La Salle's Colony in Texas, 1684-1689
whose chronicler says "the settlement was in an admirable site, well chosen for defence against any attack." 23 The construction of permanent quarters had been accomplished with much difficulty. During the summer months the men had been obliged to labor under great hardships and many had sickened and died. La Salle, undismayed by the misfortunes and difficulties encountered at every hand, was nevertheless apprehensive of the future, and became more stern, e,·en harsh at times, all of which did not endear him to his men. But in the fall everything began to look better and plans were made to explore the country in search of the "fatal river" as Joutel was wont to call the Mississippi. Mysterious · relics found by tlee Frenc/1. While exploring the neigh- boring country preparatory to setting out in search of the river, evidence was found that seems to indicate that this area was visited by Spaniards before. Some fifteen leagues from Fort St. Louis, curious remains of a former Spanish settlement were discovered, according to the account gi,·en by La Salle's brother upon his return to France. "We reached a large village," he says, "enclosed with a kind of wall made of clay and sand. and fortified with little towers at intervals. where we found the arms of Spain engraved on a plate of copper, with the date of 1598. attached to a stake. The inhabitants gave us a kind welcome. and showed us some hammers and an anvil, two small pieces of iron cannon, a small brass culverin, some pikeheads, some old sword blades, and some books of Spanish comedy; and thence they guided us to a little hamlet of fishermen, about two leagues distant, where they showed us a second stake, also with the arms of Spain, and a few old chimneys. All this convinced us that the Spaniards had formerly been here. ":• It is strange that these details should be ignored entirely by all the others, who were with La Salle, and who have left accounts of the various exploring expe- ditions undertaken. Parkman rightly observes that this statement needs confirmation. Tile searcle for t/1e 1rlississjp-pi. Unfortunately the full details of his first attempt to discover the Mississippi are not available. By October 30, ZSLe6n, Historia de Nuevo Leo11, in Genaro Garcia. /Jocumenlos lneditos, XXV. 329. In this valuable work is found a sketch of the settlement, drawn by one of Alonso de Leon's soldiers, of the fort and houses as found in 1689. 24 Cavelier, Relation du Voyage que mon frere entreprit pour decouvrir !'embouchure du fl eve de Mi~sipy, quoted and translated by Parkman in op. cit ., 395,
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