The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 49, July 1945 - April, 1946 Page: 478
717 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 24 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
half miles wide at this place, probably was Philips' Bayou,
although it might have been any one of the several bayous or
"cut-throughs" of the peninsula in this vicinity.
The "sort of river" on the mainland where La Salle landed
is evidently Mad Island Slough, which might be classed as a
sorry kind of French "river," although it is only a gentle draw
on a slightly concave surface. This slough is north of Mata-
gorda Bay, east of Palacios Bay, and west of the Colorado River.
After that, we made several Trips, still steering towards the S. W. and
then ensued a Calm, which oblig'd us to come to an Anchor. Want of
Water made us think of returning towards the River [Mad Island Slough],
where we had been the Day before. Monsr. de la Sale resolved to set a
considerable Number of Men Ashore, with sufficient Ammunition, and to
go with them himself, to discover and take Cognizance of that Country,
and order'd me to follow him. Accordingly we sail'd back, and came to
an Anchor in the same Place.8
On the morning of January 19, 1685, when preparations had
been made to send men ashore, La Salle and the convoy com-
mander, De Beaujeu, had one of their many unfortunate dis-
agreements, which delayed the landing until the next day. On
January 20 a camp was established. This camp, the first of
the expedition on American soil, was the headquarters of the
party until February 4, 1685.
Some Days after Monsieur d'Aire the Lieutenant, came ashore to confer
with Monsieur de la Sale, and to know how he would manage about the
Provisions; but both of them persisting in their first Proposals and Mon-
sieur de la Sale perceiving that Monsieur de Beaujeu would not be satisfied
with Provisions for 15 Days, which he thought sufficient to go to the Place
where he expected to find one of the Branches of the Missisipi, ... nothing
was concluded as to that Affair. Monsieur d'Aire return'd to his Captain,
and Monsieur de la Sale resolv'd to land his Men; which could not be done
for some Days, because of the foul Weather; but in the mean Time we
kill'd much Game.
During this little Interval, Monsieur de la Sale being impatient to get
some Intelligence of what he sought after, resolv'd to go himself upon Dis-
covery, and to seek out some more useful and commodious River than that
where they were. To this Purpose he took five or six of us along with him.
We set out one Morning in so thick a Fog, that the hindmost could not
perceive the Track of the foremost, so that we lost Monsieur de la Sale
for some Time.
We travel'd till about three in the Afternoon, finding the Country for
the most Part Sandy, little Grass, no fresh Water, unless in some Sloughs,
the Track of abundance of wild Goats, Lakes full of Ducks, Teals, Water-
Hens, and having taken much Pains return'd without Success."
9lbid., 73-74.
9Ibid., 76-77.478
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 49, July 1945 - April, 1946, periodical, 1946; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth146056/m1/559/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.