"ïraveh in North America* ^ 293 



lower Is the Fort de Chartres^ about a Mufket Shot from the 

 River. M. Dugue de Boijhrilîandy a Canadian Gentleman, com- 

 mands here for the Company, to which this Place belongs ; and 

 all the Space between thefe two Places begins to be peopled with 

 French, Four Leagues farther, and a League from the River^ 

 there is a large Village of French, almoft all Canadians, who 

 have a Jefuit for their Prieft (b). The fécond Village of the Illi^ 

 nois is two Leagues diftant from it, and farther up in the Coun« 

 try. A fourth Jefuit has the Care of it ( c). 



The French are here pretty much at their Eafe. A Flemings % 

 Servant of the Jefuits, has taught them how to fowV/heat, and it 

 thrives very well. They have fome Horned Cattle and Fowls* 

 The Illinois, on their Side, cultivate the Lands after their Man^ 

 ner, and are very laborious. They alfo breed Fowls, which 

 they fell to the French. Their V/ives are fufficiently dexterous ; 

 They fpinthe Buffalo's Wool, and make it as fine as that of the 

 Englijh Sheep. Sometimes one would even take it for Silk* 

 They make Stuffs of it, which they dye black, yellow, and a 

 dark red. They make Gowns of it, which they few with the 

 Thread made of the Sinews of Roe-Bucks. Their Method of 

 making this Thread is very eafy. When the Sinew is well 

 cleaned from the Flefti, they expofe it in the Sun two Days : 

 When it is dry, they beat it, and get out of it, without any- 

 Trouble, a Thread as white and as fine as that of Malines, anq 

 much ftronger. 



The French Village is bounded on the North by a River ; the 

 Banks of which are fo high, that although the Waters fome-r 

 times rife twenty-five Feet, it feldom runs out of its Bed. All 

 this Country is open : It confifts of vaft Meadows, which extend 

 for twenty-five Leagues, and v/hich are feparated only by little 

 Groves, which are all of good Wood. There are efpecially 

 fome white Mulberry-Trees ; but I was furprized that they fuf-^ 

 fer the Inhabitants to cut them down to build their Houfes ; 

 and the rather, becaufe they do not want other Trees fit for that 

 Ufe. 



Among the Fruit-Trees, which are peculiar to this Country, 

 Fruit Trees of remarkable are thofe which bear the 



Louifiana ^ Fruits called the Pacqne, the Jcimine^ and the 

 Piakimine, The Pacane is a Nut of the 

 Length and Shape of a large Acorn. There are fomé whicli 

 have a very thin Shell, fome have a harder and thicker one, and 

 this is fo much taken from the Fruit : They are alfo fomething 

 imaller. They are all of a very fine and delicate Tafte. Th« 

 Tree that bears them grov/s very high ; Its Wood and Bark, its 



(h) Father Déeauhoh, 



(c) Father, Cuymmcau, 

 8 



