Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/181

 we did, till we came to the Bank of a River, where he again desir'd us to stay, whilst he went to give Notice to the Elders.

Soon after, a Number of them came, and having join'd us, signify'd, that they were come to carry us to their Village. Our Indians made Signs, that it was the Custom of the Country, and we must submit, and let them do as they thought fit. Tho' we were much out of Countenance at that Ceremony, seven of the prime Men among them would have us mount on their Backs or Shoulders. Monsieur Cavelier being our Chief, mounted first, and then the rest did the same.

As for my own Part, being of a pretty large Size and loaded with Cloaths, a Firelock, a Case of Pistols, Powder and Ball, a Kettle and other Implements, there is no Doubt but I made a sufficient Burden for him that carry'd me, and because I was taller than he and my Feet would have hung upon the Ground, two other Indians held them up for me; so that I had three to carry me. Other Indians took hold of our Horses to lead them, and in that ridiculous Equipage we arriv'd at the Village. Our Carriers, who had gone a long Quarter of a League, had need enough to rest, and we to be set down, that we might laugh in private, for it behov'd us to take Care not to do it before them.

As soon as we were come to the Chief's Cottage, where we found above two hundred Persons, who were come to see us, and that our Horses were unloaded, the Elders gave us to understand, that it was their Custom to wash Strangers at their first Coming; but that we being clad, they would only wash our Faces; which one of those elders did, with fair Water they had in a Sort of Earthen Vessel, and he only wash'd our Forehead.

After this second Ceremony, the Chief made Signs to us, to sit down on a Sort of little Scaffold, rais'd about 4 Foot above the Ground, and made of Wood and Canes, where when we were plac'd, the Chiefs of the Villages being four in Number, came and made Speeches to us, one after