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
A Council was call’d aboard our Ship, the _Joly_, to consider whether
we should lie by for the others, or hold on our Course, and it was
resolv’d, that, considering our Water began to fall short, and there
were above five Persons[38] sick aboard, of which Number Monsr. _de la
Sale_ and the Surgeon[39] were, we should make all the Sail we could,
to reach the first Port[40] of the Island _Hispaniola_, being that
call’d _Port de Paix_, or Port Peace, which Resolution was accordingly
register’d.
[Sidenote: _Cape_ Samana.]
The 20th, we discover’d the first Land of _Hispaniola_, being Cape
_Samana_, lying in 19 Degrees of North Latitude, and of Longitude
308. The 25th we should have put into _Port de Paix_, as had been
concerted, and it was not only the most convenient Place for us to get
Refreshments, but also the Residence of Monsr. _de Cussy_, Governor
of the Island _Tortuga_, who knew that Monsr. _de la Sale_ carried
particular Orders for him to furnish such Necessaries as he stood in
Need of.
[Sidenote: Tortuga _Island_.]
Notwithstanding these cogent Reasons, Mr. _de Beaujeu_ was positive to
pass further on in the Night, weathering the Island _Tortuga_, which is
some Leagues distant from _Port de Paix_ and the Coast of _Hispaniola_.
He also pass’d Cape St. _Nicolas_, and the 26th[41] of the said Month,
we put into the Bay of _Jaguana_, coasting the Island _Guanabo_, which
is in the Middle of that Great Bay or Gulph, and in Conclusion, on the
27th we arriv’d at _Petit Gouave_, having spent 58 Days in our Passage
from the Port of _Chef de Bois_, near _Rochel_.
This Change of the Place for our little Squadron to put into, for
which no Reason could be given, prov’d very disadvantageous; and
it will hereafter appear, as I have before observ’d, that those
misunderstanding among the Officers insensibly drew on the Causes from
whence our Misfortune proceeded.
[Sidenote: _Oct. 1684._]
As soon as we had dropt Anchor, a _Piragua_, or great Sort of _Canoe_,
came out from the Place, with Twenty Men, to know who we were, and
hail’d us. Being inform’d that we were _French_, they acquainted us,
that Monsieur _de Cussy_ was at _Port de Paix_ with the Marquis
_de St. Laurent_, Lieutenant General of the _American_ Islands, and
Monsieur _Begon_ the Intendant, which very much troubled Monsieur _de
la Sale_, as having Affairs of the utmost Consequence to concert with
them; but there was no remedy, and he was oblig’d to bear it with
Patience.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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