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
La Hontan, who travelled in 1689 and subsequent years, wrote “Nouveaux
Voyages,” Paris, 1703. This work passed through several editions.
Although adventures related by La Hontan are in many cases imaginary,
yet, says Parkman, he “had seen much, and portions of his story have a
substantial value.” J. Gravier, in 1700, went from the Illinois country
to D’Iberville’s colony in Louisiana. See “Relation de Voyage en 1700
depuis le Ilinois jusqu’à l’embouchure du Mississipi,” New York, 1859
(_Shea’s Cramoisy Press_). The “Relation de la Mississipi en 1700, par
MM. de Montigny, De St. Cosme et Thaumur de la Source,” New York, 1861
(_Shea’s Cramoisy Press_), narrates the experiences of a party of the
missionaries under the guidance of Tonty. An extract from Gravier is
given in French’s Historical Collections, second series, pp. 79–93. St.
Cosme’s and Gravier’s narratives are also included in Shea’s collection
of “Early Voyages up and down the Mississippi,” Albany, 1861, where
also may be found Le Seuer’s journal of a voyage from Louisiana to the
Sioux country in 1699–1700. An extract from Le Seuer is given in La
Harpe’s “Journal Historique,” Paris, 1831, and in French’s Historical
Collections, pt. 3. A journal by Pénicaut, who accompanied Le Seuer, is
included in his “Annals of Louisiana, from 1698 to 1722,” in French’s
Historical Collections, new series, pp. 33–162, New York, 1869. The
memoirs of D’Iberville’s expedition to the Mississippi, in 1699–1700,
contain descriptions of the lower Mississippi and throw light upon La
Salle’s movements in that region. The principal documents concerning
D’Iberville’s enterprises are printed in the fourth volume of Margry. A
brief report by D’Iberville of his voyage on the Mississippi in 1699,
is printed in French’s Historical Collection, second series, pp. 19–31.
An anonymous narrative entitled, “Historical Journal; or, Narrative of
the Expedition under D’Iberville, to explore the Colbert (Mississippi)
River, 1698–99,” is published in French’s Historical Collection, second
series, pp. 29–119. Both of these papers are included in Margry’s
collection, volume iv. Sauvole was a member of D’Iberville’s company;
see his “Journal Historique” in French’s Historical Collections, pt. 3,
pp. 223–240.
Father Marest’s letter on his mission at the Illinois, dated 1712,
published in the “Lettres édifiantes,” vol. ii., and reprinted in Kip’s
“Early Jesuit Missions,” pp. 191–227, New York, 1846, describes the
scenes of his labors.
In 1721, Charlevoix, the historian, made a journey from Canada across
the lakes to the Illinois, and thence down the Mississippi to the Gulf
of Mexico. He was requested by the King of France, to write an account
of his travels. The descriptions of the country published in vol. iii.
of his “Histoire et Description générale de la Nouvelle France,” Paris,
1744, afford perhaps the best views of the primitive West which we have.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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