LOUISIANA. 63 



The Sun Stun^ Arm faw with grief, that her 

 cares for the confervation of the French were 

 ufelefs ; llie was determined to ferve them in 

 fpite of themfelves j flie could not preferve them 

 all, and therefore fhe endeavoured to lefTen the 

 number of vidlims as much as poiTible ; fhe fe- 

 cretly went to the temple % flie drew a couple 

 of rods out of the bundle unnoticed by the 

 priefcs ; her intention was to forward the day 

 fixed for the execution of the confpiracy •, fhe 

 forefaw that the maflacre which would happen at 

 the Natches would foon be fpread far about, 

 that the French who were fettled among the 

 other nations would be informed of it, and be 

 upon their guard. That was the only thing that 

 remained for her to do, and fhe fuccceded in it v 

 the Natches found they were come to their laft 

 rod, without perceiving the impoflure ; they 

 boldly began the intended flaughter, in the pei'- 

 fualion that their allies would ad: at the fame 

 time. 



The 28th of December 1729, at eight in the' 

 morning, the Indians fpread among the French ^ 

 fome difcharges of guns, that were to ferve as a 

 fignal, v;cre fired near the door of M. de CJiepafi 



houfe \ 



* Only th^ Siihs among the women could go into tkt 

 temple. 



