i82' TRAVELS through 



the weft to Mexico and Loufiana *. The ele- 

 phants who came thither are a proof which con- 

 firms my obfervations-f-. Further, when I afk- 

 cd the Indians called Sioux des prairies^ who arc 

 a nomadic nation, they told me, that they had 

 heard other Indians fay, that, to the weftward 

 of their country, there lived a nation of clothed 

 people, who navigated on great falt-water lakes 

 with great piraguas J •, that they inhabited great 

 villages built with white ftones *, that the inha- 

 bitants obeyed one defpotic grand chief, who 

 fent great armies into the field. 



The Mexicans adore idols as the Indians do ; 

 the Natches Indians had a temple, and a kind of 

 fervice •, in their language intelligent people 

 have found Chinefe words. Some Indians cut 

 off their hair, leaving only a tuft as the crown 



of 



* Louijiana formerly touched Canada on the north-eaft, Flo- 

 rida and the EngUJh colonies on the eaft, and Nenu Mexico on 

 the weft fide. Its north-weft boundaries were not determined. 

 See more on this fubjefl in a note to Kaim*s Travels, vol. Ill, 

 p. 125. F. 



f But this proof does not hold good. See the note on 

 p. 180. 



X The Indians call the fca a great lake, and the /hips 

 greaj piraguas? 



