Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/50

 *quainted with that great remaining Part of the World, which for so many Ages continued unknown to our Fore-*fathers, till about two hundred Years ago Christopher Columbus discover'd it, and Americus Vespusius going over soon after, gave it his Name, causing it to be call'd America? ''One of those whom I desired to peruse this Manuscript, has a little polish'd it, pursuant to the Orders I receiv'd; and he having been a considerable Traveller, was a proper Person to judge of and put it into a Dress fit to appear in publick. The Letter he writ to me, being not only instructive, in Relation to the Journal, but of Use as a curious Supplement to it, I thought the inserting of it would be acceptable. It is as follows.''

SIR,

I Return you your Manuscript; the Reading of it has reviv'd the Satisfaction I once took in my Travels; it has oblig'd me to read over again those of several Persons, who have writ of Canada, and carry'd me in Imagination through those vast, barbarous and unknown Countries, with much more Ease and less Danger than was done by the Hero of this Relation. He certainly deserves that honourable Title, and having read his Adventures, I could not forbear saying with the Poet

''Illi robur & œs triplex Circa Pectus erat''.

For what an extraordinary Strength, what a Vigour of Body and Mind was requisite for him to project, to undertake and to go thro' with so unusual, so bold and so difficult an Enterprize. A Discovery of above eight hundred Leagues of barbarous and unknown Countries, without any beaten Roads, without Towns, and without any of those Conveniencies, which render Travelling more easy in all other Parts. All the Land-Carriage is reduc'd to walking afoot; being often without any other Shoes but a Piece of a Bullock's Hide wrapp'd about the Feet; carrying a Fire