reception of guests.
They were constrained to submit. Seven savages stooped down, and each
one received one of the guests upon his shoulders. Others led the
horses.

M. Joutel was a very tall man and very heavy. He also carried a gun,
two pistols, some powder and lead, and several articles of clothing.
The savage who undertook to carry him, was a small man, so that M.
Joutel's feet almost touched the ground. As he tottered beneath his
burden, two other savages came to his aid, helping to sustain him by
the legs. Thus he had three porters.

The Frenchmen, whose vivacity seemed never long to forsake them, found
it very difficult to restrain their laughter in view of the ludicrous
spectacle they presented. It was three-quarters of a mile to the
village. The porters, quite exhausted, surrendered their burdens in the
cabin of the chief. The Indians wore but little clothing; some of them
none at all. They brought water, saying that it was their custom to
wash their guests, but as they perceived that the Frenchmen were
encumbered with garments, they would wash only their faces.

After this ceremony, they were placed upon a platform about four feet
high, and addressed in long speeches of welcome. As usual there was
smoking, feasting, and the exchange of presents. They then opened a
very successful traffic with the Indians for the purchase of corn.

These Indians had never heard the report of a gun. They were astonished
in view of the deadly power of the invisible bullet; and they implored
the strangers to remain with them and aid them in a war expedition.
Though M. Joutel was the historian of this expedition, they seem, by
common consent, to have regarded La Salle's brother, M. Cavalier, as
their leader. He informed the Indians that they must hasten on their
way, but that they hoped, ere long, to return and bring with them guns,
powder, hatchets, knives, and other articles to exchange for their
furs. This pleased them greatly.

A melancholy accident occurred at this place. M. Marle went into the
river to bathe. Accidentally he got beyond his depth and was drowned.
The savages manifested the deepest sympathy on the occasion. They
rushed to the spot in large numbers, plunged into the water, regained
the lifeless body, and with mournful wailings bore it back to the
village. They watched with intensest interest the rites of Christian
burial. The grave of the unfortunate man was in a beautiful grove, on
the banks of the river.