travels in North America. 329 



Juft below, and on the fame Hand, we faw the weak 

 Thf Crani of ■^^S^'^^^"^^ ^ Grant, which bears the 

 St Re ne and -^^^"^^ Reyne, and at the Head of which 



that o/^Madam Meflrs. de Coetlogon and Kolli, It is fitu- 



1 Tx/r"^ . ^ ated on a very fertile Soil, andthere is nothing 



de Mezieres. ^ r r a - r^u Ti- 



to fear from the overflowing of the River : 



But with Nothing, Nothing can be done, efpecially when they 

 want Men for Labour, and Men want an Inclination for La- 

 bour ; and this feemed tous to be the Condition of this Grant. 

 We went a League further this Day, and came to the Grant 

 of Madam de Mezieres, where the Rain flopped us all the next 

 Day. Some Fluts, covered with the Leaves of the Lattanier 

 and a great Tent of Cloth at prefent form all this Grant. They 

 wait for Men and Goods from the Black Ri^er., where the Ma- 

 gazines are, and which they are not willing to leave. I am 

 afraid that by endeavouring to make two Settlements at once, 

 both will fail. 



The Soil on which they have begun this, is very good ; but 

 they muft build a Quarter of a League from the River, behind à 

 Cyprefs Wood, which is a marlliy Ground, and of which they 

 might make Advantage in fowing Rice and making Gardens. 

 Two Leagues further in the Wood, there is a Lake two Leagues 

 in Compafs, the Sides of which are covered with wild Fowl, and 

 which perhaps may fupply them with Fifh, when they have de- 

 ftroyed the Caimans^ which fwarm in it. I have learnt in this 

 Place fome Secrets ; which you lhall have. Madam, at the fame 

 Rate they coft me ; for I have no Time to make Trial of them. 



The Male Cyprefs bears in this Country a Pod ; which 

 mud be gathered green, and then they find it a fovereign 

 Balm for Cuts. That which is diftilled from the CopalmSy 

 has, among other Virtues, that of curing the Dropfy. The 

 Root of thofe great Cotton-Trees I mentioned in another Place, 

 and which we find continually on all the Route which I have 

 made from the Lake Ontario y is a certain Remedy again ft all 

 Hurts of the Skin* You muft take the Infideof the Bark, boil 

 it in Water, bathe the Wound with this Water, and then lay on 

 the Afhes of the Bark itfelf. • . 



On Ne^'Year' s-Day we went to fay Mafs three Leagues from 



ne Grant of ^^^^"^ Mezieres, in a Grant very well 

 M Di on fituated, and which belongs to M. Diron 



iron. d'Artagiiette, Infpeélor General of the Troops^ 



of Louifiana (a). They brought us here a monftrous Tortoife, 

 and they affured us that thefe Animals were capable of breaking a 



(a) He died lately the King's Lieutenant at Cape Françcï'„ in St. D.mhgc^ 



