Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/78

 de la Sale, Monsieur Cavelier his Brother, the Fathers Zenobrius and Anastasius, both Recolets, Monsieur Chedeville and I imbark'd on the said Aimable and all sail'd the 25th of November.

We met with some Calms, and some violent Winds, which nevertheless carry'd us in Sight of the Island of Cuba, on the 30th of the same Month, and it then bore from us N. W. There we alter'd our Course and steer'd W. and by N. The 31st, the Weather being somewhat close, we lost Sight of that Island, then stood W. N. W. and the Sky clearing up, made an Observation at Noon, and found we were in 19 Degrees, 45 Minutes of North Latitude: by which we judg'd that the Currents had carry'd us off to Sea from the Island of Cuba.

On the first of December we discovered the Island Cayman. The 2d we steer'd N. W. and by W. in order to come up with the Island of Cuba in the Northern Latitude of 20 Degrees 32 Minutes. The 3d we discovered the little Island of Pines, lying close to Cuba. The 4th, we weather'd a Point of that Island, and the Wind growing scant, were forc'd to ply upon a Bowling, and make several Trips till the 5th at Night, when we anchor'd in a Creek, in 15 Fathom Water, and continued there till the 8th.

During that short Stay, Monsieur de la Sale went Ashore with several Gentlemen of his Retinue on the Island of Pines, shot an Alligator dead, and returning Aboard, perceiv'd he had lost two of his Voluntiers, who had wander'd into the Woods, and perhaps lost their Way. We fired several Musquet Shots to call them, which they did not hear, and I was order'd to expect them ashore, with 30 Musquetiers to attend me. They return'd the next Morning with much Trouble.

In the mean Time, our Soldiers, who had good Stomachs, boil'd and eat the Alligator, Monsieur de la Sale had kill'd. The flesh of it was white and had a Taste of Musk, for