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 went out to meet them. Monsieur _Moranget_ made them sit down, and
they gave us to understand by Signs, that their People were hunting
near us; being able to make no more of what they said. Monsieur
_Moranget_ was for knocking out their Brains, to revenge their having
murder’d our Companions, but I would not consent to it, since they had
come confiding in us. I made Signs to them to be gone, which they did
as fast as they could, some small Shot we fir’d into the Air making
them run, and a Cannon Shot, I pointed towards the rising Ground, where
the rest were, put them all to Flight.
These Accidents made us double our Guards, since we were at open War
with that crafty Nation, which let slip no Opportunity to surprize us,
and therefore Penalties were appointed for such as should be found
asleep upon Sentinel; the Wooden-Horse was set up for them without
Remission; and by Means of such Precautions we sav’d our Lives.
[Sidenote: _June 1685_]
[Sidenote: _Second Settlement._]
Thus we spent the rest of the Month, till the Beginning of _June_.
In the mean Time, Monsieur _de la Sale_ had begun to make another
Settlement, in the Place he before told us of, looking upon it as
better, because it was further up the Country.[66] To that Purpose
he sent to us the Sieur _de Villeperdry_ with two Canoes and Orders
for the Sieur _Moranget_ to repair to him, if he were recover’d, and
that all the Men should march, except 30 of the ablest to make a
good Defence, who were to stay with me in the Fort. The rest being
seventy Persons, as well Men and Women as Children, set up with the
Sieur _Moranget_; and we being but a small Number remaining, I caused
the Fort to be brought into a less Compass, to save posting so many
Sentinels.
[Sidenote: _A Conspiracy discover’d._]
[Sidenote: _July 1685_]
Our little Company began to take Satisfaction in the Ease of getting
and the Nature of our Provisions, which a greater Number has more
Difficulty to be supply’d with, and which we had Plenty of, by Means
of Hunting and Fishing, those being our principal Employments, and we
liv’d well enough contented, expecting to be remov’d. However there
were some Malcontents, who resolv’d to desert; but finding a Difficulty
to put it in Execution, for that they could neither get Arms, nor
Powder nor Ball, because the Sieur _le Gros_ and I kept all lock’d up,
and were very vigilant, that none might be lavishly spent, they took
the cruel Resolution to rid themselves of us.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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