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
We met with the same Obstacles, that had hinder’d us the Day before,
that is, the High-Sea, which would not permit us to come near the
Shore, and were obliged to drop Anchor in fourteen Foot Water.[52] The
Sight of Abundance of Goats and Bullocks, differing in Shape, from
ours, and running along the Coast, heighten’d our Earnestness to be
Ashore. We therefore sounded to see whether we might get to Land by
Stripping, and found we were on a Flat, which had four Foot Water, but
that beyond it there was a deep Channel. Whilst we were consulting what
to do, a Storm arose, which oblig’d Monsieur _de la Sale_ to fire a Gun
for us to return Aboard, which we did against our Inclination.
Monsieur _de la Sale_ was pleas’d with the Report we made him, and by
it, several were encouraged to go Ashore to hunt, that we might have
some fresh Meat. We spent all that Night, till the next Morning, in
Hopes of returning soon to that Place; but the Wind changing, forc’d us
to weigh and sail till the Evening, when we drop’d Anchor in six Fathom
Water. The Land which we never departed from very far, appear’d to us
very pleasant, and having lain there till the 16th, that Morning we
sail’d _W. S. W._ We weather’d a Point, keeping a large Offing, because
of the Sea’s beating upon it, and stood to the Southward. At Noon,
we were in 28 Degrees 20 Minutes of North Latitude, and consequently
found the Latitude declin’d, by which we were sensible, that the Coast
tendered to the Southward. At Night we anchor’d in six Fathom Water.
The 17th, the Wind continuing the same, we held on our Course _S. W._
and having about Ten discover’d a Sort of River, Monsieur _de la Sale_
caus’d Ten of us to go into a Boat, to take a View of that Coast, and
see whether there was not some Place to land. He order’d me, in Case we
found any convenient Place, to give him Notice either by Fire or Smoke.
[Sidenote: _Second landing._]
We set out, and found the Shoals obstructed our Descent. One of our Men
went naked into the Water to sound that Sand Bank, which lay between us
and the Land; and having shewn us a Place where we might Pass, we, with
much Difficulty, forc’d our Boat into the Channel, and six or seven
of us landed, after ordering the Boat to go up into that which had
appeared to us to be a River, to see whether any fresh Water could be
found.
As soon as we were landed, I made a Smoke to give Notice to Monsieur
_de la Sale_, and then we advanc’d both Ways, without straggling too
far, that we might be ready to receive Monsr. _de la Sale_, who was
to come, as he did, soon after, but finding the Surges run high, he
return’d, and our Boat finding no fresh Water, came back and anchor’d
to wait for us.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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