Page:Early western travels, 1748-1846 (1907 Volume 6).djvu/69

 animals, which exist in numbers almost incredible. We found the navigation more easy this evening, from the state of the river, than it has been for several days past. We were enabled to make nine miles, chiefly under oars—weather disagreeably cool.

We have now passed the last settlement of whites, and probably will not revisit them for several months. This reflection seemed to have taken possession of the minds of all. I almost repented of having undertaken this voyage, without an object of suitable importance. Our men were kept from thinking too {58} deeply by their songs and the splashing of the oars, which kept time with them. Lisa himself seized the helm, and gave the song,[19] and at the close of every stanza, made the woods ring with his shouts of; (F1) corr.] un etang, Ye, ye ment: Trois canards s'en vons baignans, Tous du lóng de la rivière, Legèrement ma bergère, Legèrement, ye ment.

Trois canards s'en vons baignans, Ye, ye ment: Le fis du roi s'en va chassant, Tous du lóng de la rivière. Legèrement ma bergère, Legèrement, ye ment.

Le fis du roi s'en va chassant, Ye, ye ment: Avec son grand fusil d'argent, Tous du lóng de la rivière, Legèrement ma bergère Legèrement, ye ment. &c. &c.

Comment by Ed. A translation of this boating song is given in Bradbury's Travels, vol. v of our series, p. 40.]