Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/190

 having no Knowledge of it before, as some have writ. This Nation is call'd Cahaynohoua.

This Sort of Ceremonies being never perform'd among the Indians without the Expectation of receiving some Present, and we having besides observ'd, that some of them had withdrawn themselves, with Tokens of Dissatisfaction, perhaps because we had interrupted their Ceremony, we thought it convenient to give them something more, and I was appointed to carry them an Ax, four Knives and some Strings of Beads, with which they were satisfied.

We afterwards shew'd them an Experiment of our Arms, the Noise and Fire whereof frighted them. They earnestly press'd us to stay with them, offering us Wives and whatsoever else we should want. To be the better quit of them, we promis'd to return, saying we were going to fetch Commodities, Arms and Tools, which we stood in Need of, that we might afterwards stay with them.

The 9th and 10th were spent in Visits, and we were inform'd by one of the Indians that we were not far from a great River, which he describ'd with a Stick on the Sand, and shew'd it had two Branches, at the same Time pronouncing the word Cappa, which, as I have said, is a Nation near the Missisipi. We then made no longer Question, that we were near what we had been so long looking after. We entreated the Elders to appoint some men to conduct us, promising to reward them well, which they granted, and we set out the 11th, to the great Sorrow of those good People, who had entertain'd us so courteously.

We travell'd several different Ways, which we could never have found, had we wanted Guides, and so proceeded till on the 12th, one of our Guides pretended to be sick, and made Signs that he would go back; but observing, that we seem'd to be no Way concern'd, which we did on Purpose, he consulted with his Companion, and then came to tell us, he was recover'd. We made him eat and