We arriv’d at Chicagou the 29th of March, and our first Care was to go seek what we had conceal’d at our former Voyage, having, as was there said, bury’d our Luggage and Provisions. We found it had been open’d, and some Furs and Linen taken away, almost all which belong’d to me. This had been done by a French Man, whom M. Tonty had sent from the Fort, during the Winter Season, to know whether there were any Canoes at Chicagou, and whom he had directed to see whether any Body had medled with what we had conceal’d, and he made Use of that Advice to rob us.
The bad Weather oblig’d us to stay in that Place, till April. That Time of Rest was advantageous for the Healing my Foot; and there being but very little Game in that Place, we had Nothing but our Meal or Indian Wheat to feed on; yet we discover’d a Kind of Manna,[123] which was a great Help to us. It was a Sort of Trees,Sweet Water from a Tree. resembling our Maple, in which we made Incisions, whence flow’d a sweet Liquor, and in it we boil’d our Indian Wheat, which made it delicious, sweet and of a very agreeable Relish.
There being no Sugar-Canes in that Country, those Trees supply’d that Liquor, which being boil’d up and evaporated, turn’d into a Kind of Sugar somewhat brownish, but very good. In the Woods we found a Sort of Garlick, not so strong as ours, and small Onions very like ours in Taste, and some Charvel[124] of the same Relish as that we have, but different in the Leaf.
The Weather being somewhat mended, we imbark’d again and enter’d upon the Lake on the 8th of April, keeping to the North Side to shun the Iroquois. We had some Storms also, and saw swelling Waves like those of the Sea; but arriv’d safe the 15th at a River call’d Quinetanan,Quinetanan River. near a Village whence, the Inhabitants depart during the Winter Season, to go a Hunting, and reside there all the Summer.
The Sport is not there as in those Countries from whence we came; but on the Contrary, very poor, and we found Nothing but some very lean Wild Goats, and even those very rarely, because the Wolves, which are very numerous there, make great Havock of them, taking and devouring great Numbers after this Manner.
Apr. 1688 When the Wolves have discover’d a Herd of Wild Goats,How Wolves catch Goats. they rouse and set them a running. The Wild Goats never fail to take to the first Lake they meet with. The hunting Wolves, who are used to that, guard the Banks carefully, moving along the Edges of them. The poor Goats being pierc’d by the Cold of the Lake, grow weary and so get out, or else the River swelling forces them out with its Waves, quite benumm’d, so that they are easily taken by their Enemies, who devour them. We frequently saw those Wolves watching along the Side of the Lake, and kept off to avoid frightning them, to the End the Wild Goats might not quit their Sanctuary, that we might catch some of them, as it sometimes fell out.
Poutouatanni Nation. The 28th, we arriv’d among the Poutouatannis, which is half Way to Micilimaquinay, where we purchas’d some Indian Corn for the rest of our Voyage. We left there on the last of the month, and we arrived on the 10th of May at the said place of Michilimackinac. We found no News there from Montreal, and were forc’d to stay some Time to wait an Opportunity to go down the River; No Man daring to venture, because of the War with the Iroquois.
Hurons and Outahouacs Nations. There are some French Men in that Place, and four Jesuits, who have a House well built with Timber, inclosed with Stakes and Palisades. There are also some Hurons and Outahouacs, two Neighbouring Nations,May 1688 whom those Fathers take Care to instruct, not without very much Trouble, those People being downright Libertines, and there are very often none but a few Women in their Churches. Those Fathers have each of them the Charge of instructing a Nation, and to that Effect have translated the Prayers into the Language peculiar to each of them, as also all other Things relating to the Catholick Faith and Religion.
June 1688 They offer’d Father Anastasius and Monsieur Cavelier a Room, which they accepted of, and we took up our Lodging in a little Hovel some Travellers had made. There we continued the rest of May and Part of June, till after the Feast of Whitsontide. The Natives of the Country about, till the Land and sow Indian Corn, Melons and Gourds, but they do not thrive so well as in the Country we came from. However they live on them, and besides they have Fish they catch in the Lake, for Flesh is very scarce among them.
On the 4th of June, there arriv’d four Canoes, commanded by Monsieur de Porneuf, coming from Montreal, and bringing News from the Marques d’Hennonville, and Orders to send to the Settlements which were towards the Lake des Puans and others higher up, towards the Source of the River Colbert, to know the Posture and Condition of Affairs. We prepar’d to be gone with the two Canoes. Monsieur Cavelier bought another, to carry our Baggage, and left Part of his Furs with a Merchant, who gave him a Note to receive Money at Montreal. I did the same with those few Furs I had, the rest of them having been left at Micilimaquinay.