[Sidenote: _Persons that set out with M._ de la Sale.]
We set out the 12th of _January_, in the Year 1687, being seventeen in Number, _viz._ Monsieur _de la Sale_, Monsieur _Cavelier_, the Priest, his Brother, Father _Anastasius_, the Recolet, Messieurs _Moranget_ and _Cavelier_, Nephews to Monsieur _de la Sale_, the Sieurs _Duhaut_, the Elder, _l’Arcleveque_,[79] _Hiens_, _Liotot_, Surgeon, young _Talon_, an _Indian_, and a Footman belonging to Monsieur _de la Sale_. We carried along with us Part of the best Things every Man had, and what was thought would be of Use, wherewith the five Horses were loaded, and we took our Leaves with so much Tenderness and Sorrow, as if we had all presaged, that we should never see each other more. Father _Zenobius_ was the Person who express’d it to me most significantly, saying, He had never been so sensibly touch’d at parting with any Body.
We went that Day to the Place we call’d _le Boucon_, because there, we had often dry’d Flesh, (_which the French call_ Boucanner _from the Indian Word_). This Place was not far from our Habitation. The 13th, we cross’d a Plain, about two Leagues over, where we saw several Herds of Beeves and Flocks of Goats, Turkeys, Bustards, and other Sorts of Wild Fowl. We met with Marshy Lands, which tired our Horses, and came to a Wood that terminates the Plain, across which, runs a Branch of a River, full of Reeds, by Monsieur _de la Sale_ call’d the _Princess’s_ River. That Branch joins the other, and they both fell together into the Bay of St. _Lewis_.
We kill’d five Beeves at the Entrance into the Wood, forded the River, and incamp’d Half a League beyond it, whence Monsieur _de la Sale_ sent Men with Horses, to bring the Flesh of the Bullocks we had kill’d; the Hides of them, which serv’d to cover us, being very useful against a violent Shower of Rain that fell.
The 14th, the Rain ceasing, we travell’d over another spacious Plain, where there is a Multitude of Beeves and Wild Fowl. We saw several Tracks, leading every Way, made by the Bullocks, of which we saw several Herds, some moving on hastily, and others running out-right, which made us suppose they were drove by the Natives. In short, having halted to help up one of our Horses that was fallen, we saw an _Indian_ following them very close. Monsieur _de la Sale_ caus’d a Horse to be immediately unloaded, which a Man mounting, rode after, overtook and brought the _Indian_.