was the Prince of the Nation of the Naches This People is divided into two Provinces this was the least of the two Their Territories are seldom above Twenty Leagues compass and their greatest Revenues is the Pearl Fishery which they have in the Sea about them There is a great many Divers of that Nation who dive to the bottom of the Water and fetch up these precious Shells from the lowermost part of the Rocks On a fair day you may see the Shells on the Rocks open themselves to receive the Dew of Heaven Which Dew breeds the first Seeds of the Pearl within the Shells which appear like little white Grain that sticks fast to the Shell These small soft Grains do in time become hard and white as we see they are It is observed that the Pearls which are fetch'd from the bottom of the Sea are fairer than those which are found on the Rocks because the Sun tarnishes these and the Thunder is destructive to their Seeds This little Prince presented M. de la Salle with some Dozens of 'em of a considerable bigness and in return we gave him a Hatchet a Kettle and some Knives They gave us besides these some Provisions and having staid there the whole Day we went away the next very well satisfied with each other They gave us a couple of Guides to shew us the way into the other Nation of the same Name which is Ten Leagues farther in the Country In the mean time M. de la Salle sent two of our Men to carry some fresh Provisions to those that waited for us by the Water side together with Orders to fall Ten Leagues lower down the River and to stay for him there Thus we went under the Conduct of our Guides and came that Night to the great Village of Naches This Nation is able to set out Three Thousand Men in any time of War Their Land is very well Cultivated and bears Indian Corn all sorts of Fruit-Trees Olive-trees and Vines There are vast Meadows to be seen there vast Forests and all sorts of Cattle Fishing and Hunting being all their Employment and their Wealth The Prince received us with a great deal of Joy made us a great many Presents both of Pearl and Provisions and treated us very generously The next day we planted there the King's Arms giving a Volley of Shot after which we took our leaves of the Prince who assured us of his intire Submission and we went to meet our Men with new Provisions Being got aboard our Canoos we went forward and about Eight Leagues off we came to the Village Coroas where the Prince receiv'd us as the rest had done and paid Homage The next day being the 27th of March 1683. we planted our Huts at the Mouth of a great River which comes from the West and is called La Sablonniere Ten Leagues from hence as we continued our Course we found the River divide it self into three Channels I took the Right-hand-stream M. de la Forest took the left and M. de la Salle the middle way we followed each our Course for about Ten Leagues and in a little time after we sound our selves re-join'd by the uniting of the Three Streams again into one We were hardly got together again and gone forward Five or Six Leagues but we espied some Fisher-men by the Water-side who were Quinipissa's As soon as they saw us come near they allarmed all the test of their Men and straight the Drum fell a beating and the Shore was in an instant lined with Savages all armed with Bows and Arrows we were willing to send Four French Men to treat with 'em but they were severely sent back by a shole of Arows after which four of our Savages offer'd to go to see what they could do but they were used in like manner in so much that M. de la Salle not willing to run any further risque here he bid us leave them in quiet and trouble our selves no further with them Twelve Leagues from the Quinipissa's we fell to the Right on the Village call'd Tangibao we found it pillag'd sack'd and a great Heap of dead Bodies one upon another This sight struck a mighty honour in us and concluding that it was not good staying there we went on and about Ten Leagues further we begun to find the Water brackish the Shore seemed somewhat more extended and all strewed with Shells of different shape and figure some like drinking Cups some like Snails ending in a spiral point and all of a most agreeable variety of Colours We kept on still and alter an Hours failing we put our selves into a Canoo and kept along the Coast the better to take our Observation of the Shore and so came back to land at the River's Mouth This was on the Seventh of April 1683. The first thing we then took care to do was to return our humble thanks to Almighty God for our good Success and for that he had carried us in safety to the end of our Voyage after more than Eight Hundred Leagues sailing and rowing with so small a handful of Men and so little Ammunition and that through so many barbarous Nations which we had not only discover'd but in some measure made subject to us We Sung the Te Deam after which taking our Canoos and our Equipage upon Sledges we went and planted our Huts a little above the Shore to be out of the reach of the Sea which wholly overflows it after six Hours Ebb during which it 's left quite dry Having pitched here our New Camp we sastned a Cross to the top of a large Tree and set up the Arms of France After which we raised three or four Huts more and Entrenched our selves there Then M. de la Salle took the Altitude to know where the Mouth of the Mississipi was The Spaniards who had attempted to find it out tho' in vain had already given it the Name of Del Rio Ascondido According to M. de la Salle's Calculation it is between the Twenty second and Twenty third Degree of Latitude that it throws it self into the Gulph of Mexico with a large Channel which is Twenty Leagues wide and very deep and Navigable M. de la Salle would be a little acquainted with its Shores before he would leave them It is certain that they are not fit to be inhabited by reason of the frequent Inundations by the Spring-Tides and the Barrenness of the Shore there is nothing but Canes and Reeds and Woods overthrown But about a League and a half within the Country it is the most pleasant in the World fine large Meadows fair Woods full of Mulberry-trees Nut-trees and Chesnut-trees The Fields are covered with all sorts of Fruit-Trees as Orange Lemmon Pomegranate and the sides of the Hills with Vines and the Fields bear Indian Corn twice a Year We saw in all their ponds and Rivers vast quantities of Water-Fowl Geese Ducks and Teal Moor-hens c. and in the Woods and
be seen amongst those People who live nearest to the Sea-Coast There are also vast numbers of Beavers amongst the Ouadiches the Akanceas the Iroquois and in many other Quarters of America And Bears are very frequent in the Northern Parts As for Horses they are only found among the Nations who are Neighbours to the Spaniards but one may almost every where see Orignas Staggs Elks Wolves Ounces large Rams Weathers and Sheep that have a much finer Wool than ours In traversing all these Plains we discover'd a prodigious Number of Savages who all entertain'd us with a great deal of Courtesie and with an entire Submission to the Laws of our Monarch Whilst we were travelling between the Palaquessons and the Nouadiches our Provisions fail'd and we were oblig'd to have recourse to hunting so that three or four of our Men most expert in that Exercise usually lest their Companions to repair to the Woods where they did not continue long without bringing us good store of Venison The advantageous and most delightful Situation of the Territories that lie between two Nations A pleasant Country situated between two Nations who are well affected to ours is much to be admir'd the whole Country being extremely fertile in Indian Corn and all kinds of Fruits affording also great variety of Game and the Pastures abounding in Cattel of all sorts but more especially in Horses All these great Advantages induc'd my Brother to endeavour to plant a Colony in those Parts In order to carry on this Design he judg'd it expedient that I should be sent before to the Islinois as well to inform you of his Arrival as for some other Reasons of which I shall hereafter give you an Account He gave me for my Retinue Father Anastasius Cavelier my Nephew M. de la Marne four other French Men and two Slaves to serve me as Interpreters with two Canoos two Pack-Horses and necessary Provisions We parted May 15. A. D. 1686. and travell'd by Land as well for the Conveniency of our Horses as for the frequent Supplies we might get from the Savages who shew as much zeal for the promoting of our Interest as they are the professed Enemies of the Iroquois and Spaniards Nouadiches a Nation of the Savages On the first Day we took up our Quarters among the Nouadiches who receiv'd us with extended Arms and invited us to joyn with 'em in maintaining a War against the Spaniards They assur'd us That there was a great deal of Gold and Silver amongst 'em that they would willingly leave us all their Wealth and that they would only reserve to themselves the Women and Children to make Slaves of 'em However notwithstanding the little Respect we had for the Spaniards we must needs have an Aversion to that Proposal for we could not give our Consent that the Christians should become Slaves to the Savages Therefore to colour our Denial we reply'd That our number was not sufficient to be capable of assisting 'em in that War but that we would go in quest of Captain Tonti to whom we would not fail to represent the same Conditions they offer'd us and that without doubt he would accept of ' em This Answer gave Satisfaction to the Savages who supply'd us with abundance of Provisions and caus'd us to lodge in their best Cottages Divers other People The next day we pursu'd our Journey to the Cenis and Nassonis The latter gave us Guides to conduct us to the Country of Nabari and these last in like manner took care to provide other Guides to convey us to the Naausi We were equally well receiv'd by all those People and we every where found the same Dispositions to make an Alliance with us and to live under the Protection of our Prince The Lands thereabouts are fruitful and the Climate very proper for the planting of Vineyards The fruitfulness of those Countries for Vines often spring up there spontaneously so that one may see clusters of Grapes growing amongst the Elms and flourishing under the shadow of their Leaves One cannot travel three Leagues without meeting with some River or Brook There are also Herds of Beavers All the People are generally addicted to the Adoration of the Sun and have no other Cloaths than a certain Contexture of Rushes or of very sine Mats which are set out with Paintings of several Colours representing the Sun Birds Flowers c. For matter of Arms they are altogether unknown to 'em except the Bow and Arrow insomuch that the discharge of a Fusee or Pistol would appear to them as it were a Clap of Thunder preceeded by its Lightning Cadodaches their Reception of the French Afterwards we pass'd from the Territories of the Naausi to those of the Cadodaches where we were entertain'd after a very generous manner so that our Reception might well he styl'd a splendid Triumph For the principal Elders of the Nation came forth to meet us and conducted us thro' two Ranks of their armed Youth into very neat Cottages The rest of our Entertainment was as pleasant and diverting as the manner of managing it was Savage and Fantastical at first certain tawny Women but well shap'd and half naked were very officious in washing our Feet in Wooden Troughs and then we were serv'd with different Messes very well dress'd For besides boil'd Meat Broth and Venison the ordinary Mess among those People they presented us with a large Dish of Roasted Turkeys Geese Ducks and Ring-doves not to forget another Dish of broil'd Pigeons But we were disturb'd in the midst of our Jollity by a very sad Accident which happen'd to M. de la Marne one of our Company Forasmuch as the Heat of the Weather was excessive occasion'd as well by the Climate M. de la Marne washing himself in a River it drown'd as the Season of the Year that unfortunate Gentleman had a mind to wash himself in a River that runs thro' the Village To which purpose having chosen a shady place for greater Convenience he threw himself into the Water and unhappily fell into an Abyss where he was swallow'd up in a Trice some time after perceiving that he did not return we were desirous to go to the Place where he retir'd but he was not to be found and we began to suspect that perhaps he might be devour'd by some Crocodile However the Inhabitants having seen the Place where he threw himself in no longer doubted that he was lost in that Gulph And indeed after having made a search at the very instant he was taken up dead and quite disfigur'd I cannot sufficiently express how much we were transported with Grief at the sight of so sad a Spectacle The Wife of the chief Governour came her self to bury him and after having perform'd the Funeral Obsequies decently Interring his Body we set up a Cross over his Tomb In the mean while the Savages who were Witnesses of our Ceremonies joyn'd their Tears with ours and endeavour'd to
board the Canoo Frontenac There he found his Bark ready and stored her with abundance of Ammunition and Provisions he listed there some new Souldiers and eight days after lent me his Bark laden with fresh Men good Merchandise and such things as were most necessary The Father and I went on board and landed the first Day at Niagara below the Fall of the River There we were forced to put our Baggage and Merchandise upon Sledges and so conduct them to the Lake Heriè where we re-embark'd in a Canoo to the number of Twenty Persons as well Souldiers as Mariners together with our best Merchandise After Three days Sail we landed at the side of the River of the Miamis where having lodg'd our selves in Huts I had time to reassemble there some French and some Savages Abenaguis Loups Quicapous and others There I augmented our Provisions by Hunting and I barter'd some of our Commodities for Indian Corn. There it was that M. de la Salle came to rejoin us towards the end of November the day of his Arrival we fell down the River of the Miamis in a Canoo to the Mouth of another River named Chicacou and we went up it again to a small Harbour which is but a League from the great River of the Illinois Having put on Shore in this place we passed the Night with a very great Fire for the Cold was so sharp that the next day the Rivers were froze and unnavigable We were obliged then to have recourse to the Sledge to carry our Baggage to the Village of the Illinois where we found things in the same state that M. de la Salle had left them only the Village was better Peopled which gave us opportunity to defer our Intrigues a little and to renew our Provisions The Rivers being still block'd up with Ice we found our selves oblig'd to begin again our Journey by Land the Third day of January 1683. we had pusht on our way to Thirty Leagues below There the Weather grew mild and the Ice melted so that Navigation appearing commodious we went on Board a Canoo the Twenty Fourth of January and fell down the River or the Illinois to the River Mississipi where we arrived the second of February The River of the Illinois The River of the Illinois reckoning from its first Carriage to its disemboguing into the River is at least 160 Leagues Navigable The adjacent parts are as pleasant as fruitful one sees there Animals of all sorts Stags Hinds Linces Wild Bulls Goats Sheep Hares and infinite more but few Beavers As to the Trees they are nothing but Forests of High Trees with great Walks which seem drawn by a Line besides Elms Beech Plane-trees Cedars Walnut and Chesnut-trees one sees there whole Plains cover'd over with Pomgranate-trees Orange-trees and Lemmon-trees and in one word with all kind of Fruit-trees In many places there are to be seen large Vines whole tendrels being twisted about the Branches of huge Trees bear Bunches of Grapes of an extraordinary bigness Being Embarked upon the Mississipi we followed the Course of this great River six Leagues from the Mouth of the River Illinois we met with that of the Ozages Of the Ozages the Banks of which and places thereabouts are no less agreeable and Fertile 't is true its Water carries so great a quantity of Mud along with it as to change that of Mississipi and make it all Muddy for more than Twenty Leagues Its Brinks are bordered with great Walnut-trees one sees there an infinite number of Foot-steps made by the Beavers and the Hunting for them there is very great and common Going up towards its Source its Banks are inhabited by Savages who trade much in Skins we passed one Night at the Mouth of this River The next day after we had sailed Ten Leagues we came to the Village of the Tamaoas where we met with no body at all the Savages being retired into the Woods to Winter we made there however some Marks to let 'em know that we had pass'd by After that continuing our Voyage we arrived after a Course of 3 Days at the Mouth of the River of the Ouabachi that comes from the East The River of the Ouabachi and throws it self into the Mississipi Eighty Leagues from that of the Illinois It is by this River that the Iroquois come to make War upon the Nations of the South In this place we lay in Huts one Night and after a Course of Sixty League following still out great River we came to land at a Bank Inhabited by Savages who are called Chicacha Here it was that we lost a French-man of our Company named Preudhomme The search we made for him during Nine days gave us an opportunity of discovering several Nations and of Building a Fort in this place to serve as a Rest and Habitation for the French in that fine Country Hunters well received of the Savages in Chicacha During this Interval Two of our Hunters met with two of the Savages Chicacha who offer'd to conduct 'em into their Village Our Men led by a Spirit of Curiosity follow'd them they were very well received and after laden with Presents and were intreated by the Principal among them to procure that our Commander will honour them with a Visit Our People being very well satisfied with their reception made their report of it to M. de la Salle who the next day went himself with Ten of his Company he received there all the good treatment that could be expected from People the most civiliz'd and had no trouble to inspire 'em with Sentiments of submission and Obedience to the King These Ravages also contented freely to the finishing of our Fort. This Nation is very numerous and is able to furnish out Two Thousand Men The Nation of the Chicacha they have all Faces flat like Plates which is reckoned among them for a stroke of Beauty it is for this Reason they take care to make the Visage of their Children flat with tablets of Wood which they apply to their Foreheads and gird very hard with Bands All these Nations to the Sea Shore give themselves this Figure Every thing is very plentiful with them Corn Fruits Grapes Olives tame Hens Indian Hens Bustards c. M. de la Salle having received such good Refreshment there and having made 'em by way of acknowledgement a Present of some Knives and Hatchets he returned to his own People At last after Nine days expectation Preudhomme who had lost himself in the Woods where he had lived upon nothing but Wild Fowl found us again Preudhom me lest in the Woods rejâ—in the French M. de la Salle entrusted him with the care of finishing the Fort which he called after his Name and gave him the Command of it after which he took his Course upon the same River towards the end of the Month of February We were three Days without disembarking An Alarm caused by a Drum
it and caught hold of a piece of Mast that say near me Then I cry'd out to some of my Men whom I saw swimming round about me and exhorted 'em to be of good Courage hoping that we might save our selves if we could find some of our Shallops But that which troubl'd me more than my own Misfortune was the sight of two half Bodies in which there was still some Remainder of Life floating on the Water and leaving the Place where they sunk stain'd with their Blood as also to see round about me an infinite number of Limbs and Members torn from Bodies and the greatest part of 'em spitted on the Sprinters of Wood. In the mean while one of my Men having espy'd an entire Shallop amidst the Wreck that swam on the Water told me that 't was requisite to endeavour to stop a Hole therein and to take out a small Boat which was enclos'd within it Whereupon about Fifteen or Sixteen of us who had escaped made up to the Shallop every one on his piece of Wood and took so great Care to clear our Boat that at last our Attempt prov'd successful Thus we all got into it and not long after sav'd our Master-Gunner who had one of his Legs shot off in the Fight We took up three or four Ours or pieces of Planks that serv'd us for the same use Then we sought for somewhat to make a Sail and a small Mast and after having furnish'd our selves in the best manner we possibly could we entirely rely'd upon the Divine Providence which alone was able to secure our Life and Safety As soon us I had ceas'd from Work I found my self all over besmear'd with Blood that run our of a Wound I receiv'd in my Head and which was apparently occasion'd by my being blown up There fore Lint was made for me with my Handkerchief and a Band with a piece of my Shirt having first wash'd the Wound with Urine The same thing was done for others of our Company who were wounded whilst our Shallop sail'd without any sight of Land neither did we know whither we were steering but that which added to our Affliction was that we had no Provisions and had already pass'd three Days without either eating or drinking insomuch that one of our Men quite worn out with Hunger and Thirst drank so great a quantity of salt Water that he burst The greatest part of our Company vomited continually whether they receiv'd any Injury from the Water they swallow'd upon their falling into the Sea as if befel me or from that which they were nocessitated to drink As for my self I was a long time indispos'd so that my Body swell'd extremely and a great number of small Pimples broke forth throughout my Body But I am apt to believe the cure of my Dropsie and the Health that I have in some measure recover'd and which is by degrees more and more restor'd to be chiefly owing to a Quartan-Ague that seiz'd on me a little while after that Misfortune I do not reckon up the other Inconveniences that were occasion'd by so desperate a Blow it being impossible that they should not befal any Person under my Circumstances The Fire of the Powder burnt all my Hair my whole Face and all over one side of my Body and I became sensible of that Accident which commonly happens among the Cannoniers who serve at Sea that is to say I voided Blood thro' the Nose Ears and Mouth I know not whether the Blast of the Gun-powder produces that Effect by excessively dilating the Vessels that contain the Blood in our Body so that the ends of the Branches let it out or whether the great Noise and Commotion that it causes in those Organs opliges the Veins to open But let the case be how it will 't is of no great moment since this is not a proper Place to hold a Consultation of Physitians as long as we are ready to be starv'd with Hunger nor to enquire what became of all the English Men when we had much ado to save our selves We continu'd our Course by rowing up the Current because we knew it came from the Port of Cabinda but forasmuch as the Wind was contrary we could never reach it and we were forc'd to content our selves only to make Cape Corsa if it were possible which is distan Twelve Leagues from that of Cathersna where we were not able to land by reason of a Bar which renders the Coast inaccessible That was our Design but Hunger hinder'd us from putting it in Execution and 't was requisite to overcome the Obstacles that Nature laid in our way by getting a-shoar notwithstanding the Baâ— which we did at last with a great deal of Difficulty hoping to meet with some Negro who might supply us with Victuals Therefore one of our Company being detach ' to seek for somewhat to appease our Hunger had the good Luck to find in a Pond that the Sea had form'd hard by good store of Oysters sticking to certain Branches and immediately ran to give us notice of this Discovery Whereupon we all got up the Channel to that Pond and being arriv'd there eat Oysters with a very good Appetite opening 'em with Knives we had in our Pockets which we lent one to another very charitably After having spent two Daye there I divided my Men into three small Bands and sent 'em to seek for Provisions and Habitations farther up the Land with Orders to return to the Shallop in the Evening I also went forth with the rest but we did not meet with an Habitation nor any Footsteps of Men. We only saw many Herds of Buffies of the bigness of an Ox which fled from us as we drew near 'em Thus the whole Day being spent without finding any thing we all came back to the Shallop to feed upon Oysters and took a Resolution to depart from that Place the next day to go to Cape Corsa to the Leeward of which is situated a large Port where the Vessels that come from Cruising take in fresh Water and Wood. The Negro's who inhabit the Country as soon as they are inform'd of the Arrival of any Vessels by the discharging of their Cannon instantly repair to the Shoar bringing Provisions to be exchang'd for Brandy Knives Hatchets and other Toys They are oblig'd to take up their Habitation far from the Sea by reason that all those Coasts are surrounded with Marshy Grounds We were no sooner arriv'd at that Cape but we heard a great noise made by the Negro's who came to self Wood to the Ships that lay at Anchor in the Port and I made enquiry among 'em endeavouring to find out some of my Acquaintance For since they had very frequently supply'd me with necessary Refreshments Wood and other Commodities in my other Voyages I hop'd to meet with some Persons that had Knowledge of me but altho I knew many of 'em nevertheless 't was almost impossible to perswade 'em that I was
would satisfie me and that they would depart after having devour'd some of our Brethren or else some of the Illinois As soon as I understood this Answer I thrusted back their Present with my Foot and told them that seeing they had such a Design I would accept none adding withal that I would march away without their Order or Leave when I should think fit The Chiefs of the Iroquois having heard my reply stood up and told us that we might retire There was amongst them one Abenaguis with whom I had been acquainted who told me that they were very much angry with me and advis'd us to retire with all the haste we could to our Fort which we did accordingly and stood all the Night long upon our Guard being resolved to defend our selves to the utmost extremity When we saw our selves safe Father Zenoble and I made several Reflections on the Dissimulation and Infidelity of that Nation and likewise on the dangers we had been exposed to in their Council and I remember that that good Father blam'd my proceedings and said That in those nice occasions we ought to be more pliant in hopes to find a more favourable opportunity I agreed with him in general but insisted that this Principle admitted of some exceptions and that assuredness and vigour were more prevailing upon barbarous men than a more prudent way In the mean time we advised what was fit to be done in this juncture The French quit the Fort. and being unable to defend us against so many Enemies we resolved to quit the Fort the next day I Embarked the next Morning with two Recollects and five French men the others who were in the Fort having chosen to go and live among the Illinois rather than to return home Having equally divided our Arms Ammunition and Goods we Embarked the Eleventh of September 1687 very early and about Five Leagues from the Fort we went ashore to repair our Canoo and dry some Furs which the Water would have spoiled As we were busie about it Father Gabriel told me that he would take a walk along the Shore Father Gabriel murthered by the Savages and I advised him to keep in our sight be cause we were surrounded with Enemies but the charming Prospect of that Country ingaged him a little too far so that seeing he did not return we began to mistrust that he was fallen into the Hands of the Savages Father Zenoble and I advanced into the Woods to look for him but could not discover what was become of him notwithstanding we fir'd our Arms and made all the Night long a great Fire to give him notice of the place where we expected him We understood since that he was met by a Band of Savages called Quicapous who murthered him and sold some time after his Breviary to a Jesuit from whom we learned these particulars Thus dyed this Holy Man in the seventieth Year of his Age by the Hands of those very Men for the sake of whom he had left his Native Country and suffer'd so many Fatigues We waited for him 'till the next day about Noon but having no hopes of his Return we Embarked again and after one Months Navigation landed within two days Journey of the Lake of the Illinois into which we carried over Land our Equipage We embarked again on the 20th of October and ten days after were forced to land by contrary Winds within 20 Leagues of a great Village called Potavalamia where we found no other Provisions but Acorns I was sick of an Ague and my legs were so swoln that we could not reach the Village I have spoken of 'till the 10th of November We found no body in it nor any Provisions but having by good chance advanced into the Country we met with a good quantity of Indian Corn which enabled us to Imbark again The Winds were so cross that we were oblig'd to come a Shore few days after where having found some fresh foot-steps we followed the Track and came to another Village of the Pontoualamis which was likewise abandoned but however afforded us some Provisions which were sufficient to maintain us 'till our arrival at the Buy of Puans which was towards the latter end of November Having already described this Bay I need not repeat it now but I must add that there is a Creek in it called the Creek of the Sturgeons because of the prodigious quantity of that sort of Fish that is catch'd in it We refreshed our selves in that place for several days with the Pontoualamis who entertained us with scorched Bees and Stagg We diverted also our selves in Hunting of Beavers which afforded us a great satisfaction The Country about the Bay being watered by an infinite number of Rivulets lined with great Trees and the Woods being full of Aspen-trees the Branches and Leaves whereof are the dainty food of Beavers Those Creatures are very numerous in those Parts An Accouns of Beavers The Beavers are as every body knows Amphibious Creatures who cannot live without Air Water and Land They are near as big as Sheep but not so tall their legs being very short but so nimble that they come nothing short of Apes for dexterity They have a Muzzle or Nose and strong Teeth their Body is covered with thick Hair and pretty fine but their Tail is made up of a kind of twisted Hair Which forms a figure like that of a Triangle and serves them as a Trowel to beat the soft Earth they make use of to build their Habitations The Instinct or Industry of those Creatures is almost incredible and therefore I am sensible that many will question the Truth of what I have to say about it however I may assure the Reader that I do not Romance in the least When they have a mind to make a new Settlement or Habitation and have found a proper place for it which is commonly in the Channel of a River provided it be not too deep or too broad they look for a Tree on the Bank of the said River leaning a little towards the Water They meet together in a Circle and because their number is always odd it seems that they hold a Council to know what is fit to be done The first thing to be done is to cut down the Tree they have pitched upon but not horizontaly but in such a manner that it may fall into the very place they have a mind to that is cross the River to stop or at lead to abate the Rapidity of the stream If the Branches hinder the body of the Tree to lye in die Water they cut them likewise and then make a perfect Dike or Bank with Mud and Gravel together leaving now and then some places open for the Water lest the River should overflow their Bank If the Tree cannot reach the other Shore they fell another Tree over against it to join that and make a perfect Causey or Bridge This Work being compleated they build their Habitations or
himself a little he told me very positively That M. de la Salle his Brother was in perfect Health but that the ill Success of his Navigation had so far pull'd down his Spirits that he had scarce Courage to continue his Course that in returning by small Voyages he took delight in trading with the different Nations whom he met with and that having charg'd him to go before to give me notice of his Arrival he determin'd still to reside among the Naches and Akanceas for some time to purchase certain Merchandizes of both those Nations The Assurance with which he spoke to me joyn'd with a Shew of downright Integrity which was natural to him besides the Deference due to a Person of his Character for he was a Priest would not suffer me in the least to call in Question the veracity of his Relation and serv'd a little to encourage me against my sad Presages Therefore I entreated him to give me an Account of his Voyage and to let me know when they re-embark'd and at what time they landed Since then I gave him a great deal of Scope to deliver his Mind ingenuously and without Constraint he began to relate the particular Circumstances with so much the more Freedom He told me at first That the whole Court of France being charm'd with the great Discoveries made by M. de la Salle the King made no scruple at all to grant him the Supplies he desir'd not to mention the Titles of Honour that procur'd him greater Authority in his new Plantations That they set out from France July 24. A. D. 1684. with four Vessels very well provided of all things necessary and above 200 Men as well Soldiers as Artificers of all sorts of Trades and that nevertheless by a Complication of Misfortunes their whole Fleet was reduc'd to a few Boats and that great number of Persons to Seven or Eight French Men who serv'd as a Convoy to his Brother during his Return Forasmuch as these Remarkable Crosses afforded Matter of Wonder I could not choose but be very desirous to be inform'd of all the Particulars of their Adventures Whereupon M. Cavelier resuming his former Narrative from the beginning of their Navigation told me That after a Calm which continued for some Days in the Latitude of St. Domingo they were suddenly surpriz'd with a violent Storm insomuch that one of their Ships laden with Merchandizes to the value of above Thirty Thousand Livres was hurry'd away with a furious Blast of Wind and afterwards taken by certain Spanish †Piroques Rovers That the rest of the Fleet cast Anchor before the same Island where they were soon refitted and supply'd with fresh Provisions which with the Merchandizes there bought serv'd for the Cargo of these Vessels but that the greatest part of the Mariners by living somewhat too licentiously contracted very dangerous Diseases That they cruis'd about from thence towards the Islands of Caimant and took in fresh Water on that of Cuba where having found many Tuns of Canary good Brandy Sugar and Indian Corn left unguarded they seiz'd on the whole Cargo and got such Reprisals as were sufficient to make 'em amends for the loss of every thing that the Spaniards had taken from them before That afterwards being supply'd with all manner of Provisions they set Sail again and that having always had a favourable Gale of Wind they would have enter'd the Gulph of Mexico but that perceiving the Currents to be very rapid and the Shelves to be numerous they were oblig'd to stand off from the Shoar which hinder'd M. de la Salle from lighting on the exact degree of Latitude for the Mouth of the River Mississipi insomuch that to avoid the exposing of the Men to greater Dangers he order'd 'em to land at the Bay of Spiritu Santo 50 Leagues below the River they sought for But two Days after hoping to discover it they got on Board their Ships again and always taking care to steer into the Main to shun the Rocks and Shelves they at last arriv'd a great deal higher in a Bay afterwards known by the name of St. Lewis This Bay is of a very convenient Depth for a Harbour but 't is dangerous landing there as well by reason of the Shelves of Sand that encompass it as for the Rocks with which 't is beset on all sides Indeed the missing of the Entrance of the River continued he would have been no great Detriment to us for after having once arriv'd so near its Mouth it would have been difficult to descry it at least by Land afterwards to convey our Ships thither to form a kind of Harbour to prevent Mistakes for the future and even to build a regular Port but ill Luck would have it that after M. de Beaujeu who commanded one of the three Vessels was come on Board our Ship the two others were lost as well by the ill Management of the Pilot as by the Carelesness of the Mariners for the first ran upon a shelf of Sand in the Mouth of the Bay from whence it was impossible to get her off notwithstanding our utmost Endeavours altho' indeed we were so fortunate as to save the Men and the best of our Effects The other Ship was dash'd in pieces against a Rock even in the very Harbour with the loss of the most part of the Mariners but we had luckily unloaded it of all our Provisions and Merchandizes Besides that the greatest part of our Company and Goods were set ashoar by M. de Beaujeu who after having been a Witness of our Misfortunes set Sail to return for France M. Cavelier having thus related the Disasters that befel their Fleet proceeded to give the following Narration of the other Adventures and Occurrences that happen'd during their Voyage To reckon said he from July 24. A. D. 1684. the Day of our Departure from Rochel to Feb. 18. in the next Year 1685. when we disimbark'd at St. Lewis's Bay about Seven Months were pass'd at what time my Brother having gather'd together the Fragments of our Vessels and after having discover'd the advantageous Situation of the Country at the Mouth of a very fine River The River of Cows call'd the River of Cows in the midst of many others that fall into the same Bay with a great number of populous Nations and the delightful Prospects caus'd by the enamell'd Verdure of the Lands the Abundance of Fruit and the numerous Herds of Cattle was soon induc'd to cause a fine Seat to be built for himself in those Parts having at first made the Draught of a Fort and delineated the Compass of it giving Orders at the same time for putting his Design in Execution And indeed the necessity of building some Apartments for Lodging and the conveniency of procuring Timber and Morter contributed so far to the carrying on of the Work that it was entirely compleated within the space of Two Months In the mean while M. de la Salle growing
Journey sometimes in the Plains and sometimes across the Torrents and Rivers which we pass'd in our Canoos we arriv'd in the midst of a very extraordinary Nation call'd the Biscatonges to whom we gave the Name of Weepers in regard that upon the first Approach of Strangers all these People as well Men as Women usually fall a weeping bitterly The reason of their Practice is very particular for these poor People imagining that their Relations or Friends deceased are gone a Journey and continually expecting their return the remembrance of 'em is reviv'd upon the Arrival of new Passengers but forasmuch as they do not find in their Persons those whose Loss they lament it serves only to encrease their Grief That which is yet more remarkable and perhaps even very reasonable in that Custom is that they weep much more at the Birth of their Children than at their Death because the latter is esteem'd only by 'em as it were a Journey or Voyage from whence they may return after the Expiration of a certain time but they look upon their Nativity as an Inlet into an Ocean of Dangers and Misfortunes Let the case be how it will this first Torrent of Tears being once over nothing was to be seen among the whole Multitude of these People but a serene Aspect and an engaging Air full of Kindness and Respect They conducted us into their Huts that were neatly matted where they offer'd us some powder'd Beef and Venison with some Sagavite Sagavite a sort of Bread their ordinary Bread which they make with a certain Root call'd Toquo being a kind of Bramble After having wash'd dry'd and beaten it to Powder they make it up into a Paste which being bak'd is of a very good taste but of an Astringent Quality We added to their Treat a little of our Brandy and gave 'em a Couple of Bottles full of that Liquor Whereupon they made us a Present of divers Skins well dress'd which serv'd to make us good Shoes These People worship no other Deity but the Sun and that is the peculiar God of almost all those Nations Upon which occasion we told 'em That our Prince was the Sun of other Kings that his Lustre was spread abroad throughout the whole Continent of Europe and even in divers Parts of America That if they would submit to his Authority they should ere long be sensible of some of the Effects of his Grandeur and Generosity Whereupon they readily submitted and took an Oath to maintain a mutual Friendship with us for ever Having spent two Days among that weeping Nation we set forward again in our Journey On the first Day we travell'd Ten large Leagues almost continually in the Woods and afterwards we arriv'd within sight of a great Village in the entrance of which we espy a huge Roe-Buck which a Chaouanous of our Retinue aim'd at and kill'd with one Fusee-shot The Report of the Gun A Fusee let off strikes a Terror into the Minds of the Savages and the Flame that accompany'd it appear'd so dreadful to those Inhabitants that at the very sight of our Company and Arms they were all extremely terrify'd and betook themselves to flight The chief Commander and three of his Sons having shew'd more Resolution brought 'em out of their Panick Fear so that they advanc'd towards us to offer us some Refreshment and the use of some of their Huts for our Lodging during the Night But my Brother not judging it convenient to trust 'em we took up our Quarters a little further off according to our usual Custom It was well for us that we were so cautious for the next Morning at break of day we discern'd a great number of that Rabble lying in Ambush among the Reeds and arm'd with Bows and Arrows M. De la Salle immediately caus'd 'em to be rudely attack'd and oblig'd 'em to call for Quarter But they were released for a certain quantity of Indian Corn which the Son of their Commander brought to us and we immediately took a resolution to decamp At the distance of six Leagues from thence we came to another Village consisting of above 300 Huts inhabited by the Chinonoas The Chinonoas know how to distinguish the French from the Spaniards who receiv'd us very favourably All these Countries are situated almost on the Eastern Coast of the Sea of Mexico so that the Spainards frequently make Inrodes into them and abuse the Natives after a most outragious manner Insomuch that these Savages knew how to distinguish us from them by the Air of our Countenance our Language and Deportment and the Antipathy they had against all those of that Nation serv'd only to encrease their Friendship and Kindness towards us We soon gave 'em to understand that there was no manner of Correspondence between the Spaniards and us and that they were our declar'd Enemies Whereupon having offer'd us every thing that was in their Possession they entreated us to unite with them in order to maintain a vigorous War against the Spanish Nation We reply'd That we were not at present in a condition to do it but that we would speedily return with greater numbers to assist 'em insomuch that having spent the Night very peaceably among those People we departed the next day laden with a great deal of Indian Corn and very fine Skins We had scarce march'd League on the Road when a certain Person of our Company found himself stung by a Viper A Man stung by a Viper and suddenly made a hideous Outcry Within less space than half a quarter of an Hour his Body swell'd prodigiously and became all over livid We immediately made large Incisions on the part affected bathing it with Brandy and Salt of Vipers and gave him some Orvietan so that after Two Days he was perfectly cur'd The Passage over a rapid River Then we continu'd our Journey and after Two Days march we arriv'd on the Banks of a very rapid River It was requisite to pass it and we were then destitute of Canoos for those we made use of before were so leaky that they took in Water on all sides and we were forc'd to leave 'em as being no longer serviceable to us Therefore we could find no other Expedient but to make a * Caieâ— little Boat of Canes and many Twigs of Trees twisted one within another and cover'd with our best Skins My Brother and our two Nephews first went on board with two Savages to steer it whilst I stay'd with the rest of our Company on the side of the River They were scarce got into the middle of the Current when the Swiftness of the Stream hurry'd 'em away in a moment and took 'em out of our sight But by singular good Luck the Boat was stopt about half a large League from thence by a great Tree that floated on the Water being half pluck'd up by the Roots so that grappling the Branches by the means of certain Poles they at last
'em that I would not accept of it till I were thoroughly convinc'd of their Innocence as to that Point and that nevertheless if I could be serviceable to 'em in any thing they should find my Fidelity inviolable The chief Commander answer'd my kind Expressions with a Present of Ten sine Horses well harness'd and I gave him seven Hatchets with a Set of Glasses We left their Country May 29. and advanc'd within a Days Journey of the Palaquessons where we were inform'd that the last Colony establish'd by M. de la Salle on the Coast of the Gulph of Mexico not having been able to maintain it self in a perfect Union was quite dispers'd that some were intermixed with the Savages and that others found Means to get to the French Plantations in other Places Therefore not judging it expedient to seek for 'em where they were no longer to be found I took a Resolution to return the same way I came In the mean while I endeavour'd to pass to the Village of Coroas but a prodigious Inundation happening by reason of the extraordinary Rains which continu'd for Three Days successively we were involv'd in the greatest Streight imaginable For the Water every where rose up to the middle Leg at least insomuch that we were forc'd to sleep and to make Fires on thick Trees and we thought our selves happy in being then provided with Cassave Beef and Venison We continu'd three or four Days in this forlorn Condition but as good Luck would have it we discover'd a small Island which the Waters had not as yet overflow'd and we retir'd thither for a Day and a Night Our Horses were somewhat recruited there and the Ground being suddenly dry'd by the excessive Heat of the Season and of the Climate we got up in a Days Journey to the Village of Coroas Coroas a Savage People I cannot sufficiently express the noble Entertainment we met with among those People who employ'd several Persons every day in fishing and hunting on purpose to treat us and supply'd us with abundance of Pullets Geese Pigeons and Turkeys But that which redoubled my Joy is that two of those French Men whom I sought for among the Nouadiches were luckily found here and that I had so favourable an Opportunity to re-unite 'em to my Company I took my leave of the Coroas July 20th and arriv'd on the 31th in the Territories of the Akancea's where I was seiz'd with a Fever which oblig'd me to stay there till August 15. After I had a little recover'd my Strength I set forward again in my Journey to the Country of the Islinois and arriv'd there in the Month of September Thus the Treaty of Peace concluded between the Taensa's and the Nachitoches the pleasure of being most kindly entertain'd by all the Savage People and the Satisfaction of bringing back two French Men whom I had given over for lost were the Fruits of my last Voyage By this Relation one may take an estimate of the Riches and Beauty of all those Countries inhabited by so many People that are all in a manner already brought under Subjection and who have a perfect Idea of the Grandeur of our Monarch It cannot be conceiv'd how much that Continent abounds as well in all sorts of Grain and Fruit as in variety of Cattel 'T is surrounded on all sides with great Seas the Shoars of which are very deep and seem to present us with natural Ports insomuch that three or four Havens on the Gulph of Mexico would undoubtedly secure for us the Possession of those Territories The French are generally so well belov'd that to make themselves Masters of 'em they have nothing to do but to settle there incontinently and to plant their Colonies What is wanting may be transported thither by our Vessels as in like manner what is wanting in our Country may be brought us from thence For from those Parts we have our principal Stores of Skins we might also get Silks Timber for Ships and divers other Commodities If there be a scarcity of Corn and Wine 't is less occasion'd by the defect of the Soil than for want of the Improvement of Husbandry Lastly to procure all the Treasures of Nature 't is only requisite to bestow some Pains in seeking for 'em and to improve 'em when found Such is the State of Affairs in that Country God grant that a happy and lasting Peace may soon put us in Possession and secure us in the Enjoyment of these Advantages FINIS A RELATION OF A VOYAGE Made by the Sieur de Montauban Captain of the French Privateers ON THE Coasts of Guinea In the Year 1695. WITH A Description of the Kingdom of Cape de Lopez and an Account of the Manners Customs and Religion of the Natives of that Country London Printed in the Year 1698. A LETTER to Monsieur SIR I Have at last receiv'd the Relation of the Voyage made by Capt. Montauband commonly call'd Montauban and I have sent it you printed You will admire without all Doubt as well as I how by the means of his singular Prudence and Courage he extricated himself from those weighty Pressures under which any other Person in his Circumstances would have unavoidably perish'd You may also call to Mind in reading the beginning of this Narrative that you had a sight of some of his Seamen at Bordeaux A. D. 1694. from whence he set out the next Year to undertake the Voyage of which he here gives us a particular Account He gave chace to divers Ships that he met during his Course and engag'd at Cape Verd with a Frigat of 34 Pieces of Ordnance At St. John's Cape he came up with an English Vessel of 20 Guns and took her after a small Engagement Afterwards he took a Caper of Brandenburg and steer'd his Course to Angola At last he discover'd the English Guard-Ship arm'd with 54 Pieces of Cannon near the Coast and fought her during five or six Hours till they both came to boarding with great Fury But when he was just ready to master her the English Captain set fire to his whole store of Powder and both the Ships were blown up into the Air with a most dreadful Noise and Havock You may have the satisfaction to take a view of so terrible a Shipwreck in this Narrative as it were on the Sea shoar and to observe how Capt. Montauban makes his Escape with Fifteen or Sixteen of his Men. He suffer'd Hunger above Three Days and at last arriv'd at Cape de Lopez where he went to visit the King of the Country He has given us a Description of the Court and Kingdom of that Prince treating at the same time of his Religion and forming a Project for the establishing of the Roman-Catholick in those Parts He stood Godfather to the King's Grand-son by his Son Prince Thomas and embark'd in a Portuguese Vessel to return to Europe An English Man of his Acquaintance took him on board his Ship and convey'd him