THE

,S

French Bookseller

TOT HE

READER.

THE Mnnufcri^t of this Journal haf mug to fa^ into my Hands^ and having jbervn it to fome Perjons well vers'^d in thej'e Afairs^ they were of Opinion it deferv'^d to be printed ; efpecially at this Time^ when Travels are fo much in Requeft^ and in Regard this is now feafonahUy on Account of the Defeription ^ it gives of the famous River Miflifipi and of ■y the Country (?/Louifiana, where it is intended ' to make great Settlements, Befides^ this Re^ jlation is uncommon^ curious and ingagingy f^hoth in Regard to the Honour and Advan^

A X tagt

tdge ef the Nation^ for as much as it contains the Attempts and the bold and glorious Undertakings of our French Adventurers^ who not fatisfed^ like otherSy with difcovering the Borders and Coafls of unknown Countries, proceed to penetrate into the Inland, through a thoufand Dangers and Hazards of their Lives, Is tt not very commendable in them, to make us fully acquainted with that great remaining Fart of the World, which for fo many Ages continued unknown to our Forefathers, till about two hundred Tears ago Chrirtopher Columbus difcover^d it, and AmtncMS Vefpu-fius going over foon ^fer, gave it his Name^ caufwg it to hecaUd Ameriea ? Oneofthofe whom I defired to perufe this Manufcript, has a, little polifb^d it, purfuant to-thq Orders I receiv'*d-y and he having been a eonfiderable Traveller, was a proper Perfon to judge of and put it into a Drefsft to appear in publicL The Letter he writ to me,being not only infiruBive^ in Relation to the journal, but ofUfe as a. curious Supplement to it, I thought the in-ftrting of it would be acceptable. It is as follows.

SIR,

S I Rj

I Return you your Manufcrlpt ; the Reading of it has reviv'd the Satisfa-6lion I once took in my Travels; it has oblig'd me to read over again thofe of feveral Perfons, who have writ of Cam-da, and carry'd me in Imagination through thpfe vaft, barbarous and unknown Countries, with much more Eafe and lefs Danger than was done by the Hero of this Relation. He certainly deferves that honourable Title, and having read his Adventures, I could not forbear faying witli the Poet

IB robur & ^s triviex Circa Pe^u^ erat.

For what an extraordinary Strength, what a Vigour of Body and Mind was re-quifite for him to projed, to undertake and to go thro' with fo unufual, fo bold and fo difficult an Enterprize. A Difco-very of above eight hundred Leagues of barbarous and unknown Countries, without any beaten Roads, without Towns, and without any of thofe Conveniencies, which render Travelling more eafy in all B ^ oth&r

civ]

other Parts. All the Land-Garriage is re-duc'd to walking afoot; being often without any other Shoes but a Piece of a Bullock's Hide wrapp'd about the Fqqz ;. carrying a Firelock^ a Snapfack, Tools and ibme Commodities to barter with the Natives. It is true that accidentally and but very rarely a Horfe is found to help out a little.

If they muft venture upon the Water, there are only fome wretched Canoes, made either of the Barks of Trees or of Bullocks Hides, and thofe they muft often carry or drag along the Land, when the Falls of the Rivers obftruQ making ufe of them. All the Bed is lying on the bare Ground, expofed 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 fome Years. The Diet altogether confifts in a poor Pap or Hafty-Pud-ding made of the Meal of Indian Corn, Fi'n half broil'd or ill boil'd, and fome Beef or wild Goats Flefh, dry'd in the Air and Smoke. Be/jdes, what a Trouble is it to invent Signs to be underftood by fo many feveral Nations, each of which has it's peculiar Language ? All this an Adventurer muft reiblve with himfelf to go through, who defigns to make Difcoveries in CamdA \ and it would be hard to believe

this

this, did not all thofe Who write of it ex-a£b}y agree in this Particular.

However that Country is good and pleafant, at leaft towards the South, which is what is here fpoken of. The Tern pa ra-ture 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 thofe the Land produces of it felf in great Plenty. The Hills and "Woods produce Timber for all Ufes 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 Filh. It is true they are in-fefted with Alligators, but with a little Care they are to be avoided ; as may the Rattle-Snakes, which are extraordinary venomous, but never bite unlefs they aie hurt. There are thoufands of wild Bullocks, larger than ours, their Flefh good, and inftead 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 efpecialJy of Turkeys. As there are Poifons and Venoms, fo there are immediate and wonderful Antidotes.

We muft not look there for rich and

ftately Cities, or lofty Strudures, or any of

thofe Wonders of Archite6ture, or the Re-

A 4 m^ns

mains 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 fo vaft and fo beautiful a Country only for Beafts, Birds and Fifties / O inconceiveable Wonder I 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 Fifhing, almofl: naked, without any other Bed but a Bullock's Hide, or any Houftiold-Stuff but a Pot or Kettle, an Axe and fome Platters made of Bark. They take their Surtenance, as it comes in their Way, and like the Beafts; they have no Care, do not value Wealth, fing, dance, fmoke, eat, fleep, hunt, fifti; are indepen-dant, make War, and when an Opportunity offers, take Revenge of any Injury in the moft cruel Manner they are able. Such is the Life of thofe Savages. Tho' there foe fome in the Southern Parts, not quite fo fiupid and brutal as thofe in the North, yet they are both Savages, who think of Nothing but what is prefent, love Nothing but what is obvious to the Senfes, incapable of comprehending any Thing .'that is Spiritual 3 fharp and ingenious ia

what

what is for their own Advantage, without any Senfe of Honour or Humanity ; horribly cruel, perfectly united among them-felves to their Nation and their Allies; but revengeful and mercilefs towards their E-nemies. To conclude, their Shape, tho' hideous, fliews they are Men ; but their Genius and Manners render them like the worft of Beads.

A modern Author, who has liv'd in Canada^ and in other Refpefts has writ well enough, has perhas fancy'd, he might diftinguifli himfelf^ and be thought more -t^J-^""-underftanding than other Men in difcove- ^e3z?f/-" ring the Genius of thofe People, by afTign- 'otirfe ing more Ingenuity and Penetration to^J'J'^"^** the Savages, than is generally allow'd roherdnhe them. Hs fometimes makes them to argue V'^^^^l too ftrongly and too fubtilely againfl the ridiculous Myfteries of Chriftian Religion , and his Relation has given juft Occafion to fufpcct, that he is himfelf 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 Mif-fioners ; ior they are not lefs capable than other Men to difcover the Truth, and they have atleaif as much Probity to make ic known. It is likely, that they, who have for an hundred Years pall, wholly apply'd

thcnv

[ vHi ]

themfelves, according to the Duty of their FuniEtion, to ftudy thofe poor Images of Meiij fliould not be acquainted with them ? Or would not their Confcience have check'd them, had they told a Lye in that Particular ? Now all the Miffion-ers agree, that allowing there are fome Barbarians lefs wickecj and brutal than the reft; yet there are none good, nor thoroughly capable of fuch Things as are above the Reach of our Senfes; and that whatfoever they are, there is no relying Itves^of ^" them ; there is always caufe to fufpeft Canada them, and in fhort, before a Savage can be hmuh made a Chriftian, it is requifite to make him a Man; and we look upon thofe Savages as Men, who have neither King nor Law, and what is moft deplorable, no God ', for if we rightly examine their Sentiments and their Aftions, it does not appear that they have any Sort of Religion, or well form'd Notion of a Deity. If fome of them, upon certain Occafions, do fometimes own a Firft or Sovereign Being, or do pay fome Veneration to the Sun. As to the firft Article, they deliver themfelves in fuch a contufe Manner, and with fo many Contradi£tions and Extravagancies, that it plainly appears, they neither know nor believe anythiag of it ; and as for the fecond, it is only a bare Cuftom, without any ferious Reflexion on their Parte

A

A miferable Nation, more void of the Light of Heaven, and even that of Nature, than fo many other Nations in the Eafi Indies^ who, tho' brutal and ftupid as to the Knowledge of the Deity, yet are not without fome Sortof Worfliip, and have their Hermits and Fakirs who endeavour by the Pradice of horrid Penances, to gain 'the Favour of that Godhead, and thereby fhew they have fome real Notion of it. Nothing of thit Sort is to be found among our American Savages, and in Conclufion, it may be faid of them in General, that they are a People without a God.

Our Frencht who are born in Canada, all of them well fhap'd, and Men ofSenfe and Worth, cannot endure to have their Savages thus run down. They affirm they are Uke other Men, and only want Education and being improv'd; but befides that we may believe they fay fo to fave the Honour of their Country, we advance nothing here but what is grounded on the Report of many able and worthy Perfons, who have writ of it, after being well in-form'd on the Spot. We are therefore apt to beUeve, that there is a Diftinttion to be made at prefent between two Sorts of Savages in Canada^ viz,, thofe who have been converfant among the Europeans for fixty or eighty Years paft» and the others who are daily difcover'd j and it is of the latter

that

that we fpeak here more particularly, and to whom we afTign all thofe odious and wretched Qualities of the Savages oiNorth America, ; for it is well known, that the firfl: Sort of them, as for Inftance, the Hu-^ons^ the Algonqutnsy the Iroquois^ the Ijli' mts and perhaps fome others are now pretty we'll civiliz'd, fo that their Reafon begins to clear up, and they may become ca^ pable of Inftrudlion.

Amazing and incomprehenfible, but at the fame Time adorable Difpofition of Divine Providence! We fee here a vaft Tra6l of the Earth, of an immenfe 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 fcarce fubje£l to any Difeafes, and in that theSeXjWhich among us isweak,is there jrrowg jFc- s^j.Qng an(^ Vigorous, bringing forth their Children with little or no Pain, and fuck-hng them amidft Labour and Fatigues, without any of thofe Miferies they are liable to in our Countries. Yet that vaft and beautiful Country, defcrib'd in this journal, fo much favour'd with Worldly Sleflings, has been for fo many Ages de-ifitute of the Heavenly.

The infinite Numbers of People inhabiting it are Men, and have fcarce any thing but the Shape; they are God's Creatures,

an4

and do not fo much as know, much lefs ferve him. Thofe who have the Courage and Boldnefs to travell through the Countries of fuch Savages, and thofe who read the Relations of fuch Travellers, oughc to take Care how they make any rafh Re-flei^ions upon this Point, or pry too deeply into it; for they may chance to lofe themfelves in their Thoughts. The fhor-teft and the fafeft Courfe is, in fuch Cafes, to adore the inconceivable Profoundnefs of the Creator's Wifdom ; to give a Check to all our Enquiries and Curiofities, with the Apoftie's Exclamation, 0 the Depth of the Riches both of the Wifdom and t\jio\vledge of God ! Horv unfearchMe are his judgments and his Ways pafi fnding out ! And never ceafing to return Thanks to his Goodnefs, for having fo abundantly fupply'd us with his Light and Grace, to conjure him to impart the fame to thofe poor diftrefs'd J-mericanSySindthsLt he who isAlmighty,will of thofeStones makeChildren of Jhr^ham.Th'is all Chriftians are oblig'd inceffantly to pray for, becaufe as Brutifh and Stupid as chofeSavages are.they are ftill ourBrethren, fmce like us defcended from Jdam and Noah,

How much are we then oblig'd to thofe bold Travellers, who undertake new Dif-coveries, who to the Hazard of their Lives, at their own Expence, and with fuch extraordinary

traordlnary Toils, go to find out for m, not only numerous Objeds of our Curiofity and Admiration, which were before unknown to us, but who alfo difcover to us a numerous Kindred, which is not ever the lefs fuch> for having been fo long un* known to us. What if it bs brutal and indocible, it will be the more Meritorious to Labour at Civilizing of and making it capable of receiving the Lights of Reafon and of Faith. We can never fufficiently ex* prefs our Gratitude to thofe who apply themfelves to the making of new Difco-veries; the more Difficulties that attend them, the more we are beholding to thofe who undertake them. Suppofing that Avarice, Ambition, a reftlefs Temper, or a defperate Fortune, are very often the Occafionsof fuch Undertakings; yet God, who can draw Good out of Evil, makes all thofe Paflions fubfervient to his Glory, and the Salvation of his Ele6b, and if long Travels do not comrfionly make Saints of the Travellers, it is their own Fault* However, they at leaft prepare the Way to the Santlification of lb many Barbari* ans, beating a Road for the Miflioners, who go to inftrud thofe 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

before unknown, who will join with us ki Serving and Glorifying the Creator oi the Univerfe.

Granting that the faid Travellers are not fometimes exaft, or agree among themfelves in their Relations, their De-fcriptions and their Maps; this muft be an unavoidable Fault in Difcoverers; but even that is advantageous to the Publick, for as much as their Succeffors are excited to examine thofe Points more ftridly, to corred, explain and afcertain thofe Mi-ftakes.

In acknowledgment therefore of the Service done us by thofe Illuftrious Adventurers and to make them fome Sort of Amends for their Sufferings, let us tranf-mit their Names to Poflerity in our Writings; let us applaud their Adlions when we read them, and let us commend their Relations. This here, moft certainly de-ferves to be read and commended, for it is Curious, Extraordinaiy and Tragical. It is alfo, as has been faid before, ingaging, at this Conjundure, when there is a Defign of making Settlements in thofe Countries; it mentions, the Confequence whereof maybe moft Honourable and Advantageous to the Nation. I'he Travel thro' that Country is one of tlie greateft and moft full of Difficulties that has been perform'd; the Relatioa of it beiag made by an Eye

Witnefs

"Witnefs, and in a natural, plain and particular Manner, deferves to be credited ; but being only a Journal, it is not capable of admitting of Ornaments or Embellifh-ments. The Reader will be pleas'd to excufe the Repetition of the fame Words in it, on Account of the ImpofTibility of doing otherwile, and will think it enough that the Barrennefs of the Narration is made Amends for by the Curiofity of the Sub-ije£ls. I am of Opinion the fmall Notes I have added will not be difpleafing, becaufe they explain fome Particulars, which are not very intelligible to fuch as are not us'd to read many Travels.

After having faid 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 Hardfliips,thofe who defign to travel muft refolve to undergo, I am of O-pinion it will be proper to fay fomething of the late Monfieur deU Sale, who is the principal Ferfon, and as it were, the Hero of this Relation, tho' having been murder* ed by his own Men, he fell the unfortunate Vidim of the Difcovery here treated of. It is alfo convenient to make known what went before that, which is contain'd in this Journal, and the prefent happy Confequence of that fatal Enterprize.

HerQ

Here follows what I have of my owrt particular Knowledge, and by what has been written. ,

Robert Cave/ier, commonly call'd jccoumof Monfieur ^? /^ Sale, a Native o^Roa^y Mavfieur of a good Family, having been educated ^^^^^aie in Piety and Learning, went over very young into CanadA and took Delight in Trade, but more in Projedls of new Dif-coveries up the Inland of thofe vaft Countries. Intending to fettle there and make that his Country, he purchafed an Habitation in the Illand oiMont-realy where has been built the fecond Town oiCana^ da^ fixty Leagues above Queheck^ which is the Capital, being alfo a Billioprick, and the Refidence of the Governor, the Intendant and the fupreme Council. There are but only thofe two Towns in the Country, befides fome Villages.They are both feated on the great River of St. X^//rf;?ff, which coming from the S. W". is form'd or increafed by the Waters of five prodigious frefli Water Lakes, running out one into another, and through them it paffes to run down to difcharge itfelf in the Ocean, at a very fpacious Mouth, making Way for the Ships that defign to penetrate into Capiada,

Many Difcoveries had been made to the Northward, before Moflfieur de U

Sale's Time; becaufe there being Plenty of very good Furs, the Traders o^Que-heck and Mom-realy by Means of the Adventurers call'd Wood-Men^ from their traveling thro' the "Woods, had penetrated very far up the Country that Way ; but none had advanced far towards the South or South-Weft, beyond Fort Frontemcy which is on the Lake Ontario^ the neareft this Way of the five great Lakes. However, upon the Report of the Natives^ it was fuppofed, that great and advantageous Difcoveries might be made. There had been much Talk of the rich Mines of St. Edrbara^ in the Kingdom of Mexico^ and fqm?, ^ ere tempted to give them a

vifit,.,; ;;

Something was known of the famous River Miffifipiy which it was fuppofed might fall into the South Sea, and open a Way to it. Thefe Conjedures working upon Monfieur de U Sale, who being zealous for the Honour of his Nation, de^ £/is chx- fign'^ to fignalize the French Name, on fider. Account 0? extraordinary Dilcoveries, beyond all that went before him; he form'd the Defign and refolvM to put it in Execution. He was certainly very fit for it, and fucceeded at the Expenceof his Life ; for no Man has done fo much in that Way as he did for the Space of

twenty

twenty Years he fpent in that Employment. He was a Man of a regular Behaviour, of a large Soul, well enough learned, and underlfanding in the Mathe-maticks, defigning, bold, utidaunted, dexterous, infinuating, not to be difcou-rag'd at any Thing, rsady at extricating himfelf out of any Difficulties, no Way apprehen/ive of the greateft FatigueSj wonderful fteady in Adverfity, and what was of extraordinary CTfe, well enough verfed in feveral Savage Languages. M. de la Sale having fuch extraordinary Talents, whereof he had given fufficient Proofs upon feveral Occafions, gain'd the Efteem of the Governors o^ Canada ; and MeiGlieurs de Courcelles^ Talon and de Fron-tenac fuccefTively exprefs'd the fame, by often employing him in Affairs for the Honour and Advantage of the Colony,

The Government of the Fort oiFronte- /^ ^nais ^4f, which is the Place fartheft advanc'd Proprietor among the Savages, was committed to ^^roa^e. him, and he going over into France^ in qac. the Year 1675, the King made him Proprietor of it, upon Condition he fliould put it into a better Condition than it wasr| which he did, as foon as return'd to Ca-ztAda, Then came back again to Parisy full of the new Informations he had gain'd touching the River Miffififiy the Country as it

runs through, the Mines, efpeclally thofe . of Lead and Copper, the navigable Rivers, and the Trade that might be carried on of Furs and the fine Wooll of thofe wild Bullocks, whereof there are infinite Numbers in the Forefts. Being alfo furnifh'd with better Accounts of that Country, than the Fables that were then publifli'd, by the Name of a Voyage of the Sieur Joliet, he was well re-ceiv'd at Court, and difpatch'd with the neceffary Orders for proceeding on his Difcoveries. *

The great Reputation Monfieur de U Sale had gain'd, and his mighty Projeds, occafion'd a Jealoufy in fome and Envy in others. His own Countrymen thwarted his Defigns; but he furmounted all thofe Obftacles and return'd into Ca/jada, about the Year 1678, with the Chevalier Tofftj, an Italian Gentleman, a Perfon of Worth and that had ferv'd, whom he gain'd to his Enterprize. He alfo pick'd up in the Country forty or fifty Perfons fit for that Expedition, and among them weic three Recolets, whom he carry'd tpover to try what might be done as to Chriftianity among the Savages; he was well acquainted with, and had a juffc Efteem for the Virtue, the Capacity and the Zeal of thofe good, religious Men,

who

who alone firft undertook the MifTion into that new World, and who being feconded by others, have carry'd it on there,with fo much Edification.

Monfieur de U Sale having fpent two Years in going and coming, Hill thwarted by thofe who envy'd him in the Country, to fuch a Degree, that had it not been for an Antidote, he muft have dyM of Poifon given him by fome Villains, could not order his Affairs and begin his Expedition till the Year 1682. He fee out at length, and to the End his Difco-very of the Mijfifip might be compleat, he caus'd Father Hennefm^ H. Recolet, with fome others, to travel to the North- ^1^'{\^l ward, that they might find out the Source of that River, and they found it, about the 50th Degree of North Latitude. For his own Part, he proceeded to the Weftward and found the River of the IJlmoisy which he cali'd the River of iflinois SeigneUyy and following its Courfe, '^'^'''^'"* came into the Miffippi^ where the other difcharges it felf. He then concluded he had no more to do, but to run down to its Mouth, whether in the South Sea or the Gulph oiMexico. AU along its Banks he found maay Savage Nations, with whom, by Means of his Prefents, he enter'd into Alliances, and gave the a 3 Country

xhi Miffi-lipi.

Country the Name of Louifia^a^'to honour the Name and Memory of our Au-guft Monarch, in whofe Reign thofe Difcoveries were made. At length, the Courfe of the Miffifipi convey''d Monfieur de la Sale to its Mouths, as falhng into the Gulph oi Mexico in two Streams, and he arrived there in the Month of Jpnl 1682 or 168^, for the Dates of thofe = who have writ concerning it, make ei^ ther of thofe Years. He flay'd there fome Days, to take Obfervations and place fome Marks which he might know again, when he returnM. Being fatif-fied with ^having found fome Fart of what he fought, he return'd the fame Way he had gone, and came again to (Rebeck in Canada^ in order to go over 10 France^ and thence to make a Tryal to find that Mouth of the Mtfpfip by the Gulf of Mexico, which he had already difcover'd by the Way of Caff ada^ and to fecure it; for he thought it much more advantageous to know it by the Way of the Sea, than to go thither by Land, becaufe the Voyage through Canada is much longer and more troublefome, and can be performed but once a Year, whereas by the Way of the Bay 0^ Mexico it is not longer, but is much more commodious, and may be perfqrm'd

in all Seafons, either going or coming. He was alfo fenfible that the faid Mouth being once difcover'd by Sea, afforded an eafier and fafer Communication with Canada^ running up that noble River, the Navigation whereof is not interrupted by Falls, nor Torrents for aboVe fi)ity Leagues towards its Source.

Thefe Confiderations movM Monfieur de U Sale to take another Voyage into France^ where his Expedition having been commended and his new Projed approv'd of, the King order'd him Vef-fels\ to return and carry on his Enter-prizfe,^ 'the Farticutars whereof are tQ^ be found in this Journal. That Affair, fo well begun, feem'd to promife very advantageous Gbniequences ;'but \t mil-carried through the Perfidioufnefs and Villany of that noble Adventurer's own People. M^VniOT .^

This is what I have judgM nffgtit ferve as an Introduftion to your Jour- 7^* other. nal, if it fhall not be thought to diHTO- ^f;,*;;^ nour it, you may place it before the faid is at the Journal, and that which follows at the f"'^ ^ff^ End of it, which will fhew how far that ^"*''"^' great Enterprize of the Difeovery of the Mifflfip has been carried.

a \ IHE

THE

1^, *j ■'» •»

PREFACE.

Written by the - .^.^j^-;-. Who Methddiz^S^'tKi^ JournaL

' I". ':' I ' •■. I ? r* •";' • ~ ■; f ■» K> . t ; i

Ci '1'il.iv.' . •JlXi ti-3Mv/Ju.i »Jwi'A —-'

, 1 . ^^ t t, t| • »r

NOtwithlianding the iate Monfieur de la SaleV Voyage hdd a moft unfortu-nate End, as to his own Per/on, jet that rviil not hinder Pojleritj, from ever alloiving him the Title of a m&ft, renowned Traveller,

The Hijiory of his Enterpriz^e will be acceptable to future 4ges^ for laying before them^ the extraordinary Genius^ the invin-lible Courage^ and the undaunted Refoluti' mof fmh a Man^ who could contrive and

execute

PREFACE.

. execute the Means for dtfcoverwg the re-maining Part of the World. ' Md in regard that the Pdrticuiars of the Difcovery of thofe Urge and immenje Provinces^ will always be the Object of curious and under ft anding Perfons, it is not to be wondered, that after what has been writ by Father Hennepin, a Recolet, the 'Chevalier Tonty and fome others^ we here now fubliffj an Hifiorical journal of the Uft FoyageMonfeur de laSale undertook into the Gulf of Mexico, to the Country of Louifiana, to fnifjj what he had proje^ed at his former Voyage^ had not the Trea-chery of his own Men cut him off.

This journal of Monfieur Joutel, where^ of Monfieur Tonty makes mention in the Bosk that has been printed of the laft Difcoveries in America, Folio ^ig, has this peculiar^ that it exactly contains what hapned to Monfieur de la Sale, Day by Day^ in that fatal Voyage^ fince his Departure ffom Rochelle to his Deaths and till the Return of his Brother Monfieur Caveliei' the Briefly Monfieur Cavelier his Nephew^ the Reverend Father Anaftafius, the Recolet ^ and the faid Sieur Joutel, who in Order to return to Fra'nce, took that long Journej by Land, from the Gulf of Mexico to Canada, leing a Tratf of 'above

800 Leagues,

M.

any

PREFACE.

Many Adventures of all SortSy moli of Hfhich are Tragical^ mil pleafe the curious Reader ; and above all he vpill admire the Frote£lion of Divine Providence^ in Con-dueling and Freferving that fmaR Company throughout thofe vajl Regions^ and a^ mong fo many barbarous Nations.

We do not here fretend to Criticife upo^ the Work of Father Hennepin, or that of Monfieur Tonty -^ hut even their own Fa^ 'uourers cannot take it ill, that this Author does not fometimes fay as they do ; that fje plainly delivers what he faw^ and that he ejcpofes to publick F'iew all the 'jtfuths he was an Eye Witnefs to^ without magnifying or inventing.

It is neverthelefs true^ that they may be aU excus'*d as to fome Farticulars ; Father Henfiepin and Monfieur Tonty may have feen fome Things, that did not come to the Kjiowledge of Monfeur Joutel; but there is a Facl of great Confequence in the Hiflory of Monfieur dc la Sale, which mufi not be pafs'^d over in Silence,

It isy that Monfieur Tonty, in his Book affirms, that Monfieur de la Sale at length found the Mouth of. the Miflifipi, and Monfieur Joutel ajferts the contrary, and faySy that is fo far from being true^ that during his lafi Frogrefs towards the Cenis, when the faid Sieur Joutel was with him, and

had

PREFACE.

had never been parted, Mofjfeur de Ja Sale*^ principal Care was to enquire of all the Na~ tionsthey pafs^d through, where the MlfiiCi' pi rvaSy and could never hear any thing of it ; that this is evidently made out, becaufe if Monfrur de la Sale had found the Mouth of that River, he would infallihly have taken a?iother Way, and other Meafures, and all the Afpearances are on this Stde, as may he feen tn this Relation,

However, this tnuft be faid in Behalf of Monfieur Tonty, that he deliver'^d it upon the Report of Monfieur Cavelier the Priejly and Brother to Monfieur de la Sale ; which Monfieur Cavelier might have Reafons to give out they had dtJcover''d the Miffifipi, upon the fame Views as obliged him to conceal his Brother"*s Death.

Now in regard we fjall fee Monfieur de la Sale, forfome time ranging along the Coafts of North America, to find out the Mouth of that River, it will be proper to inform thofe who have not feen his fir ft Voyage, and Jbew them how it hapned that his Search prov'*d in vain^ and he was oblig'd to land in another Place.

After Monfieur de la Sale had difcover^d that vafi Continent, which is a Fart of North America, from Canada, by the Way of Montreal, going up the River 0} St. Laurence, then through the Country of the

Iroquois,

P R E F A C Ey

Iroquois, the Illinois ay;d of hers, aH which' he cali'^d, Louifiana, his Dejign tvas to Hnd a jhorter and a fajer Way, than that he had. Traveled by Land.

For this Reafon it was, that having ufon his firft Difcovery found the great River^ calPd by the Barbarians Miflifipi or Me-chafipi, according to Father Hennepin, and to which he gave the Name of QoXhtn, guefftng by its Courfe that it fell into the Bay ^/Mexico, he refolv'^d mth himfelftofnci out the Mouth of it.

In jbort, he ran down that River, with more Danger and Toil than can be imagirPd^ found it -parted into two Streams and follow''d that which was rnofi to the Northward, to the. Place where it is loft in the Sea, He took the Latitude that Mouth lay in, and found it was between 28 and 29 Degrees North, as Monfieur Joutel affirms he heard him fay. He left Marks there* returned the Jama Way to Canada and thence into France, well ^leafed rvtth his Difcovery, which would have been very glorious , had he fucceeded in his fecond Voyage.

But whether he did not take his Meafures right^ when he made hts Objervations ajhore, or whether that River difgorges it felf at a, flat Coaft, aj$d only leaves fome inconfidfe* rable'Mark of its Channel for fuch as come by Sea ; it is mofl certain, that when he

came

PREFACE.

came into the Bay of Mexico, he fought for the fame Mouth in Faw, during the Space of three Weeks^ and was obliged to go ajhore ■to the S» JV, of the Place, tvhere it really was,

Mo»fieur Tonty, i-a his Booky Fol. 192. tells us, that he was frefent when Monfieur de la Sale took the Latitude of the Mouth of the Miflifipi, at hisfrfi Voyage, and fays it was between twenty two and twenty three De-grees North ; but that is a Miflake^ which muii be affigned either to the Printer^ or Tranfcrtber^for in the Map the faid Mon^ fieur Tonty has added to his Book, he places the faid Mouth in about twenty Jix Degrees and a Half of North Latitude, and there is Keafon to believe he errs in that too,

Monfteur Joutel and fome others are of Opinion, that the Mouth of that Branch Monfteur de la Sale went down, is in the Bay of the Holy Ghoii, and aBually between the twenty eighth and twenty ninth Degrees of North Latitude, as M&nfieur de la Sale found it. As .for the other Channel, the fame Sieur Joutel believes it is farther towards the S, W, and about the Shoals they met with about the 6/^/; f?/January, 1685, between the twentyfeventh and.twenty eighth Degrees of North Latitude, when they r^ere

failing

PREFACE.

fulling dong the CoAJi of the Bay o/Mexi-co, a»d that thofe Shoals were the Marks cf a River difcharging it felf there, which they neglecied, to inquire into. If that he fo, Monfieur de la Sale was very near it^ and even fajs*d along before both the Mouths^ hut unfortunately^ without ferceiving the?lHy which was the main Caufe of his Death and, the Ruin of his Enterprize.

To conclude, it muft be granted, that as the Return of that fmaE Number of PerfonSy from a Country fo remote and through fo ma" ny Dangers, is a visible Effe^ of the Di' 'vine ProteBion ; fo it is alfo an Ejfe5i of Heavenly Jujlice to have freferv'*d thofe JVitnejjes, and to have brought them Home into Monfiuer de la SaleV Country, to re^ trieve his Reputation^ which had been fully"*d by his Enemies,

Monfieur de la Sale would have been ta^ ken for a Dreamer, and even for an Jm-fofor ; his Enterpriz.e had been condemn"*d, and his Memory bUJted -, but God would not permit the Honour of a Man of fuch ftngU' gular Merit to fuffer ; it pleas'*d him to preferve and bring Home unqueftionable IVitnejfes, who, by Word of Mouth and other undoubted Proofs of the notable fiifcoveries made by Monfieur dela Sale, have Hopp'*d

the

PREFACE.

the Mouths of his Enemies, and made out the Truth ef rvh/tt has been ajferted at the Beginning of this Difcourfe, viz. that Mon^ fieur de la Sale only wanted good Fortune to fecure him the Title of a great Man and a. renowned Traveller.

Advertifement, to the Britijh Gentry^

WHereas all Gentlemen ought to fit themfelves betimes for thofefimployraeots which naturally fall to their Share, preferable to their Fellew Subjefts; and that they who defign in particular to lerve their Prince Abroad, are obliged to underftand the Intereftsand Pre-tentions of Foreign States, as well as the Laws and Con-ttitution of their own Country ; It has been judg'd very ferviceable, by Pcrfons of great Experience^ to have the mofi: celebrated Monfieur Wicquetort's Ambaflador tranilated into the Englilh Tongue, as beiag the only Book that perfefclly exhaufts this Matter, little being written on the Subjeft by other Nations in Comparifon of the Italians, whofe Books are too defedive and ab-ftrafted for common Praiiice. Propofals will (liertly be publiihed, for printing the faid Book by Subfcription, by the Undertaker Bernard Lintott between the two Temple-Gates

The Tragedy of Jane Shore, written in Shakcfpear's Style, by Nicholas Row jEfq; as it is afted at the Queen's Theatre in the Hay-Marker, pr. i f. 6 d.

The Rape of the Lock, an heroick comical Poem, ia 5 Canto's, with 6 Copper Plates, by Mr. Pope. pr. is.

The Works of Monfieur dcMoliere, tranilated, in 6 Vols. I2S. printed on fine Paper and new Elziver Letter.

The Clergy-man's Recreation, (hewing the Pleafure and Profit of the Art of Gard'ning. By John Lawrence. A.M. Reftwr of Yelvereofc in Northamptonfhire, and fometime Fellow of Clare-Hall in Cambridge.

Mifcellaneous Poems aud Tranflations by fevcral Hands, particularly, the firit Book of Scanus his Thebais tranflated. The Fable of Vertumnus and Pomoua, from the 14th Book of Ovid's Metamorphfelis. To a young Lady;; with the Works of Voicure, On Silence. To the Author of a Poem entituled Succefiion. The Rape of the Lock. An Ode for Mulick on 5r. Cecilia's Day, Windfor Foreft. To the Right honourable George Ld, Lanfdown. An Eflliy on Cricicifm. An Epigram upon Two or Three, All written by Mr. Pope.

Advertifement, to the Briti[h Gentry^,

WHereas all Gentlemen ought to fit themfelves betimes for thofe fimploymeats which naturally fall 10 their Share, preferable to their Fellow Subjefts; aod that they who defign in particular to lerve their Prince Abroad, are obliged to undcrftand the Interefts and Pretentions of Foreign States, as well as the Laws and Con-ftitution of their own Country ; It has been judg'd very ferviceable, by Pcrfons of great Experience^ to have the mofi: celebrated Monfieur Wicquetort's Ambaflador tranflated into the Englifh Tongue, as being the only Book that perfefcily exhaufts this Matter, little being written on the Subjeft by other Nations in Comparifon of the Italians, whofe Books arc too defedive and ab-ftra£>ed for common Praftice. Propofals will (liortly be publiihed, for printing the faid Book by Subfcription, by the Undertaker Bernard Lintott between the two Temple-Gates

The Tragedy of Jane Shore, written in Shakefpear's Style, by Nicholas Row ffq; as it is afted at the Queen's Theatre in the iiay-Marker. pr. i f. 6 d.

The Rape of the Lock, an heroick comical Poem, ia 5 Canto's, with 6 Copper Plates, by Mr. Pope. pr. i?»

The Works of Monfieur de Moliere, tranflated, in 6 Vols. I2S. printed on fine Paper and new Elziver Letter.

The Clergy-man's Recreation, (hewing the Pleafure and Profit of the Art of Gard'ning. By John Lawrence. A.M. Reftwr of Yelvereorc in Northampconfhire, and fomctime Fellow of Clare-Hall in Cambridge,

Mifcellaneous Poems and Tranflations by feveral Hands, particularly, the firft Book of Stacius his Thcbais tranflated. The Fable of Verturanus and Pomoua, from the 14th Book of Ovid's Metamorphwlis. To a young Lady;; with the 'Works of Voiture. On Silence. To the Author* of a Poem entituled Succeflion. The Rape of the Lock. An Ode for Mufick on St. Cecilia's Day. Windfor Foreft. To the Right /honourable George Ld. Lacfdowu. An Efl^iy on Criticifm. An Epigram upoa Two or Three, All writtea by Mr. Pope.