Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/97

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When they saw us in that Posture and unarm'd, most of them also laid down their Bows and Arrows and came to meet us, carressing us after their Manner, and stroking first their own Breasts and then ours, then their own Arms and afterwards ours. By these Signs they gave us to understand that they had a Friendship for us, which they express'd by laying their Hands on their Hearts, and we did the same on our Part.

Six or seven of those Savages went along with us, and the rest kept three of our Men, in the Nature of Hostages. Those who went with us were made much of, but Monsieur de la Sale could learn nothing of them, either by Signs or otherwise; all they could make us understand was, that there was good hunting of Bullocks in the Country. We observ'd, that their Yea consisted in a Cry, fetch'd from the Bottom of the Throat, not unlike the Call of a Hen to gather her Chickens. Monsieur de la Sale gave them some Knives, Hatchets and other Trifles, with which they seem'd well pleased, and went away.

Monsieur de la Sale was glad to be rid of those People, because he was willing to be present when the Flyboat came in; but his ill Fate would not permit it. He thought fit to go himself along with those Savages, and we follow'd him, thinking to have found our Men in the same Place where we left them; but perceiv'd on the Contrary, that the Savages had carried them away to their Camp, which was a League and half from us, and Monsieur de la Sablonniere. Lieutenant of Foot, being one of those the Savages had taken with them. Monsieur de la Sale resolved to go himself to fetch him away, an unhappy Thought which cost him dear.

As we were on our Way towards the Camp of the Savages, happenning to look towards the Sea, we saw the Fly-*boat l' Aimable under Sail, which the Savages who were with us admir'd, and Monsieur de la Sale observing it narrowly, told us, those People steer'd wrong, and were standing towards the Shoals, which made him very uneasy, but