Journal of the First Expeditionn of Pierre Gaultier, Sieur de La Verendrye to the Mandan Villages on the Missouri
[Translation from the French by Douglas Brymner, Archivist]
Journal in the form of a letter, from the 20th of July, 1738, date of my departure from Michilimakinak, to May 1739, sent to the Marquis de Beauharnois, Commander of the Military Order of St. Louis, Governor and Lieutenant General of the whole of New France, lands and country of Louisiana, by his very humble servant La Verendrye, lieutenant of a company of the detachment of the marine in Canada, commissioned by his orders for the discovery of the Western Sea.
I had the honor, Sir, last year to notify you of my departure from Michilimakinak in six canoes, twenty-two men, so fitted out as to be capable of making great speed. I reached the flat lands on the morning of the first of August, the twelfth day after leaving. I stopped there about three hours to speak to the Indians as your representative. I found there only the chief of the Gamanestigouya, a few old and a few young people. I had already known that they had all left to go among the Sioux. I caused to be assembled what men there were, made them a present of tobacco and wheat, which they value more than merchandise, which is given to them cheap. I began my speech by finding fault with them for going to war against the word they had given me last year when passing among them, to undertake nothing till my return; that I brought them your word that you were not for the present inclined to have war; that every one should keep quiet on his lands; that you had your reasons for this; you would have them warned if you required their services. I then communicated news about which they are very curious.
