Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/197

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left them our Horses, which were of great Use to go a Hunting, and gave them fifteen or sixteen Pounds of Powder, eight hundred Balls, three hundred Flints, twentysix Knives, and ten Axes, two or three Pounds Weight of Beads; Monsr. Cavelier left them Part of his Linen, hoping we should soon be in a Place where we should get more; and all of them having made their Peace with God, by Means of the Sacrament of Penance, we took Leave of them, excepting the Sieur Couture, who went to conduct us Part of the Way. We imbark'd on a Canoe belonging to one of the Chiefs, being at least twenty Persons, as well Women as Men, and arriv'd safe, without any Trouble, at a Village call'd Toriman, for we were going down the River. We were well received in the Chief's wigwam, and were treated as we had been when among the others. We propos'd it to these People, or rather demanded it of them to confirm what had been granted us by the others, and they deferr'd giving us their Answer till the next Day; for they do Nothing without consulting about it, and we having brought a Sack of Indian Wheat, from the French Mens House, desir'd the Chief to cause Women to pound it, for which we would give 'em Something. Immediately he made a Sign to his Officers to go call them, and they went as readily. There were seven or eight of those Officers always about him, stark naked and besmear'd, some after one Fashion, and others after another. Each of them had three or four Calabashes or Gourds, hanging at a Leather Girdle about their Wastes, in which there were several Pebbles, and behind them hung a Horse's Tail, so that when they ran, the Gourds made a ratling Noise, and the Tail being born up by the Wind, stood out at its full Length, so that Nothing could be seen more ridiculous; but it behooved us to take Heed of shewing the least Smile. The remaining Part of the Day was spent in going with the Sieur Couture to see the fatal River so much sought after by us, called Colbert, when first discover'd, and Mis-*