The Sieur Barbier after his Return, continuing his Exercise of hunting, happen’d to meet with a Parcel of the Natives,Encounter with the Natives. some of whom had Firelocks, which they had taken from our Men, and with which they made some Shots at him, but very weak; and he firing three or four Shot at them they retir’d. He was then in a Canoe on the River, and design’d to have gone upwards; but that Rancounter having oblig’d him to take another Way, and the Savages perceiving it, eight of them swam over the River, hastening to get before the Canoe, hid themselves among the Weeds, near the Way he was to pass, and when he was near enough, let fly their Arrows, which wounded several Men. One Shot the Sieur Barbier made, put them all to Flight again; he held on his Way and return’d to our Habitation.
Some Days after, we perceiv’d a Herd of Bullocks flying, and guess’d they were pursu’d by the Savages, which afterwards appear’d to be true. Some of them drew near to our Habitation, but a Cannon Shot, I pointed towards the Gang of them, and a Musket-shot Monsieur Barbier fired at the nearest, made them all fly farther off.
When the Sieur Barbier went out a Hunting, I commonly sent with him some Women and Maids, to help the Hunters to dress and dry the Flesh; but being inform’d that he us’d to slip aside from the Company, The Sieur Barbier marries. with a young Maid he had a Kindness for, and which gave Occasion to some well-grounded Railleries; the said Barbier being told I was acquainted with that Affair, came and spoke to me in private, desiring Leave to marry that young Woman. I made some Difficulty of it at first, advising him to stay till Monsieur de la Sale return’d; but at last, considering they might have anticipated upon Matrimony, I took the Advice of the Recolet Fathers, and of Monsieur Chedeville the Priest, and allowed them to marry. Monsieur le Marquis de la Sabloniere following this Example, ask’d the same Liberty, being in Love with a young Maid, which I absolutely refus’d, and forbid them seeing one another.
Some Time pass’d in which Nothing happen’d to us worth observing; however, I will mention two Things which befell our Recolet Fathers. Accidents concerning the Recolets. One was, That Father Anastasius, being a hunting Bullocks with me, and coming too near one I had shot, and was fallen, the Beast, as much hurt as he was, started up, attack’d and threw him down; he had much ado to get off, and I to rescue him, because I durst not shoot for Fear of killing him. The Bullock being weak, fell again; the Father was deliver’d, but lay ill some Months. The other was, That Father Maximus had writ some Memoirs concerning Monsieur de la Sale’s Conduct, condemning him upon several Occasions. I was told of it, found Means to get those Memoirs, threw them into the Fire, and so the Father came off.
Duhaut Endeavours to occasion a Mutiny. About the same Time, most of our Men seeing Monsieur de le Sale did not return, began to mutter. The Sieur Duhaut, who perhaps had been the first Fomenter of those Discontents, back’d the Complaints of the disgusted Party, promis’d them great Matters under his Conduct, and offer’d to supply them with such Effects as he had in Possession, endeavouring, as I suppose, by those Means, to gain their Affections, for a mischievous Design, which it is likely he had even then conceiv’d.
It was not long before, I had Intimation of the whole Affair, and I had done Monsieur de la Sale a singular Piece of Service, had I then put to Death the Person, who was to be his Murderer; but I rested satisfy’d with giving him a severe Reprimand, and threat’ning to cause him to be secur’d if he persisted, being able to do no other under my present Circumstances. However, I talk’d to all concern’d, and put them in such Hopes of Monsieur de la Sale’s Return, and that Things would soon change to their Satisfaction, that they were all pacify’d.
But in Regard, that Idleness often occasions Uneasiness and Impatience, I us’d all possible Means to keep them employ’d, in the most obliging Manner I could, setting some to cut down the Bushes about our Dwelling, others to hew down Trees, that hinder’d the Prospect, others mow’d the Grass, that fresh might grow up for our Cattle, and at Night I made them divert themselves with Dancing and Singing.
Whilst we thus pass’d away the Time the best we could, Monsieur de la SaleM. de la Sale’s Discoveries. had penetrated very far up into the Country, inclining towards the Northern Part of Mexico. He had travell’d through several Nations, the Inhabitants whereof were, for the most Part, sociable, and had concluded a Sort of Alliance with them, and particularly with the Cenis and others whose names I shall mention. He had discover’d charming Countries abounding in all Things that could be wish’d, as well for Sustenance, as for making of easy Settlements, and after he and his Nephew Moranget had escap’d two Dangerous Sicknesses, he return’d to our Habitation, with five Horses he had purchas’d, and arriv’d at it in August 1686.
His Return.Hearing of his Voice, I was one of the first that ran towards the River: We took our Canoes to bring him, his Luggage and some Provisions over, and the Horses swam. We were extraordinary glad to see our Commander in Chief return safe, tho’ his Journey had not advanc’d his Design. Monsieur de la Sale had not found out his River, nor been towards the Islinois as we had hoped. Only eight Men return’d with him of twenty he carry’d out, and all the visible advantage of that Journey consisted in five Horses, laden with Indian Wheat, Beans and some other Grain, which was put into the Store.
Sept. 1686 7 Men lost and 4 desert. Monsr. de la Sale ask’d me, as soon as he came, whether the Sieurs Clerc, Hurie, Duhaut the younger and two others were come, because they not being able to endure the Fatigue of the Journey, he had given them Leave to return, and hearing they were not, he concluded the Savages had killed them. We were also inform’d, that the Sieur Bihorel, had stray’d and was lost, so that there had been no News of him since; that one of Monsr. de la Sale’s Servants had been dragg’d down to the Bottom of the Water and devour’d by an Alligator, and that four others had deserted and abandon’d Monsieur de la Sale, when he was about the Country of the Cenis.