The Remainder of the LETTER, written by him who revis’d this Journal, the other Part whereof is at the Beginning of it, this being the Sequel to the said Journal.
THREE Note, That these have writ of those Parts, but none of this particular Voyage.several Authors have given an Account of this Voyage; First, Father le Clerk, upon the Relations he had from the Fathers Zenobius and Anastasius, Recolets, as he was himself and both of them Eye-Witnesses: Secondly, The Chevalier Tonty, who was also a Witness to a considerable Part of those Adventures: And, Lastly, Father Hennepin, a Flemming, of the same Order of the Recolets, has done it more largely; he seems to be well acquainted with the Country, and had a Share in great Discoveries; but the Truth of his Relations is much controverted. It was he who went to the Northward, and towards the Source of the Missisipi, which he calls Mechasipi, and who printed, at Paris, an Account of the Country about the River, giving it the Name of Louisiana. He ought to have stopp’d there, and not to have gone, as he did, into Holland, to set forth another Edition, very much enlarg’d, and perhaps not so true, which he dedicated to William the Third, Prince of Orange, and afterwards King of Great Britain. An Action for a Religious Man no less ridiculous than extravagant, not to give it a worse Name; for after many great and tedious Encomiums given that Protestant Prince, he exhorts and conjures him to turn his Thoughts towards those vast Countries, as yet unknown, to conquer them and send Colonies thither, to make known to those Savage Nations the true God and his Worship, and to preach the Gospel. That good Religious Man, whom many have falsly thought, on Account of that Extravagancy, to have renounc’d his Religion, did not consider what he said, and consequently has scandaliz’d the Catholicks, and furnish’d the Hugonots with Matter of Laughter; for it is likely, that they being Enemies to the Roman Church, would employ Recolets to go preach up Popery, as they call it in Canada? Or would they introduce any other Religion than their own? Can Father Hennepin be excuseable in this Point?
In fine it appears, by all that has been writ by those several Persons concerning that Enterprize, that the Murder committed on the Person of Monsieur de la Sale was the Occasion of its miscarrying; but that which obstructed the making of some Provision in that Case was, the said Murders being conceal’d for the Space of two Years, and that theM. de la Sale’s Fort taken by the Spaniards. Spaniards of Mexico having been inform’d of all the Affair, sent Men, who carry’d off the weak Garrison Monsieur de la Sale had left in the Fort built by him, near the Place of his Landing, before he penetrated into the Country, to find out the Missisipi. They also entirely raz’d that Fort, so that Seven or Eight Years elaps’d, till Monsieur de Hiberville, a Gentleman of Canada, and a Person of Capacity and Courage, famous for his notable Expeditions to Hudson’s Bay and other Parts, resolv’d to reassume and revive that Project. He came over into France upon that Design, and made an Armament about the Year 1698, set out and sail’d to the Gulf of Mexico.M. de Hiberville’s Expedition for the Missisipi. Being an able Seaman, he search’d along the Coast so narrowly, that he found the Mouth of that fatal Missisipi and built a Fort on it, leaving Men there, with a good Quantity of Ammunition and Provisions, and return’d to France, intending to go back with a Reinforcement, as he did, and having penetrated far into the Country, discover’d several Savage Nations, and join’d Friendship and Alliance with them, as also built another Fort, which he left well stor’d with Men and Necessaries, return’d into France; but attempting a third Voyage, he dy’d by the Way, and thus, for want of Relief and Support, that noble Enterprize miscarry’d again.
But God has now provided for it, and it is the Concern of Heaven, for if France is interested on Account of the Temporal Advantages it expects, the Church is so in like Manner, for the Conversion of the Indians it hopes will follow. Accordingly, Providence has taken the Affair in Hand, having rais’d the Man, who is the fittest to revive and support so important a Project. This is Monsieur Crozat, Secretary to the King, a Man of singular Worth, very Intelligent, Well-meaning, and prodigiously Rich, who without going out of his Closet, has been the Occasion of many notable Voyages by Sea, and all of them successful. To him, his Majesty, by his Letters Patent, bearing Date the 14th of Septemb. 1712,M. Crozat only to plant Colonies and Trade in Louisiana. has granted the sole Power to trade and settle Colonies in the Countries describ’d in this Journal, and which are known to us by the Name of Louisiana and the River Missisipi, from hence forward to be call’d the River of St. Lewis. The Grant is made to him for 15 Years, under several Conditions mention’d in the said Letters Patent, which have been made publick.
And whereas such a Grant cannot subsist without Blacks, he is also allow’d to send a Ship to Guinea to purchase them. They may perhaps find there the famous Black Aniaga, Brother to a King of Guinea, whom Captain Delbee brought over into France, above Thirty Years ago. The King was pleas’d to have him Educated, Instructed and Baptiz’d, the Dauphin[126] being his Godfather; then put him into his Troop of Musquetiers, and afterwards made him a Captain in his own Regiment, where he serv’d Honourably. Being desirous to see his own Country again, where he promis’d to promote the French Trade, and the settling of Missioners, his Majesty loaded him with Presents, and order’d a Ship to carry him back to Guinea; but as soon as he was there, he no longer remember’d he had been baptiz’d, and turn’d again as perfect a Black, A Black bred in France turns to his Native Customs. as he had been before. A Friend of mine, who was an Officer aboard a Ship, and hapned to be on that Coast in the Year 1708, had two or three Interviews with that Black, who came aboard him. He was a great Man in that Country, for his Brother was King. He express’d much Gratitude for the Kindness that had been shewn him in France, and was extraordinary Courteous, and made great Offers to those aboard the Ship, and to all such of the Nation as would go into Guinea.
This Navigation to Louisiana will farther procure us a free Resort to the two famous Ports of the Gulf of Mexico, viz. The Havana and Veracruz, where Strangers did not use to be admitted, and which we knew only by their Names and their Situation in our Maps.
Veracruz in New Spain. The latter of those Towns is the Port of New Spain, at the Bottom of the Bay or Gulf, in 18 Degrees of North Latitude, Seated in a Sandy Plain, encompass’d with Mountains; beyond which there are Woods and Meadows, well Stock’d with Cattle and wild Fowl: the flesh whereof is stringy and tasteless. The Air is very Hot, and not Healthy, when any Winds blow, except the North, which rises commonly once in Eight or Fifteen Days, and holds for the Space of Twenty Four Hours, blowing so hard, that there is no going ashore from the Ships, and then the Cold is very piercing. When the Weather is clear there plainly appear, on the Road to Mexico, two Mountains rising above the Clouds, and forty Leagues distant, all cover’d with Snow. The Streets of Veracruz are streight as a Line; the Houses are handsome and regular; the Fortifications next the Land inconsiderable, but the Front of the Town next the Sea forms a Semicircle, with a little Fort at each End. Directly before that Front, a Quarter of a League out at Sea, there stands, on a Spot of Ground, inaccessible, by Reason of the Breaking of the Sea, a strong Citadel, well built and furnished with all Necessaries, a good Garrison and double Batteries of two hundred Pieces of brass Cannon. Ships cannot anchor any where, but between that Citadel and the Town; besides that, it requires several Precautions, because it is difficult coming to an Anchor.
Most of the Inhabitants are Mulattoes, that is of a tawny dark Colour, who live most upon Chocolate and Sweetmeats, extraordinary sober, and eating little Flesh. The Men are haughty, the Women keep retired above Stairs, not to be seen by Strangers, and seldom going abroad, and then in Coaches or Chairs, and those who cannot reach to it, cover’d with fine silk Veils, which reach from the Crown of their Heads to their Feet, leaving only a small Opening on the Right Side,[127] for them to see their Way. In their own Apartments they wear nothing but a Smock and a silk Petticoat, with gold or silver Laces, without any Thing on their Heads, and their Hair platted with Ribbons, a gold Chain about their Neck, Bracelets of the same and Pendants of Emeralds in their Ears. They could well enough like the Behaviour and Company of the French, but that the jealous Temper of the Men obstructs them. There being a Picture of Philip King of Spain, now reigning, aboard the Ship in which my Friend was, who gave me this Account, the People swarm’d aboard to see it, they were never satisfy’d with gazing at it, and there was a most magnificent Festival kept in the Town, on Account of the Birth of the Prince of Asturias.
They understand Trade very well, but are sloathful and averse to Labour, fond of State and Ease. They wear great Strings of Beads about their Necks, their Houses are full of Pictures and Images of Devotion, and they have little that is real. They are decently furnish’d with Purceline and China Goods. The Churches are magnificently adorned with Plate. But the Lives and Manners of the Clergy are not Edifying. On Holidays and Sundays there is no Thought of Matins, of Sermon, or of Vespers: People chat and laugh in the Churches as well as in the Processions, which are often at Night by the Light of Torches.
All Strangers are forbid Trading there, yet some come by Stealth and deal Underhand, by Means of Presents made to such Persons as can favour them. If those Mulattoes call themselves white, it is only to honour themselves and by Way of Distinction from their Slaves, who are all Blacks, and having got much Mony by their Labour, ransome themselves and sometimes become considerable Merchants.