collect. He gave 'em arms, ammunition, and some merchandise to trade with the nations. They embarked on the 28th of February 1680, and fell down the river of the Illinois into the Mississipi, and from thence went up that great river for 450 leagues together to the north, and came within seven leagues of its source, landing now and then on both sides to view the country, and by what nation it was inhabited.

The Mississipi springs out of a fountain on the top of a hill in the country of the Issati, about the 50 degree of latitude: It receives so many rivolets, that it becomes navigable for boats within six leagues from its source. The country along its banks is inhabited by several nations, as the Hanetons, Issati's, Oua, Tintonha, and Nadouestians, who received Mr. Dacan with all the kindness imaginable. He traded with them, and increased his number with several savages, who offered to accompany him. He set up likewise the king's arms about two leagues from the source of the river, upon a great tree in sight of those nations, as a mark that they became subjects to his master. He made also several settlements, and one, among the rest, among the Issati's, where some French men desired to remain.

This gentleman, charmed with the docility of these nations, and engaged by the advantagious trade that he met with there, advanced to the lake of the Arsenipoits, which is about thirty leagues in circuit. That nation received our men kindly, notwithstanding their natural fierceness, and they founded there an habitation, and another among the Chongaskabees, or nations of strong men, who are neighbours of the Arsenipoits.

While Mr. Dacan was carrying on his discoveries, M. La Salle took his leave of the Illinois, to return to fort Frontenac, in order to get a new sup

ply of men and ammunition, and likewise to view in what condition were his forts, magazines and settlements, and hasten the building of a new ship, which he had order'd to be made. He set out the 8th November, 1680, and three days after arrived to the village of the Illinois, where he resolved to build another fort on a rising ground, in order to command the Miamis, Outagamis, Kikapous, Aisnous, and Mascoutans; and to serve likewise for a place of refuge to the French. This design, tho' prudent and advantagious, was however attended with some fatal consequences, as we shall see hereafter.

Having taken all the observations that he thought necessary; he continued his journey, and met, about two leagues from the village of the Illinois, two of his men, whom he had sent two months before to Missilimachinac, to endeavour to get intelligence of his new ship. These rogues pretended to have done their utmost, without having been able to discover what was become of her, tho' they had burnt it themselves, after having sold the effects that were on board to the Iroquois. M. La Salle suspected presently that it was lost, but however, appeared as unconcern'd as before, and sent me in a letter a draught of the fort he had marked out, ordering me to work thereupon immediately.

These villains, who had already sold us to the Iroquois, made a great haste in order to improve the absence of our commander to their advantage, and deliver'd me the letter of M. La Salle, which being very pressing, I went immediately to the place Ï was commanded to, exhorting my men to peace and union; and leaving the fort under the command of the most faithful. The place M. La Salle had pitched upon, was a rock very high, the top of which was even and of a convenient space, so that it commanded the river, and the country round

about. I had already drawn some lines, and made other preparations to build it, when I heard that these villains had seduc'd and perverted most of our men, insomuch that they had plundered our fort, and carried away what was most valuable in it. I returned immediately, and found only seven or eight French men in the fort, who had been so honest as to detest the villainy of their comrades, but not able to prevent it. I confess my heart was almost broke, when I consider'd the condition we were in, without any help amongst savages; but having found a good quantity of ammunition, with arms left in the fort, I thought the cause was not altogether desperate, and encouraged my men, by the hopes of a quick return of M. La Salle, and all other arguments that I could think on, not forgetting the glory they had gained by their fidelity, and the reward they might expect, if they supported this disgrace with courage. I took an exact account of the dammage we had sustained, and sent. it to M. La Salle. I redoubled in the mean time my care and application to preserve our correspondence with the Illinois, and by these means we put our selves very near in as good a posture as before, the number of men excepted.

M. La Salle having received these dismal tidings, made a great search after those rogues, and pursued them so closely, that part of them surrendred themselves, and the rest were taken. He caused the most seditious to be hang'd, and pardon'd the rest. He sent the Messenger back to me, with a promise of a quick supply, and orders to tarry for him in the fort. A whole year however elapsed in this expectation, but our number being increased, by the arrival of some French men, and the conjunction of some savages, we would have wanted nothing at all, had not a sad and unforeseen accident disappointed our measures.

Our loss was hardly repaired, when we fell into a greater danger; for in the month of September 1687, we discovered, within a quarter of a league of the camp of the Illinois, about 600 Iroquois armed with bows, swords, halberds, and a great many of them with fire-arms. This unexpected army frighted the Illinois, and revived their suspicion of our correspondence with their enemies; and I must confess, I was in a great perplexity, knowing not what to do in so nice a juncture. However, having determin'd my self, I did whatever I could to encourage the Illinois, and told them that I would go to the camp of the Iroquois, and endeavour to bring them to terms; assuring them, that if I could not succeed, I would share the danger they were in; but that they had no time to lose, and therefore advis'd them to send their women and children away, and put themselves in good posture of defence. This proposal convinc'd them of the sincerity of our intentions, and therefore they gave me an interpreter, and one of their chief men to accompany me and be witness of my negotiation.

The army of the Iroquois divided into two bodies, and commanded by Tagancourte, chief of the Tsonnontouans, and Agoustot, chief of the Desoualages, two experienc'd generals. That of the Illinois was not 500 strong, and we were not upward of 25 French men amongst them, divided in their battalions, to incourage them by our example, and keep them in the best order we could. I parted from our army with my interpreter, an Illinois, and two French men, and advanced toward the Iroquois, whose left wing moved, at the same time, toward our right, where our men appeared very resolute, and prepar❜d to make a vigorous defence.

As soon as I came near them, they shot at us, but by chance none was wounded, whereupon I sent back the Illinois, and the two French men,

taking upon my self all the peril attending such a deputation. As soon as I came at a convenient distance, I shewed a collar, it being the custom amongst the savages, to make all their proposals with collars, the same being the symbol of peace, union, and alliance. I advanced upon the public faith of the badge, but I was no sooner in the camp, but I was seized by those villains, one of whom took my collar, whilst another design'd to stab me with a knife, but it pleased God, that the knife slided along one of my ribs, which saved my life. The most rational, or rather the least brutish of 'em, rescued me from their hands, and after having stopt the blood with a kind of balsom, conducted me to the middle of their camp, with my interpreter ; where they asked me the subject of my coming.

Tho' my strength was considerably abated by the loss of my blood, my courage was not cast down, neither was I daunted by their number and threats. I complained therefore, first of their unjust proceedings, and violation of their public faith; and then of their coming, without any provocation, to attack a nation, which was in confederacy, and under the protection of the king of France, my master; therefore I intreated them to return home, if they had any respect for that prince; and that they would look upon the Illinois as their friends, since they were so united with us, that whatsoever conspired their destruction, conspir'd our own. I told them besides, that they ought to consider the danger of their enterprise; the Illinois being about six hundred men, and the French above 200; and that my mediation and exhortation to peace, were not the effects of any fear we had for them; concluding, that I intreated them to make peace with the Illinois in the name of our king, and of Count Frontenack their father; and that I should not complain of the logs