Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/102

 *tributed very discreetly. We were much incommoded for want of Kettles, but Monsieur de Beaujeu gave Monsieur de la Sale one, and he order'd another to be brought from the Bark la Belle, by which means we were well serv'd.

We were still in want of Canoes. Monsieur de la Sale sent to the Camp of the Indians to barter for some, and they who went thither observ'd, that those People had made their Advantage of our Ship-wreck, and had some Bales of Normandy Blankets, and they saw several Women had cut them in two and made Petticoats of them. They also saw Bits of Iron of the Ship that was cast away, and return'd immediately to make their Report to Monsieur de la Sale, who said we must endeavour to get some Canoes in Exchange, and resolv'd to send thither again the next Day. Monsieur du Hamel, Ensign to Monsr. de Beaujeu, offer'd to go up in his Boat, which Monsieur de la Sale agreed to, and order'd Messieurs Moranget, his Nephew, Desloges, Oris, Gayen, and some others to bear him Company.

No sooner were those Gentlemen, who were more Hot than Wise, landed, but they went up to the Camp of the Indians, with their Arms in their Hands, as if they had intended to force them, whereupon several of those People fled. Going into the Cottages, they found others, to whom Monsieur du Hamel endeavor'd to signify by Signs, that he would have the Blankets they had found restor'd; but the Misfortune was, that none of them understood one another. The Indians thought it their best Way to withdraw, leaving behind them some Blankets and Skins of Beasts, which those Gentlemen took away, and finding some Canoes in their Return they seiz'd two, and got in, to bring them away.

But having no Oars, none of them knowing how to manage those Canoes, and having only some pitiful Poles, which they could not tell the right Use of, and the Wind being also against them, they made little Way; which the