LOUISIANA. 145 



compare him now to M. de Bienvilky his prede- 

 cefTor. When thefe people do not fpeak in 

 praile of a governor, but, on the contrary, agree 

 with all the inhabitants in detefting him, it is the 

 flrongefl accufation againil him. 



Before I conclude, I fhall add a word about 

 the Miffouris, Baron Forneuf^ who has been go- 

 vernor of Fort Orleans eftabliflied in that nati- 

 on, and who knows their genius perfedly well, 

 has informed me, that they were formerly very 

 warlike and good, but that the French hunters 

 had corrupted them, by their bad condud, and 

 by fome difunions among them v they had 

 made themfelves contemptible by frauds in 

 trade ; they feduced and carried off the Indian 

 women, which, among thefe people, is a very 

 great crime •, for they never pardon fuch forts of 

 robberies. All the irregularities of thefe bad 

 Frenchmen irritated the Miffouris againft them ; 

 and therefore, during M. de Bienville's govern- 

 ment, they malTacred the Sieur Dubois^ and the 

 little garrifon under his command ; and as no 

 foldier efcaped, we have never been able to know 

 who was right and who was wrong. 



The ftory I fhall tell you will convince -you, 



that thefe people are only nominally fa vages,^ and 



Vol. I. L that 



