LOUISIANA. 159 



afked M. de Macariy's leave to go to change the 

 air at the Kaokias^ who are a day's journey from 

 Fort Chartres^ and the road to it is either by 

 water or by land. In this poft there is a little 

 fort on the left fide of the Mtffiftppiy it is the 

 great road of the Illinois to Canada^ and the cen- 

 ter of commerce of New France^ or Louijiana^ 

 which is confiderable in furs. 



The priefts of the order of St. Sulpicius^ to 

 whom the ifle and town of Montreal belong, 

 have eftablillied a mifTion here under the name 

 of the Holy Family of Jefus, There are but 

 three priefts. I have been particularly ac- 

 quainted with the Abbe Mcrcier, a Canadian by 

 birth, and vicar of the whole country of Illinois. 

 He was a man of probity, whofe friendlhip 

 could not fail of being of ufe to me, by the 

 knowledge he had acquired of the manners of the 

 Indians, who were edified by his virtue and dif- 

 intereftednefs. He fpoke the language of the 

 country, and on account of the fluency with 

 which he exprelTcd himfelf in it, he was highly 

 efteemed among the Indians, who confult him 

 in all matters. He has fpent forty five years in 

 cultivating the Lord's vineyard in thefe diflant 

 •countries, and the Indian nations of thefe parts 



have 



