We embarked early on the following day, with our interpreter;
a canoe containing ten savages went a short distance ahead of us.
When
we
arrived within half a league of the Akamsea, we saw two canoes
coming to meet us. Ile who commanded stood upright, holding in
his hand
the calumet, with which he made various signs, according to the
custom of the country. He joined us, singing very agreeably; and
gave us
tobacco to smoke; after that, he offered us sagamite, and bread
made of Indian corn, of which we ate a little. He then preceded
us, after
making us a sign to follow him slowly. A place had been prepared
for us under the scaffolding of the chief of the warriors: it
was clean, and carpeted with fine rush mats. Upon these we were
made
to sit, having around us the elders, who were nearest to us;
after them, the warriors; and, finally, all the common people in
a crowd.
We fortunately found there a young man who understood Ilinois
much better than did the interpreter whom we had brought from Mitchigamea.
Through him, I spoke at first to the whole assembly by the usual
presents. They admired what I said to them about God and the
mysteries
of our holy faith. They manifested a great desire to retain me
among them, that I might instruct them.
We afterward asked them what they knew about the sea. They replied
that we were only ten days' journey from it we could have covered
the distance in 5 days; that they were not acquainted with
the nations who dwelt there, because their enemies prevented
them from trading
with those Europeans; that the hatchets, knives, and beads
that we saw were sold to them partly by nations from the east,
and partly
by an Ilinois village situated at four days' journey from their
village westward. They also told us that the savages with guns
whom we had
met were their enemies, who barred their way to the sea, and
prevented them from becoming acquainted with the Europeans,
and from carrying
on any trade with them; that, moreover, we exposed ourselves
to great dangers by going farther, on account of the continual
forays of their
enemies along the river, because, as they had guns and were
very warlike, we could not without manifest danger proceed
down the river,
which they constantly occupy.
During this conversation, food was continually brought to us
in large wooden platters, consisting sometimes of sagarnite,
sometimes of
whole corn, sometimes of a piece of dog's flesh. The entire
day was spent in feasting. These people are very obliging
and liberal with
what they have; but they are wretchedly provided with food,
for they dare not go and hunt wild cattle, on account of
their enemies. It
is true that they have an abundance of Indian corn, which
they sow at all seasons. We saw at the same time some that
was ripe,
some
other that had only sprouted, and some again in the milk,
so that they sow it three times a year. They cook it in great
earthen jars,
which are well made. They have also plates of baked earth
which
they use in various ways. The men go naked, and wear their
hair short;
they pierce their noses, from which, as well as from their
ears, hang beads. The women are clad in wretched skins; they
knot their
hair in two tresses which they throw behind their ears, and
have no ornaments with which to adorn themselves. Their feasts
are given
without any ceremony. They offer the guests large dishes,
from which all eat at discretion and offer what is left to
one another.
Their
language is exceedingly difficult, and I could succeed in
pronouncing only a few words notwithstanding all my efforts.
Their cabins,
which are made of bark, are long and wide; they sleep at
the two ends,
which are raised two feet above the ground. They keep their
corn in large baskets made of canes, or in gourds as large
as half barrels.
They know nothing of the beaver. Their wealth consists in
the skins of wild cattle. They never see snow in their country,
and recognize
the winter only through the rains, which there fall more
frequently
than in summer. We ate no other fruit there than watermelons.
If they knew how to till their soil, they would have fruits
of all kinds.
In the evening, the elders held a secret council, in regard
to the design entertained by some to break our heads and
rob us; but the
chief put a stop to all these plots. After sending for
us, he danced the calumet before us, in the manner I have already
described, as
a token of our entire safety; and, to relieve us of all
fear,
he made me a present of it.
Monsieur Jolliet and I held another council, to deliberate
upon what we should do whether we should push on, or
remain content with the
discovery which we had made. After attentively considering
that we were not far from the Gulf of Mexico, the basin
of which is at the
latitude of 31 degrees 60 minutes, while we were at 33
degrees 40 minutes, we judged that we could not be more
than 2 or
3 days' journey
from it; and that, beyond a doubt, the Missisipi river
discharges into the Florida or Mexican gulf, and not
to the east in
Virginia, whose sea coast is at 34 degrees latitude,
which we had passed,
without, however, having yet reached the sea, or to the
west in California,
because in that case our route would have been to the
west, or the west southwest, whereas we had always continued
it toward the south. We further considered that we exposed
ourselves to the
risk
of losing
the results of this
voyage, of which we could give no information if we proceeded
to fling ourselves into the hands of the Spaniards who,
without doubt,
would at least have detained us as captives. Moreover,
we saw very plainly that we were not in a condition to
resist
savages
allied
to the Europeans, who were numerous, and expert in firing
guns, and who continually infested the lower part of
the river. Finally,
we
had obtained all the information that could he desired
in regard to this discovery. All these reasons induced
us to
decide upon
returning; this we announced to the savages and, after
a day's rest, made our
preparations for it.
