near, about one hundred Indians appeared on the shore, with bent bows. Lasalle, on seeing them, recalled the Chevalier; and the French went and camped on the opposite shore, presenting their muskets. The Indians now laid their bows on the ground, and the Chevalier went over with a calumet. Lasalle seeing it accepted, came over, and was led by the Indians to their village. The chief expressed much joy at the sight of the French, and detained them a few days. At their departure, he made his people carry dried fruit, corn and venison to their boats. Lasalle gave him a sword, an axe, a kettle and a few knives. After firing a salute, the French proceeded to a village of the Coroas, twenty-five miles further.

On the twenty-seventh of March, they encamped at the mouth of Red River.

Further down, they fell in with a party of the Quinipissas who were fishing, and who on perceiving them went a shore, where a drum was beaten and a number of men made their appearance armed with bows. Lasalle directed some of his men to advance, but they were briskly repulsed. Four Indians, whom he had taken as guides at the last village, advanced with as little success, and no further attempt to land was made.

Two days after, the French came to a village of the Tangipaos. It was entirely deserted, and despoiled of every thing. Several dead bodies lay in heaps. The scene was too disgusting to allow the party to stop.

After descending the river several days, Lasalle took notice that the water of the Mississippi became brackish, and shortly after the sea was discovered. This was on the seventh of April.

Lasalle sailed along the coast for a while, and

returning to the mouth of the river, caused a Te Deum to be sung. The boats were hauled aground, recaulked, and a few temporary huts erected. A cross was placed on a high tree, with the escutcheon of France, in token of the solemn possession taken for the king. Lasalle called the river St. Louis and the country Louisiana.

Parties of the Tangipaos and Quinipissas came on the next day to hunt buffaloes, which were in abundance in the neighbouring cane brakes. The Indians were successful in their chase, and presented the French with three of these animals.

After resting a few days, the party sat off. It now consisted of sixty persons, white and red. They were soon tired of stemming the current, which was now very strong, and proceeded along the shore to the Quinipissas. As these Indians had manifested no hospitable disposition, Lasalle deemed it prudent to take some precautions. Accordingly, four Indians were sent forward; they returned in the evening with as many Quinipissa women, who were sent back in the morning with presents, and desired to inform their countrymen, the French requested nothing but a supply of provisions and their friendship; and were willing liberally to pay for what they might obtain. A few hours after, four chiefs came with provisions, and requested Lasalle to stop with his men in their village. On their arrival there, water fowls and fruit were given them, and at night they encamped between the village and the river. In the morning, their treacherous hosts attacked them, but they did not find them asleep. Lasalle had constantly a sentry, and warmly repelled the assailants. Five of them were killed, and the rest fled. After this blow, Lasalle proceeded on without stopping, till he reached the Natchez, who were

much pleased at seeing the scalps of the Quinipissas, in the hands of the Indians accompanying him.

The French, being invited to an entertainment, noticed with surprise that not a woman of their hosts was among them. A moment after, a number of armed men appeared. Lasalle immediately arose and ordered his men to take their arms. The head man requested him not to be alarmed, and directed the armed ones of his nation to halt; informing his guests they were a party, who had been skirmishing with the Iroquois, and assured them that no individual of his nation harboured any other sentiment towards the French, but that of esteem and friendship. Notwithstanding this assurance, the French sat off in the belief that Lasalle's quick motion had averted a blow.

The Taensas and Arkansas received the party, with as much cordiality as when they went down. The French left the latter tribe on the twelfth of May, and stopped at Fort Prudhomme. Lasalle found himself too unwell to proceed he therefore sent the Chevalier de Tonti forward, with twenty men, French and Indians. His indisposition, detained him among the Chickasaws for nearly two months, and he joined the Chevalier at Michillimachinack, in the latter part of September. They spent a few days together there, and the latter went to take the command of Fort St. Louis of the Illinois, and the former continued his route to Quebec.

The Count de Frontenac had sailed for France some time before Lasalle's arrival. The relation the latter gave of his expedition, excited great joy in Canada. He was impatient to announce his success to his sovereign, and took shipping for France in October.

Charlevoix. Tonti.-Hennepin.

CHAPTER V.

Le Febvre de la Barre.-De Meules.-Lasalle arrives in France. The Marquis of Seignelai.-Expedition for the Mississippi.-Volunteers, soldiers and colonists, mechanics, priests.-The fleet weighs anchor, under Beaujeu. Hispaniola.-Cuba.-Beaujeu misses the mouth of the Mississippi, and is driven westwardly.Bay of St. Bernard.-Lasalle attempts to find the Mississippi by land.-Indians.-One of the vessels is cast ashore.-James II.-Commerce of Canada.Champigny de Norroy.-Card money.-Beaujeu sails for France.-A fort built at the western extremity of the bay of St. Bernard.-Another attempt to find the Mississippi.-Point Hurier.-An establishment commenced on the banks of Rio Colorado, or Riviere aux vaches.-The fortifications on the gulf are demolished, and all the colonists remove to Colorado, where they build. a new fort.-The Chevalier de Tonti descends the Mississippi, in search of the colonists.-They are distressed by disease, Indian hostilities and famine.-Last attempt to find the Mississippi.-Irruptions of the Iroquois in Canada.-The Marquis de Denonville.-His correspondence with the Governor of New York.-Pasteboard money.-Lasalle loses his last vessel, and sets off for the Illinois.-Buffaloes.-Biscatonge Indians. Chinonoas.--Rattle Snake.--Cenis.-Nassonites — Sickness and return of Lasalle.-State of the colony.Lasalle determines to return to France, by the way of Canada.-One of his party falls sick, is sent back and killed by the Indians. Resentment of his brother.-The party stops to kill buffaloes, and cure the meat.-Mutiny-Lasalle and his nephew are murdered.-Division of the party. The murderers quarrel and some of them

are killed; the others seek refuge among the Indians.— Lasalle's brother, Father Athanase and five others, reach the Arkansas.-Couture and Delaunay-Lasalle's brother and his companions go to the Illinois, and from thence to Quebec, and embark for France.

LE FEBVRE DE LA BARRE, the successor of Count de Frontenac in the government of New France, and de Meules, the new intendant, landed at Quebec in the spring of 1683.

Lasalle was received at court, with all the attention due to a man, who had planned and carried into execution, an enterprise so useful to the nation; and the Marquis de Seignelay, who had succeeded Colbert, his father, in the ministry of the Marine, gave directions some time after for the preparation of an expedition at la Rochelle, in order to enable Lasalle to plant a French colony, on the banks of the Mississippi.

The vessels, destined for this service, were the king's ship the Joli, the frigate the Aimable, the brig la Belle and the ketch St. Francis. The command of them was given to Beaujeu.

Twelve young gentlemen accompanied Lasalle as volunteers; a company of fifty soldiers was given him, and the king granted a free passage, and made a liberal advance in money, provisions and implements of husbandry, to twelve families who consented to emigrate. A number of useful mechanics were also embarked, with some other individuals. In order to provide for the spiritual wants of these people, five clergymen, one of whom was Lasalle's brother, were sent. Thus, besides the officers and crews, about two hundred and fifty persons accompanied Lasalle.

Beaujeu did not, however, weigh anchor till the