The Night between the 19th and the 20th, one of our Horses breaking loose, was either taken away by the Natives, or lost in the Woods. That did not obstruct our Departure, tho’ the Loss was grievous to us, and we held on our Way till the 24th, when we met a Company of Indians, with Axes, going to fetch Barks of Trees, to cover their Cottages.Indians with Axes. They were surpriz’d to see us, but having made Signs to them to draw near, they came, caress’d and presented us with some Water Melons they had. They put off their Design of going to fetch Bark till another Time, and went along with us, and one of our Guides having gone before in the Morning to give Notice of our coming at the next Village, met with other Parcels of Indians, who were coming to meet us, and express’d extraordinary Kindness.
We halted in one of their Cottages, which they call Desert, because they are in the Midst of their Fields and Gardens. There we found several Women who had brought Bread, Gourds, Beans and Water Melons, a Sort of Fruit proper to quench Thirst, the Pulp of it being no better than Water.
We set out again to come to the Village, and by the Way, met with very pleasant Woods, in which, there were Abundance of stately Cedars. Being come to a River, that was between us and the Village, and looking over to the further Side, we discover’d a great Cross,A Cross by a River and a French built House. and at a small Distance from it, a House, built after the French Fashion.
It is easy to imagine what inward Joy we conceiv’d at the Sight of that Emblem of our Salvation. We knelt down, lifting up our Hands and Eyes to Heaven, to return Thanks to the Divine Goodness, for having conducted us so happily; for we made no Question of finding French on the other Side of the River, and of their being Catholicks, since they had Crosses.
In short, having halted some Time on the Bank of that River, we spy’d several Canoes making towards us, and two Men cloath’d, coming out of the House we had discover’d, who, the Moment they saw us, fir’d each of them a Shot to salute us. An Indian being Chief of the Village, who was with them, had done so before, and we were not backward in returning their Salute, by discharging all our Pieces.
When we had pass’d the River, and were all come together, we soon knew each other to be French Men.Dwelling of French. Those we found were the Sieurs Couture Charpantier and de Launay, both of them of Roan, whom Monsieur de Tonty, Governor of Fort St. Lewis among the Islinois, had left at that Post, when he went down the Missisipi to look after Monsr. de la Sale; and the Nation we were then with, was call’d Accancea.
It is hard to express the Joy conceiv’d on both Sides; ours was unspeakable, for having at last found, what we had so earnestly desired, and that the Hopes of returning to our dear Country, was in some Measure assured by that happy Discovery.The Travellers come to the French Habitation. The others were pleased to see such Persons as might bring them News of that Commander, from whom they expected the Performance of what he had promis’d them; but the Account we gave them of Monsr. de la Sale’s unfortunate Death, was so afflicting, that it drew Tears from them, and the dismal History of his Troubles and Disasters render’d them almost inconsolable.
We were conducted to the House, whither all our Baggage was honestly carry’d by the Indians. There was a very great Throng of those People, both Men and Women, which being over, we came to the Relation of the particular Circumstances of our Stories. Ours was deliver’d by Monsieur Cavelier, whom we honour’d as our Chief, for being Brother to him, who had been so.
Who the Frenchmen were.We were inform’d by them, that they had been Six, sent by Monsr. Tonty, when he return’d from the Voyage he had made down the Colbert or Missisipi River, pursuant to the Orders sent him by the late Monsr. de la Sale, at his Departure from France, and that the said Sieur Tonty had commanded them to build the aforesaid House. That having never since receiv’d any News from the said Monsr. de la Sale, Four of them were gone back to Monsr. Tonty, at the Fort of the Islinois.
In Conclusion, it was agreed among us, to go away as soon as possible, towards the Islinois, and conceal from the Indians, the Death of Monsieur de la Sale, to keep them still in Awe and under Submission, whilst we went away with the first Ships that should happen to sail from Canada for France, to give an Account at Court of what had happen’d, and to procure Succours. In the mean Time, the Chief of the Indians came to invite us to eat. We found Mats laid on the Ground for us to sit on, and all the Village met to see us.