Libr@rsi

1656-58] RELATION OF i6s7-5S 177
constructed two boats of a new and excellent model
for shooting the rapids. These boats drew but very-
little water, and carried a heavy load,— fourteen or
fifteen men, and fifteen or sixteen hundred livres in
weight. We had also four canoes of the Algonquin
pattern, and four of the Iroquois, which were to
complete our little fleet for fifty-three Frenchmen.
But the difficulty was to embark unperceived by
the Iroquois, who constantly beset us. The conveyance
of the boats, canoes, and all the equipment,
could not be accomplished without much noise ;
and
yet, without secrecy, there was nothing to hope for
but a general massacre of our whole company, at the
moment when it should be perceived that we had
the [24] least thought of taking our departure.
Therefore, we invited all the Savages in our neighborhood
to a grand feast, where we exerted our
utmost skill and spared neither the drums nor the
musical instruments, in order to lull them to sleep
by an innocent charm.
He who presided at the ceremony played his part
with such skill and success that each one was bent
on contributing to the public joy. They vied with
one another in uttering piercing yells, now of war,
now of glee; while, out of complaisance, the vSavages
sang and danced in the French manner, and the
French in that of the Savages. To encourage them
more and more in this fine game, presents were
distributed to those who best played their parts, and
who made the most noise for drowning that made
outside by two-score of our men in transporting all
our outfit. When the lading of the boats was entirely
completed, the feast came to an end at the appointed
time; the guests withdrew, and, sleep having soon