Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/137

 quite green, whereof we made a sort of Buskins, to serve instead of Shoes, but when those wretch'd Boots were dry'd by the Heat, upon our Feet, they hurt us very much, and we were often oblig'd to set our Feet in the Water to soften those Buskins. However, we march'd all the Day, notwithstanding all those Inconveniences, without finding a proper Place to incamp, and at last came to a River, whose high Bank afforded us a Spot to rest on.

The 20th, a small Rain did not obstruct our March, and having cross'd a Wood, half a League athwart, and a Marsh of the same Extent, we came into a large Plain, cut across by great Tracks of Bullocks, which went towards the River, and made us suppose there might be a Ford. We follow'd that Way, but found the River so swollen, and its Stream so rapid, that it was impossible to cross it, but were oblig'd to halt upon its Bank, whence we went to hunt Bullocks, whereof we had no want, nor of Turkeys and other wild Fowl.

The 21th, we proceeded up that River, and found a narrow deep Place, near which we hew'd down a Tree, making it fall so as to reach from the one Bank to the other, in the Nature of a Plank, and handed our Baggage from one to another over it. The Horses swam over and we incamp'd on the other Side, near a very beautiful Plain.

Whilst we were hewing down some little Wood to intrench ourselves, we heard a Voice, whereupon handling our Arms and going to the Place where we heard it, we saw a Company of fifteen Savages, who were coming towards us, and made Signs to us to go to them, laying down their Bows, in Token of Peace. We also made our Sign to them to draw near, they did so and caress'd us after their Manner. We made them sit down and smoke, after which, Monsr. de la Sale began to converse with them by Signs, and by Help of some Words of the Language of the Cenis, which he was skilful in, he understood, that these were their Neighbours and Allies; that their Village was not far off, and that their Nation was call'd Heba-*