It lies by the mouth of the upper Lake and discharges it self partly into the mouth of the Lake Illinois towards the great Bay of Puants all which shall afterwaads be more fully discours'd when I come to relate our return from Issati CHAP. X. A Description of the Lake call'd â—y the Savages Illinouack and by the French Illinois THe Lake Illinois in the Natives Language signifies the Lake of Men for the word Illinois signifies a Man of full Age in the vigour of his Strength It lies to the West of the Lake Huron toward the North and is about a Hundred and twenty or a hundred and thirty Leagues in length and Forty in breadth being in circuit about Four hundred Leagues It is call'd by the Miamis Mischigonong that is The Great Lake It extends it self from North to South and falls into the Southern-side of the Lake Huron and is distant from the upper Lake about Fifteen or Sixteen Leagues its Source lies near a River which the Iroquois call Hohio where the River Miamis discharges it self into the same Lake It is navigable all over and has-to the Westward a great Bay call'd the Bay of Puans by reason that
touch'd with the Admiration of any thing they cannot comprehend cry'd aloud Otchitagon Gannoron that is Bare-Feet what ye are about to undertake is of great Importance They added That their most valiant Adventures had much ado to extricate themselves out of the hands of those barbarous Nations we were going to visit It is certain that the Iroquois had a most tender Respect for the Franciscan Monks having observ'd them to live all in common with out reserving any particular Possessions The Food of the Iroquois is in common among ' em The ancientest Women in the House distributes about to the other Persons in the Family according to their Age. When they sit at their Meals they give freely to eat unto all that come into their Houses for they would rather chuse to fast for a whole Day than suffer any one to go from their Houses without offering them a share of all they had The Sieur de la Salle arriv'd at the Fort some time after me God preserv'd him as he did me from the infinite Dangers he was expos'd to in this great Voyage betwixt Quebec and the Fort having pass'd the long Precipice mention'd last and several other most rapid Currents in his way thither The same Year he sent off Fifteen of our Boat-men who were to go before us They made as if they had been going in their Canow towards the Illinois and the other Neighbouring Nations that border upon the River call'd by the Illinois Meschasipi that is a great River which Name it has in the Map All this was only to secure to us a good Correspondence with the Savages and to prepare for us in that Country some Provisions and other Necessaries for going about this Discovery But there being among them some villainous Fellows they stopp'd in the upper Lake at Missilimakinak and diverted themselves with the Savages that live to the Northward of that Lake lavishing and squandering away the best of the Commodities they had taken with 'em instead of providing such Things as were needful for building a Ship which we necessarily wanted for passing from Lake to Lake to the River Meschasipi CHAP. XIV A Description of my second Imbarkment at Fort Frontenac in a Brigantine upon the Lake Ontario or Frontenac THat same very Year on the Eighteenth of November I took leave of our Monks at Fort Frontenac and after our mutual Embraces and Expressions of Brotherly and Christian Charity I embark'd in a Brigantine of about Ten Tuns The Winds and the Cold of the Autumn were then very violent insomuch that our Crew was afraid to go into so little a Vessel This oblig'd us and the Sieur de la Motte our Commander to direct our course Northwards to shelter our selves under the Coast against the North-West Wind which otherwise would have forc'd us upon the Southern Coast of â—he Lake This Voyage prov'd very difficult and dangerous because of the unseasonable time the Winter being near at hand On the 26th we were in great danger about Two large Leagues off the Land where we were oblig'd to lie at an Anchor all that Night at Sixty Fathom Water and above but at length the Wind turning North-East we set out and arriv'd safely at the further end of the Lake Ontario call'd by the Iroquois Skannadario We came pretty near to one of their Villages call'd Taiaiagon lying about Seventy Leagues from Fort Frontenac or Katarockouy We barter'd some Indian Corn with the Iroquois who could not admire us enough and came frequently to see us on board our Brigantine which for our greater security we had brought to an Anchor into a River tho' before we could get in we run aground three times which oblig'd us to put Fourteen Men into Canows and cast the Balast of our Ship over-board to get her off again That River falls into the Lake but for fear of being frozen up therein we were forc'd to cut the Ice with Axes and other Instruments The Wind turning then contrary we were oblig'd to tarry there till the 15th of December 1678. that we sail'd from the Northern Coast to the Southern where the River Niagara runs into the Lake but could not reach it that Day tho' it is but Fifteen or Sixteen Leagues distant and therefore cast Anchor within Five Leagues of the Shore where we had very bad Weather all the Night long On the 6th being St. Nicholas's Day we got into the fine River Niagara into which never any such Ship as ours enter'd before We sung there Te Deunâ— and other Prayers to return our Thanks to God Almighty for our prosperous Voyage The Iroquois Tsonnontouans inhabiting the little Village situated at the mouth of the River took above Three hundred White Fishes bigger than Carps which are the best relishing as well as the wholesomest Fish in the World They presented us with all those Fishes imputing their Good Luck to our Arrival They were much surpriz'd at our Ship which they call'd the great wooden Canow On the 7th we went in a Canow two Leagues up the River to look for a convenient Place for Building but not being able to get the Canow farther up because the Current was too rapid for us to master we went over-land about three Leagues higher tho' we found no Land fit for culture We lay that Night near a River which comes from the Westward within a League above the great Fall of Niagara which as we have already said is the greatest in the World The Snow was then a Foot deep and we were oblig'd to dig it up to make room for our Fire The next Day we return'd the same way we came and saw great Numbers of Wild-Goats and Wild Turkey-Cocks and on the 11th we said the first Mass that ever was said in that Country The Carpenters and the rest of the Crew were set to work but Monsieur de la Motte who had the Direction of them being not able to endure the Fâ—tigues of so laborious a Life gave over his Design and return'd to Canada having about two hundred Leagues to travel The 12th 13th and 14th the Wind was not favourable enough to sail up the River as far at the rapid Current above mention'd where we had resolv'd to build some Houses Whosoever considers our Map will easily see that this New Enterprize of building a Fort and some Houses on the River Niagara besides the Fort of Frontenac was like to give Jealousie to the Iroquois and even to the English who live in this Neighbourhood and have a great Commerce with them Therefore to prevent the ill Consequences of it it was thought fit to send an Embassie to the Iroquois as it will be mention'd in the next Chapter The 15th I was desir'd to sit at the Helm of our Brigantine while three of our Men hall'd the same from the Shore with a Rope and at last we brought her up and moor'd her to the Shore with a Halser near a Rock of a prodigious heighth lying by
very Persons whom he design'd to make my Enemies and that I would rather give over our Enterprize than be impos'd upon at that rate This vigorous Answer suâ—priz'd M. la Salle who told me That he was perswaded that those who had made him those Reports were not honest Men and that therefore he would take all imaginable care of my Person during the Voyage and espouse my Interests on all occasions He was indeed afraid that I should leave him which had been a great disappointment to his Affairs for Father Gabriel would have left him also That Good Man was come with us without any leave of his Superiour only upon a Letter from the Provincial Commissioner of Canada whose Name was Valentin le Roux wherein he told M. la Salle that the said Father Gabriel might go along with him However he did not believe that he would do so without an Order in Writing and for that reason came some Days after our departure to Fort Frontenac where M. la Salle obtain'd that Order from him for fear of being accus'd to have expos'd a Man of that Age to so dangerous a a Voyage in which he was like to perish as really he did as we shall see by and by M. la Salle understanding that I and the said Father Gabriel were gone to view the great Fall of Niagara he came to us with some Refreshments to reconcile himself with me and prevent my return to Canada He met with no great difficulty for the great desire I had to discover a New Country made me very easie so that we return'd on board our Ship in the beginning of August 1679. CHAP. XIX An Account of our Third Embarkment from the Mouth of the Lake Erie WE have already observ'd that the Spaniards were the first Discoverers of Canada and that the Recollects are the first Religious Order who attended the French Colonies in that Country Those Good Men liv'd in great Friendship with the Savages call'd Hurons by whom they understood that the Iroquois made frequent Excursions beyond Virginia and New-Sweden near a great Lake from whence they brought a great many Slaves which gave occasion to the Hurons to call that Lake Erige or Erike that is to say the Lake of the Cat. The Inhabitants of Canada have softned that Word and call it Erie as we have already observ'd We endeavour'd several times to sail up that Lake but the Wind being not strong enough we were forc'd to wait for it In the mean time M. la Salle caus'd our Men to grub up some Land and sow several sorts of Pot-Herbs and Pulse for the conveniency of those who should selttle themselves there to maintain our Correspondence with Fort Frontenac we found there a great quantity of Wild Cherries and Rocambol a sort of Garlick which grow naturally in tâ—at Ground We left Father Melithon with some Workmen at our Habitation above the Fall of Niagara and most of our Men went ashoar to lighten our Ships the better to sail up the Lake The Wind veering to the North East and the ship being well provided we made all the sail we could and with the help of twelve Men who hall'd from the shoar overcame the Rapidity of the Current and got up into the Lake The Stream is so violent that our Pilot himself despair'd of success We sung Te Deum and discharg'd our Cannon and other Fire-Arms in presence of a great many Iroquois who came from a Warlike Expedition against the Savages of Tintonha that is to say the Nation of the Meadows who live above four hundred Leagues from that Place The Iroquois and their Prisoners were much surpriz'd to see us in the Lake and did not think before that we should be able to overcome the Rapidity of the Current They cry'd several times Gannorom to shew their Admiration Some of the Iroquois had taken the measure of our Ship and immediately went for New-York to give notice to the English and Dutch of our sailing into the Lake For those Nations affording their Commodities cheaper than the French are also more belov'd by the Natives On the 7th of August 1679. we went on board being in all four and thirty Men including two Recollects who came to us and sail'd from the Mouth of the Lake Erie steering our Couâ—se West-South-West with a favourable Wind and tho' the Enemies of our Discovery had given out on purpose to deter us from our Enterprize That the Lake Erie was full of Rocks and Sands which rendred the Navigation impracticable we run above twenty Leagues during the Night tho' we sounded all that while The next Day the Wind being more favourable we made above five and forty Leagues keeping at an equal distance from the Banks of the Lake and double a Cape to the Westward which we call'd the Cape of St. Francis The next Day we doubled two other Capes and met with no manner of Rocks or Sands We discover'd a pretty large Island towards the South-West about seven or eight Leagues from the Northern Coast that Island faces the Streight that comes from the Lake Huron The 10th very early in the Morning we pass'd between that Island and 7 or 8 lesser ones and having sail'd near another which is nothing but Sand to the West of the Lake we came to an Anchor at the Mouth of the Streight which runs from the Lake Huron into that of Erie The 11th we went farther into the Streight and pass'd between two small Islands which make one of the finest Prospects in the-World This Streight is finer than that of Niagara being thirty Leagues long and every-where one League broad except in the middle that it stretches it self forming the Lake we have call'd St. Claire The Navigation is easie on both sides the Coast being low and even It runs directly from North to South The Country between those two Lakes is very well situated and the Soil very fertile The Banks of the Streight are vast Meadows and the Prospect is terminated with some Hills covered with Vineyards Trees bearing good Fruit Groves and Forests so well dispos'd that one would think Nature alone could not have made without the Help of Art so charming a Prospect That Country is stock'd with Stags Wild-Goats and Bears who are good for Food and not fierce as in other Countries some think they are better than our Pork The Turkey-Cocks and Swans are there also very common and our Men brought several other Beasts and Birds whose Names are unknown to us but they are extraordinary relishing The Forests are chiefly made up of Walnut-trees Chesnut-trees Plum-trees and Pear-trees loaded with their own Fruit and Vines There is also abundance of Timber fit for Building so that those who shall be so happy as to inhabit that Noble Country cannot but remember with Gratitude those who have discover'd the way by venturing to sail upon an unknown Lake for above one hundred Leagues That charming Streight lies between the 40 and 41 Degrees of Northern
only Ship he now had left and with which he hop'd to sail along the Sea-Coast and afterwards go over to St. Domingo in order to get fresh Supplies This Vessel I say was unfortunately run a-ground through the fault and carelesness of the Pilot all the Goods on board were entirely lost the Ship stav'd to pieces on the Coast the Sea-men drown'd the Sieur Chefdeville a Priest the Captain and four Persons more hardly escaping the same Fate by means of a Canow which by a sort of Miracle they found near the Coast. They lost there six and thirty Barrels of Meal a great deal of Wine the Trunks Clothes and Linnen of the Men and the greatest part of their Tools One may imagine what a mortal Grief this was to the Sieur la Salle His great Courage had certainly sunk under its Weight had not GOD Almighty supported him by a particular Help of His Grace CHAP. III. Unfortunate Adventures which happen to the Sieur la Salle in the two Voyages he undertakes to go to the Illinois THose who are a little vers'd in the History of Discoveries know very well that â—hose who go about them are oblig'd to make several Attempts which often prove vain and fruitless before they can compass their Design and that generally there befals them a thousand tragical and surprizing Adventures They will not therefore wonder to see here the Miscarriages and Disappointments with which God was pleas'd to cross the great Discovery we are treating of and the Settlement of a Colony in the vast Countries of Loüisiana Several Historians have been inquisitive into the Reasons of God Almighty's Conduct with relation to those Enterprizes which seem'd to concern his Honour in the Conversion of barbarous Nations to the Faith of the Gospel But it does not belong to us to dive into those Secrets which are an Abyss to Humane Understanding 'T is enough for us to adore the Wonders of Providence and admire the Prodigies of this Discovery and the Force and Courage of those who have accomplish'd it under his Divine Conduct Among the rest we must here acknowledge the great Resolution of the Sieur la Salle who was never discourag'd by any Disappointment but carry'd on his Designs to the last Since I am more concern'd than any Man to know what pass'd upon the great River Meschasipi over which I sailed the first of any European I shall follow what Father Anastasius now Vicar of our Recollects at Cambray has writ about the Sieur la Salle's Voyage which will give me an opportunity to examine whether in effect the said la Salle was at the Mouth of that River when he return'd to Canada through the Lands of America Here you have what I have learn'd from the History of Father Anastasius When the Sieur la Salle saw his Affairs irrecoverably ruin'd by the loss of the two Ships that were cast away in the Northern Coast of the Gulf of Mexico and that he had no way left him to return into Europe by Sea he was forc'd to go by Land to the Illinois in order to repair to Canada from whence he might send to France the News of all his Misfortunes Now to put this Design in execution the Sieur la Salle chose twenty of his best Men including a Savage of the Nation of the Chaouens nam'd Nika which in the Illinois Language signifies Comrade This Man had accompany'd him from Canada into France and from France to the Gulf of Mexico The Sieur Cavelier a Priest Brother to the said la Salle Moranger his Nephew and Father Anastasius of Douay a Recollect join'd themselves with him to go upon this great Journey They provided nothing for that purpose besides four Pound of Powder six Pound of Shot two Hatchets two dozen of Knives Beads of several Colours and two Kettles The Sieur la Salle would have taken other Provisions along with him but that he hop'd to return to the Fort as soon as he was arriv'd at the Illinois Therefore after they had perform'd Divine Service in the Chapel of the Fort and implor'd GOD Almighty's Assistance he departed with his Company on the 22d of April 1686. directing his Course towards the North-East It is to be observ'd that the River Meschasipi runs from the North to the South to discharge it self into the Gulf of Mexico so that the Illinois whither the Sieur la Salle intended to go lie on the North-East of the Way he took 'T is very likely that the said la Salle wanted Pyrogues or Canows there being none in the Countries through which he was to travel but only among the Northern Nations So that Father Anastasius mentioning no Ship in his History there 's reason to believe that they made this Journey by Land for want of Canows or that the Sieur la Salle was not sure of having found the Mouth of the River Meschasipi for if he had it had been easie for him to go to the Illinois by Water After three Days march Father Anastasius tells us they found the finest Country in the World and saw a great many Men some on foot others on horse-back galloping towards them booted and spurr'd and having Saddles These People invited them to their Habitations but because they were out of their Way they thank'd them for their Kindness after they had enquir'd of them what way they were to take which is to be suppos'd they did by Signs since none of the Sieur la Salle's Men understood the Language of those People who had some Acquaintance with the Spaniards They went on their Journey the remaining part of the Day and hutted themselves towards Night in a little Fort intrench'd with Stakes which they continu'd to do ever after for their Security The next Day they pursu'd their Journey and march'd two whole Days through a continu'd Meadow as far as the River which they call'd Robeck The found there such vast numbers of wild Bulls call'd by the Spaniards Cibola that the least Herd of them seem'd to be of two or three hundred The Sieur la Salle and his Men kill'd presently eight or ten of them and dry'd part of the Meat because they did not care to stay above five or six Days in that Place A League and a half farther they met with a fine River greater and deeper than the Seine at Paris Its Banks were hedg'd with the finest Trees in the World which look'd as if they had been planted on purpose with Meadows on one side and Woods on the other They pass'd it with Cajeux and call'd it Malign Thus crossing those fine Countries and pleasing Meadows intermix'd with Vineyards Orchards and among the ret Mulberry-Trees they came in few Days to a River which they call'd Huens from the Name of a German of the Dutchy of Wirtemberg who sunk so in the Mud of it that they had much ado to fetch him out of it I believe that Father Anastasius mistakes about the Name of Huens and that it ought to be
found above fifty of them there fit for Navigation which run all from the West or North-West of that Continent The Ground whereupon the Fort is built is somewhat sandy though any where else nothing but a good and rich Soil is to be found You may there see Meadows on all sides where the Grass grows higher than our Corn and that in all the Seasons of the Year also you meet with Rivers at two or three Leagues distance one from the other which are all beset on both sides with Oaks and Mulberry-Trees This continues Westward within two Days Journey from the Spaniards The Fort is built upon a rising Ground North and Southward having the Sea South-East vast Meadows on the West and on the South-West two Ponds and Woods of a League in Compass a River running at the Foot of it The neighbouring Nations are the Quoaki's who have very cheap Horses the Bahamo's and the Quinets wandring Nations with whom M. de la Salle was in War He omitted nothing during all that time that might comfort his small new Colony the Families whereof increas'd much in Children He propagated very much the grubbings up and the new Plantations M. Cheâ—deville and Cavelier with three Recollect Fryars did with one accord apply themselves to their Edification and to the Instructions of some Savage-Families who came from the foreign Nations to join with them All this while M. de la Salle us'd all his Endeavours to tame the Barbarians as knowing well that the keeping Peace with these People was of the utmost Importance for the settling of his Colony At last M. de la Salle thought that the onely way to effect it was to take another Journey into the Illinois and to that purpose he made as he was wont to do a very pathetick Speech before his little Colony who were all assembled and mov'd thereby so as to shed Tears being persuaded both of the necessity of this Journey and of the Rectitude of his Intentions and it had been well they had all persever'd in the same Sentiments He caus'd them to finish the Fortifications of the Inclosure wherein both the Habitations and the Fort were included After which he chose twenty Men the Priest Sieur Cavelier his Brother the Sieurs Moranger and Cavelier his Nephews with the Sieur Ioustel a Pilot and Father Anastasius a Recollect Fryar Publick Prayers were made for a Blessing both upon his Journey and Colony CHAP. VI. The Sieur la Salle's Departure from the Bay of St. Louis to go to the Illinois M. De la Salle set forth from that Bay with Twenty Men on the 7th of Ianuary 1687. And the very first day they met with an Army of Bahamo's who went to War against the Errigoanna's M. de la Salle made an Alliance with them and was willing to treat after the same manner with the Quinets but they betook themselves to flight at his Approach however by the Celerity of our Horse they were overtaken and Promises of an inviolable Peace were given on both sides On the 4th day three Leagues further to the North-East they found the first River abounding in Canes There is nothing to be seen there but Meadows and little Woods a little distant from one another These Lands are so plentiful that the Grass grows ten or twelve foot high There is a very great Number of Villages seated on that River which are extremely populous They visited none but the Quara's and the Anachorema Upon the same Rhomb three Leagues further is found the second River of Canes inhabited by different Nations And there are whole Fields full of Hemp. About five Leagues further they pass'd the River Sablonniere so call'd for its running upon a sandy bottom though the Lands about are firm Ground and consisting of large Meadows They march'd thence seven or eight Leagues further to the River Robec passing through Meadows and over three or four Rivers distant a League one from the other The Country about the River Robec is peopled with several large Villages the People whereof speak so much in the throat that it is almost impossible for a Stranger to fashion himself to it They are in War with the Spaniards and sollicited very much M. de la Salle to join himself with their Warriors but the making any stay there would not have advanc'd their Design Moreover M. de la Salle was not very likely with twenty Men to do great harm to the Spaniards Nevertheless they remain'd five or six Days amongst those People endeavouring to win them with Christian Instructions which they are not us'd to receive from the Spaniards In their March they travers'd great Meadows as far as the Malignant River It is very deep and so call'd because one oftheir Menhad been devour'd there by a monstrous Crocodile This River runs a great length and is inhabited by great numbers of People divided into forty very populous Villages which compose the Nation of the Kanoatinnos who are in War with the Spaniards and exercise Dominion over the Neighbouring Nations They visited some of those Villages inhabited by good though barbarous People Father Anastasius adds that the Cruelty of the Spaniards had made them yet more wild and unsociable But I suspect it to be one of M. de la Salle's Remarks who was willing to win those Nations to himself and to put them out of conceit with the Spaniards 'T is true that the Spaniards have been forc'd to destroy several Neighbouring Nations thereby to secure the Conquest of New Mexico because certainly those People would have destroy'd them had they not prevented them It ought to be taken for granted that those Barbarians have no consideration for the Europeans but so far as they stand in fear of them The promoting then of M. de la Salle's Design could not be done but by pulling down the Spaniards therefore he endeavour'd to raise those Barbarians against them He might however remember that being formerly together at Fort Frontenac I assur'd him very often of a thing with which he could not disagree viz. That the Spanish Yoke is perhaps the easiest and most tolerable in the World The Sieur de Lâ—â—â—lle unhappily assasinated Within the same Rhomb about four Leagues thence they pass'd in a Cajeu over the River Hiens or Hans mention'd already before Afterwards they took their way to the North-East and were oblig'd to cross several small Rivers and Inundations of Waters They did it in Winter-time which is felt in those Countries only by some Rains but the Spring was gone before they got out of that Country which upon the whole they found to be curiously diversify'd with Meadows Hills and Springs They came at last to three large Villages call'd Taraha Tyahappan and Palonna where they found Horses Some Leagues farther they came to the Palaquessons compos'd of ten Villages ally'd with the Spaniards I wonder that Father Anastasius hath not made a more distinct Journal of so many different Nations I desire then my
the Savages who now inhabit the Land surrounding this Bay had deseâ—ted their former Habitation because of some stinking in French Puans Waters towards the Sea that annoy'd them CHAP XI A short Description of the Upper Lake THis Superiour Lake runs from East to West and may have more than a Hundred and fifty Leagues in length Sixty in breadth and Five hundred in circuit We never went quite over it as we did over all the others I 've hitherto mention'd but we sounded some of its greatest Depths and it resembles the Ocean having neither Bottom nor Banks I shall not here stay to mention the infinite numbers of Rivers that discharge themselves into this prodigious Lake which together with that of Illinois and the Rivers that are swallow'd in them make up the source of that great River St. Laurence which runs into the Ocean at the Island of Assumption towards New-found-land We travell'd upon this River about Six hundred Leagues from its mouth to its Source I 've already observ'd That all these Lakes may well be call'd Fresh-water Seas They abound extreamly in White Fish greater than Carps which are extraordinary good nay at Twenty or Thirty Fathom Water there are Salmon-Trouts taken of Fifty or Sixty pound weight It were easie to build on the sides of these great Lakes an infinite number of considerable Towns which might have Communication one with another by Navigation for Five hundred Leagues together and by an inconceivable Commerce which would establish it self among ' em And to be sure the Soil if cultivated by Europeans would prove very fertile Those that can conceive the Largeness and Beauty of these Lakes may easily understand by the help of our Map what course we steer'd in making he great Discovery hereafter mention'd CHAP. XII What is the Predominant Genius of the Inhabitants of Canada THe Spaniards were the first who discover'd Canada but at their first arrival having found nothing considerable in it they abandon'd the Country and call'd it Il Capo di Nada that is A Cape of Nothing hence by corruption sprung the Word Canada which we use in all our Maps Since I left that Country I understand that all things continue very near as they were whilst I resided there Those who have the Government of Canada committed to their Care are mov'd with such a malignant Spirit as obliges all who do not approve their Design to moan secretly before God Men of Probity that are zealous for Religion find nothing there of what they expected but on the contrary such Repulses and and ill Usage that no body could have foreseen Several resort thither with a design to Sacrifice their Repose and Life to the Temporal and Spiritual Succour of an Infant-Church but the loss of Reputation and Honour are the Sacrifices they 're oblig'd to make Others go thither in the hopes of spending their Lives in Peace and perfect Concord whereas they meet with nothing but Jarrs Divisions and a Sea of Troubles In lieu of their fair Hopes they reap nothing but Crosses and Persecution and all for not pleasing the Humours of Two or Three Men who are the over-ruling Wits of that Country What an immense distance there is betwixt the Humour of these Men and our Flemish Sincerity I mean that Candour and Evenness of Mind which make up the true Character of a Christian and is observ'd every where else But without entring farther into any Particulars I leave the Judgment of all unto God and shall only say that we who are Flemings by Birth went to Canada without any other private Design having renounc'd our Native Country meerly for the Service of our Religion after having quitted all other Enjoyments for embracing a Religious Profession And therefore it was not a small Surprize to us upon our arrival in that Country to see our Sincerity and Uprightness of Heart so sorrily entertain'd There is a certain sort of People to whom every thing is suspicious and whom it is impossible to retrieve from under the first Impressions they 've receiv'd Though a Man were never so complaisant yet if he be not altogether of their Stamp or if he endeavours to represent Things fairly and rationally unto them tho' with wise and soft Remonstrances yet shall he pass among 'em for a Fellow of a turbulent Spirit Such Conduct as this does not savour of Christianity nor bespeaks any other Prospect than that of temporal Interest This Consideration mov'd me oft-times to say to the Three Flemish Monks I had brought to Canada with me That it had been much better for us who had quitted all our Enjoyments and exchang'd them for the Poverty of a Monastick Life to have gone in Mission among Strangers to preach Repentance to Infidels and propagate the Kingdom of our Saviour among the barbarous Nations And indeed kind Providence seconded my Good Intentions for the Reverend Father Germain Allart Recollect late Bishop of Vence in Provence sent me Orders to undertake the Discovery which I am about to relate CHAP. XIII A Description of my first Imbarkment in a Canow at Quebec the Capital City of Canada being bound for the South-West of New-France or Canada I Remain'd Two Years and a half at Fort Frontenac till I saw perfected the House of Mission that Father Luke Buisset and I had caus'd to be built there This engag'd us in Travels which inseparably attend New Establishments Accordingly we went in a Canow down the River St. Laurence and after a Hundred and twenty Leagues sailing arriv'd at Quebec where I retirâ—d into the Recollects Convent of St. Mary in order to prepare and sanctifie my self for commencing this Discovery And indeed I must frankly own that when at the foot of the Cross I pensively consider'd this important Mission weighing it in the Scales of Humaâ— Reason and measuring the weight of its Difficulties by Human Force it seem'd aâ—together terrible rash and inconsiderable But when I look'd up to GOD and view'd it as an effect of his Goodness in chusing me for so great a Work and as his Commandment directed to me by the mouth of my Superiours who are the Instruments and Interpreters of his Wiâ—l unto me These Thoughts I say presently inspir'd me with Courage and Resolution to undertake this Discovery with all the Fidelity and Constancy imaginable I perswaded my self that since it was the peculiar Work of God to open the hard Hearts of that barbarous People to whom I was sent to publish the Glad Tidings of his Gospel it were as easie for Him to compass it by a feeble Instrument such as I was as by the most worthy Person in the World Having thus prepar'd my self for the Voyage of my Mission and seeing that those who were expected from Europe to bear part in this Discovery were now arriv'd that the Pilot Seamen and Ship-Carpenters were in readiness and that the Arms Goods and Rigging for the Ships were all at hand I took with me from our Convent a
Latitude CHAP. XX. An Account of what hapned in our Passage from the Lake Erie unto the Lake Huron I Had often advis'd M. la Salle to make a Settlement upon the Streight between the Lake Erie and Ontario where the Fishery is more plentiful for that Settlement would have been very advantageous to us to maintain our Communication with Fort Frontenac I told him also that it were fit to leave in that Settlement the Smith he and M. la Motte had promis'd to the Iroquois and that it would be a means to engage that wild Nation into our Inteeest and to trade only with us whereby he would grow rich in a little time But M. la Salle and the Adventurers who were with him would not hearken to my Advice and told me that they would make no Settlement within 100 Leagues of their Fort lest other Europeans should get before them into the Country they were going to discover This was their Pretence but I soon observ'd that their Intention was to buy all the Furrs and Skins of the remotest Savages who as they thought did not know their Value and so inrich themselves in one single Voyage I endeavour'd also to perswade him to make a settlement upon this charming Streight for being in the midst of so many Nations of Savages we could not but have a good Trade amongst them This was the Argument I made use of but the main Reason which I kept to my self was to have an Opportunity to preach the Gospel to those ignorant Nations M. la Salle would by no means hearken to my Advice and told me he wonder'd at my Proposal considering the great Passion I had a few Months before for the Discovery of a New Country The Current of that Streight is very violent but not half so much as that of Niagara and therefore we sail'd up with a brisk Gale and got into the Streight between the Lake Huron and the Lake St. Claire this last is very shallow especially at its Mouth The Lake Huron falls into this of St. Claire by several Canals which are commonly interrupted by Sands and Rocks We sounded all of them and found one at last about one League broad without any Sands its depth being every where from three to eight Fathoms Water We sail'd up that Canal but were forced to drop our Anchors near the Mouth of the Lake for the extraordinary quantity of Waters which came down from the Superiour Lake and that of Illionois because of a strong North-West Wind had so much augmented the Rapidity of the Current of this Streight that it was as violent as that of Niagara The Wind turning Southerly we sail'd again and with the help of twelve Men who hall'd our Ship from the Shoar got safely the 23d of August into the Lake Huron We sung Te Deum a second time to return our Thanks to the Almighty for our happy Navigation We found in that Lake a large Bay the Banks of which the ancient Hurons inhabited They were converted to the Christian Religion by the first Franciscans that came into Canada but the Iroquois have in a great measure destroy'd that Nation CHAP. XXI An Account of our Navigation on the Lake Huron to Missilimakinak HAving thus travell'd above 300 Leagues from Quebec to the Lake Huron notwithstanding the rapid Currents and Lakes we went through we continuâ—d our Voyage from the Mouth of this Lake steering our Course North-North-East but the next Day finding our selves near the Land we steer'd North-North-West and cross'd a Bay call'd Sakinam which may be thirty Leagues broad The 24th we run the same Course but were becalm'd between some Islands where we found but two Fathoms Water which oblig'd us to make an easie sail part of the Night to look for a good Anchorage but in vain and the Wind turning then Westerly we bore to the North to avoid the Coast till the Day appear'd We sounded all the Night long because our Pilot though a very Understanding Man was somewhat negligent The 25th we lay becalm'd till Noon but then run North-West with a brisk Southerly Gale The Wind turning South West we bore to the North to double a Cape but then the Wind grew so violent that we were forc'd to lie by all the Night The 26th the Storm continuing we brought down our Main Yards and Top-Mast and let the Ship drive to the Mercy of the Wind knowing no place to run into to shelter our selves M. la Salle notwithstanding he was a Courageous Man began to fear and told us we were undone and therefore every body fell upon his Knees to say his Prayers and prepare himself for Death except our Pilot whom we could never oblige to Pray and he did nothing all that while but Curse and Sweaâ— against M. la Salle who as he said had brought him thither to make him perish in a nasty Lake and lose the Glory he had acquir'd by his long and happy Navigations on the Ocean However the Wind being somewhat abated we hoisted up our Sail and so we drove not above two Leagues The 27th in the Morning we continu'd our Course North-West with a South-East Wind which carry'd us the same Day to Missilimakinak where we anchor'd in a Bay at six Fathoms Water upon a slimy white Bottom That Bay is shelter'd by the Coast and a Bank from the South-West to the North but it lies expos'd to the South which is very violent in that Country Missilimakinak is a Neck of Land to the North of the Mouth of the Streight through which the Lake of the Illinois discharges it self into the Lake Huron That Canal is about three Leagues long and one broad About fifteen Leagues to the Eastward of Missilimakinak there is another Point at the Mouth of the Streight whereby the Superiour Lake runs into that of Huron which Streight is about five Leagues broad at its Mouth and about fifteen Leagues long but it grows narrow towards the Fall of St. Mary which is a rapid Stream interrupted by several Rocks However a Canow may go up by one side but it requires a great Fatigue and therefore the safest and easiest way is to make a Portage above the Fall to go and Trade with the Savages inhabiting the Banks of the Superiour Lake We lay between two different Nations of Savages those who inhabit the Point of Missilimakinak are call'd Hurons and the others who are about three or four Leagues more Northward are Outtaouatz Those Savages were equally surpriz'd to see a Ship in their Country and the Noise of our Cannon of which we made a general Discharge fill'd them with a great Apprehension We went to see the Outtaouatz and celebrated the Mass in their Habitation M. la Salle was finely dress'd having a Scarlet Cloak with a broad Gold Lace and most of his Men with their Arms attended him The Chief Captains of that People receiv'd us with great Civilities after their own way and some of them came on board with us
and no Herb grows therein They swim over the Rivers they meet on their Way to go and graze in other Meadows But the Care of the Cows for their Young one 's cannot be too much admir'd for there being in those Meadows a great quantity of Wolves who might surprize them they go to Calve in the Islands of the Rivers from whence they don't stir till the young Calves are able to follow them for then they may protect them against any Beast whatsoever These Oxen being very convenient for the Subsistence of the Savages they take care not to scare them from their Country and they pursue only those whom they have wounded with their Arrows But these Creatures multiply in such a manner that notwithstanding the great Numbers they kill every Year they are as numerous as ever The Women Spin the Wooll of those Oxen and make Sacks thereof to carry the Flesh which they dry at the Sun or broil upon Grid-irons They have no Salt and yet they prepare their Flesh so well that it keeps above four Months without breeding any Corruption and it looks then so fresh that one wou'd think it was newly kill'd They commonly boil it and drink the Broath of it instead of Water This is the ordinary Drink of all the Savages of America who have no Commerce with the Europeans We follow'd their Example in this particular and it must be confess'd that that Broath is very wholsom The Skin of those Oxen weighs about sixscore Pound but the Savages make use only of the thinnest part as that of the Belly which they dress with the Brains of all sorts of Beasts and thereby make it as soft as our Shamoi's Skins They paint them with several Colours and adorn with pieces of Porcupine-Skins red and white the Gowns they make thereof to appear in Feasts and other solemn Occasions They make other Gowns against Cold Weather wherewith they cover themselves during the Winter but these plain Gowns cover'd with curl'd Wool are in my Opinion the finest as well as the best When they kill any Cows their young Calves follow them and lick their Hands They bring them to their Children who eat them after having plaid with them They keep the Hoofs of those little Creatures and when they are very dry they tie them to some Wand and move them according to the various Postures of those who Sing and Dance This is the most ridiculous Musical Instrument that I ever met with These young Calves might be easily tam'd and made use of to plough the Land which would be very advantageous to the Savages These Oxen find in all Seasons Forrage to subsist for if they are surpriz'd in the Northern Countries by the Snow before they can reach the Southern Parts they have the dexterity to remove the Snow and eat the Grass underit They bellow like our European Oxen but not so frequently Tho' these Oxen are taller and bigger than those of Europe they are however so swift that no Savage can overtake them They are so timorous that they run away from any Man except when they are wounded for then they are dangerous and often kill the Savage who pursues them 'T is a diverting prospect to see near the Banks of the Rivers several Droves of those Oxen of about four or five hundred together grazing in those green Meadows There are several other Beasts in that Country as I observ'd in my Account of Louisiana as Stags wild Goats Beavers Otters Bustards which have an excellent Taste Swans Tortoises Turkey-Cocks Parrots and Partridges These are also an incredible quantity of Pelicans whose Bills are of a prodigious Size and a great many other sorts of Birds and other Beasts The Rivers are plentifully stock'd with Fish and the Soil is very fertil The Forests afford all manner of Timber fit for Building and especially Oak which is there much better than in Canada and would be excellent for building Ships That Timber might be squar'd saw'd and ready prepar'd upon the Spot and brought over into Europe which would be very convenient and give time to the Trees of our Forests to grow whereas they are in a manner exhausted There are in those Forests abundance of Trees beating good Fruit and of wild Vines which produce Grapes a Foot and a half long which growing to a perfect maturity may make very good Wine One may see there also large Countries cover'd with good Hemp growing naturally six or seven Foot in height In short by the Experiments I made among the Islati and the Illinois I am persuaded that the Soil of that Country Would produce all manner of Corn Fruits c. even more plentifully than in any part of Europe seeing there arâ— two Crops every Year The Air is very temperate clear and open and the Country water'd with several Lakes Brooks and Rivers which are for the most part navigable The Gnats and other little Flies that are so troublesome in Canada and some other dangerous Beasts are unknown in this Country which in two Years time might supply its Inhabitants if cultivated with all things necessary for Life without wanting any thing from Europe and the Islands of America with Wine Bread and Flesh. The Bucaneers might kill in that Country a greater number of Oxen than in all the Islands they resort to There are Mines of Coal Slate and Iron and sâ—â—eral pieces of fine red Copper which I have found now and then upon the Surface of the Earth makes me believe that there are Mines of it and doubtless of other Metals and Minerals which may be discover'd one time or another They have already found Allum in the Country of the Iroquois CHAP. XXXI An Account of our Arrival to the Illinois one of the most Numerous Nations of the Savages of America THis Word Illinois comes as it has been already observ'd from Illini which in the Language of that Nation signifies A perfect and accomplish'd Man The Villages of the Illinoiâ— are situated in a Marshy Plain about the fortieth Degree of Latitude on the Right side of the River which is as broad as the Meuse Their greatest Village may have in it four or five hundred Cabins every Cabin five or six Fires and each Fire one or two Families who live together in great Concord Their Cabins are cover'd with Mats of flat Rushes so closely sew'd together that no Wind Rain or Snow may go thro' it The Union that reigns amongst that barbarous People ought to cover with Shame the Christians amongst whom we can see no trace of that brotherly Love which united the Primitive Proffessors of Christianity When the Savages have gather'd in their Indian Corn they dig some Holes in the Ground where they keep it for Summer-time because Meat does not keep in hot Weather whereas they have very little occasion for it in Winter and 't is then their Custom to leave their Villages and with their whole Families to go a hunting Oxen Beavers c. carrying with
Ignorance continue to Sin without Law they shall also Perish without Law as we are told by the Apostle Upon these Considerations I was glad it had pleas'd God to take this little Christian out of the World lest it might have fallen into Temptations had it recover'd which might have engag'd it in Error and Superstition I have often attributed my Preservation amidst the greatest Dangers which I have since run to the Care I took for its Baptism CHAP. LVII An Embassy sent to the Issati by the Savages that inhabit to the West of them Whence it appears that there is no such thing as the Streights of Anian and that Japan is on the same Continent as Louisiana UNder the Reign of the Emperor Charles V. the Fathers Recluse of our Order were the first that were sent by his Command into New-Mexico since which time there have been of them beyond the Vermilian-Sea The most remarkable Epoque of the Streights of Anian commences from the time of that most excellent Religious of our Order Martin de Valencia who was the First Bishop of the great City of Mexico We have spoke of him elsewhere In process of time 't was believ'd that the said Streights were only imaginary Many Persons noted for great Learning are of this Opinion and to evince the Truth of it I will here subjoin one evident Proof to those which are already produc'd by them and it is this During my Stay amongst the Issati and Nadouâ—ssians there arriv'd four Savages in Embassy to these People They had come above five hundred Leagues from the West and told us by the Interpreters of the Issati that they were four Moons upon the Way for so it is they call their Months They added that their Country was to the West and that we lay to the East in respect of them that they had march'd the whole time without resting except to sleep or kill Game for their Subsistance They assurâ—d us there was no such thing as the Streights of Anian and that in their whole Journey they had neither met with nor passed over any Great Lake by which Phrase they always mean the Sea nor any Arm of it They farther inform'd us that the Nation of the Asseni-poulaes whose Lake is down in the Map and who lie North-East of the Issati was not above six or seven Days journey from us That none of the Nations within their Knowledge who lie to the West and North-West of them had any great Lake about their Countries which were very large but only Rivers which coming from the North run cross the Countries of their Neighbouring Nations which border on their Confines on the side of the Great Lake which in the Language of the Savages is the same as Sea That Spirits and Pigmies or Men of little Stature did inhabit there as they had been inform'd by the People that liv'd farther up than themseâ—ves and that all the Nations which lie beyond their Country and those which are next to them do dwell in Meadows and large Fields where are many Wild-Bulls and Castors which are greyer than those of the North and have their Fleck more inclining to Black with many other Wild-Beasts which yield very fine Furrs The four Savages of the said Embassy assur'd us farther that there were very few Forests in the Countries thro' which they pass'd in their way hither insomuch that now anâ— then they were so put to it for Fuel that they were forc'd to make Fires of Bull 's Dung to boil their Victuals with in Earthen-Pots which they make use of as neither having nor knowing of any better All these Circumstances which I have here inserted make it appear that there is no such thing as the Streights of Anian as we usually see them set down in Maps To assert the Truth of what I say I here frankly offer my self to return into these Parts with such Ships as His Britanick Majesty or their High and Mightinesses the States General shall think fit to send thither in order to a full Discovery in which I have no other Aim but the Glory of God the Propagation of the Gospel Instruction of those blind and ignorant People who have been neglected for so many Ages Improvement of Trade which the better 't is understood the more will it daily increase between the Subjects of the King of Spain my Master and those of His Britanick Majesty and States General And lastly That Correspondence and Union so necessary to be maintain'd amongst them that they may live and labour together for the Common Good I declare I have no other Design that my Intentions are sincere and upright and that my Desire is to be serviceable to all Europe Respect being first had as I am in Duty bound to my natural Prince the King of England and the States to whom I am singularly engag'd for the good Reception they were pleas'd to honour me with Others perhaps wou'd have us'd me ill in return of all my Services and the many dangerous Voyages I have made with no other Design but to contribute what in me lay to the Glory of God the Salvation of Souls and the Good of all Christendom I know well what I say But to return Whatever Efforts have been made for many Years past by the English and Dutch the People of the World who are the greatest Voyagers at Sea to find out a Passage to China and Iapan thro' the Frozen-Sea they have not as yet been able to effect it But by the help of my Discovery and the Assistance of God I doubt not to let all Europe see that a Passage may still be found thither and that an easie one too For Example One may be transported into the Pacifick-Sea by Rivers which are large and capable of carrying great Vessels and from thence 't is easie to go to China and Iapan without crossing the Equinoctial-Line Those that read my Relation and will never so little examine the Maps which are annext to it will soon acknowledge the Truth of what I say CHAP. LVIII The Issati assemble to hunt the Wild-Bull Refusal of the two Canow-Men to take the Author into their Canow in order to go down the River of St. Francis AFter three Months or thereabouts spent very ill amongst the Issati and Nadouessians these Nations assembl'd to hunt the Wild-Bull and their Captains having assign'd them their Stations that they might not fall in with one another they separated themselves into many Bands Aquipaguetin the Chief that had adopted me or his Son wou'd have carry'd me to the West with about 200 Families But remembring the Reproaches which thâ— great Captain Ouaficoude had made him upon the Score of our ill usage I was apprehensive lest he shou'd lay hold of this Opportunity to avenge himself on me I told him therefore I expected some Spirits which in their Language is as much as to say Europeans at the River Ouisconsin which discharges it self into the River Meschasipi that
which I have already mention'd And of this he assur'd me more than once before his departure from the Illinois The Savages wou'd never have suffer'd us to have made this Voyage without one of the three being left with them And my self was the Man they pitch'd upon to stay by the Advice of the great Captain Ouasicoude whilst the two Canow-Men were at Liberty to proceed on their Voyage But Michael Ako who was apprehensive of the many Hardships he was like to meet with in this Expedition cou'd never be prevail'd upon to consent to it So that seeing he began to relish the Barbarian's way of living I desir'd their Chief that I might have leave to accompany the Picard in his stead who accordingly granted my Request Our whole Equipage consisted in fifteen or twenty Charges of Powder a Fusil a little sorry Earthen Pot which the Barbarians gave us a Knife between us both and a Garment of Castor Thus were we equipt for a Voyage of 250 Leagues but our greatest Trust was in Providence As we were carrying our little Canow to the Fall of St. Anthony of Padua we perceiv'd five or six Savages who were got there before us One of them was got up into an Oak over against the great Fall of Water where he was weeping most bitterly having fasten'd to one of the Branches of the Tree a Robe of Castor which was White within-side and garnish'd with Porcupine The poor Wretch had offer'd it in Sacrifice to the Fall which indeed of it self is terrible and hath something in it very astonishing However it doth not come near that of Niagara I cou'd hear him say as he was addressing himself to the Cascade with Tears starting in his Eyes Thou art a Spirit grant that Those of my Nation may pass here without any Disaster That we may meet with a great many Wild-Bulls and that we may be so happy as to vanquish our Enemy and take a great many Slaves whom when we have made them suffer according to their Merits we will bring hither and slay in thy Presence The Mâ—ssâ—nacks 't is so they call the Nation of the Outtouagamis have slain some of our Kindred Grant we may be able to revenge our selves upon 'em for that Affront The last part of his Request hapned to be fulfill'd sooner I believe than he expected For as they return'd from Hunting the Wild-Bulls they attack'd their Enemy kill'd a good many of them and carry'd off several Slaves whom they put to death before the Fall after the most barbarous and inhumane manner in the World as we shall see in the Second Volume Now if after such a barbarous Ceremony as I have been describing it happen but once that the Success answers the Request 't is sufficient to render them obstinate in their superstitious Custom tho' it miscarry a hundred times for once that it hiâ—s As for the Castor-Robe which was thus offer'd as a sort of Sacrifice one of our Europeans made bold with it at his return and wou'd have been glad of having more frequent Opportunities of profiting by their Devotions When we had got about a League below the Fall the Picard miss'd his Powder-Horn and remembring he had left it there was forc'd to go back and fetch it At his Return I shew'd him a huge Serpent as big as a Man's Leg and seven or eight Foot long He was working himself insensibly up a steep and craggy Rock to get at the Swallow's Nests which are there in great Numbers And at the Bottom of the Mountain we saw the Feathers of those he had already devour'd We pelted him so long with Stones till at length he fell into the River His Tongue which was in form of a Launce was of an extraordinary length His Hiss might be heard a great way and the Noise of it seiz'd us with Horror The poor Picard dreamt of him at Night and was in a great Agony all the while He told me I had done him a sensible Kindness in waking him for tho' he was a Man intrepid enough yet he was all in a sweat with the fright of his Dream I have likewise my self been often disturb'd in my sleep with the Image of him so great an Impression did the sight of this Monster make upon our Spirits As we were falling down the River Meschasipi with extraordinary Swiftness because the Current is very rapid in this place by reason 't is so near the Fall we found some of the Savages of our Band in the Islands of the River where they had set up their Cabins and were well provided with Bulls-Flesh They offer'd us very freely of what they had But about two Hours after our landing we thought we shou'd have been all murder'd Fifteen or sixteen Savages came into the middle of the place where we were with their greaâ— Clubs in their Hands The first thing they did was to over-set the Cabin of those that had invited us Then they took away all their Victuals and what Bearâ—s-Oil they could find in their Bladders or elsewhere with which they rubb'd themselves all over from Head to Foot We took 'em at first for Enemies and the Picard was very near sticking the first that came in with his Sword At the first surprize I began to lay hold of the two Pocket-Pistols that du Gay had left me but by good luck I contain'd my self or otherwise without doubt there had been an end of us for their Companions would not have fail'd to have reveng'd upon us the Death of those we had kill'd We knew not what these Savages were at first but it apâ—ear'd they were some of those that we had left above at the Fall of St. Anthony One of them who call'd himself my Uncle told me That those who had given us Victuals had done basely to go and forestal the others in the Chace and that according to the Laws and Customs of their Country 't was lawful for them to plunder them since they had been the cause that the Bulls wére all run away before the Nation could get together which was â— great Injury to the Publick For when they are all met they make a great Slaughter amongst the Bulls for they surround them so on every side that 't is impossible for them to escape CHAP. LX. The Hunting of the Tortoise The Author 's Canow is carry'd off by a sudden blast of Wind which was like to have reduc'd him and his Companions to great Streights IN about threescore Leagues rowing we had kill'd but one Wild-Goat which we did as he was crossing the River The Heats were now grown so excessive that our Provisions would be spoil'd in twenty four Hours This put us upon Hunting the Tortoise but 't was with much difficulty that we could take any for being very quick of Hearing they would throw themselves into the Water upon the least noise However we took one at last which was much larger than any we had seen His Shell was thin
didst cover covers thine while alive He has carry'd the Tydings of it to the Country of Souls for these People believe the Transmigration of Souls What thou didst in respect of the Dead is highly to be esteem'd All the Nation applauds and thanks thee for it After this he gently reproach'd the Sieur du Luth that he did not cover the Dead as I had done To which the Sieur desir'd me to answer That he never cover'd the Bodies of any but such Captains as himself To which the Savage answer'd Father Louis for so he heard the Europeans call me is a greater Captain than thou His Robe speaking of my Brocard Chasuble which they had taken from me and was afterwards sent as a Present to our Allies who livâ—d three Moons distance from this Country was finer than what thou wearest When these Savages speak of a Journey of three or more Moons they mean Months They march well and will travel fifteen Leagues a Day By which the Reader may judge what an extent of Ground they can go in three Months CHAP. LXV The Author takes his leave of the Savages to return to Canada A Savage is slain by his Chief for advising to kill us Dispute between the Sieur du Luth and me about the Sacrifice of Barbarians TOwards the end of September seeing we had no Tools proper to build a House to dwell in during the Winter amongst these People and considering that we were destitute of Provisions necessary to subsist there as our Design was at first to have done we resolv'd to let them understand that to procure them Iron and other Merchandizes which were useful for them 't was convenient that we shou'd return to Canada and that at a certain time which we shou'd agree upon between us they shou'd come half the way with their Furrs and we the other half with our European Commodities That they might let two of their Warriors go with us whom we wou'd carry into our Country and likewise bring back again the next Year to the Place appointed for meeting from whence they might proceed to acquaint them of our return in order to their meeting us with their Effects Upon this they held a great Council to consider whether they shou'd send some of their Nation with us or no. Two there were who were for it and offer'd themselves to be the Men But they alter'd their Opinion the Day of our Departure alledging for a Reason That we were oblig'd to pass thro' many Nations who were their sworn Enemies and wou'd be sure to seize their Men and take them out of our Hands either to burn them or put them otherwise to Death by exquisite Torments and that without our being able to hinder it being so few in Number as we were I answer'd That all those People whom they were afraid of were our Friends and Allies and that in consideration of us they wou'd forbear to injure any of their Nation that were with us These Barbarians want no Wit on the contrary their Natural Parts are extraordinary They told us in return that since we were to pass through these People who were their sworn Enemies we shou'd do well to destroy them at whose Hands they had receiv'd so many Injuries that then their Men shou'd go and return with us to fetch them Iron and other Commodities which they wanted and wou'd gladly treat with us about From whence we may gather that these Barbarians are full of Resentment and Thoughts of Revenge Dispositions not altogether so well prepar'd to receive the meek Doctrine of the Gospel In fine Ouasicoude their chief Captain having consented to our Return in a full Council gave us some Bushels of Wild-Oats for our Subsistence by the way having first regal'd us in the best manner he cou'd after their fashion We have already observ'd that these Oats are better and more wholsom then Rice After this with a Pencil he mark'd down on a Sheet of Paper â—which I had left the Course that we were to keep for four hundred Leagues together In short this natural Geographer describ'd our Way so exactly that this Chart serv'd us as well as my Compass cou'd have done For by observing it punctually we arriv'd at the Place which we design'd without losing our way in the least All things being ready we dispos'd our selves to depart being eight Europeans of us in all We put our selves into two Canows and took our leaves of our Friends with a Volly of our Men's Fusils which put them into a terrible Fright We fell down the River of St. Francis and then that of the Meschasipi Two of our Men without saying any thing had taken down two Robes of Castor from before the Fall of St. Anthony of Padua where the Barbarians had hung them upon a Tree as a sort of Sacrifice Hereupon arose a Dispute between the Sieur du Luth and my self I commended what they had done saying The Barbarians might judge by it that we disapprov'd their Superstition On the contrary the Sieur du Luth maintain'd That they ought to have let the things alone in that Place where they were for that the Savages wou'd not fail to revenge the Affront which we had put upon them by this Action and that it was to be fearâ—d lest they shou'd pursue and insult us by the Way I own he had some grounds for what he said and that he argu'd according to the Rules of Humane Prudence But the two Men answer'd him bluntly that the things fitted them and therefore they shou'd not trouble their Heads about the Savages not their Superstitions The Sieur du Luth fell into so violent a Passion at these Words that he had like to have struck the Fellow that spake them but I got between and reconcil'd the Matter For the Picard and Michael Ako began to side with those that had taken away the things in question which might have prov'd of ill consequence I assur'd the Sieur du Luth that the Savages durst not hurt us for that I was persuaded their Grand Captain Ouasicoude wou'd always make our Cause his own and that we might relie on his Word and the great Credit he had amongst those of his Nation Thus the Business was peaceably made up and we descended the River together as good Friends as ever hunting the Wild-Beasts as we went When we were got almost as far as the River Ouisconsin we made a Stop to smoak after the manner of the Country the Flesh of the Bulls which we had kill'd by the Way During our stay here for the Reason aforesaid three Savages of the same Nation which we had lately left came up to us in their Canow to acquaint us that their Grand Captain Ouasicoude having learnt that another Chief of the same Nation had a Design to pursue and murder us he came into the Cabin where the said Captain and his Associates were consulting about it and gave him a Blow on the Head with so much Fury
fast we found our selves notwithstanding all the Pains we had been at over-against the Place where we embark'd One of our Men must needs shoot at a Bird flying which overset his Canow but by good luck he was in his depth We were forcâ—d to break several Sluces which the Castors had made for our Canow's to pass otherwise we cou'd not have continu'd our Way or carry'd our things to embark them again above these Sluces These Creatures make them with so much Art that Man cannot equal it We shall speak of them in our Second Volume We â—ound several of these Ponds or Stops of Water which these Creatures make with Pieces of Wood like a Causey After this we pass'd over four Lakes which are all made by this River Here formerly dwelt the Miamis but now the Maskouâ—ens Kikapous and Oâ—toagamis who sow their Indian Wheat here on which they chieâ—ly subsist We made some Broath of the Wâ—ter of a certain Fall which they call Kakalin because the Savages come often hither to ease themselves and lie on their Backs with their Faces expos'd to the Sun Thus having made more than four hundred Leagues by Water since our departure from the Country of the Issati and Nadoâ—essans we arriv'd at last at the great Bay of the Puans which makes part of the Lake of the Illinois CHAP. LXVIII The Author and his Company stay some time amongst the Puans Original of the Name They celebrated the Mass here and winter at Missilimakinak WE found many Canadians in this Bay of the Puans The Nation that inhabits here is so call'd because formerly they dwelt in certain Marshy Places full of stinking Waters situate on the South-Sea But being drove out thence by their Enemy they came and setled in this Bay which is to the East of the Illinois The Canadians were come hither to Trade with the People of this Bay contrary to an Order of the Viceroy They had still a little of the Wine left which they brought with them and kept in a Pewter-Flagon I made use of it for the Mass. Till now I had nothing but a Chalice and a Marble-Altar which was pretty light and very handsomly ingrav'd But here by good Fortune I met with the Sacerdotal Robes too Some Illinois who had happily escapâ—d their Enemies the Iroquois who had attack'd and almost destroyâ—d them since my Voyage and the time that I had been a Slave amongst the Barbarians had brought with them the Ornaments of the Chapel of Father Zenobius Mambre whom we had left among the Illinois Some of these I say who were escap'd to the Place where we were deliver'd me up all the Ornaments of the Chapel except the Chalice They promis'd to get me that too for a little Tobacco whicâ— I was to give them and were as good as their Word for they brought it me some few Days after 'T was more than nine Months since I had celebrated the Sacrament of the Mass for want of Wine We might indeed have done it in our Voyage had we had Vessels proper to keep Wine in But we cou'd not charge our Canow with such being very unâ—it to carry things of Weight 'T is true we met with Grapes in many Places through which wâ— pass'd and had made some Wine too which we put into Gourds but it fail'd us whilst we were among the Illinois as I have elsewhere observ'd As for the rest I had still some Wafers by me which were as good as ever having been kept in a Steel-Box shut very close We stay'd two Days at the Bay of thâ— Puans where we sung Te Deum and my self said Mass and Preach'd Our Men prepar'd themselves for the Holy Sacrament which we receiv'd in order to render our Thanks to God who had preserv'd us amidst the many Dangers we had run the Difficulties we had surmounted and Monsters we had overcome One of our Canow-Men truck'd a Fusil with a Savage for a Canow larger than our own in which after an hundred Leagues rowing having coasted all along the great Bay of the Puans we arriv'd at Missilimakinak in the Lake of Huron where we were forc'd to Winter For our Way lying still North we shou'd infallibly have perish'd amongst the Ice and Snow had we proceeded any farther By the Couâ—se we were oblig'd to take we were still about 400 Leagues from Canada Amongst these People I met to my no little Satisfaction Father Pierson a Jesuit Son of the King's Receivâ—r for the Town of At h in Hainault He was come hither to learn their Language and spoke it then passably well This Religious who retain'd still the free and open Humour of his Countrymen had made himself belov'd by his obliging Behaviour and seem'd to be an utter Enemy of Caballing and Intrigues having a Soul well-tun'd generous and sincere In a Word He appear'd to me to be such as every good Christian ought to be The Reader may judge how agreeably I pass'd the Winter in such good Company after the Miseries and Fatigues I had undergone in the Course of our Discoveries To make the best use of my time that I cou'd I Preach'd all the Holy-days and Sundays in Advent and Lent for the Edification of our Men and other Canadians who were come four or five Leagues out of their Country to Trade for Furrs amongst these Savages From whence we may observe that there are some whom I shall forbear to name who notwithstanding all their pretended Austerities are yet no less covetous of the Things of this World than the most Secular Person in it The Ouâ—acuacts and the Hurons wou'd often assist at our Ceremonies in a Church cover'd with Rushes and a few Boards which the Canadians had built here But they came more out of Curiosity than any Design to conform themselves to the Rules of our holy Religion The latter of these Savages would tell us speaking of our Discoveries That themselves were but Men but for us Europeans we must needs be Spirits That if they had gone so far up amongst strange Nations as we had done they should have been sure to have been kill'd by them without Mercy whereas we pass'd every-where without danger and knew how to procure the Friendship of all we met During the Winter we broke Holes in the Ice of the Lake Huron and by means of several large Stones sunk our Nets sometimes 20 sometimes 25 Fathom under-water to catch Fish which we did in great abundance We took Salmon-Trouts which often weigh'd from 40 to 50 pounds These made our Indian Wheat go down the better which was our ordinary Diet. Our Beverage was nothing but Broth made of White Fish which we drank hot because as it cools it turns to Jelly as if it had been made of Veal During our stay here Father Pierson and I would often divert our selves on the Ice where we skated on the Lake as they do in Holland I had learn'd this Slight when I was at Ghent from whence
Belly was become flat by his frequent Fastings and the Austerity of his Life M. Tonti can never clear himself of his Baseness for forsaking Father Gabriel under pretence of being afraid of the Iroquois For tho' they are a wild Nation yet they lov'd that Good Old Man who had been often among them But M. Tonti might bear him some secret Grudge because Father Gabriel after the Illinois Defeat seeing that M. Tonti had overladen the Canow with Beavers-Skins so that there was no room for him he did throw many of these Skins to the Iroquois to shew them that he was not come into that Country to get Skins or other Commodities Father Zenobe had neither Credit nor Courage enough to perswade M. Tonti to stay a while for that Good Father who was thus sacrifiâ—'d to secure some Beavers-Skins I do not doubt but the death of that venerable Old Man was very precious in the sight of God and I hope it will produce one time or other its Effects when it shall please God to set forth his Mercy towards these Wild Nations and I do wish it might please him to make use of a feeble means as I am to finish what I have through His Grace and with Labour so happily begun CHAP. LXXVI The Author's Return from his Discovery to Quebec and what hapned at his Arrival at the Convent of Our Lady of Angels near that Town COunt Frontenac Viceroy of Canada gave me two of his Guards who understood very well to manage a Canow to carry me to Quebec We set out from Champlein's Fort mention'd above and being near the Town I landed and went a-foot through the Lands newly grubb'd up to our Monastery bidding the Guards to carry the Canow along with them I would not land to Quebec because the Bishop had given order to his Vicar-General to receive me in his Episcopal Palace that he might have more time to enquire about our Great Discovery But Count Frontenac had expresly order'd his Major that was in the Town to prevent that Meeting and to take care that I might first be brought to our Monastery to confer with Father Valentin de Roux a Man of a great Understanding and Provincial-Commissary of the Recollects in Canada There was then in our Monastery of Our Lady of Angels but Three Missionaries with the said Commissary all the rest were dispers'd up-and-down in several Missions above a hundred Leagues from Quebec One may easily imagine that I has welcome to our Monastery Father Hilarion Ieunet seem'd surpriz'd and told me with a smiling Countenance Lazare veni for as Whereupon I ask'd him why he did apply to me what had been said of Lazarus To which he answer'd That two Years ago a Mass of Requiem had been sung for me in the Monastery because some Savages had given out for certain to a Black Gown i.e. a Jesuite That the Nation whom the Iroquois call Hontouagaha had hung me to a Tree with St. Francis's Rope and that two Men who accompany'd me had been also in a very cruel manner put to death by the same Savages Here I must confess that all Men have their Friends and their Enemies There are some Men who like the Fire that blackens the Wood it cannot burn must needs raise Stories against their Neighbours and therefore some having not been able to get me into their Party spread abroad this Rumour of my Death to stain my Reputation and that Noise had given occasion to several Discourses in Canada to my Prejudice However for I will if please God declare my Mind farther upon this matter in the Third Volume I ought to acknowledge that God has preserv'd me by a sort of Miracle in this great and dangerous Voyage of which you have an account in this Volume And when I think on it with attention I am perswaded that Providence has kept me for publishing to the World the Great Discoveries I have made in Eleven Years time or thereabouts that I have liv'd in the West-Indies It must be observ'd that a great many Men meddle with Business that don't belong to them and will conceive a Jealousie against those that won't conform to their Humour The Provincial-Commissary of whom I have spoken before was very urgent to have a Copy of the Journal of the Discovery I had made in a Voyage of almost four Years telling me he would keep it secret I took his Word for I thought and I think still he was a Man of Honour and Probity Besides I did consider that he could instruct the Bishop of Quebec and Count Frontenac with what they had a mind to know of this Discovery and satisfie them both without exposing my self For this purpose were intended all the Care he took of me and all the extraordinary Civilities he did shew me in entertaining me with all he could get then and calling me often the Rais'd-again He desir'd me to return into Europe to acquaint the Publick with the great Discoveries I had made and that by this way I should avoid the Jealousie of these two Men that it was very difficult to please two Masters whose Employment and Interests were so different He had then before my Return into Europe all the time that was necessary to copy out my whole Voyage on the River Meschasipi which I had undertook against M. de la Salle's Opinion who has made since a Voyage from the Illinois to the Gulph of Mexico in the Year 1682. and two Years after me He had had some suspicion I had made that Voyage yet he could not know the Truth of it at my Return to Fort Frontenac because he had then undertook a Voyage to the Outouagamis not knowing whether the Savages had murther'd me as it had been given out I follow'd our Commissary's Advice and the Resolution to return into Europe but before I set out I shew'd him that it was absolutely necessary for the Settlement of Colonies in our Discoveries and make some progress towards the establishing of the Gospel to keep all these several Nations in peace even the most remote and assist them against the Iroquois who are their Common Enemies That these Barbarians never make a True Peace with those that they have once beaten or they hope to overcome in spreading Divisions among them that the common Maxim of the Iroquois had always been such and by this means they had destroy'd above two millions of Souls The Provincial Commissary agreed with me upon all this and told me that for the future he should give me all the necessary Instructions for that purpose I will give an account if please God in my Second Volume of the Ways and Measures that are to be taken for the establishing of the Faith among the many Nations of so different Languages and how good Colonies might besetled in those great Countries which might be call'd the Delights of America and become one of the greatest Empires in the World Jane Williams FINIS A MAP of a Large Country
Fall of Water of Niagara of which I have given a Description and which is the most prodigious Cascade in the Universe since it falls Six or Seven hundred Foot deep and issues from those great Lakes which form the great River of St. Laurence What 's more extraordinary than to describe a Country by us discover'd larger than Europe and inhabited by above Two hundred Nations of different Language never mention'd by any Historian before me and not to be found in any particular or general Maps besides mine Those Criticks would do much better to admire what they cannot apprehend and adore in silence what they cannot express by Discourse because they never saw any thing uncommon as living in a narrow limited Corner of the World 7. Men of narrow Understanding and little acquainted with the Knowledge of Foreign Countries are generally apt to blame what they cannot apprehend They think themselves impos'd upon when we speak to them of a Country larger than Europe because they can fancy nothing of greater Extent than this part of the World which they inhabit They are also apt to imagine Canada as circumscrib'd within the narrow Bounds of the least Part of America Those who peruse the Relations of divers Voyages through the several Parts of the World in order to discover them are perswaded to the contrary and that nothing can be more false than that Conceit In effect I have shewn in the foregoing Volume That Canada for an Example is a Country of above Seven hundred Leagues extent from the Pierced Island and the Great Bay up the great River St. Laurence I have travell'd up to its Fountain-head and have found that it is formed out of several great Rivers and the foremention'd Five greaâ— Lakes or Freshâ—water Seas which we have sail'd over in Ships or Canows of Bark as may be seen in our Maps I may say the same of the incomparable River Meschasipi which is still of greater Extent than that of St. Laurence I have set down also in the General Map of my Discovery the great River of the Amazones which is beyond the Aequinoctial Line in the Southern America but I do not think it to be either sâ— great or extended as the Meschasipi nor so rapid as the River of St. Laurence The Reason of it is That on the Side of these Two last Rivers are to be found vast Provinces inhabited by above Two hundred Nations of different Speech All which inclines me to believe that the Continent I have lately discover'd is of much greater Extent than all Europe together and that in effect there may be founded the greatest Empire in the World My Design in this Volume is to describe the several Countries I have survey'd and give an Account of their Soil the Fruits that grow in them the Trade and Commerce one may drive there and at the same time the Genius and Manners of the Inhabitants at least as far as 't is necessary for the understanding of the Matter I treat of To which purpose I think it also proper to add to it the Voyage which the Sieur la Salle has made since me I shall give here in the mean time a summary Account of all Things for the Direction of the Reader and divide this Volume into Chapters as I have done the former I shall take notice towards the end of this Book how few the Conversions of the Savages have been notwithstanding the pious and constant Endeavours of zealous and skilful Missionaries who have toil'd and labour'd almost an Age in the Vineyard of the Lord in Canada Which Consideration obliges us to acknowledge with a Religious Respect the incomprehensible Goodness of God who has been pleas'd to call us to his Knowledge whilst he leaves so many Nations in Darkness and Ignorance being without either God Faith or Hope and having their Eyes shut to the Light of Evangelical Truths As for the rest I am morally convinc'd that all the Nations we have discover'd along the River Meschasipi will be more susceptible of Christianity than the others because they are more docible and tractable and less fierce than the Nations that live towards the North. These on the contrary are generally more wild and fierce and consequently more difficult to be perswaded and more obstinate than the Northern Nations To render this Volume the more intelligible to the Reader I have made some Remarks upon the last Voyage of the Sieur la Salle of which I give an Account because I am better acquainted with those vast Countries than the Reverend Faâ—her le Clercqz now Definitor of our Recollects in Artois who has publish'd the History of it This Father for whom I â—ver had an Esteem â—nd Friendship has a perfect Knowledge of the Gaspesian History which he has given to the Publick and of Canada where we have lived in great intimacy together but he could not speak so knowingly as my self of the People of our Louisiana He never went further than Canada and Gaspea which lies betwixt Baston and the Pierced Island where I lived in quality of Missionary during a whole Summer on account of the Fishermen that come there every Year with several Ships so that he could not speak of a Country he had never been in but only by Relation The great Bay of Gaspea in Cadia betwixt the Ocean and Canada where the said Father le Clercqz has been Missionary is above Twelve hundred Leagues distant from the Lands of our Louisiana Besides Father le Clercqz has had the Iournal of my Discovery communicated to him by the Reverend Father Valentine le Roux Provincial Commissioner in Canada whom I had suffer'd to take a Copy of it as I have already mention'd in my former Volume To which Father le Clercqz has added what he has been able to gather from the Memoires of Father Zenobe Mambre a Recollect whilst he was at Quebec And furthermore it is plain that Father le Clercqz's Style is Word for Word the same as that of Father le Roux I do not at all think it strange that Father le Clercqz should eadeavour to advance the Credit of Father Zenobe his Cousin who had been my Companion in the beginning of my Voyage but he went no farther with me than the Illinois where he staid while I was pursuing my Discovery as I have hinted in my other Volume I am glad to let the World know that Father Zenobe was my Friend and that upon that account I do not pretend to wrong his Reputation There ever was betwixt him and me a cordial Affection and Intimacy and Father Zenobe upon his Return from America made me a Visit in our Convent of the Recollects of Chasteau Cambresis where I was then Vicar and actual Superior Having given him a very kind Reception he told me he was going back into those Countries with the Sieâ—r la Salle in order to go down the River Meschasipi from the Illinois to the Mexican Gulf and that when he came there
remained for some while fluttering in the Air not finding Ground whereon to put her Foot But that the Fishes moved with Compassion for her immediately held a Consultation to deliberate which of them should receive her The Tortoise very officiously offered its Back on the Surface of the Water The Woman came to rest upon it and fixed her self there Afterwards the Filthiness and Dirt of the Sea gathering together about the Tortoise there was formed by little and little that vast Tract of Land which we now call America They add that this Woman grew weary of her Solitude wanting some body for to keep her Company that so she might spend her time more pleasantly Melancholy and Sadness having seiz'd upon her Spirits she fell asleep and a Spirit descended from above and finding her in that Condition approach'd and knew her unperceptibly From which Approach she conceived two Children which came forth out of one of her Ribs But these two Brothers could never afterwards agree together One of them was a better Huntsman than the other they quarrelled every day and their Disputes grew so high at last that one could not bear with the other One especially being of a very wild Temper hated mortally his Brother who was of a milder Constitution who being no longer able to endure the Pranks of the other he resolved at last to part from him He retired then into Heaven whence for a Mark of his just Resentment he causeth at several times his Thunder to rore over the Head of his unfortunate Brother Some time after the Spirit descended again on that Woman and she conceived a Daughter from whom as the Salvages say were propagated these numerous People which do occupy now one of the greatest parts of the Universe How fabulous soever this History is yet one may perceive in it some Glimpse of Truth The Sleep of that Woman with the Birth of her two Sons hath some resemblance to the Sleep of Adam during which God took â—ut one of his Ribs and therewith formed Eve The Disunion of the two Brothers is the Image of the implacable Hatred of Cain to Abel The Retreat of him who retir'd to Heaven doth represent the Death of Abel and the Thunderclaps from Heaven denote well enough the Curse which God pronounced against that miserable Cain who was the Murtherer of his Brother It is a lamentable thing to consider with how many Whimsies the Devil intoxicates the Minds of these poor Salvages Although they esteem all Souls Corporeal for they understand nothing else by their Otkon Atahauta or Manitou but I know not what sort of a Material Spring which gives Life and Motion to all Things Yet they nevertheless pretend to believe the Immortality of the Soul and another Life after this in which they are to roul in all sorts of Pleasures and where they are to find especially Hunting in Perfection Fishing in Abundance Indian Corn in great Quantities for those that sow it for there are those among them that do not Tobacco and a thousand other both Curiosities and Necessaries They hold that the Soul does not immediately leave the Body after Death wherefore they always bury along with it a Bow Arrows Indian Corn and fat Meat to the end say they that the Dead may subsist thereupon 'till they can arrive in the Country where the Souls reside As they afford Souls to all living Creatures so they think that after Death Men continue to hunt the Souls of Beavers Elks Foxes Otters Sea-wolfs and other Animals They believe likewise that the Souls of those Rackets that they make use of to keep them from sinking into the Snow in Winter time will be of the same use to 'em in the other World as also the Souls of Bows and Arrows to kill Beasts withal They have also the same Thoughts concerning Fishing in a manner that according to their Opinion these Souls have likewise the same Occasion for Arms for that Sport The Bodies which they bury Seven or Eight Foot deep have no other need of these Arms and Provision which they put into the Grave with them than to serve them for their Voyage into the other World They imagine that these Souls walk visibly in their Villages for a certain time and that they partake of all their Feasts and Merriments and therefore they always assign them their several Portions Many of these People carry their Superstition to that Degree as to have several General Feasts for the Dead accompany'd with Songs dreadful Cries Banquets Dances and Presents of different sorts For this purpose they drag Corps out of the Villages and even the Bones of those whose Flesh is consum'd all which they call Bundles of Souls They transport them from one Tomb to another set out with Skins of Beasts Collars of Porcelain and other such Riches of their Country They believe that all this contributes mightily towards the Happiness of the Dead I shall not trouble my self here to relate the several Particulars of their Belief upon this Subject the different places and Employs which they assign their Dead the manner after which they believe they subâ—â—â—t their Wars Peace Policy and Laws These 〈…〉 so many extravagant and ridiculous Traditions founded upon Fables which their Ancestors have invented and to which they give so great Credit that they easily pass from one Generation to another for Articles of Faith There is some reason to suspect that the Salvages of America have originally descended from the Iews whereof some few might probably have been cast by Shipwrack upon these Shores for in effect there is a great resemblance between them in several things They build their Huts in form of Pavilions like the Iews They anoint themselves with Oyl and are zealous Observers of Dreams They bewail their Dead with great Lamentations and Noise Their Women wear Mourning for their Husbands a whole Year during which time they forbear Dances and Feasts and have a kind of Fryars Hood on their Heads And most commonly the Father or Brother of the Deceas'd takes care of the Widow As to the rest they seem to have a particular Curse entail'd upon them by God Almighty like the Iews for they are Brutish and Opiniated to the highest Degree They have no fix'd and settled Abode They are very unchast and have moreover such dull Pates that whenever they are told that their Souls are immortal they will presently ask what they shall eat in the other World Besides we may trace the Belief of the Iews according to the Revelation of Moses in what we have already touch'd upon concerning these Salvages Opinion of the beginning of the World But to speak freely these Barbarians seem to me to have no Idea at all of a Deity They believe indeed another World where they expect to enjoy the same Pleasures and Delights they have had here They are a sort of People subject to no Restraint Laws nor any Form of Government or Policy They are extreamly blockish in
because these Mines did not afford 'em all at once that Plenty which was expected Mr. Ienins the Father and â—he Son who were depâ—ted to sâ—t the Miners on work told me then that in regard that the Company took no Care to furnish them with those Provisions which were promis'd they had taken a resolution to return home to Paris But if the French who then Inhabited Canada had had as much Phlegm as other Nations as Mr. Ienins the Elder express'd himself to me at that time they wou'd undoubtedly have carry'd on their design with good success The Territories about St. Lawrence's River bring forth all sorts of Herbs and Seeds and there are actually to be seen all manner of materials requisite for the Building of Ships of all sorts as also Oak-Planks and all other kinds of Timber but more especially a prodigious quantity of Firr-Trees that yield abundance of Gum for the making of Pitch and Tar. Moreover the above-mentioned Skin-Trade and the Cinders that may serve â—o make Pot-Ashes the Profit of which might amount to a Hundred and Fifty Thousand Livres every Year and which employment alone will afford Maintenance to a great number of Poor People all these things I say must needs produce a very considerable advantage for the Colonies which might be founded in that Countrey But 't is more remarkable that they who are once Masâ—ers of these Territories may keep under Command above a Thousand Vessels which pass every Year to the Fishery and bring back Whales Salmons and Oyl in abundance to furnish whole Kingdoms with those Commodities All these Vessels must of necessity arrive at the Perforated-Island where the Râ—collects or Franciscan Friars have a little Missionary-House near the Huts of the Fisher-Men who come thither during the Summer-Season because there is no other Landing place except in that Countrey neither is there any Fort erected at the mouth of the River at least none that I have seen A convenient settlement which might be made in that place wou'd without doubt create a flourishing Trade which might be extreamly Augmented if a good Colony were established therein which might be very easily effected In the Description that we have Publish'd of Louisiana and the Southern-Countries which may be very properly call'd the Delights of America we have given some account of all the above-mention'd Animals but besides these there are a great number of Wild Bulls and Cows bearing a kind of curled Wool which may be tam'd and kept to Till the Ground They may also serve for Food and may be shorn every Year as Sheep to make as good and as fine Cloth as any in Europe The Savages who inhabit these Territories were never able to destroy those Animals which pass out of one Countrey into another according to the succession of the Seasons There are also many Medicinal Herbs altogether unkown in Europe the efficacy of which is infallible as the Barbarians have found by Experience who make use of 'em to heal all their Wounds as well as to Cure Tertian and Quartan Agues to asswage the Nephritick Pains to serve as Purges and for other Applications of the like Nature To those may be added several sorts of Poyson particularly the Bark of the Wild-Lemon-Tree and others which are us'd by those People to put their Enemies to Death Serpents are frequently seen in certain places more especially Adders Aspes and another sort of Serpents that have a kind of Rattle at their Tail and are therefore call'd Rattle-Snakes These last are of a prodigious length and thickness and their Biting often proves fatal to Passengers nevertheless they do not Assault any Persons unless they happen to touch the Herbs or pieces of wood on which they lie But Sovereign Remedies against their Venom are to be had in the places which they frequent There are in like manner certain Frogs of a surprizing thickness the croaking of which is as loud and shrill as the bellowing of Oxen. The same Trees that are common in Europe are likewise to be seen in those Countries but there are some of another kind as I have already observ'd particularly Cotton-Trees and several others These Trees â—akâ— very deep Rooting and shoot up to a vast height which sufficiently shews the Richness and Fruitfulness of the Soil But the greatest advantage that can arise from our Discovery in the Frozen-Sea and New Mexico consists as I have already intimated in the Consideration that by the meanâ— of these Southern-Countries a passage may be found out to China and Iapan without being oblig'd to traverse the Equinoctial-Line CHAP. XXXIV The manner how the Savages hold their Councils The Politick Wiles Practised by them against their Enemies and the outrages committed by them upon the Europeans by what means a stop may be put to their irregular proceedings IT often happens that these Savages commit very great outrages upon the Europeans under pretence that they have done them some Injury These Barbarians cause the Proclamation of War to be made by Three or Four Old Men in all the Towns and Villages who do it with so loud a Voice and with so lamentable a Tone that all they who remain in the Huts as well Men as Women are ready to tremble for fear Their Compassion being thus mov'd they are animated to take Vengeance of their Enemies At first all the Elders and those who are appointed to hold their Councils râ—pair with all speed to the largest Hut in which are the Quarters of the principal Captain of their Naâ—ion There one of the Chief Officers makes a Speech and always Expresses himself in this form of Words My Brothers and Nephews such a Nation has kill'd some of our People for although never so light occasion of discontent were only given 'em yet they wou'd not fail to give it out that some of their Companions were kill'd Therefore it is requisite continues the Commander in Chief to Maintain a War against 'em to extirpate 'em and to Revenge the Injuries they have done us If all who assist in this Consult answer one after another Netho or Togenskâ— and if they Smoak in the Pipe or Reed of War whilest a Young Savage takes care to stuff Tobacco into the Head of the Pipe this is taken for the unanimous consent of the whole Nation and their Allies Then the Troops of Warriours appear upon all occasions and rove up and down endeavouring to surprize their Enemies although they be often altogether innocent of those misdemeanors which some disaffected Savage has thought fit to lay to their charge One day the Iroquois being Exasperated by reason of some Affront offer'd 'em by a certain French Man of Canada determin'd not to Attack the whole Nation but contented themselves with discharging their Fury upon Two among them whom they cut to pieces with Hatchets Afterward having fastned their Dead Bodies to great Stones they threw them into the River and let them pass with the current of the Stream on purpose to
being instructed in our Mysteries being attentive and very constant at Prayer althô their Mind was not as yet sufficiently enlighten'd to embrace in a due manner The Truths of the Christian Religion and none came to â—eek instruction any otherwise than induc'd thereto by Interest to obtain of us Knives Awls and other Toys of the like nature Perhaps it may not be improper here to subjoyn certain Reflections for which I am indebted to an excellent Monk of our Order whose name I may have occasion to produce in a Third Volume if I shall be permitted through the Divine Mercy to accomplish my Design There is undoubtedly a great deal of difference between the Zeal Labour and indefatigable Industry â—f true Missionaries and the pretended Success of some Impostors that have been so often boasted of without any appearance of Truth The least piece of Justice that can be done to the Memory of divers Apostolical Persons in New France is to acknowledge that they have really surpass'd every thing that can be express'd concerning them and that they have at least come very near if not altogether equall'd the Enterprizes Courage and Sufferings of the Apostle St. Paul who was expos'd to very great dangers to hunger and thirst and to violent Persecutions nay their silence has been great and commendable amidst the clamours and malicious slanders of their Enemies But the Conduct of these Missionaries justifies it self and set 'em above the like Reproaches as well with respect to Canada as every where else I formerly us'd my utmost Efforts in that place as well as other Missionaries among the Iroquois to Civilize those Barbarians to render 'em capable of admitting Laws and Civil Government and to put a stop to their Brutish Outrages as far as it was possible I have endeavour'd to bring 'em off from their vain Superstitions and thus in some measure have prepar'd the ways of the Lord according to my ability However it must be confess'd that very little progress has been made in this Reformation since these People are as Savage as ever always equally adhering to their ancient Maxims and profane Customs as being extremely addicted to Gluttony Drunkenness Pride and Cruelty and even uncapable either of Instruction or Obedience Altho' a Man shou'd seek for a reformation of Manners or even some marks of Humanity among the Iroquois as long as he shou'd think fit nevertheless they wou'd be always found to be such as they were Thirty or Forty Years ago Since the French of Canada have concluded a Treaty of Peace with them and the Jesuits resided among 'em in quality of Missionaries altho ' they have built as many Churches and Chappels as were destroy'd by 'em before yet these Iroquois who may be very justly call'd the Invincible Philistines have made no very great progress in the knowledge of the Christian Faith To speak the truth we as yet see the contrary even at this day These Barbarians arâ— now carrying on a Cruel War with the French who remain in those Countries altho' I confess indeed 't is difficult for me to comprehend that Christians shou'd be engag'd in a War against a Brutish sort of People whom I have manag'd with all the Circumspections of which I was capable during Six or Seven Years that I resided among them either by the Embassies with which I was charg'd or by the Insâ—ructions I had given 'em as to Reading Writing and even Religion it self However we have constantly endeavour'd to keep this Warlike Nation in Peace as far as it lay in our power The Iroquois who always treat our Monks with the Title of Chitagon that is to say the Bare-feet have often lamented their absence at the Lake Ontario or of Frontenac where they had a Missionary Mansion-House I have frequently heard say that when a Priest of St. Sulpitius a Jesuit or some other Clergy-man of Canada demanded of the Iroquois How it came to pass that they gave them no share of their Game or Provisions got by Hunting as they had done to the Bare-feet These Savages reply'd that our Recollects were accustom'd to live in Common after their fashion and that they had no recompence for all the Presents they made them and that they did not take any Skins of which all the other Europeans are so greedy nor any other thing by way of Retaliation for what they had done for them This shews that it wou'd be requisite to begin with Temporal things in treating with those People and afterward to proceed to Spiritual For if as it happen'd in the Primitive Church the present Christians were only one Heart and one Soul if they were willing to act generousâ—y without regard to their private Interest or Advantage or at least if they only took in Exchange of the Savages a reasonable Equivalent with respect to what they had given them without doubt more might be gain'd of them and the Conversion of these Barbarous Nations might be easily effected It is true indeed that during my Residence in Quality of a Missionary at the Fort of Frontenac among the Iroquois whilst the Jesuits were dispers'd up and down in their Cantons those Religious Persons were engag'd in Employments very different from mine For in regard that these Barbarians acted only according to the direction of their Senses they then look'd upon the Missionary Jesuits as so many Captains or Men of great Quality that is to say as the Envoy and perpetual Residents of the French Colony at Canada whose Office it is to maintain a good Correspondence between them to dispose of Peace and War and to Reside in their Cantons to serve as a Pledge or security for those People when they went to Treat with the Inhabitants of Canada Otherwise those Barbarians wou'd have lain under perpetual diffidence and fear of being arrested for want of having Hostages in their own Countrey for the safety of their Lives and Fortunes It has been already observ'd that the above-mention'd Missionaries are wont to take upon them the Tuition of the Savage Children and discharge that Office to very good purpose By those means they draw in the Barbarians to their place of Residence and employ them in clearing the Lands of their Cantons which contributes much to the Advantage of the Colony and even of the Church it self Thus it happens that to their Reputation and Zeal are owing many considerable foundations for the Foreign Missions which have been obtain'd of divers Potent and well disposed Persons whose liberal Contributions as well as the Endowments and Annual Gratuities given by the King are apply'd to the same use To conclude these Missionary Mansions are the proper Places for the forming of true Saints by the means of an indefatigable Zeal a fervent Charity accompanied with Patience and Humility by a great dis-engagement from self-interest by an extraordinary Gentleness and by a pure and liâ—ely Faith Indeed this is a kind of Apostolical Discipline very different from that which is commonly
but five Leagues in a Day in our Return The Savages told us that the Current is not half so great in Winter The Banks of that River are cover'd with Woods down to the Sea but the Cotton-Trees are so big that I have seen some Canow's made of those Trees eighty Foot long and three broad which carry thirty Men. I saw 180 of those Wooden-Canow's in one Village of the Savages of 300 Cabins They have abundance of Holly-Trees and other Trees the Bark whereof is White Grapes Apples Plums Chesnuts Pomegranates Mulberries besides other Nuts unknown to Europe plenty of Turky-Cocks Parrots Quails Wild-Oxen Stags and Wild-Goats These Savages are affable civil and obliging and the first I met with presented me with a Pipe or Calumet of Peace which is a Protection even in a Fight Their Women and old Men take care of the Culture of the Ground which is so fertile as to afford three Crops of Indian Corn every Year They have abundance of Water-Melons Citruls and Gourds When they have sown their Corn they go a Hunting for Wild-Oxen whose Flesh they eat and the Skin serves for their Coverings having dress'd the same with a sort of Earth which serves also to dye them They have Axes and Knives from the French and Spaniards in exchange of their Beavers and Skins of Wild-Goats Those who live near the Sea have some Fire-Arms The Mississipi has few Windings and Turnings and runs directly to the South and having follow'd its Course till the 33 d Degree of Latitude I resolv'd to return home seeing that River did not discharge it self into Mar Vermejo which we look'd for as also because the Spaniards observ'd our Motions for six Days together The Savages told me that the Spaniards live within thirty Leagues to the West-ward The said M. Ioliet adds That he had set down in his Journal an exact Description of the Iron-Mines they discover'd as also of the Quarries of Marble and Cole-Pits and Places where they find Salt-Petre with several other things He had also observ'd what were the sittest Places to settle Colonies c. The Soil is very fertile and produces abundance of Grapes which might make delicious Wines The River of St. Lewis which hath its Source near Missichiganen is the biggest and the most convenient for a Colony its Mouth into the Lake being very convenient for an Harbour It is deep and broad and well stock'd with Sturgeons and other Fishes The Stags Oxen Wild-Goats Turky-Cocks and other Game are more plentiful on the Banks of the said River than any where else There are Meadows Ten or Twenty Leagues broad incompass'd with sine Forests behind which are other Meadows in which Grass grows six Foot high Hemp grows naturally in all that Country Those who shall settle themselves there shall not be oblig'd as we are here to bestow Ten Years for felling down the Trees and grubbing up the Land before it is fit for Corn whereas the Ground is ready for the Plough in that fortunate Country where they may have good Wine Their young Wild-Oxen may be easily learn'd to plough their Land and their long curl'd Hair or rather Wool may serve to make good Cloth for their wearing In short that Soil wou'd afford any thing necessary for Life except Salt which they might have another way AN ACCOUNT OF M. la Salle's Voyage TO THE River MISSISSIPI Directed to Count Frontenac Governour of New-France THE River of Niagara is navigable for three Leagues that is from the Fall to the Mouth of the Lake Erie but the Stream is so rapid that it is almost impossible for a Bark to sail up into the Lake without a strong Gale and the help of many Men to hale from the Shore at the same time But besides all this it requires so many other Precautions that one cannot expect always to succeed The Mouth of the Lake Erie is full of Sands which make it dangerous therefore to avoid that Danger and not venture a Ship every Voyage it will be safer to leave it at an Anchor in a River which runs into the Lake six Leagues from the River Niagara and is the only Harbour and Anchorage in this Lake There are three great Points which advance above ten Leagues into it but being chiefly made up of Sand they are so low that there is great Danger of running a Ship against them before they are discover'd and therefore a Pilot must be very skilful and careful to steer a Ship in this dangerous Lake The Streight or Canal between the Lake Erie and the Huron is very rapid and no less difficult than that of Niagara tho' much deeper The Streight of Missilikinac between the Lake Huron and that of the Illinois is attended with no less Difficulties for the Current is commonly against the Wind. There is no Anchorage in the Lake Huron nor any Harbour in that of the Illinois upon the Northern Western and Southern Coasts There are many Islands in both Lakes which make the Navigation of that of the Illinois very perillous for there being no Harbour to run into for shelter and the Storms being very terrible on that Lake 't is a great Providence when a Ship escapes being dash'd in pieces against those Islands However some Canals and Anchorages may be discover'd in time which will remove those great Difficulties as has hapned in the Lake of Frontenac the Navigation whereof is now easie whereas it was at first as dangerous as that of the Lake Huron or Illinois The Creek thro' which we went from the Lake of the Illinois into the Divine River is so shallow and so much expos'd to the Storms that no Ship can venture to get in unless it be in a great Calm Neither is the Country between the said Creek and the Divine River fit for a Canal for the Meadows between them are drown'd after any great Rain and so a Canal will be immediately fill'd up wiâ—h Sands And besides it is impossible to dig up the Ground because of the Water that Country being nothing but a Morass But supposing it were possible to cut the Canal it wou'd be however useless for the Divine River is not navigable for forty Leagues together that is from that Place to the Village of the Illinois except for Canow's who have hardly Water enough in Summer-time Besides this Difficulty there is a Fall near the Village We have seen no Mines tho' several Pieces of Copper are found in the Sand when the River is low There is the best Hemp in that Country I have seen any where tho' it grows naturally without any culture The Savages tell us that they have found near this Village some yellow Metal but that cannot be Gold according to their own Relation for the Oar of Gold cannot be so fine and bright as they told us There are Coal-Pits on that River The Wild-Oxen are grown somewhat scarce since the Illinois are at War with their Neighbours for now all Parties are continually
Hunting of them The Navigation is easie from Fort Crevecoeur to the Sea and Nâ—w-Mexico is not above twenty Days Journey from the said Fort. The Nations of the Metontonta who live within Ten Days Journey from the said Fort came to see M. la Salle and brought a Horse's Hoof They told us That the Spaniards make a cruel War upon them and that they use Spears more commonly than Fire-Arms One may go by Water from Fort Crevecoeur to the Habitation of these Savages There are no Europeans at the Mouth of the River Colbert or Mississipi and the Monster of which M. Ioliet gives so dreadful a Description is a Fancy of some Savages and had never any Original It is within a Journey and a half from Fort Crevecoeur but had M. Ioliet gone down the River he might have seen a more terrible one That Gentleman has not consider'd that the Mosopolca of whom he takes notice in his Map were altogether destroy'd before he set out for his Voyage He sets down also in his Maps several Nations which are nothing but Families of the Illinois The Pronevoa Carcarilica Tamaroa Koracocnitonon Chinko Caokia Choponsca Amonokoa Cankia Ocansa and several others make up the Nation and the Village of the Illinois consisting of about 400 Cabins cover'd with Rushes without any Fortifications I have told 1800 fighting Men amongst them They have Peace now with all their Neighbours except the Iroquois and it wou'd be easie to reconcile them were it not to be fear'd that they wou'd afterwards fall upon the Outtouats whom they mortally hate and disturb thereby our Commerce so that we must leave them as they are for as long as they shall have occasion for us they will be ready â—o comply with any thing that we may desire from them and keep in awe the Nations inhabiting to the Westward who are much afraid of the Illinois The Banks of seven or eight Rivers which discharge themselves into the Mississipi or Colbert-River the least whereof runs above 300 Leagues are cover'd with Fine Timber for Building Ships M. la Salle has seen some Savages of three Nations thro' which Ferdinand Sotto pass'd with his Army viz. the Sicachia Cascin and Aminoya They told him that we might go by water from Crevecoeur into their Country It is highly necessary to carry on this Discovery for the River inhabited by the Sicachia which in all likelihood is the true Chukagoua has its Source near Carolina and consequently very near the Habitation of the English about three hundred Leagues to the Eastward of the Mississipi in the French Florida at the foot of the Apalachin Hills For had the English notice of it they might by means of this River Trade with the Illinois Miamis Nadouessians and other Savages and spoil for ever our Commerce The Winter has been as hard in the Country of the Illinois as at Fort Frontenac for tho' the Weather was there in Ianuary as temperate as in Provence yet the River was still frozen on the 22d of March and therefore I conclude 't is much the same Climate as the Country of the Iroquois The Country between the Lake of the Illinois and the Lake Erie is a row of Mountains for a hundred Leagues together from whence spring a great number of Rivers which run to the Westward into the Lake of the Illinois to the North into the Lake Huron to the East into the Lake Erie and to the South into the River Ohio Their Source are so near one another that in three Days Journey I cross'd twenty two the least whereof is bigger than that of Richelieu The top of these Mountains are flat and full of Bogs and Morasses which being not frozen have prov'd an insupportable difficulty and trouble in our Voyage There are now-and-then some Plains which I take to be very fertile they are cover'd with Bears Stags Wild-Goats Turkey-Cocks and Wolves who are so fierce as hardly to be frighted away by the noise of our Guns There is a River in the bottom of the Lake Erie within ten Leagues of the Canal which may very much shorten the way to the Illinois it being navigable for Canows till within two Leagues of theirs but the most convenient of all is the River Ohio which being navigable for Barks will save all the Trouble of making a Communication between the Lake of the Illinois and the Divine River and the great Expences of making the said River navigable to Fort Crevecoeur One must not fancy that the Ground in the Country of the Illinois is ready for the Plough some of them are too dry others too wet and in short all require some Toil and Trouble but I am sure they may sufficiently recompence in a little time those who will be at the pains to cultivate them The Nations through which we have pass'd have receiv'd us very kindly because of our Calumet of Peace which is a safe Conduct and a sufficient Recommendation amongst the Savages The Illinois offer'd to accompany us to the Sea in hopes as we told them that we will supply them that way with European Commodities for the want of Knives Axes c. makes them very officious The young Calves may be easily tam'd and very useful for setling our Plantations The Illinois have also many Slaves which may be of a great use to us There are as many idle Fellows amongst them as among other Nations and a great many more Women than Men. They marry several Wives sometimes nine or ten and commonly all Sisters if they can thinking they agree better in their Family I have seen three Children who have been Baptiz'd one call'd Peter the other Ioseph and the third Mary who nevertheless are like to live as their Father who has marry'd three Sisters for they have no farther Christian Instruction Father Allouez who Baptiz'd them having left that Country unless one would think that the Stick that Father left amongst them as a Mark that the Country belongs to him has any extraordinary Virtue to promote Christianity These are the only Christians I have found amongst them which I am sure cannot be such but in Fide Ecclesiae Father Allouez lives now in a Village of Miamis Maskoutens and Ochiakenens who have quitted their own Nation and ancient Habitations to confederate themselves with the Iroquois against the Illinois and for that purpose they sent last Summer an Embassie into the Country of the Iroquois with a Letter of Father Allouez The end of that Embassie was as I have said to oblige 'em to unite themselves with them against the Illinois and they were negotiating the Alliance when I arriv'd at the Village of the Tsonnontouans and upon notice thereof a Woman was sent to tell them to run away for fear the Iroquois should kill them They had however no design to do them any harm as it appear'd afterwards for the Iroquois having overtaken the said Ambassadors they were kindly us'd but they enter'd upon no Business as long
in those Parts that we should never be able to preserve our Health I return'd them my hearty Thanks for their good Advices but told them I would not follow them since the Salvation of a great many Souls were concern'd in our Undertaking for whom I should be glad to lose my Life I added That I laugh'd at their pretended Devils and Monsters and that their Informations would oblige us to stand the more upon our Guard to avoid any Surprize And so having pray'd to God with them and given them some Instructions we parted from them and arriv'd to the Bay of Puans where our Fathers make a considerable Progress towards the Conversion of those Ignorant Nations The Name of this Bay sounds better in the Language of the Savages than in ours for according to the Word they make use of one may call it as well the Salted Bay as the Stinking Bay for they call the Sea after the same Name This oblig'd us to enquire whether there were in that Country any Salted Fountains as there is one among the Iroquois but we could find none therefore we think that this Name was given to this Bay because of the great quantity of Mud and Owze that is there from whence such Vapours arise that occasion the most dreadful Thunders that ever I heard in any Country This Bay is about thirty Leagues long and about eight broad that is to say in its greatest breadth for it grows narrower and forms a Cone at the extremity where one may easily observe that this Bay has its setled Tides just as the Sea This is not a proper place to enquire whether the Flowing and Ebbing of the Water of this Bay may be properly call'd a Tide or whether they are occasion'd by the Winds which never or very seldom fail to blow from the same Point upon the Moon 's ascending our Horizon but this I may say That in the greatest Calm the Waters in this Bay flow and ebb according to the Motion of the Moon tho' I will not deny but that the Winds which move the Waters towards the middle of the Lake may contribute to this effect We left this Bay to go into a River that discharges it self therein and found its Mouth very broad and deep It flows very gently but after we had advanc'd some Leagues into it we saw it was interrupted by several Rocks and rapid Streams and so shallow in some places that it would hardly bear our Canow's The bottom is full of Flints which are as so many Razors that cut the Canow's and made it impossible for our Men to walk therein to make the Câ—now's more light when the shallowness of the Water did not permit us to row away It is full of Bustard Ducks and Teals because of the Wild Oats in the Marshes thereabouts However we conquer'd those Difficulties and came to an Habitation of the Miamis Maskoutens and Kikabeux but before we arriv'd to their Village I had the Curiosity to taste the Mineral Water of a River near it and found a Simple of a wonderful Virtue against the Venom of the Serpents A Savage who knew it had shown it to Father Allouez who had often occasion to try its Virtues God having been pleas'd to provide that Country with that wonderful Antidote against the Serpents who are very dangerous in those Parts The Root of that Simple is very hot and tastes like Gun-powder they chew it and apply it upon the Part of the Body stung by the Serpents and this without any other Mystery cures the Wound and the Serpents have such an Antipathy with this Herb that they run away from any Man who has rubb'd his Body with the same It brings several Stalks about a foot high the Leaves are somewhat long the Flower is white and the whole looks like our Gilliflowers I took one into our Canow the better to examine it This Bay of Puâ—ons had been hitherto as one may say the Ultima Thulae of the French for they never durst advance further into the Country This Village as I have intimated consists of three several Nations viz. Miamis Maskoutens and Kikabeux The first are more civil than the other and better shap'd as well as more liberal They wear long Hair over their Ears which looks well enough They are accounted valiant Men amongst their Neighbours but are so cunning that they seldom return from their warlike Expeditions without Booty They are apt to learn any thing for they love to hear the Europeans talk and Father Allouez told me That they had such a violent desire to be instructed that they often disturb'd his Rest to ask him Questions about what he had told them the Day before The Maskoutens and Kikabeux are more clownish and there is as much difference between the Miamis and them as between our Boors and Citizens As the Rind of Birch-Trees are scarce in this Country they are oblig'd to make their Cabins with Rushes which serve as well for covering the same as for Walls It must be own'd that these Cabins are very convenient for they take them down when they please and carry them by small Parcels where-ever they will without any trouble When I arriv'd there I was very glad to see a great Cross set up in the middle of the Village adorn'd with several White Skins Red Girdles Bows and Arrows which that good People had offer'd to the Great Manitou to return him their Thanks for the care he had taken of them during the Winter and that he had granted them a prosperous Hunting Manitou is the Name they give in general to all Spirits whom they think to be above the Nature of Man Their Village is situated on a Hill from whence one may discover the largest Meadows in the World aâ—orn'd at certain distance with Groves and Woods The Soil is very fertile and produces a great quantity of Indian Corn. They preserve also Plums and Grapes As soon as we were arriv'd M. Ioliet and I desir'd the Eldest of the Savages to meet us and I told them that M. Ioliet was sent by the Governour of Canada to discover new Countries and I from God Almighty to teach them the Knowledge of their Creator who being absolute Master of all his Creatures will have all Nations to know him and that therefore to comply with his Will I did not value my Life which I freely expos'd to all manner of Dangers Concluding That we wanted two Guides to put us in our Way which we desir'd them to grant us We enforc'd our Compliment with some Presents that were kindly accepted by the Savages who answer'd us likewise with a Present viz. a Mat which was our Bed during our Voyage They granted us also two Guides to accompany us for some Days The next Day being the 10 th of Iune the two Miamis who were to conduct us imbark'd with us in sight of all the Inhabitants of the Village who cou'd not admire enough that seven Europeans shou'd
there but came accidentally being upon some Expedition They were all Archers very proper goodly Men their Hutts were cover'd with Skins of the wild crook-back Kine which the French call Pesikieus the Spaniards Corcobades or Crook-back'd They convers'd and traffick'd very friendly with the French divers Weeks until an unhappy Accident made a great Breach M. du Salles against the Opinion of the Pilots would adventure the Fly-boat through one of the Breaches into the Lagune apprehending he had found a Chanel of sufficient depth through which he might pass to the Continent But whither the Chanel was too shallow or that they mistook it the Fly-boat was lost and the Frigate drawing little Water escap'd The Indians upon the Island sav'd some small matter of the Wreck which the French would take by force from them They offer'd in exchange Skins and such other Commodities as they had The French when they could get no more took two of their Piroques or large Canow's which being absolutely necessary for them and without which they could not possibly return to the main Land from whence they came occasion'd a Skirmish in which the French lost fifteen Men and the Indians many more M. du Salles being almost distracted not knowing how to find the Mouth of the River took the Frigate divers Boats and Pinnaces together with a hundrâ—d and fifty Men and Provisions for a Month and cross'd the Lagune with an intention to search the Coast till he found the Mouth of the Great River M. Beaujeu waited ten Weeks and heard no Tidings from him it being in the Heat of Summer They wanting Water and Provisions besides abundance of his Men falling sick of Fevers and Bloody-fluxes he departed for France without any News of M. du Salle who after he departed from the Ships rambled some Days in the Lagune and coasted the Main chiefly towards the West which was directly contrary to the Course he should have taken the great River being distant above one hundred Leagues to the East But many believe M. du Salle was guilty of a wilful Mistake for he perswaded his Men That since they could not find the River and were come to the Rivèr of St. Magdalen being the North-Westerly end of the Gulf which was not above two hundred Leagues from the rich Mines of Endehe Santa Barbara la Parale and others in the Province of Saceatecas where the Spaniards are few and not Warlike they could not fail of a rich and easie Booty This Proposition occasion'd a great Division amongst his Men and deadly Feuds One part were ready to comply with his Project others for returning to their Ships a third Party for searching the Continent towards the East till they found the Great River and then return and Pilot the Ship thither and pursue their Instructions of Planting and Trading From Words they came to Blows many were kill'd in the Scuffle and amongst others M. du Salle very treacherously by one of his pretended Friends Upon his Death they divided and took several Courses They that return'd to seek the Ship found it departed and were never heard of since others scatter'd some Easterly some Westerly and Northerly When I receiv'd this Account which was above three Years after this disastrous Expedition not above Six were return'd to Canada and amongst them M. de Salle's Brother So that the Providence of Almighty GOD seems to have reserv'd this Country for the English a Patent whereof was granted above Fifty Years ago to the Lords Proprietors of Carolina who have made great Discoveries therein seven hundred Miles Westerly from the Mountains which separate between it Carolina and Virginia and Six hundred Miles from North to South from the Gulf of Mexico to the great inland Lakes which are situated behind the Mountains of Carolina and Virginia Besides they have an Account of all the Coast from the Cape of Florida to the River Panuco the Northerly Bounds of the Spaniards on the Gulf of Mexico together with most of the chief Harbours Rivers and Islands thereunto appertaining and are abouâ— to establish a very considerable Colony on sâ—â—e part of the great River so soon as they have agreed upon the Boundaries or Limits with the Lords Proprietors of Carolina who claim by a Patent procur'd long after that of Carolina But there being space enough for both and the Proprietors generally inclin'd to an amicable Conclusion the Success of this Undertaking is impatiently expected For considering the Benignity of the Climate the Healthfulness of the Country Fruitfulness of the Soil Ingenuity and Tractableness of the Inhabitants Variety of Productions if prudently manag'd it cannot humanely speaking fail of proving one of the most considerable Colonies on the North-Continent of America profitable to the Publick and the Undertakers POSTSCRIPT I Am inform'd a large Map or Draught of this Country is preparing together with a very particular Account of the Natives their Customs Religion Commodities and Materials for divers sorts of Manufacturers which are by the English procur'd at great Expence from other Countries FINIS * Lille New Converts * Henepin calls it Meschasipi