| southward and eastward stretched the Bay and the fields which | | border it, from the east to the north, the river appeared along a | | gentle slope,—[The phrase, “From the east to the north” squints | | both ways; the reader must determine the meaning. Perhaps, in | | the editor’s translation, the comma after the words “border it” | | should be removed, so as to make the phrase “from the east to the | | north” qualify the verb “border.” Although the editor’s studies | | have not qualified him to express an authoritative opinion upon | | this point of historical geography, he hazards the guess that | | this river is one of those flowing into Galveston Bay.] _C. C. | | edit._ | | | | [72] [The ascription of an agreeable odor to the colors is found | | in the original. Perhaps the _Fr._ “couleurs” is a misprint for | | “fleurs.”] M. B. A. | | | | [73] The original _Fr._ expression seems preferable: viz., “& | | Duhaut ayant dit ses raisons, & moy les miennes, ...”—and Duhaut | | having given his reasons, and I mine. _C. C. edit._ | | | | [74] La Salle, now apparently convinced that in his approach | | by sea, he had missed the mouth of the Mississippi which he so | | eagerly sought, determined to retrace, by land, the long route | | to Canada, in order to secure supplies and succor for the little | | colony in Texas, and to report their state to France. In this | | design, he appears to have been even more reticent than usual; | | since few, if any, seem to have been informed of the real extent | | of the journey before them. | | | | Almost at the outset of their undertaking, the little frigate | | _Belle_, which was to have accompanied them—as far as | | possible—along the coast—was lost, and all of her crew perished, | | except three or four, who were washed ashore, and rejoined | | Joutel’s party, only after three months’ absence. | | | | [75] _Fr._ “alesnes”—awls. | | | | [76] Compare p. 2, line 9. | | | | [77] The 22d. | | | | [78] _Fr._ “pierriers”—swivel-guns. _C. C. edit._ |