The Manuscript of this Journal hapning to fall into my Hands, and having shewn it to some Persons well vers’d in these Affairs, they were of Opinion it deserv’d to be printed; especially at this Time, when travels are so much in Request, and in regard this is now seasonable, on Account of the Description it gives of the famous River Missisipi and of the Country of Louisiana, where it is intended to make great Settlements. Besides, this Relation is uncommon, curious and ingaging, both in Regard to the Honour and Advantage of the Nation, for as much as it contains the Attempts and the bold and glorious Undertakings of our French Adventurers, who not satisfied, like others, with discovering the Borders and Coasts of unknown Countries, proceed to penetrate into the Inland, through a thousand Dangers and Hazards of their Lives. Is it not very commendable in them, to make us fully acquainted with that great remaining Part of the World, which for so many Ages continued unknown to our Forefathers, till about two hundred Years ago Christopher Columbus discover’d it, and Americus Vespusius going over soon after, gave it his Name, causing it to be call’d America? One of those whom I desired to peruse this Manuscript, has a little polish’d it, pursuant to the Orders I receiv’d; and he having been a considerable Traveller, was a proper Person to judge of and put it into a Dress fit to appear in publick. The Letter he writ to me, being not only instructive, in Relation to the Journal, but of Use as a curious Supplement to it, I thought the inserting of it would be acceptable. It is as follows.
I Return you your Manuscript; the Reading of it has reviv’d the Satisfaction I once took in my Travels; it has oblig’d me to read over again those of several Persons, who have writ of Canada, and carry’d me in Imagination through those vast, barbarous and unknown Countries, with much more Ease and less Danger than was done by the Hero of this Relation. He certainly deserves that honourable Title, and having read his Adventures, I could not forbear saying with the Poet
For what an extraordinary Strength, what a Vigour of Body and Mind was requisite for him to project, to undertake and to go thro’ with so unusual, so bold and so difficult an Enterprize. A Discovery of above eight hundred Leagues of barbarous and unknown Countries, without any beaten Roads, without Towns, and without any of those Conveniencies, which render Travelling more easy in all other Parts. All the Land-Carriage is reduc’d to walking afoot; being often without any other Shoes but a Piece of a Bullock’s Hide wrapp’d about the Feet; carrying a Firelock, a Snapsack,[27] Tools and some Commodities to barter with the Natives. It is true that accidentally and but very rarely a Horse is found to help out a little.
If they must venture upon the Water, there are only some wretched Canoes, made either of the Barks of Trees or of Bullocks Hides, and those they must often carry or drag along the Land, when the Falls of the Rivers obstruct making use of them. All the Bed is lying on the bare Ground, exposed to the Inclemencies of the Air, to be devour’d by Alligators and bit by Rattle Snakes; without Bread, Wine, Salt and all other Comforts of Life, and this for some Years. The Diet altogether consists in a poor Pap or Hasty-Pudding made of the Meal of Indian Corn, Fish half broil’d or ill boil’d, and some Beef or wild Goats Flesh, dry’d in the Air and Smoke. Besides, what a Trouble is it to invent Signs to be understood by so many several Nations, each of which has it’s peculiar Language? All this an Adventurer must resolve with himself to go through, who designs to make Discoveries in Canada; and it would be hard to believe this, did not all those who write of it exactly agree in this Particular.
However that Country is good and pleasant, at least towards the South, which is what is here spoken of. The Temperature of the Climate is admirable, the Soil excellent for Tillage, and it is extraordinary fertil in all Sorts of Grain and Fruit; which appears by those the Land produces of it self in great Plenty. The Hills and Woods produce Timber for all Uses and Fruit Trees, as well of cold as hot Countries. There are Vines which want but little Improvement; there are Sugar-Canes, large Meadows, and navigable Rivers full of Fish. It is true they are infested with Alligators, but with a little Care they are to be avoided; as may the Rattle-Snakes, which are extraordinary venomous, but never bite unless they are hurt. There are thousands of wild Bullocks, larger than ours, their Flesh good, and instead of Hair, they have a Sort of curl’d Wool extraordinary fine. There are Abundance of Deer, wild Goats and all Sorts of wild Fowl, and more especially of Turkeys. As there are Poisons and Venoms, so there are immediate and wonderful Antidotes.
We must not look there for rich and stately Cities, or lofty Structures, or any of those Wonders of Architecture, or the Remains and ancient Monuments of the Vanity of great Men; but we may there admire Nature in its beautiful Simplicity, as it came from the Hands of its Creator; without having been alter’d or depraved by Ambition or Art.
But is so vast and so beautiful a Country only for Beasts, Birds and Fishes! O inconceivable Wonder! There is an infinite Number of People, divided into Nations, living in Cottages made of the Barks of Trees, or cover’d with Reeds or Hides, when they are not abroad at War, or Hunting, or Fishing, almost naked, without any other Bed but a Bullock’s Hide, or any Houshold-Stuff but a Pot or Kettle, an Axe and some Platters made of Bark. They take their Sustenance, as it comes in their Way, and like the Beasts; they have no Care, do not value Wealth, sing, dance, smoke, eat, sleep, hunt, fish; are independent, make War, and when an Opportunity offers, take Revenge of any Injury in the most cruel Manner they are able. Such is the Life of those Savages. Tho’ there be some in the Southern Parts, not quite so stupid and brutal as those in the North, yet they are both Savages, who think of Nothing but what is present, love Nothing but what is obvious to the Senses, incapable of comprehending any Thing that is Spiritual; sharp and ingenious in what is for their own Advantage, without any Sense of Honour or Humanity; horribly cruel, perfectly united among themselves to their Nation and their Allies; but revengeful and merciless towards their Enemies. To conclude, their Shape, tho’ hideous, shews they are Men; but their Genius and Manners render them like the worst of Beasts.
La Hontan’s forged Discourse with a Savage, wherein he renders himself ridiculous.A modern Author, who has liv’d in Canada, and in other Respects has writ well enough, has perhaps fancy’d, he might distinguish himself, and be thought more understanding than other Men in discovering the Genius of those People, by assigning more Ingenuity and Penetration to the Savages, than is generally allow’d them. He sometimes makes them to argue too strongly and too subtilely against the Mysteries of Christian Religion, and his Relation has given just Occasion to suspect, that he is himself the Libertine and Talking Savage, to whom he has given the artful Malignity of his Notions and Arguments.
As for the Genius of the Savages, I am of Opinion, we ought to believe the Missioners; for they are not less capable than other Men to discover the Truth, and they have at least as much Probity to make it known. It is likely, that they, who have for an hundred Years past, wholly apply’d themselves, according to the Duty of their Function, to study those poor Images of Men, should not be acquainted with them? Or would not their Conscience have check’d them, had they told a Lye in that Particular? Now all the Missioners agree, that allowing there are some Barbarians less wicked and brutal than the rest; yet there are none good, nor thoroughly capable of such Things as are above the Reach of our Senses; and that whatsoever they are, there is no relying on them;The Natives of Canada brutal. there is always cause to suspect them, and in short, before a Savage can be made a Christian, it is requisite to make him a Man; and we look upon those Savages as Men, who have neither King nor Law, and what is most deplorable, no God; for if we rightly examine their Sentiments and their Actions, it does not appear that they have any Sort of Religion, or well form’d Notion of a Deity. If some of them, upon certain Occasions, do sometimes own a First or Sovereign Being, or do pay some Veneration to the Sun. As to the first Article, they deliver themselves in such a confuse Manner, and with so many Contradictions and Extravagancies, that it plainly appears, they neither know nor believe anything of it; and as for the second, it is only a bare Custom, without any serious Reflection on their Part.
A miserable Nation, more void of the Light of Heaven, and even that of Nature, than so many other Nations in the East Indies, who, tho’ brutal and stupid as to the Knowledge of the Deity, yet are not without some Sort of Worship, and have their Hermits and Fakirs who endeavour by the Practice of horrid Penances, to gain the Favour of that Godhead, and thereby shew they have some real Notion of it. Nothing of that Sort is to be found among our American Savages, and in Conclusion, it may be said of them in General, that they are a People without a God.
Our French, who are born in Canada all of them well shap’d, and Men of Sense and Worth, cannot endure to have their Savages thus run down. They affirm they are like other Men, and only want Education and being improv’d; but besides that we may believe they say so to save the Honour of their Country, we advance nothing here but what is grounded on the Report of many able and worthy Persons, who have writ of it, after being well inform’d on the Spot. We are therefore apt to believe, that there is a Distinction to be made at present between two Sorts of Savages in Canada, viz. those who have been conversant among the Europeans for sixty or eighty Years past, and the others who are daily discover’d; and it is of the latter that we speak here more particularly, and to whom we assign all those odious and wretched Qualities of the Savages of North America; for it is well known, that the first Sort of them, as for Instance, the Hurons, the Algonquins, the Iroquois, the Illinois and perhaps some others are now pretty well civiliz’d, so that their Reason begins to clear up, and they may become capable of Instruction.
Amazing and incomprehensible, but at the same Time adorable Disposition of Divine Providence! We see here a vast Tract of the Earth, of an immense Extent, of a wonderful Soil for Tillage and Fertility in all Sorts of Fruit and Grain; of an admirable Temperature as to the Air, which appears by the very numerous Inhabitants being scarce subject to any Diseases, and in that the Sex, which among us is weak, is there Strong and Vigorous, Strong Women. bringing forth their Children with little or no Pain, and suckling them amidst Labour and Fatigues, without any of those Miseries they are liable to in our Countries. Yet that vast and beautiful Country, describ’d in this Journal, so much favour’d with Worldly Blessings, has been for so many Ages destitute of the Heavenly.
The infinite Numbers of People inhabiting it are Men, and have scarce any thing but the Shape; they are God’s Creatures, and do not so much as know, much less serve him. Those who have the Courage and Boldness to travel through the Countries of such Savages, and those who read the Relations of such Travellers, ought to take Care how they make any rash Reflections upon this Point, or pry too deeply into it; for they may chance to lose themselves in their Thoughts. The shortest and the safest Course is, in such Cases, to adore the inconceivable Profoundness of the Creator’s Wisdom; to give a Check to all our Enquiries and Curiosities, with the Apostle’s Exclamation, O the Depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his Judgments and his Ways past finding out! And never ceasing to return Thanks to his Goodness, for having so abundantly supply’d us with his Light and Grace, to conjure him to impart the same to those poor distress’d Americans, and that he who is Almighty, will of those Stones make Children of Abraham. This all Christians are oblig’d incessantly to pray for, because as Brutish and Stupid as those Savages are, they are still our Brethren, since like us descended from Adam and Noah.
How much are we then oblig’d to those bold Travellers, who undertake new Discoveries, who to the Hazard of their Lives, at their own Expence, and with such extraordinary Toils, go to find out for us, not only numerous Objects of our Curiosity and Admiration, which were before unknown to us, but who also discover to us a numerous Kindred, which is not ever the less such, for having been so long unknown to us. What if it be brutal and indocible, it will be the more Meritorious to Labour at Civilizing of and making it capable of receiving the Lights of Reason and of Faith. We can never sufficiently express our Gratitude to those who apply themselves to the making of new Discoveries; the more Difficulties that attend them, the more we are beholding to those who undertake them. Supposing that Avarice, Ambition, a restless Temper, or a desperate Fortune, are very often the Occasions of such Undertakings; yet God, who can draw Good out of Evil, makes all those Passions subservient to his Glory, and the Salvation of his Elect, and if long Travels do not commonly make Saints of the Travellers, it is their own Fault. However, they at least prepare the Way to the Sanctification of so many Barbarians, beating a Road for the Missioners, who go to instruct those People. Thus all the World is beholden to them; the Savages for the Knowledge of God that is procur’d them; and we for finding by their Means an infinite Number of People before unknown, who will join with us in Serving and Glorifying the Creator of the Universe.
Granting that the said Travellers are not sometimes exact, or agree among themselves in their Relations, their Descriptions and their Maps; this must be an unavoidable Fault in Discoverers; but even that is advantageous to the Publick, for as much as their Successors are excited to examine those Points more strictly, to correct, explain and ascertain those Mistakes.
In acknowledgment therefore of the Service done us by those Illustrious Adventurers and to make them some Sort of Amends for their Sufferings, let us transmit their Names to Posterity in our Writings; let us applaud their Actions when we read them, and let us commend their Relations. This here, most certainly deserves to be read and commended, for it is Curious, Extraordinary and Tragical. It is also, as has been said before, ingaging, at this Conjuncture, when there is a Design of making Settlements in those Countries, it mentions, the Consequence whereof may be most Honourable and Advantageous to the Nation. The Travel thro’ that Country is one of the greatest and most full of Difficulties that has been perform’d; the Relation of it being made by an Eye Witness, and in a natural, plain and particular Manner, deserves to be credited; but being only a Journal, it is not capable of admitting of Ornaments or Embellishments. The Reader will be pleas’d to excuse the Repetition of the same Words in it, on Account of the Impossibility of doing otherwise, and will think it enough that the Barrenness of the Narration is made Amends for by the Curiosity of the Subjects. I am of Opinion the small Notes I have added will not be displeasing, because they explain some Particulars, which are not very intelligible to such as are not us’d to read many Travels.
After having said the Good and the Bad of this North America, mentioning the Beauty and Excellency of its Climate and the Brutality of its People, and recited the infinite Hardships, those who design to travel must resolve to undergo, I am of Opinion it will be proper to say something of the late Monsieur de la Sale, who is the principal Person, and as it were, the Hero of this Relation, tho’ having been murdered by his own Men, he fell the unfortunate Victim of the Discovery here treated of. It is also convenient to make known what went before that, which is contain’d in this Journal, and the present happy Consequence of that fatal Enterprize. Here follows what I have of my own particular Knowledge, and by what has been written.
Robert Cavelier, commonly call’dAccount of Monsieur de la Sale. Monsieur de la Sale, a Native of Roan, of a good Family, having been educated in Piety and Learning, went over very young into Canada and took Delight in Trade, but more in Projects of new Discoveries up the Inland of those vast Countries. Intending to settle there and make that his Country, he purchased an Habitation in the Island of Mont-real, where has been built the second Town of Canada, sixty Leagues above Quebeck, which is the Capital, being also a Bishoprick, and the Residence of the Governor, the Intendant and the supreme Council. There are but only those two Towns in the Country, besides some Villages. They are both seated on the great River of St. Laurence, which coming from the S. W. is form’d or increased by the Waters of five prodigious fresh Water Lakes, running out one into another, and through them it passes to run down to discharge itself in the Ocean, at a very spacious Mouth, making Way for the Ships that design to penetrate into Canada.
Many Discoveries had been made to the Northward, before Monsieur de la Sale’s Time; because there being Plenty of very good Furs, the Traders of Quebeck and Mont-real, by Means of the Adventurers call’d Wood-Men,[28] from their traveling thro’ the Woods, had penetrated very far up the Country that Way; but none had advanc’d far towards the South or South-West, beyond Fort Frontenac, which is on the Lake Ontario, the nearest this Way of the five great Lakes. However, upon the Report of the Natives, it was supposed, that great and advantageous Discoveries might be made. There had been much Talk of the rich Mines of St. Barbara, in the Kingdom of Mexico, and some were tempted to give them a Visit.
Something was known of the famous River Missisipi, which it was supposed might fall into the South Sea, and open a Way to it. These Conjectures working upon Monsieur de la Sale, who being zealous for the Honour of his Nation,His Character. designed to signalize the French Name, on Account of extraordinary Discoveries, beyond all that went before him; he form’d the Design and resolv’d to put it in Execution. He was certainly very fit for it, and succeeded at the Expense of his Life; for no Man has done so much in that Way as he did for the Space of twenty Years he spent in that Employment. He was a Man of a regular Behaviour, of a large Soul, well enough learned, and understanding in the Mathematicks, designing, bold, undaunted, dexterous, insinuating, not to be discourag’d at any Thing, ready at extricating himself out of any Difficulties, no Way apprehensive of the greatest Fatigues, wonderful steady in Adversity, and what was of extraordinary Use, well enough versed in several Savage Languages. M. de la Sale having such extraordinary Talents, whereof he had given sufficient Proofs upon several Occasions, gain’d the Esteem of the Governors of Canada; and Messieurs de Courcelles, Talon and de Frontenac successively express’d the same, by often employing him in Affairs for the Honour and Advantage of the Colony.
The GovernmentIs made Proprietor of Fort Frontenac. of the Fort of Frontenac, which is the Place farthest advanc’d among the Savages, was committed to him, and he going over into France, in the Year 1675, the King made him Proprietor of it, upon Condition he should put it into a better Condition than it was, which he did, as soon as return’d to Canada. Then came back again to Paris, full of the new Informations he had gain’d touching the River Missisipi, the Country runs through, the Mines, especially those of Lead and Copper, the navigable Rivers, and the Trade that might be carried on of Furs and the fine Wooll of those wild Bullocks, whereof there are infinite Numbers in the Forests. Being also furnish’d with better Accounts of that Country, than the Fables that were then publish’d, by the Name of a Voyage of the Sieur Joliet, he was well receiv’d at Court, and dispatch’d with the necessary Orders for proceeding on his Discoveries.
The great ReputationHis Reputation makes Enemies. Monsieur de la Sale had gain’d, and his mighty Projects, occasion’d a Jealousy in some and Envy in others. His own Countrymen thwarted his Designs; but he surmounted all those Obstacles and return’d into Canada, about the Year 1678, with the Chevalier Tonty, an Italian Gentleman, a Person of Worth and that had serv’d, whom he gain’d to his Enterprize. He also pick’d up in the Country forty or fifty Persons fit for that Expedition, and among them were three Recolets, whom he carry’d over to try what might be done as to Christianity among the Savages; he was well acquainted with, and had a just Esteem for the Virtue, the Capacity and the Zeal of those good, religious Men, who alone first undertook the Mission into that new World, and who being seconded by others, have carry’d it on there, with so much Edification.
Monsieur de la Sale having spent two Years in going and coming, still thwarted by those who envy’d him in the Country, to such a Degree, that had it not been for an Antidote, he must have dy’d of Poison given him by some Villains, could not order his Affairs and begin his Expedition till the Year 1682. He set out at length, and to the End his Discovery of the Missisipi might be compleat, he caus’d Father Hennepin, a Recolet, with some others, to travel to the Northward, that they might find out theSource of the Missisipi. Source of that River, and they found it, about the 50th Degree of North Latitude. For his own Part, he proceeded to the Westward and found the River of the Islinois,Islinois River. which he call’d the River of Seignelay, and following its Course, came into the Missisipi, where the other discharges it self. He then concluded he had no more to do, but to run down to its Mouth, whether in the South Sea or the Gulph of Mexico. All along its Banks he found many Savage Nations, with whom, by Means of his Presents, he enter’d into Alliances, and gave the Country the Name of Louisiana, to honour the Name and Memory of our August Monarch, in whose Reign those Discoveries were made. At length, the Course of the Missisipi convey’d Monsieur de la Sale to its Mouths, as falling into the Gulph of Mexico in two Streams, and he arriv’d there in the Month of April 1682 or 1683, for the Dates of those who have writ concerning it, make either of those Years. He stay’d there some Days, to take Observations and place some Marks which he might know again, when he return’d. Being satisfied with having found some Part of what he sought, he return’d the same Way he had gone, and came again to Quebeck in Canada, in order to go over to France, and thence to make a Tryal to find that Mouth of the Missisipi by the Gulph of Mexico, which he had already discover’d by the Way of Canada, and to secure it; for he thought it much more advantageous to know it by the Way of the Sea, than to go thither by Land, because the Voyage through Canada is much longer and more troublesome, and can be perform’d but once a Year, whereas by the Way of the Bay of Mexico it is not longer, but is much more commodious, and may be perform’d in all Seasons, either going or coming. He was also sensible that the said Mouth being once discover’d by Sea, afforded an easier and safer Communication with Canada, running up that noble River, the Navigation whereof is not interrupted by Falls, nor Torrents for above sixty Leagues towards its Source.
These Considerations mov’d Monsieur de la Sale to take another Voyage into France, where his Expedition having been commended and his new Project approv’d of, the King order’d him Vessels to return and carry on his Enterprize, the Particulars whereof are to be found in this Journal. That Affair, so well begun, seem’d to promise very advantageous Consequences; but it miscarried through the Perfidiousness and Villany of that noble Adventurer’s own People.
ThisThe other Part here mention’d is at the End of the Journal. is what I have judg’d might serve as an Introduction to your Journal, if it shall not be thought to dishonour it, you may place it before the said Journal, and that which follows at the End of it, which will shew how far that great Enterprize of the Discovery of the Missisipi has been carried.