Having one Day observ’d, that the Water work’d and bubbled up, and afterwards perceiving it was occasion’d by the Fish skipping from Place to Place, I caused a Net to be brought, and we took a prodigious Quantity of Fish, among which were many _Dorado’s_ or Gilt-Heads, Mullets and others about as big as a Herring, which afforded us good Food for several Days. This fishery, which I caused to be often follow’d, was a great Help towards our Subsistance. [Sidenote: _Rattle Snake bites Mr._ le Gros.] About that Time, and on _Easter-day_ that Year, an unfortunate Accident befell Monsieur _le Gros_. After Divine Service he took a Gun to go kill Snipes about the Fort. He shot one, which fell into a Marsh; he took off his Shoes and Stockings to fetch it out, and returning, through Carelessness trod upon a Rattle Snake, so call’d, because it has a Sort of Scale on the Tail, which makes a Noise. The Serpent bit him a little above the Ankle, he was carefully dress’d and look’d after, yet after having endur’d very much, he dy’d at last, as I shall mention in its Place. Another more unlucky Accident befell us, one of our Fishermen swimming about the Net to gather the Fish, was carry’d away by the Current, and could not be help’d by us. [Sidenote: _May 1685_] [Sidenote: _Salt found in Pools._] Our Men sometimes went about several little Salt Water Lakes, that were near our Fort, and found on the Banks a Sort of flat Fishes, like Turbots asleep, which they struck with sharp pointed Sticks, and they were good Food. Providence also shew’d us that there was Salt made by the Sun, upon several little Salt Water Pools there were in divers Places, for having observ’d that there grew on them a Sort of white Substance, like the Cream upon Milk, I took care every Day to send and fetch that Scum off, which prov’d to be a very white and good Salt, whereof I gather’d a Quantity, and it did us good Service. [Sidenote: Indians _come to the Fort_.] Some of our Hunters having seen a Parcel of wild Goats running as if they were frighted, judg’d they were pursued by the _Indians_, and came for Refuge to the Fort, and to give me Notice. Accordingly some Time after, we discover’d a Parcel of Natives, who came and posted themselves on an Eminence, within Cannon Shot, some of them drew off from the rest and approach’d the Fort by the Way of the Downs. I caused our Men immediately to handle their Arms, and wet Blankets to be laid on our Huts, to prevent their being burnt by the Fire the Savages sometimes shoot with their Arrows. All this Time those who had separated themselves from the rest, being three in Number, still drew nearer, making Signs for us to go to them; but Monsieur _de la Sale_ had forbid me having any Commerce with them; however, since they had neither Bows nor Arrows, we made signs to them to draw near, which they did without hesitating.