When our Fort was well advanc’d, Monsr. de la Sale resolv’d to clear his Doubts,Monsr. de la Sale goes to discover up the River. and to go up the River, where we were, to know whether it was not an Arm of the Missisipi, and accordingly order’d fifty Men to attend him, of which Number were Monsr. Cavelier, his Brother, and Monsr. Chedeville, both Priests, two Recolet Fryars, and several Voluntiers, who set out in five Canoes we had, with the necessary Provisions. There remain’d in the Fort about an hundred and thirty Persons, and Monsr. de la Sale gave me the Command of it, with Orders not to have any Commerce with the Natives, but to fire at them if they appear’d.
Whilst Monsr. de la Sale was absent, I caus’d an Oven to be built, which was a great Help to us, and employ’d my self in finishing the Fort, and putting it in a Posture to withstand the Indians, who came frequently in the Night to range about us, howling like Wolves and Dogs; but two or three[63] Musquet Shots put them to Flight. It happen’d one Night, that having fir’d six or seven Shot, Monsieur de la Sale who was not far from us, heard them, and being in Pain about it, he return’dReturns. with six or seven Men, and found all Things in a good Posture.
He told us he had found a good Country, fit to sow and plant all Sorts of Grain, abounding in Beeves and wild Fowl;Sets out again. that he design’d to erect a Fort farther up the River,[64] and accordingly, he left me Orders to square out as much Timber as I could get, the Sea casting up much upon the Shore. He had given the same Orders to the Men he had left on the Spot, seven or eight of whom, detach’d from the rest, being busy at that Work, and seeing a Number of the Natives, fled, and unadviseably left their Tools behind them. Monsieur de la Sale returning thither, found a Paper made fast to a Reed, which gave him Notice of that Accident, which he was concern’d at, because of the Tools, not so much for the Value of the Loss, as because it was furnishing the Natives with such Things as they might afterwards make Use of against us.
Apr. 1685About the Beginning of April we were alarm’d by a Vessel which appear’d at Sea,A Spanish Vessel appears. near enough to discern the Sails, and we supposed they might be Spaniards, who had heard of our Coming and were ranging the Coast to find us out. That made us stand upon our Guard, to keep within the Fort, and see that our Arms were fit for Service. We afterwards saw two Men in that Vessel, who[65] instead of coming to us, went towards the other Point, and by that Means pass’d on, without perceiving us.
Having one Day observ’d, that the Water work’d and bubbled up, and afterwards perceiving it was occasion’d by the Fish skipping from Place to Place, I caused a Net to be brought, and we took a prodigious Quantity of Fish,Plenty of Fish taken. among which were many Dorado’s or Gilt-Heads, Mullets and others about as big as a Herring, which afforded us good Food for several Days. This fishery, which I caused to be often follow’d, was a great Help towards our Subsistance.
About that Time, and on Easter-day that Year, an unfortunate Accident befell Monsieur le Gros. After Divine Service he took a Gun to go kill Snipes about the Fort. He shot one, which fell into a Marsh; he took off his Shoes and Stockings to fetch it out, and returning, through Carelessness trod upon a Rattle Snake,Rattle Snake bites Mr. le Gros. so call’d, because it has a Sort of Scale on the Tail, which makes a Noise. The Serpent bit him a little above the Ankle, he was carefully dress’d and look’d after, yet after having endur’d very much, he dy’d at last, as I shall mention in its Place. Another more unlucky Accident befell us, one of our Fishermen swimming about the Net to gather the Fish, was carry’d away by the Current, and could not be help’d by us.
May 1685Our Men sometimes went about several little Salt Water Lakes, that were near our Fort, and found on the Banks a Sort of flat Fishes, like Turbots asleep, which they struck with sharp pointed Sticks, and they were good Food. Providence also shew’d us that there was Salt made by the Sun,Salt found in Pools. upon several little Salt Water Pools there were in divers Places, for having observ’d that there grew on them a Sort of white Substance, like the Cream upon Milk, I took care every Day to send and fetch that Scum off, which prov’d to be a very white and good Salt, whereof I gather’d a Quantity, and it did us good Service.
Some of our Hunters having seen a Parcel of wild Goats running as if they were frighted, judg’d they were pursued by the Indians, and came for Refuge to the Fort, and to give me Notice. Accordingly some Time after, we discover’d a Parcel of Natives, who came and posted themselves on an Eminence, within Cannon Shot, some of them drew off from the rest and approach’d the FortIndians come to the Fort. by the Way of the Downs. I caused our Men immediately to handle their Arms, and wet Blankets to be laid on our Huts, to prevent their being burnt by the Fire the Savages sometimes shoot with their Arrows. All this Time those who had separated themselves from the rest, being three in Number, still drew nearer, making Signs for us to go to them; but Monsieur de la Sale had forbid me having any Commerce with them; however, since they had neither Bows nor Arrows, we made signs to them to draw near, which they did without hesitating.
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.