Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/180

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not set out till Noon, and held on till the 21st, crossing several Sloughs and Rivers, and then one of our Indians being out of Order, it oblig'd us to stay on the Bank of a River we had pass'd. The other Indian seeing his comrade sick, went a Hunting, and brought a wild Goat; for there are many in that Country. The Indians have the Art of dressing the Heads of those Creatures, which they put upon their own, and imitate them so exactly, that they can come very near to them, and then seldom fail of killing. The same Method they use for Turkeys and other wild Fowl, and so draw them close to themselves.

The 22d, our Indian being somewhat recover'd we decamp'd and proceeded along a better Way and Pleasanter Country, than that we had left behind, and as we enquir'd the best we could of those our Indians, concerning the Neighbouring Nations and those we were going towards, among others they nam'd to us, that they call'd Cappa. M. Cavelier told us, he remember'd he had heard his late Brother Monsieur de la Sale name that Nation, and say he had seen it as he went from Canada towards the Missisipi. This put us in Hopes, that we should succeed in our Discovery.

The 23d, being near a Village, we had been in Search of, one of our Indians went before, to give Notice of our Arrival. In the mean Time we cross'd most lovely Plains and Meadows, border'd with fine Groves of beautiful Trees, where the Grass was so high, that it hinder'd our Horses going, and were oblig'd to clear the Passage for them.

When we were within Half a League of the Village, we saw an Indian, mounted on a large grey Mare, coming along with our Native, to meet us, and were told, that Horseman was the Chief of the Village, attended by some others of the same Place. As soon as that Chief came up to us, he express'd very much Kindness and Affection; we gave him to understand, that we did no Body any Harm, unless we were first attack'd. Then we made him smoke, and when that was done, he made Signs to us to follow him, which