Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/211



The Marriages of the Islinois last no longer, than the Parties agree together; for they freely part after a Hunting Bout, each going which Way they please, without any Ceremony. However, the Men are jealous enough of their Wives, and when they catch them in a Fault, they generally cut off their Noses, and I saw one who had been so serv'd.

Nevertheless, Adultery is not reckon'd any great Crime among them, and there are Women who make no Secret of having had to do with French Men. Yet are they not sufficiently addicted to that Vice to offer themselves, and they never fall, unless they are sued to, when, they are none of the most difficult in the World to be prevail'd on. The rest I leave to those who have liv'd longer there than I.

We continu'd some Time in Fort Lewis, without receiving any News. Our Business was, after having heard Mass, which we had the good Fortune to do every Day, to divert our selves the best we could. The Indian Women daily brought in something fresh, we wanted not for Water Melons, Bread made of Indian Corn, bak'd in the Embers, and other such Things, and we rewarded them with little Presents in Return.

On the 27th of October, of the same Year, Monsieur Tonty return'd from the War with the Iroquois. Our Embraces and the Relation of our Adventures were again repeated; but still concealing from him, the Death of Monsieur de la Sale. He told us all the Particulars of that, war, and said, That the Iroquois having got Intelligence of the March of the French Forces and their Allies, had all come out of their Villages and laid themselves in Ambush by the Way; but that having made a sudden and general Discharge upon our Men, with their usual Cries, yet without much Harm done, they had been repuls'd with Loss, took their Flight, and by the Way burnt all their own