La Salle and the discovery of the great West - North Central ...

896 ST. LOUIS OP TEXAS. [1685.It was the last day of October when La Salle setout on his great journey of exploration.His brotherCavelier, who had now recovered, accompanied himwith fifty men; and five cannon-shot from the fortsaluted them as they departed. They were lightlyequipped; but some of them wore corselets made ofstaves, to ward off arrows. Descending the Lavaca,they pursued their course eastward on footalong themargin of the bay, while Joutel remained in commandof the fort. It was two leagues above themouth of the river; and in it were thirty-fourpersons, including three Re*collet friars, a number ofwomen and girls from Paris, and two young orphandaughters ofone Talon, a Canadian, who had latelydied. Their live-stock consisted of some hogs and alitter of eight pigs, which, as Joutel does not forgetto inform us, passed their time in wallowing in theditch of the palisade ;a cock and hen, with a youngfamily; and a pair of goats, which, in a temporarydearth of fresh meat, were sacrificed to the needs ofthe invalid Abbe" Cavelier.Joutel suffered no manto lie idle. The blacksmith, having no anvil, wassupplied with a cannon as a substitute. Lodgingswere built for the women and girls, and separatelodgings for the men. A small chapel was afterwardsadded, and the whole was fenced with aThe above is translated from the original draft of Cavelier, whichis in my possession. It was addressed to the colonial minister, afterthe death of La Salle. The statement concerning the Spaniardsneeds confirmation.