'■> ^oV^ . -t. ^oV' <. ^O. ^'V/s^ ^ 'V ^%\ .^'^'^i^°^ / ^ A' %<» oO^ » ^ S3 At. ^ •<^r. cy ♦ 4 O ^-^.s^^ :^M.\ %.A^ :^M/i% v./ ^^^^^^^^ ^ .-y^. The Publication Committee of 'J'he Caxton Club certifies that this copy is one of an edition of one hundred and ninety -four copies on hand- made paper, and three copies on Japanese vellum ; that the printing was done from type, which has been dis- tributed; and that the press work was completed in the month of May, mdcccxcviii. RELATION OF HENRI De TONTY CONCERNING THE EXPLORA- TIONS OF La SALLE / Relation of Henri de Tonty Concerning the Explora- tions of LaSalle from 1678 to 1683 TRANSLATED BY MELVILLE B. ANDERSON 7 CHICAGO THE CAXTON CLUB 1898 "T 16 '3 ^<^Q ■3 8244 COPYRIGHT BY THE CAXTON CLUB, EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND NINETY-EIGHT JOty^ *^i^'S} ^^'fi 1 y TRANSLATOR'S NOTE Inasmuch as this version of Tonty's narrative is to be subjected to the test of "the deadly parallel-column," the translator begs leave to call attention to the difficulty of making any- thing like a literal rendering. Tonty was evi- dently not a master of French style. Perhaps his Italian origin may explain this. His syntax defies all the rules, and his pages are sprinkled with locutions not to be found in Littre. It is often difficult, sometimes impossible, to be sure of his meaning. Any attempt to imitate in English the confusion, crudity, and quaintness of his narrative would be out of keeping with the sober purpose of this publication. While the translator has taken the liberty to break up long sentences, — which sometimes begin at Dan and end in Beersheba, — and to run together short ones, as grammar or perspicuity seemed to require, he has been at pains to preserve the simple tone of the original. He has aimed at clearness and has endeavored to avoid expres- sions which might have seemed, from Tonty's pen, stilted. Those who compare this version with the French may find some passages touching the meaning of which they may disagree with the translator. It has not, however, been thought best to encumber the text with footnotes dis- cussing the meaning, as an opportunity is given every one to make any corrections he likes. One doubtful passage may suffice here as an illustra- tion of the difficulties encountered. It is in the sentence at the foot of page 48, where it is con- jectured the comma after the word colons should be omitted. According to Clapin's Canadian French Dictionary the word colon is used of the bare, dry stem of Indian corn; and the phrase un colon de bVe-d^ Inde is quoted. It is hardly worth while to mention other instances. The translator's cordial thanks are due to Mr. A. J. Rudolph of the Newberry Library for promptly and courteously furnishing infor- mation inaccessible here. Stanford University, California, April 15, 1898. NorE The original French^ printed on pages opposite the English translation^ is reprinted from Pierre Margry's Origines Francaises des Pays D' Outre- Mer (Paris, iSyg), where it first appeared in type. TONTY'S RELATION. [^] Relation de Henri de Tonty. Entreprises de M. de L,a Salle, de 1678 a 1683. Relation ecrite de Quebec, le 14 novembre 1684, PAR Henri de Tonty. MONSIEUR,^ APRES avoir pris conge de vous a Paris et vous avoir recommande mes interests aupres de Son Altesse Sere- nissime, vous voulez bien que je vous tes- moigne les obligations que je vous ay des services que vous m'avez rendus aupres de ce *Le personnage auquel Tonty s'adresse est assure- ment I'abbe Renaudot, son protecteur aupres du prince de Conti, et celui qui I'a fait agreer deM.de La Salle. — Tonty a ecrit en 1693 un autre memoire adresse par lui au comte de Pontchartrain. Je I'ai public dans mes Relations et Afemoires inedits pour servir a Phistoire de la France dans les pays d^outre-mer (1867). [3] Relation of Henri de Tonty. Enterprises of M. de La Salle^ from 1678 to 1683. Relation written from Quebec, the 14th of November, 1684, BY Henri de Tonty. S IR:"" AFTER having taken leave of you at Paris and having entrusted to you my interests w^ith his Most Serene Highness, I avail myself of your permission to express the obligation I feel for the services you have rendered me near *The personage addressed by Tonty is certainly the Abbe Renaudot, who was his patron near the Prince de Conti, and who introduced him to M. de La Salle. — Tonty wrote in 1693 another Memoir addressed to the Comte de Pontchartrain. I printed it in my Unpublished Narratives and Memoirs relating to the History of France in the Countries over sea (1867). — [Margry.] s^^sno 4 Relation de Henri de Tonty. Juillet ce genereux prince, lequel m'a fait I'hon- 1678. neur de m'escrire plusieurs fois depuis que je suis en ce pays; et comme je commence a prendre haleine de mes voyages, je vous fais cette relation pour vous occuper pendant vos heures perdues. Je souhaite que vous y puissiez trouver de quoy contenter vostre curiosite, laquelle est fort portee pour ce qui regarde les pays estrangers. M'estant rendu a La Rochelle le 12 Juillet 1678, j'y trouvay M. de La Salle, lequel estoit occupe a faire son embarque- ment. II me receut avec son honnestete ordinaire, et le 14 nous fismes voile dans un navire de deux cents tonneaux nomme he Saint-Honore. II y avoit dedans trente per- sonnes, gentilshommes ou artisans apparte- nant a M. de La Salle. Pendant nostre voyage, nous eusmes une tempeste qui dura cinq jours entiers. Le 20^ Aoust, nous re- connusmes Tisle de Terre-Neuve. Le 27 dudit mois, nous entrasmes dans le golphe de Saint-Laurens. Dans ce lieu, il ne croist point de bled a cause du grand froid. L'on y fait la pesche de la molue. Nous y trouvasmes des Recollects qui y faisoient leur mission tant aux Fran9ois qu'aux Sauvages. Le i^r Septembre, nous partismes de ladite isle Percee et le 13^ nous arrivasmes a Quebec, ville capitale de ce pays. Ce ne Relation of Henri de Tonty. S near that generous Prince, who has done July, me the honor to write to me several times J^.^^ since I came to this country; and, as I am beginning to take breath after my travels, I write you this account to occupy your vacant hours. I wish that you may find in it matter to satisfy your curiosity, which is so alive to all that relates to foreign lands. Having repaired to La Rochelle on the 1 2th of July, 1678, I found there M. de La Salle occupied with preparations for his embarkation. He received me with his usual civility, and, on the 14th, we set sail in a vessel of two hundred tons, named the Saint-Honore. There were on board thirty persons, gentlemen or artisans in the service of M. de La Salle. In the course of our voyage we encountered a tempest which lasted five whole days. On the 20th of August we sighted the Island /./^ of Newfoundland. On the 27th we en- Fercee. tered the Gulf of St. Lawrence. In this place* no wheat grows on account of the severe cold. Cod-fishing is the chief in- dustry. We found here some RecoUet friars engaged in their mission both among the French and among the Savages. On the I St of September we departed from ♦There seems to be an omission before this sen- tence, but Margry is silent about it. — Translator. Relation de Henri de Tonty. Septembre 1678. ne fut pas sans beaucoup de risque, car nous passasmes de nuit des lieux tres-dangereux par rimprudence de nostre pilote. Ces endroits sont nommez la Pointe-aux-Alou- ettes, Tadoussac et Tisle Rouge. Nous re- mercions Dieu de nous avoir garanty de naufrage. Ayant mis a terre, nous y fusmes saluer M. le comte de Frontenac, qui estoit gouverneur de toute la Nouvelle-France, et le sieur Duchesneau, intendant. Aprez avoir demeure dans ladite ville pour nous remettre des fatigues de la mer, nous en partismes le 10 Novembre pour nous rendre a Montreal, ou nous arrivasmes le 2ie. Je crois. Monsieur, qu'il n'est pas neces- saire de vous mander les particularitez de ce pays, lequel est habite depuis un si long temps. M. de La Salle ayant equipe plu- sieurs canots pour monter au fort Frontenac, duquel il est seigneur et gouverneur, nous partismes ensemble le 26; nous trouvasmes en chemin quantite de rapides et de cheutes d'eau, dans lesquels on est oblige de porter son equipage jusqu'a I'eau morte, quand Ton ne peut percher ni traisner; mais ce qui facilite beaucoup cette navigation, c'est que les bastimens dont on se sert sont d'es- corce de boulleau, ainsy fort legers, et que quand on trouve des endroits difficiles, deux hommes Relation of Henri de Tonty. 7 from the said Isle Percee, and on the 13 th, September, arrived at Quebec, the capital of the coun- ^^78. try. This was not without great peril, ^^^^^^ inasmuch as we passed very dangerous Danzeroas places by night, through the imprudence places. of our pilot. These places arc named Pointe-aux-Alouettes, Tadoussac, and Isle Rouge. We thanked God for having saved us from shipwreck. Upon landing we went to pay our respects to the Comte de Frontenac, Governor of all New France, and to the Sieur Duchesneau, the Intend- ant. After some time spent in this city in order to recover from the fatigues of the sea, we set out on the i oth of November for Montreal, where we arrived on the 2 1 St. I judge it unnecessary. Sir, to give you a particular description of this country, which has been so long settled. M. de La Salle having equipped several boats for the purpose of ascending the river to Fort Frontenac, of which he is the proprietor and governor, we set out together on the 26th. On the way we encountered many rapids and waterfalls, where it is necessary Rapids and to carry one's boats to the still water, when- ^'^terfaiis. ever it is impossible either to pole or to tow. This sort of navigation is greatly facilitated by the circumstance that the boats / 8 Relation de Henri de Tonty. (•VNJ Decembre hommes prennent un de ces canots chacun ^^ % P^^ ^^ ^°^^ ^^ ^^ transportent facilement. Nous arrivasmes le 1 6 Decembre au fort de Frontenac, lequel est situe sur un lac qui a cent lieues de long et vingt-cinq a sa plus grande largeur. L'air y est assez tempere, estant par les 43 degrez de latitude. II y a quelques habitations Francoises, une mai- son de Recollects et tout proche un village d' Iroquois. M. de La Salle, qui avoit fait partir le sieur de La Motte pour commander plu- sieurs Francois a Niagara pour y faire une maison et chercher un endroit propre a construire une barque au-dessus du sault, apprit qu'il y avoit desja longtemps qu'il y estoit rendu. C'est pourquoy M. de La Salle s'embarqua avec douze hommes pour traverser le lac dans une barque de vingt tonneaux. Le 24, M. de La Salle ayant ordonne a son pilote de tenir la coste du sud, ledit pilote negligea cet ordre pendant la nuit, et cela fut cause que nous pen- sasmes tous perir sur une batture de roches, vis-a-vis I'isle de Quinte, ou MM. de Saint- Sulpice font leur mission. Et comme nous nous trouvasmes a fleur d'eau, la vague estant extremement grosse, M. de La Salle se re- veilla, et voyant le danger ou nous estions, y apporta remede; et le vent s' estant rendu un peu favorable, le 25^ nous debarquasmes en Relation of Henri de Tonty. boats which are used are of birch-bark and very light, so that in difficult places one of these boats is easily carried by two men, one at each end. On the 1 6th of Decem- ber we arrived at Fort Frontenac, which is situated upon a lake one hundred leagues in length, by twenty-five at its greatest width. The air is quite temperate, the latitude being 43 degrees. There are some French plantations, a house of Recollet friars, and, near by, an Iroquois village. M. de La Salle, who had sent M. de La Motte to Niagara in command of several Frenchmen, for the purpose of building a house there, and of finding a place above the Falls suitable for the construction of a vessel, learned that La Motte had already been absent a long time. Accordingly M. de La Salle embarked with twelve men in a vessel of twenty tons, to traverse the lake. On the 24th, M. de La Salle having ordered the pilot to coast along the south shore of the lake, the said pilot neglected this order during the night, so that we all came near perishing upon a reef of rocks opposite the Isle de Quinte, where the Sulpician fathers have their mission. And as we were about to sink, the sea being very high, M. de La Salle awoke, and, seeing the danger, man- aged to save the ship. On the 25th, the wind becoming somewhat more favorable, we December, 1678. Fort Frontenac. La Salle saves the ship. lO Relation de Henri de Tonty. Decembre 1678. en canot vis-a-vis la riviere des Sonnontou- ans pour aller querir du bled d'Inde audit village, et nous continuasmes nostre route vis-a-vis la riviere de Niagara. Le vent nous ayant manque a neuf lieues de ladite riviere, nous prismes la route par terre et, M. de La Salle ordonna a son pilote qu'au cas ou le vent vinst nord-ouest, d'emboucher la riviere, et en cas de surouest, de relascher aux Sonnontouans a cause de la saison. Nous arrivasmes sur le soir a 1' embouchure de la riviere de Niagara, et ayant appele les Sauvages qui estoient de 1' autre bord, ils nous vinrent traverser dans leurs canots de bois et nous receurent tres-bien dans leurs cabanes, nous donnerent quelques poissonsa manger avec de la soupe de bled d'Inde. Ces mets me semblerent insipides et mesme estranges. Neantmoins il fallut prendre le party d'abandonner pain, vin, poivre et sel, pour subsister des vivres sauvages, lesquels consistent en bestes fauves, poisson et bled d'Inde, encore en mange-t-on fort souvent; et pour se mettre a convert des injures du temps on leve des escorces aux arbres dont on fait des cabanes. Sur la minuit, nous partismes au clair de la lune pour aller re- joindre le sieur de La Motte, qui avoit fait faire une maison a deux lieues de la. Nous ne I'y trouvasmes point. II estoit alle en embuscade avec le P. Louis, Recollect, nostre Relation of Henri de Tonty. i i we debarked in a canoe opposite the river December, of the Sonnontouans, in order to get some ^^^S- Indian corn at the village of the same ^^^*^^ name; then continuing our journey tov^ard the Niagara River. At a distance of nine leagues from the river, the wind failing us, we pushed forward by land, M. de La Salle leaving orders with his pilot to make the Niagara River in case he got a northwest wind, while in the event of a southwest wind he was to put in at the river of the Sonnontouans on account of the season. Towards evening we arrived at the mouth of the Niagara River, and, having called the Savages who were on the farther side, they crossed over to us in their wooden canoes, received us hospitably into their Strange lodges, and gave us some fish to eat with f'>°^/^"'^ Indian meal porridge. These dishes seemed to me insipid and even strange. Neverthe- less there was nothing to do but to give up bread, wine, salt, and pepper, and to sub- sist upon venison, fish, and Indian corn; i/ and such our food often is to this day. For shelter from the inclemency of the weather, lodges are made of bark stripped from the trees. About midnight we set off by the light of the moon to join M. de La Motte, who had had a house built at a distance of two leagues from that place. We did not find him. He had gone into hiding 1 2 Relation de Henri de Tonty. V^W) Janvier nostrc missionnairc et quatre Francois. M. ^^79- (Je La Salle partit le lendemain pour aller au-dessus du sault de Niagara pour chercher un lieu propre a bastir une barque, et, I'ayant trouve, il fit venir une partie de ses gens, et moy je restay a la maison. Comme sa barque fut sur quille, celle qu'il avoit laissee a neuf lieues de Niagara se brisa a la coste le 8 Janvier 1679. M. de La Salle, en ayant eu nouvelle, y courut et fit son possible pour sauver une partie de la ferrure dudit bastiment, pour faciliter celle qu'il faisoit construire au-dessus du sault, et s'estant rendu au dit endroit, il m'y fit venir le 30 pour y commander. Ayant pris reso- lution d'aller au fort de Frontenac sur les glaces, je I'accompagnay jusqu'au lac; et le i^*" Fevrier il tra^a a la sortie de la riviere un fort qu'il nomma Conty. Ensuite, ayant pris conge de luy, je m'en retournay au chantier, et en chemin faisant, la curi- osite me prit d'aller voir le sault de Niagara, lequel fait la separation du lac Erie et celuy de Frontenac. Je puis dire que c'est la plus belle cheute que Ton puisse voir au monde. A notre estime, elle tombe a pic de cinq cents pieds de haut et a bien deux cents toises de large. Elle jette des vapeurs lesquelles on voit de seize lieues, et elle se fait entendre de la mesme distance quand il fait Relation of Henri de Tonty. i 3 hiding with our missionary Father Louis, January, the Recollet, and four Frenchmen. The ^^79- next day M. de La Salle set out to look for a place above the Falls suitable for the building of a vessel. Having found it, he sent for a part of his men, while I remained behind at the house. While his vessel was SMp- on the stocks, the one he had left nine ^"'^f"S r 1 1 r 1 -VT- and ship- leagues from the mouth of the Niagara wreck. went to pieces on the coast on the 8 th of January, 1679. M. de La Salle, getting word of this, hastened to the spot, and did what he could to save a portion of the iron- work, for use in the construction of the new ship above the Falls. Returning, he sent for me on the 30th to take command. As he had resolved to go back to Fort Frontenac upon the ice, I accompanied him as far as the lake; and, on the ist of February, he staked out at the mouth of the river a fort which he named Conty. Then, taking leave of him, I returned to the shipyard, and on my way was seized with curiosity to see the fall of the Niag- Niagara ara, which separates Lake Erie from ^^^^^' Lake Frontenac. I can say that it is the most beautiful fall to be seen in the world. As well as we could judge, the water has a perpendicular fall of five hun- dred feet, and is about two hundred fath- oms in breadth. The rising vapor can be seen c/^vrsj 14 Relation de Henri de Tonty. Mai fait calme. Quand une fois les cygnes 1^^* -. ^^ outardes se trouvent en son fil d'eau, il leur est impossible de reprendre leur vol, et ils sont morts avant que d'arriver au pied de la cheute. Les provisions que M. de La Salle avoit receues de la Cour luy avoient attire quan- tity d'ennemis, lesquels faisoient leur possi- ble pour le faire eschouer dans son entre- prise, desbauchant ses gens et troublant r esprit des Iroquois, vers lesquels il fut oblige d'envoyer le sieur de La Motte pour adoucir ces barbares, lesquels auroient pu nous nuire, nous trouvant en petit nombre dans leur pays. Pendant son absence, je fus frappe d'un poison; mais, ay ant eu re- cours a I'orvietan,* Dieu me renvoya la sante. Le 30 May, ayant fait mettre un brigan- tin a I'eau pour aller querir ce que Ton avoit sauve de la barque qui s'estoit brisee a la coste, nous mismes a la voile d'un vent de surouest, et m'estant rendu de bonne heure, faisant mes diligences pour embarquer ce qui estoit a terre, il s'eleva tout d'un coup un vent de large qui conduisoit une quantite de glaces qui se rendoit maistresse du basti- ment, de maniere que je me trouvay en- ferme, en danger de nous perdre, et pour comble * Espece de theriaque, de contre-poison. {Diet, de V Acad'emie., 1694.) Relation of Henri de Tonty. 15 May, 1679. La Salle's enemies make mis- chief. seen for sixteen leagues, and, when the weather is calm, the roar of the fall can be heard at the same distance. When once the swans and bustards are caught in the current, it is impossible for them to take wing, and they are dead before reaching the foot of the fall. The privileges which M. de La Salle had been granted by the Court had made him many enemies, who did what in them lay to wreck his enterprise, debauching his men and sowing suspicion among the Iroquois. He was compelled to send M. de La Motte to pacify these Savages, who were in a position to do us harm, finding us in their country in small force. During his absence I was attacked by a poison, but, having re- course to orvietan, God restored my health. On the 30th of May, we launched a brigantine for the purpose of going to get Salvage. what had been saved from the bark that had been wrecked on the coast. Setting sail with a southwest wind, we arrived early, but while I was endeavoring to embark the articles that were on shore, there suddenly arose a wind from the lake, driving in masses of ice, which, closing about the vessel, made her unmanageable. Worst of all our cable broke, so that we found ourselves 1 6 Relation de Henri de Tonty. ^yw} Mai comble de malheur nostra cable cassa, et in- *^79- sensiblement nous alliens a la coste. Sur la minuit, le vent se jetant au nord-est, nous fismes nostre possible pour faire eviter le brigantin a force de rames, et apres trois heures de grandes fatigues il evita. Nous mismes a la voile et arrivasmes le matin a la riviere de Niagara. Je m'embarquay en canot pour aller repescher I'ancre, et, estant arrive audit lieu, j'y trouvay le sieur de La Motte qui me dit que les Iroquois estoient pa- cifiez; je luy laissay le soin de faire repescher I'ancre et m'en retournay au-dessus du sault. Le 1 1, je renvoyay le sieur de La Motte, le pere Louis avec onze hommes, au fort de Frontenac dans le brigantin, selon les ordres que j'avois receus. L*on compte 60 lieues de traversee. Le 20 may, le sieur de La Forest, major du fort de Frontenac, m'envoya des ordres de M. de La Salle pour aller avec la barque, laquelle estoit de 40 tonneaux, au fond des lacs, pour annoncer aux Illinois qu'il devoit venir s'habituer parmy eux par ordre du Roy. Je fis monter la barque jusqu'a r entree du lac, et y ayant trouve un grand rapide, il me fut impossible d'y monter a cause d'un foudre de vent. J 'en donnay advis a M. de La Salle^ lequel me vint joindre avec trois Peres Recollects, les Peres de la Ribourde, Membre et Louis Hennepin, Relation of Henri de Tonty. 17 ourselves slowly drifting ashore. The wind May, shifting to the northeast about midnight, ^^''9- we made efforts to get clear from the ice ^^p^' by rowing, and, after three hours of fatig- uing work, we got her clear. Setting sail, we arrived in the morning at the Niagara River. Returning in a canoe to fish up the anchor, I found M. de La Motte, who in- formed me that the Iroquois were pacified. Leaving him to superintend the recovery of the anchor, I returned to our camp above the falls. On the I ith, I sent M. de La Motte and Tonty Father Louis, with eleven men, back to -^f^^^ *° ., . 11- • • clear with Fort Frontenac in the bngantine, in pur- the bark. suance of orders which I had received. The passage is estimated at sixty leagues. On the 20th of May,* M. de La Forest, Major in command at Fort Frontenac, sent me orders from M. de La Salle to go with the bark, which was of forty tons, to the end of the lakes, for the purpose of an- nouncing to the Illinois that he was to come and dwell among them by command of the King. I ran the bark up to the entrance of the lake where, encountering a strong rapid, I found it impossible to as- cend on account of a tremendous wind. Sending *The thirtieth of May is referred to at the begin- ning of the second paragraph before this. — Transla- tor. 1 8 Relation de Henri de Tonty. W>J Juillet Hennepin, et plusieurs Fran9ois avec une ^^79- seconde ancre qu'il fit amener. II s'occupa a forcer ledit rapide a la touee, et avant de I'avoir monte il m'envoya avec cinq hommes vers le detroit et la separation du lac Huron et de celuy d'Erie, pour aller joindre 14 Fran9ois a qui il avoit donne rendez-vous en cet endroit. L'on y compte 100 lieues, et depuis le 22 Juillet jusqu'au 10 Aoust que j'y arrivay, nous ne vescumes que de . . . qui se trouvent par le chemin. Nous estions cabanez a la pointe du detroit, ou le terrain est si petit a cause d'un marais qui estoit derriere nous, que comme il ventoit beau frais de nord-est dans le lac, la lame com- men9oit a nous couvrir, ce qui nous fit eveiller plus matin que nous n'aurions sou- haite et au point du jour apercevoir la barque; nous fismes 3 fumees, elle territ. Nous mismes nostre canot a I'eau, et nous embarquasmes dedans. Apres avoir monte le detroit, lequel a 30 lieues de long, nous entrasmes dans le lac Huron, qui en a 130 de long et 20 de large; nous fusmes battus d'une tempeste les 24 et 25, et le 26 nous naviguasmes. Le 27 nous arrivasmes a Missilimakinak, qui est un endroit ou il y a deux villages de Sauvages, I'un de Kiskakons et Tautre de Hurons. Les Peres Jesuites y ont deux eglises. Relation of Henri de Tonty. Sending word of this to M. de La Salle, he came to my assistance, bringing a second anchor, and accompanied by three Recollet missionaries. Fathers de La Ribourde, Membre, and Louis Hennepin, with several Frenchmen. He undertook to tow the vessel up the rapids, but first he sent me on in advance with five men, to the Detroit* and the separation between Lake Huron and Lake Erie, to join fourteen French- men whom he had agreed to meet at that place. The distance is estimated at one hundred leagues, and, from the 2 2d of July until the loth of August, when I arrived, we lived only upon . . . which are found by the way. We were encamped at the en- trance of the Detroit, where there was so little ground on account of a marsh lying behind us, that, as the wind was blowing fresh from the northeast across the lake, the waves began to dash over us, awaken- ing us earlier than we should have wished. At daybreak, sighting the bark, we made three smoking fires, when she put in toward land. We ran out to her in our canoe. Having ascended the Detroit, which is thirty leagues in length, we entered Lake Huron, which is one hundred and thirty long *The strait. As the French word has been pre- served in the name of the city, I retain it. — Trans- lator. 19 July, 1679. La Salle comes to his relief. A wet camping- ground. 20 Relation de Henri de Tonty. V* portage, ce que nous iismes le lendemain, et ayant pris la droite, a deux lieues de la nous trouvasmes une semblable cabane, ce qui nous fit croire que c'estoit toujours le mesme; mais le lendemain, ayant navigue pendant cinq lieues, il s'eleva un vent norou- est traversier de la baye, lequel dura cinq jours avec une grande poudre de neige. Nous consommasmes nos vivres et, ne S9a- chant plus que devenir, nous resolusmes de retourner au village pour mourir chaude- ment dans une cabane a cause qu'il y avoit du bois. Nous en prismes la route, et, en arri- vant dans I'autre portage, nous aperceusmes de la fumee, ce qui nous causa une joye qui fut courte; car, en arrivant au feu, nous n*y trouvasmes personne. Nous y passasmes la nuit, pendant laquelle Teau gela. Nous fismes nos efforts le lendemain pour casser les glaces, ce qui nous fut impossible, et cela nous fit prendre resolution de coucher au dit lieu pour faire des souliers, afin de pouvoir gagner le village. Nous en fismes du man- teau du Reverend Pere Gabriel. Je me faschay contre Renault qui n'avoit pas acheve les siens; mais il s'excusa sur son infirmite, ayant une grande oppression de poitrine a cause qu'il n'avoit pu digerer un morceau de bouclier. Le lendemain 4 Decembre, comme Relation of Henri de Tonty. 53 down. The Reverend Father Zenoble and November, Renault followed this path for a league and ^^^°' brought back the report that it led to what ^^^^^^ we all took to be a small lake, which was in reality Green Bay. We decided to make the portage, and did so the following day. Sailing toward the right, we found at a distance of two leagues a similar lodge, and were led to believe it to be the very same. The next day, after we had sailed five leagues, there arose a northwest wind blowing across the bay, and bringing a storm of fine snow which lasted for five days. Our victuals were consumed and, not knowing what to do, we decided to re- turn to the village to die warm in a lodge, for Determi- there was wood. We took the backward "f^°" *" . , ^ ate warm. route, and, arriving at the other portage, we caught sight of smoke; but our joy was short, for upon reaching the fire we found no one. We spent the night there, and before morning the water froze. The next day, after having vainly attempted to break the ice, we decided to remain here another night and make shoes, that we might reach the village on foot. We made them of the cloak of the Reverend Father Gabriel. I became angry with Renault for not fin- ishing his shoes; but he excused himself on the plea of illness, as he was suffering Renault's from a severe pain in the chest, caused by indigestion. his 54 Decembre, 1680. Relation de Henri de Tonty. comme je le pressois d'achever ses souliers et qu'il s'excusoit toujours sur sa maladie, son retardement fut cause de nostre sauvete; car des Sauvages Kiskakons, lesquels cher- choient les Poutouatamis, ayant aperceu nostre fumee, vinrent a nous par terre, et quand nous les eusmes veus nous fismes un feu de joye non pareil. lis nous embar- querent dans leurs canots et nous menerent au village des Sauvages, lequel n'estoit dis- tant de nous que de deux lieues. Nous y trouvasmes cinq Francois qui nous receurent humainement, et tous les Sauvages qui se iirent un plaisir de nous envoyer des vivres, de maniere que d'une grande disette ou nous estions, nous nous trouvasmes dans Tabon- dance apres trente-quatre jours d'un jeusne extraordinaire. Nous hyvernasmes avec les Sauvages, lesquels se firent un plaisir de nous assister dans nostre misere. Le printemps estant venu, je pris la route de Missilimakinak et trouvay en chemin un canot que M. de La Salle m'envoyoit avec des rafraischissemens. J'ay appris de ceux qui le menoient que M. de La Salle avoit fait plusieurs voyages, tant par eau que par terre, pour nous chercher, et que, sur quel- que indice qu'il eut des Sauvages, lesquels lui dirent qu'ils avoient veu des pistes des Fran9ois du coste du nord, et que les ayant suivies. Relation of Henri de Tonty. $^ his inability to digest a bit of the shield. December, The next day, the 4th of December, as I ^^^^^^^ was urging him to finish his shoes and he was still pleading illness, his delay was the cause of our salvation ; for some Kiskakon Savages, who were looking for the Potta- wattamies, seeing our smoke, came to us by land. When we saw them, we made an extraordinary bonfire. They embarked with us in their canoes and conducted us savage to the village, which was at a distance of hospitality. only two leagues. There we found five Frenchmen, who received us humanely, and the whole tribe of Savages, who mani- fested great pleasure in supplying us with food; so that, after thirty-four days of ex- traordinary fasting, we passed from starva- tion to abundance. We wintered with the Savages, who were pleased to succor us in our distress. Spring having arrived, I set out for Mis- silimakinak, and on the way fell in with a canoe which had been sent by M. de La Salle with supplies for me. From these men I learned that M. de La Salle had made several journeys, both by land and by La Salle's water, in search of us; and that he had '^ZTtotiII been led to send this canoe for us by some reports of the Savages, who told him they had seen traces of Frenchmen toward the north, and that, having followed the trail, 56 Relation de Henri de Tonty. La Feste- suivies, ils avoient conneu qu'ils estoient en "' disette parce qu'ils ne mangeoient que des (^^-y-^ sureaux ou de Tail qu'ils grattoient dessous la neige, ce qui fit prendre resolution a M. de La Salle de les envoyer pour apprendre de nos nouvelles. Ils me dirent aussy que les Iroquois ayant poursuivi les Illinois, avoient fait esclaves cent femmes et enfans. Je continuay ma route et j'arrivay la veille de la Feste-Dieu a Missilimakinak, et M. de La Salle arriva le lendemain. II me tesmoigna qu'il avoit dessein de venir a bout de sa descouverte, et qu'il alloit descendre au fort de Frontenac pour aller querir les choses necessaires dans une pareille entre- prise, de maniere que nous fusmes jusqu'au pays des Iroquois, dans un petit lac nomme Toronto, et M. de La Salle m'ayant laisse dans une isle avec trois hommes, il continua son chemin jusqu'au fort de Frontenac ac- compagne du Pere Zenoble; mais n'ayant pas trouve ce dont il avoit besoin audit fort, il fut oblige de descendre a Montreal. M'ayant envoye dans le brigantin ce qu'il avoit pu trouver au fort, et le Pere Zenoble me rendant des lettres par lesquelles M. de La Salle m'ordonnoit d'aller aux Miamis et d'y rassembler le plus de Sauvages et de Fran9ois que je pourrois, je m'y rendis le 10 Novembre. M. de La Salle m'yjoignit le 19 Decembre, de maniere que, la riviere estant Relation of Henri de Tonty. ^j trail, they had known these Frenchmen to Corpus y be in a starving condition because they had J"^" nothing to eat but elderberries, or garlic 1681. which they dug up from under the snow. (•VSJ They also informed me that the Iroquois had pursued the Illinois and had enslaved a hundred women and children. Contin- uing my journey, I reached Missilimakinak on the eve of Corpus Christi day, M. de La Salle arriving the next day. He in- LaSaiie'% formed me that it was his intention to inflexible complete his discovery, and that he was now on his way to Fort Frontenac to ob- tain supplies requisite for such an under- taking. So we went together as far as the country of the Iroquois, to a small lake named Toronto, where, leaving me upon an island with three men, M. de La Salle continued his journey to Fort Frontenac, accompanied by Father Zenoble; but, not finding at the Fort what he needed, he was obliged to descend to Montreal. He sent me in the Brigantine what he had been able to find at the Fort; and Father Zeno- ble brought me letters in which M. de La Salle ordered me to go to the Miamis, and Tont^^ sets there to get together as many Frenchmen ^^^ ^i'^i"- and Savages as possible. I reached the Miami* on the loth of November. On the *The St. Joseph. — Translator. i68i 58 Relation de Henri de Tonty. Decembre, estant prise, nous fusmes obliges d'attendre jusqu'au 21 en esperance qu'elle depren- droit, ce qui n'arrivant pas nous obligea de prendre la route du lac pour entrer dans une certaine petite riviere que Ton appelle Chi- cago. De cette riviere Ton fait un portage d'une lieue et demie, laquelle vous conduit dans une autre riviere qui tombe dans celle des Illinois, et comme je trouvay tout glace, je fis faire des traisneaux pour mener nostre affaire. M. de La Salle me joignit le 14 Janvier et continua ma traisnee, de maniere qu' es- tant arrive a la riviere des Illinois, un de nos chasseurs ayant trouve des pistes de Fran9ois m'en donna advis. Sur quoy on en fit recherche, parce que c'estoient huit hommes que j'avois envoyez en chasse, et quand on les eut trouvez, ils nous vinrent joindre, ce qui augmenta nostre nombre, lequel se trouva pour lors de vingt-trois Fran- 9ois et dix-huit Sauvages, Mahingans ou Abenakis et Sokokis, dix de leurs femmes qui les accompagnoient et trois petits en- fants. Je crois. Monsieur, qu'il est a propos que je vous donne les noms de ceux qui ont essuye les travaux d'une si grande en- treprise. Noms des Francois. M. de La Salle, commandant pour le Roy a ladite descouverte. Le Reverend Pere Zenoble, Recollect. Relation of Henri de Tonty. the 19th of December, M. de La Salle joined me there. The river being frozen, we were obliged to wait until the 21st in the hope that it would thaw; and, as this did not take place, we were forced to take the lake route and to run into a certain lit- tle river called the Chicago. From this river, a portage of a league and a half con- ducts us to another which empties into the Illinois. As I found all frozen, I had sleds made to carry our outfit. On the 1 4th of January, M. de La Salle joined me and continued my sledding jour- ney, until, arriving at the Illinois River, one of my hunters notified me that he had found the tracks of Frenchmen. Thereupon search was made, for I had sent eight men in advance to hunt; and when we had found them they joined us, increasing our number, which amounted at that time to twenty-three Frenchmen, and eighteen Mo- hegan or Abenaki and Sokoki Savages, with ten of their women and three little child- ren. I think. Sir, it is well that I give you the names of those who have borne the labors of so great an enterprise. Names of the French. M. de La Salle, Commandant for the King in this Discovery. The Reverend Father Zenoble, Recollet. The Sieur de Tonty, Captain of Brigade. 59 December, 1681. A certain little river called the Chicago. 6o Relation de Henri de Tonty. Le sieur de Tonty, capitaine de brigade. Le sieur de Boisrondet. Jacques Bourdon, sieur d'Autray. Jacques La Meterie, notaire. Jean Michel, chirurgien. Jacques Cochois. Anthoine Bassard. Jean Masse. Pierre You. Colin Crevel. Jean du Lignon. Andre Henault. Gabriel Barbier. Pierre Migneret*. Nicolas de La Salle. Andre Baboeuf. Pierre Buret. Louis Baron. Jean Pignabel. La Violette. Pierre Prud'homme, armurier. Noms des Sauvages. Le capitaine Clance. Amabanso. Hirguen. Ahos. Seneche. Nanaouairinthe. Youtin. Sanomp. Ouabaresmanth. Alimalman. Apexos. Chouakost. *Je vois ce notn ecrit ailleurs Menneret^ Miguret. Relation of Henri de Tonty. 6i The Sieur de Boisrondet. Jacques Bourdon, Sleur d' Autray. Jacques La Meterie, Notary. Jean Michel, Surgeon. Jacques Cochois. Anthoine Bassard. Jean Masse. Pierre You. Colin Crevel. Jean du Lignon. Andre Henault. Gabriel Barbier. Pierre Migneret.* Nicolas de La Salle. Andre Babceuf. Pierre Buret. Louis Baron. Jean Pignabel. La Violette. Pierre Prud' homme, Armorer. ^ Names of the Savages.j" Captain Clance. Amabanso. Hirguen. Ahos. Seneche. Nanaouairinthe. Youtin. Sanomp. Ouabaresmanth. *I find this name elsewhere written Menneret^ Mi- guret. — Margry. f There are but seventeen names in this list, while Tonty states that there were eighteen. — Translator. 62 Relation de Henri de Tonty. Fevrier, Akiesko. 1682. Maskinampo. Miouema. Ononthio. Pioua. I Huronne. Femmes. 3 Nipissiriniennes. 5 Abenaquises. I Ochipoise. 3 enfans. Apres nous traisnasmes nostre equipage soixante-dix lieues, S9avoir vingt sur la riviere de Chicago et cinquante sur celle des Illinois. Estant arrivez au fort de Con- trecoeur (sic), nous y trouvasmes la naviga- tion, et comme plusieurs de nos Sauvages furent obligez de faire plusieurs canots d'escorce d'orme, cela fut cause que nous n'arrivasmes que le 6 Fevrier au fleuve de Mississipi, qui fut nomme Colbert par M. de La Salle. L'on y compte cent lieues du village des Illinois, et son rumb de vent est presque toujours a I'ouest et surouest. A cause que nos Sauvages avoient este occu- pez a faire des canots et que les vivres nous manquoient, nous fusmes obligez de mettre une ligne a I'eau pour pescher de la barbue; nous en prismes une d'une grosseur extra- ordinaire, laquelle fournit de viande suffi- sante a vingt-deux hommes pour leur soupe. Nos Sauvages ayant acheve de faire leurs canots. Relation of Henri de Tonty. 63 Alimalman. February, Apexos. \6%z. Chouakost. WNJ Akiesko. Maskinampo. Miouema. Ononthio. Pioua. TVomen. One Huron. Three Nipissings. Five Abenakis. One Ojibwa. Three Children. From this place, we dragged our out- fit for seventy leagues, — to v^it, twenty upon the Chicago River, and fifty upon the Illinois. Arriving at Fort Contrecceur {sic), we found the river open for navigation; and our Savages having to construct some canoes of elm-bark, it was not until the y,^^ ^.^_ 6th of February that we reached the Mis- sisstj>pi sissippi, which M. de La Salle named the feacl?e^. Colbert. It is estimated to be one hundred leagues from the Illinois village, and its rhumb-line* is almost constantly to the west and southwest. While our Savages were employed in canoe-building, we fell short of provisions and were compelled to throw a line into the water for catfish; one we *The general course of navigation upon it.- Translator. 64 Fevrier, 1682. Relation de Henri de Tonty. canots, nous descendismes le fleuve et nous trouvasmes, a six lieues, sur la main droite, une riviere qui tombe dans le fleuve Col- bert, laquelle vient de I'ouest et paroist aussy grande et aussy considerable que la grande riviere, selon le rapport des Sauvages. Elle s'appelle Emissourita, abondante en peuples. II y a mesme des villages de Sauvages, lesquels se servent de chevaux pour aller en guerre et pour transporter la chair des boeufs qu'ils tuent a la guerre. A six lieues au-dessous, sur la gauche, nous trouvasmes un village de cent quatre-vingts cabanes, et comme tous les Sauvages estoi- ent allez a la chasse, M. de La Salle fit faire des marques pour leur donner a con- noistre que nous estions passez, y laissant quelques marchandises pendues a un poteau. Ce village s'appelle Tamaroa. Nous caban- asmes deux lieues au-dessous pour chasser; nous y tuasmes quelques chevreuils et en- suite continuasmes nostre chemin, et trou- vasmes a quarante lieues de la, sur la gauche, une riviere appellee par les Iroquois Oyo, laquelle vient de derriere le pays desdits Iroquois, et doit avoir cinq a six cents lieues de cours. Enfin, apres avoir passe quarante lieues d'un pays noye et de cabanes, les- quelles sont sur le rivage, nous arrivasmes, sur la mesme main, sur un costeau ou nous cabanasmes pour chasser; mais comme le lieu Relation of Henri de Tonty. we caught was of enormous size, furnishing enough meat for a supper for twenty-two men. Our Savages having completed their canoes, we descended the river and encoun- tered on the right, at a distance of six leagues, a river flowing from the west into the Colbert, and apparently, as the natives reported, equal in size and importance to the Great River itself. It is called Emissourita, abounding in nations. There are even vil- lages of Savages who make use of horses in warfare and to transport the flesh of cattle which they kill in war. Six leagues farther down, on the left, we found a village of a hundred and eighty lodges. All the inhab- itants being away hunting, M. de La Salle caused signs to be made to let them know that we had passed, and we left some articles of merchandise hanging upon a stake. This village is called Tamaroa. Two leagues below we encamped to hunt, killing some roe-deer. Continuing our journey, we came, at a distance of forty leagues farther upon the left, to called by the Iroquois Oyo, flowing from behind the land of the Iroquois in a course of some five hundred or six hundred leagues. Finally, after passing through forty leagues of an inundated country^ with lodges here and there upon the bank, we reached a hill on the same side, where we encamped to hunt; 65 February, 1682. The Mis- a river rhe Ohio. 66 Fevrier, 1682. Relation de Henri de Tonty. lieu n'estoit pas commode, nous descend- ismes trois lieues plus bas. Pierre Prud'- homme, qui n'avoit jamais chasse, eut envie d'aller a la chasse et dit en partant: "C'est pour le coup que je vais faire parler de moy.'* M. de La Salle luy recommanda de faire en sorte de ne se point escarter, et que, si par malheur cela luy arrivoit, il se reglast sur la boussole en tenant le nord- ouest, et qu'ainsy il reviendroit a la cabane. Le mesme jour, comme mon canot faisoit beaucoup d'eau et que je m'estois arreste pour le faire jeter, je trouvay une quantite de feves ou fayoUes semees par terre. J 'en amassay plein un bonnet et les presentay a M. de La Salle, lequel eut de la peine a croire que cela venoit naturellement dans le pays. Nos Sauvagesses, les ayant veues, en furent chercher, et sur le soir en appor- terent environ un demi-minot, de maniere que M. de La Salle ne douta plus que cette sorte de legumes ne vinst naturellement. A la verite, il y en a une tres-grande quantite le long du rivage, et mesme la tige en est grosse comme le bras. Elle tourne a I'entour des arbres comme le lierre en France. Sur le soir, nos chasseurs estant arrivez, nous rapporterent avoir veu une quantite de pistes dans le bois. Pierre Prud'homme et Maskinampo, n' estant point revenus, nous causerent beaucoup de chagrin, croyant Relation o/' Henri de Tonty. 67 hunt; but, the place being unsuitable, we February, 1682. descended three leagues farther. Pierre ^^^^' Prud'homme, who had never hunted, de- sired to go upon the chase, and said at ^^^^^ setting forth: — "This time I mean to make thirsts for a name for myself." M. de La Salle {;^;^;; ' advised him to be careful not to get lost; and, if that misfortune should occur, he was to take his course by the compass toward the northwest, which would bring him back to camp. The same day, as my canoe was leaking badly, I stopped to have it bailed out, and on the shore I found scat- tered upon the ground a quantity of beans or fayols. I gathered a hat-full of them, which I presented to M. de La Salle, who could hardly believe that they grew natur- ally in that country. Our Savage women, seeing them, went to look for more, and returned toward evening with about half a bushel of them, whereupon M. de La Salle no longer doubted that this sort of legumes grew naturally. There is indeed a great quantity along the bank, the stem being sometimes as large as one's arm. It winds about trees, like ivy in France. Toward evening our hunters returned and reported having seen a great number of footprints in prud'. the woods. As Pierre Prud'homme and ^omme Maskinampo did not return, we became very uneasy, supposing that they had been taken 68 Fevrier, 1682. Relation de Henri de Tonty. croyant qu'ils avoient este pris par les Sauvages dont on avoit veu les pistes. Le jour suivant que Ton retourna a la chasse, chacun estant de retour, rapporta avoir veu une cabane dans le bois, laquelle estoit abandonnee du jour mesme, ce qui fit que le lendemain M. de La Salle envoya des Sauvages et Francois dans le bois pour faire en sorte d'en pouvoir attraper quelqu'un. Maskinampo revint, lequel nous dit que, s' estant egare, il n'avoit pu venir plus tost, et qu'il avoit veu beaucoup de Sauvages qui estoient en chasse dans le bois, ce qui fut cause que M. de La Salle fit construire d'abord un fort pour nous mettre a convert, et il m' envoya avec six hommes a dix lieues au bas de la riviere pour voir si je ne trou- verois point Pierre Prud'homme. Pendant mon absence, Gabriel Barbier, avec deux de mes Sauvages, en prit deux de la nation des Chicachas. L'on fut fort embarrasse, n'entendant pas leur langage. M. de La Salle prit la moitie de son monde pour aller audit village, et fit porter quel- ques marchandises pour tascher de ravoir nostre chasseur que nous croyions estre esclave parmy eux. Apres qu'il eust marche deux journees sans trouver le village, il se fascha contre ces deux Chicachas, lesquels, craignant d'cssuyer son chagrin, firent con- noistre qu'il y avoit encore trois journees a marcher. February, 1682. Fort Prud'- homme. Relation of Henri de Tonty. 69 taken by the Savages whose tracks had been seen. On the following day, every man on his return reported having seen in the woods a lodge which had been abandoned that very day; so the next day M. de La Salle sent Savages and Frenchmen into the woods in the hope of encountering some one. Maskinampo returned and told us that, having strayed away, he had not been able to get back sooner, and that he had seen many Savages who were hunting in the woods. Upon this report, M. de La Salle immediately caused a fort to be built for our protection; and he sent me with six men a distance of ten leagues down the river to see if I could not find Pierre Prud'homme. During my absence Gabriel Barbier, with two of my Savages, captured two of the nation of the Chickasaws. As their language was unknown to us, it was difficult to com- municate with them. Taking half of his men, M. de La Salle set out for their vil- lage, carrying along some articles of mer- chandise with a view to regaining our hunter who, we thought, might be in slavery among them. After marching for two days without finding the village, he be- came angry with his two Chickasaws, who, fearing the consequences of his disappoint- ment, gave him to understand that they still ii/^V>J 70 Relation de Henri de Tonty. Mars, marcher, ce qui obligea M. de La Salle a 1682. rebrousser chemin; et ayant fait quelque present a Tun de ces Sauvages qui avoient este pris, il luy fit entendre de porter lesdits presents a son village, et qu'il les invitoit tous de se trouver sur le bord du fleuve, et garda I'autre pour ostage. Le huitiesme jour, M. de La Salle prit resolution de descendre le fleuve a trois lieues au-dessous du fort, lequel fut appele le fort a Prud'homme. L'on trouva le feu d'ou Prud'homme venoit de partir. L'on s'y arresta a chercher, et M. de La Salle m*en ayant donne advis par un canot, je le vins retrouver. Le 4 Mars, les Sauvages suivirent sa piste et quelques Francois avec eux. lis le trouverent sur un cajeu qu'il avoit fait pour descendre, afin de pouvoir joindre nos canots, et I'amenerent a la cabane. II nous raconta qu'il s'estoit esgare et qu'il y avoit dix jours qu'il n' avoit rien mange. Nous fusmes tous fort joy eux de le revoir et nous partismes le 5. Le 12, apres avoir fait naviguer cinquante lieues et fait petite chasse, a cause que le bordage de la riviere est garni de Cannes si espaisses qu'il est presque impossible d'entrer dans le bois, nous mangeasmes le reste de nos vivres, et, d'un temps de brume, nous en- tendismes du coste de la main droite de la riviere des cris de guerre a la fa^on des Sauvages, Relation of Henri de Tonty. 71 March, 1682. still had three days to march. Being obliged to return, M. de La Salle gave presents to one of the captured Savages, and made him understand that he was to carry these to his village and invite them all to meet us on the banks of the river. The other Savage he kept as a hostage. On the eighth day, M. de La Salle de- cided to descend the river to a place three leagues below the fort, which was named Fort Prud'homme. A fire was found which Prud'homme had just left. A halt was made to search and, M. de La Salle sending word to me by a canoe, I returned to meet him. On the 4th of March the Savages, with some Frenchmen, followed Prud'- Prud'homme's trail. They found him homme's upon a raft, which he had made for the purpose of following our canoes down the river, and brought him into camp. He told us that he had gone astray, and had eaten nothing for ten days. We were all very glad to see him again, and on the 5 th we set out. On the 1 2th, having travelled by boat for fifty leagues and found little game, the banks of the river being covered so thickly with cane that it is almost im- possible to enter the woods, we had con- sumed the last of our provisions when, the weather being foggy, we heard from the right bank war-cries, in the manner of the . . . Savages raft. Cane- brakes. ly^NTO 72 Relation de Henri de Tonty. Mars, Sauvages et battre le tambour. M. de La • Salle ne douta point que ce ne fust un village. Nous fismes un fort en moins de demi- heure. Pendant le temps qu'on le faisoit, je m'avan9ay vers une pointe, et, le temps s'estant esclaircy, je descouvris le village et leur demanday qui ils estoient. Mais comme la riviere estoit extremement large, ils ne pouvoient m' entendre. lis s'embarque- rent dans une pirogue, et comme ils furent a la voix, je leur demanday en langage Illi- nois qui ils estoient. Un Illinois, qui estoit parmy eux, s'ecria: "Akansa," et me de- manda qui j'estois. Je luy fis respondre: "Miskigouchia," qui est le nom que nous donnent les Sauvages du sud. lis vinrent a moy, et quand ils furent a portee, ils me decocherent une fleche afin de connoistre par la si nous estions en paix ou en guerre; mais comme je ne tiray point sur eux, ils vinrent a moy en toute seurete. M. de La Salle alia au-devant d'eux avec un calumet, et, apres qu'ils eurent fume dedans, Jean du Lignon et deux de nos Sauvages s'embarquerent dans leur pirogue et furent au village. Six de leurs chefs vin- rent au fort, ou ils apporterent le calumet. Apres nous avoir tous fait fumer dedans, ils receurent quelques presents et nous con- vierent d'aller a leur village. On s'embar- qua, on s'y en fut et Ton fit dresser une cabane Relation of Henri de Tonty. Savages, and the beating of a drum. M. de La Salle did not doubt that this was a village. In less than half an hour wq threw up an entrenchment. While this was being done, I advanced toward a point and, the fog having cleared, I discovered a village and asked them who they were. The river being extremely broad they could not, however, hear me. They em- barked in a pirogue and, when they had come within hearing, I asked them in the Illinois tongue who they were. An Illi- nois who was among them cried out, "Akansa," and asked me who I was. I made answer, "Miskigouchia," which is the name the Savages of the south give us. They approached me and, when within range, shot an arrow toward me in order to ascertain whether our errand was one of peace or war; but, as I did not fire upon them, they came to me in all confidence. M. de La Salle went toward them with a calumet and, after they had smoked from it, Jean du Lignon and two of our Savages embarked in their pirogue and crossed to their village. Six of their chiefs came to the fort bearing the calumet. After mak- ing us all smoke from it, they accepted some gifts and invited us to their village. We embarked and went, and a lodge was prepared for us. These Savages received us 73 March, 1682. Akansa Indians. 74 Relation de Henri de Tonty. Mars, cabane pour nous. Ces Sauvages nous re- ^^^^* ceurent fort humainement, et apres nous ■ avoir regalez de tout ce que 1 on pouvoit esperer dans le village, ils danserent le cal- umet a M. de La Salle. M. de La Salle prit possession de la terre au nom de Sa Majeste Tres-Chrestienne et fit arbor er les armes du Roy. On peut dire que ce sont les Sauvages les mieux faits de tous ceux que nous avons jamais veus. lis se couvrent de peaux de cibolas. Leurs cabanes sont couvertes d*escorces d'arbres lesquels sont semblables aux cedres et qui ont plus de cent pieds de hauteur sans branches, des- quels ils font des pirogues qui vont aussi bien que des canots d'escorce. II y a chez eux des pesches en abondance, des coqs et des poules, et plusieurs fruits qui nous sont inconnus. Nous reconnusmes que ces gens estoient fort honnestes par la bonne recep- tion qu'ils firent au Chicacha qui estoit avec nous, quoy qu'ils soient toujours en guerre avec ceux de sa nation. Ils nous donnerent deux interpretes pour nous mener chez les Taensas, et, en chemin faisant, nous trou- vasmes deux villages de la nation Enansa.* Ayant passe le dernier village, nos Sauvages tuerent le premier crocodile. C'est I'en- droit ou finissent toutes les pelleteries de castors et de loutres, lesquels sont devorez par *Akansa ? Relation of Henri de Tonty. IS March, 1682. us very civilly and, after having regaled us with everything that could be expected in the village, they danced the calumet before M. de La Salle. He took possession of the land in the name of his Most Christian Majesty, and hoisted the arms of the King. It may be affirmed that these are the best- formed Savages we have seen. They clothe themselves with buffalo skins. They thatch their lodges with the bark of a tree like the cedar, which reaches the height of a hundred feet without a branch, and of which they construct pirogues that run as well as bark canoes. They have peaches mturai in abundance, cocks and hens, and many Products fruits unknown to us. We ascertained the civility of these people by the good recep- tion they gave to the Chickasaw who was with us, although they are always at war with his nation. They gave us two inter- preters to conduct us to the Taensas, and on the way we passed two villages of the Enansa* nation. After passing the last village, our Savages killed the first alliga- tor. Here ends all trapping of beavers and otters, which are devoured by those animals. As to the buffalo, it is found all the way to the sea. Having taken the right bank of the river, we missed the Chickasaws on account of * Akansa ? — M argry. 76 Relation de Henri de Tonty. Mars, par ces animaux. Pour ce qui est des cibolas, on en trouve jusqu'a la mer. Ayant pris la droite de la riviere, nous manquasmes les Chicachas a cause d'une grande isle qui a pres de quatre-vingts lieues de long qui nous separa d'eux; et le 22 nous arrivasmes aux Taensa, apres avoir navigue quatre-vingts lieues, et comme cette nation estoit situee sur un petit lac, nous nous cabanasmes a trois lieues du village. Je fus chez eux avec Pierre Prud'homme, le capitaine Classe [sic) et les deux autres Sauvages, nos interpretes. Nous y arrivas- mes de nuit, et les Akansas s'estant mis a chanter, les Taensas les reconnurent pour amis, et nous entrasmes en surete dans leur village. Jamais je n'ay este si surpris qu'en entrant dans la cabane du chef, parce que les autres Sauvages ne sont point bastis de la mesme maniere. L'on reconnoist a cette nation une partie des qualitez que possedent les gens policez. L'on nous fit d'abord entrer dans une cabane de 40 pieds de face; les murailles en sont de bouzillage, espaisses de deux pieds et hautes de douze. La couverture est faite en dome, de nattes de Cannes, si bien travaillees que la pluye ne perce point a travers. En entrant dedans, nous vismes le chef qui estoit assis sur un lit de repos. II y avoit plus de soixante vieillards vis a vis de luy, converts de grandes Relation of Henri de Tonty. of a great island, nearly eighty leagues long, which separated us from them. On the 22nd, after having sailed eighty leagues, we arrived among the Taensas ; and, as this nation was dwelling on the bank of a small lake, we encamped three leagues from their village. I went to them with Pierre Prud'- homme. Captain Classe [sic), and the two other Savages, our interpreters. Arriving at night our Akansas began to sing; the Taensas recognized them as friends, and we entered their village in safety. Never have I been so surprised as upon entering the dwelling of their chief, for the lodges of other Savages are not built in the same way. In this nation, one recognizes some of the qualities of civilized races. We were at first conducted into a house of forty feet front; the walls are of clay, two feet in thickness and twelve in height. The roof is dome-shaped, and is made of cane mats so well woven as to be rain- proof. Upon entering, we saw the chief seated upon a couch. Opposite him there were more than sixty old men covered with great white cloths, like the hammock- cloth made by the Savages of the Ameri- can islands. There was a torch of dried cane in the middle of the lodge, and the four walls were hung with shields of yellow copper and with a number of paintings. There 77 March, 1682. The Taen- sa Village. Architec- ture. The chief and the elders. 78 Relation de Henri de Tonty. Mars, grandes nappes blanches semblables aux 1682. amas* que les Sauvaees des isles de TAme- rique font. II y avoit un flambeau de Cannes seches au milieu de la cabane, laquelle estoit ornee de plusieurs boucliers de cuivre jaune attachez sur les quatre faces des murailles, de quantite de peintures, d'une alcove ou repose le chef, et de plusieurs lits de camp, sur lesquels reposent les chefs des huit villages qui sont situez sur le lac et qui dependent de luy. Tous ces vieillards qui estoient aupres de luy dans la dite cabane avoient leurs mains sur leurs testes et hurloient tous d'une voix comme des loups, criant: "Ho! ho! ho! ho!" Et, apres que le chef leur eut parle, ils s'assirent tous, et Ton nous fit asseoir sur une natte de canne qui estoit preparee sur la terre, qui estoit delicatement travaillee. Nostre interprete se leva debout, et apres avoir fait une harangue, il donna une robe de sibola dont il estoit convert au chef, lequel le revestit de la sienne; et leur ayant fait con- noistre que nous estions venus faire alliance avec eux, et que celuy qui nous comman- doit avoit besoin de vivres, il commanda d'abord que Ton eust a dire a toutes les femmes de faire des farines de bled d'Inde et des pastes d'un certain fruit qu'ils appel- lent Paquimina, lequel est fort bon. Je donnay * Hamacs. Relation of Henri de Tonty. There was an alcove where the chief sleeps, and several camp beds on which sleep the chiefs of the eight dependent villages situated upon the lake. All the old men about the chief had their hands upon their heads and were howling like wolves, crying with one voice : "Ho! ho! ho! ho!'* And, the chief having addressed them, they all sat down ; and we were made to sit upon a delicately worked cane mat which was laid for us upon the ground. Our interpreter arose and, after a harangue, gave a buffalo- robe, with which he was clad, to the chief, who invested him with his ; and when we had made known that we were come to make an alliance with them, and that our commander was in need of victuals, he sent orders at once that all the women should make Indian meal and preparations of a certain fruit called by them Paqui- mina, which is excellent. I gave the chief a knife, which he received as a very con- siderable gift. He regaled us as best he could. I noticed that one of his little children, attempting to pass between the chief and the torch, was hastily drawn back by the mother and made to go around: this is a mark of respect which they show him. He was served by slaves. No one eats from his vessels except himself. They are of earthenware, well glazed, and made in the 79 March, 1682. A royal reception. Etiquette. 8o Relation de Henri de Tonty. Mars, donnay au chef un couteau qu'il receut ^°^^- comme un present fort considerable. II nous regala le mieux qu'il put, et je re- marquay qu'un de ses petits enfans voulant sortir passa entre le chef et le flambeau, fut retire brusquement par sa mere qui luy fit faire le tour: c'est la marque du respect qu'on luy porte. II fut servy par des es- claves. Qui que ce soit ne mange dans ses vaisseaux que luy. lis sont de terre, tres- bien vernis et faits en maniere de coupes. Leurs couteaux sont de pierre a fusil aussy bien que les haches. Je remarquay qu'il avoit seize perles fines pendues aux oreilles, et ayant dit a nostre interprete de leur demander ou ils les avoient trouvees, il respondit que c'estoit a la mer, dans des coquilles, et qu'il y en avoit beaucoup. Je partis faire ce recit a M. de La Salle de tout ce que j'avois veu, lequel m'engagea d'y retourner pour tascher d'avoir lesdites perles. II arriva cette journee quantite de canots chargez de vivres; on avoit une poule pour une alesne ou une aiguille. M. de La Salle, qui avoit toujours creu que ce fleuve tomboit dans la baye du Saint- Esprit, ayant pris hauteur avec son astrolabe, se trouva trente et un degrez; ce qui luy fit croire que nous estions dans le fleuve Abscondido,* comme il s'est trouve vray par * Ou Escondido. Relation of Henri de Tonty, 8 1 the fashion of cups. Their knives, as well March, as their axes, are of flint. I noticed that *^^^' he had sixteen fine pearls hanging from his ears, and asked our interpreter to inquire Si^'^^^fi where they had been found. He answered aTurgVas that they were found in shells from the peas. sea, and that they were abundant. Returning to M. de La Salle, I told him the tale of what I had seen, and he urged me to go back and try to secure the pearls. That day there arrived a great number of canoes, laden with provisions; one could buy a pullet for an awl or a needle. M. de La Salle, who had always believed that this river flowed into the bay of Saint- Esprit, taking the altitude with his astro- labe, found it to be thirty-one degrees ; and this convinced him that we were in the Abscondido * river, as was afterward shown to be true. I returned then to the village with our interpreters and, having given the chief a bracelet, he presented me with those pearls, which were tarnished because of having been pierced with red hot iron. They were as large as peas; I gave them to M. de La Salle. Four of our Savages, as well as our interpreters, were unwilling to go farther, for fear of the natives we should encounter; for it must be noted that the villages on the left bank of the river are at *Or Escondido. — Margry. 82 Relation de Henri de Tonty. Mars, par la suite. Je retournay done au village 1682. ^^g^ jjQg interpretes, et ayant donne un U^VNJ bracelet au chef, il me fit present de ces perles, lesquelles estoient ternies a cause qu'ils les percent avec du fer rouge. Elles estoient grosses comme des pois; je les don- nay a M. de La Salle. Quatre de nos Sau- vages aussy bien que nos interpretes ne voulurent point passer outre a cause de la crainte des nations que nous devions trou- ver; car il faut noter que tous les villages qui sont situez sur la gauche du fleuve font guerre a ceux de la droite. Cela n'em- pescha pas que nous ne partismes le 25 et fusmes cabaner dans une isle a dix lieues de la. J'ay oublie de vous dire que les Taensas avoient une divinite, parce que nous avons veu un temple vis-a-vis de la cabane du chef, dans laquelle il y a une maniere d'autel et au sommet trois aigles qui re- gardent le soleil levant. Ce temple est enferme dans une maniere de redoute, oCi ils mettent dessus la muraille les testes de leurs ennemis qu'ils ont tuez en guerre. On y fait garde jour et nuit. Ce fort n'est point regulier, mais il est tres-bien flanque a chaque angle; il y a des guerites de bois dur. Le 26, au matin, estant sur I'eau, a deux lieues de nostre cabanage, nous aperceusmes une Relation of Henri de Tonty. at war with those upon the right. For all that, we departed on the 25th, and en- camped upon an island ten leagues below. I have forgotten to tell you that the Taensas had a divinity ; for we saw a temple opposite the chief's lodge. In it was a kind of altar, and upon the summit were fixed three eagles facing toward the rising sun. This temple is enclosed in a kind of redoubt, upon the wall of which they fix the heads of the enemies they have slain in war. Guard is kept there day and night. This fortification is not regular, but is very well flanked at every angle; there are watch- towers of hard wood. On the morning of the 26th, being on the water about two leagues from our camping-place, we saw a pirogue crossing the river. We gave chase, and my canoe, being the swiftest, outstripped the rest. When about to overtake the pirogue, I dis- covered to my great surprise that the river- bank was crowded with Savages armed with bows and arrows. Seeing my danger, M. de La Salle asked me to cross to the other side and, when we had landed, consulted with me about entering upon negotiations with this nation. I offered to be the bearer of the calumet, and to this he reluctantly consented, as it was necessary to speak with them. I embarked therefore in a canoe to support 83 March, 1682. The Taen- sa temple. Tonty bears the calumet to the Natchez. 84 Relation de Henri de Tonty. Mars, une pirogue qui traversa la riviere. Nous 1682. i^y donnasmes chasse; mon canot, qui alloit le mieux, devan9a tous les autres, et comme j'estois prest a joindre la pirogue, je fus fort surpris de voir tout le bord garny de Sau- vages Tare et la fleche en main. M. de La Salle, voyant le danger ou je me trouvois, me pria de traverser de I'autre bord, et comme nous estions a terre, me demandant mon advis pour aborder cette nation, je m'ofFris de leur aller porter le calumet, ce qu'il eut de la peine a m'accorder. Neant- moins il estoit de necessite de leur parler. Je m'embarquay done dans un canot pour me soutenir en cas d'alarme. D'abord que j'eus mis pied a terre de I'autre bord, ou estoient les Sauvages, ils s'assirent. Je les fis tous fumer dans le calumet de paix et donnay un couteau a un vieillard, lequel me parut le chef. II le mit promptement dans sa robe, comme s'il avoit fait un larcin. Joignant les mains, je le contrefis, parce que cela signifie a leur maniere que Ton est amis. Je leur fis signe ensuite de passer deux de I'autre bord et que je resterois avec eux, ce qu'ils firent. Et apres qu'ils eurent veu M. de La Salle et appele deux de leurs gens qui estoient cachez dans le bois, ils retournerent avec tous les Fran9ois oii j'estois demeure. Nous cabanasmes et M. de La Salle, ayant este convie d' aller a leur Relation of Henri de Tonty. support me in case of alarm.* As soon as I had set foot upon the bank where the Savages were, they sat down. I made them all smoke the calumet of peace, and to an old man, who seemed to be the chief, I gave a knife, which he thrust hastily into his robe as if he had committed a theft. He clasped his hands in sign of friend- ship, and I imitated him. Then I made signs that two of them should go to the other side, while I remained. This they did; and when they had seen M. de La Salle and called two of their people who were hidden in the woods, they returned with all the Frenchmen of our party to the side where I had remained. We en- camped, and M. de La Salle, being invited to their village, went with half his men while I staid at the camp, three leagues away. M. de La Salle passed the night at the village, which they call Nahy.^ During the night they sent for the chief of the Coroas, who travelled all night to see M. de La Salle and came with him and * This is what Tonty says, but he does not always say what he means. Perhaps he wrote his memoirs with his iron hand, — a feat even more difficult than that of clasping his hands, as he tried to do a few moments later. — Translator. t Nache ? — Margry. According to Parkman, Natchez. — Translator. 85 March, 1682. Tonty clasps his iron hand. 86 Relation de Henri de Tonty. Mars, leur village, il partit avec la moitie de son 1682. monde et je restay a la cabane qui estoit ^^oro esloignee de trois lieues, et M. de La Salle coucha au village. lis le nomment NahyJ^ Pendant la nuit ils envoyerent querir le chef des Coroha, lequel vint toute la nuit pour voir M. de La Salle, et ledit chef vint avec luy et dix hommes a nostre cabane. Le lendemain ils s'embarquerent tous dans nos canots avec nous pour aller a leur vil- lage, qui estoit a dix lieues. Nous fusmes avec une pluye continuelle. Quand nous fusmes arrivez chez eux, ils nous regalerent tout de leur mieux, et donnerent un calu- met a M. de La Salle. Je perdis en cet endroit-la un esclave que j'avois achete des Taensas, lequel se sauva la nuit avec sa mere. Ils estoient natifs de ce village. Apres que les Coroas nous eurent fait com- prendre qu'il y avoit encore dix journees a la mer, nous partismes le jour de Pasques et laissasmes sur la gauche un village des Hama, avec lesquels nous n'eusmes aucun commerce, et sur la droite dudit village une grandissime riviere, et sur la mesme main un chenal qui va a la mer, lequel en est distant de cinquante lieues. Ayant fait quatre-vingts lieues de navigation, le canot o\i estoit le Pere Zenoble, lequel estoit le plus avance, aperceut sur la main droite quelques * Nache ? i682. Coroas. Relation of Henri de Tonty. 87 and ten men to our camp. The next day March, they all embarked with us in our canoes to go to their village, distant ten leagues. The weather was continuously rainy. Arriving, '^^ they feasted us as best they could, and pre- sented a calumet to M. de La Salle. In this place I lost a slave whom I had bought of the Taensas, who escaped at night with his mother. They were natives of this village. The Coroas having informed us that it was still ten days journey to the sea, we set forth on Easter day, leaving upon the left a village of the Hamas, with whom we had no dealings, and upon the right of this village a very great river, and upon the same side a channel running to the sea, a distance of fifty leagues. After we had sailed eighty leagues, the canoe in which was Father Zenoble, being in advance, came in sight of some Savages who were fishing from the bank on the right-hand side. Our people called to them, but the Savages, being afraid, fled to their village, and soon we heard the drum beating and The Kini- the war-cry raised. We disembarked at P"^^^ ^^"^ the mouth of a small brook, where we threw up an angle of defense to shelter us from arrows. M. de La Salle sent out a reconnoitering party composed of Messrs. d'Autray, Haisnault, Migneret, and Bros- sard, who were received with volleys of arrows. cry. 88 Relation de Henri de Tonty. Avril, quelques Sauvages qui peschoient au bord ^^^^- de I'eau. lis les appelerent; ayant eu peur, ils fuirent a leur village, et aussitost nous entendismes battre le tambour et faire des cris de guerre. Nous debarquasmes a un petit ruisseau ou nous dressasmes un angle pour nous mettre a couvert des fleches. M. de La Salle commanda les sieurs d'Autray, Haisnault, Migneret et Brossard pour aller a la descouverte, lesquels feurent receus a coups de fleches. Lesdits sieurs ayant fait leurs raports, quatre de nos Sauvages y voulurent aller, a qui pareille chose arriva. M. de La Salle, voyant que ces Sauvages n'estoient point traitables, nous fit rem- barquer et, ayant navigue deux lieues, nous aperceusmes un village sur la gauche. Nous fusmes pour Faborder. II s'appelait Tan- gibaho, et celuy qui ne nous avoit pas voulu recevoir Kinipissa. Nous n'y trouvasmes que des cadavres: il y avoit environ vingt jours qu'ils avoient este defaits par les Chouchoumas. II y avoit du sang jusqu'a la cheville du pied et cinq grandes cabanes pleines de corps morts, et le reste du village consume par le feu. Ce village estoit dis- tant de trente lieues de la mer. Nous continuasmes nostre route et, le 6 Avril, nous arrivasmes a la mer. Le 7, comme cette riviere se divise en trois chenaux, M. de La Salle fut descouvrir celuy de la droite, Relation of Henri de Tonty. arrows. These gentlemen having made their report, four of our Savages volun- teered to go, but met with the same recep- tion. Seeing that these Savages were not tractable, M. de La Salle ordered us to re-embark ; and, having sailed two leagues, we saw a village on the left, and landed there. It was named Tangibaho, and that which would not receive us, Kinipissa.* Here we found only corpses: about twenty days before, they had been defeated by the Chouchoumas. There was blood ankle- deep; five great lodges were filled with dead bodies, the rest of the town having been burned. This village was thirty leagues from the sea. Continuing our course, on the 6th of April we reached the sea. On the 7th, as the river is here divided into three channels, M. de La Salle went to explore that to the right. I took the mid- dle one, and the Sieur d'Autray the left. We found them fine, — broad and deep. Upon our return, on the 9th of April, M. de La Salle raised the arms of the King and a cross, and the Te Deum was sung. Three salutes were fired, and, afteV having buried in the earth a plate of lead engraved with the arms of His Majesty, M. de La Salle took possession of the river in the name of the very exalted and glorious prince, *Or Quinipissa. — Translator. 89 April, 1682. Blood ankle- deep at Tangi- baho. LaSalle discovers the mouth of the Mis- sissippi. 90 Relation de Henri de Tonty. Avril, droite, je fus a celuy du milieu, et le sieur ^^.^^. d'Autray a celuy de la gauche. Nous les trouvasmes tres-beaux, larges et profonds. A nostre retour, le 9 Avril, M. de La Salle fit arborer les armes du Roy et une croix, et y chanta le TV Deum. On y fit trois descharges, et apres avoir mis en terre une plaque de plomb ou les armes de Sa Majeste estoient gravees, M. de la Salle prit posses- sion du fleuve au nom de tres-hault et tres- glorieux prince Louis le Grand, roy de France et de Navarre. Le i o nous remon- tasmes le fleuve. Comme les vivres nous avoient manque, cela fit prendre resolution a M. de La Salle d'aller au village des Quinipissa, de gre ou de force, et nous vivions pendant ce temps de quelques pommes de terre et de croco- diles, que nous trouvions rarement le long du rivage. Le 14 nous arrivasmes au vil- lage des Tangibaho. Nos Sauvages ayant aperceu de la fumee de I'autre bord, M. de la Salle y envoya la nuit a la descouverte les sieurs d'Autray, Haisnault, Brossart, avec quatre Sauvages, lesquels nous rapporterent sur la minuit avoir veu a un feu quatre personnes qu'ils n'avoient pu distinguer si elles estoient hommes ou femmes. Devant la pointe du jour nous traversasmes et nous trouvasmes quatre femmes endormies de leurs gens qui avoient fuy aux Quinipissa. Elles Relation of Henri de Tonty. 91 April, 1682. Potatoes and alli- prince, Louis the Great, King of France and, of Navarre. On the loth we started up stream. Our provisions being exhausted, M. de La Salle determined to go to the Quinipissa village, by gentle means or by force; meanwhile we lived upon some potatoes and upon alligators, which we found at Z'^^o^^ rare intervals along the shore. On the 1 4th, we reached the village of the Tangi- bahos. Our Savages having seen smoke on the other side, M. de La Salle sent out Messrs. d'Autray, Haisnault, Brossard, with four Savages, at night to reconnoiter. About midnight they brought back word that they had seen four persons about a fire, but had not been able to distinguish whether they were men or women. Before daybreak we crossed and found four women asleep, zaomei belonging to the people who had fled to '^^^^^P- the Quinipissas. They informed us of what had taken place. That day we en- camped opposite their village. About noon there passed our encampment a canoe laden with warriors, who defied us, tomahawk in hand. M. de La Salle at once launched a canoe, in which he embarked and went in pursuit of them; but, not being able to overtake them, returned to camp. Putting on board a canoe one of the women whom we had captured, he gave her some axes, knives. ^•V>J 92 Relation de Henri de Tonty. Avril, Elles nous avertirent de ce qui s'estoit ^^^^- passe. Nous fusmes le mesme jour cabaner vis-a-vis leur village. Sur le midy il passa devant nostre cabanage un canot avec des guerriers dedans, lesquels nous bravoient le casse-teste a la main. D'abord M. de La Salle fit mettre un canot a Teau, dans lequel il s'embarqua et fut apres; mais, ne 1' ay ant pu joindre, il revint a la cabane, et, ayant embarque une des femmes que nous avions faites prisonnieres, il luy donna quelques baches, couteaux et alimens, et parce qu'on luy fit comprendre que nous avions faim, qu' elles eussent a apporter du bled, et que les trois autres s'en retourneroient a leur village. Elle en fut porter la nouvelle au village. Le 15 au matin, nous entendismes crier de I'autre bord, et ayant aperceu en- viron trois cents hommes, M. de La Salle fit mettre trois canots a Teau et s'en fut a eux. Pendant qu'il estoit a traiter des pois avec cette nation, j'aperceus onze canots cachez dans une petite anse, ce qui m'obligea de faire mettre tous les canots a Teau, afin d'estre en estat de secourir M. de La Salle en cas de besoin. Apres que les Quinipissa eurent fume dans le calumet, ils deman- derent des ostages. On leur donna Hesnault avec Chaquesque, et deux Quinipissa s'em- barquerent avec M. de La Salle. Apres avoir este assi un peu de temps, ils nous firent Relation of Henri de Tonty. 93 knives, and food, made her understand that ApriU we were hungry and that they must bring t^vV) us some grain; and that the three others should return to their village. She went upon this errand to the village. On the morning of the 15 th, we heard a cry from ^^ ^^^^^ the opposite bank; seeing about three hun- negotiates dred men, M. de La Salle launched three ^'^^^^^^^'^ canoes and went over to them. While he ^^^'j^'f„'-_ was negotiating with this nation for peas, I pissas. espied eleven canoes hidden in a little cove, and so felt obliged to have all our canoes launched, in order to be prepared to succor M. de La Salle in case of need. The Quinipissas, having smoked the calumet, demanded hostages. Hesnault, with Cha- quesque,* was given them, and two Quin- ipissas embarked with M. de La Salle. After sitting a little while, they made signs to us to cross to the other side; we em- barked and encamped again within an eighth of a league of the village, when the women we had captured returned home, and Hesnault came back with Chaquesque to our camp, telUng us that the lodges of these Savages were covered with palm- leaves. One of the women we had taken brought *There is reason to think that proper names are carelessly written in this account. The Indian name nearest like this one in the list is Chouakost. — Margry. O-^VXJ 94 Relation de Henri de Tonty. Avril, firent signe de traverser de I'autre bord, on ^^^^- s'embarqua et on fut cabaner a demi-quart de lieue du village, ou les femmes que nous avions pris s'en retournerent chez eux, et Hesnault avec Chaquesque* vinrent en nostre cabane, lesquels nous dirent que les cabanes de ces Sauvages estoient couvertes de feuilles de palmier. Une des femmes que nous avions prises nous apporta un peu de bled d'Inde, et ensuite quelques jeunes gens. On le leur paya fort bien, afin de les encourager d'en apporter davantage. Environ sur les huit heures du soir, trois jeunes hommes apporterent fort peu de bled d'Inde; et pendant que deux restoient en nostre cabane, le troisiesme visitoit partout et mesme vouloit faire en sorte que M. de La Salle laissast aller avec eux une femme esclave qui leur estoit alliee, que les Akansas luy avoient donnee, a quoy il s'opposa, et par un pressentiment il ne voulut pas que j'allasse Tapres-dine au village, crainte d'ac- cident. Les jeunes hommes s'en retourn- erent. On posa les sentinelles et un chacun se coucha. Une demi-heure devant le jour, Crevel, qui estoit en sentinelle, entendit casser des Cannes, et comme j'entendis qu'il disoit *I1 y a lieu de croire que les noms sont mal ecrits dans cette relation. Le nom de Sauvage qui, dans la liste, se rapproche le plus de celui-ci est Ghouakost. Relation of Henri de Tonty. 95 brought us a little Indian meal, as did some April, young men later. They were well paid, ^jf^ in order to encourage them to bring more. '^^ At about eight in the evening, three young men brought a very little Indian meal; and, while two remained in our lodge, the third made a tour of inspection, and even wished to persuade M. de La Salle to let them take away a slave woman, who had been given him by the Akansas, and i^ ^^n^ who was related to the Quinipissas. This refuses to M. de La Salle refused, and, on account of ^f^^/'^^ _ , . slave some foreboding, would not permit me to woman. go in the afternoon to the village, for fear of a mischance. The young men went away ; sentinels were posted, and every one lay down to rest. Half an hour before day- break, Crevel, who was on guard, heard a crackling among the cane, and, hearing him mention it and hearing the Sieur d'Autray remark that it was caused by some dogs, I called out to him to take care. A second time he heard the same thing. M. de La Salle, who was not asleep and who judged by the noise that it might be men, cried out: "To arms, chil- dren!*' Every one prepared for defense, and not half the men were ready when we heard the war-cry all around us. These wretches had surrounded us and were run- ning their canoes to shore. One of the canoemen V"V>J 96 Relation de Henri de Tonty. Avril, disoit cela et que le sieur d'Autray disoit que c'estoient des chiens, je luy criay de prendre garde. II entendit par une seconde fois la mesme chose. M. de La Salle, qui ne dormoit point, ayant juge par ce bruit que ce pouvoient estre des hommes, s'ecria: "Aux armes, enfans!" Un chacun se mit en devoir de se defFendre, et la moitie n'estoi- ent pas prests que nous entendismes le cri de guerre tout a I'entour de nous. Ces canailles nous avoient entourez et faisoient mettre au bord de I'eau des canots, et mesme un de ceux qui estoient dedans ayant pris le bout du fusil de Pignabel, croyant que c'estoit une fredoche, Pignabel luy lascha son coup, et Louis Baron un autre et leur canot tourna. Nous fismes assez bon feu jusqu'a la pointe du jour et a chaque coup de fusil que nous tirions, ces barbares faisoient des cris de guerre; mais d'abord qu'ils virent clair et qu'ils aperceu- rent des morts de leur coste, ils prirent la fuite et nous les chargeasmes jusqu'a ce que M. de La Salle nous voyant trop avancez, nous commanda de nous retirer au cabanage de crainte qu'ils ne nous prissent par der- riere, et en brisant nos canots ils nous auroient degradez et mis entre leurs mains. Sur le midy M. de La Salle prit la moitie de son monde et fut briser les pirogues proche du village, sous leurs yeux. Estant de Relation of Henri de Tonty. canoemen having seized the end of Pig- nabel's gun, taking it for a stick of under- brush, Pignabel fired the charge into him; Louis Baron shot another, and the canoe was upset. We kept up a pretty rapid fir- ing until daybreak, and, at every shot w^e fired, these barbarians raised the war-cry; but, as soon as they were able to see the dead on their side, they took flight. We pursued them until M. de La Salle, seeing that we had advanced too far, commanded us to retire to the encampment for fear of an attack from the rear; for by break- ing our canoes they would have got us into their power. About noon, M. de La Salle took half of his men and destroyed their pirogues, near their village and under their very eyes. Returning from this expedition, he held a council with respect to the execution of his plan, which was to attack them on the following day in their village. But, taking an account of our munitions and finding them insufficient for this, after our Savages had taken some scalps from those we had killed, and set some heads upon stakes, — none of us being either killed or wounded, — ^we embarked to go up the river before they could follow us by land ; for we found that they had laid an ambus- cade ten leagues above. We stopped at a hillside where we killed two 97 April, 1682. Battle before daybreak. La Salle destroys their i682. 98 Relation de Henri de Tonty. Avril, de retour de cette expedition, il tint conseil pour executer son dessein, qui estoit d'aller le lendemain les attaquer dans leur village. Mais comme on fit visite des munitions, et qu'il ne s'en trouva pas suffisamment pour cela, nos Sauvages, apres avoir enleve quel- ques chevelures de ceux que nous avions tuez, planterent quelques testes au bout de quelques piques, et nous nous embarquasmes pour remonter le fleuve sans avoir aucun de nous de blesse ny tue, avant qu'ils nous sui- vissent par terre, car nous trouvasmes comme ils avoient dresse une embuscade a dix lieues au-dessus. Nous trouvasmes un costeau ou on tua deux chevreuils et deux ours avec quelques crocodiles. Cela nous aida a gagner le village des Coroas. Le 29, nous trouvasmes a une lieue dudit village une pirogue avec deux hommes dedans, lesquels prirent le de- vant pour annoncer nostre venue. Comme nous fusmes a la veue du village, nous n'aper9usmes que fort peu de monde sur les costeaux. Le chef vint au-devant de nous et quand M. de La Salle luy eut donne les chevelures, il nous parut extremement sur- pris, et nous ayant fait signe de le suivre pour manger, nous montasmes la coste ou il y avoit des nattes de Cannes au milieu de la place pour nous recevoir et sur lesquelles il nous fit asseoir, et comme Ton nous portoit Relation of Henri de Tonty. two bucks and two bears, with some alli- gators. This helped us to reach the village of the Coroas. On the 29th we found, at a distance of a league from this village, a pirogue with two men in it who preceded us to announce our coming. Coming in sight of the village, we saw but very few people on the bluffs. The chief came to meet us and, M. de La Salle having given him the scalps, seemed greatly surprised. As he made signs to us to follow him to eat, we ascended the hill and found cane mats spread for us in the middle of the place. Having seated ourselves upon these and be- gun to eat, we were surprised to find our- selves surrounded by more than a thousand than a men. Some of our people recognized among them some Kinipissas, who were their allies; and, upon seeing them, we judged that they had brought the news of what had taken place in their country, and that this great number of men was assembled only to do us an ill turn. We ate, gun in hand. The Savages held coun- cils, and we, having eaten, pretended also to converse together. Hearing a cry from one of our Savage women at the river bank, I went to learn what was the matter, and she informed me that some of these Savages had stolen one of the canoes. The master in charge of it went down the hill and 99 April, 1682. -^ Surround- ed by more thousand Indians. lOO Relation de Henri de Tonty. Avril, portoit a manger, nous fusmes surpris de nous 1682. yQjj. entourez par plus de mille homme. (•VVI Quelqu'un de nos gens reconnut parmy eux quelques Kinipissas, lesquels estoient leurs alliez; et Ton jugea en les voyant qu'ils leur estoient venus porter la nouvelle de ce qui s'estoit passe chez eux, et que ce grand nombre d'hommes n'estoit assemble que pour nous faire un meschant party. Nous mangeasmes le fusil a la main. Ces Sau- vages tinrent des conseils et apres que nous eusmes mange, nous fismes semblant de nous entretenir aussy. Nous entendismes crier une de nos Sauvagesses au bord de I'eau. Je fus luy demander ce qu'elle avoit, elle me dit que de ces Sauvages avoient pille un de leurs canots. Le maistre a qui il appartenoit descendit la coste et trouva une partie de ce qu'il avoit perdu. Cela causa un bruit confus. Le chef des Coroas ayant invite M. de La Salle a demeurer trois jours chez luy, disant qu'il logeroit les Fran9ois dans une cabane et les Sauvages dans une autre, ce qu'il n' avoit pas fait quand nous descendismes, il y consentit. Sur quoy je ne pus m'empescher de luy dire qu'il voyoit bien I'estat des choses et qu' ayant fait sa descouverte, il ne devoit pas s'exposer a des miserables qui luy pouvoient jouer un mauvais tour. II me tesmoigna qu'il Relation of Henri de Tonty. and found a portion of what he had lost. This occasioned a tumultuous noise. M. de La Salle accepted an invitation from the Coroa chief to remain three days with him, the chief arranging to lodge the French in one cabin and the Savages in another. This he had not done on the occasion of the previous visit. Hereupon I could not refrain from saying to M. de La Salle that he saw plainly the way matters stood and that, having made his discovery, he should not put himself in the power of wretches who might play him an ill turn. He intimated to me that one must always show the Savages that one is not afraid of them. In the meantime, the Coroa chief had informed himself by means of one of M. de La Salle's slaves, whom he could under- stand, as to the affair with the Quinipissas. I know not whether he saw that they were in the wrong, or whether he feared. I suggested to M. de La Salle that we go on to the Nachy* village, where we should find food. We embarked and pitched our camp at a place opposite that village. Hav- ing waited until ten o'clock the next morn- ing and having seen no one on the opposite bank, M. de La Salle said : " Let us go our way. We are in no need of victuals, hav- ing enough." Doubling a point, we were surprised *See note, p. 85. lOI April, 1682. u-- La Salle's undaunted bearing. I02 Relation de Henri de Tonty. Avril, qu'il falloit toujours faire connoistre aux *^^^* Sauvages que Ton n'avoit point peur d'eux. ^^^^ Pendant ce temps le chef des Coroas s'informoit d'un esclave de M. de La Salle, lequel il entendoit, de quelle maniere I'af- faire s'estoit passee avec les Quinipissas. Je ne sais s'il reconnut leur tort ou s'il appre- hendoit. Je dis a M. de La Salle d'aller au village des Nachy, et que la nous trou- verions des rafraischissemens. Nous nous embarquasmes et fusmes coucher vis-a-vis ledit village ou nous attendismes jusqu'a dix heures du matin, et voyant qu'il ne repa- roissoit personne de Tautre bord, M. de La Salle dit : " II nous faut continuer nostre chemin. Nous n'avons que faire de vivres, en ayant assez.'* En doublant une pointe nous fusmes surpris d' entendre un cry de guerre de I'autre bord, et nous comprismes qu'ils n*avoient pas envie de nous nourrir. Apres avoir fait environ trois lieues, nous trouvasmes sur un cajeu un Tahensa qui se sauvoit d'entre les mains des Coroas. M. de La Salle le mit dans son canot. Et le 30 Avril estant arrivez au portage des Ta- hensas, je le conduisis dans son village, oCi nous renouvelasmes amitie, et le chef con- neut par la que nous estions ses veritables amis. J*admiray pour la seconde fois leur maniere d'agir. Car cet homme ne dit aucune nouvelle pendant qu'il y eut du monde Relation of Henri de Tonty. surprised to hear a war-cry from the other side, whereupon we saw that they had no intention of feeding us. Having made about three leagues, we found upon a raft a Taensa who was escaping from the Coroas. M. de La Salle took him into his canoe. And having arrived on the 30th of April at the portage of the Taensas, I conducted him to his village, where we renewed friendship, the chief knowing by this act that we were his true friends. I admired for the second time their behavior. For, so long as there were people in the chief's lodge, this man had nothing to say; but, after we had supped and the company had retired, the chief had the door closed and, calling me to him, sent for the Taensa whom I had brought, who told him his story and then went to bed. The next day a chief of the Mosopelleas, who, after the defeat of his tribe, had sought refuge with the chief of the Taensas and was living there with five lodges, came to see M. de La Salle, and, having intro- duced himself as a Mosopellea, M. de La Salle gave him back a slave of his nation, and made him a present of a pistol. The chief of the Taensas, hearing of the good reception of his friend, sent word to M. de La Salle that he would pay him a visit. The Frenchmen who lay at his village told us 103 April, 1682. Taensa discretion. The Taen- sa chief pays a visit of state. I ©4 Relation de Henri de Tonty. Mai, monde dans la cabane du chef; et apres *^^^* que nous eusmes soupe et que tout le ^^^'^ monde fut retire, il fit fermer la porte et, m'ayant fait approcher de luy, il appela le Taensa que j'avois amene, lequel luy raconta les nouvelles et ensuite se fut coucher. Le lendemain un chef des Mosopelleas, lequel apres la defaite de son village avoit demande au chef des Tahensa a demeurer chez luy, et y demeuroit avec cinq cabanes, fut voir M. de La Salle, et s'estant dit Mosopellea, M. de La Salle luy rendit un esclave de sa nation, et luy donna un pisto- let. Le chef des Taensas, ayant appris le bon traitement qu'il avoit receu, envoya dire a M. de La Salle qu'il I'allast voir. Les Fran9ois qui coucherent a son village nous dirent qu'on avoit chante toute la nuit a sa porte, et que le lendemain en s'embarquant il y avoit deux corps de musique, et que les canoteurs venoient a la cadence; que deux hommes, un devant, I'autre derriere, avec des eventails fort bien faits de plumes de cygnes, empeschoient que les cousins ne les piquassent. Nous entendismes dire : "Voila un chef qui arrive," et nous fusmes aude- vant de luy. Nous remarquasmes que deux cents personnes de ses gens se mirent en haye, et avec les mains nettoyerent la place par ou il passoit. II entra dans la cabane de M. de La Salle, lequel luy donna un fusil May, i68z. Relation of Henri de Tonty. 105 us that there was singing all night long at his door; that, when he embarked in the morning, there were two bands of music, the canoemen paddling in cadence; and that two men, one before and the other behind him, drove away the gnats with well made fans of swan's-down. We heard the words: "See, a chief is coming!" and went to meet him. We noticed that two hundred of his people hedged his path and swept with their hands the ground on which he trod. He entered the lodge of M. de La Salle, who gave him a gun and several other presents; and, having ex- changed tokens of great friendship, and after they had loaded us with all sorts of provisions, we launched our canoes and set forth on the 3rd of May. The chief made a prayer to the sun that we might have gL^"Jfg a. pleasant voyage, and caused tobacco to tbe Mis- he thrown into the water that the river "^"PP^- might be peaceful. Wishing to make haste, M. de La Salle went on in advance with three lightened canoes, but awaited us among the Akansas upon a false report being made him that the canoes led by me had been defeated. On the 20th, hearing of my approach, he continued his journey. The Akansas enticed away from him two Taensas who had accompanied him, fearing lest they should io6 Relation de Henri de Tonty. <^VNJ Mai, fusil et plusieurs autres presents, et apres ^^^^' s*estre donne de grandes marques d'amitie, et lorsqu'ils nous eurent chargez de toutes sortes de rafraischissemens. Ton fit mettre les canots a I'eau pour partir le 3 May. Le chef fit une priere au soleil pour nous sou- haiter un bon voyage, et fit jeter du tabac a Teau afin que la riviere fut paisible. M. de La Salle, qui avoit envie de faire diligence, ayant pris le devant avec trois canots alleges, en arrivant aux Akansas, sur un faux rapport qu*on luy fit que les canots que je conduisois avoient este defaits, nous y attendit jusqu'au 20, et, ayant appris mon approche, il partit pour continuer sa route. Les Akansas luy desbaucherent deux Ta- hensas qui Faccompagnoient, apprehendant qu'ils ne s'attirassent nos marchandises. Je trouvay dans ledit village les quatre Sauvages qui nous avoient quittez. II y en eust deux qui y voulurent rester. Les deux autres s'embarquerent avec moy continuant ma route. Je trouvay une lettre pendue a un arbre. Elle estoit de Cauchois, qui me marquoit que M. de La Salle estoit tombe malade, et de luy envoyer au plus viste Jean Michel pour le saigner, ce que je fis, et le dernier May estant arrive au fort Prud'homme, je le vis attaque d'une mala- die mortelle, ce qui nous causa un grand chagrin. Et comme il avoit des affaires pressantes Relation of Henri de Tonty. 107 May, 1682. \y La Salle. should win our trade. In this village, I found the four Savages who had deserted us: two of them wished to remain, the two others embarked with me. Attached to a tree I found a letter from Cauchois informing me that M. de La Salle was Severe ill- fallen ill and asking me to send with all "j" ^{f speed Jean Michel to attend him. This I did and, being arrived the last of May at Fort Prud 'homme, we had the great sorrow of seeing him a prey to mortal illness. As he had urgent business at the river of the Miamis, I set out on the 4th of June with Brossard, Cauchois, Jean Masse, and a Sokoki. Above the Ohio River I encountered four Iroquois, the sur- vivors of a band of a hundred men which had been defeated by the Sioux; and, as they required succor, I gave them a part of what they had need. Four days later, see- ing a smoke, we went towards it. There issued from the wood thirty Tamaroa war- riors, coming on with strung bow and rais- '^""^f^ 1 T iT- J 1 1 1 party saved ing the war-cry. 1 oirered them the cam- i,y an met ; an Illinois among them, when he saw Illinois me, recognized me and cried out: "This is my comrade; these are Frenchmen!" We went ashore and passed the night with them. There was a plot to kill us, but, as it was a mixed party of Illinois, Missou- ritas, and Tamaroas, the Illinois foiled the design L^ Indian. io8 Relation de Henri de Tonty. Juin, pressantes a la riviere des Miamis, je partis • le 4 Tuin avec Brossard, Cauchois, Tean Masse et un Sokokis. Au-dessus de la riviere Ohio je trouvay quatre Iroquois dont la bande, qui avoit este de cent hommes, avoit este defaite par les Scioux, et comme ils avoient besoin de quelque assistance, je leur donnay une partie de ce dont ils avoi- ent besoin ; quatre jours apres, ayant aper- ceu une fumee, nous y fusmes. II sortit du bois trente guerriers Tamaroas, lesquels vinrent Tare bande sur nous faisant des cris de guerre. Je leur presentay le calumet. Un Illinois qui estoit parmy eux, m*ayant aperceu, me reconneut, et s'escria: "C'est mon camarade, ce sont des Fran9ois!*' Nous mismes a terre et passasmes la nuit avec eux. lis eurent dessein de nous tuer, mais comme ils estoient partie Illinois, Missourita et Tamaroas, les Illinois em- pescherent ce coup. Le village des Tama- roas n'estoit qu'a une journee et demie; un guerrier leur fut porter le calumet, et sur ce que je leur avois dit que le canot iroquois estoit bien loin, ils rebrousserent chemin. Le i8, estant a la veue du village, les chefs vinrent audevant de moy et nous fusmes de compagnie au village. Le 20, apres leur avoir fait quelque present, je partis et arri- vay le 27 au village des Illinois, que nous trouvasmes abandonne a cause de la crainte qu'ils Relation of Henri de Tonty. design. The village of the Tamaroas was distant only a day and a half; a warrior went to bear them the calumet, and when I had told them that the Iroquois canoe was very far away, the party turned back. On the 1 8 th, when we came in view of the village, the chiefs came to meet me and we went together to the village. On the 20th, after having made them some presents, I set out, arriving on the 27th at the Illinois village, which we found aban- doned by reason of fear of the Iroquois. The water being very low, I was forced to abandon my canoe and to go on foot to the lake, which is forty leagues from there. From the way in which I have described the Great River, the circumstance that its banks are lined with cane may seem un- fortunate to you; but I can assure you that this is only a fringe which does not extend far back. There is a second belt of true forest, where there are many fruits un- known to us, and an abundance of mul- berry, laurel, and palm trees; and beyond the forest are great prairies covered with all kinds of wild beasts, such as the hart, the roe-deer, the bear, the hare, the rabbit, the lynx, the marmot, and a vast number of buffalo, and some other animals which are unknown among us. The soil is wonderfully rich; 109 June, i68z. A fruitful land. I lo Relation de Henri de Tonty. vn^>j Juillet, qu'ils avoient des Iroquois. Les eaux estant ^^^ I ^*^^^ basses, je fus oblige d'abandonner mon canot et de marcher par terre pour gagner le lac qui est a quarante lieues de la. De la maniere que je vous ay depeint la Grande Riviere, elle vous aura peut estre paru afFreuse a cause que son rivage est borde de Cannes; mais je vous diray que ce n'est qu*une lisiere qui n'entre point dans la profondeur. On en trouve une seconde de bois francs, ou il y a quantite de fruits qui nous sont inconnus, et abondance des meuriers, de lauriers et de palmiers, et der- riere les bois francs, ce sont de grandes prairies remplies de toutes sortes de bestes fauves, comme cerfs, chevreuils, ours, lievres, lapins, loups-cerviers, marmottes et une grande quantite de sibolas et quelques autres animaux qui nous sont inconnus. Les terres y sont merveilleuses, et au village des Cor- oas, le bled d'Inde y est en maturite en 40 jours. Par bonheur, au bord du lac, je trouvay un Sauvage Outagamis qui me vendit son canot. Je gagnay la riviere des Miamis; n'ayant trouve personne, je me rendis le 22 Juillet a Michilimakinak. M. de La Salle estant remis de sa maladie, laquelle luy avoit dure quarante jours, m'envoya ordre de I'attendre, et s'estant rendu a Michili- makinak, il prit resolution d'aller en France rendre Relation of Henri de Tonty. hi rich; at the Coroa village, Indian corn July, comes to maturity in forty days. ^^^^' Fortunately I found at the lakeside an Ou- ^^^*^ tagamie, who sold me his canoe. Finding no one at the river of the Miamis, I made my v^ay to Michilimakinak,* w^hich I reached on the 22nd of July. M. de La Salle, recovering from his illness, which ^ had lasted forty days, sent me orders to await him, and, being arrived at Michili- makinak, decided to return to France in order to give an account at Court of his Tontfre- discovery. He sent me back to build a *Y"\!° fort at the portage of the Illinois River, for tobuiiTa the purpose of protecting the village of the fort. Shawanoes, whom he had drawn to him and had joined with the Miamis. Being arrived, I found that the Shawanoes had gone hunting and that the Miamis were preparing for flight, as they had been told that the Iroquois were coming to devour them. I found that all our people were dispersed; and, as I had few men, I re- solved to pass the winter on the Illinois River, hoping to be able to collect my men in the spring. Meanwhile, as M. de La Salle found himself unwell, he resolved not to return to France, but to send his dispatches by the Reverend Father Zenoble. On ♦Previously spelled " Missilimakinak," passim. — Translator. I 12 Relation de Henri de Tonty. Decembre, rendre compte a la Cour de sa descouverte, *^^^' et m'ordonna d'aller faire faire un fort au ^^^^ portage de la riviere des Illinois, pour main- tenir en seurete le village des Chaouanons qu'il avoit appelez pres de luy et avoit joints avec les Miamis. Estant arrive, je trouvay que les Chaouanons estoient allez en chasse et les Miamis dans la disposition de fuir, a cause qu'on leur avoit dit que les Iroquois les venoient manger. Je trouvay tous nos gens dispersez; et comme j'avois peu de monde, je pris resolution d'aller hyverner dans la riviere des Illinois, afin de pouvoir rassembler mon monde au printemps. Mais comme M. de La Salle se trouva indispose, il se resolut de ne point passer en France et d' envoy er ses depesches par le R. P. Zeno- ble, et il vint me joindre, le 30 Decembre, et pendant I'hyver nous y construisismes le fort de Saint-Louis sur un rocher inac- cessible, ou M. de La Salle fit venir les Chaouanons. Les Miamis se joignirent a luy et ensuite les Illinois, vers lesquels je fis dans le mois de Mars 1683 un voyage de plus de cent lieues, a traverser les prairies. Apres leur avoir fait de grands presents de la part de M. de La Salle, qu'ils appclerent leur pere, ils me donnerent parole de nous venir trouver. Je ne veux point. Monsieur, vous impor- tuner de toutes les difficultez qu'on a eues pour Relation of Henri de Tonty. i i 3 On the 30th of December he joined me; December, and during the winter we built upon an J^y^ impregnable rock Fort St. Louis, to which M. de La Salle induced the Shawanoes to 2^^^^'- come. The Miamis united themselves with him, and later the Ilhnois, to whom, in the month of March, 1683, I made a journey of more than a hundred leagues across the prairies. After I had made them great presents in behalf of M. de La Salle, whom they called their Father, they gave me their word that they would join us. I will not weary you. Sir, with all the ^^^^^^ difficulties we encountered in collecting p^J^^'' these tribes, whose minds were preoccupied enemies. with the evil reports which the French enemies of M. de La Salle had spread among them. Then, after M. de La Salle had placed his fort in a state of defense, he resolved to return to France. Leaving me in command, he set out in the month of August, 1683, taking with him two Sha- wanoes. Fourteen leagues from the fort, he met the Chevalier de Baugy, who brought him a letter from M. de La Barre, Governor General of Canada, ordering him to return to give an account of his discov- ery. This Chevalier de Baugy reached the Fort with letters from M. de La Salle, who advised me to receive him well and to live with gOTNJ 114 Relation de Henri de Tonty. Aout, pour rassembler ces peuples, lesquels avoient *^^3- i'esprit preoccupe des mauvais discours que les Francois ennemis de M. de La Salle leur avoient faits. Apres done que M. de La Salle eut mis son fort en estat, il prit resolu- tion d'aller en France, et, m'ayant laisse le commandement en sa place, il partit le mois d*Aoust 1683 et mena avec luy deux Chaouanons. A quatorze lieues du fort, il trouva le chevalier de Baugy, lequel luy apportoit une lettre de M. de La Barre, gouverneur general du Canada, afin qu'il eust a descendre pour rendre compte de sa descouverte. Ledit chevalier de Baugy arriva au fort avec des lettres de M. de La Salle par lesquelles il me recommandoit de le bien recevoir et de vivre en grande union avec luy ; mais comme par la suite du temps je vis qu'il faisoit son possible pour des- baucher nos habitans, et que le sieur de La Durantays ne s'y espargna pas non plus quand il y vint, il me fut impossible d'eviter quelques demeslez que j'eus avec eux, et nous passasmes Thiver en mesintelligence ensemble. Le 21 Mars 1684,* deux cents Iroquois, ayant pille sept canots de Fran9ois, vinrent ensuite attaquer nostre fort. Apres six jours de siege, ils se retirerent avec perte de leurs gens et furent poursuivis par de petits partis de nos alliez qui en tuerent quelques-uns *Le texte porte a tort 1683. Relation of Henri de Tonty. 115 with him in perfect harmony; but as, in March, the course of time, I saw that he was doing ^^'^\' all he could to debauch our people, and as ^^^^^ the Sieur de La Durantays, when he came, did not refrain from efforts directed to the same end, it was impossible for me to avoid some disputes with them, and we passed the winter at variance with one another. On the 2ist of March, 1684,* two hundred Iroquois, after robbing seven French canoes, 7-^^ /^^. came to attack our Fort. After six days' quois siege, they retired with loss and were pur- '^^'^'^^ ^^^ sued by small parties of our allies, who killed some of them. On the 21st of May, the Sieur de La Durantays, upon pretext of coming to our relief, communicated to me, on the 23rd,-j- orders from M. de La Barre obliging me to leave the place and to return here. But as the Court has taken up the enterprise of M. de La Salle, and as orders have reached M. de La Barre from the King to the effect that we are to retake possession of the domain of M. de La Salle, the latter, empowered by His Majesty, has made Gov- named me Governor of Fort St. Louis, and ^^^"^ "f the King has honored me with the com- jr^^/. ' mand of a company of marines. I had set out *The text reads wrongly 1683. — Margry. fThe meaning being clear, I translate this sentence literally, as a specimen of Tonty's style. — Translator. ii6 Relation de Henri de Tonty. O^W> Mai, quelques-uns. Le 21 May, le sieur de La 1684. Durantays, sous pretexte de venir a nostre secours, me signifia, le 23, les ordres de M. de La Barre qui m'obligerent de quitter la place et de me rendre icy. Mais comme la Cour a embrasse I'entreprise de M. de La Salle, et qu'il est venu des ordres du Roy a M. de La Barre que nous eussions a rentrer dans le bien de M. de La Salle, celuy-cy m'a nomme au gouvernement du fort Saint-Louis, selon le pouvoir que Sa Majeste luy a donne, et le Roy m'a honore d'une compagnie du destachement de la Marine. J'estois parti pour aller audit fort, mais les glaces m'ayant barre le chemin, j'ay este oblige de relascher. J'espere le printemps prochain me remettre en marche pour y aller. Je vous demande. Monsieur, la continua- tion de vostre amitie, et vous supplie d'estre persuade qu'en quelque lieu que je sois, je seray toujours avec beaucoup de respect. Monsieur, vostre tres-humble et tres-obeis- sant serviteur. De Tonty. De Quebec, le 14 Novembre 1684. Relation of Henri de Tonty. 117 out to go to the Fort, but, on account November, of the ice, I find myself compelled to lie ^^^4- over. I hope to set out again next spring. I beg of you. Sir, the continuance of your friendship, and pray you to believe that, wherever I may be, I shall always remain with great respect. Sir, your very humble and obedient servant. De Tonty. From Quebec, the 14th of November, 1684. ii8 Relation de Henri de Tonty. Distances des lieux ou le sieur de Tonty a passe depuis La Rochelle jusqua la mer du Sud {sic)^ par le Canada et par V embouchure de la riviere de Mississipi oufleuve Colbert, Lieues. De La Rochelle a I'lsle-Percee - i,ooo De risle-Percee a Quebec - - - 120 Aux Trois- Rivieres _ - _ jo Au Montreal et Villemarie - - - 30 Au fort Frontenac - - - - 60 A Niagara ----- 92 Au lac Erie ----- 14 Au Detroit ----- 100 Au lac Huron _ - - - ^o A Michilimakinak - - - - 100 A la riviere des Miamis - - - 120 Au portage de la riviere des Illinois - 25 Au fleuve Colbert ou Mississipi - 200 A la mer ------ 3-74 2205 Relation of Henri de Tonty. 119 Distances of the Places by which the Sieur de Tonty passed from La Rochelle to the Southern Sea (sic), by way of Canada and by the Mouth of the River Mississipi or Colbert. LEAGUES. From La Rochelle to Isle Percee - 1,000 From Isle Percee to Quebec - - 120 To Trois-Rivieres (Three Rivers) - 30 To Montreal and Villemarie - - 30 To Fort Frontenac _ - - 60 To Niagara ----- 92 To Lake Erie _ _ - _ 14 To the Detroit (The Strait) - - 100 To Lake Huron - _ . _ 30 To Michilimakinak - - - - 100 To the River of the Miamis (The St. Joseph) - - - - - -120 To the Portage of the Illinois River - 25 To the River Colbert or Mississipi - 200 To the Sea . - _ _ jy^ 2295* *Margry sums up "2205.'* — As Parkman remarks, Tonty 's estimates of distances for the lower Mississippi are much too low. — Translator. 120 Relation de Henri de Tonty. Distances des lieux les plus remarquables ou ledit sieur de Tonty a touche dans le fleuve Colbert. Lieues. De rembouchure de la riviere des Illinois a la riviere des Missourites - - - 6 Au village des Tamaroua - - - 6 A la riviere Ohio - - - - - 40 Au village des Savansa (Akansa) - 98 Au village des Tahensa - - - - 80 Au village des Nachy - - - 12 Au village des Coroas - - - - 10 Au village des Quinipissa - - - 80 Au village des Tanchibao . - - 2 A la mer 38 Relation of Henri de Tonty. 121 Distances of the most remarkable places touched by the said Sieur de Tonty upon the River Colbert. LEAGUES. From the Mouth of the Illinois River to the Missouri River - - - - 6 To the Tamaroua Village - - - 6 To the Ohio River - - - - 40 To the Savansa (Akansa) Village - 98 To the Tahensa Village - - - 80 To the Nachy (Natchez) Village - 12 To the Coroa Village - - - - 10 To the Quinipissa Village - - - 80 To the Tanchibao Village _ _ _ 2 To the Sea _____ jg 372 PRINTED FOR THE CAXTON CLUB, BY R. R. DONNELLEY AND SONS COMPANY AT THE LAKESIDE PRESS, CHICAGO, MDCCCXCVIII V ^y o^ %^^^^:^. o > ^^v -^^ -.yji^*:.- ^«^\ V > ♦ jA^r A.'' ^ iV^ * cyiic^ . ■< .*'% ■'■ o V .