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
When we had gather’d all, as well what had been taken out of the
Ship-wreck’d Vessel as what could be pick’d up in the Sea, the next
Thing was to regulate the Provisions we had left proportionably to
the Number of Men we were; and there being no more Bisket, Meal was
deliver’d out, and with it we made Hasty Pudding with Water, which was
none of the best; some large Beans and _India_ Corn, part of which had
taken wet; and every thing was distributed very discreetly. We were
much incommoded for want of Kettles, but Monsieur _de Beaujeu_ gave
Monsieur _de la Sale_ one, and he order’d another to be brought from
the Bark _la Belle_, by which means we were well serv’d.
We were still in want of Canoes. Monsieur _de la Sale_ sent to the
Camp of the _Indians_ to barter for some, and they who went thither
observ’d, that those People had made their Advantage of our Ship-wreck,
and had some Bales of _Normandy_ Blankets, and they saw several Women
had cut them in two and made Petticoats of them. They also saw Bits of
Iron of the Ship that was cast away, and return’d immediately to make
their Report to Monsieur _de la Sale_, who said we must endeavour to
get some Canoes in Exchange, and resolv’d to send thither again the
next Day. Monsieur _du Hamel_, Ensign to Monsr. _de Beaujeu_, offer’d
to go up in his Boat, which Monsieur _de la Sale_ agreed to, and
order’d Messieurs _Moranget_, his Nephew, _Desloges_, _Oris_, _Gayen_,
and some others to bear him Company.
[Sidenote: _Indiscretion of an Ensign._]
No sooner were those Gentlemen, who were more Hot than Wise, landed,
but they went up to the Camp of the _Indians_, with their Arms in their
Hands, as if they had intended to force them, whereupon several of
those People fled. Going into the Cottages, they found others, to whom
Monsieur _du Hamel_ endeavor’d to signify by Signs, that he would have
the Blankets they had found restor’d; but the Misfortune was, that none
of them understood one another. The _Indians_ thought it their best Way
to withdraw, leaving behind them some Blankets and Skins of Beasts,
which those Gentlemen took away, and finding some Canoes in their
Return they seiz’d two, and got in, to bring them away.
[Sidenote: _March 1685_]
But having no Oars, none of them knowing how to manage those Canoes,
and having only some pitiful Poles, which they could not tell the right
Use of, and the Wind being also against them, they made little Way;
which the Sieur _du Hamel_, who was in his Boat perceiving, and that
Night drew on, he made the best of his Way, forsook them and return’d
to the Camp.
[Sidenote: _The_ Indians _take Revenge_.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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