The 15th, we travel’d along a fine Meadow, then over Plains that had been burnt, and at Night went to take our Rest on the Bank of a small Rivulet, about which we saw several Footsteps of Natives, which made us conclude we were not far from them; and therefore we doubled our Guard, to prevent being surpriz’d.
The 16th, Monsieur de la Sale left me at the Guard of the Camp, and took Monsieur Cavelier his Brother, and seven Men with him, to go find out the Indians. They had not gone half a League before they spied Horses and a Number of Cottages, without being themselves seen by the Savages.A Village. That Village stood on the Side of a Hill, and contain’d about forty Huts, standing together, besides several others straggling.
Monsieur de la Sale well receiv’d by the Natives.When Monsieur de la Sale enter’d the Village, the Savages seeing him, came to meet and conduct him to the Cottage of their Chief, where he and his Company were seated on Bullocks Hides. The Elders being come, he signify’d to them the Occasion of his Coming, as he had done to the other Nations, with which they seem’d to rest satisfy’d. Some Presents were made them, according to Custom, and they offer’d him a Quantity of Hides, which he refus’d, telling them, that when he return’d from the Cenis he would trade with, and furnish them with all they had Occasion for. They confirm’d what the others had told us, concerning a Nation, where some of them had been, the Men whereof were like us, meaning the Spaniards. He nam’d to them the Nations we had pass’d through from our Dwelling of St. Lewis, to the River Maligne, which we had lately pass’d. The Names of those Nations are as follows.
Names of Nations or Tribes.The Spicheats, Kabayes, Thecamons, Theauremets, Kiahoba, Choumenes, Kouans, Arhan, Enepiahe, Ahonerhopiheim, Korenkake, Korkone, Omcaosse, Keremen, Ahehoen, Maghai, Thecamenes, Otenmarhem, Kavagan and Meracouman. These are the Nations that lay on our Road; those on the West and North West of the said River were the Kannehonan, Tohaka, Pehir, Coyabegux, Onapien, Pichar, Tohan, Kiasses, Chanzes, Tsera, Bocrettes, Tsepehoen, Fercouteha, Panego, Petao, Petzares, Peisacho, Peihoum and Orcampion.[89]
Those we were with then, were call’d Teao, whom we had not before hear’d nam’d. They talk’d of a great Nation call’d Ayona and Canohatino, who were at War with the Spaniards, from whom they stole Horses, and told us, that one hundred Spaniards were to have come to join the Cenis, to carry on that War, but that having heard of our March, they went back. Monsieur de la Sale gave them to understand, that we were at War with the Spaniards, and that we fear’d them not; and that he was sent on their Account by the great captain of the World, who had charg’d him to do them all Good, and to assist them in their Wars against such Nations as were their Enemies.
Those Savages gave Monsieur de la Sale Notice, that he would find three of our Men among the Cenis, which put him in Hopes they were those he had given Leave to depart at his former Journey, and of whom he had never since heard. He propos’d to them to barter for Horses; but they had caus’d them to be convey’d out of the Way, for Fear we should take them away, excepting only one Bay, which Monsieur de la Sale agreed for and return’d to us.
The 17th, we pass’d a small River, with some Difficulty, and incamp’d beyond it. The 18th, one of our Horses going along the Edge of an upright Bank, fell into the Water, and came off with only a Hurt on the Shoulder; but we were fain to unload him, and distribute his Burden among us, every one making a Pack; and thus we cross’d a curious Plain,[90] diversify’d with Woods, Hills, Rivulets, and delightful Meadows.
The 19th, we travell’d along the Tops of those Hills, to avoid the Bottoms, and found a Difficulty to get down, by reason of the Rocks we met with at the End of them, and a River we were to cross. Whilst we were passing that River, we heard Dogs hunting the Bullocks, two of which coming near us, one of them was shot dead. The Natives who were hunting spying us, sent out two of their Number, who creeping from Tree to Tree, drew near, and then stood still, without daring to proceed any farther. We made Signs to them to come, which they did, and we made them smoke, till Monsieur de la Sale return’d, being gone a little Way to observe the Body of those People.
When come, he told them, he would entertain Peace with them, that we were going to the Cenis, and he believ’d, that these very Men were of their Nation, because they had their Accent and some of their Words. They told him their Village was near that Place, and bore us Company to our Camp, where after some small Presents given them, they were dismiss’d.
Account given by a Native.The 20th, Monsieur de la Sale sent Monsieur Moranget and some others to the Village of those Natives, to try whether they could barter with them for some Horses. In the mean Time two Savages came to us, one of them being the same that was with us the Night before, and they express’d much Friendship for us. That particular Indian told us, his name was Palaquechaune, that they were Allies to the Cenis, that their Chief had been among the Choumans, with the Spaniards; that the Choumans were Friends to the Spaniards, from whom they got Horses, and added some farther Particulars, which the others had before signify’d to us; so that we had good Reason to judge we were not far from North Mexico.