and Linen taken away, almost all which belong'd to me. This had been done by a French Man, whom M. Tonty had sent from the Fort, during the Winter Season, to know whether there were any Canoes at Chicagou, and whom he had directed to see whether any Body had medled with what we had conceal'd, and he made Use of that Advice to rob us.
Sweet Water from a Tree. The bad Weather oblig'd us to stay in that Place, till April. That Time of Rest was advantageous for the Healing my Foot; and there being but very little Game in that Place, we had Nothing but our Meal or Indian Wheat to feed on; yet we discover'd a Kind of Manna,[1] which was a great Help to us. It was a Sort of Trees, resembling our Maple, in which we made Incisions, whence flow'd a sweet Liquor, and in it we boil'd our Indian Wheat, which made it delicious, sweet and of a very agreeable Relish.
There being no Sugar-Canes in that Country, those Trees supply'd that Liquor, which being boil'd up and evaporated, turn'd into a Kind of Sugar somewhat brownish, but very good. In the Woods we found a Sort of Garlick, not so strong as ours, and small Onions very like ours in Taste, and some Charvel[2] of the same Relish as that we have, but different in the Leaf.
Quinetanan River. The Weather being somewhat mended, we imbark'd again and enter'd upon the Lake on the 8th of April, keeping to the North Side to shun the Iroquois. We had some Storms also, and saw swelling Waves like those of the Sea; but arriv'd safe the 15th at a River call'd Quinetonan, near a Village whence, the Inhabitants depart during the Winter Season, to go a Hunting, and reside there all the Summer.
The Sport is not there as in those Countries from whence we came; but on the Contrary, very poor, and we found Nothing but some very lean Wild Goats, and even those very rarely, because the Wolves, which are very numerous there, make great Havock of them, taking and devouring great Numbers after this Manner.
