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 after these first Ceremonies, the Chief had given them to
understand, that some of their People had been conducted by a Man like
us, to our Habitation, and that the said Man had promis’d to bring them
to talk with us, in order to treat of Peace; but that on the Contrary,
we had fired on them and kill’d one of their Men, which had oblig’d
them to kill the Man that led them, and that then they return’d. It
is not improper here to put the Reader in Mind, that I have before
mention’d this Accident, when the Sieur _Barbier_ crossing the River
in a Canoe, was call’d upon by some Person, who was among the Natives
on the Bank of the River, who had made two Shots, as it had been only
the Priming of a Piece, which the Sieur _Barbier_ had look’d upon
as an Insult, and therefore he had also fir’d, with all the other
Particulars, as mention’d before; an Accident that happen’d for want of
understanding one another; which, together with Monsr. _de la Sale’s_
forbidding us to have any Communication with the Natives, was very
prejudicial to us afterwards.
After much other Discourse, Monsieur _Moranget_ having given them
some small Presents, they made their return in Bullocks Hides, and
Goat Skins well dress’d. He ask’d them for some Horses to barter;
they answer’d, they had no more than what they stood in Need of. We
immediately proceeded on our Journey, and that day being the 21st, went
to incamp at the Edge of a Wood.
The 22d, we went up to an Eminence terminated by a Rock, at the Foot
whereof ran a little River, the bottom whereof was all of flat Rocks,
fit for Building.[92] Thence we descry’d two Natives driving of
Bullocks, which made us stand upon our Guard, and it appear’d to be our
_Indian_, who had met another, with whom he had been acquainted among
the _Cenis_, and whom he had brought along with him.
[Sidenote: _Three lost_ French _Men heard of_.]
Monsieur _de la Sale_ was very glad to see him, and remember’d he
was one of those of whom he had purchas’d a Horse. He ask’d several
Questions of him, and among the rest, whether he had not seen the
four Men who deserted in his former Journey, or heard any Talk of
the others, to whom he had given Leave to return to our Dwelling. He
answer’d, he had seen one among the _Cenis_, and two others among the
_Assonis_; but that he had not heard of any more, and that they must
needs be dead; as also the Sieur _Bihorel_, who was likewise mention’d
to him.
He further told us, that there were four or five Cottages thereabouts,
in which about Fifteen Men resided. At Night he went away. Our
_Indian_ had kill’d a Cow at a great Distance and shot her quite
through, at which the other, who had been an Eye Witness to it, stood a
long Time amaz’d, without speaking one Word, admiring the Effect of our
Pieces. That Cow was sent for, and the Flesh brought to our Camp.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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