on a large Boat, eighteen Persons of us, to go down the River of St.
_Lawrence_, a Board a Ship, that was taking in and fishing of Cod, in
order to reach _France_. We went a Board it the 30th of the same Month,
and after hearing Mass, made ready and sail’d for our dear Country,
arriv’d safe at _Rochelle_ on _Saturday_ the 9th of _October_ 1688,
whence, setting out by Land, _Friday_ the 15th, the same Providence,
which had protected and conducted us, brought us without any Misfortune
to _Roan_, the 17th of _October_, the same Year.
_The End of the_ JOURNAL.[125]
_The Remainder of the_ LETTER, _written by him who revis’d
this_ JOURNAL, _the other Part whereof is at the Beginning
of it, this being the_ Sequel _to the said_ JOURNAL.
[Sidenote: Note, _That these have writ of those Parts, but none of this
particular Voyage_.]
Three several Authors have given an Account of this Voyage; _First_,
Father _le Clerk_, upon the Relations he had from the Fathers
_Zenobius_ and _Anastasius_, Recolets, as he was himself and both of
them Eye-Witnesses: _Secondly_, The Chevalier _Tonty_, who was also
a Witness to a considerable Part of those Adventures: And, _Lastly_,
Father _Hennepin_, a _Flemming_, of the same Order of the Recolets, has
done it more largely; he seems to be well acquainted with the Country,
and had a Share in great Discoveries; but the Truth of his Relations is
much controverted. It was he who went to the Northward, and towards the
Source of the _Missisipi_, which he calls _Mechasipi_, and who printed,
at _Paris_, an Account of the Country about the River, giving it the
Name of _Louisiana_. He ought to have stopp’d there, and not to have
gone, as he did, into _Holland_, to set forth another Edition, very
much enlarg’d, and perhaps not so true, which he dedicated to _William_
the Third, Prince of _Orange_, and afterwards King of _Great Britain_.
An Action for a Religious Man no less ridiculous than extravagant, not
to give it a worse Name; for after many great and tedious Encomiums
given that Protestant Prince, he exhorts and conjures him to turn his
Thoughts towards those vast Countries, as yet unknown, to conquer
them and send Colonies thither, to make known to those Savage Nations
the true God and his Worship, and to preach the Gospel. That good
Religious Man, whom many have falsly thought, on Account of that
Extravagancy, to have renounc’d his Religion, did not consider what he
said, and consequently has scandaliz’d the Catholicks, and furnish’d
the _Hugonots_ with Matter of Laughter; for it is likely, that they
being Enemies to the _Roman_ Church, would employ Recolets to go preach
up _Popery_, as they call it in _Canada_? Or would they introduce any
other Religion than their own? Can Father _Hennepin_ be excuseable in
this Point?
[Sidenote: M. de la Sale’s _Fort taken by the_ Spaniards.]
[Sidenote: M. de Hiberville’s _Expedition for the_ Missisipi.]
In fine it appears, by all that has been writ by those several Persons
concerning that Enterprize, that the Murder committed on the Person of
Monsieur _de la Sale_ was the Occasion of its miscarrying; but that
which obstructed the making of some Provision in that Case was, the
said Murders being conceal’d for the Space of two Years, and that the
_Spaniards_ of _Mexico_ having been inform’d of all the Affair, sent
Men, who carry’d off the weak Garrison Monsieur _de la Sale_ had left
in the Fort built by him, near the Place of his Landing, before he
penetrated into the Country, to find out the _Missisipi_. They also
entirely raz’d that Fort, so that Seven or Eight Years elaps’d, till
Monsieur _de Hiberville_, a Gentleman of _Canada_, and a Person of
Capacity and Courage, famous for his notable Expeditions to _Hudson_’s
Bay and other Parts, resolv’d to reassume and revive that Project. He
came over into _France_ upon that Design, and made an Armament about
the Year 1698, set out and sail’d to the Gulf of _Mexico_. Being an
able Seaman, he search’d along the Coast so narrowly, that he found
the Mouth of that fatal _Missisipi_ and built a Fort on it, leaving
Men there, with a good Quantity of Ammunition and Provisions, and
return’d to _France_, intending to go back with a Reinforcement, as he
did, and having penetrated far into the Country, discover’d several
Savage Nations, and join’d Friendship and Alliance with them, as also
built another Fort, which he left well stor’d with Men and Necessaries,
return’d into _France_; but attempting a third Voyage, he dy’d by the
Way, and thus, for want of Relief and Support, that noble Enterprize
miscarry’d again.
[Sidenote: M. Crozat _only to plant Colonies and Trade in_ Louisiana.]
But God has now provided for it, and it is the Concern of Heaven, for
if _France_ is interested on Account of the Temporal Advantages it
expects, the Church is so in like Manner, for the Conversion of the
_Indians_ it hopes will follow. Accordingly, Providence has taken the
Affair in Hand, having rais’d the Man, who is the fittest to revive and
support so important a Project. This is _Monsieur Crozat_, Secretary to
the King, a Man of singular Worth, very Intelligent, Well-meaning, and
prodigiously Rich, who without going out of his Closet, has been the
Occasion of many notable Voyages by Sea, and all of them successful.
To him, his Majesty, by his Letters Patent, bearing Date the _14th of
Septemb. 1712_, has granted the sole Power to trade and settle Colonies
in the Countries describ’d in this Journal, and which are known to
us by the Name of _Louisiana_ and the River _Missisipi_, from hence
forward to be call’d the River of St. _Lewis_. The Grant is made
to him for 15 Years, under several Conditions mention’d in the said
Letters Patent, which have been made publick.
[Sidenote: _A Black bred in_ France _turns to his Native Customs_.]
And whereas such a Grant cannot subsist without Blacks, he is also
allow’d to send a Ship to _Guinea_ to purchase them. They may perhaps
find there the famous Black _Aniaga_, Brother to a King of _Guinea_,
whom Captain _Delbee_ brought over into _France_, above Thirty Years
ago. The King was pleas’d to have him Educated, Instructed and
Baptiz’d, the _Dauphin_[126] being his Godfather; then put him into
his Troop of Musquetiers, and afterwards made him a Captain in his own
Regiment, where he serv’d Honourably. Being desirous to see his own
Country again, where he promis’d to promote the _French_ Trade, and
the settling of Missioners, his Majesty loaded him with Presents, and
order’d a Ship to carry him back to _Guinea_; but as soon as he was
there, he no longer remember’d he had been baptiz’d, and turn’d again
as perfect a Black, as he had been before. A Friend of mine, who was an
Officer aboard a Ship, and hapned to be on that Coast in the Year 1708,
had two or three Interviews with that Black, who came aboard him. He
was a great Man in that Country, for his Brother was King. He express’d
much Gratitude for the Kindness that had been shewn him in _France_,
and was extraordinary Courteous, and made great Offers to those aboard
the Ship, and to all such of the Nation as would go into _Guinea_.
This Navigation to _Louisiana_ will farther procure us a free Resort to
the two famous Ports of the Gulf of _Mexico_, _viz._ The _Havana_ and
_Veracruz_, where Strangers did not use to be admitted, and which we
knew only by their Names and their Situation in our Maps.
[Sidenote: Veracruz _in New_ Spain.]
The latter of those Towns is the Port of _New Spain_, at the Bottom
of the Bay or Gulf, in 18 Degrees of _North_ Latitude, Seated in a
Sandy Plain, encompass’d with Mountains; beyond which there are
Woods and Meadows, well Stock’d with Cattle and wild Fowl: the flesh
whereof is stringy and tasteless. The Air is very Hot, and not Healthy,
when any Winds blow, except the _North_, which rises commonly once
in Eight or Fifteen Days, and holds for the Space of Twenty Four
Hours, blowing so hard, that there is no going ashore from the Ships,
and then the Cold is very piercing. When the Weather is clear there
plainly appear, on the Road to _Mexico_, two Mountains rising above
the Clouds, and forty Leagues distant, all cover’d with Snow. The
Streets of _Veracruz_ are streight as a Line; the Houses are handsome
and regular; the Fortifications next the Land inconsiderable, but the
Front of the Town next the Sea forms a Semicircle, with a little Fort
at each End. Directly before that Front, a Quarter of a League out at
Sea, there stands, on a Spot of Ground, inaccessible, by Reason of the
Breaking of the Sea, a strong Citadel, well built and furnished with
all Necessaries, a good Garrison and double Batteries of two hundred
Pieces of brass Cannon. Ships cannot anchor any where, but between that
Citadel and the Town; besides that, it requires several Precautions,
because it is difficult coming to an Anchor.
Most of the Inhabitants are _Mulattoes_, that is of a tawny dark
Colour, who live most upon Chocolate and Sweetmeats, extraordinary
sober, and eating little Flesh. The Men are haughty, the Women keep
retired above Stairs, not to be seen by Strangers, and seldom going
abroad, and then in Coaches or Chairs, and those who cannot reach
to it, cover’d with fine silk Veils, which reach from the Crown of
their Heads to their Feet, leaving only a small Opening on the Right
Side,[127] for them to see their Way. In their own Apartments they wear
nothing but a Smock and a silk Petticoat, with gold or silver Laces,
without any Thing on their Heads, and their Hair platted with Ribbons,
a gold Chain about their Neck, Bracelets of the same and Pendants of
Emeralds in their Ears. They could well enough like the Behaviour and
Company of the French, but that the jealous Temper of the Men obstructs
them. There being a Picture of _Philip_ King of _Spain_, now reigning,
aboard the Ship in which my Friend was, who gave me this Account, the
People swarm’d aboard to see it, they were never satisfy’d with gazing
at it, and there was a most magnificent Festival kept in the Town, on
Account of the Birth of the Prince of _Asturias_.
They understand Trade very well, but are sloathful and averse to
Labour, fond of State and Ease. They wear great Strings of Beads about
their Necks, their Houses are full of Pictures and Images of Devotion,
and they have little that is real. They are decently furnish’d with
Purceline and _China_ Goods. The Churches are magnificently adorned
with Plate. But the Lives and Manners of the Clergy are not Edifying.
On Holidays and _Sundays_ there is no Thought of Matins, of Sermon, or
of Vespers: People chat and laugh in the Churches as well as in the
Processions, which are often at Night by the Light of Torches.
All Strangers are forbid Trading there, yet some come by Stealth and
deal Underhand, by Means of Presents made to such Persons as can favour
them. If those Mulattoes call themselves white, it is only to honour
themselves and by Way of Distinction from their Slaves, who are all
Blacks, and having got much Mony by their Labour, ransome themselves
and sometimes become considerable Merchants.
[Sidenote: Mexico _City_.]
The City of _Mexico_, Capital of the Country and the Residence of the
Vice-roy, is about eighty Leagues distant from _Veracruz_, to the
Westward, the Way to it very bad and ill furnish’d with Provisions.
That Country would be better in some Parts, if the people had the
skill and energy to till it. They sow but little of our Wheat, and are
satisfied with _Indian_ Corn[128] and _Cassabi_ Root, whereof they
make Cakes, as is practis’d in the Islands. Their Trees and Fruits
are the same as in other hot Countries. About the Town of _Veracruz_,
there are Bushes of a Sort of Thorn, without Leaves, among which grows
an extraordinary Plant; for tho’ it has but a small Stem, it shoots
out Leaves of a Cabbage Green, as thick as a Man’s Finger, which grow
out, one at the End of another, in the Shape of a Racket, and the Plant
itself is so call’d. From those Leaves there grows out a Sort of red
Figs, very juicy, with Seeds like those of the Pomgranate; the Juice
is of a Violet Colour, but unsavoury. There is a Sort of Flies that
cleave to it and are so fond of the Taste of the Fruit, that they burst
and drop down dead. They are carefully gather’d and dry’d, and are the
Scarlet Dye, call’d Cochinilla, which is brought into _Europe_, and
makes that beautiful Colour. The Birds and Beasts are much the same
as in other Countries of _America_. There is a Sort of Bird, all red,
which for that Reason is call’d the _Cardinal_; this they often tame
and teach to sing like a _Canary_ Bird. This is what I have been told
concerning the Town of _Veracruz_.
[Sidenote: Havana.]
As for the _Havana_, a Town and Port no less famous, in the Island of
_Cuba_, belonging as well as the other to the Crown of _Spain_, it
stands towards the Western End, and on the North Side of that Island,
almost under the Tropick of _Cancer_, and about four or five hundred
Leagues on this Side of _Veracruz_. It is large and beautiful; the Port
good, secur’d by two Forts on the two Sides, and good artillery, from
twenty four to thirty six Pounds, the Entrance so narrow, that only
one Vessel can go in at once. The Town is encompass’d by a good Wall,
fortify’d with five Bastions, furnish’d with Cannon. The Streets are
all as strait as a Line, and level, the Houses very handsome, but ill
furnish’d. In the Midst of it is a fine Square, the Buildings about
all uniform. The Churches are magnificent, and enrich’d with Gold and
Silver, Lamps, Candlesticks, and Ornaments for the Altars. There are
some Lamps curiously wrought, which weigh two hundred Marks of Silver,
[each Mark being half a Pound.][129] The Revenue of the Bishoprick
amounts to more than fifty thousand Crowns, and he who enjoy’d it in
the Year 1703, as I was inform’d by my Friend, who gave me this Account
of what he had seen, was the greatest Ornament of that City, for his
Virtues and Charity, being satisfy’d with Necessaries, and spending
all the rest upon the Poor, and in repairing decay’d Churches. Tho’
Strangers are prohibited to trade there, yet it is easier carried on
than at _Veracruz_. The Inhabitants are more familiar; the Women have
more Liberty, yet they do not go Abroad without their Veils to wrap and
hide them. Many of them speak _French_, and dress after the _French_
Fashion, and some of our Nation have settled themselves there. When my
Friend was there, a magnificent Festival was celebrated for fifteen
Days successively, in Honour of K. _Philip_ the Fifth, and Monsieur
_du Casse_ being then there, with his Squadron, the City desir’d him
to join with them. To that Purpose, he set ashore five hundred Men,
who perform’d the Martial Exercise in the great Square, which was much
admir’d. The _Havana_ is the Place, where the Galeons meet. By this
word should not be understood ships of extraordinary size; for most of
them are but very inconsiderable craft which _Spanish_ vanity strives
to magnify by a swelling name. But if these ships are not great, their
precious freight is so. For all that, this city, the gateway to the
treasures of the _West Indies_, is full of beggars—but it is by their
own fault, and by their idleness that they are such. Provisions are
dear there, especially Bread; but the Wine is not, tho’ it is good.
Fish and Flesh there, are unsavory. The Inhabitants are _Spaniards_.
We have thought fit to describe those two famous Ports of the Bay of
_Mexico_, as well because it has not been so exactly done before, as in
Regard that the Settlement which is going to be made in _Louisiana_,
may have some Dependance on them; for the _Havana_ lying in the Way,
those who perform the Voyage may have the Conveniency of taking in
Refreshments there, of putting in for Shelter in foul Weather, and of
careening or refitting. As for the _Veracruz_, tho’ farther out of the
Way, the Correspondence there may be advantagious for the Securing of
the Colony of _Louisiana_.
But how can that fail of succeeding, under the Conduct of _Monsieur
Crozat_, who has the Charge of that Enterprize, and whom Providence
seems to have in a Manner ingag’d to advance in Wealth and Honour, to
the Amazement of the World, and yet free from Envy, from Jealousy, and
from any Sort of Complaints. There is therefore no Reason to presage
otherwise than well of the Event of this Affair; the Blessings God has
pour’d down upon all his former Undertakings, seem to be a Security for
what is to follow. There is Reason to hope for still greater Blessings
on this Project of a Settlement in _Louisiana_, as being equally
advantagious to Religion and the State; for the propagating of the
Knowledge and Service of God among an infinite Number of Savages, by
Means of the Missioners, who are to be sent to and maintain’d in those
vast Countries; the Planting of the Faith in that New World, only the
Name whereof is known to us, and the Reducing of it to be a Christian
and a _French_ Province, under the Dominion of our August Monarch,
and to the eternal Memory of his Reign, will be the Consequences and
the Fruits of _Monsieur Crozat_’s Care and Expence, the Glory of his
Enterprize, the Security of the large Fortune he has made in this Life,
and what is rare among such rich Men, the Earnest of much better in the
Next. Heaven grant our Hopes and Wishes may be answer’d.
_I am_, &c.
_The Letters Patent granted by the King of_ France _to M._ Crozat.
_Louis_, by the Grace of God, King of _France_ and _Navarre_: To
all who shall see these present Letters, Greeting. The Care we have
always had to procure the Welfare and Advantage of our Subjects having
induced us, notwithstanding the almost continual Wars which we have
been obliged to support from the Beginning of our Reign, to seek for
all possible Opportunities of enlarging and extending the Trade of
our American Colonies, _We did in the Year 1683 give our orders to
undertake a Discovery of the Countries and Lands which are situated
in the Northern Part of America_, between New France and New Mexico:
_And the Sieur_ de la Sale, _to whom we committed that Enterprize,
having had Success enough to confirm a Belief that a Communication
might be settled_ from New France to the Gulph of Mexico by Means of
large Rivers; _This obliged us immediately after the Peace of_ Ryswick
_to give Orders for the establishing a Colony there, and maintaining
a Garrison which has kept and preserved_ the Possession, we had taken
_in the very Year 1683 of the Lands, Coasts and Islands which are
situated in the Gulph of Mexico, between Carolina on the East, and Old
and New Mexico on the West_. But a new War having broke out in Europe
shortly after, there was no Possibility, till now, of reaping from that
new Colony the Advantages that might have been expected from thence,
because the private Men, who are concerned in the Sea Trade, were all
under Engagements with other Colonies, which they have been obliged to
follow: And whereas upon the Information we have received concerning
the Disposition and Situation of the said Countries known at present by
the Name of the Province of _Louisiana_, we are of Opinion that there
may be established therein a considerable Commerce, so much the more
advantageous to our Kingdom in that there has hitherto been a Necessity
of fetching from Foreigners the greatest Part of the Commodities which
may be brought from thence, and because in Exchange thereof we need
carry thither nothing but Commodities of the Growth and Manufacture of
our own Kingdom; we have resolved to grant the Commerce of the Country
of _Louisiana_ to the _Sieur Anthony Crozat_ our Councellor, Secretary
of the Household, Crown and Revenue, to whom we entrust the Execution
of this Project. We are the more readily inclined hereunto, because his
Zeal and the singular Knowledge he has acquired in maritime Commerce,
encourage us to hope for as good Success as he has hitherto had in the
divers and sundry Enterprizes he has gone upon, and which have procured
to our Kingdom great Quantities of Gold and Silver in such Conjunctures
as have rendered them very welcome to us.
FOR THESE REASONS being desirous to shew our Favour to him, and to
regulate the Conditions upon which we mean to grant him the said
Commerce, after having deliberated this Affair in our Council, Of
our certain Knowledge, full Power and Royal Authority, We by these
Presents, signed by our Hand, have appointed and do appoint the said
_Sieur Crozat solely to carry on a Trade in all the Lands_ possessed
by Us, and bounded by New Mexico, and by the Lands of the English
of Carolina, _all the Establishment, Ports, Havens, Rivers, and
principally the Port and Haven of the Isle_ Dauphine, _heretofore
called_ Massacre; _the River of_ St. Lewis, _heretofore called_
Missisipi, _from the Edge of the Sea as far as the_ Illinois; _together
with the River of_ St. Philip, _heretofore called the_ Missourys, _and
of_ St. Jerome, _heretofore called_ Ovabache, _with all the Countries,
Territories, Lakes within Land, and the Rivers which fall directly or
indirectly into that Part of the River of_ St. Lewis.
The ARTICLES.
I. Our Pleasure is, that all the aforesaid Lands, Countries, Streams,
Rivers and Islands be and remain comprised under the Name of _The
Government of_ Louisiana, _which shall be dependant upon the General
Government of New France_, to which it is subordinate; and further,
that all the Lands which we possess from the _Islinois_ be united, so
far as Occasion requires, to the General Government of _New France_,
and become Part thereof, reserving however to Ourselves the Liberty of
enlarging as We shall think fit the Extent of the Government of the
said Country of _Louisiana_.
II. We grant to the said _Sieur Crozat_ for Fifteen successive Years,
to be reckon’d from the Day of Inrolling these presents, a Right and
Power to transport all Sorts of Goods and Merchandize from _France_
into the said Country of _Louisiana_, and to traffick thither as he
shall think fit. We forbid all and every Person and Persons, Company
and Companies of what Quality or Condition soever, and under any
Pretence whatever, to trade thither, under Penalty of Confiscation of
Goods, Ships, and other more severe Punishments, as Occasion shall
require; for this Purpose we order our Governours and other Officers
commanding our Troops in the said Country forcibly to abet, aid and
assist the Directors and Agents of the said _Sieur Crozat_.
III. We permit him to search for, open and dig all Sorts of Mines,
Veins and Minerals throughout the whole Extent of the said Country of
_Louisiana_, and to transport the Profits thereof into any Port of
_France_ during the said Fifteen Years; and we grant in Perpetuity to
him, his Heirs, and others claiming under him or them, the Property of,
in and to the Mines, Veins and Minerals which he shall bring to bear,
paying us, in Lieu of all Claim, the Fifth Part of the Gold and Silver
which the said _Sieur Crozat_ shall cause to be transported to _France_
at his own Charges into what Port he pleases, (of which Fifth we will
run the Risque of the Sea and of War,) and the Tenth Part of what
Effects he shall draw from the other Mines, Veins and Minerals, which
Tenth he shall transfer and convey to our Magazines in the said Country
of _Louisiana_.
We likewise permit him to search for precious Stones and Pearls, paying
us the Fifth Part in the same Manner as is mention’d for the Gold and
Silver.
We will that the said _Sieur Crozat_, his Heirs, or those claiming
under him or them the perpetual Right, shall forfeit the Propriety
of the said Mines, Veins and Minerals, if they discontinue the Work
during three Years, and that in such Case the said Mines, Veins and
Minerals shall be fully reunited to our Domaine, by Virtue of this
present Article, without the Formality of any Process of Law, but only
an Ordinance of Re-union from the Subdelegate of the Intendant of _New
France_, who shall be in the said Country, nor do we mean that the said
Penalty of Forfeiture in Default of working for three Years, be reputed
a Comminatory Penalty.
IV. The said _Sieur Crozat_ may vend all such Merchandize, Goods,
Wares, Commodities, Arms, and Ammunition as he shall have caused to be
transported into the said Country and Government of _Louisiana_, as
well to the _French_, as _Savages_ who are or shall be there setled;
nor shall any Person or Persons under any Pretence whatsoever be
capable of doing the like without his Leave expressed in Writing.