MARCH WITH 600 VOLUNTEIRS INTO Y e TERRITORYES OF HIS ROYALL HIGHNESSE THE DUKE OF YORKE IN AMERICA. [
Lonci. Doc. II. ]
Upon the 29 h of Xber last, Monsier Coarsell the Governour of Canada, in Nova ffrancia begun his march witli near 600 men, to seeke out their inveterate ennemyes called the Mahauke Indians in their owne country and forts, there to take reuenge upon them for the seuerall murthers and spoyles which the Barbarians had for many yeares exercised in Cannada upon the French, and the Indians of those l
parts even to the ruine of most, but to the insufferable discouragement of all those Inhabitants,
who being taken alive were usually tortured and eaten, or burnt by the Mauhaukes
;
If not taken,
yet liv d in perpetuall alarums to see their dwelling houses burnt, their Cattell and Corne destroyed.
Ah which powerfull arguments furnish't y e french with heate enough to march over the ffrozen lake of Canada, lying in the 60th degree of northerne latitude, and taking their tyme that the snow upon the ground was hard frozen (though in most jDlaces 4 foote deep) made use of Indian snow shoes w ch
hath the very form of a Rackett tyed to each foote, whereby y e body and feet are kept from sinking into the snow, and because it was not possible for horses to pass, or subsist in the snow, or for the
on their backes, and had lesse expectation to meete w th any reliefe in the vaste wilderness, the Governo r caused slight sledges to be made in good number, laying provisions upon them, drew them over the snow with mastive doggs, all these difficultyes put soldiers to carry their necessary provisions