Aug. 1687 Entertainment given by the Indians. We would willingly have set out the First of August; but the Chief came and told us, it could not be, because the Women had not pounded our Corn, which however was done; but they made use of that Pretence to oblige us to stay, and to have Leisure to give us some Diversion, after their Manner. Accordingly, about Ten in the Morning, the Warriors and Youth came together to Dance. They were dress’d after their best Manner, some of them wearing Plumes of several Colours, wherewith they adorn their Heads, others, instead of Feathers, had two Bullocks Horns, and were all besmear’d with Clay, of Black or of Red, so that they really look’d like a Company of Devils or Monsters, and in those Figures they danc’d, as I have describ’d it, speaking of the other Nations.
The Second, we made ready to be going. The Indian given by the first Village for our Guide, would not go any farther. A Man, said to be an Hermaphrodite, offer’d to supply his Place, saying, he was willing to go to the Islinois. We took Leave of the Sieur Couture, to whom Monsr. Cavelier made an Exhortation, encouraging him to persevere and have Patience, in Hopes of the Relief we wou’d send him, and so we imbark’d on the Missisipi in a Canoe, being Nine in Number, that is, five of us, and the four Indians that were our Guides. We were oblig’d to cross that River very often, and no less frequently to carry our Canoe and Goods, as well on Account of the Rapidity of the River, and to find it slacker on the one or the other Side of it, which was very troublesome to our Guides, as because of the little islands we met with, which are form’d by the impetuous beating of the Water upon the Banks, that oppose its Course, where the Channels happen not to lie strait; there it washes away the Earth and bears down great Trees, which in Process of Time form little Islands, that divide the Channel. At Night we incamp’d in one of those small Islands, for our greater Safety, for we were then come into an Enemy’s Nation, call’d Machigamea,Machigamea Nation. which put our Indians into great Frights.
It is certain our Toil was very great, for we were oblig’d to row in the Canoe, to help our Indians to stem the Current of the River, because we were going up, and it was very strong and rapid; we were often necessitated to land, and sometimes to travel over miry Lands, where we sunk up half way the Leg; other Times over burning Sands, which scorch’d our Feet, having no Shoes, or else over Splinters of Wood, which ran into the Soles of our Feet, and when we were come to the resting Place, we were to provide Fuel to dress our Meat, and provide all Things for our Indians, who would not have done so much as go fetch a Cup of Water, tho’ we were on the Bank of the River, and yet we were happy enough in having them.
We proceeded on, continually undergoing the same Toil, till the Seventh, when, we saw the first Bullock, we had met on our Way, since our coming among the Accancea’s. The Indians, who had a great Mind to eat Flesh, made a Sign to me, to go kill it. I pursu’d and Shot, but it did not fall, the Indians ran after, kill’d, and came to tell us it must be parch’d, or dry’d, which was accordingly done. I must here take Notice of a Ceremony our Indians perform’d, when they came near the Bullock, before they flead him.
Ceremony at dressing a Bullock. In the first Place, they adorn’d his Head with some Swans and Bustards Down, dy’d red, and put some Tabacco into his Nostrils, and between the Clefts of the Hoofs. When they had flead him, they cut out the Tongue, and put a Bit of Tabacco into its Place; then they stuck two Wooden Forks into the Ground, laid a Stick across them, on which they plac’d several Slices of the Flesh, in the Nature of an Offering. The Ceremony being ended, we parch’d or dry’d the best Parts of the Beast and proceeded on our Journey.
Banks of several Colours. The 9th, we found the Banks of the River very high, and the Earth of them Yellow, Red and White, and thither the Natives came to furnish themselves with it, to adorn their Bodies, on Festival Days. We held on our Way till the 14th, when we met a Herd of Bullocks, whereof we kill’d five, dry’d Part of them, and proceeded till the 18th.
The 19th, we came to the Mouth of the River,Houabache River. call’d Houabache, said to come from the Country of the Iroquois, towards New England. That is a very fine River, its Water extraordinary clear, and the Current of it, gentle. Our Indians offer’d up to it, by Way of Sacrifice, some Tabacco and Beef Steaks, which they fix’d on Forks, and left them on the Bank, to be dispos’d of as the River thought fit. We observ’d some other Superstitions among those poor People, one whereof was as follows.
Indian Fast. There were some certain Days, on which they Fasted, and we knew them, when as soon as they awak’d, they besmear’d their Faces and Arms, or other Parts of their Bodies, with a slimy Sort of Earth, or pounded Charcoal; for that Day they did not eat till Ten or Eleven of the Clock at Night, and before they did eat they were to wipe off that Smearing, and had Water brought them for that Purpose. The Occasion of their Fasting was, as they gave us to understand, that they might have good Success in Hunting, and kill Abundance of Bullocks.
Salt Water Spring. We held on our Way till the 25th, when the Indians shew’d us a Spring of Salt Water, within a Musket Shot of us, and made us go ashore to view it. We observ’d the Ground about it was much beaten by Bullocks Feet, and it is likely they love that Salt Water. The Country about, was full of Hillocks, cover’d with Oaks and Wallnut-Trees, Abundance of Plum-Trees, almost all the Plums red and pretty good, besides great Store of other Sorts of Fruits,Wild Fruit. whose Names we know not, and among them one shap’d like a midling Pear, with Stones in it as big as large Beans. When ripe it peels like a Peach, the Taste is indifferent good, but rather of the Sweetest.
The 27th, having discover’d a Herd of Beeves, we went ashore to kill some; I shot a Heifer, which was very good Meat, we put a Board the best of it, and held on our Way till the Evening, when we encamp’d on an Island, where we observ’d an alteration in the Humour and Behaviour of our Indians. This put us under some Apprehension, and the more, for that he who was reckon’d an Hermaphrodite, told us, they intended to leave us, which oblig’d us to secure our Arms and double our Watch during the Night, for Fear they should forsake us.