Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/92



In the mean Time, Want of Water began to pinch us, and Monsieur de la Sale resolv'd to send to look for some about the next River. Accordingly he order'd the two Boats that had been made ready the Day before, to go off. He was aboard one of them himself, and directed me to follow him. Monsieur de Beaujeu also commanded his Boat to go for Wood. By the Way we met the said Sieur de Beaujeu in his Yaul, returning from Land, with the Sieur Minet, an Ingenier, who told us, they had been in a Sort of salt Pool, two or three Leagues from the Place where the Ships were at Anchor, we held on our Way and landed.

One of our Boats, which was gone ahead of us, had been a League and a half up the River, without finding any fresh Water in its Channel; but some Men wandering about to the right and left, had met with divers Rivulets of very good Water, wherewith many Casks were fill'd.

We lay ashore, and our Hunters having that Day kill'd good Store of Ducks, Bustards and Teal, and the next Day two Goats, Monsieur de la Sale sent Monsieur de Beaujeu Part. We feasted upon the rest, and that good Sport put several Gentlemen that were then aboard Monsieur de Beaujeu, among whom were Monsieur du Hamel, the Ensign and the King's Clerk, upon coming ashore to partake of the Diversion; but they took much Pains and were not successfull in their Sport.

In the mean Time many Casks were fill'd with Water, as well for our Ship as for Monsieur de Beaujeu's. Some Days after Monsieur d' Aire the Lieutenant, came ashore to confer with Monsieur de la Sale, and to know how he would manage about the Provisions; but both of them persisting in their first Proposals and Monsieur de la Sale perceiving that Monsieur de Beaujeu would not be satisfied with Provisions for 15 Days, which he thought sufficient to go to the Place where he expected to find one of the