Découverte de quelques pays et nations de l´Amerique Septentrionale [The Discovery of Several Countries and Nations in North America]

              [English translation]



We knew that, at three leagues from Mascoutens, was a River which discharged into that of the Mississippi. We knew also that the direction we were to follow in order to reach it was West-Southwesterly. But the way is broken by so many Swamps and small Lakes that it is easy to lose one’s way, especially as the River leading thither is so full of wild rice that it is difficult to find the Channel. For this reason we greatly needed our two guides, who safely conducted us to a portage of 2,700 paces, and helped us to transport our Canoes to enter that river; after which they returned home, leaving us alone in this unknown country, in the hands of Providence.



Thus we left the Waters flowing to Quebec, 5 or 600 leagues from here, to float on those that would carry us through strange Lands. Before embarking thereon, we Began all together a new devotion to the blessed Virgin Immaculate, which we practiced daily, addressing to her special prayers to place under her protection both our persons and the success of our voyage; and, after mutually encouraging one another, we entered our Canoes.



The River on which we embarked is called Mescousin [Wisconsin]. It is very wide; 










[OCR of French page; consult page images for accurate text]



PAmerique Septentrtonale. p
Nous^ fjavions qu*a trois lieues de Maficou-- tens eftoit une Riviere qui fe decharge dan& celle de Mifliffipy. Nous fcavions encore que le Rum de vent que nous devions tenir eftoic: rOlieft-fur I'Oiieftj mais Ie chemin eft fi par- tage de Marais & de petits Lacs ^ qu'il eft aifc de s'y egaretj.dautant plus que la riviere qui y mene eft fi chargee de folle avoine qu'on a peine a en recoinioiftre le Canal; c'eft en quoy nous avions befoin de nos deux Guides : aufll- nous conduifirent-ils heureufement jufqu'a un* portage de deux mil fept cens pas , «S^: nous ai- derent a tranfporter nos Canots pour.encrer dans cette riviere , apres quoy ils s'en retour- nercnr, nous laiffans feuls en ce pays inconnu entre les mains de la Providence,
Nous quittons done les Eaues qui voiit jufl qu'a Qjiebec, a cinq ou fix cens lieues d*icy ^ pour prendre celles qui nous conduiront defer- mais dans des Terres etrangeres. Avant que de nous^y embarquer nous commencames totis, line npuvelle devotion a, la Sainte Vierge-im- macules que nous pratiqiiames tous les jours , luy adreffans des prieres particulieres pour met«. tre, fous fa proceftion & nos perfonncs & le fiiccez de noftre voyage ; & apres nous eftre encouragez les uns les autres nous montames- en Canot.,
La Riviere fur laquelle nous nous embar- quames s'appelle Mefcoufin^ elle eft fortlar^.