^6 TRAVELS Through 



grand chief of the 'Tonikas : the latter commu- 

 nicated this to the commander-general of the 

 French, to whom he was very much attached ; 

 the Natches prevented the anfwer, and aflaSinated 

 the 'Tonikas^ beginning with their grand chief; 

 his enemies, who feared our advice and our 

 forces, made hafte to ruin and deftroy a great 

 number of his fubjeds. We Ihall always lament^ 

 together with thefe good Indians, the lofs of a 

 man, whofe great qualities would do honour to 

 a civilized nation. 



After eighty leagues navigation from the ca:* 

 pital of Louifiana^ we arrived at the poft of the 

 Natches^ which, about twenty years ago, was 

 very confiderable, but is very infignificant at 

 prefent. 



The fort is fituated on an eminence, which 

 commands the river Miffifippi^ from which it is 

 about the diflance of a cannon - fhot. The 

 ground, which in this country is always rifmg 

 higher, would be one of the moft fertile, if it 

 were cultivated ; tobacco, cotton, and maize 

 fucceed very well in it, 



I have made fome flay at this pod, which is 

 co^imanded by the Chevalier d'Orgony a natural 



foD 



