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 this second Ceremony, the Chief made Signs to us, to sit down on
a Sort of little Scaffold, rais’d about 4 Foot above the Ground, and
made of Wood and Canes, where when we were plac’d, the Chiefs of the
Villages being four in Number, came and made Speeches to us, one after
another. We listened to them with Patience, tho’ we understood not one
Word of what they said to us; being tir’d with the Length of their
Harangues, and much more with the violent Heat of the Sun, which was
just over our Heads.
When the Speeches were ended, the Purport whereof, as near as we could
guess, was only to assure us, that we were very welcome; we gave them
to understand, that we were going into our own Country, designing to
return speedily, to bring them several Sorts of Commodities and such
Things as they should stand in need of.
Next, we made them the usual Presents of Axes, Knives, Strings of
Beads, Needles and Pins, for their Wives, telling them, that when we
return’d we would give them more.
[Sidenote: _Their Entertainment._]
We farther signify’d to them, that if they would afford us some Corn or
Meal, we would give them other Things in Exchange, which they agreed
to. After this they made us eat _Sagamite_, or Hasty-pudding, Bread,
Beans, Pompions and other Things, which we had sufficient Need of.
Most of us having scarce eaten any Thing all that Day, some for Want,
and others out of Devotion, as Monsr. _Cavelier_, who would observe
the Fast of St. _John Baptist_’s Eve, whose Name he bore. It is to be
observ’d, that the Pompions are incomparably better there, than with us.
The 24th, the Elders met again in our Cottage. We gave them to
understand, they would oblige us,[112] in furnishing Guides to conduct
us to the Village of _Cappa_, which was in our Way; but instead of
granting it, they earnestly intreated us, to stay with them and go
to the Wars against their Enemies, having been told Wonders of our
Firelocks, which we promis’d to do when we return’d, and that it should
be shortly, and they seem’d to rest satisfy’d.
[Sidenote: _Mr._ de Marle _drown’d_.]
Thus our Hopes increas’d, but the Joy it occasion’d was allay’d by a
dismal Accident that befell us. Monsieur _de Marle_, one of the prime
Men of our Company, having Breakfasted, would needs go Bath himself in
the River we had pass’d the Day before, and not knowing how to swim,
he went too far and step’d into a Hole, whence he could not recover
himself, but was unfortunately drowned. Young Monsieur _Cavelier_,
having been told that Monsieur _de Marle_ was going to Bath himself,
ran after him, and coming to the River, saw he was drowning, he ran
back to acquaint us: We hasted thither with a Number of _Indians_, who
were there before us; but all too late, some of them div’d, and brought
him up dead from the Bottom of the Water.
[Sidenote: _His Funeral._]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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