Monsieur de la Sale returns.They were in a bad Condition, their Cloaths ragged, Monsieur Cavelier’s short Cassock hung in Tatters; most of them had not Hats, and their Linen was no better; however the Sight of Monsieur de la Sale rejoyc’d us all. The Account he gave us of his Journey reviv’d our Hopes, tho’ he had not found the fatal River, and we thought only of making ourselves as merry as we could. Only the Sight of the Sieur Duhaut interrupted it for some Time. Monsieur de la Sale ask’d me in an angry Manner, why I had receiv’d him, and Duhaut having given his Reasons, as I and my Men did,[73] we were all satisfy’d.
The Bark la Belle lost.The next Day, the Sieurs le Barbier, Bihorel, le Petit, Cavelier, the Nephew, the Surgeon and others, whom Monsieur de la Sale had sent to find out and carry Advice to the Bark la Belle, return’d, and said they could not find her, which was another fresh Cause of Much Uneasiness to Monsieur de la Sale. He had been guilty of the Fault of putting aboard her, his Cloaths, his Linen, his Papers and all his best Effects, of all which he was then in the utmost Need. Besides, that Loss broke all the Measures he had concerted during his last Expedition, because he had resolv’d to cause the said Bark to go up one of the Rivers he had discover’d, to advance towards those Nations with whom he had contracted some Friendship, and to send me in the same Bark, with his Nephew Moranget, to the Islands to seek for some Assistance, or else to return by Sea to look for his River.
All these Designs being disappointed, he resolv’d to set out a second Time, and travel by Land, to find out his River.[74] He staid to rest him a while, and to provide for his Departure, but having neither Linen nor Cloaths, I supply’d him with some I had; I also afforded some Linen to Monsieur Cavelier, his Brother and Monsieur Moranget, his Nephew. All I had was at their Service, and I depriv’d myself of all that was fit for them, even to ten or twelve Pounds of strings of Beads and some Knives and Nails,[75] which Monsieur de la Sale took.
Apr. 1686The Sieur Duhaut, having several Effects, as Linen, Hatchets and other Tools and Commodities, which had been sav’d from the Shipwreck, Monsieur de la Sale took Linen to make Shirts, for such as wanted, as also the Tools they stood in Need of. The Cloaths belonging to Messieurs Thibault, le Gros and Carpentier, who were dead, were also distributed. A great Belt I had, serv’d to make Shoes for Monsieur de la Sale and Monsieur Cavelier.
Monsieur de la Sale sets out upon another Expedition.All Things being thus provided, Monsieur de la Sale took twenty Men along with him, among whom were Monsieur Cavelier his Brother, F. Anastasius a Recolet, Monsieur Moranget his Nephew, the Sieurs Bihorel, le Clerk, Hurier, Duhaut the younger, Hiens his Surgeon, and his Servants. He left behind those, who were not fit to undertake that second Journey, among whom were little Monsieur Cavelier[76] his Nephew, the Sieur Barbier, Canadien and some others. Each of the Travellers made up his Pack, and they set out towards the latter End of April 1686,[77] after having given me the necessary Orders, and we parted without Ceremony, Monsieur de la Sale desiring it should be so.
Some Days after he was gone, I heard a Voice towards the lower Part of the River, crying twice Qui vive, or who are you for. I made that Way, and perceiv’d the Sieur Chedeville a Priest, the Sieur de la Sablonniere, and some others of those who had been put aboard the Bark la Belle, and were now in a Canoe. I ask’d abruptly what was become of the Bark, and was inform’d, our continual Misfortunes still pursuing us, that it had run aground on the other Side of the Bay.What was saved of the Bark la Belle. I caused the Canoe to be unloaded, there being in it, among other Things, Monsieur de la Sale’s Cloaths, Part of his Papers, some Linen, a small Quantity of Beads and thirty or forty Pound of Meal, which was all they had left.
May 1686 How the Bark was lost.The next Day, Monsieur de Chedeville told me the Particulars of that Misfortune, and said, That having been some Time with the Bark, in the Place where Monsieur de la Sale had appointed them to wait, their Water falling short, they had thought fit to send the Boat ashore, with four or five Casks to fill; that the Sieur Planterose went in it with six of the best Men. That towards the Evening they saw the Boat coming back, but the Wind being contrary and Night coming on, they put out a Light, which going out and the Captain neglecting to put up another, in all Likelyhood the Boat could not see the Bark, and they never heard of it after, nor of any of those in it, who it was probable had all perish’d.
That nevertheless, they continued some Days in the same Place, during which Time three or four of their Men died; and at last, having no Water, they eat up their Swine, before they died with Thirst, and resolv’d to weigh Anchor and draw near to the Dwelling; but having few Hands and those spent, and to add to their Misfortune the Wind proving contrary, they were drove to the other Side of the Bay, where they ran aground.
That having no Boat, nor Men enough to land their Effects, they had endeavour’d to make a Float with some Casks and Planks, but that being ill made and join’d together, the first that went upon it had perish’d. That having made another Float better fastened together than the first, they had by that Means saved some Sails and Rigging, several inconsiderable Things, Linen, Cloaths and Papers belonging to Monsieur de la Sale and others, and then stay’d Ashore, expecting to hear some News, and had found a Canoe, being the same that was before lost on the Edge of the Bay, which had been drove to the other Side; and that Provisions at last beginning to fall short, they went aboard the said Canoe and came to us; fortunate in that they had not been discover’d by the Natives, during their Stay Ashore, which was for the Space of three Months, and in finding the Canoe to bring them back.
June 1686When Monsieur de la Sale went away, the Sieur Barbier had taken upon him to go a hunting, as also to provide Bark to cover our Houses, instead of Hides, because the Sun drying and contracting them, Part of the Top of our Buildings was uncover’d. I farther enjoyn’d him to cut Stakes, to make a Palisade about our Dwelling, and the Sieur Chedeville having told me they had bury’d several Things they could not bring away, I sent the Sieur Barbier with two Canoes and fifteen Men to the Place, where they found some Pedreroes,[78] Rigging and Sails. The Natives having discover’d the Concealment, had taken away some Pieces of Linen and Iron Tools, which they very much covet.