The lieutenant general having assembled all the officers on duty and on leave, and the natives, told them that a savage had reported to him that he had found some branches and leaves of fresh sand cherries which seemed to be the fragments of a meal of some band which had passed very recently. He then gave an estimate of the distance we had traveled, which in our reckoning was about 300 leagues. He then took counsel whether we should wait for orders from the Viceroy of New Spain, who had sent the detachment to discover from the savage nations if any French had established themselves in the region, or whether, since we had thus far found no proof of such establishment, we should continue our search with the Panane³⁰ nation (the only one which could give light on the question) and how we should communicate with them.

Names of Spanish Officers.

   The military council was composed of Captain Thomas Aulguin, Aide-de-camp Joseph Domingue, Ensign Bernard Cazille; Captains Manuel Theverio de Albas, Alonzo Reald, Pierre Lucan; Corporals Joseph Gregoire, Manuel Thenonorio de Alba, Laurent Rodrigue; Captain Christophe de la Serne³¹ and Captain Jean Arhive; these two last named are natives.
   All were of opinion that we ought to find the Panane in order to learn from them the truth or to know whether the Apaches had deceived us--that for this purpose the detachment should cross the river and thereafter proceed in the best way to carry out the plan proposed.

Crossing Great River Full of Islands.

   Upon this resolve the lieutenant general ordered certain savages to locate the ford of the river so that the detachment might cross to the other shore. In the afternoon we began to carry over the baggage on travois upon the backs of the savages. It was not possible to get it across otherwise. The great number of islands in the river makes navigation by boats absolutely impracticable. Since one day did not suffice to transport everything our camp was divided that night by the river. Besides we did not wish to expose our natives by crossing at night, because it was so cold.

   * See notes by Addison E. Sheldon on pages 29-31.

Wednesday 7 of August.

   At the break of day we. crossed over the remainder of our baggage and people to the other side of the river of Jesus-Maria. This was not without much trouble, but at last we found ourselves together at noon.

Thursday 8.

   We leave the river Jesus-Maria following the trail of the Panane. The native Captain Serne boasted that he knows the trail well. He lost his way, however, and came back to camp. He was sent out again and with him Captain Joseph Narvanno, four corporals and two soldiers. A servant of Captain Serne, Panane by nation said that he remembered although he had left it when very young, that the village of his tribe was located on the bank of a river far to the north. Our soldiers were ordered to find out the truth of his statement. They were ordered at the same time when they were near the village to let the savage talk alone with his people, to tell them they had nothing to fear, that we were Spaniards, their friends. And in case they found no one in the village to go such distance as would enable them to return to camp the same day or ensuing night.

Another Large Stream Crossed.

   Since we left the river Jesus-Maria we have taken care to follow the trail which we found before us and which we believe was made by the Panane. We found, at a league from the river a large creek which it was necessary to cross and we thought from the water which was very warm that it was a branch of the river whose course was from west to east. We then marched over a plain, following always the trail of those who had gone before us. We saw a number of trees a league away and we met one of our savages who was of Captain Narrans detachment and who had orders to wait for us to tell us to follow the creek and that he would follow the trail of those gone ahead since they found no one in the villages. The camp arrived at the bank of the creek and, as it was impossible to cross with our arms, we were obliged to keep along its bank and follow the same route as that taken by Captain Narrans. We had already traveled three leagues to reach the creek; we marched three more to arrive at a plain. Finally we halted in order that those following might not lose the way. At the same time two savages arrived from Captain Narrans to tell the lieutenant general that he should not worry if the captain did not return to camp that ensuing night, that he, was following the trail of the Panane who, ac-

cording to all indications, were not far off, and that the main command might march since he counted on rejoining them very soon.

Friday 9.

   The camp being ready to march we saw, at more than a league's distance, some one approaching at a gallop. We were in advance and we found that it was one of our people who had been at the discovery. They told us that, eight leagues distant, on the other side of the creek we were following, thy (sic) found the Panane in a bottom, singing and dancing according to custom of the savages. They seemed to be in great numbers. They had not judged it wise to approach nearer to them for fear of frightening them away during the night.
   Upon this news order was at once given to cross to the other side of the creek. It was carried out with so much good fortune that everything went over without getting wet, although the mules were up to their girths in the water. We marched three leagues along the creek and found it convenient to halt at five leagues distant from the tribe, according to the report of those who brought in the news.

Council with Panane or Pawnee Nation.

   As soon as we were in camp the lieutenant general sent the savage of Captain Serne to visit and talk with those of his nation, assuring them of our friendship and good will, and that we were taking this means of letting them know our good faith. Although the lieutenant general wished to send two soldiers with the savage to see that he was not insulted by those of his nation, the native told him that he had nothing to fear and that it was better to go alone, that if the soldiers accompanied him they might believe that there was deception and bad faith in what he proposed to them. This was agreed to and the savage started at 11 a. in. to see his nation. May God and the Holy Virgin, his mother, give him success. The general named the creek Saint Lawrence. The river Jesus-Maria makes a junction with this creek at the place where we are, in such manner that if we had not already crossed it would be impossible to do so.
   At 6 p. m. we saw Francois Sistaca, which is the name of the savage of Don Christophe de la Serne, coming on the gallop. He related to the lieutenant general and all the others that he had been to see the band seen dancing the night before and, not finding it, he had followed the creek and had seen them crossing to the other side where they had a village and many people. He stopped at the bank of the creek, dis-

mounted, and called to the people crossing the river, making the signs of friendship and peace used by savages. As soon as he was seen many savages came to him and, among others, four at the head of them with tomahawks in hand, without bows or arrows, making cries, and seeing them approach within a stone's throw, he was afraid, made a sign with his cap as though he were calling people back of him and mounting his horse he galloped eight leagues to camp without stopping.

Saturday 10th of the month.

   Feast day of the glorious Martyr, Saint Lawrence (died Aug. 10, A. D. 258). The camp marched along the river, following the band (of savages) and having discovered on the other side of the creek a village with a number of houses and. people passing from one side to the other by a ford, making calls easily heard because only the creek was between us, we made the signs of peace and friendship spoken of before. Twenty-five or thirty savages came to the edge of the creek to talk with us. We heard easily what they said. The savage of Don Christophe la Serne, who recognized the language of his nation, told the lieutenant general that they asked for peace and that he should come into their village.
   They made signs looking at the sun³² which meant that the Spaniards need wait only one day for their visit. At once the savage of Don Christophe La Serne resolved to cross over to the other side in spite of the fear he had the day before. The camp halted opposite the village and the savage took off his clothing in order to swim across, with consent of his master. The lieutenant general told him to tell his nation that he would come and visit them with no design of doing them the least injury, as they could easily see since he had just discovered them without any strategems, as he might have done when he learned they were singing and dancing not more than two leagues distant. Thus they might confer with us in entire safety for peace and the friendly union which should exist between brothers and subjects of the same king. The lieutenant general gave tobacco for the savage to carry to them, which is the usual custom at these meetings.

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Vol VI, no 1, part 2    Vol VI, no 1, part 4