46 THE DISCOVERY OF BURLitfGTON BAY. 



large troop of Indians, with a number of women loaded with pro- 

 visions, arrived and encamped near by, and made for us bread of 

 Indian corn and fruit. They did not desire to speak to us in regular 

 council, but told us that we were expected in the village, to every 

 cabin of which word had been sent, to gather all the old men at the 

 council, which would be held for the purpose of ascertaining the 

 object of our visit. 



" M. Dollier de Casson, M. de La Salle and myself consulted 

 together in order to determine in what manner we should act, what we 

 should offer for presents, and how we should give them. It was agreed 

 that I should go to the village with M. de La Salle, for the purpose of 

 obtaining a captive taken from the nation which we desired to visit 

 who could conduct us thither, and that we should take with us eight 

 of our Frenchmen, the rest to remain with M. Dollier de Casson in 

 charge of the canoes. This plan was carried out, and the next day, 

 August 1 2, had no sooner dawned, than we were notified by the Indians 

 that it was time to set out. We started with ten Frenchmen and forty 

 or fifty Indians, who compelled us to rest every league, fearing we should 

 be too much fatigued. About half way we found another company 

 of Indians who had come to meet us. They made us presents of 

 provisions and accompanied us to the village, When we were within 

 about a league of the latter the halts were more frequent, and our 

 company increased more and more, until we finally came in sight of 

 the great village, which is in a large plain, about two leagues in cir- 

 cumference. In order to reach it we had to ascend a small hill (now 

 Broughton Hill) on the edge of which the village is situated. 



" As soon as we had mounted the hill we saw a large company of 

 old men seated on the grass, waiting for us. They had left a coti- 

 venient place in front, in which they invited us to sit down. 



" This we did, and at the same time an old man, nearly blind, 

 and so infirm that he could hardly support himself, arose, and in a 

 very animated tone, delivered a speech, in which he declared his joy 

 at our arrival; that we must consider them as our brothers; that they 

 would regard us as their's ; and in that relation they invited us to 

 enter their village, where they had prepared a cabin for us until we 

 were ready to disclose our purpose. 



" We thanked them for their civilities, and told them through our 

 interpreter that we would on the next 4ay declare to them the object 



