A new discovery of a vast country in America extending above four thousand miles between New France and New Mexico, with a description of the great lakes, cataracts, rivers, plants and animals : also the manners, customs, and languages of the several native Indians ... : with a continuation, giving an account of the attempts of the Sieur De la Salle upon the mines of St. Barbe, &c., the taking of Quebec by the English, with the advantages of a shorter cut to China and Japan : both parts illustrated with maps and figures and dedicated to His Majesty, K. William / by L. Hennepin ... ; to which is added several new discoveries in North-America, not publish'd in the French edition.

CHAP. VIII. Reflections of the Author of this Work, on the Life and Death of the Sieur la Salle, whose Murderers kill'd one another.

M. De la Salle told me several times, when we were together at Fort Frontenac, before the time of our Discoveries, and also when we were actually upon them, That when he was a Jesuite, having liv'd ten or eleven Years in that Order, the Fathers of that Society caus'd several Relations to be read, during the two first Years, to all those who entred their Order, of the tra∣gical and violent Deaths, and fatal Occurrences, which hapned to those who had left their Company, and the Habit of their Order; all this on purpose to frighten those who were come in from going away. I must give to M. de la Salle his due, who intrusted me former∣ly with all his Papers, during a Journey he took into France, while I was at Fort Frontenac: That he left the Society with the Consent of his Superiours; and that he had in writing ample Certificates of his Good Conversation and Conduct, while he staid amongst the Jesuites. He shew'd me a Letter of the General of that Order, writ at Rome, wherein he attested, that M. de la Salle had behav'd himself in all things with much Wisdom, not having given so much as the least suspi∣cion of a Venial Sin.

I have made reflection a hundred times upon the Things which he had told me, when we discours'd of our Adventures and New Discoveries. I ador'd in this the unsearchable Designs of GOD, who fulfils always his Will by those means which he hath appointed for it; and uncertain as I was of my Destiny, I prepar'd my self to whatever God would be pleas'd to send me, being resolv'd to submit entirely and peaceably in all things to the Orders of his Providence.

Father Anastasius got at last to the Place where M. Cavelier, Brother to M. de la Salle, was, to whom he gave an account of the sad Misfortune which had happen'd. The Assassins entred very rudely a m••ment after into the Cottage where they were, and p••••••ess'd themselves of what things soever they found in it. This good Fryar had not time to make a long Dis∣course, but his Face all bath'd with Tears spoke enough for him. And indeed Mr. Cavelier had no sooner seen him but he cried out, alas my poor Brother is dead.

I cannot forbear the giving here to the Publick the Character of this Mr. Cavelier, with whom I had lived in Canada a whole Summer in the time of my Mission to Fort Frontenac, whereof his Brother was both Go∣vernour and Proprietor. He was a good and wise Cler∣gy-man, of a rare Vertue and Experience in the Missi∣ons. No sooner had he heard this fatal News, but he fell on his Knees, as also did M. Cavelier his Nephew, thinking that these wicked Villains were come to assassi∣nate them, so they prepar'd to die as good Christians. However these miserable Assassins mov'd with some Sentiments of Compassion, at the presence of this Ve∣nerable Old Man, and also half-repenting of their Crimes, resolv'd to spare them, on condition, that they should never be sent into France. But they were a long while floating and uncertain upon this Matter. Some amongst them, who had a mind to see their Country and Friends again, endeavour'd to clear them∣selves as much as they could. And some of them were heard to say, that they ought to make an end of the rest, otherwise should they return at any time into France, they would put them into the hands of Justice for to be punish'd.

They chose for their Chief Leader the Murtherer of M. de la Salle; and lastly, after several Deliberations, resolv'd to go to the famous Nation of the Cenesians, whereof we have already spoken. Whereupon they march'd all in Company for several days, and pass'd several Rivers and Brooks. These Villainous Assassines did use Messieurs Caveliers as Servants, and gave them nothing but their Remnants to eat. They arriv'd with∣out

any Accident at the appointed Place. But the Di∣vine Vengeance had already stated the Punishment of these profligate Men through want of Humane Justice. A Jealousie about Command arose between a German nam'd Hans, and a Native of Wirtemberg, and the Murderer of M. de la Salle, and every one of these mi∣serable Men took the Part of the one or the other, as they were inclin'd.

They had pass'd through the Cenesians, where they had sojourn'd, and were even already arriv'd as far as the Nassonians, when the four above-mention'd Diser∣ters join'd with them again. Thus seeing themselves all assembled together on the Ascension-Eve, and the Dissention which reign'd amongst them, having brought them into the fatal Resolution to kill one another, Fa∣ther Anastasius made an Exhortation to them on that Holy-day, which seem'd to make some Impression on them, and they seem'd as if they would confess their Sins, but this lasted but a little while. Those who were more penetrated with Sorrow, for having massa∣cred their Master and Leader, pass'd to Hans's Side. This Man two days after having found an opportunity, punish'd one Crime with another. He fir'd a Pistol at M. de la Salle's Murderer, and shot him in the Heart; so that he dy'd without any Knowledge of himself, or Signs of Repentance.

One of Hans's Companions shot him who had kill'd M. Moranger in the Side. He had just time to recol∣lect himself, when another fir'd without Ball at him, but so close to his Head, that his Hair was set on fire, and then his Shirt and Clothes, and that with so much Violence, that there was no means to put it out, and he dy'd in that Torment. The third Author of that detestable Plot, fled and secur'd himself. Hans would by all means have fully aveng'd the Death of M. de la Salle, by that of this Murderer; but M. Iourel recon∣cil'd them, and there was an End of all Disputes.

Hans by that means remain'd the Chief of that un∣fortunate Band. They resolv'd to return to the Cene∣sians, where they had a design to settle, not daring to return into Europe, for fear of receiving the just Re∣ward

of their Crimes▪ The Cenesians had compleated their Army, and were ready to march to War against the Kanoatinno's a cruel People, and their implacable Enemies. They boil them alive in a Chaldron when taken in War. The Cenesians then took Hans and some Europeans along with them. The others staid there till their Return; after which Hans press'd much the other Europeans to fix their Abode with them, but they re∣fus'd to do it.

Wherefore they departed from the Cenesian Country; and amongst them were the Messieurs Caveliers, one the Brother, and the other the Nephew of M. de la Salle, M. Iourel, Father Anastasius, and some others. They were presented every one with a Horse, Powder, and Ammuni••ion, and some Goods, to bear their Char∣ges upon the Road. They sojourn'd at the Nassonians to celebrate there the Octava of Corpus Christi. They say in their Relations, that all the Discourse of those People were concerning the Cruelty of the Spaniards against the Americans. They told them that twenty Wild Nations were going to make War with the Spa∣niards, and invited them to come along with them; adding that they would make more work with their Guns, than they with their Warriours arm'd with Clubs and Arrows.

But they had other things to do. They only took occasion from these Discourses, to make them under∣stand, that their coming amongst 'em was by the ex∣press Order of GOD, to instruct them in the Know∣ledge of the Truth, and bring them into the way of Salvation. They employ'd ten or twelve days in this Business, to the third of Iune.

I don't doubt but M. Cavelier the Priest, and Father Anastasius us'd all possible Endeavours to bring the Nas∣sonians to the Light of the Gospel, and to dispel their Ignorance. But the other four Europeans who were with 'em were not numerous enough ••o frighten the Spaniards, who are us'd to Fire-Arms. Moreover they did not under∣stand the Tongue of those People. I cannot well then apprehend, how they could gather from the Discourses of the Nassonians, that the Spaniards exercis'd great

Cruelties on the People of America. They had no Interpreters with them; therefore they could in no wise understand what those People could say, who had seen no other Europeans but them.

Moreover, since the Emperour Charles the Fifth's time, when the Spaniards made themselves Masters of New Mexico, 'tis certain, they never exercis'd any Cruelty upon the Neighbouring People, for want of Men to preserve those vast Countries they have con∣quer'd there. They live then in Peace with their Neighbours, and do molest no body unless attack'd first.