The next Morning the Elders came to us again. They had provided Mats without the Cottage, and made Signs to us to go thither and sit down upon them, as we did, leaving two of our Company to guard the Baggage. We repeated to them what we had said the Night before, and made them some Presents of Axes, Knives, Strings of Beads and Rings. They signify’d they were sorry we would go away, and endeavour’d the best they could, to make us sensible of the same Obstacles the others had signify’d to us; but it was all in Vain; however, we stay’d till the first of June, all the while bartering and gathering the best stock of Provisions we could.
June 1687The Second, we remov’d from that Cottage, where we had some Jealousy, and went to another, a Quarter of a League from it, where the Chief of it gave us a very good Reception.Good Entertainment. An old Woman, who was either his Mother, or Governess of the Cottage, took particular Care of us: We were first serv’d at eating, and to keep her in that good Mind, we now and then made her some little Presents, whilst she, by her Care and Kindness, spar’d our Provisions, which were necessary for our Journey.
A continual Rain oblig’d us to stay there till the 13th. During our Stay, the Natives made several Feasts, to which we were always invited; and at length the Rain ceasing, we resolv’d to set out, notwithstanding all Monsieur Cavelier the Priest’s Apprehensions, which we surmounted, and directed our Course towards the N. E. with two Indians, who were to conduct us only a small Way, and who accordingly soon left us, whatsoever Promises we could make them. They departed to return Home, promising they would come to us again. We encamp’d that Night on the Bank of a Rivulet.
Bad Ways.The 14th and 15th, we held on our Way, frequently meeting with Sloughs, which very much fatigued us, because we were oblig’d to unload our Horses for them to pass, and prevent their sticking in the Mire and fat Soil, whence we could not have drawn them out, and consequently we were fain to carry all our Luggage on our own Backs.
Whilst we halted about Noon, that our Horses might graze, as was usually done by us, we discover’d our two Assony Indians returning towards us, at which we were much rejoiced, because they had a better Notion than ourselves of the Way we were to go. We made them eat and smoke, and then set out again.
The 16th, we came to a great River, which we pass’d as we had done the first, and after that, met with very bad Ways.
The 17th, one of our Company being indispos’d, we could not set out till Noon, and held on till the 21st, crossing several Sloughs and Rivers, and then one of our Indians being out of Order, it oblig’d us to stay on the Bank of a River we had pass’d. The other Indian seeing his comrade sick, went a Hunting, and brought a wild Goat; for there are many in that Country. The Indians have the Art to Kill Goats and Wild Fowl. Art of dressing the Heads of those Creatures, which they put upon their own, and imitate them so exactly, that they can come very near to them, and then seldom fail of killing. The same Method they use for Turkeys and other wild Fowl, and so draw them close to themselves.
Fine Meadows.The 22d, our Indian being somewhat recover’d we decamp’d and proceeded along a better Way and Pleasanter Country, than that we had left behind, and as we enquir’d the best we could of those our Indians, concerning the Neighbouring Nations and those we were going towards, among others they nam’d to us, that they call’d Cappa. M. Cavelier told us, he remember’d he had heard his late Brother Monsieur de la Sale name that Nation, and say he had seen it as he went from Canada towards the Missisipi. This put us in Hopes, that we should succeed in our Discovery.
The 23d, being near a Village, we had been in Search of, one of our Indians went before, to give Notice of our Arrival. In the mean Time we cross’d most lovely Plains and Meadows, border’d with fine Groves of beautiful Trees, where the Grass was so high, that it hinder’d our Horses going, and were oblig’d to clear the Passage for them.
When we were within Half a League of the Village, we saw an Indian, mounted on a large grey Mare, coming along with our Native, to meet us, and were told, that Horseman was the Chief of the Village, attended by some others of the same Place. As soon as that Chief came up to us, he express’d very much Kindness and Affection; we gave him to understand, that we did no Body any Harm, unless we were first attack’d. Then we made him smoke, and when that was done, he made Signs to us to follow him, which we did, till we came to the Bank of a River, where he again desir’d us to stay, whilst he went to give Notice to the Elders.