72 T R x-^ V E L S THROUGH 



five perfons, together with thirty volunteers * 

 and Ibme gentlemen, and a number of workmen 

 and girls embarked with him. M. de la Salle 

 was on board M. dc Beaujeu's lliip, in whom he 

 rcpofed no manner of confidence. Whatever 

 that officer propofed to him, he always anfwered 

 with an air of haughtinefs,. This is not the King's 

 iyitention ; he certainly did not take the proper 

 fteps to interefl a man in his undertaking, whofe 

 afllftance he wanted to make it fucceed. Every 

 one accordingly began to judge difadvantager 

 oufly of an expedition, the chiefs of which feem- 

 ed to adl by very different principles \ and time 

 has unhappily confirmed it. 



The 28th of December i6<S4, ^^e Iquadron 

 difcovered the continent of Florida-, and M. de 

 la Salle having heard m-uch about the current 

 that fet in to the eaflward in the Mexican gulph, 

 he made no doubt but that the mouth of the 

 MiJJiJippi was far to the weft ; an error that was 

 the caufe of all his misfortunes. Accordingly 

 ■ he bore away weftward ; but he advanced very 

 little, becaufe he went near the fhore from time 



to 



" Among thefe were three priefts of St. SuJpitius, one of 

 them M. ae la Sailers brother, Ckede-ville his relation, and 

 Majulte, befides four recolledls, who were to eftablifh the 

 millions among the Indians. There were likewife two of 

 his nephews, Mcratigei and Cai^dier fourteen years of age. 



