After wee had disputed a long time it was found that the right was on
our side, and wee innocent of what they did accuse us. So they endeavoured
to come to an agreement, but wee were betrayed by our own Party. In the
meantime the Commissioners of the King of Great Brittain arrived in that
place, and one of them would have us goe with him to New Yorke, and the
other advised us to come to England and offer our selves to the King, which
wee did. Those of new England in generall made profers unto us of what ship
wee would if wee would goe on in our Designes; but wee answered them that a
scalded cat fears the water though it be cold.
Wee are now in the passage, and he that brought us, which was one of the
Commissioners called Collonell George Carteret, was taken by the
Hollanders, and wee arrived in England in a very bad time for the Plague
and the warrs. Being at Oxford, wee went to Sir George Carteret, who spoke
to his Majestie, who gave us good hopes that wee should have a ship ready
for the next spring, and that the king did allow us 40 shillings a week for
our maintenance, and wee had chambers in the Town by his order, where wee
stayed 3 months. Afterwards the King came to London and sent us to Windsor,
where wee stayed the rest of the winter. Wee are sent for from that place,
the season growing neare, and put into the hands of Sir Peter Colleton. The
ship was got ready something too late, and our master was not fit for such
a Designe. But the Hollanders being come to the River of Thames had stopp'd
the passage, soe wee lost that opportunity. So wee were put off till the
next yeare, & a little while after that same ship was sent to Virginia and
other places to know some news of the Barbadoes, and to be informed if that
Island was not in danger; which if it had been lost, had taken from the
English Ladyes the meanes or the pleasure of drinking french wine. Those of
Burdeaux & of Rochell were great loosers in the expectation of the ship,
that was not gone to the Isle of Sand, but to Holland. Wee lost our second
voyage, for the order was given to late for the fitting another ship, which
cost a great deale of money to noe purpose. The third yeare wee went out
with a new company in 2 small vessells, my Brother in one & I in another, &
wee went together 400 leagues from the North of Ireland, where a sudden
great storme did rise & put us asunder. The sea was soe furious 6 or 7
houres after that it did almost overturne our ship, so that wee were forced
to cut our masts rather then cutt our lives; but wee came back safe, God be
thanked, and the other, I hope, is gone on his voyage, God be with him. I
hope to embarke myselfe by the helpe of God this fourth yeare, & I beseech
him to grant me better successe then I have had hitherto, & beseech him to
give me Grace & to make me partaker of that everlasting happinesse which is
the onely thing a man ought to look after.
I have here put the names of severall Nations amongst which I have been for
the most part, which I think may extend to some 900 leagues by the
reckoning of my Travells.
The names of the Nations that live in the South: -
Avieronons. Khionontateronons. Oscovarahronoms.
Aviottronons. Ohcrokonanechronons. Huattochronoms.
Anontackeronons. Ahondironons. Skinchiohronoms.
Sonontueronons. Ougmarahronoms. Attitachronons.
Oyongoironons. Akrahkuaeronoms. Ontorahronons.
Audastoueronons. Oneronoms. Aoveatsiovaenhronons.
Konkhaderichonons. Eressaronoms. Attochingochronons.
Andonanchronons. Attionendarouks. Maingonis.
Kionontateronons. Ehriehronoms. Socoquis.
Ouendack. Tontataratonhronoms. Pacoiquis.
Ariotachronoms.
All these Nations are sedentaries, and live upon corn and other grains, by
hunting and fishing, which is plentifull, and by the ragouts of roots.
There were many destroyed by the Iroquoits, and I have seen most of those
that are left.
The names of the Nations that live in the North: -
Chisedeck. Nipifiriniens. Piffings.
Bersiamites. Tivifeimi. Malhonniners.
Sagfeggons. Outimaganii. Afinipour.
Attikamegues. Ouachegami. Trinivoick.
Ovaouchkairing or Mitchitamon. Nafaonakouetons.
Algonquins. Orturbi. Pontonatemick.
Kischeripirini. Ovasovarin. Escouteck.
Minifigons. Atcheligonens. Panoestigons.
Kotakoaveteny. Annikouay. Nadoucenako.
Kinoncheripirini. Otanack. Titascons.
Matouchkarini. Ouncisagay. Christinos.
Ountchatarounongha. Abaouicktigonions. Nadouceronons.
Sagahigavirini. Roquay. Quinipigousek.
Sagnitaovigama. Mantonech. Tatanga.
The two last are sedentary and doe reap, and all the rest are wandering
people, that live by their hunting and Fishing, and some few of Rice that
they doe labour for, and a great many of them have been destroyed by the
Iroquoites. Besides all the above-named Nations I have seen eight or nine
more since my voyages.
VOYAGES
OF
PETER ESPRIT RADISSON.
The Relation of a Voyage made by Peter Raddisson, Esquire, to the North
parts of America, in the years 1682 and 1683.
In the first place, I think myself oblidg'd to vindicat myself from the
imputation of inconstancy for acting in this voyage against the English
Intrest, and in the yeare 1683 against the French Intrest, for which, if I
could not give a very good account, I might justly lye under the sentenc of
capritiousness & inconstancy. But severall Persons of probity and good
repute, being sensible what my brother-in-Law, Mr Chouard Des Groisiliers,
and myself performed in severall voyadges for the Gentlemen conserned in
the Hudson's Bay Trade, relating to the Comers of Bever skins, and the just
cause of dissattisfaction which both of us had, to make us retire into
France. I have no cause to believe that I in the least deserve to bee taxed
with lightness or inconstancy for the Imployments wherein I since ingaged,
although they were against the Interests of the said Company, for it is
suffitiently known that my Brother nor myself omitted nothing that lay in
our power, having both of us severall times adventur'd our lives, and did
all that was possible for Persons of courage and Honour to perform for the
advantage and profit of the said Company, ever since the yeare 1665 unto
the yeare 1674.
