Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/191

 smoke, and continued our Journey the 13th, finding the Way very bad and difficult.

The 14th, our Indians, having seen the Track of Bullocks, signify'd they would go kill some, to eat the Flesh, which made us halt for two or three Hours. Whilst we stay'd for our Hunters, we prepar'd some Sagamite, or their Sort of Hasty-Pudding. They return'd loaded with Flesh, Part whereof we dress'd, and eat it with very good Stomachs. Then we proceeded on our Journey till the 18th, and by the Way kill'd three Bullocks and two Cows, which oblig'd us to halt, that we might use of our Flesh, drying it.

The Night between the 19th and the 20th, one of our Horses breaking loose, was either taken away by the Natives, or lost in the Woods. That did not obstruct our Departure, tho' the Loss was grievous to us, and we held on our Way till the 24th, when we met a Company of Indians, with Axes, going to fetch Barks of Trees, to cover their Cottages. They were surpriz'd to see us, but having made Signs to them to draw near, they came, caress'd and presented us with some Water Melons they had. They put off their Design of going to fetch Bark till another Time, and went along with us, and one of our Guides having gone before in the Morning to give Notice of our coming at the next Village, met with other Parcels of Indians, who were coming to meet us, and express'd extraordinary Kindness.

We halted in one of their Cottages, which they call Desert, because they are in the Midst of their Fields and Gardens. There we found several Women who had brought Bread, Gourds, Beans and Water Melons, a Sort of Fruit proper to quench Thirst, the Pulp of it being no better than Water.

We set out again to come to the Village, and by the Way, met with very pleasant Woods, in which, there were Abundance of stately Cedars. Being come to a River, that