what they said and to converse with them They are good-natur'd Men tractable and easie They keep several Wives and yet they are exceedingly jealous They observe with a great Care their Behaviour and if they find them in any Fault as to their Chastity they cut their Noses and Ears and I saw several who carry'd upon their Faces the Marks of their Infidelity The Illinois are very well shap'd and very dexterous They are good Marks-men with their Arrows and small Guns with which they are supply'd by the Savages that have Commerce with the Europeans This makes them formidable to the other Nations inhabiting to the Westward who have no Fire-Arms The Illinois knowing how much they are frighted at the Noise of their Guns make Excursions very far to the Westward and bring Slaves from thence which they barter with other Nations for the Commodities they want Those Nations are altogether ignorant of Iron Tools and their Knives Axes and other Instruments are made of Flints and other sharp Stones When the Illinois go upon any Expedition the whole Village must have notice of it and therefore they use to make an Out-cry at the Door of their Huts the Evening before they go and the Morning they are to set out Their Captains are distinguish'd from the Soldiers by Red Scarffs made with the Hair of Bears or Wild-Oxen that are curiously wrought They have abundance of Game and their Soil is so fertile that their Indian Corn never fails and therefore they never labour under Famine They sow Beans and Melons which are excellent and especially those whose Seed is Red. They esteem much their Citruls tho' they are none of the best They dry them up and keep them till the Winter and Spring Their Cabins are very large they are made cover'd and pav'd with Mats of Marish-Rushes Their Dishes are of Wood but their Spoons are made with the Bones of the Skull of Wild-Oxen which they cut so as to make them very convenient to eat their Sagamittee They have Physicians amongst them towards whom they are very liberal when they are sick thinking that the Operation of the Remedies they take is proportionable to the Presents they make unto those who have prescrib'd them They have no other Clothes but Skins of Beasts which serve to cover their Women for the Men go most of the Year stark-naked I don't know by what Superstition some of the Illinois and Nadouessians wear Women's Apparel When they have taken the same which they do in their Youth they never leave it off and certainly there must be some Mystery in this Matter for they never Marry and work in the Cabins with Women which other Men think below them to do They may go however to their Wars but they must use only a Club and not Bows and Arrows which are fit as they say for Men alone They assist at all the Superstitions of their Iuglers and their solemn Dances in honour of the Calumet in which they may sing but it is not lawful for them to dance They are call'd to their Councils and nothing is determin'd without their Advice for because of their extraordinary way of Living they are look'd upon as Manitous or at least for great and incomparable Genius's I must speak here of the Calumet the most mysterious thing in the World The Sceptres of our Kings are not so much respected for the Savages have such a Deference for this Pipe that one may call it The God of Peace and War and the Arbiter of Life and Death One with this Calumet may venture amongst his Enemies and in the hottest Engagement they lay down their Arms before this Sacred Pipe The Illinois presented me with one of them which was very useful to us in our Voyage Their Calumet of Peace is different from the Calumet of War They make use of the former to seal their Alliances and Treaties to travel with safety and receive Strangers and the other is to proclaim War It is made of a Red Stone like our Marble the Head is like our common Tobacco-Pipes but larger and it is fix'd to a hollow Reed to hold it for smoaking They adorn it with fine Feathers of several Colours and they call it The Calumet of the Sun to whom they present it especially when they want fair Weather or Rain thinking that that Planet can have no less respect for it than Men have and therefore that they shall obtain their Desires They dare not wash themselves in Rivers in the beginning of the Summer or taste the new Fruit of Trees before they have danc'd the Calumet which they do in the following manner This Dance of the Calumet is a solemn Ceremony amongst the Savages which they perform upon important Occasions as to confirm an Alliance or make Peace with their Neighbours They use it also to entertain any Nation that comes to visit them and in this Case we may consider it as their Balls They perform it in Winter-time in their Cabins and in the open Field in the Summer They chuse for that purpose a set Place among Treâ—s to shelter themselves against the Heat of the Sun and lay in the middle a large Matt as a Carpet to lay upon the God of the Chief of the Company who gave the Ball for every one has his peculiar God whom they call Manitoa It is sometime a Stone a Bird a Serpent or any thing else that they dream of in their Sleep for they think this Manitoa will prosper their Wants as Fishing Hunting and other Enterprizes To the Right of their Manitoa they place the Calumet their Great Deity making round about it a kind of Trophy with their Arms viz. their Clubs Axes Bows Quivers and Arrows Things being thus dispos'd and the Hour of Dancing coming on those who are to sing take the most Honourable Seats under the Shadow of the Trees or the Green Arbors they make in case the Trees be not thick enough to shadow them They chuse for this Service the best Wits amongst them either Men or Women Every Body sits down afterwards round about as they come having first of all saluted the Manitoa which they do in blowing the Smoak of their Tobacco upon it which is as much as offering to it Frankincense Every Body one after another takes the Calumet and holding it with his two Hands dances with it following the Cadence of the Songs This Preludium being over he who is to begin the Dance appears in the middle of the Assembly and having taken the Calumet presents it to the Sun as if he wou'd invite him to smoke Then he moves it into an infinite Number of Postures sometimes laying it near the Ground then stretching its Wings as if he wou'd make it fly and then presents it to the Spectators who smoke with it one after another dancing all the while This is the first Scene of this famous Ball. The Second is a Fight with Vocal and Instrumental Musick for they have a kind of
Country A Chaouanon Confederate to the Illinois returning from their Country home came back again to give them notice that he had discover'd them notice that he had discover'd an Army of Iroquois and Miamis who were already enter'd into their Country on purpose to surprize them This News frighted the Illinois yet the next Day they appear'd in the Field and march'd directly to the Enemy and as soon as they were in sight they charg'd them The Fight was very sharp and a great many Men were kill'd on both sides M. Tonti whom M. la Salle had left in the Fort of Crevecoeur to command there in his Absence hearing of this Irruption was in fear for the Illinois's Sake for tho' their Army was more numerous than that of their Enemy yet they had no Guns therefore he offer'd himself to go Askenon that is Mediator carrying the Calumet of Peace in his Hand in order to bring them to an Agreement The Iroquois finding more resistance than they thought at first and seeing that the Illinois were resolv'd to continue the War consented to a Treaty of Peace accepting M. Tonti's Mediation and hearken'd to the Proposals he made them from the Illinois who had chosen him for Mediator M. Tonti represented to them thaâ— the Illinois were Onontio's 't is the Name they give to the Viceroy of Canada Children and Confederates as well as themselves and that it wou'd be very unpleasant to him who lov'd them all to hear that they had begun the War therefore he earnestly intreated them to return home and trouble the Ilinois no further seeing they had religiously observ'd the Treaty of Peace These Proposals did not please some of the young Iroquois who had a great mind to fight and therefore charg'd on a sudden M. Tonti and his Men with several Shots and a desperate young Fellow of the Country of Onnontaghe gave him a Wound with a Knife near the Heart but by chance a Rib warded off the Stroke Several others did fall upon him and wou'd take him away but one taking notice of his Hat and that his Ears were not bor'd knew thereby that he was not an Illinois and for that reason an old Man cry'd out That they shou'd spare him and flung to him a Collar of Porcelain as to make him Satisfaction for the Blood he had lost and the Wound he had receiv'd A young Man of the Iroquois's Crew took M. Tonti's Hat and hung it on his Gun to fright the Illinois therewith who thinking by that Signal that Tonti Father Zenobe and all the Europeans that were in his Company had been kill'd by the Iroquois were so much surpriz'd and disquieted with that horrid Attempt that they fancy'd themselves deliver'd up into the Hands of their Enemies and were upon running away Yet the Iroquois having made a Signal to Father Zenobe to draw near that they might confer with him about the means to prevent both Armies to come to fight they receiv'd the Calumet of Peace and made a Motion as if they had a mind to withdraw But the Illinois were hardly come to their Village that they saw the Iroquois's Army appearing upon some Hills which were over-against them This Motion oblig'd Father Zenobe at the Illinois's Request to go to them to know the reason of a Proceeding so contrary to what they had done in accepting of the Calumet of Peace But that Embassie did not please those Barbarians who wou'd not loose so fair an Opportunity Father Zenobe did run the hazard of being murther'd by these unmerciful Men yet the same God who had preserv'd many of our Fellow-Missionaries in the like Encounters and my self in this Discovery kept him from the Hand of these furious Men. He was a Man of a short Stature but very couragious and went boldly among the Iroquois who receiv'd him very civilly They told him that the Want they were reduc'd to had forcâ—d them to this new Step having no Provisions for their Army and their great Number having driven away the Wild-Bulls from that Country Father Zenobe brought their Answer to the Illinois who presently sent them some Indian Corn and all things necessary for their Subsistence and propos'd to them a Treaty of Commerce having in that Country a great plenty of Beaver's-Skins and other Furs The Iroquois accepted of these Proposals they did exchange Hostages and Father Zenobe went into their Camp and did lie there to lose no time to bring all Matters to an Agreement and conclude a Treaty between them But the Iroquis repairing in great Numbers into the Quarters of the Illinois who suspected no ill Design they advanc'd as far as their Village where they wasted the Mausolaeums that they us'd to raise to their Dead which are commonly seven or eight Foot high They spoil'd the Indian Corn that was sown and having deceiv'd the Illinois under a false pretence of Peace fortify'd themselves in their Village In this Confusion the Iroquois join'd with the Miamis carry'd away eight hundred Illinois Women and Children and their Fury went so far that these Antropophages did eat some Old Men of that Nation and burnt some others who were not able to follow them and so return'd with the Slaves they had made to their own Habitations which were four hundred Leagues off the Country they had so cruelly plunder'd Upon the first News of the Approach of the Iroquois the Illinois had sent most part of their Families on the other side of a little Hill to secure them from their Fury and that they might get over the River Meschasipi and the others that were fit for War did flock together on the Tops of the Hills that were near their Habitations and then went on the other side of the River to look after their Families and provide for their Subsistence After this perfidious Expedition these Barbarians wou'd fain alledge some Pretences to excuse their Treachery and wou'd persuade our Fathers to retire from the Illinois's Country since they were all fled away and that there was no likelyhood they shou'd want them for the future to teach them their Prayers as the Atsientatsi or the Black-Gowns do in their Countries meaning the Jesuites whom they call by that Name They told Fathers Gabriel and Zenobe that they should do better to return into Canada and that they would attempt nothing against the Life of the Children of Onontio Governour of Canada desiring to have a Letter under their Hand to shew it as a Testimony of their honest proceeding in this occasion and assuring them that they would no more stand by their Enemies Our two Fathers being so forsaken by their Hosts and finding themselves expos'd to the Fury of a Cruel and Victorious Enemy resolv'd to return home according to the Iroquois Advice and being supply'd by them with a Canow they embark'd for Canada CHAP. LXXVII The Savages Kikapoux murther Father Gabriel de la Ribourde a Recollect Messionary GOD has given me the Grace to be insensible of
them but a small quantity of their Corn which however they value so much that the most sensible Wrong one may do them in their Opinion is to take some of their Corn in their absence We found no Body in the Village as we had foreseen for the Illinois had divided themselves according to their Custom and were gone a hunting Their Absence caus'd a great Perplexity amongst us for we wanted Provisions and yet durst not meddle with the Indian Corn the Savages had laid under Ground for their Subsistence and to sow their Lands However our Necessity being very great and it being impossible to continue our Voyage without any Provisions especially seeing the Oxen and other Beasts had been driven from the Banks of the River by means of Fire as I have related in my former Chapter M. la Salle resolv'd to take about forty Bushels of Corn in hopes to appease the Savages with some Presents We embark'd again with these fresh Provisions and continu'd to fall down the River which runs directly to the South Four Days after being the First of Ianuary 1680. we said Mass and having wish'd a happy New-Year to M. la Salle and to all others I thought fit to make a pathetical Exhortation to our Grumblers to encourage them to go on cheerfully and inspire them with Union and Concord Father Gabriel Zenobe and I embrac'd them afterwards and they promis'd us to continue firm in their Duty The same Day we went thro' a Lake formâ—d by the River about seven Leagues long and one broad The Savages call that Place Pimiteoui that is in their Tongue A place where there is abundance of fat Beasts When the River of the Illinois freezes which is but seldom it freezes only to this Lake and never from thence to the Meschasipi into which this River falls M. la Salle observ'd here the Elevation of the Pole and found that this Lake lies in the Latitude of thirty three Degrees and forty five Minutes We had been inform'd that the Illinois were our Enemies and therefore M. la Salle had resolv'd to use all manner of Precaution when we should meet with them but we found our selves on a sudden in â—he middle of their Camp which took up the two sides of the River M. la Salle order'd immediately his Men to make their Arms ready and brought his Canow's on a Line placing himself to the Right and M. Tonti to the Left so that we took almost the whole breadth of the River The Illinois who had not yet discover'd our Fleet were very much surpriz'd to see us coming so swifâ—ly upon them for the Stream was extraordinary rapid in that Place Some run to their Arms but most took the Flight with horrid Cries and Howlings The Current brought us in the mean time to their Camp and M. la Salle went the very first a-shoar follow'd by his Men which encreas'd the Consternation of the Savages whom we might have easily defeated but as it was not our Design we made a halt to give them time to recover themselves and see that we were no Enemies M. la Salle might have prevented their Confusion by shewing his Calumet or Pipe of Peace but he was afraid the Savages would impute it to our Weakness The Illinois being exceedingly terrify'd tho' they were several thousand Men tender'd us the Calumet of Peace and then we offer'd them ours which being accepted on both sides an extraordinary Joy succeeded the terrible Fears they had been under upon our landing They sent immediately to fetch back those who fled away and Father Zenobe and I went to their Cabins We took their Children by the Hand and express'd our Love for them with all the signs we could We did the like to the Old Men having compassion of those poor Creatures who are so miserable aâ— to be ignorant of their Creator and Redeemer Most of the Savages who had run away upon our landing understanding that we were Friends return'd but some others had been so terrify'd that they did not come back till three or four Days after that they were told that we had smoak'd in their Calumet of Peace In the mean time we had discours'd the Chief of the Illinois by our Interpreter and told them That we were Inhabitants of Canada and their Friends that we were come to teach them the Knowledge of the Captain of Heaven and Earth and to use Fire-Arms which were unknown to them with several other things relating to their Advantage We were forc'd to make use of these metaphorical Expressions to give them some Idea of the Supreme DEITY They heard our Discourses with great attention and afterwards gave a great Shout for Joy repeating these Words Tepatoui-Nika That is Weâ—l my Brother my Friend thou hast done very well These Savages have more Humanity than all the others of the Northern America and understanding the subject of our Errand express'd a great Gratitude They rubb'd our Legs and Feet near the Fire with Oil of Bears and Grease of Wild Oxen which after much travel is an incomparable Refreshment and presented us some Flesh to eat putting the three first Morsels into our Mouth with great Ceremonies This is a great piece of Civility amongst them M. la Salle presented them with some Tobacco from Martinico and some Axes and told them That he had desir'd them to meet to treat about some weighty matters but that there was one in particular which he would discourse them upon before any other He added that he knew how necessary their Corn was to them but that being reduc'd to an unspeakable Necessity when he came to their Village and seeing no probability to subsist he had been forc'd to take some Corn from their Habitations without their leave That he would give 'em Axes and other things in lieu of it if they could spare it that if they could not they were free to take it again concluding That if they were noâ— able to supply us with Provisions he design'd to continue his Voyage and go to their Neighbours who would heartily give him what was necessary for his subsistence but however to shew them his Kindness he would leave a Smith among them to mend their Axes and other Tools we should supply them with The Savages having consider'd our Proposals granted all our Demands and made Alliance with us We were oblig'd to use many Precautions to make our Alliance lasting and solid because our Enemies did their utmost to prevent it The very same Day we came to the Camp of the Illinois one of the Chief Captains of the Mascâ—utens whose Name was Monso arriv'd also with some Miamis and other young Men who brought with them some Axes Knives Kettles and other Goods Our Enemies had chosen him for that Embassie knowing that the Illinois would rather believe him than the Miamis because they had never been in War with the Mascoutens This Savage arriv'd pretty late and caball'd all the Night long against us He told them That M. la
convince them that the Illinois had resolv'd in their Council to forge that Account in order to stop our Voyage and few Days after we met with a favourable opportunity for it The Illinois had made an Excursion Southward as they were returning with some Prisoners one of their Warriors came before their Comrades and visited us at our Fort we entertain'd him as well as we could and ask'd him several Questions touching the River Meschasipi from whence he came and where he had been oftentimes giving him to understand that some other Savage had given us an account of it He took a piece of Charcoal and drew a Map of the Course of that River which I found afterwards pretty exact and told us that he had been in a Pyrogue that is a Canow made of the Trunk of a Tree from the Mouth of this River very near the Place where the Meschasipi falls into the great Lake for so they call the Sea That there was neither Falls nor rapid Currents as we had been told that it was very broad towards the great Lake and interrupted with Banks of Sand but that there were large Canals betwixt them deep enough for any Pyrogue He told us also the Name of several Nations inhabiting the Banks of the Meschasipi and of several â—ivers that fall into it I set down in my Journal all that he told us of which I shall perhaps give a larger Account in another place We made him a small Present to thank him for his Kindness in discovering a Truth which the Chief of his Nation had so carefully conceal'd He desir'd us to hold our Tongue and never to mention him which we promis'd and gave him an Axe wherewith we shut his Mouth according to the Custom of the Savages when they recommend a Secret The next Day after Prayers we went to the Village of the Illinois whom we found in the Cabin of one of their Chiefs who entertain'd them with a Bear whose Flesh is much valu'd among them They desir'd us to sit down upon a fine Mat of Rushes And some time after our Interpreter told them that we were come to acquaint them that the Maker of all Things and the Master of the Lives of Men took a particular Care of us and had been pleas'd to let us have a true account of the River Meschasipi the Navigation whereof they had represented to us as impracticable We added all the Particulars we had learn'd but in such Terms that it was impossible they should suspect any of their Men. The Savages were much surpriz'd and did not doubt but we had that Account by somâ— extraordinary Way therefore they shut their Mouth with their Hand which is their usual Custom to express their Admiration They told us frankly afterwards that the great desire they had to stop amongst them our Captain and the Grey-Coats or Bare-foot as they call the Franciscans had oblig'd them to forge the Stories they had told us and to conceal the Truth but since we had come to the Knowledge of it by another way they would tell us all that they knew and confirm'd every particular their Warrior had told us This Confession remov'd the Fears of our Men who were few Days after still more fully persuaded that the Illinois design'd to frighten us from our Discovery For several Savages of the Nations of Osages Cikaga and Akansa came to see us and brought fine Furs to barter for our Axes They told us that the Meschasipi was navigable almost from its Source to the Sea and gave us great incouragement to go on with our Design assuring us that all the Nations inhabiting along the River from the Mouth of that of the Illinois to the Sea wou'd come to meet us and dance the Calumet of Peace as they express it and make Alliance with us The Miamis arriv'd much about that time and danc'd the Calumet with the Illinois making Alliance with them against the Iroquois their implacable Enemies We were Witnesses to their Treaty and M. la Salle made them some Presents the better to oblige both Parties to the Observation of their League We were three Missionaries for that Handful of Europeans at Fort Crevecoeur and therâ—fore we thought fit to divide our selves Father Gabriel being very old was to continuâ— with our Men and Father Zenobe among the Illinois having desir'd it himself in hopes to convert that numerous Nation And I as I have already related was to go on with our Discovery Father Zenobe liv'd already among the Illinois but the rude Manners of that People made him soon weary of it His Landlord whose Name was Omahouha that is to say Wolf was the Head of a Tribe and took a special Care of Father Zenobe especially after M. la Salle had made him some Presents He lov'd him as his Child but however I perceiv'd in the Visits he made us for he liv'd but within half a League of our Fort that he was not satisfyâ—d to live amongst that brutish Nation tho' he had already learn'd their Tongue This oblig'd me to offer him to take his Place provided he wou'd supply mine and go on with our Discovery amongst several Nations whose Language we did not understand and who had never heard of us but Father Zenobe foreseeing the Danger and Fatigue I was like to be expos'd to chose to remain with the Illinois whose Temper he knew and with whom he was able to converse M. la Salle left M. Tonti to command in Fort Crevecoeur and order'd our Carpenter to prepare some thick Planks of Oak to Fence the Deck of our Bark in the nature of a Parapet to cover it against the Arrows of the Savages in case they design'd to shoot at us from the Shoar Then calling his Men together he desir'd them to obey M. Tonti's Orders in his Absence to live in a Christian Union and Charity to be courageous and firm in their Design and above all to give no credit to the false Reports that the Savages might make untoâ— them either of him or of their Comrades that were going with me He assur'd them that he would return with all the speed imaginable and bring along with him a fresh Supply of Men Ammunition and Rigging for our Bark and that in the mean time he left them Arms and other things necessary for a vigorous Defence in case their Enemies should attack them before his return He told me afterwards that he expected I should depart without any farther Delay but I told him that tho' I had promis'd him to do it yet a Defluxion I had on my Gums a Year since as he knew very well oblig'd me to return to Canada to be cur'd and that I wou'd then come back with him He was very much surpriz'd and told me he wou'd write to my Superiors that I had obstructed the good Success of our Mission and desir'd Father Gabriel to persuade me to the contrary That good Man had been my Master during my Novitiate
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
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
had another opportunity of persecuting us afâ—esh He had so dexterously manag'd the matter with the Warriours of his Party that it was one Day impracticable for us to encamp near the young Chief Narhâ—toba who protected us but were forc'd to go and place our selves with our Canow and Effects at the end of the Camp Then it was that these Barbarians gave us to understand that the aforesaid Captain was fully resolv'd to have our â—eads This oblig'd us to have recourse once more to our Chest and to take out twenty Knives and some Tobacco which we distributed among them with an Air that sufficiently testify'd our Discontent The unreasonable Wretch look'd earnestly upon his Followers one after another as if he were in doubt what to do and consequently to demand their Advice whether he ought to receive our Present or refuse it But whilst we were inclining our Necks and delivering him the Ax the young Commander who seem'd to be our Protector and it may be really was came and snatch'd us by the Arm and all in a rage hurry'd us away to his Cabin His Brother too taking up some Arrows broke 'em in our sight to assure us by that Action that he would protect our Lives at the hazard of his own The next Day they left us alone in our Canow without putting any of their Men a-board to assist us as they had hitherto done However they kept all in the reer of us After rowing four or five Leagues another of their Captains came up to us and made us land As soon as we got on shoar he fell to cutting of Grass which he made into three little Heaps and bade us sit down upon them Then he took a piece of Cedar which was full of little round Holes into one of which he thrust a Stick of a harder Substance than the Cedar and began to rub it about pretty fast between the Palms of his Hands till at length it took fire The use he put it to was to light the Tobacco in his Great Pipe and after he had wept some time over us and laid his Hands on our Heads he made me smoak in a Calumet or Pipe of Peace and then aâ—quainted us by Signs that within sixteen Days we should be at home CHAP. LI. Ceremonies us'd by the Savages when they share their Prisoners Continuation of our Iourney by Land HAving thus travell'd nineteen Days in our Canow by Water we arriv'd at length within five or six Leagues of the Fall to which we had formerly given the Name of St. Anthony as we came to understand afterwards Here the Barbarians order'd us to land in a Creek of the River Meschasipi after which they held an Assembly to consult what they were to do with us In short they separated and gave us to three of their Chiefs instead of three of their Sons which had been kill'd in the War Then they seiz'd our Canow and took away all our Equipage The Canow they pull'd to pieces for fear it might assist us to return to their Enemies Their own they hid amongst the Alders to use again when they should have occasion to hunt that way So that though we might have gone conveniently enough quite up into their Country by Water yet were we oblig'd by their Conduct to travel no less than sixty Leagues a-foot Our ordinary Marches were from break of Day till ten at Night And when we met with any Rivers we swam them themselves who for the most part are of an extraordinary size carrying our Clothes and Equipage on their Heads and the Canow-men who were less than me upon their Shoulders because they could not swim As I us'd to come out of the Water which was often full of Ice for we travell'd still North I was hardly able to stand upon my Legs In these Parts the Frosts continue all night even at this time of the Year so that our Legs were all over Blood being cut by the Ice which we broke by degrees in our Passage as we waded o'er the Lakes and Rivers We never eat but once in four and twenty Hours and then nothing but a few Scraps of Meat dry'd in the Smoak afâ—er their Fashion which they afforded us with abundance of regâ—et I was so weak that I often lay me down resolving rather to die than follow these Savages any farther who travell'd at a rate so extraordinary as far surpasses the Strength of any European However to hasten us they sometimes set fire to the dry Grass in the Meadows through which we pass'd so that our Choice was march or burn I had a Hat which I had taken with me to fence me from the Sun during the Heats of the Summer This would often fall from my Head into the Fire because it was not over-fit and the Fire so very near The Barbarians would snatch it out again and lend me a hand to save me from the Flames which they had kindled as well to hasten our March as I have said as to give notice to their People of their return I must here acknowledge that had it not been for du Gay who did all he could to encourage me through the whole Course of this tiresome March I had certainly sunk under the Fatigues of it having neither Spirits nor Strength left to support me CHAP. LII A great Contest arises amongst the Savages about dividing our Merchandise and Equipage as also my Sacerdotal Ornaments and little Chest. AFter having travell'd about sixty Leagues a-foot and undergone all the Fatigues of Hunger Thirst and Cold besides a thousand Outrages daily done us in our Persons after we had march'd Night and Day without ceasing wading thro' Lakes and Rivers and sometimes swam As we now began to approach the Habitations of the Barbarians which are situated in Morasses inaccessible to their Enemies they thought it a proper time to divide the Merchandise which they had taken from us Here they had like to have fallen out and â—ut one another's Throats about the Roll of Martinico-Tobacco which might still weigh about fifty Pound These People value this Commodity far beyond what we do Silver or Gold They have very good of their own growth but this was so well dress'd and made up into such beautiful Rings that they were perfectly charm'd with it The most reasonable amongst them made us understand by Signs that they would give their Canow-men several Castor-Skins in return for what they had taken But others looking upon us as Slaves because they said we had furnish'd Arms to their Enemies maintain'd that they were no ways oblig'd to make any return for the Things they had taken The reason why they divided the Spoil here was because this Band was compos'd of two or three different People So that those that liv'd at a distance were apprehensive lest the others who were just at home might detain all the Merchandise which they had taken in the first Villages they should come at and therefore were resolv'd to
visit one another more for the sake of the Diversion they have at this Game of Ounonhayenti than out of any desire they have of mutual Visits This Word signifies a Contract wherein something is given that they may receive somewhat again The Language of the Iroquoise is exprest by compound Words one of their Terms takes in Five or Six Words in English or French as for instance Gannoron in the Iroquoise Tongue is as much as to say Behold a Business of great Consequence The Children of the Salvages have also another sort of Game wherein they make use of a Bow and two Staffs a great and a little one the last whereof they hold in the right Hand then they toss it into the Air by striking it against the great one when another person takes it up and throws it back again at the former who first had flung it This Play hath also something in it like to that us'd by the European Children Besides the above named Pastimes they make a Ball of Bull-rushes and the Blades of Indian Corn which they throw into the Air and receive again at the end of a pointed Stick Those who are grown up to Years of Maturity whether Men or Women entertain one another in Winter Evenings with telling of Tales at the Fire side according to the manner of our Europeans to pass away the time CHAP. XXII The manner of the Salvages in making War they are very revengeful ALL the Salvages of America have almost universally a great Inclination for War because they are all of a vindictive Nature when they have receiv'd an Affront of any one that is not of their Nation they will certainly be reveng'd of him sooner or later tho' they were to wait an Opportunity for three or four Generations they take no rest Night nor Day 'till they have Satisfaction upon this Account by destroying if they can the greatest part of the Nation they intend Mischief to And when that is done they 'll oblige the Remainder to dwell among them and to follow their way of Living in all things The Iroquoise whom first the Swedes then the Hollanders English and French furnished with Fire-Arms are by that means esteemed at present the most Warlike People of all the Salvages that have been yet discovered They have destroy'd the greatest Warriors of the Hurons and constrain'd the rest of the Nation to dwell among them that they may make War conjointly upon all those Nations that are their Enemies situated five or six Hundred Leagues from their Five Cantons They have destroy'd above Two Millions of People and are still in actuall War with the Inhabitants of Canada If France do not send both Provisions and Ammunitions of War to Canada the Iroquoise are in a Condition to ruin that Plantation for reasons which I have touch'd upon in the former Volume These Barbarians would utterly destroy their Neighbours as has been manifested from Experience unto us and there is nothing to be got from them seeing all their Spoyls are of very little value This fierce Nation can very easily ruin the Commerce of their Neighbours who for the most part have no other Subsistence than what arises from the Trade of Skins and Furs which they have from the Salvages The European Colonies are not yet so fully established there as to be able to subsist without Commerce at least if they have not transported to them by Sea all that is necessary for the support of Life On the other Hand the Iroquoise are full of Malice and Subtilty like young and untamed Horses that do not know their own Strength They are capable to destroy their Neighbours for Reasons which the rules of Prudence will not admit to be made publick They had long since entirely wasted Canada and made it desolate had it not been for Monsieur the Count de Frontenac who has won them by Gentle Means They are the most formidable Enemies the Europeans have throughout all America And I shall make a Remark by the Way and such an one as I know to be true because I am acquainted with these People full well having lived among them full four Years and often visited them for Four Years more for I have been several times on Embassies to them and they have shewed me many Civilities This Barbarous Nation has destroy'd divers Nations and such of them as have escaped the Sword they have always oblig'd to live amongst them The Iroquoise have considerable Men amongst them who are as it were the Commanders of Parties and Leaders in Expeditions They have Persons to attend them who follow them every where and do all they command them Before they set out they provide themselves with good Fusils which they truck with the Europeans for Furs they take also along with them Powder Ball Kettles Hatchets and all necessary Utensils for War and are at times accompany'd by Boys and Girls and in in this manner march often times Three or Four Hundred Leagues When they draw nigh unto the place where they are minded to make War they march slowly and with great Precaution but they never kill any Deer with their Musquets upon these occasions for Fear of being discover'd and use no other Arms for that Purpose but their Arrows which make no Noise When they are bent to fire they first carefully inspect all the Avenues and view every Thing and Place with much exactness for fear of being surprized and to the same Purpose send out Spies every where in order to discover the Passages into the Villages and to find out where 't is properest to begin the Attack as also to observe if there be any Fort near the Place to the end they may surprize it which comes to pass very often because they give the blow unexpectedly There are no Warriours like unto these in all America for Ambuscades they watch Men from behind a Tree as if they were about killing a Deer they esteem a Man to be a good Soldier that can readily surprize his Enemies If they know how to make a quick Escape so as not be surpriz'd by their Enemies after they have discharg'd their Piece they pass for incomparable Persons You cannot conceive with what Celerity they turn themselves with their Fusils about the Trees which they make use of for to shelter them from the Arrows that are shot at them they very cleverly skip over those Trees which are fallen down in the Woods when they are making their escape Of which Trees there are some of a prodigious Bigness which have dropped down by reason of Age and want of Root They are People of an admirable Patience for when they find they have Planted themselves in a good secure place they continue many times behind their Trees two or three Days without Eating waiting for a favourable opportunity to kill an Enemy They march on sometimes upon a Discovery without any Fear but that is very rare with them and if they be not in a manner sure of
Relief but what is most strange is That these Slaves Sing in the middle of their Torments which doth not a little irritate their Barbarous Executioners An Iroquoise was telling us he had a Slave who while he was cruelly Tormented said You have no Wit you know not the way to Torment your Prisoners you are lazy Fellows and if I could catch you in my Hut I would make you suffer in another manner but that while he was speaking with so much vehemence a Salvage Woman having got a little Iron Spit made Red-hot thrust it into his Privy Parts which made him rore terribly but he said to the Woman Thou hast some Wit thou dost understand the Business And thus when a Slave dies which they have Burnt as before they Eat him and before his Death they cause some of his Blood to be boild for their Children to the end they may make them as Cruel and Inhumane as themselves Those whose Lives they spare live amongst them and serve them as Servants and Slaves but in process of time they recover their Liberty and are held in the same Esteem as if they were of their own Nation The Salvages of Louisiane who dwell along the Banks of the River Meschasipi and are situated seven or eight Hundred Leagues further than the Iroquoise as also the Issati and Nadouessans among whom I was a Slave are no less brave than the Iroquoise they make all their Neighbouring Nations tremble round about them tho' they have no other Weapons but Bows Arrows and great Clubs they are swifter of-Foot than the Iroquoise and very good Soldiers but they are not so Cruel they do not Eat their Enemies Flesh but content themselves only to Burn them They having one Day seiz'd upon an Huron who eat Human Flesh as the Iroquoise do they cut pieces of Flesh out of his Body and said do thou who lovest Human Flesh eat of thine own that thou mâ—yest let thy Nation know who lives at present amongst the Iroquoise that we abhor your Maxims for these People are like famish'd Dogs who eat all that comes nigh them The Iroquoise are the only-Salvages of North-America who feed upon Human Flesh tho' they do not use it save in cases extraordinary to wit when they are resolved utterly to root out a whole Nation for when they eat of Man's Flesh it 's not to satiate themselves therewith but to let their People know that they must pursue their Enemies without ever having any Thoughts of Accomodation with them and that they must rather eat them than suffer them to have any Rest that when they eat the Flesh of their Enemies 't is with an Intention to animate their Soldiers and heighten their Courage and indeed the next Day after the full Complement of the FiveCantons usualy march in order to fight their Enemies for their Rendezvous is always appointed the Day after these Feasts of Human Flesh. If the Europeans would give over supplying the Iroquoise with Fire Arms who are not now so well skill'd in the use of the Bow as in former times whereas the other Nations have been always accustom'd to them they could not fail of destroying the Iroquoise who are their common Enemies and who live Four or Five Hundred Leagues from them The first Canton of the Iroquoise is to the Southward and they are called Gagnieguez or Agniezâ—â— they live in the Neighbourhood of New York and have three Villages where I have been the most force they can make is Five Hundred Men at Arms. The Second Division is Eastward and they are known by the Name of Onneiouts and send out about an Hundred and Fifty Solders The third is also towards the East containing the little Villages of Onnontaguez or Mountaineers which is the only Eminence that is to be found among the five Cantons of the Iroquoise and they border upon the Onneiouts These Onnentagues have at least three Hundred fighting Men and they are the bravest and most valiant of all the Nation The Fourth is abour Thirty Leagues to the East belonging to the Orongouenâ— who are divided into three parts and can furnish out three Hundred Fighting Men equal with the other The fifth and last contains the Isonnontonans towards the furthest end of the Lake of Frontenac or Ontario who are the greatest and most considerable of all the Iroquoise Cantons and contain in three Sub-Cantons above three Hundred Men at Arms. I have taken notice in my former part of three or four Villages of the Iroquoise to the Northward of the Lake Ontario or Frontenac but for these five Cantons of the Iroquoise I make no further Description of them here I have spoken only of their Barbarity and Cruelty and that they have subdued a very large Country within about Four Hundred Years when they first began to extend their Limits and to aggrandize their Nation by the Ruin of other People the Remains of whom they made Slaves in order to increase the number of their own Troops CHAP. XXIV The Civil Government of the Iroquoise Salvages THE Councils which the Salvages generally hold concerning the management of all their Affairs ought to be look'd upon as the chief Cause of their Preservation and of the Terrour they strike into all the Nations of North America They Assemble together for the least Affair they have in agitation and argue upon the Methods they should make use of in order to attain their Ends They undertake no manner of thing rashly and their Elders who are Wise and Prudent have â—lways their Eyes intent upon the good of the Nation If a Complaint be made that any one amongst them has been guilty of Theft they very diligently look after it to find him out but if the Author of the Robbery cannot be easily discover'd or if he be not of ability to make Restitution in case they be fully convinced of the Fact they immediately redress the Wrong by some Present to the Party injur'd for his Satisfaction When they would put any one to Death for some Enormous Crime of which they are satisfi'd he is guilty they highly extol that Man whom they have made Drunk with Brandy a Liquor which these People love mightily to the â—nd that the Relations of the Criminal may not seek any Revenge and when that Man hath cut off the Head of him whom they have adjudged to be culpable the Reason they give is That he had not Sense and that Drunkenness had made him give the Blow They had formerly another way of Executing Juâ—tice but they have quite disus'd it They had one Day in the Year which might be called the Feast of Fools for indeed they did nothing but play the Fool running from Cottage to Cottage and if during this Jollity they had abused any Person or stoln any thing these subtil Old Fellows would say next Day by way of Excuse throughout the whole Canton and especially in their own Village that he who had given the Blow was a Fool and
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
other because of those troublesom Flies They drive into the Ground big Poles very near one another which support a large Hurdle which serves them instead of a Floor under which they make their Fire and the Smoak drives away those Creatures who cannot abide it They lay upon that Hurdle the Roof whereof is cover'd with Skins against the Rain and serves also to shelter them against the Heat of the Sun The same Reason oblig'd us to make a Cabin over our Canow As we were considering the Country the Banks of the River being very low we discover'd several Savages arm'd with Fire-Arms waiting for us upon the Shoar where the Stream of the River carry'd us Our Men prepar'd themselves to fight and it was resolv'd to let them fire first of all and as we came near I spoke to them in the Language of the Hurons and shew'd my Calumet of Peace but they did not answer me which we took for a Declaration of War However we resolv'd to venture to pass but when they had seen us at a nearer distance they desir'd us in a friendly manner to come to their Habitations where they entertain'd us with Beef and Oil of Bears together with white Plums as good every bit as ours These Savages have Guns Knives Axes Shovels Glass-Beads and Bottles wherein they put their Gun-powder They wear their Hair long as the Iroquois and their Women are cover'd as they are amongst the Hurons They told us That they were only within ten Days Journey of the Sea that they bought those Commodities from Europeans who live to the Eastward that these Europeans had Images and Beads that they play upon Instruments that some were cloath'd as I was and that they were very kind to them However I could find nothing in them that could perswade me that they had receiv'd any Instruction about our Holy Religion I endeavour'd to give them a general Idea of it and presented them with some Medals to put them in mind of it The account given us by the Savages was a great Encouragement to us in hopes to see the Sea in a few Days and therefore we row'd with an extraordinary vigour The Banks of the River began to be cover'd with high Trees which hinder'd us from observing the Country as we had done all along but we judged from the bellowing of the Oxen that the Meadows are very near We saw some Quails on the Water-side and shot a small Parrot who had the half of his Head red and the other part and the Neck yellow and the rest of the Body green We found our selves in this Place in the Latitude of 33 Degrees steering directly Southerly and a little while afterwards we discover'd a Village on the River-side call'd Michigamea The Savages made a great noise and appear'd in Arms dividing themselves into three Parties one of which stood on the Shoar while the others went into their Wooden Canow's to intercept our Retreat and prevent our escape They were arm'd with Bows and Arrows Clubs Axes and Bucklers Notwithstanding these Preparations we row'd directly to the Shoar where their main Body stood and as we came near two of their young Warriors flung themselves into the Water to board my Canow which he would have done had not the rapidity of the Stream prevented his Design so that they were forc'd to return a-shoar having thrown at us their Clubs which by good fortune went over our Heads I presented my Calumet of Peace but they werè so busie that they could not see However as they advanc'd in a body to shoot at us the Old Men discover'd my Calumet whereupon they made an Out-cry commanding their Youth to stop and two of them advanc'd to the Water-side throwing their Arâ—ows and Quivers into our Canow as a sign of Peace desiring us by signs to come a-shoar which we did tho' with great apprehensions I spoke to them in six different Languages of which they understood none but they brought an Old Man who spoke Illinois whom we told That we design'd to go to the Sea and made them some small Presents They understood what I told them on this matter but very little as I fear what I added concerning the CREATOR of the World They answerâ—d That we should learn whatever we desir'd ten Leagues lower at a great Village callâ—d Akamsca and presented us with their Sagometta and some Fish We lay there that Night in great Fears and the next Morning embark'd again with our Interpreter and ten Savages in one of their wooden Canow's and met within half a League from Akamsca two large Canow's full of Savages The Captain was standing in the first holding his Calumet of which he made several Motions according to the Customs of his Country I stood up likewise in my Canow with my Calumet at which they were so pleas'd that they met us with all imaginable Demonstrations of Joy attended with Songs and Shouts They presented us their Calumet to smoak and some Bread made of Indian Corn and then return'd home bidding us to follow him which we did at some distance They had in the mean time prepar'd a kind of Scaffold to receive us adorn'd with fine Mats upon which we fat down and the Old Men and Warriors near us the rest of the People standing off We found amongst them a young Man who spoke Illinois much better than the Interpreter we had brought with us from Mitchigamea and we desir'd him to acquaint his Nation with the Subject of our Voyage as he had understood it from us We made him some small Presents which they receiv'd with great Civility and seem'd to admire what I told them concerning GOD the Creation of the World and the Providences telling us by the Interpreter That they should think themselves very happy if we would remain with them to teach them They told us that we were within five Days Journey from the Sea but that they were not acquainted with the Nation inhabiting the same meaning doubtless the Europeans for their Enemies hindred them from keeping any Correspondence with them They added That their Axes Knives and Glass-Beads had been given them in exchange of other Commodities by some Nations inhabiting to the Eastward and by some Illinois who had an Habitation to the Westward within four Days Journey That the Savages whom we had met with fire-Fire-Arms were their Enemies who hindred their Commerce with the Europeans and that we should be expos'd to great Dangers did not venture to proceed farther because those Savages were continually cruizing at the River In the mean time they brought us some Sagamettea with some roasted Corn and a piece of a Dog These Savages are very courteous and give freely what they have but their Provisions are but indifferent because they dare not leave their Habitation to go a Hunting for fear of their Enemies They have Indian Corn in great plenty and at all times having three Crops every Year They roast it or else boil it in