L: O U I S I A N A. 115 



a convoy. The Indians had meditated their en- 

 terprife, and intended to come before the con- 

 voy. I was then at the Kajkakias, where M. 

 de MontcharvMix commanded, who could not 

 }uftiy know the whole extent of the plot of thofe 

 barbarians. Thefe were fpread in the houfes of 

 the inhabitants ; by their careiTes, their affeda- 

 tion, and calling to mind the malTacre of the 

 Natches, we fufpeded their defign. 



On fuch occafions as thefe, an officer feels all 

 the weight of the command. M. de Mont'char^ 

 vaux was not difcouraged ; he was feconded by 

 M. de Gruife^ an intelligent, brave officer. He 

 held a council with the oldefl and mod confider- 

 able people of the place ^ and did me the ho- 



^ nour to confuit m.e in this circumftance : .it was 

 more through his goodnefs than through- necef- 

 fuy, becaufe I was newly arrived, and confe- 

 quently little acquainted with the fituation of af* 

 fairs in that neighbourhood. I will however 



, venture to fay, that he was pleafed with the ad- 

 vice 1 gave, though it was a very fim.ple one. 

 My opinion was, that, in order to penetrate the 

 defign of thefe Indians, v/e fhould keep on the 

 defenfive, without fhewing the lead fufpicion : 

 that we fliould fend out fome armed inhabitants 

 on horfeback, as if they went a-hunting -, recom- 

 J 2 mending 



Je* 



