La Salle's Colony in Texas, r684-1689
and baggage of the expedition were placed; and a small ketch of about thirty tons burden, laden with munitions and merchandise. This last was called St. Francis. In command of the little fleet while at sea was Captain Beaujeu, an experienced naval officer of thirty years experience, with the Chevalier d'Aire as his lieutenant, and Sieur de Hamel as ensign. La Salle was, of course. to be recognized as the head of the expedition and the route to be follo{ved was left to his judgment. This arrangement and the natural dislike which Beaujeu developed for the taciturn and uncommunicative La Salle were to be the cause of many misfortunes to the ill-starred expedition. 12 Tlee route to Matagorda Bay. On July 24, 1684, the little fleet sailed from La Rochelle, escorted by the ships that were going to the Islands and to Canada. According to instructions they were to proceed together until the coast of Spain was reached, but the Joly suffered an unexpected accident shortly after they sailed and was forced to put back to port to repair the damage caused by the mishap, being delayed five or six days as a consequence. Reunited once more, they proceeded without hazard to the Island of Madeira, where they arrived on August 16. Beaujeu and La Salle had begun to have serious misunderstandings. The experienced naval officer seems to have resented deeply what he termed the arrogance of the taciturn explorer. From Madeira the expe- dition made its way to the French settlements in Santo Domingo, where La Salle expected to secure valuable information and assistance for the completion of his enterprise. Before reaching the island the fleet seems to have been scattered by a storm. Whether as a result of the unfavorable weather or lack of proper vigilance, shortly before arriving in Santo Domingo, the small ketch, St. Francis, was captured by Spanish corsairs. This was a serious calamity because this little boat carried most of the provisions for the new colony and its capture might reveal to the Spaniards the plans of the proposed settlement. But fortunately for the French, the Spaniards failed to report the capture to the Spanish authorities, their greed evidently subduing their devotion and loyalty to the best interests of the king. The Joly, which had started last, was the first to enter the port of Petit Guoave, on October 27, 1684. Here it was joined by the other two vessels on October 2, where they remained for almost two months
12 The details of the expedition as given here will follow closely the excellent sum- mary made by l\'Iorfi. See Castaneda, Morfi's History of Texas, 120-139.
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