Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/123

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Object to the Eye. I have observed some that smelt like a Tuberose, but the Leaf resembles our Borage. I have seen Primroses, having a Scent like ours, African Gilliflowers, and a Sort of purple wind Flowers. The Autumn Flowers are almost all of them yellow, so that the Plains look all of that Colour.

The Climate is mild and temperate, tho' we were in about 27 Degrees of North Latitude, and yet the Seeds I caused to be sow'd did not thrive; whether it was because they had been soak'd in the Sea Water, or for any other Reason. Some came up pretty well, as Pompions, Melons, Parsnips and Endive; but the Beasts and the Insects, left us not much. When we come to the Cenis and have travers'd so many Nations as lay between us and them, I shall speak of the Religion, Manners, Cloathing, Houses and Customs of the Natives, wherein they differ but little from one another, tho' of several Countries.

Monsieur de la Sale had been now long gone, and we began to be in Pain for him, when about the Middle of March 1686, hapning to be on the Top of the House, I spied seven or eight Persons coming towards us. I presently ordered eight arm'd Men to follow me, to go meet them; and as soon as we drew near them, we knew Monsieur de la Sale, Monsieur Cavelier, his brother, Monsieur Moranget, his Nephew and five or six Men with them, the rest being gone another Way to find out the Bark la Belle, to give Notice of Monsieur de la Sale's Arrival.

They were in a bad Condition, their Cloaths ragged, Monsieur Cavelier's short Cassock hung in Tatters; most of them had not Hats, and their Linen was no better; however the Sight of Monsieur de la Sale rejoyc'd us all. The Account he gave us of his Journey reviv'd our Hopes, tho' he had not found the fatal River, and we thought only of making ourselves as merry as we could. Only the Sight of the Sieur Duhaut interrupted it for some Time. Monsieur de la Sale ask'd me in an angry Manner, why I had