tion by an envoy, sent to them to that purpose, The savage receiv'd this answer very favourably, and by a surplusage of civility left his wife and one of his slaves for hostages; my brother on the other side gave him his nephew Cavelier and two Chaouanous. The savage mounted on a horse that belonged to one of his slaves, and my nephew Cavelier on that which was given my brother. The next day our envoy return'd with our two Chaouanous, both mounted on fine horses, laden with all sorts of provisions, and made a report no less agreeable than surprizing, of the kind entertainment he had receiv'd from those people, who are call'd Cenis. The place of their habitation is extended twenty leagues in compass, and divided into many hamlets, situated near one another. Their cottages are forty or fifty foot high, being made of thick branches of trees, which, meeting together in a point at the top, form a kind of arched roof; the inside of 'em is well matted, and always kept very neat, even to admiration.

"M. de la Salle being inform'd of their good intentions, did not fail to convey himself thither the next day, and saw the principal elders of the nation, who were all adorn'd with plumes of feathers, and cloath'd with their richest skins, coming to meet him, at the distance of 200 paces from the village, My brother receiv'd 'em at the head of his company, and the first salute being given with reciprocal compliments, he was conducted to the village by the commander in chief a-cross a very fine body of young men, drawn up in arms, and thro' a very great concourse of people: afterwards he and his company were led into a quarter which seem'd to constitute a separated hamlet, and were there nobly entertain'd. The commander was convinc'd of the magnificence of our prince, by the character he receiv'd of him from M. de la Salle, acknowledg'd

him as his sovereign, and made my brother a present of six good horses, and of his finest skins; who on the other side presented the said commander with divers hatchets, sizers, knives, and razors, which he accepted with a great deal of complacency and satisfaction. At that time the ambassadors of a certain nation call'd the Choumans, resided there, and the occasion of their embassie was to propose the making of a league with 'em, to carry on a war against the Spaniards, their enemies, and tyrannical persecutors: they gave us a visit, and sollicited us to enter into the same league; insomuch, that we promis'd to assist 'em, after we had made an end of our voyage; and they took an oath, as the others had done, to maintain an inviolable friendship with our nation,

"The Nassonis have their habitations at the distance of a days journey from the Cenis, and we thought fit also to pass into their territories, where we receiv'd the like entertainment, meeting with the same acknowledgments, and the same protestations of amity. And indeed, all these nations have an equal antipathy against the Spaniards. The pastures in those parts afford fodder to the numerous herds of oxen and horses, and in all the enclosures belonging to their private families are to be seen many fat capons, hens, pullets, and large Indian pigeons. We could discern among them, as well as among the Cenis, some tincture of the christian religion. For some of 'em made the sign of the cross, and others express'd to us by certain marks the manner of celebrating the mass; insomuch, that we clearly perceiv'd it to be the effect of some Spanish missions; but 'tis not to be doubted, the increase would be much greater, if these first seeds of religion were sow'd among 'em by persons, to whom they have less aversion. And indeed our Father Recolet, by the means of some

images, crosses and Agnus Dei's, which he distributed up and down, easily made 'em comprehend and believe every thing that he taught 'em; so great is the docility of the people of that country.

"Notwithstanding the great satisfaction we had among those savages, yet we met with two sad disasters; one of which was the desertion of four of our French men, and the other was my brother's sickness. As for the four deserters, it is not known whether they were excited by the pleasantness of those countries, to endeavour to settle themselves among some of the neighbouring nations; or whether being entic'd by the alluring baits of the savagesses, they return'd to the Cenis; or whether they retir'd to the Nassonis. However, 'tis certain, that as soon as they had horses in their possession, they did not any longer imagine themselves to be among the savages; so that we were not able to retain 'em, neither could we have any tidings of 'em ever since that time.

"As for my brother's indisposition, it was undoubtedly the effect of grief occasion'd by the desertion of some of his attendants. He fell sick, August 24, in the same year 1685, after three months travelling, and within 200 leagues of St. Lewis's bay. His sickness was follow'd almost at the same time with that of De Moranget, our nephew. However, during that affliction, we had the good luck to find among the savages all the help that could have been procur'd in Europe, except physitians for we had every thing that we could wish for, particularly veal, mutton, pullets, pigeons and ring-doves; besides, all sorts of wholesome herbs, as well for pottage, as for ptisans, decoctions, and other remedies necessary for sick persons. Our two surgeons were also present, and were very serviceable to us upon this occasion; nay, the very

savages themselves, as well men as women, gave us meat, fowl, and other sorts of venison; insomuch, that at last (thanks be to the divine providence) by the means of our diligent care, both our patients recover'd their health, after a months indisposition.

"As soon as they had regain'd their strength, my brother being of opinion that he ought to improve his last discoveries; and not being able to go any farther, without entring the territories of the Spaniards, from whence, according to all probability, we should never have come back, took a resolution to return to his new colony. Therefore we set forward again in our journey in the end of the month of September, 1685. But we had this advantage, that we were now in a capacity to return on horseback, whereas we came on foot; that which was most surprizing in our new furniture is, that our horses without being shod had so hard a hoof, that they could go any where; and had so tender a mouth, that they gave way to the curb, as if they had been train'd up to it: every one of our company was reasonably well mounted, and our supernumerary horses serv'd either for change, or instead of pack-horses, to carry our provision, canoos, and other equipage; which was no small consolation to us.

"However, since the most useful things sometimes prove the most fatal, it happen'd either accidentally, or for want of skill, that one of our horses occasion'd the loss of a savage belonging to our retinue. For on the banks of the river La Maligne, on which my brother run the hazard of being lost, a horse prancing at the sight of a huge crocodile, threw his rider into the water. He had scarce fallen, when that ravenous beast dragged him away, and devour'd him in our sight. We were extremely troubl'd at this sad spectacle; but

in such voyages 'tis difficult to avoid the sad accidents to which those who undertake 'em are some times liable. Therefore the safest way for a traveller is to prepare for such disasters, by quieting his conscience, and by putting himself under the protection of Almighty God, who is our guide, and constant preserver.

"Forasmuch as no remedy could be found for this misfortune, we continu'd our journey; and after three months march, we arriv'd at St. Lewis's bay in the beginning of the month of January, 1686. As soon as we came near our colony, we perceiv'd that all the fields thereabouts were clear'd of trees, and well cultivated. We there met with a great number of women, and cottages, fill'd with new families, each family having its peculiar store of provisions, with a garden and other apartments. In a word, every thing seem'd to promise a happy improvement, and a numerous increase. My brother was receiv'd there as the father of this little common-wealth, and we took great delight in observing these beginnings of the incorporation of our French men with the savages, and the good use that every one made of the advantages of this new plantation.

"In regard that my brother's presence in that country was necessary, as well for the compleating of the fort, as for the modelling of this new state, we sojourn❜d there about three months longer; after the expiration of which time, he determin'd to return to France to get new supplies at that court, and to procure some recruits of tradesmen, artificers and labourers, as well in favour of this last colony, as for all the others that are planted in divers parts of the northern America. After having taken leave of every one, he set out, accompany'd with 20 French men for Canada, and travell'd by land