They Brought Them To The Water Side, & I Sent Them Aboard
Their Shipp.
I confess I repented more then once of my going aboard.
It was
too rashly don, & it was happy for me that I got off as I did. Before I
came ashore I promissed Mr. Bridgar & the Captain that in 15 Dayes I would
visit them againe. In the mean time, the better to bee assured of their
proceedings, I stay'd 2 dayes in the Woods to observe their actions; and
having upon the matter seen their dessigne, that they intended to build a
Fort, I passed the River to the Southwards to return to my Brother-in-Law,
who might well bee in some feare for me. But coming unto him, hee was very
glad of what had past, & of the good condition I had sett matters. Wee
consulted together what mesures to take not to be surpriz'd & to maintaine
ourselves the best wee could in our setlement for carrying on our Treaty.
Wee endeavor'd to secure the Indians, who promis'd to loose their Lives for
us; & the more to oblidge them to our side I granted them my nephew &
another frenchman to goe along with them into the country to make the
severall sorts of Indians to come traffick with us, & the more, to
incourage them I sent presents unto the chiefest of them.
During my voyage of Discovering 2 English shipps, there happned an Ill
accident for us. Our Company had kill'd 60 Deere, which had ben a great
help towards our winter provisions; but by an Inundation of waters caused
by great Rains they were all carry'd away. Such great floods are common in
those parts. The loss was very great unto us, for wee had but 4 Barrells of
Pork & 2 of Beef; but our men repair'd this Losse, having kill'd some more
Deere and 4,000 white Partridges, somewhat bigger than thos of Europ. The
Indians also brought us Provisions they had kill'd from severall parts at a
great distance off. Ten dayes after my return from Discovering the English,
I took 5 other men to observe what they did. I had forseen that wee should
bee forced to stay for faire weather to crosse the mouth of the dangerous
River of Kauvirinagaw, which also proved accordingly, for the season began
to be boisterous; but having stay'd some time, at last wee got safe over,
although it was in the night, & 14 dayes after our departure wee gained
neere the place where Mr Bridgar lay. Wee presently see the shipp lay
aground on the ooze, a mile from the place where they built their House.
Being come neere the shipp, wee hailed severall times & no body answered,
which oblig'd us to goe towards land, wondring at their silence. At length
a man called us & beckn'd to us to come back. Going towards him & asking
how all did, hee said something better, but that all were asleep. I would
not disturb them & went alone unto the Governor's house, whom I found just
getting up.
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