Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/215



When the Wolves have discover'd a Herd of Wild Goats, they rouse and set them a running. The Wild Goats never fail to take to the first Lake they meet with. The hunting Wolves, who are used to that, guard the Banks carefully, moving along the Edges of them. The poor Goats being pierc'd by the Cold of the Lake, grow weary and so get out, or else the River swelling forces them out with its Waves, quite benumm'd, so that they are easily taken by their Enemies, who devour them. We frequently saw those Wolves watching along the Side of the Lake, and kept off to avoid frightning them, to the End the Wild Goats might not quit their Sanctuary, that we might catch some of them, as it sometimes fell out.

The 28th, we arriv'd among the Poutouatannis, which is half Way to Micilimaquinay, where we purchas'd some Indian Corn for the rest of our Voyage. We left there on the last of the month, and we arrived on the 10th of May at the said place of Michilimacinac. We found no News there from Montreal, and were forc'd to stay some Time to wait an Opportunity to go down the River; No Man daring to venture, because of the War with the Iroquois.

There are some French Men in that Place, and four Jesuits, who have a House well built with Timber, inclosed with Stakes and Palisades. There are also some Hurons and Outahouacs, two Neighbouring Nations, whom those Fathers take Care to instruct, not without very much Trouble, those People being downright Libertines, and there are very often none but a few Women in their Churches. Those Fathers have each of them the Charge of instructing a Nation, and to that Effect have translated the Prayers into the Language peculiar to each of them, as also all other Things relating to the Catholick Faith and Religion.

They offer'd Father Anastasius and Monsieur Cavelier a Room, which they accepted of, and we took up our Lodging in a little Hovel some Travellers had made. There we