206 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



long time against the ancients of the country, who conquered 

 some of our villages in the plains, but never could force us from 

 the mountains. Our nation extended itself along the great water, 

 where the large river loses itself ; but, as our enemies were be- 

 come very numerous and very wicked, our Suns sent some of their 

 subjects, who lived near this river, to examine whether we could 

 retire into the country through which it flowed. The country on 

 the east side of the river being found extremely pleasant, the 

 Great Sun, upon the return of those who had examined it, ordered 

 all his subjects who lived in the plains, and who still defended 

 themselves against the ancients of the country, to remove into 

 this land ; here to build a temple, and to there preserve the eter- 

 nal fire. A great part of our nation accordingly settled here, 

 where they lived in peace and abundance for several generations. 

 The Great Sun and those who remained with him were tempted 

 to continue where they were, by the pleasantness of the country, 

 which was very warm, and by the weakness of their enemies, 

 who had fallen into civil dissensions, etc. It was not till after 

 many generations that the Great Sun came and joined us in this 

 country, and reported that warriors of fire, who made the earth to 

 tremble, had arrived in our old country, and, having entered into 

 an alliance with our brethren, conquered our ancient enemies ; 

 but attempting afterward to make slaves of our Suns, they, 

 rather than submit to them, left our brethren, who refused to 

 follow them, and came hither attended only by their own 

 slaves." 



Their tradition also says that after their removal to Louisiana 

 their nation in the height of their prosperity extended from the 

 river Manchac, or Iberville, to the Ohio, or about four hundred 

 leagues ; and that they had about five hundred Suns or princes 

 to rule over them. 



At the time we become acquainted with the Natchez their 

 nation was nearly destroyed, though from what causes we do not 

 exactly know. They were expelled from the country originally 

 known as Florida about a. d. 1730, a part being driven across the 

 Mississippi, and the remainder incorporating themselves with the 

 Chickasaws and other neighboring tribes ; the new confederacy 

 of the Creeks arising upon their ruins. It is probable that their 

 final downfall was caused by De Soto's ferocious and bloody in- 

 vasion, during which for three years their country was ravaged 

 with fire and sword, and the inevitable consequence of which was 

 an inability to defend themselves against the hostile tribes around 

 them, who probably broke into their country from all directions, 

 and smothered the partial civilization which once distinguished 

 this part of the United States. 



