Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/111

 had order'd all our Effects to be laid up. It had no other Inclosure but Chests and Barrels; but there was nothing to fear from the Europeans.

We spent the Night at that Post, and two Canoes coming thither the next Morning, I went aboard one of them, with Part of my Company, and join'd Monsieur de la Sale the next Day, at the Place where he had resolv'd to make his new Settlement. I gave him an Account of all that had happen'd, and was amaz'd to see Things so ill begun and so little advanc'd. As for the Plantation, the Seed and Grain put into the Ground, was either lost through Drought, or eaten by Birds or Beasts. There were several Dead, and among them the Sieur de Villeperdry; many sick, and of that Number Monsieur Cavalier the Priest; no Shelter but a little square Place stak'd in, where the Powder was and some Casks of Brandy; many other Inconveniences there were, which made all Things appear in a miserable Condition.

It was requisite to think of building a large Lodgment, Monsieur de la Sale design'd it, but the Difficulty was to get proper Timber for Building. There was a little Wood, where a good Quantity might be had, but it was a League up the Country, and we had neither Carts nor Horses to carry it; however Monsr. de la Sale sent Workmen thither, with others to guard them. The Trees were cut down and squar'd, but the Carpenters were so ignorant, that Monsr. de la Sale was forc'd to act the Master Builder, and to mark out the Pieces for the Work he design'd. Some of those Pieces of Timber were dragg'd to the Camp, over the Grass and Weeds the Plain was cover'd with; afterwards the Carriage of a Gun was made use of; but all cost so much Labour, that the ablest Men were quite spent.

This excessive Toil, the poor Sustenance the labouring Men had, and that often retrench'd as a Penalty for having fail'd in doing their Duty; the Uneasiness Monsieur de la Sale was under to see nothing succeed as he had