June 1685Thus we spent the rest of the Month, till the Beginning of June. In the mean Time, Monsieur de la Sale had begun to make another Settlement,Second Settlement. in the Place he before told us of, looking upon it as better, because it was further up the Country.[66] To that Purpose he sent to us the Sieur de Villeperdry with two Canoes and Orders for the Sieur Moranget to repair to him, if he were recover’d, and that all the Men should march, except 30 of the ablest to make a good Defence, who were to stay with me in the Fort. The rest being seventy Persons, as well Men and Women as Children, set up with the Sieur Moranget; and we being but a small Number remaining, I caused the Fort to be brought into a less Compass, to save posting so many Sentinels.
Our little Company began to take Satisfaction in the Ease of getting and the Nature of our Provisions, which a greater Number has more Difficulty to be supply’d with, and which we had Plenty of, by Means of Hunting and Fishing, those being our principal Employments, and we liv’d well enough contented, expecting to be remov’d. However there were some Malcontents,A Conspiracy discover’d. who resolv’d to desert; but finding a Difficulty to put it in Execution, for that they could neither get Arms, nor Powder nor Ball, because the Sieur le Gros and I kept all lock’d up, and were very vigilant, that none might be lavishly spent, they took the cruel Resolution to rid themselves of us.
July 1685That bloody Massacre was to begin by me, when I was asleep, and then to proceed to the Sieur le Gros, who lay in the Magazine, or Warehouse, and was in no Condition to defend himself, because his Leg was still swollen, and put him to much Pain. The Execution was to be by stabbing. One of the Conspirators reveal’d this to the Sieur Devault, a Hunter, who immediately came and acquainted me. I did not just then take Notice of what I had been told; but in the Evening, when they return’d from hunting, I caused one to be secur’d, who presently confess’d all. His Accomplice was also seiz’d, and it was very troublesome to secure them till the Time when we should remove.
About the Middle of July, the Bark la Belle came and anchor’d near us. An Order was brought me from Monsieur de la Sale, directing me to put aboard it all the Effects that were in our Fort, to make a Float of the Timber I had caused to be squar’d, if Time would permit, if not to bury it in the Ground. Every Man set his Hand to the Work, with all possible Diligence, and our two Prisoners were put aboard, as was also Monsieur le Gros and his Surgeon, with all our Effects.
The Float was begun with immense Labour; but the Weather proving very Stormy, and holding very long, I was oblig’d to cause what had been done to be taken in Pieces, and to bury the Timber in the Sand, the best we could, that the Natives might not find it.
The First Fort abandon’d.We then set out towards the Place where the Indians had been encamp’d, when Monsieur de la Sale went the first time to see them. We found no Creature, and lay there that Night, and so proceeded along the Sea Coast, without any Accident, to the Camp of the Sieur Hurie, which was a Post in the Way, where Monsieur de la Sale had order’d all our Effects to be laid up. It had no other Inclosure but Chests and Barrels; but there was nothing to fear from the Europeans.
Ill posture of the 2d. Settlement.We spent the Night at that Post, and two Canoes coming thither the next Morning, I went aboard one of them, with Part of my Company, and join’d Monsieur de la Sale the next Day, at the Place where he had resolv’d to make his new Settlement. I gave him an Account of all that had happen’d, and was amaz’d to see Things so ill begun and so little advanc’d. As for the Plantation, the Seed and Grain put into the Ground, was either lost through Drought, or eaten by Birds or Beasts. There were several Dead, and among them the Sieur de Villeperdry; many sick, and of that Number Monsieur Cavalier the Priest; no Shelter but a little square Place stak’d in, where the Powder was and some Casks of Brandy; many other Inconveniences there were, which made all Things appear in a miserable Condition.
It was requisite to think of building a large Lodgement, Monsieur de la Sale design’d it, but the Difficulty was to get proper Timber for Building. There was a little Wood, where a good Quantity might be had, but it was a League up the Country, and we had neither Carts nor Horses to carry it; however Monsr. de la Sale sent Workmen thither, with others to guard them.Hard Labour. The Trees were cut down and squar’d, but the Carpenters were so ignorant, that Monsr. de la Sale was forc’d to act the Master Builder, and to mark out the Pieces for the Work he design’d. Some of those Pieces of Timber were dragg’d to the Camp, over the Grass and Weeds the Plain was cover’d with; afterwards the Carriage of a Gun was made use of; but all cost so much Labour, that the ablest Men were quite spent.
This excessive Toil, the poor Sustenance the labouring Men had, and that often retrench’d as a Penalty for having fail’d in doing their Duty; the Uneasiness Monsieur de la Sale was under to see nothing succeed as he had imagin’d, and which often made him insult the Men, when there was little Reason for it; All these things together afflicted very many so sensibly, that they visibly declin’d, and above thirty dy’d. The Loss of so many Men was follow’d by that of the Master Carpenter,Carpenter lost. who was returning one Evening with me; but I happening to step aside to kill some wild Fowl, when I came to our Habitation I found him not, and it was never known what became of him; an Accident which added to our Vexation, for tho’ he had but little Skill at his Trade, yet we stood in Need of him.
Aug. 1685Notwithstanding all those Disappointments, enough Timber was carry’d or rather dragg’d, to build the House Monsieur de la Sale designed, and he was himself the Architect. He mark’d out the Lengths, the Tenants and Mortises, and made good the Defect of the Workmen and calling to Mind that I had bury’d several Pieces of Timber at our first Habitation, which might be of Use, he order’d me to take two Canoes and 20 men, to go fetch them, in the Bark la Belle, which was with us.