could not part with. It being late when Monsieur de la Sale return'd, we staid there the rest of the Day, and several Indians came to see us, in Hopes of receiving some Present, offering us Bullocks Hides dressed, which we would not burden our selves with.
The Second, we set out again, and halted some Time in that Village, where by the Way we barter'd for some Collars, or a Sort of Knots[1] made of Bullocks Hides well dress'd, which the Natives make Use of to carry their Burdens, whether of Wood, Utensils, or the Meat they kill. They prov'd of Use both to us and our Horses, because the Thongs of those Collars serv'd to make fast our Burdens.
la Maligne River. We proceeded on our Journey, through a Country pleasant enough, but Sandy, and having cross'd a large Plain, came to the Bank of a fine River, call'd la Maligne, or the Mischievous, because in Monsieur de la Sale's former Journey, an Alligator devour'd one of his Servants, who was swimming over it. This River is as wide as the Seine at Roan, seems to be very navigable and has a very pleasant Country about it. We incamp'd in a little Wood adjoining to it, and bark'd the Aspen Trees to hut.
Indian Rats. Our Hunters kill'd Beeves, wild Goats, Turkeys and other Wild-Fowl, and among the rest some Creatures as big as an indifferent Cat, very like a Rat, having a Bag under their Throat, in which they carry their Young. They feed upon Nuts and Acorns, are very fat, and their Flesh is much like Pig.
Hard by there, we found a Place where Monsieur de la Sale, in his former Journey had hid some Parcels of Strings of Beads in the Trunks of Trees, and we rested there till the Eighth of the Month. During that Time, no Day pass'd without seeing some of the Natives, who sometimes spent the whole Day with us, and said they were of several Nations. We made them smoke, and always gave
- ↑ Fr. "bretelles"—carriers' or porters' knots.
