After
proceeding about 20 leagues straight to the south, and a little
less to the southeast, we found ourselves
at a river
called Ouabonkigou, the mouth of which is at the 36th degree
of latitude. Before reaching it, we passed by a place that is
dreaded by the savages, because they believe that a manitou is
there, that is to say, a demon,¬that devours travelers; and
the savages, who wished to divert us from our undertaking, warned
us against it. This is the demon; there is a small cove, surrounded
by rocks 20 feet high, into which the whole current of the river
rushes; and, being pushed back against the waters following it,
and checked by an island near by, the current is compelled to
pass through a narrow channel. This is not done without a violent
struggle between all these waters, which force one another back,
or without a great din, which inspires terror in the savages,
who fear everything. But this did not prevent us from passing,
and arriving at Waboukigou. This river flows from the lands of
the east, where dwell the people called Chaouanons in so great
numbers that in one district there are as many as 23 villages,
and 15 in another, quite near one another. They are not at all
warlike, and are the nations whom the Iroquois go so far to seek,
and war against without any reason; and because these poor people
cannot defend themselves, they allow themselves to be captured
and taken like flocks of sheep; and, innocent though they are,
they nevertheless sometimes experience the barbarity of the Iroquois,
who cruelly burn them.
A short distance above the river of which I have just spoken
are cliffs, oft which our Frenchmen noticed an iron mine, which
they
consider very rich. There are several veins of ore, and a bed
a foot thick, and one sees large masses of it united with pebbles.
A sticky earth is found there, of three different colors purple,
violet, and red. The water in which the latter is washed assumes
a bloody tinge. There is also very heavy red sand. I placed some
on a paddle, which was dyed with its color so deeply that the
water
could not wash it away during the 15 days while I used it for
paddling.
Here we began to see canes, or large reeds, which grow on the
banks of the river; their color is a very pleasing green; all
the nodes
are marked by a crown of long, narrow, pointed leaves. They
are very high, and grow so thickly that the wild cattle have
some
difficulty in forcing their way through them.
Hitherto, we had not suffered any inconvenience from mosquitoes;
but we are entering into their home, as it were. This is
what the savages of this quarter do to protect themselves against
them.
They erect a scaffolding, the floor of which consists only
of poles, so that it is open to the air in order that the
smoke
of the fire
made underneath may pass through, and drive away those little
creatures, which cannot endure it; the savages lie down upon
the poles, over
which bark is spread to keep off rain. These scaffoldings
also serve them as protection against the excessive and unbearable
heat of this country; for they lie in the shade, on the floor
below,
and thus protect themselves against the sun's rays, enjoying
the cool breeze that circulates freely through the scaffolding.
With the same object, we were compelled to erect a sort of
cabin on the water, with our sails as a protection against
the mosquitoes
and the rays of the sun. While drifting down with the current,
in this condition, we perceived on land some savages armed
with guns, who awaited us.
I at once offered them my plumed calumet, while our Frenchmen
prepared for defense, but delayed firing, that the savages
might be the
first to discharge their guns. I spoke to them in Huron,
but they answered me by a word which seemed to me a declaration
of war against
us. However they were as frightened as we were; and what
we
took for a signal for a battle was an invitation that
they gave us
to draw near, that they might give us food. We therefore
landed, and
entered their cabins, where they offered us meat from
wild cattle and bears grease, with white plums, which are very
good. They
have guns, hatchets, hoes, knives, beads, and flasks
of
double glass,
in which they put their powder. They wear their hair
long, and tattoo their bodies after the Hiroquois fashion.
The
women wear
head dresses and garments like those of the Huron women.
They assured us that we were no more than ten days' journey
from
the sea; that
they bought cloth and all other goods from the Europeans
who lived to the east, that these Europeans had rosaries
and pictures;
that
they played upon instruments; that some of them looked
like me, and had been received by these savages kindly.
Nevertheless,
I saw none who seemed to have received any instruction
in the faith;
I gave them as much as I could, with some medals.
This news animated our courage, and made us paddle with
fresh ardor. We thus push forward, and no longer see
so many prairies,
because
both shores of the river are bordered with lofty trees.
The cottonwood, elm, and basswood trees there are admirable
for
their height
and thickness. The great numbers of wild cattle, which
we heard bellowing,
lead us to believe that the prairies are near. We also
saw quail on the waters edge. We killed a little parroquet,
one half of whose head was red, the other half and the
neck was
yellow, and
the whole
body green. We had gone down to near the 33rd degree
of latitude having proceeded nearly all the time in
a southerly
direction,
when we perceived a village on the water's edge called
Mitchigamea. We had recourse to our patroness and guide,
the Blessed Virgin
Immaculate; and we greatly needed her assistance, for
we heard from afar the savages who were inciting one
another
to the
fray by their continual yells. They were armed with
bows, arrows, hatchets, clubs and shields. They prepared
to
attack us, on
both
land and
water; part of them embarked in great wooden canoes
some to ascend, others to descend the river, in order
to intercept
us and surround
us on all sides. Those who were on land came and went,
as if
to commence the attack. In fact, some young men threw
themselves into
the water, to come and seize my canoe; but the current
compelled them to return to land. One of them then
hurled his club,
which passed over without striking us. In vain I showed
the calumet,
and made them signs that we were not coming to war
against them. The alarm continued, and they were already
preparing
to pierce
us with arrows from all sides, when God suddenly touched
the hearts of the old men, who were standing at the
waters edge.
This no doubt
happened through the sight of our calumet, which they
had not clearly distinguished from afar; but as I did
not cease
displaying
it,
they were influenced by it, and checked the ardor of
their young men. Two of these elders even, after casting
into
our canoe,
as if at our feet, their bows and quivers, to reassure
us entered the canoe, and made us approach the shore,
whereon we landed,
not
without fear on our part. At first, we had to speak
by signs,
because none of them understood the six languages which
1 spoke. At last, we found an old man who could speak
a little Ilinois.
We informed them, by our presents, that we were going
to the sea. They understood very well what we wished
to say
to them,
but 1
know not whether they apprehended what I told them
about God, and about matters pertaining to their
salvation. This is a
seed cast
into the ground, which will bear fruit in its time.
We
obtained no other answer than that we would learn
all that we desired
at another large village, called Akamsea, which was
only 8 or 10 leagues
lower down. They offered us sagamite and fish, and
we passed the night among them, with some anxiety.
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