Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/132



Monsieur de la Sale being recover'd of his Indisposition, Preparations were again made for his Journey; but we first kept the Christmas Holy-Days. The Midnight Mass was solemnly sung, and on Twelve-Day, we cry'd, ''The King drinks, (according to the Custom of'' France) tho' we had only Water: When that was over we began to think of setting out. Monsieur de la Sale gave the Command of the Settlement to the Sieur Barbier, directing him what he was to do and observe in his Absence.

There remain'd in that Habitation, the Fathers Maximus and Zenobius, Recolets, Monsieur Chedeville, the Priest, the Marquis de la Sablonniere, the Sieur Barbier, Commander, his Wife, a Surgeon and others, to the Number of twenty, among whom were seven Women, or Maids, and only the Sieur Barbier marry'd; which is much short of the Number some have given out remain'd in the Dwelling, without any Ground; for the Truth is, there were no more, and particularly no Natives, Monsieur de la Sale having absolutely forbid holding any Communication with them. As for Beasts, they amounted to seventy, or seventy five Swine, great and small, which was a good Stock; for Fowl, eighteen or twenty Hens; some Casks of Meal, which was kept for the Sick; Powder, Ball, and eight Pieces of Cannon, without any Bullets.

We set out the 12th of January, in the Year 1687, being seventeen in Number, viz. Monsieur de la Sale, Monsieur Cavelier, the Priest, his Brother, Father Anastasius, the Recolet, Messieurs Moranget and Cavelier, Nephews to Monsieur de la Sale, the Sieurs Duhaut, the Elder, l'Arcleveque, Hiens, Liotot, Surgeon, young Talon, an Indian, and a Footman belonging to Monsieur de la Sale. We carried along with us Part of the best Things every Man had, and what was thought would be of Use, wherewith the five Horses were loaded, and we took our Leaves with so much Tenderness and Sorrow, as if we had all presaged,