Voyages of Samuel de Champlain, vol 3 | Page 7

escort for us, since they could do nothing at Tadoussac.
On the 7th I went to explore a little river, along which the savages
sometimes go to war, and which flows into the fall of the river of the
Iroquois. [11] It is very pleasant, with meadow land more than three
leagues in circuit, and much arable land. It is distant a league from the
great fall, and a league and a half from Place Royale.
On the 9th our savage arrived. He had gone somewhat beyond the lake,
which is ten leagues long, and which I had seen before. [12] But he met
no one, and they were unable to go any farther, as their canoe gave out,
which obliged them to return. They reported that after passing the fall
they saw an island, where there was such a quantity of herons that the
air was completely filled with them. There was a young man belonging
to Sieur de Monts named Louis, who was very fond of the chase.

Hearing this, he wished to go and satisfy his curiosity, earnestly
entreating our savage to take him to the place. To this the savage
consented, taking also a captain of the Montagnais, a very respectable
person, whose name was Outetoucos. On the following morning Louis
caused the two savages to be called, and went with them in a canoe to
the island of the herons. This island is in the middle of the fall. [13]
Here they captured as many herons and other birds as they wanted, and
embarked again in their canoe. Outetoucos, contrary to the wish of the
other savage, and against his remonstrances, desired to pass through a
very dangerous place, where the water fell more than three feet, saying
that he had formerly gone this way, which, however, was false. He had
a long discussion in opposition to our savage, who wished to take him
on the south side, along the mainland, [14] where they usually go. This,
however, Outetoucos did not wish, saying that there was no danger.
Our savage finding him obstinate yielded to his desire. But he insisted
that at least a part of the birds in the canoe should be taken out, as it
was overloaded, otherwise he said it would inevitably fill and be lost.
But to this he would not consent, saying that it would be time enough
when they found themselves in the presence of danger. They
accordingly permitted themselves to be carried along by the current.
But when they reached the precipice, they wanted to throw overboard
their load in order to escape. It was now, however, too late, for they
were completely in the power of the rapid water, and were straightway
swallowed up in the whirlpools of the fall, which turned them round a
thousand times. For a long time they clung to the boat. Finally the
swiftness of the water wearied them so that this poor Louis, who could
not swim at all, entirely lost his presence of mind, and, the canoe going
down, he was obliged to abandon it. As it returned to the surface, the
two others who kept holding on to it, saw Louis no more, and thus he
died a sad death. [15] The two others continued to hold on to the canoe.
When, however, they were out of danger, this Outetoucos, being naked
and having confidence in his swimming powers, abandoned it in the
expectation of reaching the shore, although the water still ran there with
great rapidity. But he was drowned, for he had been so weakened and
overcome by his efforts that it was impossible for him to save himself
after abandoning the canoe. Our savage Savignon, understanding
himself better, held firmly to the canoe until it reached an eddy, whither

the current had carried it. Here he managed so well that,
notwithstanding his suffering and weariness, he approached the shore
gradually, when, after throwing the water out of the canoe, he returned
in great fear that they would take vengeance upon him, as the savages
do among themselves, and related to us this sad story, which caused us
great sorrow.
On the next day I went in another canoe to the fall, together with the
savage and another member of our company, to see the place where
they had met with their accident, and find, if possible, the remains. But
when he showed me the spot, I was horrified at beholding such a
terrible place, and astonished that the deceased should have been so
lacking in judgment as to pass through such a fearful place, when they
could have gone another way. For it is impossible to go along there, as
there are seven or eight descents of water one after the other, the lowest
three feet high, the