Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/183

 had pass'd the Day before, and not knowing how to swim, he went too far and step'd into a Hole, whence he could not recover himself, but was unfortunately drowned. Young Monsieur Cavelier, having been told that Monsieur de Marle was going to Bath himself, ran after him, and coming to the River, saw he was drowning, he ran back to acquaint us: We hasted thither with a Number of Indians, who were there before us; but all too late, some of them div'd, and brought him up dead from the Bottom of the Water.

We carry'd him to the Cottage, shedding many Tears, the Indians bore Part in our Sorrow, and we paid him the last Duties, offering up the usual Prayers; after which he was buryed in a small Field, behind the Cottage; and whereas, during that doleful Ceremony, we pray'd, reading in our Books, particularly Monsieur Cavelier, the Priest and Father Anastasius, the Indians gaz'd on us with Amazement, because we talk'd, looking upon the Leaves, and we endeavour'd to give them to understand, that we pray'd to God for the dead Man, pointing up to Heaven.

We must do this Right to those good People, as to declare, that they express'd singular Humanity upon that doleful Accident, as appear'd by the sensible Testimony of their Actions, and all the Methods they us'd to let us understand how great a Share they bore in our Sorrow; which we should not have found in several Parts of Europe.

During our short Stay in that Place, we observ'd a Ceremony that was perform'd by the Chief's Wife, viz. that every Morning she went to Monsieur de Marle's Grave, and carry'd a little Basket of parch'd Ears of Corn to lay on it, the meaning whereof we could not understand. Before our Departure, we were inform'd, that the Villages belonging to our Hosts, being four in Number, all ally'd together were call'd, Assony, Natsohsos, Nachitos and Cadodaquio.

On the 27th, having been inform'd by the Natives, that we should find Canoes, to pass a River that was on our