Often it was impossible tocarry their canoes past waterfalls, because the forests were so dense, sothat they had to drag the boats by ropes, wading among rocks or climbingalong precipices. Gradually they left behind them their armor, theirprovisions, and clothing, keeping only their canoes; they lived on fishand wild fowl, and were sometimes twenty-four hours without food.Champlain himself carried three French arquebuses or short guns, threeoars, his cloak, and many smaller articles; and was harassed by denseclouds of mosquitoes all the time. Vignan, Brissac, and the rest werealmost as heavily loaded. The tribe of Indians whom they at last reachedhad chosen the spot as being inaccessible to their enemies; and thoughtthat the newcomers had fallen from the clouds.When Champlain inquired after the salt sea promised by Vignan, he learnedto his indignation that the whole tale was false. Vignan had spent awinter at the very village where they were, but confessed that he hadnever gone a league further north. The Indians knew of no such sea, andcraved permission to torture and kill him for his deceptions; they calledhim loudly a liar, and even the children took up the cry and jeered athim. They said, "Do you not see that he meant to cause your death? Givehim to us, and we promise you that he shall not lie any more.
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