They brought us Indian corn, cooked in various ways, in round and long cakes, baked in the ashes, mixed with bear's oil or sagamite mixed with beans. A fter the feasting and dancing, Iberville questions the Indians on the location of the east fork of the Mississippi. We marked the course of the river upon a piece of paper, they seemed to comprehend very well. . . . C ontinuing our search for the east fork of the river, on March 17 we come to a spot which will be known as Baton Rouge. The area is extremely fine.
W e turn and descend the river.
We divide into two groups. H e tells us that his voyage on the River Iberville and lakes was exceedingly difficult. They were obliged to make more than eighty portages, on account of the vast number of fallen trees. . . . W e sail back to France and realize that we failed to find the east fork of the Mississippi because we were on it. We had passed the west fork around three o'clock on Friday, March 13.