Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/89

 Boat, to take a View of that Coast, and see whether there was not some Place to land. He order'd me, in Case we found any convenient Place, to give him Notice either by Fire or Smoke.

We set out, and found the Shoals obstructed our Descent. One of our Men went naked into the Water to sound that Sand Bank, which lay between us and the Land; and having shewn us a Place where we might Pass, we, with much Difficulty, forc'd our Boat into the Channel, and six or seven of us landed, after ordering the Boat to go up into that which had appeared to us to be a River, to see whether any fresh Water could be found.

As soon as we were landed, I made a Smoke to give Notice to Monsieur de la Sale, and then we advanc'd both Ways, without stragling too far, that we might be ready to receive Monsr. de la Sale, who was to come, as he did, soon after, but finding the Surges run high, he return'd, and our Boat finding no fresh Water, came back and anchor'd to wait for us.

We walked about every Way, and found a dry Soil, tho' it seem'd to be overflow'd at some Times; great Lakes of salt Water, little Grass, the Track of Goats, on the Sand, and saw Herds of them, but could not come near them, however we kill'd some Ducks and Bustards. In the Evening, as we were returning, we miss'd an English Seaman, fir'd several Shots to give him Notice, searched all about, waited till after Sunset, and at last hearing no Tidings of him, we went into the Boat to return Aboard.

I gave Monsieur de la Sale an Account of what we had seen, which would have pleas'd him, had the River we discover'd, afforded fresh Water: He was also uneasy for the lost Man; but about Midnight we saw a Fire Ashore, in the Place we came from, which we supos'd to be made by our Man, and the Boat went for him as soon as it was day on the 18th.

After that, we made several Trips, still steering towards the S. W. and then ensued a Calm, which oblig'd us to