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
As we were on our Way towards the Camp of the Savages, happening to
look towards the Sea, we saw the Flyboat _l’ Aimable_ under Sail,
which the Savages who were with us admir’d, and Monsieur _de la Sale_
observing it narrowly, told us, those People steer’d wrong, and were
standing towards the Shoals, which made him very uneasy, but still we
advanc’d. We arriv’d at the Camp of the Savages, which stood upon an
Eminence, and consisted of about Fifty Cottages made of rush Mats, and
others of dry’d Skins, and built with long Poles, bow’d round at the
Top, like great Ovens, and most of the Savages sitting about, as if
they were upon the Watch.
We were still advancing into the Village, when he heard a Cannon Shot,
the Noise whereof struck such a Dread among the Savages, that they all
fell flat upon the Ground; but Monsieur _de la Sale_ and we were too
sensible it was a Signal that our Ship was aground, which was confirm’d
by seeing them furl their Sails; However we were gone too far to
return; our Men must be had, and to that Purpose, we must proceed to
the Hut of the Commander in Chief.[57]
As soon as we arrived there, Monsr. _de la Sale_ was introduc’d; many
of the _Indian_ Women came in, they were very deform’d[58] and all
naked, excepting a Skin girt about them, which hung down to their
Knees. They would have led us to their Cottages, but Monsr. _de la
Sale_ had order’d us not to part, and to observe whether the _Indians_
did not draw together, so that we kept together, standing upon our
Guard, and I was always with him.
[Sidenote: _Their Entertainment._]
They brought us some Pieces of Beef, both fresh and dry’d in the Air
and Smoke, and Pieces of Porpois, which they cut with a Sort of Knife,
made of Stone, setting one Foot upon it, and holding with one Hand,
whilst they cut with the other. We saw nothing of Iron among them.
They had given our Men, that came with them, to eat, and Monsr. _de la
Sale_ being extraordinary uneasy, we soon took Leave of them to return.
At our going out, we observ’d about forty Canoes, some of them like
those Monsr. _de la Sale_ had seen on the _Missisipi_, which made him
conclude he was not far from it.
[Sidenote: L’ Aimable _cast away_.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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