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

1687.] A HOSPITABLE RECEPTION. 455in the charge of an Indian chief, who preserved itwith reverential care, and gave it, fourteen yearsafter, to Iberville, the founder of Louisiana. 1Deeplydisappointed at his failure, Tonty retraced his course,and ascended the Mississippi to the villages of theArkansas, where some of his men volunteered toremain. He left six of them; and of this numberwere Couture and De Launay. 2Cavelier and his companions, followed by a crowdof Indians, some carrying their baggage, some strugglingfor a view of ths white strangers, entered thelog cabin of their two hosts. Rude as it was, theyfound in it an earnest of peace and safety, and aforetaste of home. Couture and De Launay weremoved even to tears by the story of their disasters,and of the catastrophe that crowned them. LaSalle's death was carefully concealed from theIndians, many of whom had seen him on his descentof the Mississippi, and who regarded him with prodigiousrespect. They lavished all their hospitalityon his followers; feasted them on corn-bread, driedbuffalo meat, and watermelons, and danced thecalumet before them, the most august of all theirceremonies. On this occasion, Cavelier's patience1 Iberville sent it to France, and Charlevoix gives a portion oft. (Histoire de la Nouvelle France, ii. 259.) Singularly enough,the date, as printed by him, is erroneous, being 20 April, 1086,instead of 1686. There ia no doubt whatever, from its relationswith concurrent events, that this journey was in the latter year.2 Tonty, Memoire; Ibid., Lettre a Momeigneur de Ponchartrnin,!69Q Joutel, Journal Hittonque, 301.