Thus we went on till the 8th, without stopping any longer than to kill a Bullock, and one of our _Indians_, who had a craving Stomach, having eaten some of its Suet hot and raw, was taken very ill, and died of it, as I shall mention in its Place.
The 9th, we came into a Lake, about half a League over, which we cross’d, and return’d into the Channel of the River, on the Banks whereof we found several Marks of the Natives having been incamp’d there, when they came to fish and dry what they caught. The 10th, we cross’d another Lake, call’d _Primitehouy_, return’d to the River, and the 11th, saw _Indians_ before us, incamp’d on the Bank of a River, whereupon we stop’d and made ready our Arms. In the mean Time, one of them came towards us by Land, and we put on our Canoe towards him.
When that _Indian_ was near, he stood gazing on us, without speaking a Word, and then drawing still nearer, we gave him to understand, that we were sent by Monsieur _de la Sale_, and came from him. Then he made Signs to us, to advance towards his People, whom, he went before to acquaint with what he had said to him, so that when we were come near them they fired Several Shot to salute us, and we answer’d them with our Firelocks.
After that mutual Salutation, they came into our Canoe, to signify, they were glad to hear News of Monsieur _de la Sale_. We ask’d them, What Nation they were of; they answer’d, They were _Islinois_, of a Canton call’d _Cascasquia_. We enquir’d whether Monsieur _Tonty_ was at Fort _Lewis_; they gave us to understand, that he was not, but that he was gone to the War against the _Iroquois_. They invited us Ashore, to go with them to eat of such as they had, we thank’d them, and they brought us some Gourds and Water Melons, in Exchange for which, we gave them some parch’d Flesh.
We had not by the Way taken Notice of a Canoe, in which was a Man with two Women, who, being afraid of us, had hid themselves among the Reeds, but that man seeing us stop among his Countrymen, took Heart, came to us, and having told us, that he belong’d to a Village near Fort _Lewis_, we set out together, and one of our _Indians_ went into that Canoe, to help them to shove, so they call the Way of pushing on the Canoe with Poles instead of rowing.
