Relation of Henri de Tonty concerning the explorations of LaSalle from 1678 to 1683

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The Publication Committee of 'The 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 presswork 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

CHICAGO
THE CAXTON CLUB

1898

COPYRIGHT BY THE CAXTON

CLUB, EIGHTEEN HUNDRED

AND NINETY-EIGHT

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 cotons should
be omitted. According to Clapin's Canadian
French Dictionary the word coton is used of the
bare, dry stem of Indian corn; and the phrase
un coton de ble-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.

NOTE

The original French, printed on pages opposite
the English translation, is reprinted from Pierre
Margry's Origines Francaises des Pays
D' Outre- Mer (Paris, 1879), where it first
appeared in type.

TONTY'S RELATION.

[»]

Relation de Henri de Tonty.

Entreprises de M, de La 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 l'abbe Renaudot, son protecteur aupres du prince
de Conti, et celui qui l'a fait agreer de M. de La Salle.
— Tontv a ecrit en 1693 un autre memoire adresse par
lui au comte de Pontchartrain. Je l'ai publie dans mes
Relations et Memoires in'edits pour servir a Phistoire de la
France dans les pays (Toutre-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.

SIR:*

AFTER having taken leave of you
at Paris and having entrusted to
you my interests with 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.]

4 Relation de Henri de Tonty.

Juillet ce genereux prince, lequel m'a fait l'hon-
78, 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-Honor'e. 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 2oe Aoust, nous re-
connusmes l'isle 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 Francois qu'aux
Sauvages.

Le ier Septembre, nous partismes de
ladite isle Percee et le 1 3e nous arrivasmes
a Quebec, ville capitale de ce pays. Ce

ne

Relation of Henri de Tonty. 5

near that generous Prince, who has done July,
me the honor to write to me several times x 78#
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 Is/f
of Newfoundland. On the 27th we en- Percee.
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 Recollet
friars engaged in their mission both among
the French and among the Savages.

On the 1 st of September we departed

from

*There seems to be an omission before this sen-
tence, but Margry is silent about it. — Translator.

6 Relation de Henri de Tonty.

Septembre ne fut pas sans beaucoup de risque, car nous
1678. nassasmes de nuit des lieux tres-dangereux
par 1'imprudence de nostre pilote. Ces
endroits sont nommez la Pointe-aux-Alou-
ettes, Tadoussac et l'isle 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 l'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.

from the said Isle Percee, and on the 1 3 th,
arrived at Quebec, the capital of the coun-
try. This was not without great peril,
inasmuch as we passed very dangerous
places by night, through the imprudence
of our pilot. These places are 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 1 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
to carry one's boats to the still water, when-
ever it is impossible either to pole or to
tow. This sort of navigation is greatly
facilitated by the circumstance that the

boats

September,
1678.

Dangerous
places.

Rapids and
waterfalls.

8 Relation de Henri de Tonty.

Decembre hommes prennent un de ces canots chacun
1678. par un J3OUt et je transportent facilement.

y*^*SJ 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 l'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 2$e nous debarquasmes

en

Fort
Frontenac.

Relation of Henri de Tonty. 9

boats which are used are of birch-bark and December,
very light, so that in difficult places one of f]^2l
these boats is easily carried by two men,
one at each end. On the 16th 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

La Salle
saves the
ship.

IO

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 couvert 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 l'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 L\^l'
Indian corn at the village of the same V^*>J
name; then continuing our journey toward
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 foodand
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;
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.

W^TO

Janvier nostre missionnaire et quatre Francois. M.

l679- de La Salle partit le lendemain pour aller
au-dessus du sault de Niagara pour chercher
un lieu propre a bastir une barque, et,
l'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 l'accompagnay jusqu'au lac; et le
ier Fevrier il traca 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.

hiding with our missionary Father Louis,
the Recollet, and four Frenchmen. The
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
on the stocks, the one he had left nine
leagues from the mouth of the Niagara
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 1st 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-
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

J3

January,
1679.

Ship-
building
and ship-
wreck.

Niagara
Falls.

<^~V\J

14 Relation de Henri de Tonty.

Mai fait calme. Quand une fois les cygnes
X^J2i , et 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
1' 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 l'orvietan,* Dieu me renvoya la
sante.

Le 30 May, ayant fait mettre un brigan-
tin a l'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
I'Jcademie, 1694.)

Relation of Henri de Tonty.

15

May,
1679.

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 La Sa//e,s
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
vessel, made her unmanageable
all our cable broke, so

about the
Worst of
that we found
ourselves

1 6 Relation de Henri de Tonty.

^•VSI

Mai comble de malheur nostre cable cassa, et in-
l679- sensiblement nous allions 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 l'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
l'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
l'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, 79'

we made efforts to get clear from the ice ^^9^^
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 1 ith, I sent M. de La Motte and Tonty
Father Louis, with eleven men, back to ^lst0.1

7 ii- ■ ■ clear with

Fort Frontenac in the brigantine, 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.

VW>

Juiliet Hennepin, et plusieurs Francis avec une
l679- seconde ancre qu'il fit amener. II s'occupa
a forcer ledit rapide a la touee, et avant de
l'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
Francois a qui il avoit donne rendez-vous en
cet endroit. L'on y compte 100 lieues, et
depuis le 22 Juiliet 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-
mencoit 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 l'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, Fun de Kiskakons et l'autre 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 10th 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.

l9

July,
1679.

La Salle
'comes to
bis relief.

A wet
camping-
ground.

20 Relation de Henri de Tonty.

VYV)

Aout eglises, ou ils font leurs missions aux Sau-
]^^,x vages et aux Francois qui y couchent. Nous
y trouvasmes les gens que j'estois alle cher-
cher au detroit. Ils estoient dans une grande
consternation, parce qu'on leur avoit dit
qu'ils estoient des fous que d'entreprendre
ce voyage, et qu'il estoit impossible qu'il en
peust eschapper aucun a cause des grands
risques qu'il y avoit; et une partie avoient
desja deserte. M de La Salle ayant reassure
ceux-cy, il m'envoya au sault Saincte-Marie,
a 30 lieues, pour cherches lesdits deserteurs.
Je partis le 29, et, ayant pris lesdits de-
serteurs, je les emmenay avec moy a. Missi-
limakinak, ou j'arrivay le 17 Septembre.
Pour M. de La Salle, il avoit fait voile
dans le lac des Illinois. Le 17, un de nos
gens ayant este blesse par un Sauvage, je fis
prendre les armes a nos Francois pour
chastier celuy qui avoit fait le coup et nous
mettre hors d'insulte de ces canailles; nous
fusmes jusqu'a leur fort, et comme ils sor-
toient en foule les armes a la main, nous
estions prests a faire feu; mais comme nous
aperceusmes un Pere Jesuite parmi eux, le-
quel faisoit son possible pour empescher ce
qui seroit arrive, les chefs des nations vin-
rent me demander pardon, et 1'arTaire fut
terminee par quelques pelleteries qu'ils don-
nerent, disant que c'estoit pour mettre une
emplastre sur la blessure du blesse. Le 5

Octobre,

Relation of Henri de Tonty.

21

August,
1679.

Missili-
makinak.

long and twenty wide. On the 24th and
the 25th, we were tossed by a tempest; on
the 26th, we made sail. On the 27th we
arrived at Missilimakinak, where there are
two villages of Savages,* one of Kiska-
kons and the other of Hurons, The Jes-
uit Fathers have two churches there, in
which they carry on their mission both
among the Savages and among the French
who remain over. Here we found the
men whom I was to have met at the De-
troit. They were in great consternation,
having been told that they were madmen
to undertake the journey, and that no one
could escape its perils. Some of them had
already deserted. M. de La Salle having
reassured them, he sent me to the Sault St.
Marie, a distance of thirty leagues, to seek
the deserters.

I set out on the 29th, and, having taken
the deserters, brought them back with me
to Missilimakinak, where I arrived the
17th of September. M. de La Salle had
sailed up the lake of the Illinois. On the
1 7th, one of our men having been wounded
by a Savage, I put our Frenchmen under spirited
arms to punish him who had done the deed ' uy'
and to put an end to the insults from these

wretches.

*Tonty never uses the word " Indian," but turns
the word " sauvage " into a proper name. — Trans-
lator.

Tonty' s

22

Relation de Henri de Tonty.

Octobre
1679.

Octobre, je partis pour la riviere des Mia-
mis, ou j'arrivay le 1 2 Novembre. Nous
patismes de vivres par les chemins, a cause
des mauvais temps; et apres avoir costoye
cent vingt lieues le lac des Illinois, nous
entrasmes dans ladite riviere. Je fus mesme
oblige de laisser quelques-uns de mes gens
pour chasser et prendre le devant, a cause
d'un canot que je trouvay en chemin, que
M. de la Salle envoyoit a Missilimakinak
pour apprendre de mes nouvelles et de celles
de sa barque, dont il estoit fort en peine a
cause d'un coup de vent qui avoit regne
pendant cinq jours apres qu'il l'eut quittee.
Je trouvay M. de La Salle a l'entree de la
riviere, lequel faisoit construire un fort pour
mettre en seurete les choses necessaires pour
sa descouverte; mais, comme la saison estoit
avancee et qu'il souhaitoit voir les Illinois,
lesquels sont a cent cinquante lieues de la,
il m'ordonna de retourner chercher les gens
que j'avois laissez en chasse. Apres avoir
navigue huit lieues sur le lac, il s'eleva un
tres-mauvais temps, lequel nous fit prendre
resolution d'entrer dans une riviere; mais,
comme il y avoit de tres-grandes lames, nous
nous vismes obligez d'eschouer a la coste.
Comme nous approchions de terre, nostre
canot fut d'abord plein d'eau ; et ensuite, ayant
tourne, nous perdismes tout nostre equipage.
J'en donnay advis a M. de La Salle, et

pendant

October,
1679.

the wound.

Relation of Henri de Tonty. 23

wretches. We marched to their fort and,
as they were sallying forth with their
weapons, we were about to fire upon them,
when we perceived among them a Jesuit
Father who was doing everything in his
power to prevent what seemed about to
take place. The chiefs of the nations
came and asked my pardon, and the affair
ended by their presenting me with some
skins, saying that it was for a salve to the Salving
wound of the injured man. On the 5th
of October I set out for the river of the
Miamis,* where I arrived on the 1 2th of
November. On account of the bad weather
we suffered on the way for want of food;
and, after coasting the lake of the Illinois
for a hundred and twenty leagues, we ran
into the aforesaid river. I had been obliged
to leave some of my men to hunt while I
pushed forward, having met a canoe which
M. de La Salle had sent back toward Mis-
silimakinak to get news of me and of the
bark, about which he was very anxious
on account of a wind that had been raging
for five days after his departure. At the
mouth of the river I found M. de La Salle
engaged in the construction of a fort for
the protection of the equipments necessary
for his undertaking; but the season being
advanced, M. de La Salle, wishing to see the

Illinois
*The St. Joseph River. — Translator.

24

Relation de Henri de Tonty.

vw;

Decembre pendant trois jours nous ne vecusmes que de
l679- glands que nous cherchions sous la neige.
II m'envoya ordre de rebrousser chemin, et
le 6 Decembre nous prismes la route des
Illinois apres avoir monte la riviere des
Miamis environ vingt-sept lieues, et n'ayant
personne qui peust nous guider pour trouver
un portage qui va a la riviere des Illinois.
M. de La Salle marcha par terre dans le
dessein de me trouver. La nuit survint et
nous cabanasmes; mais M. de La Salle
estant engage entre un marais et la terre
ferme, il fut oblige de faire le tour. Ayant
aperceu un feu, il y fut, esperant de trouver
des Sauvages et cabaner avec eux. II cria
en Sauvage, mais voyant que personne ne
luy respondoit, il entra dans les fredoches
ou estoit ledit feu. II ne trouva personne,
et c'estoit assurement le cabanage d'un
guerrier qui avoit eu peur de luy. II y
coucha avec deux tisons devant luy. Quoy-
qu'il fist beaucoup de froid et que mesme
il neigeast, le lendemain il me vint joindre.
II arriva aussy un Sauvage chasseur de M.
de La Salle, qui nous dit que les gens que
j'avois laissez en chasse nous attendoient
au portage, lequel estoit a deux lieues au-
dessous de nous. Le portage trouve et
nos gens rassemblez, cela nous causa une
grande joye. Nous nous trouvasmes ainsi

vingt-neuf

Relation of Henri de Tonty.

Illinois who dwell a hundred and fifty
leagues from there, ordered me to return
for the men whom I had left to hunt.
After sailing eight leagues, the weather be-
came so bad that we resolved to run into
a river ; but the breakers were so high that
we found ourselves compelled to run ashore.
As we were approaching land our boat was
at one time full of water ; afterwards it was
overset and we lost our entire equipment.
I sent word to M. de La Salle, and for three
days we lived only upon acorns which we
found under the snow. He sent me orders
to turn back, and, on the 6th of Decem-
ber, we began our journey toward the coun-
try of the Illinois, having in the meantime
ascended the river of the Miamis about
twenty-seven leagues, and having no one to
guide us to find a portage to the river of
the Illinois. M. de La Salle marched on
foot with the intention of meeting me.
Night came on and we encamped ; but M.
de La Salle, becoming entangled in a swamp,
was obliged to make a detour. Seeing a fire,
he approached it, expecting to find Savages
with whom he might encamp. He called
out in the language of the Savages and, re-
ceiving no reply, entered the bushes where
the fire was. He found no one ; it was cer-
tainly the camping-place of a warrior who
had been frightened by him. There he

lay

25

December,
1679.

Wreck.

La Salle1 s
night ad-
venture.

26 Relation de Henri de Tonty.

^rv

Decembre vingt-neuf Fran9ois; mais cette joye pensa
*°79* estre courte, car, comme il y a toujours des
mescontents dans ces sortes d'entreprises,
comme nous faisions le portage et que M.
de La Salle passoit devant un nomme Du-
plessis, cet homme, ayant son fusil, eut la
hardiesse de coucher en joue M. de La Salle
dans le dessein de le tuer. Mais il fut des-
tourne par un de ses camarades, ce que nous
n'avons appris que longtemps apres.

Le 15, nostre portage estant fait, apres
avoir navigue environ cinquante lieues, il se
fit un party des deux tiers de nos gens, les-
quels vouloient deserter la nuit et nous de-
grader au cabanage; mais, par un pressenti-
ment de M. de La Salle, il fit descharger
les canots, ce qui rompit ce coup. Nous
estions dans une grande disette, a cause
que le feu avoit couru dans les prairies,
et nous ne subsistions que de gibier et
de poules d'Inde, a cause que les bestes
s'estoient retirees; et le 31 nous arri-
vasmes au village des Illinois, ou nous ne
trouvasmes personne. lis estoient tous allez
en chasse; mais, ayant visite les caches ou
ils mettent leur bled d'Inde, nous en prismes
environ quarante minots, ce qui donna beau-
coup de consolation a Tequipage, car nous
estions tous fatiguez de la disette. M. de La
Salle y prit hauteur par 39 degres 50 minutes,
pays aussy charmant qu'on en puisse voir:

ce

Relation of Henri de Tonty.

27

December,
1679.

Attempt
upon the
life of
La Salle.

lay down, with two firebrands before him.
Although it was very cold and was even
snowing, he joined me the next day. There
also came a Savage, employed as a hunter
by M. de La Salle, who informed us that
the men whom I had left behind to hunt
were awaiting us at the portage, two leagues
below. The portage found and our men all
together again, there was great joy. We
were in all twenty-nine Frenchmen; but
this joy was near being cut short, for (as
there are always dissatisfied persons in en-
terprises of this nature) while we were
making the portage, M. de La Salle chanced
to be walking in front of one named Du-
plessis, when this man had the effrontery
to take aim with his gun at M. de La
Salle with the intention of killing him.
But this design was frustrated by one of his
comrades, and it was not until long after-
wards that we learned of the circumstance.
On the 15th, after we had accomplished
our portage and had traveled by water for
some fifty leagues, a conspiracy was formed, Conspiracy
including two-thirds of our men, to run
away by night with the boats and reduce us
to wigwam life, but, by some presentiment,
M. de La Salle had the boats discharged of
their cargoes, and so the plot was foiled.
We were suffering great dearth, on account
of prairie fires, and had nothing to subsist

upon

28

Relation de Henri de Tonty.

<XV>J

Decembre ce ne sont presque que plaines ornees de
,679' bouquets de bois; on y trouve plusieurs
fruits inconnus; la terre y produit des racines
admirables; c'est ou Ton trouve les premiers
boeufs sauvages, appelez par les Espagnols
Sibola. Quand le feu n'a point couru dans
les prairies, elles sont remplies de toutes
sortes de bestes fauves par troupeaux, comme
les moutons, quantite de poules d'Inde et
gibier. Le Sauvages y sont tres-bien faits.
lis se cabanent de nattes de jonc. Ce sont
les meilleurs coureurs de l'Amerique.

Nous continuasmes nostre route jusqu'a
trente lieues plus bas, et nous tuasmes quel-
ques boeufs qui y traversoient la riviere.
Ay ant aperceu de la fumee, M. de La Salle
fit mettre les canots en bataille. En dou-
blant une pointe, nous aperceusmes un petit
village de chasse. lis furent fort alarmez,
nous prenant pour des Iroquois. Les
femmes et enfans s'enfuirent dans les bois;
mais comme ils reconnurent que nous estions
Francois, ils nous montrerent de loin le
calumet qui est le symbole de la paix parmy
eux. On leur en montra aussy un, et ay-
ant mis pied a terre, ils nous receurent hu-
mainement et firent revenir les fuyards.
Les hommes ne sont point couverts et ont
le nez et les oreilles percez, les cheveux
coupez a l'espaisseur d'un pouce. II n'y
a que le sexe feminin qui se couvre. Leur

humeur

Relation of Henri de Tonty.

29

The

Illinois

village.

upon but game* and turkeys, the animals December,
having fled. On the 31st we reached the l6?9'
village of the Illinois, where we found no
one. They were all away hunting; but,
visiting the caches where they put their
Indian corn, we took about forty bushels of
it, which greatly cheered our company, for
we were all worn with fasting. M. de
La Salle found the latitude to be 39 de-
grees, 50 minutes. The country is as
charming as can be found anywhere, con-
sisting almost wholly of plains studded with
groups of trees ; several unknown fruits are
found; the soil produces excellent roots;
and here one first finds the wild cattle, called
by the Spaniards SiSo/a.f When the prairies
have not been desolated by fire, they are pop-
ulous with all sorts of wild beasts in herds
like sheep, great numbers of turkeys, and
much game. The Savages are extremely
well formed. Their lodges are built of reed
mats. They are the best runners in America.
We continued our journey thirty leagues
farther down the river, and killed some
cattle as they were crossing the stream.
Having noticed some smoke, M. de La
Salle had the canoes put in order for battle.
On rounding a point, we came upon a small

hunting-camp.

* " Small game " is probably meant. — Translator.
f Undoubtedly the buffalo. — Translator.

3°

Janvier
1680.

Relation de Henri de Tonty.

humeur approche fort du Francois. Le
jour que nous arrivasmes, qui estoit le 4
Janvier 1680, la riviere fut glacee. La
veille des Rois, six de nos gens deserterent
et penserent mourir de faim, comme nous
Tapprismes ensuite. Apparemment que l'un
des deserteurs avoit mis du poison dans la
marmite de M. de La Salle, car le matin,
en mangeant la soupe, il eut tous les senti-
mens qu'on a quand on en a pris. L'on
ne voulut pas courir apres de peur de don-
ner de mauvaises impressions aux Sauvages.
Le 15, ayant trouve un lieu propre pour
faire bastir une barque de quarante tonneaux,
pour descendre le Mississipy ou fleuve Col-
bert, Ton y construisit un fort qui fut
nomme Crevecoeur, et Ton travailla a une
barque de quarante tonneaux. Quelque
temps ensuite, le Reverend Pere Louis Hen-
nepin partit avec Michel et Picard jusqu'au
pays des Sioux. M. de La Salle prit aussy
resolution de faire un voyage de 400 lieues
pour aller au fort de Frontenac par terre,
ce qu'il fit, et partit le 1 o Mars lui sixiesme,
me laissant commandant en sa place. II
trouva en son chemin ceux qu'il avoit en-
voyez a Missilimakinak, lesquels luy appri-
rent la triste nouvelle de la perte de la
seconde barque qui se montoit a pres de
40,000 livres. II ne laissa pas de continuer

sa

Relation of Henri de Tonty.

hunting-camp. They were much alarmed,
mistaking us for Iroquois. The women
and children fled to the woods; but when
they saw that we were Frenchmen, they
held out the calumet, which is the token
of peace among them. We also showed
them one, and landed; they received us
humanely and caused the fugitives to re-
turn. The men go without clothing, have
the nose and ears pierced, and the hair cut
within an inch of the scalp. The females
only are clad. Their disposition is much
like that of the French. The day we ar-
rived, which was the 4th of January,
1680, the river was frozen over. On the
eve of Twelfth-night six of our men de-
serted, and, as we afterwards learned, came
near dying of starvation. Apparently one
of the deserters had poisoned the food of
M. de La Salle, for, in the morning, upon
eating his porridge, he was seized with all
the symptoms of poisoning. We refrained
from pursuit of the fugitives for fear of
making a bad impression upon the Savages.
On the 1 5th, a place was found suitable
for the construction of a vessel of forty
tons, for the descent of the Mississipy or
Colbert River. There a fort was built
and named Crevecceur, and work was be-
gun upon a bark of forty tons. Some-
time afterwards, the Reverend Father Louis

Hennepin

31

January,
1680.

Attempt
to poison
La Salle.

More ship-
building.

32 Relation de Henri de Tonty.

1680. sa route et m'envoya ordre de remonter au
^VNJ village des Illinois pour y faire un fort sur
une eminence et a demi-lieue du village.
Je me mis en chemin pour cela; et ceux
qui m'avoient apporte les ordres estant
restez au fort de Crevecceur, comme ils
avoient este gagnez par les ennemis deM.de
La Salle, un nomme Noel Leblanc les des-
baucha presque tous. Je me trouvay avec
deux prestres Recollects et trois jeunes
hommes, demunis de toutes choses, estant
obligez de subsister de la chaudiere des Sau-
vages, les deserteurs ayant vole tout ce que
nous avions. Je dressay des proces-verbaux
que j'envoyay a M. de La Salle sur ce sujet,
lequel les attrapa dans le lac de Frontenac,
ou il y en eut deux de tuez, ce qui luy causa
du retardement de son voyage. Et comme
il m'avoit promis d'estre de retour a la fin
de May, nous taschasmes de couler le temps
le mieux qu'il nous fut possible. Neant-
moins nous apprismes par divers Sauvages
Outaouacs que M. de La Salle estoit mort,
et ils nous donnerent des preuves assez per-
tinentes pour nous faire croire que cela
estoit. Cependant j'estois fort embarrasse;
car Ton avoit dit aux Illinois que M. de La
Salle estoit venu en leur pays pour les don-
ner a manger aux Iroquois, et que, pour ce
qui estoit de moy, je n'estois pas Francois.
Neantmoins, quelque difficulte qu'il y eust,

j'estois

Relation of Henri de Tonty.

Hennepin set out with Michel and Picard
for the land of the Sioux. M. de La Salle
also determined to undertake a land jour-
ney of four hundred leagues to Fort
Frontenac. This he did, setting out on
the ioth of March with five men, and
leaving me in command in his place.
On his way he met the men whom he
had sent to Missilimakinak, who told him
the sad news of the destruction of the
second vessel, by which his loss amounted
to about forty thousand livres. He did
not flinch from continuing his journey, and
sent me orders to go back to the Illinois
village and build a fort upon an eminence
a half-league from there. For this pur-
pose I set out, leaving at Fort Crevecoeur
those who had brought me the orders.
But they had been won over by the ene-
mies of M. de La Salle, and a man named
Noel Leblanc debauched them almost all.
I found myself with two Recollet priests
and three young men, deprived of every-
thing and compelled to take pot-luck with
the Savages, the deserters having stolen all
that we had. I drew up reports of this and
sent them to M. de La Salle, who caught the
deserters on Lake Frontenac, where two of
them were killed. All this delayed his
return. As he had promised to be back by
the last of May, we tried to pass the time

as

33

March,
1680.

La Salle's
tremendous
journey on
foot.

Pot-luck
with the
Savages.

34 Relation de Henri de Tonty.

Septembre j'estois resolu d'aller prendre langue a Mis-
1680. silimakinak, et je partis le 2 Septembre,
contre la volonte des Sauvages, et, ayant
trouve les eaux extremement basses, je fus
oblige de relascher. Le 1 o, la riviere ayant
creu par quelque orage, je fis regommer
nostre canot pour partir le lendemain.
Mais un Chaouanon, qui estoit party la
nuit pour aller a son pays, ayant rencontre
l'armee des Iroquois, arriva le 11 et en
apporta la nouvelle. Cette nouvelle, jointe
avec mon depart, confirma aux Sauvages ce
qu'on leur avoit dit de nous. Un chef de
la nation me dit: "Nous voyons bien pre-
sentement que tu es l'amy de Tlroquois.
Les Francois qui nous l'ont dit n'ont point
de tort; pour le present nous sommes morts,
car ils sont beaucoup et tu es l'amy de
Tlroquois." Je luy fis response : " Pour
te faire voir que je ne suis point 1'amy de
Tlroquois, c'est que je mourray demain
avec toy, et je me battray contre luy avec
ce que j'ay de jeunesse icy." Sur cette re-
sponse, ils m'appelerent tous leur camarade.
Voyant que cela alloit bien, Ton envoya
des descouvreurs, lesquels dirent a leur re-
tour que l'armee estoit de six a sept cents
hommes. La jeunesse passa toute la nuit
en festin, et, ayant fait escarter leurs femmes
et enfans a six lieues au-dessous du village,
le lendemain nous fusmes au-devant des

Iroquois ;

Relation of Henri de Tonty. 35

as best we could. We were informed, September,
however, by many Ottawa braves that M. l68o#
de La Salle was dead, and they gave us
proofs pertinent enough to make us believe
it to be true. Meanwhile my own situa-
tion was very embarrassing, for the Illinois Tmafs
had been told that M. de La Salle had triah'
come into their country to give them to
the Iroquois to devour; and that, as for
me, I was not a Frenchman. Neverthe-
less, whatever the difficulty might be, I
was resolved to go to Missilimakinak to
get news ; accordingly, on the 2nd of Sep-
tember I set out, against the wishes of the
Savages, but, rinding the water extremely
low, I was forced to give over the attempt.
On the 10th, the river having risen on ac-
count of rain, I had our boat pitched
again, intending to start the next day. But
a Shawano who had set out at night for
his own country, having met the army of
the Iroquois, came back on the 11th with
the news. This news, with my departure,
confirmed for the Savages the truth of what
had been told them of us. A chief of the
nation said to me: — "We now see plainly
that you are the friend of the Iroquois.
The Frenchmen who told us this were not
wrong; now we are dead, for the Iroquois
are many and you are their friend." I re-
plied;— "To prove to you that I am not

the

36

Septembre
1680.

Relation de Henri de Tonty.

Iroquois ; et quand les deux armees furent
en presence a demi-lieue de distance, les
chefs des Illinois me prierent de porter un
collier aux Iroquois pour tascher de faire la
paix avec eux. "Nous voyons bien, disoient-
ils, que nous sommes sur le point d'estre
defaits, a cause qu'une partie de nostre jeu-
nesse est allee en guerre, et que nous
n'avons que des arcs et des fleches." J'eus
assez de peine, a cause queje ne scavois pas
parler Iroquois ; neantmoins, dans l'espe-
rance de trouver parmy eux quelque esclave
dont je me pourrois faire entendre, je pris
un collier de pourcelaine pour y aller, et
un Illinois m'accompagna. Comme je fus
a portee de fusil des Iroquois, je leur mon-
tray le collier qui est la marque avec quoy
on parle chez eux. Aussytost qu'ils nous
virent si proche, ils firent une descharge de
coups de fusil sur nous. Je dis pour lors a
l'lllinois: " Retire-toi. Pour moy, quand
je devrois mourir, je vais parler a l'lroquois
pour te sauver la vie." II se retira hors de
la portee et je continuay a aller avec eux.
Ils ne cesserent point de tirer sur moy, et
comme j'entray dans leurs corps, un chef
des Mahingans m'embrassa, prenant le col-
lier que j'avois a la main, et s'escria : " C'est
un Francois."

Malgre ce que faisoient les Mahingans

pour

Relation of Henri de Tonty.

the friend of the Iroquois, I will die to-
morrow with you; I will fight him with
the young men who are with me." Upon
this reply they all declared me their com-
rade. This being settled, scouts were sent
out, who, upon their return, reported that
the army consisted of six or seven hundred
men. The young men spent the night in
feasting; the women and children were
sent to a place six leagues below the village ;
the next day the Iroquois were upon us.
When the two armies were a half-league
apart, the Illinois chiefs begged me to carry
a necklace to the Iroquois and to try to
make peace with them. " We see, plainly,"
they said, "that we shall be defeated, be-
cause a part of our young men have gone
to war and we have only bows and arrows."
My position was embarrassing, inasmuch as
I could not speak Iroquois; however, hop-
ing to find some slave among them to whom
I could make myself understood, I took a
porcelain necklace and went, accompanied
by an Illinois. When within gunshot of
the Iroquois I exhibited the necklace, which
serves among them as a summons to a par-
ley. As soon as they saw us so near, they
discharged at us a volley of musketry.
Then I said to the Illinois: — "Go back.
As for me, if I die for it, I will speak to
the Iroquois to save your life." He went

back

37

September,
1680.

Tonty
offers to
fight the
Iroquois.

His mission
to the
Iroquois.

38

Septembre
1680.

Relation de Henri de Tonty.

pour me defendre, un soldat du village des
Onontagues me plongea un couteau dans
la mamelle gauche, ou ils me couperent la
coste et me despouillerent ayant mis mon
chapeau au bout d'un fuzil. L' Illinois qui
m'avoit accompagne ayant veu le traitement
que F Iroquois m'avoit fait et mon chapeau
au bout du fuzil creut que j'estois mort et
fut porter cette nouvelle a leur camp. L' Il-
linois se mit en devoir de donner; le sieur
de Boisrondet et Estienne Renault se
mirent a la teste, pendant que les chefs de
guerre des Iroquois avoient forme un cercle
ou ils s'estoient assis. Ils m'avoient fait asseoir
devant eux. Ils s' inform erent de moy ce
qui m'amenoit devers eux, par le moyen
d'un Sokokis qui parloit Francois ; je leur
fis response que j'estois fort surpris de les
voir en guerre contre leurs freres ; que M.
le comte de Frontenac avoit adopte les
Illinois pour ses enfans aussy bien qu'eux.
II s'eleva un bruit parmy eux. C'estoit un
Iroquois qui portoit nouvelle que l'lllinois
avoit fait ployer leur aile gauche, que les
Francois estoient a leur teste, qu'il y avoit
eu neuf hommes blessez de coups de fleches
et un tue d'un coup de fusil. Je vous assure,
Monsieur, que jamais je n'ay este si embar-
rasse ; car dans le temps qu'on apporta cette
nouvelle, il y avoit derriere moy un Iro-
quois, lequel tenoit un couteau a la main et

de

Relation of Henri de Tonty.

39

o^v>J

Tonty
stabbed.

back out of range and I continued to go September,

to them. They did not cease to fire upon

me, but, as I was entering among them,

a Mohegan chief, taking the necklace I

held in my hand, embraced me and cried

out: — "It is a Frenchman."

Notwithstanding what the Mohegans did
to defend me, a warrior of the village of the
Onondagas plunged a knife into my left
breast, severing a rib ; they then robbed me
and stuck my hat on the end of a gun.
The Illinois who had accompanied me, per-
ceiving how I was treated by the Iroquois,
and seeing my hat upon the end of a gun,
imagined that I was dead and carried the
report into camp. The Illinois prepared
to charge; the Sieur de Boisrondet and
Estienne Renault placed themselves at their
head. Meanwhile the Iroquois war-chiefs
had seated themselves in a circle, and had
made me sit down before them. Making
use of a Sokokis* who could speak French Parh-
as an interpreter, they inquired of me what
had led me to them. I replied that I was
much surprised to see them at war with
their brothers; that the Comte de Fronte-
nac had adopted the Illinois, as well as
themselves, as his children. There arose a
noise among them. It was occasioned by
an Iroquois who brought word that the

Illinois

*Or Saco. — Translator.

The

4°

Septembre
1680.

Relation de Henri de Tonty.

de temps en temps me levoit les cheveux
par derriere. Je creus pour lors qu'il n'y
avoit plus de -quartier pour moy et que la
plus grande esperance que je pouvois avoir
estoit qu'il me cassassent la teste, car je
croyois qu'ils me brusleroient. M'estant
tourne du coste de celuy qui me tenoit les
cheveux, les chefs me firent dire que je
n'avois que faire de craindre, et de leur dire
le nombre d' Illinois et de Francois qui
estoient avec eux, et quoyqu'ils n'estoient
que cinq cents hommes, je leur supposay
l'armee de onze cents et cinquante Francois
joints a eux. Cela les inquieta et ils me
jeterent un collier pour que je disse a l'llli-
nois de se retirer chez luy; qu'ils avoient
faim et qu'ils eussent a leur porter du bled.
Jamais je n'ay eu une si grande joye, et
ayant fait retirer les deux armees, je fus
porter ledit collier aux Illinois, lesquels se
retirerent vers leur village et moy avec eux.
Je trouvay en chemin le R. P. Zenoble,
lequel venoit me chercher, esperant trouver
en moy quelque sentiment de vie et me
donner toutes les assistances spirituelles.
Comme l'lroquois suivoit l'lllinois, ils me
prierent de leur envoyer dire de ne pas
avancer. J'y envoyay le R. P. Zenoble,
n'y pouvant aller moy-mesme a cause de
ma blessure; nous traversasmes la riviere a
gue et fusmes au village, et apres m'estre

couche

Relation of Henri de Tonty.

Illinois had driven back their left wing,
that the French were at their head, that
nine men had been wounded by arrows and
one killed by a gunshot. I assure you, Sir,
that I have never been so much at a loss;
for, at the moment when this news came,
there stood behind me an Iroquois, knife in
hand, who from time to time seized me by
the hair. I then believed that there was
to be no quarter for me, and my greatest
hope was that they would knock me in the
head, for I thought they meant to burn
me. As I turned toward him who was
holding me by the hair, the chiefs assured
me that I had nothing to fear, and asked
me to tell them the number of the Illinois
and of the Frenchmen who were with
them. Although there were only five hun-
dred, I asserted that they had an army of
eleven hundred men, besides fifty French-
men. This disturbed them and they threw
me a necklace, requesting me to ask the
Illinois to return to their village and to
bring them corn, for they were hungry.
Never have I experienced so great a joy,
and, having caused the two armies to fall
back, I carried the necklace to the Illinois,
who retired to their village and I with
them. On the way, I met the Reverend
Father Zenoble, who was coming to look
for me, hoping to find in me some sign of

life

4i

September,
1680.

Tonty's

scalp

coveted.

42

Septembre
1680.

Relation de Henri de Tonty.

couche dans une cabane, je fus surpris que
les Iroquois y furent aussytost comme moy,
et les Illinois ensuite, lesquels furent joindre
leurs femmes. Les Iroquois firent un fort
dans le village et se rafraischirent des vivres
qu'ils y trouverent. Deux jours apres, les
Illinois parurent sur le costeau a demi-lieue
du village. Les Iroquois qui ne cher-
choient que le moyen de les amuser me
convierent d'aller chercher un Illinois pour
faire leur paix. Je leur demanday un Iro-
quois pour leur servir d'ostage, et, me
l'ayant accorde, je le conduisis sur le costeau
et amenay un Illinois avec moy dans le fort,
lequel retourna le lendemain, et 1' Iroquois
revint. Jusqu'au 18, il y eut tousjours de
grands pourparlers de paix. Les Illinois
estoient tous les jours dans leurs forts, puis
ils se firent des presens et mesme les Illinois
leur rendirent quelques esclaves Iroquois
qu'ils avoient parmy eux. Je les fis avertir
par le R. P. Zenoble que si le 19 ils n'alloient
pas chez eux, qu'ils eussent a se merrier et
qu'assurement P Iroquois leur joueroit un
mauvais tour. Sur le soir, les chefs m'en-
voyerent querir avec le P. Zenoble, et, ayant
estendu six paquets de castor, ils me dirent
qu'ils me donnoient cela, afin que je ne
fusse pas fache de ma blessure, que c'estoit
un estourdy qui m'avoit frappe. Je leur

fis

Relation of Henri de Tonty.

life and to render me every spiritual service.
As the Iroquois were following the Illinois,
the latter begged me to send word to them
to advance no farther. Not being able to
go myself on account of my wound, I sent
the Reverend Father Zenoble. We forded
the river and, having reached the village
and lain down in a hut, I was surprised to
see that the Iroquois had got there as soon
as I; the Illinois, who were behindhand,
went off to join their women. The Iro-
quois fortified the village and refreshed
themselves upon the victuals they found.
Two days later, the Illinois appeared upon
a hill a half-league from the village. The
Iroquois, who were only seeking to gain
time, asked me to bring them an Illinois
that they might make peace. I demanded
an Iroquois to serve as a hostage and, being
granted one, I led him to the hill and
brought back with me an Illinois into the
fort; the latter returned the next day, and
the Iroquois came back. Until the 18 th,
there were great and continual negotia-
tions for peace. The Illinois were in their
forts every day; they made each other
presents, and the Illinois even returned
some Iroquois slaves whom they had among
them. I sent them word by the Reverend
Father Zenoble that if, on the 19th, they
did not retire, they must be on their guard,

and

43

September,
1680.

The

Iroquois
capture
the village.

Insincere
negotia-
tions/or
peace.

44

Septembre
1680.

Relation de Henri de Tonty.

fis demander quand ils s'en iroient; m'ayant
respondu qu'ils vouloient manger les Illi-
nois, je rebutay leur present avec le pied, ce
qui est un grand affront parmy eux. Le
mesme chef me prit par le bras et me dit:
"Retire-toy." Aussytost ils chanterent
leurs chansons de guerre. Nous connusmes
pour lors qu'il n'y avoit plus de quartier
pour nous. Neantmoins ils ne nous firent
point de mal et nous firent embarquer le
lendemain pour nous retirer, nous deman-
dant une lettre pour M. le comte de Fron-
tenac, afin qu'il vist par la qu'ils ne nous
avoient pas tuez. Je leur en donnay une
par laquelle je lui mandois l'estat des choses.
Le 21, comme nostre canot faisoit beau-
coup d'eau et que nous faisions secher nos
hardes et quelques pelleteries, le R. P. Ga-
briel disant son office loin de la cabane,
nous fusmes surpris que, sur les six heures
du soir, il ne revenoit pas. Je fus le cher-
cher et ay ant trouve sa piste, je la suivis
pendant une demi-lieue, et l'ayant trouvee
entrecoupee de plusieurs autres, je m'en
retournay a la cabane, et comme nous ne
doutions pas qu'il avoit este pris ou tue, je
jugeay a propos de laisser nostre equipage
et de traverser de l'autre bord vis-a-vis.
Nous fismes bon quart pendant la nuit et
aperceusmes plusieurs personnes en nostre
equipage, lesquelles allumerent du feu. Le

lendemain

Relation of Henri de Tonty.

and that the Iroquois would certainly play
them a bad trick. Toward evening, the
chiefs sent for me and for the Reverend
Father Zenoble, and, having spread out six
bales of beaver-skins, said they would give
me these in order that I should not be
angry about my wound, inasmuch as it was
a blundering fellow who had stabbed me.
I enquired when they intended to go away,
and, receiving the answer that they meant
first to devour the Illinois, I spurned their
gift with my foot, — a great affront among
them. The same chief took me by the
arm and said "Begone!" Upon this they
sang their war-songs. By this we under-
stood that there was to be no quarter for
us. Nevertheless, they did us no harm,
but made us embark the next day for our
departure, first asking for a letter for the
Comte de Frontenac, as proof that they
had not slain us. I gave them one, where-
in I announced to him the state of affairs.
On the 2 1 st, as our canoe was leaking
badly, we stopped to dry our clothing and
some skins. The Reverend Father Gabriel
having gone some distance from camp to
say his prayers, we were surprised when at
six o'clock he did not return. I went to
seek him and followed his trail for a half-
league, when, finding it confused with the
footprints of many others, I returned to

camp.

45

September,
1680.

Tonty
kicks the
beaver-
skins.

Disappear-
ance of
Father
Gabriel.

46

Novembre
1680.

Relation de Henri de Tonty.

lendemain nous traversasmes et nous res-
tasmes la jusqu' a midy. Voyant qu'il ne
venoit personne, nous partismes dans le des-
sein de faire de petites journees, car nous
supposions que le Pere pouvoit s'estre
escarte et que nous pourrions le retrouver au
bord de l'eau. Et le lendemain, sur le soir,
ayant entendu un coup de fusil dans le bois
proche de nous, nous ne doutasmes point
d'estre suivis, c'est pourquoy nous fismes
une bonne garde, et ayant entre dans une
petite riviere qui alloit a nostre route, j'y
tuay un boeuf, et m'estant charge de viande
que je portay pendant une demi-lieue avec
beaucoup de peine, j'en eus la fievre tierce.
Renault, le meilleur de mes canoteurs, vou-
lut me quitter pour s'en aller par terre. Je
luy donnay carte blanche; mais le P. Ze-
noble l'obligea a rester. Nous fismes nostre
portage, et eusmes assez de malheur de
prendre la coste du nord du lac des Illinois,
car M. de La Salle, qui venoit me trouver,
estoit du coste du sud. Apres quelques
acces de fievre, les jambes et le corps m'en-
flerent. La veille de la Toussaint nous
fusmes pris d'un vent du large qui nous jeta
a la coste, de maniere qu'il fallut abandon-
ner nostre equipage. Je fus oblige de le
laisser garder au sieur de Boisrondet, et
comme nous croyions n'estre qu'a huit
lieues du village des Poutouatamis, je pris

resolution

Relation of Henri de Tonty.

47

^>ro

camp. Not doubting that he had been September,
taken or killed, I thought it safest to leave
our effects and to cross to the other side of
the river. We kept a good watch during
the night and saw a number of persons in
our camp, who lighted a fire. In the
morning we went back and remained there
until noon. As no one came, we departed,
intending to travel by short stages; for we
supposed the Father might have gone
astray, and that we might find him some-
where along the river. The next day,
toward evening, hearing the report of a
gun in the woods near us, we made no
doubt of being pursued, and so kept a sharp
lookout. While running up a small river
which was on our route, I killed a bullock,
and, in consequence of carrying the meat
for a half-league (which I did with great
difficulty), I was taken with the tertian
fever. Renault, the best of my canoemen,
wished to leave me and go forward on foot.
I gave him entire freedom, but Father
Zenoble prevailed upon him to remain.
We accomplished our portage, but were so
unfortunate as to take the north side of the Tonty takes
lake of the Illinois; for M. de La Salle, the,wr°n{
who was coming to meet me, was on the
south side. After several fever-fits, my legs
and body became swollen. On All-saints'
eve, we were caught by a wind from the

open

The ter-
tian/ever.

side of the
lake.

48

Relation de Henri de Tonty.

<*'rV>J

Novembre resolution de m'en aller par terre audit vil-
lage, duquel nous estions distans de vingt
lieues. Le ier Novembre nous nous mis-
mes en marche, et ayant pris pour un jour
de vivres dans l'esperance de nous y rendre,
nous en laissasmes pour dix jours au sieur
de Boisrondet.

L'incommodite de mon enflure m'ostant
le moyen de marcher a cause de grandes
ravines qu'il nous falloit traverser, cela fut
cause que nous ne mangeasmes que de Tail
sauvage jusqu'au jour de la Saint-Martin,
que nous trouvasmes la peau et les quatre
pieds d'un chevreuil que les loups venoient
de devorer; nous en fismes la feste dans le
village des Poutouatamis, lesquels l'avoient
abandonne pour aller a la baye des Puans,
a cause qu'ils avoient peur des Iroquois.
Cet abandonnement redoubla nostre chagrin,
nous voyant sans aucun secours. Nous
trouvasmes par bonheur quantite de citrou-
illes pourries dont nous fismes un amas pour
tascher a gagner Missilimakinak. Nous
mangeasmes mesme dans ledit village des
courroies qui attachoient les perches de leurs
cabanes et quelques cotons, des bleds d'Inde
que nous faisions rostir dans le feu, et mesme
ayant trouve un bouclier de peau de boeuf,
nous l'emportasmes pour le manger. Comme
nous avions mis nos petites provisions dans

une

Relation of Henri de Tonty.

49

Wander-
ings and
starvation.

open lake which cast us upon the coast, so November,
that we had to abandon our boat. I was l68°-
obliged to leave the Sieur de Boisrondet ^*^*
to guard it, and, thinking we were within
eight leagues of the village of the Potta-
wattamies, I made up my mind to go on
foot to this village, from which we were
in reality twenty leagues distant. On the
first of November we set out and, taking
provisions for one day, in the hope of
reaching our destination, we left to the
Sieur de Boisrondet provisions for ten days.
My swollen condition making it impos-
sible for me to march, on account of the
great ravines we had to cross, we were
obliged to subsist on wild garlic until Mar-
tinmas, when we found the skin and the
four feet of a roe-deer, which had just been
devoured by the wolves. Upon this we made
our Martinmas feast in the Pottawattamie
village, the inhabitants having fled to the
Baye des Puans* for fear of the Iroquois.
This abandonment increased our disappoint-
ment, as we found ourselves without re-
sources. By good luck we found a number
of decayed pumpkins of which we made a
hoard in the hope of reaching Missilimak-
inak. While in this village we even ate the

thongs

*The Bay of the Stinkards, or of the Stinking
Waters : Green Bay. — Translator.

VWJ

50 Relation de Henri de Tonty.

Novembre, une cabane sur le bord du lac, et que nous
]1 !^' . estions cabanez sur un costeau, nous avions
resolu de partir promptement, et un de nos
plus grands chagrins estoit d'abandonner le
sieur de Boisrondet, a qui nous ne pouvions
donner nul secours. Comme nous portions
le reste de nos vivres, Ton entendit une voix
dans la cabane ou estoient nos citrouilles.
C estoit le sieur de Boisrondet, lequel ayant
aperceu un canot que nous avions accom-
mode et que nous avions trouve dans le vil-
lage, eut envie d'entrer dans la cabane, et
ayant trouve nos citrouilles, il en fit un grand
degast, croyant que nous luy avions faict cet
amas pour son voyage, et que nous estions
partis. Nous eusmes une joie extresme de
le voir, et beaucoup de tristesse de voir nos
citrouilles beaucoup diminuees depuis trois
jours qu'il estoit arrive, sans que nous en
sceussions rien. Enfin nous nous embar-
quasmes, et, apres trois lieues de navigation,
il s'eleva un vent du large, et comme nostre
canot estoit extremement volage, crainte de
perdre nos vivres, je fis debarquer. Aussy-
tost que j'eus mis pied a terre, j'aperceus des
pistes d'homme toutes fraisches avec un
grand chemin et la carcasse d'une cabane
qui ne faisoit que de partir. Le Reverend
Pere Zenoble et Renault suivirent ce chemin
pendant une lieue, lequel aboutissoit dans la
baye des Puans; ils m'en vinrent apporter la

nouvelle;

Relation of Henri de Tonty. 5 1

thongs which fastened the poles of their November,
lodges; also, some stalks of Indian corn, l68°-
which we roasted; and finding an ox-hide *****
shield we carried it with us for food. We The hoard
had placed our little stock of provisions in a ofpump-
lodge on the shore of the lake and were ****•
ourselves encamped upon a hill. We had
decided to set out at once, and one of our
greatest sorrows was the abandonment of
the Sieur de Boisrondet, to whom we could
extend no help. As we were carrying down
the last of our provisions, we heard a voice
in the lodge where our pumpkins were. It
was the Sieur de Boisrondet who had seen
the canoe which we had found in the vil-
lage and had repaired, and who, entering
the lodge, had found our pumpkins, of
which he had made great havoc, thinking
we had gone on leaving this store for his
journey. We were extremely glad to see
him, although much chagrined to see our
store of pumpkins greatly diminished. He
had been there three days without our
knowledge. Finally we embarked, but
after sailing three leagues, finding our
canoe extremely crank and a wind from
the lake arising, I gave orders to disembark
for fear of losing our provisions. No
sooner had I landed than I saw fresh foot-
prints of men, with a broad path and the
frame of a lodge that had just been taken

down.

52

Relation de Henri de Tonty.

Novembre, nouvelle; nous jugeasmes tous que ce devoit
*f^°* estre un petit lac, et nous resolusmes de faire
portage, ce que nous fismes 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 sca-
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 l'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 l'eau 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 J^..
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 nfon t0

die 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

i68o

54 Relation de Henri de Tonty.

Decembre, 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
firent un plaisir de nous envoyer des vivres,
de maniere que d'une grande disette ou nous
estions, nous nous trouvasmes dans l'abon-
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
Francois du coste du nord, et que les ayant

suivies,

Relation of Henri de Tonty. 55

his inability to digest a bit of the shield. December,
The next day, the 4th of December, as I l68°-
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 %^f^J
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
Dieu' disette parce qu'ils ne mangeoient que des

Ky^sT\j 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
Francois que je pourrois, je m'y rendis le
10 Novembre. M. de La Salle m'y joignit
le 19 Decembre, de maniere que, la riviere

estant

Relation of Henri de Tonty.

trail, they had known these Frenchmen to
be in a starving condition because they had
nothing to eat but elderberries, or garlic
which they dug up from under the snow.
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-
formed me that it was his intention to
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
there to get together as many Frenchmen
and Savages as possible. I reached the
Miami* on the ioth of November. On

the
*The St. Joseph. — Translator.

57

Corpus

Christi

day,

1681.

La Salle's

inflexible

purpose.

Tonty sets
out again.

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
Francois m'en donna advis. Sur quoy on
en fit recherche, parce que c'estoient huit
hommes que j'avois envoy ez 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-
cois 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.

60 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 nom ecrit ailleurs Menneret, Migurtt.

Relation of Henri de Tonty. 6 1

The Sieur de Boisrondet.

Jacques Bourdon, Sieur 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.^

Captain Clance.

Amabanso.

Hirguen.

Ahos.

Seneche.

Nanaouairinthe.

Youtin.

Sanomp.

Ouabaresmanth.

*I find this name elsewhere written Menneret, Mi-
guret. — Margry.

"{"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.

Ft

1 Huronne.

3 Nipissiriniennes.

5 Abenaquises.
1 Ochipoise.
3 enfans.

Apres nous traisnasmes nostre equipage
soixante-dix lieues, scavoir vingt sur la
riviere de Chicago et cinquante sur celle
des Illinois. Estant arrivez au fort de Con-
trecceur (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 rleuve 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 l'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 l'eau pour pescher de la barbue;
nous en prism es 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.

Alimalman.

Apexos.

Chouakost.

Akiesko.

Maskinampo.

Miouema.

Ononthio.

Pioua.

Women.

One Huron.

Three Nipissings.
Five Abenakis.
One Ojibwa.
Three Children.

From this place, we dragged our out-
fit for seventy leagues, — to wit, 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
6th of February that we reached the Mis-
sissippi, which M. de La Salle named the
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.

63

February,
1682.

The Mis-
sissippi
reached.

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 l'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.

6S

February,
1682.

The Mis-

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 a river The Ohio
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;

66

Relation de Henri de Tonty.

Fevrier,
1682.

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 fayolles 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 l'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 of Henri de Tonty. 67

hunt; but, the place being unsuitable, we February,
descended three leagues farther. Pierre
Prud'homme, who had never hunted, de-
sired to go upon the chase, and said at hgmme
setting forth: — "This time I mean to make thirsts for
a name for myself." M. de La Salle -£■» M a

1 r 1 hunter.

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 homme
Maskinampo did not return, we became
very uneasy, supposing that they had been

taken

68 Relation de Henri de Tonty.

Fevrier, croyant qu'ils avoient este pris par les
l68z* Sauvages dont on avoit veu les pistes. Le
jour suivant que 1 on 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 couvert,
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'essuyer son chagrin, firent con-
noistre qu'il y avoit encore trois journees a

marcher,

Relation of Henri de Tonty.

69

February,
1682.

Fort

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 Prud'-
for our protection; and he sent me with homme-
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

i682.

70 Relation de Henri de Tonty.

Mars, marcher, ce qui obligea M. dc La Salle a
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 l'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 l'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 facon des

Sauvages,

Relation of Henri de Tonty.

71

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
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 5th
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

March,
1682.

homme'
raft.

Cane-
brakes.

jz Relation de Henri de Tonty.

Mars, Sauvages et battre le tambour. M. de La
l682, Salle ne douta point que ce ne fust un village.
x^y*KJ Nous fismes un fort en moins de demi-
heure. Pendant le temps qu'on le faisoit,
je m'avancay 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. Ils 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. Ils vinrent a
moy, et quand ils furent a portee, ils me
decocherent une fleche arm 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 we
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. Ccs Sauvages nous re-
l682, 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 arborer les
armes du Roy. On peut dire que ce sont
les Sauvages les mieux faits de tous ceux
que nous avons jamais veus. Ils 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, quoyqu'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 l'en-
droit ou finissent toutes les pelleteries de
castors et de loutres, lesquels sont devorez

par
* Akansa ?

Relation of Henri de Tonty.

75

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 Natural
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? — Margry.

j6 Relation de Henri de Tonty.

Mars, par ces animaux. Pour ce qui est des
1682. 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, couverts 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.

yS Relation de Henri de Tonty.

Mars, grandes nappes blanches semblables aux

i68z. amas* que les Sauvages des isles de l'Ame-

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 couvert 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 burTalo-
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.

80 Relation de Henri de Tonty.

Mars, donnay au chef un couteau qu'il receut

l68z- comme un present fort considerable. II

nous regala le mieux qu ll 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. 8i

the fashion of cups. Their knives, as well March,
as their axes, are of flint. I noticed that l68z>
he had sixteen fine pearls hanging from his ^^*^
ears, and asked our interpreter to inquire Sixteen
where they had been found. He answered ^ large as
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
avec nos interpretes, et ayant donne un

U"VNJ

bracelet au chef, il me fit present de ces
pedes, 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, ou
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 l'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 25 th, 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-
ia temple.

Tonty
bears the
calumet to
the
Natchez.

1682

84 Relation de Henri de Tonty.

Mars, une pirogue qui traversa la riviere. Nous
luy donnasmes chasse; mon canot, qui alloit
le mieux, devanca 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 l'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 l'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 l'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 Francois
ou 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.

f 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
monde et je restay a la cabane qui estoit

<^VV>

esloignee de trois lieues, et M. de La Salle
coucha au village. lis le nomment Nahy*
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
ou estoit le Pere Zenoble, lequel estoit le
plus avance, aperceut sur la main droite

quelques
* Nache ?

Relation of Henri de Tonty.

and ten men to our camp. The next day
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 war-cry raised. We disembarked at
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.

87

March,
1682.

The

Coroas.

The Kini-
pissas raise
the war-
cry.

88 Relation de Henri de Tonty.

Avril, quelques Sauvages qui peschoient au bord
l68z- de l'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 l'aborder. 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, after 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.

AvriI» droite, je fus a celuy du milieu, et le sieur
^_J . 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 Te 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 1 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 l'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.

prince, Louis the Great, King of France
and of Navarre. On the ioth 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 £**<
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,
belonging to the people who had fled to
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,

91

April,
1682.

Potatoes
and alli-

Four

women

asleep.

92 Relation de Henri de Tonty.

Avril, Elles nous avertirent de ce qui s'estoit
1682. passe. Nous fusmes le mesme iour 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 l'eau, dans lequel
il s'embarqua et fut apres; mais, ne 1' ay ant
pu joindre, il revint a la cabane, et, ay ant
embarque une des femmes que nous avions
faites prisonnieres, il luy donna quelques
haches, 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 l'autre bord, et ayant aperceu en-
viron trois cents hommes, M. de La Salle
fit mettre trois canots a l'eau 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 l'eau, 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 APril»
we were hungry and that they must bring o"v\j
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 15th, we heard a cry from
the opposite bank; seeing about three hun- Heggtiates
dred men, M. de La Salle launched three with the
canoes and went over to them. While he treacl?er-

. . . . . r ous Kini-

was negotiating with this nation for peas, 1 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, telling 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.

i68z
WO

94 Relation de Henri de Tonty.

Avril, firent signe de traverser de l'autre bord, on
s'embarqua et on fut cabaner a demi-quart
de lieue du village, oft 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 l'apres-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 Chouakost.

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 La Salle
who was related to the Quinipissas. This refuses to
M. de La Salle refused, and, on account of if*"***'

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

96 Relation de Henri de Tonty.

Avrii, disoit cela et que le sieur d'Autray disoit
1682. 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 l'entour de nous. Ces
canailles nous avoient entourez et faisoient
mettre au bord de l'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 we
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

98 Relation de Henri de Tonty.

Avril, de retour de cette expedition, il tint conseil
l68z- 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'apercusmes 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.

99

April,
1682.

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- TdlT'more
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

Surround-

thousand
Indians.

ioo Relation de Henri de Tonty.

*ssTk)

Avril, portoit a manger, nous fusmes surpris de nous
1682. vojr entourez par plus de mille homme.
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
l'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
Francois 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 l'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.

ioi

April,
1682.

<^WJ

La Salle's
undaunted

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 beartnz-
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.

102 Relation de Henri de Tonty.

Avril, qu'il falloit toujours faire connoistre aux
l682, 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 l'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 l'autre 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 l'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, ou
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.

104 Relation de Henri de Tonty.

Mai, monde dans la cabane du chef; et apres
que nous eusmes soupe et que tout le
V^*VI 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 l'allast voir. Les
Francois 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, l'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

Relation of Henri de Tonty. 105

us that there was singing all night long at May>
his door; that, when he embarked in the tvvi.
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 2**%*
a pleasant voyage, and caused tobacco to the Mis-
be thrown into the water that the river «"*>/*■
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

106 Relation de Henri de Tonty.

Mai, fusil et plusieurs autres presents, et apres
l68z* 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 l'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 l'eau 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 l'accompagnoient, 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.

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
fallen ill and asking me to send with all
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-
ing the war-cry. I offered them the calu-
met ; an Illinois among them, when he saw
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

107

May,
1682.

Severe ill-
ness of
La Salle.

Tonty's
party saved
by an
Illinois
Indian.

108 Relation de Henri de Tonty.

Juin, pressantes a la riviere des Miamis, je partis
l68z- le 4 Juin avec Brossard, Cauchois, Jean
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 Francois ! "
Nous mismes a terre et passasmes la nuit
avec eux. Ils 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 1 8, 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. 109

design. The village of the Tamaroas was June,
distant only a day and a half; a warrior l68z-
went to bear them the calumet, and when V^*SJ
I had told them that the Iroquois canoe
was very far away, the party turned back.
On the 1 8th, 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- A fruitful
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;

land.

1 10 Relation de Henri de Tonty.

<^~V>J

Juillet, qu'ils avoient des Iroquois. Les eaux estant
l679- fort 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 l'attendre, et s'estant rendu a Michili-
makinak, il prit resolution d'aller en France

rendre

Relation of Henri de Tonty. i i i

rich; at the Coroa village, Indian corn July,
comes to maturity in forty days. l862.

Fortunately I found at the lakeside an Ou- v^*v'
tagamie, who sold me his canoe. Finding
no one at the river of the Miamis, I made
my way to Michilimakinak,* which 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 Tonty re-
discovery. He sent me back to build a tVF"wm .
fort at the portage of the Illinois River, for t0 build a
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.

1 12 Relation de Henri de Tonty.

Decembre, rendre compte a la Cour de sa descouverte,
l68z- 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'envoyer ses depesches par le R. P. Zeno-
ble, et il vint me joindre, le 30 Decembre,
et pendant l'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 appelerent
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

Louis.

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 l68z*

impregnable rock Fort St. Louis, to which

M. de La Salle induced the Shawanoes to Fort St

come. The Miamis united themselves

with him, and later the Illinois, 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
these tribes, whose minds were preoccupied
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

La Salle's
French

WNJ

114 Relation de Henri de Tonty.

Aout, pour rassembler ces peuples, lesquels avoient
3* l'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 l'hiver en mesintelligence
ensemble. Le 21 Mars 1684,* deux cents
Iroquois, ayant pille sept canots de Francois,
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 textc porte a tort 1683.

Relation of Henri de Tonty. i i 5

with him in perfect harmony; but as, in March,

the course of time, I saw that he was doing l684>

all he could to debauch our people, and as *^*>J

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 21st of March, 1684,* two hundred

Iroquois, after robbing seven French canoes, The lro_

came to attack our Fort. After six days' quois

siege, they retired with loss and were pur- a"ack

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,!" 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, r

the latter, empowered by His Majesty, has made Gov-

named me Governor of Fort St. Louis, and ernor °f

the King has honored me with the com- £uijm

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.

1 1 6 Relation de Henri de Tonty.

W\J

Mai, quelques-uns. Le 21 May, le sieur de La
]^ii. % 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 l'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. i 17

OUt tO gO tO the Fort, but, OI1 aCCOUnt November,

of the ice, I find myself compelled to lie l684*
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.

1 1 8 Relation de Henri de Tonty.

Distances des Heux oil le sieur de Tonty a passe

depuis La Rochelle jusqu a la mer du Sud (sic) , par

le Canada et par V embouchure de la riviere de

Mississipi oufleuve Colbert.

Lieues.

De La Rochelle a l'lsle-Percee - 1,000

De l'lsle-Percee a Quebec - - - 120

Aux Trois- Rivieres - 30

Au Montreal et Villemarie - - - 30

Au fort Frontenac - - - - 60

A Niagara 92

Au lac Erie ----- 14

Au Detroit ----- 100

Au lac Huron - 30

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 ------ 374

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 - 374

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 Iieux les plus remarquables ou ledit
sieur de Tonty a touch'e dans le fleuve Colbert.

Lieues.
De l'embouchure 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 1

A la mer 38

37*

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 - - - - - 38

372

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