Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/113

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The Stores had a Place apart, and that Dwelling had the name of St. Lewis given it, as well as the Neighbouring Bay.

The Sieur le Gros, who had remain'd aboard the Bark La Belle, ever since the first Voyage she made to our former Habitation, was carry'd ashore to the new One, and his Leg still swelling, the Surgeon was apprehensive of a Mortification, and advis'd him to consent to have it cut off. He did so, tho' with Regret, the Operation was made, but a Fever follow'd immediately, and he liv'd but two Days, dying on the Feast of the Decollation of St. ''John Baptist, much lamented by all Men, and particularly by Monsieur de la Sale'', to whom he was very serviceable, by reason of his general Knowledge, and his particular Fidelity towards him. Monsieur Carpentier, Son to the Master of the Works and the Sieur Thibault, both of Roan, and some others, dy'd about the same time.

Monsieur de la Sale being desirous to take a Progress, to find his fatal Missisipi River, and only expecting the Recovery of his Brother Monsieur Cavalier, who was to bear him Company, he began to make some Preparations towards it, and in the mean time, took some small Journeys of four or five Leagues about, but could learn nothing further, than that it was a very fine Country, hem'd in on one Side by a small Mountain, which appear'd at about Fifteen or Twenty Leagues distance; beautify'd with very fine Trees, and water'd by many little Rivers, whereof that, on which we had built our Habitation was the least. We call'd it la Riviere aux Bœufs, that is the River of Bullocks, by reason of the great Number of them there was about it. These Bullocks are very like ours, there are Thousands of them, but instead of Hair they have a very long curl'd Sort of Wool.