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
Monsr. _de la Sale_ farther order’d me not to receive any Men of those
he took along with him, unless they brought an Order from him in
Writing; nor to hold or admit of any Communication with the Natives,
but rather to fire upon them, and some other Particulars he thought fit
to be observ’d. He had made himself a Coat of Mail with small Laths,
to secure himself against the Arrows, which he took along with him, he
also took the Canoes, and promis’d to send me one back. Five Cannon
Shot were the Signal of his Departure.
[Sidenote: _Monsr._ de la Sale _goes out to discover_.]
[Sidenote: _St._ Lewis_’s Bay_.]
He took his Way along the lower Part of the River, to march by Land
along the neighbouring Bay, which was call’d of St. _Lewis_, the
Canoes keeping within Sight. I was left in the Habitation with thirty
four Persons, Men, Women and Children, and of that Number were three
_Recolet_ Friars, the Sieur _Hurie_, who was to command in my Absence,
one of the Sieurs _Duhaut_, the Sieurs _Thibault_ and a Surgeon.
Our Provisions being very small, and it being requisite to spare them,
for the Sick, we were oblig’d to apply our selves to Fishing and
Shooting. Both of them at first prov’d very unsuccessful, especially
the latter; because we were not yet well vers’d in them, and Monsieur
_de la Sale_ had taken our Huntsman along with him; but at length,
Necessity made us more expert. We kill’d Beeves, some of which I caus’d
to be dry’d, and they were a considerable Help to subsist us.
[Sidenote: _Hunter dies with Cold._]
Some Days after, the Canoe Monsieur _de la Sale_ had promis’d me,
arrived with three Soldiers, who brought us the News of the Loss of the
Huntsman Monsieur _de la Sale_ had taken along with him, and who had
been found dead with Cold in a Ditch, where he had lain down to rest
after hunting, which troubled us all very much. They also inform’d us,
that Monsr. _de la Sale_ advancing towards some Dwellings the Natives
had abandon’d, after a small Resistance, some of whom had been wounded
as they fled, they had taken and brought a Girl and a Woman, who was
shot thro’ the Thigh, of which she dy’d.[69]
[Sidenote: _Dec. 1685_]
The Canoe was a great Help to us to carry what we kill’d, which being
brought to our Habitation, found Employment for all Persons, some to
flea, others to cut up, and others to dry it. At other Times, I set
some of our men to throw up a Trench about our Habitation.
[Sidenote: _Jan. 1686_]
[Sidenote: Duhaut _returns from Mr._ de la Sale.]
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