We took Leave of the Jesuits, and set out in four Canoes, viz. two belonging to Monsieur de Porneuf, and two to Monsieur Cavelier, one of which had been brought from Fort Lewis, and the other bought, as I have just now said, we being twenty-nine of us in those four Canoes. We sail’d on till the 24th, when Monsieur de Porneuf left us to go to St. Mary’s Fall, to carry the Orders given him. The 25th, we got out of the Lake of the Islinois,Islinois and Hurons. to enter that of the Hurons, on the Banks whereof stands the Village, call’d Tessalon, where Monsieur de Porneuf came again to us, the 27th, with a Canoe of the Natives, and with him we held on our Way.
July 1688 French River. We proceeded to Chebonany the 30th of June, and the 3d of July, enter’d the French River, where we were forc’d several Times to carry our Canoes to avoid the Falls and the rapid Streams, observing as we went a barren and dry Country, full of Rocks, on which there grow Cedars and Fir Trees, which take Root in the Clefts of those Rocks.
Nipicingue Lake. The 5th, we enter’d upon the little Lake of Nipicingue, adjoining to a Nation of that Name. We got out of it again the 7th, and enter’d upon the great River, where, after having pass’d the great Fall, we arriv’d the 13th, at the Point of the Island of Montreal. We landed at a Village call’d la Chine, which had belong’d to the late Monsr. de la Sale. Monsr. Cavelier set out the 14th, forArrival at Montreal. Montreal, where we came to him the 17th.
At Montreal we found the Marques d’ Hennonville, Monsieur de Noroy the Intendant and other Gentlemen, to whom we gave an Account of our long and painful Travels, with the Particulars of what we had seen, which they listned to with Satisfaction, but without mentioning Monsieur de la Sale’s Death. We told them the Occasion of our going over into France, and they approv’d of it, being of Opinion with us, that we ought to hasten our Departure as much as possible.
We made us some Cloaths, whereof we stood in Need. The Sieur Teissier, who came along with us, and was of the Reform’d Religion, knowing the Exercise of it was forbid in France, abjur’d it in the great Church of Montreal.
Arrival at Quebec. The 27th, we went aboard a Bark to go down the River to Quebec, where we arriv’d the 29th, Father Anastasius carry’d us to the Monastery of the Fathers of his Order, seated half a League from the Town, on a little River, where we were most kindly receiv’d by the Father Guardian and the other Religious Men, who express’d much Joy to see us, and we still more for being in a Place of Safety, after so many Perils and Toils, for which we return’d our humble Thanks to Almighty God, our Protector.
Aug. 1688 We chose rather to take up our Lodging there than in the Town, to avoid the Visits and troublesome Questions every one would be putting to us with much Importunity, which we must have been oblig’d to bear patiently. Monsieur Cavelier and his Nephew, whom we had left at Montreal, arriv’d some Days after us, and were lodg’d in the Seminary.
We stay’d in that Monastery till the 21st of August, when we imbark’d on a large Boat, eighteen Persons of us, to go down the River of St. Lawrence, a Board a Ship, that was taking in and fishing of Cod, in order to reach France. We went a Board it the 30th of the same Month, and after hearing Mass, made ready and sail’d for our dear Country, arriv’d safe at Rochelle on Saturday the 9th of October 1688, whence, setting out by Land, Friday the 15th, the same Providence, which had protected and conducted us, brought us without any Misfortune to Roan, the 17th of October, the same Year.
The End of the JOURNAL.[125]