Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/74

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  • mand to be subject to that Folly, which being told to Monsr.

de Beaujeu, he forbid putting of it in Execution, to the great Dissatisfaction of the inferior Officers and Sailors, who expected a considerable Sum of Money and Quantity of Refreshments, or Liquors, because there were many Persons to Duck, and all the Blame was laid upon Monsr. de la Sale.

Hispaniola Island. On the 11th of September, we were in the Latitude of the Island of Santa Domingo, or Hispaniola, being 20 Degrees North, and the Longitude of 320 Degrees. We steer'd our Course West, but the Wind flatting, the ensuing Calm quite stopp'd our Way. That same Day Monsr. Dainmaville, the Priest,[1] went aboard the Bark la Belle, to administer the Sacraments to a Gunner, who died a few Days after. Monsr. de la Sale went to see him, and I bore him Company.

The 21st,[2] the Ketch, which we had before lost sight of, join'd us again; and some Complaints being made to Monsr. de la Sale, by several private Persons that were aboard the Flyboat, he order'd me to go thither to accomodate those Differences, which were occasion'd only by some Jealousies among them.

Sombrero Island. The 16th, we sail'd by the Island Sombrero, and the 18th had hard blowing Weather, which made us apprehensive of a Hurracan. The foul Weather lasted two Days, during which Time, we kept under a main Course and lost Sight of the other Vessels.

A Council was call'd aboard our Ship, the Joly, to consider whether we should lie by for the others, or hold on our Course, and it was resolv'd, that, considering our Water began to fall short, and there were above five Persons[3] sick aboard, of which Number Monsr. de la Sale and the Sur-*

  1. In the original Fr. "the missionary priest."
  2. In the original "Le 12"—the twelfth.
  3. The French original says "plus de malades"—i. e. more than 50 sick people.