The 25th, the Elders being assembled, came to see us, and told the Sieur _Couture_, that they design’d to sing and dance the _Calumet_, or Pipe; because the others had sung it, some of them to the late Monsieur _de la Sale_, and the rest to Monsieur _Tonty_, and therefore it was but reasonable they should do the same to get a Firelock, as well as the others. Monsieur _Cavelier_ was inform’d of it, and it was requisite to consent to it, to please those _Indians_, because we stood in need of them.
The Ceremony began with Monsieur _Cavelier_, who was led under the Arms and seated on a Hide, without the Cottage. The Forks, the Skins laid on it in Honour of the Pipe, the Singing as loud as they cou’d roar, both by Men and Women, and all the other Ceremonies were observ’d, as I have mention’d them before; so that Monsieur _Cavelier_ being weary of them, he caus’d the Chief to be told, that he was out of Order, and desir’d his Nephew might be put in his Place, which was done accordingly, and they spent the whole Night in Singing. In the Morning they perform’d some other Ceremonies, not worth relating.
The Solemnity being ended, by every Man’s smoking of the Pipe, the _Indians_ took it, with some Bullocks Hides, and Goats and Otters Skins, and a Collar made of Shells, all which they carry’d to our House, and we gave them a Firelock, two Axes, six Knives, one hundred Charges of Powder, as much Ball, and some Strings of Beads for their Wives. The Chief having given Notice of our coming to the other Villages, their Deputies came to see us; we entertain’d them in the House, and propos’d to them our Designs, as had been done to the Chief. They stood considering a While, then held a Sort of Consultation among themselves, which held not long without talking, and then agreed to grant us what we ask’d, which was a Canoe and a Man of each Village to conduct us, upon the promis’d Consideration, and so they went away to the Cottage of the Chief of the Village.
The 27th, the Chief and the Elders met again to consult about what we demanded of them; the Length of the Journey made them apprehensive for those, who were to conduct us; but, at Length, we having dispell’d their Fears by our Arguments, and they having again deliberated some Time, agreed to our Request. We again made them a Present, promising a good Reward to our Guides, and so we prepar’d to set forwards. Little _Bartholomew_ the _Parisian_, having intimated to us, that he would willingly stay in that House, because he was none of the ablest of Body, we recommended him to the Sieur _Couture_. We desir’d those that remain’d there, to keep the Secret of Monsr. _de la Sale’s_ Death, promis’d to send them Relief, left them our Horses, which were of great Use to go a Hunting, and gave them fifteen or sixteen Pounds of Powder, eight hundred Balls, three hundred Flints, twenty-six Knives, and ten Axes, two or three Pounds Weight of Beads; Monsr. _Cavelier_ left them Part of his Linen, hoping we should soon be in a Place where we should get more; and all of them having made their Peace with God, by Means of the Sacrament of Penance, we took Leave of them, excepting the Sieur _Couture_, who went to conduct us Part of the Way.