He also told us, that the Choumans had given their Chief some Presents, to perswade him to conduct us to them; that most of the said Nation had flat Heads; that they had Indian Corn, which gave Monsieur de la Sale Ground to believe, that those People were some of the same he had seen upon his first Discovery. That same Native had a very fine Goat’s Skin, which I purchas’d of him for four Needles, after I had shewn him how to use them, and that Skin was of good Use to make us Shoes instead of raw Bullocks Hides.
M. Moranget’s Account.Some Time after, Monsieur Moranget return’d, gave Monsieur de la Sale an Account of his short Journey, and said, That one of the Natives, who saw us the Night before, came to meet and conduct him to the Chief’s Cottage, where forty Ancient[91] Indians were, by whom he had been kindly receiv’d. That the Chief had in his Hand a Reed, at the end whereof was made fast a Leaf of a French Book, which he had an extraordinary Respect for. That they had been made to sit on Bullocks Hides, and treated with dry’d Beef.
That after these first Ceremonies, the Chief had given them to understand, that some of their People had been conducted by a Man like us, to our Habitation, and that the said Man had promis’d to bring them to talk with us, in order to treat of Peace; but that on the Contrary, we had fired on them and kill’d one of their Men, which had oblig’d them to kill the Man that led them, and that then they return’d. It is not improper here to put the Reader in Mind, that I have before mention’d this Accident, when the Sieur Barbier crossing the River in a Canoe, was call’d upon by some Person, who was among the Natives on the Bank of the River, who had made two Shots, as it had been only the Priming of a Piece, which the Sieur Barbier had look’d upon as an Insult, and therefore he had also fir’d, with all the other Particulars, as mention’d before; an Accident that happen’d for want of understanding one another; which, together with Monsr. de la Sale’s forbidding us to have any Communication with the Natives, was very prejudicial to us afterwards.
After much other Discourse, Monsieur Moranget having given them some small Presents, they made their return in Bullocks Hides, and Goat Skins well dress’d. He ask’d them for some Horses to barter; they answer’d, they had no more than what they stood in Need of. We immediately proceeded on our Journey, and that day being the 21st, went to incamp at the Edge of a Wood.
The 22d, we went up to an Eminence terminated by a Rock, at the Foot whereof ran a little River, the bottom whereof was all of flat Rocks, fit for Building.[92] Thence we descry’d two Natives driving of Bullocks, which made us stand upon our Guard, and it appear’d to be our Indian, who had met another, with whom he had been acquainted among the Cenis, and whom he had brought along with him.
Three lost French Men heard of.Monsieur de la Sale was very glad to see him, and remember’d he was one of those of whom he had purchas’d a Horse. He ask’d several Questions of him, and among the rest, whether he had not seen the four Men who deserted in his former Journey, or heard any Talk of the others, to whom he had given Leave to return to our Dwelling. He answer’d, he had seen one among the Cenis, and two others among the Assonis; but that he had not heard of any more, and that they must needs be dead; as also the Sieur Bihorel, who was likewise mention’d to him.
He further told us, that there were four or five Cottages thereabouts, in which about Fifteen Men resided. At Night he went away. Our Indian had kill’d a Cow at a great Distance and shot her quite through, at which the other, who had been an Eye Witness to it, stood a long Time amaz’d, without speaking one Word, admiring the Effect of our Pieces. That Cow was sent for, and the Flesh brought to our Camp.
The 23d, we pass’d by the Cottages we had been told of, where the Natives were with their Wives and Children. Monsr. de la Sale caus’d us to halt in the Village. We were well receiv’d, they presented us with dry’d Beef, and we return’d it in some Knives. We saw two Horses, one of them a little grey, indifferent handsome. They told us they would soon depart that Place, to go join their Companions, who were in War with their Enemies. The rest of our Men being come up, we went on to incamp a League from thence, on the Bank of a Rivulet, and at the Foot of one of the highest Mountains in the Country.
Unloading our Horses, we perceiv’d there wanted a large Axe, which serv’d us for hewing down of Trees. Monsieur de la Sale sent his Indian to demand it, at the Village we came from last, the Savages said they had not seen it, and it was lost. He brought back Word, that the Savages had told him, that if we would stay for them, they would go along with, and shew us the Way.
However, we went on the 24th, and incamp’d on the Edge of a Marsh. The 25th, the Rain hinder’d us from Marching. The 26th, Monsieur de la Sale perceiving how difficult and dangerous it was to cross that Marsh, sent his Indian to the others, to know whether they really design’d to go with us. They answer’d, we must return thither to join them. The 27th. we decamp’d, in order to it; but took another Way to go meet the Indians. The 28th. we saw them marching at a Distance. One of them was detach’d to come tell us, that he would shew us the Way to cross the Marsh, and we went on and incamp’d at the Foot of the high Mountain I have spoken of.