It was requisite to think of building a large Lodgement, Monsieur _de la Sale_ design’d it, but the Difficulty was to get proper Timber for Building. There was a little Wood, where a good Quantity might be had, but it was a League up the Country, and we had neither Carts nor Horses to carry it; however Monsr. _de la Sale_ sent Workmen thither, with others to guard them. The Trees were cut down and squar’d, but the Carpenters were so ignorant, that Monsr. _de la Sale_ was forc’d to act the Master Builder, and to mark out the Pieces for the Work he design’d. Some of those Pieces of Timber were dragg’d to the Camp, over the Grass and Weeds the Plain was cover’d with; afterwards the Carriage of a Gun was made use of; but all cost so much Labour, that the ablest Men were quite spent.
This excessive Toil, the poor Sustenance the labouring Men had, and that often retrench’d as a Penalty for having fail’d in doing their Duty; the Uneasiness Monsieur _de la Sale_ was under to see nothing succeed as he had imagin’d, and which often made him insult the Men, when there was little Reason for it; All these things together afflicted very many so sensibly, that they visibly declin’d, and above thirty dy’d. The Loss of so many Men was follow’d by that of the Master Carpenter, who was returning one Evening with me; but I happening to step aside to kill some wild Fowl, when I came to our Habitation I found him not, and it was never known what became of him; an Accident which added to our Vexation, for tho’ he had but little Skill at his Trade, yet we stood in Need of him.
Notwithstanding all those Disappointments, enough Timber was carry’d or rather dragg’d, to build the House Monsieur _de la Sale_ designed, and he was himself the Architect. He mark’d out the Lengths, the Tenants and Mortises, and made good the Defect of the Workmen and calling to Mind that I had bury’d several Pieces of Timber at our first Habitation, which might be of Use, he order’d me to take two Canoes and 20 men, to go fetch them, in the Bark _la Belle_, which was with us.
Being come to the Place, we found the Natives had discover’d our Timber, and carry’d away some Planks, to pick out the Nails there were in them, which they value very much, to point their Arrows. We labour’d to make a Float, loaded the Bark _la Belle_ with the rest of the Planks and other Effects, and set out again. Some of the Natives appear’d whilst we were at Work, but seeing us advance towards them, with our Arms in our Hands, they fled.