AJ-117b: Kalm, Travels into North America (1748)

              
    42;>d 2Agtift 1749.
the Europeans. found on their arrival here; or
hta: great military expedition was -undertaken
to Th-is- continent, from thefe known parts of the
world.
  This is confirmed by an accont which I-re-
cbciv94 fitorn Mr. de Verandriere,. who has c-ozn
Marided the expedition to the south-seas in person
of- tvhich I shall presently give an account.
I 'ave heard it repeted by others, who have
been eye-witnesses of every thing that happened
tn that-ccafion. Some- years before I came in'
to Canada, the then-governor-general, Chevalier
de Beauharnois, gave Mr. de Verandrier an order
tocgo tram Canada, with a number:of-people, on
San exeition across; North-America to the south-sea
 iii ortder to exarine how far thofe two places
are distant frorz each other, and to find outowhat
avtvtages migbt accrue to Canada or Lousiana
kern ' communication. with that ocean. They
kfet out on-- horseback from Monteal and went
dsx cnucwh- idue weff as thesy could, on atccount of
the lakes, rivers, -and mountains, Xwhch fell in
;the~ir Way.J As they camne -far inet. the country,
beyond many nations, 'they fomedtmes met with
large tracts of land free from wood buit covered
with :Ia- kind: of very tall grass, for -the' fpacse of
fopme days- journey.  Many of thefe _ fields ' were
evetry where covered with furrows, ^as 'if the
baed >been ploughed and sown formerly. It .is
lb be; observed, that the. nations, which now^.uim
   inhabit North-America, could' not cutivate :the
land in this manner; becaufe they, never: made
tife-; horses, oxen ploughs, or any instruments
of husbandry, nor lha-d-;'they ever.. kfe  aa plough before