Joutel's Journal of La Salle's Last Voyage, 1684-7Joutel, Henri
History
Joutel's Journal of La Salle's Last Voyage, 1684-7
Joutel, Henri
La Salle, Robert Cavelier, sieur de, 1643-1687; Louisiana -- History -- To 1803; Mississippi River -- Discovery and exploration
After the first Day’s Journey we incamp’d on the Bank of the River, we
had left not long before, lay there that Night, and the next Day, cut
down Trees to make a Sort of Bridge or Planks to pass over it; handing
over our Goods from one to another, and swimming over our Horses;
which Work we were frequently oblig’d to repeat, and as often as we had
afterwards Occasion to pass Rivers on our Way, which we held on till
the 29th, every Day meeting with some Cottage, and at last, a Hamlet or
Village, into which we went, and the _Indian_ Inhabitants told us, they
were call’d _Nahordikhe_,[111] and that they were Allies to the _Cenis_.
[Sidenote: Nahordikhes _and_ Assony.]
We barter’d with them for some Provisions, and their Chief offer’d to
go with us as far as the _Assonys_, who were not farther off than about
three Leagues, which he accordingly did; but it happening to rain when
we came thither, and the _Assonys_ having had no Notice before hand, we
found but indifferent Reception.
However, we were conducted to the Chief’s Cottage; the Elders had
Notice given them, they resorted thither, and when our Horses were
unloaded, and our Goods plac’d in a Corner of the Cottage, which the
Chief had allotted us, we gave them to understand, that our Intention
was to go farther, to fetch Commodities to trade with them, at which
they were pleas’d. They gave us to eat, and the Elders stay’d some Part
of the Evening with us, which made us somewhat Uneasy, and oblig’d us
to be upon our Guard; however the Night pass’d without any Disturbance.
The next Morning the Elders came to us again. They had provided Mats
without the Cottage, and made Signs to us to go thither and sit down
upon them, as we did, leaving two of our Company to guard the Baggage.
We repeated to them what we had said the Night before, and made them
some Presents of Axes, Knives, Strings of Beads and Rings. They
signify’d they were sorry we would go away, and endeavour’d the best
they could, to make us sensible of the same Obstacles the others had
signify’d to us; but it was all in Vain; however, we stay’d till the
first of _June_, all the while bartering and gathering the best stock
of Provisions we could.
[Sidenote: _June 1687_]
[Sidenote: _Good Entertainment._]
The Second, we remov’d from that Cottage, where we had some Jealousy,
and went to another, a Quarter of a League from it, where the Chief
of it gave us a very good Reception. An old Woman, who was either his
Mother, or Governess of the Cottage, took particular Care of us: We
were first serv’d at eating, and to keep her in that good Mind, we now
and then made her some little Presents, whilst she, by her Care and
Kindness, spar’d our Provisions, which were necessary for our Journey.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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