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
That nevertheless, they continued some Days in the same Place, during
which Time three or four of their Men died; and at last, having no
Water, they eat up their Swine, before they died with Thirst, and
resolv’d to weigh Anchor and draw near to the Dwelling; but having few
Hands and those spent, and to add to their Misfortune the Wind proving
contrary, they were drove to the other Side of the Bay, where they ran
aground.
[Sidenote: _June 1686_]
That having no Boat, nor Men enough to land their Effects, they had
endeavour’d to make a Float with some Casks and Planks, but that being
ill made and join’d together, the first that went upon it had perish’d.
That having made another Float better fastened together than the
first, they had by that Means saved some Sails and Rigging, several
inconsiderable Things, Linen, Cloaths and Papers belonging to Monsieur
_de la Sale_ and others, and then stay’d Ashore, expecting to hear some
News, and had found a Canoe, being the same that was before lost on
the Edge of the Bay, which had been drove to the other Side; and that
Provisions at last beginning to fall short, they went aboard the said
Canoe and came to us; fortunate in that they had not been discover’d
by the Natives, during their Stay Ashore, which was for the Space of
three Months, and in finding the Canoe to bring them back.
When Monsieur _de la Sale_ went away, the Sieur _Barbier_ had taken
upon him to go a hunting, as also to provide Bark to cover our Houses,
instead of Hides, because the Sun drying and contracting them, Part
of the Top of our Buildings was uncover’d. I farther enjoyn’d him
to cut Stakes, to make a Palisade about our Dwelling, and the Sieur
_Chedeville_ having told me they had bury’d several Things they could
not bring away, I sent the Sieur _Barbier_ with two Canoes and fifteen
Men to the Place, where they found some Pedreroes,[78] Rigging and
Sails. The Natives having discover’d the Concealment, had taken away
some Pieces of Linen and Iron Tools, which they very much covet.
[Sidenote: _Encounter with the Natives._]
The Sieur _Barbier_ after his Return, continuing his Exercise of
hunting, happen’d to meet with a Parcel of the Natives, some of whom
had Firelocks, which they had taken from our Men, and with which they
made some Shots at him, but very weak; and he firing three or four
Shot at them they retir’d. He was then in a Canoe on the River, and
design’d to have gone upwards; but that Rancounter having oblig’d him
to take another Way, and the Savages perceiving it, eight of them swam
over the River, hastening to get before the Canoe, hid themselves among
the Weeds, near the Way he was to pass, and when he was near enough,
let fly their Arrows, which wounded several Men. One Shot the Sieur
_Barbier_ made, put them all to Flight again; he held on his Way and
return’d to our Habitation.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account