RENE LAUDONNIERE a.d. 



1565. 



made them march all the day, until that the night 

 approching, and having not gone past halfe the way, 

 they were inforced to lie all night in the woods, nere a 

 great lake, and there to incampe themselves : they 

 separated themselves by sixe and sixe, making ech of 

 them a fire about the place where their king lay, for 

 whose guard they ordeined a certeine number of those 

 archers, in whom he put most confidence. Assoone as 

 day was come, the campe of the Indians marched within 

 three leagues of Potanou : there king Utina requested 

 my Lieutenant to grant him foure or five of his men 

 to go and discover the countrey ; which departed im- 

 mediatly, and had not gone farre, but they perceived upon 

 a lake, distant about three leagues from the village of A lake three 

 Potanou, three Indians which fished in a canoa. Now leagues distant 

 the custome is that when they fish in this lake, they ^J^^fj ^^^' 

 have alwayes a company of watchmen, armed with bowes Potamu. 

 and arrowes to guard the fishers. Our men being hereof 

 advertised by those of the company, durst not passe any 

 further, for feare of falling into some ambush : wherefore 

 they returned towards Utina, which suddenly sent them 

 backe with a greater company to surprise the fishers, 

 before they might retire and advertise their king Potanou 

 of the comming of his enemies. Which they could not 

 execute so politikely, but that two of them escaped ; the 

 third also did the best he could to save himselfe by 

 swimming, in which meane while he was stayed with 

 shot of arrowes, and they drew him starke dead unto 

 the banks side, where our Indians flayed off the skinne 

 of his head, cut off both his armes in the high way, 

 reserving his haire for the triumph, which their king 

 hoped to make for the defeat of his enemy. Utina 

 fearing least Potanou advertised by the fishers which 

 were escaped, should put himselfe in armes to with- 

 stand him valiantly, asked counsell of his Jawa, which ^^"^^ "^^- 

 is asmuch to say in their language as his Magician, -^^.. ^^^ 

 whether it were best to goe any further. Then his Magician. 

 Magician made certeine signes, hidious and fearefuU to 



57 



