Being come to the Place, we found the Natives had discover’d our Timber, and carry’d away some Planks, to pick out the Nails there were in them, which they value very much, to point their Arrows. We labour’d to make a Float, loaded the Bark la Belle with the rest of the Planks and other Effects, and set out again. Some of the Natives appear’d whilst we were at Work, but seeing us advance towards them, with our Arms in our Hands, they fled.
We return’d safe to Monsieur de la Sale, who was glad to see us, tho’ we had lost one of the Canoes,Second Settlement. for want of its being well made fast to the Float; but the Timber we brought was a mighty help towards carrying on his Design, and much fitter than that we had hew’d in the Wood, with so much Labour; so that this Timber occasion’d the raising another Structure contiguous to the former. All was cover’d with Planks, and Bullocks Hides over them. The Apartments were divided, and all of them well cover’d. The Stores had a Place apart, and that Dwelling had the name of St. Lewis given it, as well as the Neighbouring Bay.[67]
Sep. 1685The Sieur le Gros, Mr. le Gros dies and others.who had remain’d aboard the Bark La Belle, ever since the first Voyage she made to our former Habitation, was carry’d ashore to the new One, and his Leg still swelling, the Surgeon was apprehensive of a Mortification, and advis’d him to consent to have it cut off. He did so, tho’ with Regret, the Operation was made, but a Fever follow’d immediately, and he liv’d but two Days, dying on the Feast of the Decollation of St. John Baptist, much lamented by all Men, and particularly by Monsieur de la Sale, to whom he was very serviceable, by reason of his general Knowledge, and his particular Fidelity towards him. Monsieur Carpentier, Son to the Master of the Works and the Sieur Thibault, both of Roan, and some others, dy’d about the same time.
Monsieur de la Sale being desirous to take a Progress, to find his fatal Missisipi River, and only expecting the Recovery of his Brother Monsieur Cavalier, who was to bear him Company, he began to make some Preparations towards it, and in the mean time, took some small Journeys of four or five Leagues about, but could learn nothing further, than that it was a very fine Country, hem’d in on one Side by a small Mountain, which appear’d at about Fifteen or Twenty Leagues distance; beautify’d with very fine Trees, and water’d by many little Rivers, whereof that, on which we had built our Habitation was the least. We call’d it la Rivière aux Bœufs, that is the River of Bullocks,River of Bullocks. by reason of the great Number of them there was about it. These Bullocks are very like ours, there are Thousands of them, but instead of Hair they have a very long curl’d Sort of Wool.[68]
Monsieur de la Sale Studying all Ways to find out the River Missisipi, imagin’d it might fall into the adjacent Bay, and resolv’d to go view all the Coasts about it, and to make use of the Bark la Belle. Accordingly he order’d me to repair to the said Bark, with five Men and a Canoe, into which he put his Cloaths, and other Effects in several Chests.
That short Voyage was very troublesome to us, by reason of the foul Weather, with contrary Winds and Storms, which had like to have overwhelm’d us, and what was still worse, we did not find the Bark, where we had left her. We went on a League further, to no Purpose, and Provisions beginning to fall short, because we had been six Days on the Way, instead of three, we resolv’d to return to the Place from whence we came.
Monsieur de la Sale seeing us return at a distance, came to meet us. Our Report troubled him for the Bark, which he stood in need of, so that he resolv’d to go himself to seek her, imbark’d in a Canoe, and sent me another Way, in another. After having wander’d about all that Day, the next Night and the Day following, we at last perceiv’d her, where she lay under Shelter in a little Creek, having been in Danger of Perishing by the foul Weather we had been in, and had lost her Boat,Boat of the Bark lost. which was not well made fast.
Oct. 1685The Bark was also discover’d by Monsieur de la Sale, who was on the other side, which made him draw near and land, whence he sent his Canoe to the said Bark, and Monsieur Moranget who commanded it, went aboard to meet him. The Loss of the Boat troubled Monsieur de la Sale, I sent a Canoe to bring him, but to no Purpose; however the Trunks were put aboard the Bark.
Monsieur Cavalier the Priest, being recover’d Monsieur de la Sale prepar’d to set out with all Speed. He was pleas’d to Honour me with the Command, during his Absence, and left me an Inventory of all that was in our Habitation, consisting of Eight Pieces of Cannon,What Stores they had. two Hundred Firelocks, as many Cutlaces, an Hundred Barrels of Powder, three Thousand Weight of Ball, about three Hundred Weight of other Lead, some Bars of Iron, twenty Packs of Iron to make Nails, some Iron Work and Tools, as Hatchets and the like.
Nov. 1685As for Provisions, all that were left me amounted to twenty Casks of Meal, one Cask and a half of Wine, three Quarters of a Cask of Brandy, and for living Creatures some few Swine, a Cock and a Hen; which is very short of what has been Publish’d by the Author of a Book entitled, The first Establishment in New France: but the Reason of it is, that he compiled his Work upon the Credit of Relations, which were as false as to the Point of the Ammunition and Provisions, remaining in our Habitation, when Monsieur de la Sale set out that Time, as concerning the Fort well condition’d, and the Magazines or Storehouses under Ground, which are all imaginary, there being Nothing but the House I have mention’d, pallisado’d, with some old Stakes.