June 1686 Ashore, which was for the Space of three Months, and in finding the Canoe to bring them back.
When Monsieur de la Sale went away, the Sieur Barbier had taken upon him to go a hunting, as also to provide Bark to cover our Houses, instead of Hides, because the Sun drying and contracting them, Part of the Top of our Buildings was uncover'd. I farther enjoyn'd him to cut Stakes, to make a Palisade about our Dwelling, and the Sieur Chedeville having told me they had bury'd several Things they could not bring away, I sent the Sieur Barbier with two Canoes and fifteen Men to the Place, where they found some Pedreroes,[1] Rigging and Sails. The Natives having discover'd the Concealment, had taken away some Pieces of Linen and Iron Tools, which they very much covet.
Encounter with the Natives. The Sieur Barbier after his Return, continuing his Exercise of hunting, happen'd to meet with a Parcel of the Natives, some of whom had Firelocks, which they had taken from our Men, and with which they made some Shots at him, but very weak; and he firing three or four Shot at them they retir'd. He was then in a Canoe on the River, and design'd to have gone upwards; but that Rancounter having oblig'd him to take another Way, and the Savages perceiving it, eight of them swam over the River, hastening to get before the Canoe, hid themselves among the Weeds, near the Way he was to pass, and when he was near enough, let fly their Arrows, which wounded several Men. One Shot the Sieur Barbier made, put them all to Flight again; he held on his Way and return'd to our Habitation.
Some Days after, we perceiv'd a Herd of Bullocks flying, and guess'd they were pursu'd by the Savages, which afterwards appear'd to be true. Some of them drew near to our Habitation, but a Cannon Shot, I pointed towards the Gang of them, and a Musket-shot Monsieur Barbier fired at the nearest, made them all fly farther off.
- ↑ Fr. "pierriers"—swivel-guns. C. C. edit.
