NO. 4 JACQUES LEMOYNE DE MORGUES BUSHNELL 7 



to be able to make peace between the parties. But the chief was in- 

 dignant at this reply, as he could not now put off his expedition, having 

 got his provisions ready, and summoned the neighboring chiefs to his 

 aid ; and he therefore prepared to set out at once. He assembled his 

 men, decorated, after the Indian manner, with feathers and other 

 things, in a level place, the soldiers of Laudonniere being present ; and 

 the force sat down in a circle, the chief being in the middle. A fire was 

 then lighted on his left, and two great vessels full of water set on his 

 right. Then the chief, after rolling his eyes as if excited by anger, 

 uttering some sounds deep down in his throat, and making various ges- 

 tures, all at once raised a horrid yell ; and all his soldiers repeated this 

 yell, striking their hips, and rattling their weapons. Then the chief, 

 taking a wooden platter of water, turned toward the sun, and wor- 

 shipped it ; praying to it for a victory over the enemy, and that, as 

 he should now scatter the water that he had dipped up in the wooden 

 platter, so might their blood be poured out. Then he flung the water 

 with a great cast up into the air ; and, as it fell down upon his men, 

 he added, ' As I have done with this water, so I pray that you may 

 do with the blood of your enemies.' Then he poured the water in the 

 other vase upon the fire, and said, ' So may you be able to extinguish 

 your enemies, and bring back their scalps.' Then they all arose, and 

 set off by land up the river, upon their expedition." 



Laudonniere wrote regarding these happenings : " About two 

 months after our arrival in Florida, the Paraconssy Saturioua sent 

 certain Indians unto me to know whether I would stand to my promise, 

 which I had made him at my first arrival in that country : which was, 

 that I would show myself friend to his friends, and enemy unto his 

 enemies ; and, also, to accompany him with a good number of harque- 

 buses, when he should see it expedient, and should find a fit occasion 

 to go to war." Laudonniere declined to join his forces with those of 

 Saturioua and the latter departed on the war-like expedition without 

 the promised aid of the French. Laudonniere then continued his nar- 

 rative : " The ceremony which this savage used, before he embarked 

 his army, deserveth not to be forgotten ; for, when he was sitting down 

 by the river's side, being compassed about with ten other paracoussics, 

 he commanded water to be brought him speedily. This done, looking 

 up into heaven, he fell to discourse of divers things, with gestures that 

 showed him to be in exceeding great choler, which made him one while 

 shake his head hither and thither ; and, by and by, with, I wot not what 

 fury, to turn his face towards the country of his enemies, and to 

 threaten to kill them. He oftentimes looked upon the sun, praying 

 him to grant him a glorious victory of his enemies ; which, when he 



