Account of our Embarkment in Canow's to continue our Discovery from the Bay of Puans to the Miamis on the Lake of the Illinois WE left the Poutouatamis on the 19th of September to continue our Voyage being Fourteen Men in all in four Canow's I had the Conduct of the smallest tho' it carry'd 500 Weight and two Men but my Fellow being newly come from Europe and consequently unskill'd to manage these sort of Boats I had the whole Trouble upon me in any stormy Weather The other four Canow's were laden with a Smith's Forge and Instruments and Tools for Carpenters Joyners and Sawers besides our Goods and Arms. We steer'd to the South toward the Continent from which the Island of the Poutouatamis is near forty Leagues distant but about the middle of the way in the Night-time we were surpriz'd with a sudden Storm whereby we were in great danger The Waves came into our Canow's and the Night was so dark that we had much ado to keep Company together However we got a-shoar the next Day where we continu'd till the Lake grew calm again which was four Days after In the mean time our Savage went a Hunting but could kill nothing but a Porcupine which made our Cittruls and Indian Corn more relishing The Weather being fair we continu'd our Voyage the 25th and row'd all the Day and best part of the Night all along the Western Coast of the Lake of the Illinois but the Wind growing too high for us we thought fit to land upon a Rock where we had nothing to shelter our selves against the Snow and the Rain but our Coverings We continu'd there two Days having made a little Fire with the Wood the Waves did supply us with The 28th we proceeded on our Voyage but the Wind forc'd us towards Night on a Rock cover'd with thick Bushes where we remainâ—d three Days and there made an end of all our Provisions which consisted in Cittruls and Indian Corn we had bought from the Poutouatamis Our Canows were so loaded that we could not provide our selves for a longer time and we expected to find Provisions enough in our way We left that dismal Place the 1st of October and after twelve Leagues rowing tho fasting came to another Village of the Poutouatamis who came upon the Shoar to receive us But M. la Salle would not suffer any one to land lest his Men should run away and notwithstanding the bad Weather we follow'd him three Leagues farther We were in so great danger that he flung himself into the Water with his three Men and carry'd a-shoar their Canow upon their Shoulders for else it had been broken to pieces We were all oblig'd to do the same and by these means sav'd our Canow's and Goods I carry'd upon my Back that good Man Father Gabriel whose great Age did not permit him to venture himself into the Water As we had no manner of Acquaintance with the Savages of the Village near which we landed our Men prepar'd themselves to make a vigorous Defence in case they were attack'd and in order to it possessed our selves of a rising Ground where we could not be surpriz'd and where we might make head against a great number of Savages We sent afterwards three Men to buy Provisions in the Village with the Calumet or Pipe of Peace which the Poutouatamis of the Island stad given us I had forgot to mention that when they made us that Present they observ'd a great many Ceremonies and because that Calumet of Peace is the most sacred Thing amongst the Savages I think fit to describe the same in the next Chapter CHAP. XXIV A Description of the Calumet or Great Pipe THis Calumet is the most mysterious Thing in the World among the Savages of the Continent of the Northern America for it is us'd in all their important Transactions However it is nothing else but a large Tobacco-Pipe made of Red Black or White Marble The Head is finely polish'd and the Quill which is commonly two foot and a half long is made of a pretty strong Reed or Cane adorn'd with Feathers of all Colours interlac'd with Locks of Women's Hair They tie to it two Wings of the most curious Birds they find which makes their Calumet not much unlike Mercury's Wand or that Staff Ambassadors did formerly carry when they went to treat of Peace They sheath that Reed into the neck of Birds they call Huars which are as big as our Geese and spotted with Black and White or else of a fort of Ducks who make their Nests upon Trees tho' Water be their ordinary Element and whose Feathers are of many different Colours However every Nation adorns the Calumet as they think according to their own Genius and the Birds they have in their Country A Pipe such as I have describ'd it is a Pass and safe Conduct amongst all the Allies of the Nation who has given it and in all Embassies the Ambassadors carry that Calumet as the Symbol of Peace which is always respected for the Savages are generally perswaded that a great Misfortune would befal 'em if they violated the Publick Faith of the Calumet All their Enterprizes Declarations of War or Conclusion of Peace as well as all the rest of their Ceremonies are Sealed if I may be permitted to say so with this Calumet They fill that Pipe with the best Tobacco they have and then present it to those with whom they have concluded any great Affair and smoak out of the same after them I had certainly perish'd in my Voyage had it not been for this Calumet or Pipe as the Reader will observe in perusing the following Account Our three Men provided with this Pipe as a Pass and very well Arm'd went to the little Village of the Savages which was about three Leagues from the place where we landed but they found no body therein for the Savages having heard that we had refus'd to land at the other Village thought we were Enemies and therefore had left their Habitation Our Men finding no body in their Cabins took some Indian Corn and left instead of it some Goods to let them see that we were no Robbers nor their Enemies However the Savages to the number of twenty Men arm'd with Axes small Guns Bows and a sort of Club which in their Language they call Break-heads advanc'd near the Place where we stood whereupon M. la Salle with four Men very well Arm'd went toward them to speak with them and desir'd them to come near us for fear as he said a Party of our Men who were gone a Hunting should meet with them and kill them They were perswaded to sit down at the foot of the Eminence where we were posted and M. la Salle spoke to them all the while of the subject matter of his Voyage which he had undertaken for their Good and Advantage as he told them This was only to amuse them till our there Men return'd who appearing with the Calumet of Peace
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
the Fishes call'd Espadons and the Whales their mortal Enemies neither am I to detain my Reader with an account of what vast Quantities of Fish we took at Forty Fathom Water upon the Great Bank of New-found-Land or what great Numbers of Ships we rencounter'd that were bound thither from different Nations to Fish in these Places which afford such infinite Numbers of all manner of Fishes These diverting Sights were very agreeable to all our Crew which was then about an Hundred Men strong to three Fourths of whom I administred the Sacraments they being Catholicks I perform'd likewise Divine Service every Day while the Weather was calm and we sung the Itinerary of the Clergy translated into French Verse after the Evening Prayers Thus we sweetly pass'd our Time a-board 'till at length we arriv'd at Quebec the Capital City of Canada CHAP. II. The Means by which the Author accustom'd himself to endure the Travail and Fatigue of his laborious Mission MR. Francis de Laval Bishop of Petrée having taken possession of the Bishoprick of Quebec which was conferr'd upon him by Pope Clement X. and that contrary to the Sentiments of many Persons of Quality who by means of his Preferment were frustrated of their own Pretensions This Reverend Prelate I say having taken into consideration the Fervency of my Zeal in Preaching the Gospel in my Voyage my assiduous Diligence in performing Divine Service and the Care I had taken to hinder the Young Fellows of our Crew from keeping Loose Company with the Women and Maids that came along with us for which I had oft-times been rewarded with Anger and Hatred these Reasons and such-like procur'd me the Favour and Applause of this Illustrious Prelate he obliging me to Preach in Advent and Lent to the Cloister of St. Augustin in the Hospital of Quebec But in the mean while all this did not satisfie my natural Inclination I us'd oft-times to go some Twenty or Thirty Leagues off the Town to see the Country wearing a little Hood and making use of large Rackets without which I had been in danger of falling headlong over fearful Precipices Sometimes to ease my self a little I made a great Dog I had brought with me drag my little Baggage along that I might arrive the sooner at Trois Rivieres St. Ann and Cape Tourmente Bourgroyal the Point de Levi and at the Island of St. Laurence whither I design'd There I assembled together in one of the largest Cottages of that Country as many People as I could gather after which I admitted them to Confession and to the Holy Communion In the Night-time I had nothing to cover me but a Cloak and sometimes the Frost pierc'd to my very Bones which oblig'd me to make a Fire five or six times in a Night to prevent my freezing to death My Commons also wâ—re very short scarce more than to keep me from starving In the Summer-season I was oblig'd in the continuance of my Mission to travel by Canou's that is a sort of little Boats which I shall describe hereafter that they make use of in Lakes and Rivers Which sort of Contrivance succeeded well enough where the Water was shallow or about two or three Foot deep But when we came to any deeper Place then the Boat which was round underneath was in danger of over-turning insomuch that I had certainly perish'd in the Water had not I taken a circumspect Care of my self However I found my self oblig'd to travel after this manner for there were no passable Roads in this Country it being imposbleto travel over-land in these new Colonies because of that infinite number of Trees and Woods that replenish them on all sides which must needs be cut down or burn'd before any practicable Way be made CHAP. III. A Description of those Canou's thâ—t they make use of in the Summer-time in America to waft them along the Country THese Canou's are round underneath as I said but now and pointed at the two ends not unlike the Venetian Gondals without them it were impossible to travel in America for the Country is full of vast and wide-extended Forrests Besides the impetuous Winds sometimes pluck up the Trees by the Roots and Time it self renverses great numbers of 'em which tumbling down through Age are hudled so one above another that the Ways are totally embarass'd and render'd impracticable The Savage Natives are very ingenious in making these Canou's They make them of the Rinds of Birch-Trees which they pull very neatly off that sort of Trees they being considerably bigger than those of Europe They betake themselves to this Work generally about the end of Winter in the vast Forests that lie towards the Northern Parts of these Countries For supporting this Bark they line it within with Ribs or pieces of common Wood or Cedar about four Fingers broad this they furbish up with small Poles made smooth that make the circumference of the Canou then by other Poles going a-cross about an Inch or an Inch and a half thick which are very smoothly polish'd these they join on both sides to the Bark by small Roots of Trees cloven in two not much unlike the Willows that we make our Baskets of in Europe These Canou's have no Rudder as the bigger Shallops have for they conduct them meerly by the force of their Arms with some small Oars and can turn them with an incredible swiftness and direct them whither they list Those that are accustom'd to manage them can make 'em go at a wonderful rate even in calm Weather but when the Wind is favourable they are expedite to a Miracle for they then make use of little Sails made of the same Bark but thinner than that of the Canou's As for the Europeans that by long usage come to be well vers'd in this sort of Tackling thâ—y make use of about four Ells of Linnen-cloth hoisted up on a little Mast the foot of which is receiv'd by a Hole made in a square piece of light Wood that is fastned betwixt the Ribs and the Bark of the Canou's towards the bottom Those that are well skill'd in managing these Canou's may run Thirty or Thirty five Leagues in a Day upon Rivers and sometimes more in Lakes if the Wind be favourable But some of 'em are much bigger than others They carry generally about a Thousand pound weight some Twelve hundred and the biggest not more than Fifteen hundred pound The least of 'em may carry Three or four hundred pound weight together with two Men or Women to steer them along But the Greater must have Three or Four Men to manage them and sometimes when Business requires expedition Seven or Eight to quicken their pace CHAP. IV. Other Motives that induc'd the Author more forcibly to undertake this Discovery I Was passionately zealous in imitation of many Priests of my Order for enlarging the Limits of Christianity and converting the barbarous Americans to the Belief of the Gospel and in pursuance of that
in another Order of which he had disingag'd himself by Consent of the General who in the Act of his Dismission under his own Hand gives this Noble Character of him That he had liv'd amongst the Monks of his Order without giving the least suspicion of Venial Sin These are the very Words of the Act having perus'd it my self He likewise told me That being perswaded that we might be very useful to him in his Designs he was resolv'd to do something in favour of our Order and having call'd us together on the 27th of May 1679. he acquainted us That being Proprietary and Governour of Fort Frontenac he would order in his Will That no other Religious Order but ours should he suffer'd to settle themselves near the Fort he afterwards mark'd out a Church-yard and having created a Publick Notary he order'd him to draw up an Instrument whereby the said M. la Salle gave to our Order the Property of Eighteen Acres of Ground along the side of the Lake Ontario near the Fort and above a Hundred Acres more in the next Forest to be clear'd and grubb'd up We accepted this Gift in the Name of our Order and sign'd the Deed which was the first that ever was transacted in that Country The Notary's Name was la Meterie This being done he desir'd those Franciscans that were to come with me to prepare themselves for their Voyage but the Wind being against us we had a sufficient time for it and to take our Measures concerning our dangerous Mission We made frequent Visits to the Savages whom we had perswaded to settle themselves near the Fort who together with their Children whom we had taught to Read and Write lamented much our Departure and assur'd us That if we did return in a short time they would perswade the rest of the Inhabitants of the Village of Ganeousse to come and settle themselves in the Neighbourhood of the Fort. CHAP. XVIII An Account of our Second Embarkment from Fort Frontenac AFter some few Days the Wind presenting fair Fathers Gabriel Zenobe and I went on board the Brigantine and in a short time arriv'd in the River of the Tsonnontouans which runs into the Lake Ontario where we continu'd several Days our Men being very busie in bartering their Commodities with the Natives who flock'd in great numbers about us to see oâ—r Brigantine which they admir'd and to exchange their Skins for Knives Guns Powder and Shot but especially for Brandy which they love above all things In the mean time we had built a small Cabin of Barks of Trees about half a League in the Woods to perform Divine Service without interruption and waited till all our Men had done their Business M. la Salle arriv'd in a Canow about eight Days after he had taken his course by the Southern Coast of the Lake to go to the Village of the Tsonnontouans to whom he made several Presents to engage them in our Interest and remove the Jealousie they had conceiv'd of our Untertaking through the Suggestions of our Enemies All these Impediments retarded us so long that we could not reach the River Niagara before the 30th of Iuly On the 4th of the said Month I went over-land to the Fall of Niagara with a Serjeant call'd la Fleur and thence to our Dock within six Leagues of the Lake Ontario but we did not find there the Ship we had built And met with a new Misfortune for two young Savages robb'd us of the Bisket we had for our subsistence which reduc'd us to a great Extremity We found at last a half-rotten Canow without Oars which we mended as well as we could and having made an Oar we ventur'd our selves in that weak and shatter'd Canow and went up the Streight to look for our Ship which we found riding within a League of the pleasant Lake Erie We were very kindly receiv'd and likewise very glad to find our Ship well Rigg'd and ready fitted out with all the Necessaries for Sailing She carry'd Five small Guns two whereof were Brass and three Harquebuze a-crock The Beak-head was adorn'd with a Flying Griffin and an Eagle above it and the rest of the Ship had the same Ornaments as Men of War use to have The Iroquois were then returning from a Warlike Expedition with several Slaves and were much surpriz'd to see so big a Ship which they compar'd to a Fortt beyond their limits Several came on board and seem'd to admire above all things the bigness of our Anchors for they could not apprehend how we had been able to bring them through the rapid Currents of the River St. Laurence This oblig'd them to use often the Word Gannorom which in their Language signifies That is wonderful They wonder'd also to find there a Ship having seen none when they went and did not know from whence it came it being about 250 Leagues from Canada Having forbid the Pilot to attempt to fail up the Currents of the Streight till farther order we return'd the 16th and 17th to the Lake Ontario and brought up our Bark to the great Rock of Niagara and anchor'd at the foot of the Three Mountains where we were oblig'd to make our Portage that is to carry over-land our Canow's and Provisions and other Things above the great Fall of the River which interrupts the Navigation And because most of the Rivers of that Country are interrupted with great Rocks and that therefore those who sail upon the same are oblig'd to go over-land above those Falls and carry upon their Backs their Canow's and other Things they express it with this Word To make oâ—â— Portage of which the Reader is desir'd to take notice for otherwise the following Account as well as the Map would be unintelligible to many Father Gabriel tho' of Sixty five Years of Age bore with great Vigour the Fatigue of that Voyage and went thrice up and down those three Mountains which are pretty high and steep Our Men had a great deal of trouble for they were oblig'd to make several Turnings to carry the Provisions and Ammunition and the Portage was two Leagues long Our Anchors were so big that four Men had much ado to carry one but the Brandy we gave them was such an Encouragement that they surmounted cheerfully all the Difficulties of that Journey and so we got on board our Ship all our Provisions Ammunition and Commodities While we continu'd there M. la Salle told me That he understood by some of our Men that I very much blam'd the Intrigues of some Monks of Canada with the Iroquois and their Neighbours of New-York and New-Orange which oblig'd me to tell in his presence my Brethren the Franciscans That I perceiv'd that M. la Salle would surprize me and oblige me to revile some Persons whom he represented as Traders and Merchants and then abating somewhat of my Tone I concluded That notwithstanding the false Reports that had been made to him I would entertain a good Opinion of those
the Savages made a great Shout and rose and began to dance We made them some Excuse because of our Men having taken some of their Corn and told them they had left the true Value of it in Goods which they took so well that they sentimmediately for more and gave us the next Day as much as we could conveniently carry in our Canow's They retir'd towards the Evening and M. la Salle order'd some Trees to be cut down and laid cross the way to prevent any Surprize from the Savages The next Morning about ten a Clock the Oldest of them came to us with their Calumet of Peace and entertain'd us with some Wild-Goats they had taken We return'd them our Thanks and presented them with some Axes Knives and several little Toys for their Wives with which they were very much pleas'd CHAP. XXV A Continuation of our Discovery with an Account of our Navigation to the farther End of the Lake of the Illinois in our Canow's WE left that Place the 2d of October and continu'd our Voyage all along the Coast of the Lake which is so steep that we could hardly find any Place to land and the Violence of the Wind oblig'd us to carry our Canow's sometimes on the top of the Rocks to prevent their being dash'd in pieces by the Waves The stormy Weather lasted four Days during which we suffer'd very much for every time we went a-shoar we were forc'd to step into the Water and carry our Canow's upon our Shoulders and to do the like when we embark'd again The Water being very cold most of us were sick and our Provisions fail'd us again which together with the Fatigues of Rowing caus'd old Father Gabriel to faint away in such a manner that I verily thought he could not live however I brought him again to his Senses by means of some Confection of Hyacinth which I found very useful in our Voyage We had no other Subsistence but a handful of Indian Corn once every four and twenty Hours which we roasted or else boyled in Water and yet we rowed almost every Day from the Morning till Night Our Men found some Hawthorn-Berries and other wild Fruit which they ate so greedily that most of them fell sick and were thought to be poison'd yet the more we sufferâ—d the more by the Grace of God I was strong and vigorous so that I could out-row all our other Canow's Being in that distress He that takes care of the meanest Creatures afforded us an unexpected Relief We saw upon the Coast a great many Ravens and Eagles from whence we conjectur'd that there was a Prey and having landed on that Place we found above the half of a fat Wild-Goat which the Wolves had strangled This Provision was very acceptable to us and the rudest of our Men could not but praise the Divine Pâ—ovidence who took so particular a care of us Having thus refresh'd our selves we continu'd our Voyage directly to the Southern Parts of the Lake finding every day the Country finer and the Weather more temperate On the 16th of October we met with abundance of Game Our Savage kill'd several Staggs and Wild-Goats and our Men a grâ—at many Turkey-Cocks very fat and big wherewith we provided our selves for several Days and so embark'd again On the 18th we came to the farther end of the Lake where we landed Our Men were immediately sent to view the Country round about that Place and found a great quantity of ripe Grapes the Corns whereof were as big as Damask-Plums We fell'd several Trees to gather them and made pretty good Wine which we kept in Gourds and bury'd in Sand to prevent its growing sour All the Trees in that Country are loaded with Vines which if cultivated would make as good Wine as any in Europe That Fruit was more relishing to us than Flesh because we wanted Bread Our Men discover'd some fresh Prints of Men's Feet which oblig'd us to stand upon our Guard without making any noise till we had rested some time That Order was not long observ'd for one of our Men having espy'd a Bear upon a Tree shot him down dead and dragg'd him to our Cabins M. la Salle was very angry with him and to avoid any Surprize put a Sentinel near our Canow's under which we had put our Goods to shelter 'em from the Rain There were sixscore Savages of the Nation of the Outtouagamis inhabiting the Bay of Puans encamp'd not far from us who having heard the Noise our Man had made took the Alarm and sent some of our Men to discover who we were These creeping upon their Bellies and observing a great Silence came in the Night to our Canow's and stole away the Coat of M. la Salle's Footman and part of the Goods that were under it But the Sentinel having heard some noise call'd us and every body run to his Arms. The Savages being discover'd and thinking we were more numerous cry'd That they were Friends but we answer'd them That Friends did not come in so unseasonable Hours and that they look'd rather like Robbers who design'd to murther us Their Captain reply'd That having heard the noise of a Gun and knowing that none of their Neighbours use Fire-Arms they thought we were a Party of Iroquois and were come with a Design to murther them but thâ—t understanding we were some Europeans of Canada whom they lov'd as their Brethren they could hardly wait till Day to visit us and smoak in our Calumet or large Pipe This is the usual Compliment of the Savages and the greatest Mark they can give of their Affection We seem'd to be satisfy'd with their Reasons and gave leave to four of them only to come to us telling them that we would not suffer a greater number because their Youth was addicted to Steal and that our Men could not suffer it Four Old Men came to us whom we entertain'd till Day and then they retir'd After they were gone we found we had been robb'd and knowing the Genius of the Savages and that if we did suffer this Affront we should be expos'd every Night to their Insults it was resolv'd to exact Satisfaction from them Accordingly M. la Salle went abroad with some of our Men to endeavour to make some Prisoners and having discover'd one of their Hunters he seiz'd him and examin'd him concerning the Robbery they had committed He confess'd the Fact with all the Circumstances whereupon he left him to the custody of two Men and advancing farther into the Country took another whom he brought along with him and having shew'd him his Companion sent him back to tell their Captain That he would kill him unless they return'd what they had robb'd CHAP. XXVI An Account of â—he Peace made between us and the Outtouagamis THe Savages were mightily puzzl'd at the Message sent by M. la Salle for having cut in pieces the Coat and other Goods they had stoll'n and divided the Buttons they could not make a full
in our Convent of Bethune in the Province of â—rtois and therefore I had so great a Respect â—or him that I yielded to his Advice and consider'd that since a Man of his Age had ventur'd to come along witâ— me in so dangerous a Mission it would look as Pusilanimity in me to return and leave him That Father had left a very good Estate being Heir of a Noble Family of the Province of Burgundy and I must own that his Example reviv'd my Courage upon several Occasions M. la Salle was mightily pleas'd when I told him I was resolv'd to go notwithstanding my Indisposition He embrac'd me and gave me a Calumet of Peace and two Men to manage our Canow whose Names were Anthony Auguel sirnam'd the Picard du Gay and Mitchel Ako of the Province of Poictou to whom he gave some Commodities to the value of about 1000 Livres to trade with the Savages or make Presents He gave to me in particular and for my own use ten Knives twelve Shoemaker's Auls or Bodkins a small Roll of Tobacco from Martinico about two Pounds of Rassade that is to say Little Pearls or Rings of colour'd Glass wherewith the Savages make Bracelets and other Works and a small Parcel of Needles to give to the Savages telling me that he would have given me a greater quantity if it had been in his Power The Reader may judge by these Particulars of the rest of my Equipage for so great an Undertaking however relying my self on the Providence of God I took my leave of M. la Salle and imbrac'd all our Men receiving the Blessing of Father Gabriel who told me several Things to inspire me with Courage concluding his Exhortation by these Words of the Scripture Viriliter ageâ— confortetur Cor tuum M. la Salle set out few Days after for Canada with three Men without any Provisions but what they killd in their Voyage during which they suffer'd very much by reason of the Snow Hunger and Cold Weather CHAP. XXXVI The Author sets out from Fort Crevecoeur to continue his Voyage WHosoever will consider the Dangers to which I was going to expose my self in an unknown Country where no European had travell'd before and amongst some Savages whose Language I did not understand will not blame the Reluctancy I expressed against that Voyage I had such an Idea of it that neither the fair Words or Threats of M. la Salle wou'd have been able to engage me to venture my Life so rashly had I not felt within my self a secret but strong Assurance if I may use that Word that God would help and prosper my Undertaking We set out from Fort Crevecoeur on the 29th of February 1680 and as we fell down the River we met with several Companies of Savages who return'd to their Habitations with their Pirogues or Wooden-Canow's loaded with the Oxen they had kill'd they wou'd fain persuade us to return with them and the two Men who were with me were very willing to follow their Advice telling me That M. la Salle had as good to have murther'd us But I oppos'd their Design and told them that the rest of our Men wou'd stop them as they shou'd come by the Fort if they offer'd to return and so we continu'd our Voyage They confess'd to me the next Day that they had resolv'd to leave me with the Savages and make their Escape with the Canow and Commodities thinking that there was no Sin in that since M. la Salle was owing to them a great deal more than their value and that I had been very safe This was the first Discouragement I met with and the Forerunner of a great many others The River of the Illinois is very near as deep and broad as the Meuse and Sambre before Namur but we found some Places where 't is about a quarter of a League broad The Banks of the River are not even but interrupted with Hills dispos'd almost at an equal distance and cover'd with fine Trees The Valley between them is a Marshy Ground which is overflow'd after great Rains especially in the Autumn and the Spring We had the Curiosity to go up one of those Hills from whence we discover'd vast Meadows with Forests just as we had seen before we arriv'd at the Village of the Illinois The River flows so softly that the Current is hardly perceptible except when it swells But it will carry at all times great Barks for above 100 Leagues that is from thâ— said Village to its Mouth It runs directly to the South-West On the 7th of March we met within two Leagues from the River Meschasipi a Nation of the Savages call'd Tamaroa or Maroa consisting of about 200 Families They design'd to bring us along with them to their Village which lies to the West of Meschasipi about seven Leagues from the Mouth of the River of the Illinois but my Men follow'd my Advice and wou'd not stop in hopes to exchange their Commodities with more Advantage in a more remote place Our Resolution was very good for I don't question but they wouâ—d have robb'd us for seeing we had some Arms they thought we were going to carry them to their Enemies They pursu'd us in their Pyrogues or Wooden-Canow's but ours being only of Bark of Birch-Trees and consequently ten times lighter than theirs and better fram'd we laught at their Endeavours and got clear of them They had sent a Party of their Warriors to lie in Ambuscade on a Neck of Land advancing into the River where they thought we shou'd pass that Evening or the next Morning but having discover'd some Smoak on that Point we spoil'd their Design and therefore cross'd the River and landed in a small Island near the other side where we lay all the Night leaving our Canow in the Water under the Guard of a little Dog who doubtless wou'd have awak'd us if any body had offer'd to come near him as we expected the Savages might attempt it swimming over in the Night but no body came to disturb us Having thus avoided those Savages we came to the Mouth of the River of the Illinois distant from their great Village about 100 Leagues and 50 from Fort Crevecoeur It falls into the Meschasipi between the 35th and 36th Degrees of Latitude and within 120 or 130 Leagues from the Gulph of Mexico according to our Conjecture without including the Turnings and Windings of the Meschasipi from thence to the Sea The Angle between the two Rivers on the South-side is a steep Rock of forty Foot high and flat on the Top and consequently a fit Place tobuild a Fort and on the other side of the River the Ground appears blackish from whence I judge that it would prove fertil and afford two Crops every Year for the subsistence of a Colony The Soil looks as if it had been already manur'd The Ice which came down from the Source of the Meschasipi stopp'd us in that Place till the 12th of March for we were
obliging People and the Chief of the Koroa attended us to his Village which is situated about ten Leagues lower upon the River in a fertile Soil which produces abundance of Indian Corn and other things necessary for Life We presented them with three Axes six Knives seven Yards of good Tobacco several Awls and Needles They receiv'd our Presents with great Shouts and their Chief presented us with a Calumet of Peace of red Marble the Quill whereof was adorn'd with Feathers of five or six sorts of Birds They gave us also a Noble Treat according to their own way which I lik'd very well and after we had din'd the Chief of that Nation understanding by our Signs which way we were bound took a Stick and made such Demonstrations that we understood that we had not above seven Days journey to the Sea which he represented as a great Lake with large wooden Canow's The next Day we prepar'd to continue our Voyage but they made such Signs to oblige us to stay a Day or two longer that I was almost perswaded to do it but seeing the Weather so favourable for our Journey we embark'd again The Chief of that Nation seeing we were resolv'd to be gone sent several Men in two Pyrogues to attend us to the Mouth of the River with Provisions but when I saw that the three Chikacha of whom I have spoken follow'd us every-where I bid my Men to have care of them and observe their Motions upon our landing for fear of any Surprize It was then Easter-Day which we kept with great Devotion tho' we could not say Mass for want of Wine but we spent all the Day in Prayers in sight of the Savages who wonder'd much at it The Meschasipi divides it self six Leagues below the Villages of the Koroa into two Branches forming an Island about sixty Leagues long according to our best Observation The Koroa oblig'd us to follow the Canal to the Westward tho' the Chikacha who were in their Pyrogues endeavour'd to perswade me to take the other But as we had some suspicion of them we refus'd to follow their Advice tho' I was afterwards convinc'd that they design'd only to have the Honour to bring us to several Nations on the other Bank of the River whom we visited in our return We lost quickly the Company of our Savages for the Stream being very rapid in this Place they could not follow us in their Pyrogues which are very heavy We made that Day near forty Leagues and landed in the Evening upon the Island where we pitch'd our Cabin The 24th we continu'd our Voyage and about five and thirty Leagues below the Place we had lain we discover'd two Fishermen who immediately ran away We heard some time after a great Cry and the Noise of a Drum but as we suspected the Chikacha we kept in the middle of the River rowing as fast as we could This was the Nation of Quinipissa as we understood since We landed that Night in a Village belonging to the Nation of Tangibac as we have been inform'd but the Inhabitants had been surpriz'd by their Enemies for we found ten of them murther'd in their Cabins which oblig'd us to embark again and cross the River where we landed and having made a Fire roasted our Indian Corn. The 25th we left the Place early in the Morning and after having row'd the best part of the Day came to a point where the Mechasipi divides it self into three Canals We took the middle one which is very broad and deep The Water began there to taste brackish but four Leagues lower it was as salt as the Sea We rowed about for Leagues farther and discover'd the Sea which oblig'd us to go a-shoar to the Eastward of the River CHAP. XXXIX Reasons which oblig'd us to return towards the Source of the River Meschasipi without going any farther toward the Sea MY two Men were very much afraid of the Spaniards of New Mexico who inhabit to the Westward of this River and they were perpetually telling me That if they were taken the Spaniards would never spare their Lives or at least give them the Liberty to return into Europe I knew their Fears were not altogether unreasonable and therefore I resolv'd to go no farther tho' I had no reason to be afraid for my self our Order being so numerous in New Mexico that on that contrary I might expected to have had in that Country a peaceable and easie Life I don't pretend to be a Mathematician but having learn'd to take the Elevation of the Pole and make use of the Astrolabe I might have made some exact Observations had M. la Salle trusted me with that Instrument However I observ'd that the Meschasipi falls into the Gulph of Mexico between the 27th and 28th Degrees of Latitude where as I believe our Maps mark a River call'd Rio Escondido the Hidden River The Magdalen River runs between this River and the Mines of St. Barbe in New Mexico The Mouth of the Meschasipi may be about thirty Leagues from Rio Bravâ— sixty from Palmas and eighty or a hundred from Rio Panuco the nearest Habitation of the Spaniards and according to these Observations the Bay di Spirito Sancto lies to the North-East of the Meschasipi which from the Mouth of the River of the Illinois to the Sea runs directly to the South or South-West except in its windings and turnings which are so great that by our computation there are about 340 Leagues from the River of the Illinois to the Sea whereas there are not above 150 in a direct Line The Meschasipi is very deep without being interrupted by any Sands so that the biggest Ships may come into it It s Course from its Source to the Sea may be 800 Leagues including Windings and Turnings as I shall observe anon having travell'd from its Mouth to its Head My Men were very glad of this Discovery and to have escap'd so many Dangers but on the other hand they express'd a great deal of Dissatisfaction to have been at such trouble without making any Profit having found no Furrs to exchange for their Commodities They were so impatient to return that they would never suffer me to build a Cabin upon the Shoar and continue there for some Days the better to obseâ—ve where we were They squar'd a Tree of twelve foot high and made a Cross thereof which we erected in that Place leaving there a Letter sign'd by me and my two Men containing an account of our Voyage of our Country and Profession We kneel'd then near the Cross and having sung the Vexilla Regis and some other Hymns embark'd again on the 1st of April to return towards the Source of the River We saw no body while we continu'd there and therefore cannot tell whether any Natives inhabit that Coast We lay during the time we remain'd a-shoar under our Canow's supported with four Foâ—ks and the better to protect us against the Rain we had some Rolls of Birch-Bark
well as my own that therefore I ran the same Risque as they but that no Danger was great enough to justifie me in the dispensing with my Duty In fine the Barbarians understood by the Word Ouackanche that the Book in which I read was an Evil Spirit as I afterwards understood by being amongst them However I then knew by their Gestures that they had an aversion for it Wherefore to use them to it by degrees I was wont to sing the Litanies as we were upon the Way holding the Book in my Hand They fondly believ'd my Breviary was a Spirit which taught me to sing thus thus for their Diversion All these People naturally love Singing CHAP. XLVII The many Outrages done us by the Savages before we arriv'd in their Country They frequently design against our Lives THE many Outrages which were done us by these Barbarians thro' the whole Course of our Voyage are not to be imagin'd Our Canow was both bigger and heavier laden than Theirs They seldom â—arry any thing but a Quiver full of Arrows a Bow and some sorry Skin or other which usually serves two of them for a Coverlet The Nights were sharp as yet for the Season by reason of our advancing still Northwards so that at Night 't was necessary to keep our selves as warm as we cou'd Our Conductors observing that we did not make so much Way as themselves order'd three of their Warriors to go aboard us One seated himself on my Left the other two behind the Men to help them to row that we might make the more haste The Barbarians sometimes row no less than thirty Leagues a Day when they are in haste to take the Field and design to surprize their Enemies Those who took us were of divers Villages and as much divided in their Sentiments in regard of us Every Evening 't was our peculiar Care to plant our Cabin near the young Chief who had taken Tobacco in our Pipe of Peace signifying to him thereby that we put our selves under his Protection This we did by reason of the Divisions which reign'd among the Savages Aquipaguelin one of their Cheifs who had a Son kill'd by the Miamis finding he cou'd not revenge himself of that Nation thought of venting his Passion upon us Every Night wou'd he bewail his Son whom he had lost in the War thinking thereby to stir up those of his Band to revenge his Death kill us seize our Effects and after that pursue the Miamis But the other Savages who were very fond of European Commodities thought it more adviseable to protect us that other Europeans might be encourag'd to come amongst them They chiefly desir'd Guns upon which they set the highest value having seen the use of them upon one of our Canow-Men's killing three or four Bustards or Wild-Turkeys at one single Discharge of his Fusil whereas they cou'd not kill above one at a time with their Bows We have understood by them since that the Words Manza Ouakanché signifie Iron possest by an Evil Spirit So they call the Fusil which breaks a Man's Bones whereas their Arrows glide only between the Flesh and the Muscles which they pierce without breaking the Bone very seldom at least For which reason it is that these People do much â—asier cure the Wounds which are made by the Arrow or Dart than those of the Fusil When we were first taken by the Barbarians we were got about an hundred and fifty Leagues up the River from that of the Illinois We row'd afterwards in their Company for nineteen Days together sometimes North sometimes North-East as we judg'd by the Quarters from whence the Wind blew and according to the best Observations we cou'd make by our Compass So that after these Barbarians had forc'd us to follow themâ— we made more than two hundred and fifty Leagues upon that same River The Savages are of an extraordinary force in a Canow They 'll row from Morning to Night without resting or hardly allowing themselves so much time as to eat their Victuals To oblige us to follow them the faster there were usually four or five of their Men a-board us for our Canow was larger and deeper loaden than theirs so that we had need of their Assistance to be able to keep 'em company When it rain'd we set up our Cabins but when 't was fair the Heavens were our Canopy By this means we had leisure of taking our Observations from the Moon and the Stars when it was clear Notwithstanding the fatigue of the Day the youngest of the Warriors went at Night and danc'd the Reed before four or five of their Captains till midnight The Captain to whose Quarter they went sent with a deal of Ceremony to those that Danc'd a Warrior of his own Family to make them Smoak one after another in his own Reed of War which is distinguish'd from that of Peace by its Feathers This sort of Ceremony is always concluded by the two Youngest of those who have had any Relations kill'd in the Wars These take several Arrows and laying them a-cross at the point present them in that manner to their Captains weeping very bitterly who notwithstanding the excess of theit Sorrow return them back to be kiss'd In short neither the Fatigues of the Day nor Watchings are sufficient to prevail with the Elders so much as to shut their Eyes most of them watching till almost break of Day for fear of being surpriz'd by their Enemies As soon as the Morning appears one of them sets up the ordinary Cry when in a moment the Warriors are all in their Canow's Some are sent to encompass the Islands and see what Game they can meet with whilst others more swift go by Land to discover by the Smoak the Place where the Enemies lie CHAP. XLVIII The Advantages which the Savages of the North have over those of the South in relation to the War As also the Ceremony which was perform'd by one of our Captains having caus'd us to halt at Noon WHen the Savages of the North are at War 't is their custom to post themselves upon the point of some one of those many Islands of which this River is full where they look upon themselves to be always safe Those of the South who are their Enemies have nothing but Pyrogues or Canow's of Wood with which they cannot go very fast because of their weight None but the Northern Nations have Birch to make Canow's of Bark The People of the South are depriv'd of this Advantage whereas those of the North can with an admirable facility pass from Lake to Lake and River to River to attack their Enemy Nay when they are discover'd they value it not provided they have time to recover their Canow's for 't is impossible for those who pursue them either by Land or in the Pyrogues to do it with any success As to what relates to Ambuscades no Nation in the World comes near those Northern Savaâ—es being patient of Hunger and the
Hans which signifies Iohn One of these Travellers cross'd that River swimming with a Hatchet on his Back another follow'd him presently and being both on the other side they fell'd great Trees whilst the others did the same on the opposite side These Trees falling on both sides a-cross the River met about the middle of it and form'd a sort of Bridge which made an easie Passage from one side to the other This is an Invention they have us'd above thirty times to cross the Rivers they met in their way which seem'd more secure than that of the Cajeux which are a sort of Float-boat made of several Branches of Trees fastned together which they shove with a Pole in the crossing of a River 'T was in this Place that the Sieur la Salle chang'd his Course from the North-East to the East for some Reasons he never told and which his Companions could never guess at He had done a great deal better not to have been so reserv'd with them and would have prevented a great many Misfortunes especially being in a Country where Europeans can find no help After some Days march through a pretty sort of Country wherein however they were forc'd to cross many great Brooks with Cajeux they entred a Country far more agreeable and pleasant where they found a numerous Nation who entertain'd them with all Demonstrations of Kindness The Women were so forward as to embrace the Men that were with the Sieur la Salle and causing them to sit on very fine Matts they plac'd them on the upper end near the Captains who presented them the Calumet or Pipe of Peace adorn'd with Feathers of several Colours and made them smoak with it in their turn They regal'd them amongst other things with a Sagamite or Potage made with a certain Root which they call Tique or Toquo This is a Shrub resembling a Briar without Prickles having a very great Root which being well wash'd and dry'd up is afterwards pounded and reduc'd to Pouder in a Mortar The Potage these People make with it is well tasted but a little astringent Those Savages presented them with Hides of Wild Bulls well dress'd and soft and fit to make Shoes which are very necessary in those Parts to keep one's feet against some cutting Weeds that grow there and in return they gave them some black Beads which are in great esteem among them They stay'd some few Days among that Nation during which the Sieur la Salle with his insinuating way gave them great Ideas of the Grandeur and Glory of the King his Master giving them to understand that he was greater and higher than the Sun which ravish'd those Barbarians in Admiration The Sieur Cavelier a Priest and Father Anastasius us'd all their Endeavours to give them the First Notions of the True GOD. This Nation is call'd Biskatronge but the Europeans call'd them the Nations of the Weepers and gave the same Name to their River which is very fine The reason of it is that at their arrival those People fell a-crying most bitterly for a quarter of an Hour This is their Custom whenever there comes any Strangers afar off amongst them because their arrival puts them in mind of their deceas'd Relations which they imagin to be upon a great Journey and whose return they expect every hour At last those good People gave Guides to the Sieur la Salle furnish'd his Men with all Necessaries and ferry'd them over their River in their Canows They cross'd three or four other Rivers the following Days during which there hapned nothing considerable save that their Savage of Chaouen having made a shoot at a Roe-buck near a great Village the report of the Gun so alarm'd the Inhabitants that they abandon'd their Houses and ran away The Sieur la Salle commanded his Men to their Arms in order to enter the Village in which were above a hundred Hutts They went into the fairest of all which was that of the Chief Captain where his Wife happen'd to be still not having been able to follow the rest because of her old Age. They Sieur la Salle gave her to understand that he and his Men came amongst them like Friends Three of her Sons who were stout Men observ'd what past at a distance and when they saw that things were carry'd on amicably and no Hostilities committed they recall'd all their People and began to treat of Peace which done they danc'd with the Calumet till Night The Sieur la Salle not trusting too much to all this fair show encamp'd beyond the Reeds that were in that Place that if in case those Barbarians design'd to give him any disturbance by Night the noise of the Reeds might give him notice of their approach This was found to be no small piece of Wisdom for a Troop of Warriours arm'd with Bows and Arrows made towards them in the Night but the Sieur la Salle without going out of his Intrenchments threatned to make a discharge upon them and spoke to them with so much Resolution that he oblig'd them to retire The remainder of the Night past very quietly and the next Day after many reciprocal Demonstrations of Kindness at least in appearance from the Savages they continu'd their March five or six Leagues beyond that Place They were wonderfully surpriz'd to find a Troop of Savages who with a kind and civil look came to meet them with Ears of Indian Corn in their Hands They embrac'd the Sieur la Salle and his Men after their own way and invited them very pressingly to their Villages They Sieur la Salle seeing their Frankness consented to go along with them These Savages gave him to understand that there were cruel and wicked Men towards the West who destroy'd the Nations round about them Father Anastasius conjectures that they meant the Spaniards of the New Mexico for no doubt but M. la Salle told him so These Barbarians then made them understand that they had War with those People It being nois'd all over that Town that M. la Salle was arriv'd with his Men every one strove to make them welcome and to press them to stay and join with them in War against those pretended Spaniards of Mexico M. la Salle amus'd them with Words and with the hope of making a strict Alliance with those People who are call'd Kirononas He promis'd to come to them again very soon with more numerous Troops And so after all this Feasting and an interchange of Presents the Wild Men helped them to pass over the River in their Pyrogues While M. de la Salle continu'd his Journey Eastwards through fair and pleasant Meadows after three Day 's march he was for some time retarded by an unlucky Accident His wild Huntsman whose Name was Nikana cry'd out aloud on a sudden that he was a dead Man and they running to him understood that he had been severely bitten by a Rattle-snake They made him take some Oâ—vietan-Pouder and having scarify'd the Wound to draw out
find the Habitation of the Savages This Undertaking was very bold yet relying upon God Almighty we went on and within 10 Leagues from thence discover'd a Village on the Banks of a River and two other Villages on a Hill within half a League from the former Having again implor'd God's Protection we advanc'd so near to the Savages that we cou'd hear them talk and therefore thought it was time to give them notice of our Arrival which we did with a loud Cry and then stopp'd The Savages immediately came out of their Cabins and seeing but two Men they were not frighted and especially because we had acquainted them by our Cry with our Approach therefore they sent four of their Old Men to talk to us and see who we were and what Business we came upon They carry'd two Pipes adorn'd with Feathers of several Colours which they presented to the Sun without speaking a Word They march'd so slowly that we began to be impatient and when they came near us they stopp'd and us'd many Ceremonies We were very glad to see them cover'd with Cloth for thereby we judg'd they were either our Allies or Friends of our Allies and therefore I spoke to them and ask'd them who they were They answer'd that they were Illinois and presented us their Pipe to smoak desiring us also to walk to their Habitation Those Pipes are call'd both by the Savages and Europeans Calumets and therefore I shall make use of their Word for the future having often occasion to mention these Pipes They conducted us to a Cabin where an Old Man waited for us in a very extraordinary Posture which as I understand since is the usual Ceremony they use for the reception of Strangers This Man stood before the Cabin having both his Hands lifted up to Heaven opposite to the Sun insomuch that it darted its Rays thro' his Fingers upon his Face and when we came near him he told us What a fair Day this is since thou comest to visit us All our People wait for thee and thou shalt enter our Cabin in Peace Having repeated the Compliment to M. Ioliet he conducted us into his Cabin where abundance of People crowded to see us keeping however a great Silence that we heard nothing a great while but now and then these Words You have done well Brothers to come and see us As soon as we sat down they presented us according to Custom their Calumet which one must needs accept for else he shou'd be lookt upon as an open Enemy or a meer Brute however it is not necessary to smoak and provided one puts it to his Mouth it is enough While the Old Man smoak'd in our Cabin to entertain us the Great Captain of the Illinois sent us word to come to his Village where he design'd to confer with us and accordingly we went to him being attended by all the Inhabitants of this Village who having never seen any Europeans before accompany'd us all the Way We met that Captain at the Door of his Cabin in the middle of Ten Old Men all of them were standing and each had his Calumet towards the Sun He made us a short Speech to congratulate our happy Arrival in that Country and presented us his Calumet wherein we were oblig'd to smoak before we went into his Cabin This Ceremony being over he conducted us and desir'd us to sit down upon a Mat and the Old Men of that Nation being present I thought fit to acquaint them with the Subject of our Voyage and therefore I told them 1. That we design'd to visit all Nations that were on that River down to the Sea 2. That God Almighty their Creator took pity on them and had sent me to bring them to the Knowledge of his Being and therefore expected a full Submission from them 3. That the Great Captain of the French had commanded me to tell them that he had subdu'd the Iroquois and wou'd have every Body to live in Peace 4. We desir'd them to tell us whatever they knew concerning the Nations we were to meet along the River We enforc'd every Point of our Speech with a Present and then sate down The Captain of the Illinois answer'd that he was very glad to hear of the great Actions of our Captain meaning the Governour of Canada and desir'd us to remain amongst them because of the great Dangers to which we shou'd be expos'd in continuing our Voyage but I told them that we did not fear to lose our Lives for the Glory of God at which they were mightily surpriz'd He presented us with a Calumet the most mysterious thing in the World of which I shall give an Account in another Place The Council being over we were invited to a Feast which we were oblig'd to accept The first Mess was a Dish of Sagamittee that is some Meal of Indian Corn boyl'd with Water and season'd with Grease The Master of Ceremonies holding a kind of Spoon full of that Sagamittee put some thrice into my Mouth and then did the like to M. Ioliet They brought for a Second Course three Fishes in a Dish whereof he took a Piece and having took out the Bones and blown upon it to cool it he put it into my Mouth just as a Bird feeds his young ones The third Service was a huge Dog whom they kill'd on purpose but understanding that we eat no such Creatures they brought a Piece of Beef and serv'd us as before As soon as we had done we went to visit the Village which consists of near 300 Cabins being attended by an Officer to oblige the Savages to make room and not crowd upon us They presented us with Girdles and Garters and some other Works made of the Hair of Bears and Oxen. We lay in the Cabin of the Captain and the next Day took our Leave of him promising to return in Four Moons They conducted us as far as our Canow's with near 800 Persons who express'd an extraordinary Joy for our kind Visit as they call'd it It will not be improper to relate here what I observ'd of the Custom and Manners of this People which are very different from what is practis'd among the other Nations of the Northern America The Word Illinois in their Language signifies Men as if they shou'd look upon the other Savages as Beasts and truly it must be confess'd that they are not altogether in the Wrong for they have more Humanity than all the other Nations that I have seen in America The short time I remain'd with them did not permit me to inform my self as much as I desir'd of their Customs and Manners but here is what I was able to observe They are divided into several Villages whereof some are very remote from those that I have seen They call them Perouarca but as they live so far one from the other their Language is also very different However it is a Dialect of the Algonquin and therefore we were able to understand