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 were not free from another Inconveniency in those Tracks, which was
their being full of Water and very rugged, a Thing no Way agreeable to
our Shoes, which were no other than a Piece of Bullocks Hide or Goats
Skin quite green, whereof we made a sort of Buskins, to serve instead
of Shoes, but when those wretch’d Boots were dry’d by the Heat, upon
our Feet, they hurt us very much, and we were often oblig’d to set our
Feet in the Water to soften those Buskins. However, we march’d all the
Day, notwithstanding all those Inconveniences, without finding a proper
Place to incamp, and at last came to a River, whose high Bank afforded
us a Spot to rest on.
The 20th, a small Rain did not obstruct our March, and having cross’d
a Wood, half a League athwart, and a Marsh of the same Extent, we came
into a large Plain, cut across by great Tracks of Bullocks, which
went towards the River, and made us suppose there might be a Ford. We
follow’d that Way, but found the River so swollen, and its Stream so
rapid, that it was impossible to cross it, but were oblig’d to halt
upon its Bank, whence we went to hunt Bullocks, whereof we had no want,
nor of Turkeys and other wild Fowl.
The 21th, we proceeded up that River, and found a narrow deep Place,
near which we hew’d down a Tree, making it fall so as to reach from the
one Bank to the other, in the Nature of a Plank, and handed our Baggage
from one to another over it. The Horses swam over and we incamp’d on
the other Side, near a very beautiful Plain.
[Sidenote: Hebahamo, _Indian Nation_.]
Whilst we were hewing down some little Wood to intrench ourselves,
we heard a Voice, whereupon handling our Arms and going to the Place
where we heard it, we saw a Company of fifteen Savages, who were coming
towards us, and made Signs to us to go to them, laying down their Bows,
in Token of Peace. We also made our Sign to them to draw near, they did
so and caress’d us after their Manner. We made them sit down and smoke,
after which, Monsr. _de la Sale_ began to converse with them by Signs,
and by Help of some Words of the Language of the _Cenis_, which he was
skilful in, he understood, that these were their Neighbours and Allies;
that their Village was not far off, and that their Nation was call’d
_Hebahamo_. Some small Presents were given them, and they withdrew,
promising to return the next Day.
The 22th, our Horses being spent and hurt, and we much tir’d, the Day
was given to Rest, and the Natives did not fail to come, being twenty
five in Number, some of whom had Bucklers or Targets made of the
strongst Part of the Bullocks Hides. They gave us to understand, that
they were ingag’d in War towards the _N. W._ and told us, they had
seen Men like us, who were but ten Days Journey from that Place. Other
Tokens they gave, made us suppose it was _New Spain_ that they talk’d
of.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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