Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/87

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to the Number of five, and then made Signs to the rest to go to the other Boat, which they did, and we carry'd them on Board.

Monsieur de la Sale was very well pleas'd to see them, imagining they might give him some Account of the River he sought after; but to no Purpose, for he spoke to them in several of the Languages of the Savages, which he knew, and made many Signs to them, but still they understood not what he meant, or if they did comprehend any thing, they made Signs, that they knew nothing of what he ask'd; so that having made them smoak and eat, we shewed them our Arms and the Ship, and when they saw at one End of it some Sheep, Swine, Hens and Turkeys, and the Hide of a Cow we had kill'd, they made Signs that they had of all those Sorts of Creatures among them.

We gave them some Knives and Strings of Beads, after which, they were dismiss'd, and the Waves hindring us from coming too near the Shore, they were oblig'd to leap into the Water, after we had made fast about their Necks, or to the Tuft of Hair they have on the Top of the Head, the Knives and other small Presents Monsieur de la Sale had given them.

They went and join'd the others who expected them, and were making Signs to us to go to them; but not being able to make the Shore, we stood off again and return'd to our Ship. It is to be observed, that when we were carrying them back, they made some Signs to us, by which we conceiv'd they would signify to us that there was a great River that Way we were pass'd, and that it occasion'd the Shoals we had seen.

The Wind changing, the same Day, we weigh'd Anchor and stood to the Southward, to get into the Offing, till the 14th in the Morning, when we were becalm'd. At Noon, we were in 28 Degrees 51 Minutes of North Latitude. The Wind freshned, and in the Evening we held on our Course, but only for a short Time, because the Wind setting us towards the Shore, we were obliged to anchor