Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/187



The 4th, 5th and 6th, we did the same, crossing a very fine Country, but water'd by many Brooks, Streams and Rivers. We found Abundance of wild Goats, Turkeys and other wild Fowl, whereof our Indians kill'd many.

On the 6th, whilst we halted on the Bank of a River to eat, we heard the Tingling of some small Bells; which making us look about, we spy'd an Indian with a naked Sword-Blade in his Hand, adorned with Feathers of several Colours, and two large Hawks Bells, that occasion'd the Noise we had heard.

He made Signs for us to come to him, and gave us to understand, that he was sent by the Elders of the Village, whither we were going, to meet us, carressing us after an extraordinary Manner. I observ'd that it was a Spanish Blade he had, and that he took Pleasure in ringing the Hawks Bells.

Kind Reception.

Having travell'd about half a League with him, we discover'd a Dozen of other Indians coming towards us, who made very much of and conducted us the Village, to the Chief's Cottage, where we found dry'd Bear-Skins laid on the Ground, and they made us sit on them, where we were treated with Eatables, as were the Elders after us, and a Throng of Women came to see us.

The 7th, the Elders came to give us a Visit, bringing us two Bullocks Hides, four Otters Skins, one white Wild-*Goat's Skin, all of them well dry'd, and 4 Bows, in Return for the Present we had before made them. The Chief and another came again some Time after, bringing two Loaves, the finest and the best we had yet seen. They look'd as if they had been bak'd in an Oven, and yet we had not observ'd, that there were Ovens among any of them. That Chief stay'd with us some Hours, he seem'd to be very ingenious and discreet, and easily understood our Signs, which were most of the Language we had. Having order'd a little Boy to bring us all we had Occasion for, he withdrew.

Towards the Evening, we were entertain'd with a Cere