X.
HISTORICAL SUMMARY.
Thus, then, was founded the second European settlement on the Continentof America. The fortress was named LA CAROLINE, in honor of the Frenchmonarch, whom it was still the policy of the Huguenots to conciliate.The houses were of frail structure, and thatched with leaves of thepalmetto. The domain was a narrow one, but it was probably sufficientlywide for the genius of Laudonniere. He soon shows himself sensible ofall his dignities as the sole representative of his master in the NewWorld. From his own account, he does not appear to have been the properperson for the conduct of so difficult, if not so great, an enterprise.There is no doubt that he was sufficiently brave; but bravery,unsustained by judgment, is at best a doubtful virtue, and, in asituation of great responsibility, is apt to show itself at the expenseof all discretion. The object of the colony of La Caroline was apermanent establishment--a place of refuge from persecution--where theseeds of a new empire might be planted on a basis which should ensurecivil liberty to the citizen. The proper aim of such a settlement shouldhave been security, self-maintenance, and peace with all men. Thesecould only have been found in the economizing of their resources, in theapplication of all their skill and industry to the cultivation of thesoil, and in the preservation of the most friendly relations among theIndians. These, unhappily, were not objects sufficiently appreciatedby Laudonniere. His first error was that which arose from theuniversal passion of his time. He had seen the precious metals ofthe country--wedges of silver and scraps of gold--which declared theabundance of its treasures, and aroused all his passions for itsacquisition. His whole energies were accordingly directed to the mostdelusive researches. He had scarcely built his fortress before he sentoff his exploring expeditions. "I would not lose a minute of an hour,"is his language, "without imploying the same in some _vertuous_exercise," and therefore he despatches his Lieutenant, Ottigny, inseeking for Thimogoa; that king, hostile to the Paracoussi Satouriova,whom he has pledged himself to the latter to make war upon. Satouriovagives the lieutenant a couple of warriors as guides, who were delightedat the mission,--"seeming to goe as unto a wedding, so desirous theywere to fight with their enemies."
But Ottigny, whose real purpose is to obtain the gold of the people ofThimogoa, does not indulge his warlike guides in their desires. Theyencounter some of the people whom they seek, and make inquiries afterthe treasure. This is promised them hereafter. With the report of a kingnamed Mayrra, who lives farther up the river, and abounds in gold andsilver, Ottigny returns to La Caroline. Other adventurers follow, otherkings and chiefs are brought to the knowledge of our Frenchmen. Platesof gold and silver are procured; large bars of the latter metal; and thelures are quite sufficient to keep the colonists employed in the onepursuit to the complete neglect of every other. Instead of planting,they rely for their provisions wholly upon the Indians; and, foreighteen months, the lieutenants of Laudonniere penetrated the forestsin every possible direction. They appear not only to have explored theinterior of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, but to have prosecutedtheir insane search even to the Apalachian mountains. It is notimprobable that our antiquarians frequently stumble upon the proofs oftheir progress, which they fondly ascribe to a much earlier period. Wepreserve, as subjects of proper comparison with aboriginal words stillin use, and by which localities may yet be identified, the names of manyof the chiefs with whom our Frenchmen maintained communion. From theIndians of King Mollova, Captain Vasseur obtains five or six pounds ofsilver. Mollova is the subject of a greater prince, named Olata OvaeUtina. The tributaries of this great chief are numerous;--Cadecha,Chilili, Eclavou, Enacappe, Calany, Anacharaqua, Omittaqua, Acquera,Moquoso, and many others. Satouriova is the chief sovereign along thewaters of the May. He too hath numerous tributaries. He is the greatrival monarch of Olata Utina. Potanou is one of his chiefs, "a mannecruel in warre, but pitiful in the execution of his furie." He usuallytook his prisoners to mercy, branding them upon the arm, and settingthem free. Onatheaqua and Hostaqua are great chiefs, abounding inriches, that dwell near the mountains. According to the tales of theIndians of May River, the warriors of Olata Utina "armed their breasts,armes, thighes, legs and foreheads with large plates of gold andsilver." Molona is a chief of the river of May, near the Frenchmen, andhostile also to the Thimogoans. Malica is another of these chiefs ofSatouriova, eager, like all the rest, to shed the blood of the hostilepeople whom the Frenchmen have unwisely promised to destroy. In order towin the favor of Molona, while that Paracoussi is entertaining themat his dwelling, Capt. Vasseur, returning from an expedition to theterritories of Thimogoa, reports that nothing but their flight preventedhim from utterly destroying that people. Improving upon his superior,one Francis La Caille, a sergeant, insisted that, with his sword, he hasrun two of the Thimogoans through the body. But this falsehood demandsanother for its security. The suspicious Indian insists upon handlingthe sword, "which the sergeant would not denie him, thinking that heewould have beheld the fashion of his weapon; but hee soon perceived thatit was to another ende; for the old man, holding it in his hand, beheldeit a long while on every place, to see if he could find any blood uponit which might show that any of their enemies had beene killed. Hee wason the point to say that he had killed none of the men of Thimogoa; whenLa Vasseur preventing that which hee might object, showing, that, byreason of the two Indians which he had slain, his sword was so bloody,he was enforced to wash and make it cleane a long while in the river."
Another of the chiefs, dwelling near the Frenchmen, is Omoloa, an allyof Satouriova. These two summon Laudonniere to the expedition for whichthey have prepared themselves against the Thimogoans, and are offendedthat he now excuses himself. He was too busy with his explorations forany other object. But he sent to request two of his prisoners fromSatouriova, which were denied him; the old savage properly saying thathe owed him no service, as he had taken no part in the expedition. Thisirritated the Frenchman, who, with twenty soldiers, suddenly appearedin the dwelling of the Paracoussi, and demanded and carried off theprisoners. His policy was, by freeing these prisoners, and sending themhome to their sovereign, to conciliate his favor; but, in the meantime,he made an enemy of Satouriova. An expedition was prepared to carry backthe prisoners to Olata Utina. It was confided to Monsieur D'Erlach,one of Laudonniere's lieutenants, and consisted of ten soldiers. Theircourse lay up the river of May, more than fourscore leagues. They werereceived by the great Paracoussi Utina, with much favor, and were easilypersuaded by him to take part in a war which he was even then wagingwith his hereditary enemy, Potanou. A surprise is attempted, and abattle ensues, in which the fire-arms of the French confound Potanou,and subject him to a sore defeat. One of his towns is captured, and allits men, women, and children, are made prisoners. Monsieur D'Erlachreturns to _La Caroline_, with no inconsiderable spoil of gold andsilver, skins painted, and other commodities of the Indians.
While thus engaged in the avaricious search for the precious metals,Laudonniere began to receive some intimations of the error into whichhe had fallen. The mistakes of his policy were beginning to appear intheir consequences. His ships had long since departed for France. He hadno present hope but in himself and his neighbors; and his garrison wereabout to suffer from the want of necessaries such as they should haverelied upon their own industry to secure. The provisions furnished bythe Indians were rapidly failing them. They had offended Satouriova, andthus forfeited the supplies which his favor might have furnished. In thealways limited stores of the natives, there was a natural limit, beyondwhich they could neither sell nor give; since, to do so, would be tolose the grain necessary for sowing their fields at the approachingseason. The exigencies of the colonies finally compelled them to seizeupon the stores which the providence of the Indians compelled them toretain. These thus despoiled, withdrew promptly from the dangerousneighborhood, and, but for a fortunate, and seemingly providentialcircumstance, which afforded them succor for awhile, the distress ofthe garrison might have realized anew the misfortunes of the people ofFort
Charles. We must let Laudonniere himself record the event, whichhad such beneficial consequences, in his own language:
"Thus," said he, "things passed on in this manner, and the hatred ofParacoussi Satouriova against mee did still continue, untill that, onthe nine and twentieth of August, a lightning from heaven fell withinhalfe a league of our fort, more worthy, I believe, to be wondered at,and to be put in writing, than all the strange signes which have beenescene in times past. For, although the meadows were at that season allgreene, and halfe covered over with water, neverthelesse the lightning,in one instant, consumed above five hundred acres thereof, and burned,with the ardent heate thereof, all the foules which took their pastimein the meadowes--which thus continued for three dayes space--whichcaused us not a little to muse, not being able to judge whence this fireproceeded. One while we thought that the Indians had burnt their housesand abandoned their places for feare of us. Another while we thoughtthat they had discovered some shippes in the sea, and that, accordingto their custome, they had kindled many fires here and there. * * * Idetermined to sende to Paracoussi Serranay to knowe the truth. But, evenas I was about to sende one by boate, sixe Indians came unto me fromParacoussi Allimicany, which, at their first entrie, made unto mee along discourse, and a very large and ample oration (after they hadpresented mee with certain baskets full of maiz, of pompions, and ofgrapes), of the loving amity which Allimicany desired to continue withmee, and that he looked, from day to day, when it would please meeto employ him in my service. Therefore, considering the serviceableaffection that hee bare unto mee, he found it very strange that I thus_discharged mine ordnance against his dwelling_, which had burnt up aninfinite sight of greene meadowes, and consumed even downe unto thebottom of the water."
The simple message of the Paracoussi, suggested some advantages toLaudonniere, who did not now scruple to admit that all the mischief hadbeen done by his wanton ordnance. He had shot, not really to injure hisneighbor, but to let him form a proper idea of what he might do, in theway of mischief, should he have the provocation at any time. Since,however, the Paracoussi had come to the recollection of his duties,he, Laudonniere, would protect him hereafter. The red-man had only tocontinue faithful, and the white man would stifle his ordnance.
The sequel of this strange fire from heaven, may be given in few words.For three days it remained unextinguished, and, for two more days, theheat in the atmosphere was insupportable. The river suffered from asympathetic heat, and seemed ready to seethe. The fish in it died insuch abundance, of all sorts, _that enough were founde to have ladenfiftie carts_. The air became putrid with the effluvia; the greaternumber of the garrison fell sick, and suffered nearly to death; whilethe poor savages removed to a distance from the region, which, since thesettlement of the colonists, had been productive of little but mischiefunto them. The distress of Laudonniere, under these events, wasincreased by discontents and mutinies among his people. They were not ofa class so docile as their predecessors under Albert. These, certainly,would not have borne so patiently with such a sway. The government ofLaudonniere, if not a wise, was not a brutal or despotic one. Butthey threatened equally his peace and safety. They had cause forapprehension, if not for commotion. The promised supplies from France,which were to be brought by Ribault, had failed to arrive, and thediscontent in the colony was beginning to assume an aspect the mostserious. At this point, our narrative must enter somewhat more intodetails, and, for the sake of compactness, we must somewhat anticipateevents.
The Lily and the Totem; or, The Huguenots in Florida Page 12