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
The 20th, Monsieur _de la Sale_ sent Orders to that Captain to draw
near the Bar, and to come in at high Water, of which a Signal should
be given him; he also order’d the Pilot of the Bark _la Belle_ to go
aboard the Flyboat, to be assisting when it came in. The Captain would
not receive him aboard, saying, he could carry in his Ship without his
Help. All these Precautions prov’d of no Use; Monsieur _de la Sale_
could not avert his ill Fate. He having taken Notice of a large Tree on
the Bank of the River, which he judg’d fit to make a Canoe, sent 7 or
8 Workmen to hew it down, two of whom return’d some Time after, in a
great Fright, and told him, they had narrowly escap’d being taken by a
Company of Savages, and that they believ’d the others had fallen into
their Hands. Monsieur _de la Sale_ order’d us immediately to handle our
Arms, and to march with Drums beating towards the Savages, who seeing
us in that Posture, fac’d about and went off.
Monsieur _de la Sale_ being desirous to join those Savages, to
endeavour to get some Information from them, order’d Ten of us to lay
down our Arms and draw near them, making Signs to them, at the same
Time, to come to us.
[Sidenote: _Their Friendly Behaviour._]
When they saw us in that Posture and unarm’d, most of them also laid
down their Bows and Arrows and came to meet us, caressing us after
their Manner, and stroking first their own Breasts and then ours, then
their own Arms and afterwards ours. By these Signs they gave us to
understand that they had a Friendship for us, which they express’d by
laying their Hands on their Hearts, and we did the same on our Part.
Six or seven of those Savages went along with us, and the rest kept
three of our Men, in the Nature of Hostages. Those who went with us
were made much of, but Monsieur _de la Sale_ could learn nothing of
them, either by Signs or otherwise; all they could make us understand
was, that there was good hunting of Bullocks in the Country. We
observ’d, that their _Yea_ consisted in a Cry, fetch’d from the Bottom
of the Throat, not unlike the Call of a Hen to gather her Chickens.
Monsieur _de la Sale_ gave them some Knives, Hatchets and other
Trifles, with which they seem’d well pleased, and went away.
Monsieur _de la Sale_ was glad to be rid of those People, because he
was willing to be present when the Flyboat came in; but his ill Fate
would not permit it. He thought fit to go himself along with those
Savages, and we follow’d him, thinking to have found our Men in the
same Place where we left them; but perceiv’d on the Contrary, that the
Savages had carried them away to their Camp, which was a League and
half from us, and Monsieur _de la Sablonniere_. Lieutenant of Foot,
being one of those the Savages had taken with them. Monsieur _de la
Sale_ resolved to go himself to fetch him away, an unhappy Thought
which cost him dear.
[Sidenote: _Their Camp._]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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