Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1858-07-15
CHI APTER XIII.

We left PoutOuatOntis on the 10Th of Septem-
Der to continue our voyage, being fourteen men
in all, in four Canoes. l had the conduct of the
smallest, though it carried 500 weight and men
but my fellow, being newly come from Europe,
and consequently unskilled to manage these sort
of Boats, had the whole trouble upon me in
any stormy weather. The other four canoe
were laden with smiths forge, and instrume nts
for Carpenters Joiner's and Sawyers, bes ides
our goods and arms. We stcered south toward S
the continent, from which the Island Of the Pou-
touatamis is near forty leagues distant; but
about middle of the way, in the night time, we
were surprised with sudden storm. whereby
we We're in great danger. The waves came in
to our canoes, and the night was so dark that we
had much ado to keep company together. How
ever, we got ashore the next day, where we con-
tinued till the Lake grew calm again, which was
four days after. In the meantime our savage
went hunting, but could kill nothing but a
porcupine, which made our gowrds and Indian
corn more relishing
The weather being fair we continued our voy-
age the 25th, and rowed all the day, and best
N-'o AAAS Ga ooAS bHS NCoIClu COdSG VI
the Illinois but the wind growing to high for us
we thought fit to land upon rock where we had
nothing to shelter ourselves against the snow
and rain, but our blankets. We continued there
two Gays having made little fire with the wood
the waves did supply us with. The 2Sth we
proceeded on our voyage; but the wind forced us
towards night on rock covered with thick
bushes, where we remained three days, and
there made an end of all our provisions, which
consisted of gourds and Indian corn we had
bought from the Poutouatomis. Our canoes
were loaded that we could not provide ourselves
for longer time, and we expected to find pro-
VISIONS on our way.
We left that dismal place on the LIST of October
and after twelve leagues rowing, though fasting
came to another village of the Poutouatomis,
who came upon the shore to receive us. But
M. La Sale would not suffer any one to land
least his men should run away;and notwithstand-
ing the bad weather we followed him three leap-
ues farther. We were in so great danger that
he flung himself into the water with his three
mon and carried ashore their canoe upon their
shoulders, or else it had been broken to pieces.
We We're all obliged to do the same, and by these
means saved our canoes and goods. 1 carried
upon my back that good man father Gabriel.
whose great age did not permit him to venture
himself into the water.
AS we had no manner of acquaintance with
the Savages of the village near which we landed,
our men prepared themselves to make viger-
Gus defence in case they were attacked; and in
order to it,possessed ourselves of rising ground
where we could not be surprised. and we might
make head against great number of Savapes
We sent afterwards three men to buy provisions
in the village with the calumet or pipe of peace
which the Poutouatomis of the Island had piven
us.
We left that place on the 2nd of October and
continued our voyage all along the coast of the
Lake, which is so steep that one could hardly
Ind any place to land; and the violence of the
wind obliged us to drag our canoes sometimes
to the top OF the rocks, to prevent their being
dashed in pieces by the waves The stormy
weather lasted four days during which we suf-
tered very much; for every time we went ashore
we were forced to step into the water, and carry
our canoes upon our shoulders, and to do the
like when we embarked again. The water be-
ling very cold, most of us were sick, and our pro