those springs, and, when the water is boiled, it is easily turned into salt.

The second is, that, in the Spring, so great numbers of Pigeons collect around these salt-springs, that sometimes as many as seven hundred are caught in the course of one morning.

[43] The third remarkable fact is, that at the same place there are found certain snakes, which are seen nowhere else. We call them rattlesnakes, because, as they crawl along, they make a noise like that of a rattle,- or, rather, of a cicada. At the ends of their tails they have round scales, so joined one with another that, by opening and closing them, they make that noise, which is heard at a distance of twenty paces. These rattles or scales also make a noise when they are shaken after the death of the snake; but it is not so loud as that which the snake makes when alive. The natives of the country say that its scales are an excellent remedy for toothache, and that its flesh, which they find as well flavored as that of the eel, cures fever. They cut off the tail and the head, which is quite flat and almost square, and eat the remainder. The body is about three feet long, thicker than a man's wrist, and all speckled on the back with black and yellow spots,except on the tail, [44] which is almost entirely black. It has four teeth, two above and two below, as long as our small needles, but much sharper. It bites like a dog, and injects its poison into the wound through a small black sting, which it draws out of a bag containing the poison. When a person is bitten, he at once swells up, and, unless he receive prompt assistance, he dies in a short time, entirely covered

enuiron trois pieds de longueur, il est plus gros que le poignet d'vn homme, & tout marqueté fur le dos de taches noires & iaunes, excepté fur la queue [44] qui eft quafi toute noire. Il a quatre dents, deux en haut & deux en bas auffi longues, mais plus aiguës que nos petites aiguilles. Il mord comme vn chien, & fait decouler fon venin dans la morçeure par vn petit aiguillon noir qu'il tire d'vne bourse où ce poifon eft renfermé. Quand quelqu'vn en eft mordu, il enfle auffi-tost, & fi il n'est promptement secouru, il meurt en peu de temps tout couuert de puftules rouges. Auffi-toft que ces Serpens voiẽt vn homme, ils fifflent & battent de la queuë faifant ioüer leurs fonnettes, foit pour épouuanter leur ennemy, foit pour s'animer au combat, ou plustost parce que Dieu leur a donné cét instinct, afin que les hommes foient fur leurs gardes à l'approche d'vn fi dangereux animal. Ie ne fçay pas fi ces Serpens font attirés par le fel; mais ie fçay bien que le lieu où nous auons dreffé noftre demeure entourré de belles fources d'eau douce, n'en est point infecté, quoy qu'il foit fur les riues du mefme Lac. Mais reprenons noftre route.

with red pustules. When these Snakes see a man, they hiss and shake their tails, sounding their rattles, either to frighten the enemy, or to excite themselves for the fight,- or, rather, because God has given them that instinct in order that men may be on their guard at the approach of so dangerous an animal. I know not whether these Snakes are attracted by the salt; but I do know that the spot whereon we have erected our dwelling, and which is surrounded by fine springs of fresh water, is not infested by them, although it is on the shore of the same Lake. But let us continue our journey.

[45] CHAPITRE V.

NOSTRE ARRIUÉE AU LIEU OÙ NOUS AUIONS DESTINÉ NOSTRE DEMEURE, & LA RECEPTION QUE

NOUS FIRENT LES PEUPLES

DU PAYS.

'AY dit au Chapitre precedent que nous entrâmes l'onziéme de Iuillet dans le Lac nommé Gannentaa fur les bords duquel nous allions dreffer noftre demeure, eftant auancez iufques à vn quart de lieuë de cet endroit: nous y mifmes nous mesme à terre cinq petites pieces de canon, dont le petit tonnerre qu'on fit entendre fur les eaux de ce lac, fut fuiuy de la décharge de toutes les arquebuses de nos gens. C'eftoit le premier falut que nous enuoyâmes par eau, par l'air & par les bois aux Anciens du pays qui nous attendoient auec vne grãde multitude de peuple. Ce bruit rouloit fur les eaux, éclatoit dedans l'air, & refonnoit fort agreablement dans les forefts. Nous voguions en fuite en bel [46] ordre, nos canots ou petits bateaux allant quatre à quatre fur ce petit Lac. Nos François firent à l'abord vne feconde defcharge, ou vne feconde falve fi adroitement qu'ils rauirent tous ces pauures peuples.

Les Anciens auoient fait dreffer deux échaffauts pour nous faire hautement leurs complimens & leurs harangues, qui furent interrompuës par vne groffe pluye qui nous obligea tous de chercher l'abry; les

[45] CHAPTER V.

OUR ARRIVAL AT THE PLACE WHERE WE HAD DETERMINED TO ESTABLISH OUR ABODE, AND THE

I

RECEPTION GIVEN US BY THE PEO

PLE OF THE COUNTRY.

STATED, in the foregoing Chapter, that on the eleventh of July we entered the Lake called Gannentaa, on the shores of which we were to erect our dwelling. When we had advanced to a distance of a quarter of a league from the spot, we ourselves landed five small pieces of cannon, the light thunder of which we made resound along the waters of the lake; this was followed by the discharge of all the arquebuses in the hands of our people. Such was the first salute that we sent over the water, through the air, and through the woods, to the Elders of the country, who were awaiting us with a great multitude of people. The noise rolled over the water, burst in the air, and was most agreeably reëchoed by the forests. After this, we advanced in fine [46] order, our canoes or small boats proceeding four by four along this little Lake. On landing, our French fired a second discharge or salvo, so skillfully that they delighted all those poor people.

The Elders had caused two scaffolds to be erected, from which to pay us their compliments aloud, and to deliver to us their harangues. These were interrupted by a downpour of rain, which compelled us