34- TRAVELS through 



the FrencJi. His countrymen wanted to take it 

 from him ; but he efcaped by fwimming acrofs 

 a river \ and left he fl^iould wet the letter, he 

 held it up in the air. This Lidian^ after a jour- 

 ney of one hundred and fifty leagues, arrived 

 at the Natchitoches *, an Indian nation. The 

 French commander there at that time being M. 

 Hucheros de St. Denis ^ an officer of diflindion, 

 known for having made the firft journey over 

 land from Lotufmna to Mexico^ where he married 

 {he Spani/Ii governor's niece. The Indian gave 

 him M. de Belle-IJle's letter, and M. de St, Denis 

 received him very well, and made him many 

 prefents i after which, this officer began to cry 

 after the manner of the Indians, w\ho afl-ced what 

 ailed him ? He anfwered, he wept for his bro- 

 ther who was a captive among the Attcikapas. 

 As M. d^ Saint Denis was in great efteem with 

 the nations about him, the Lidian who brought 

 the letter promifed to fetch M. de Belle-IJle^ and 

 fome other Indians joined him. 



M. de Saint Denis gave them fome fhirts and a. 

 hat for M. de Belle-IJle^ and they fet cut imme- 

 diately, ten in number, on horfeback^ and arm- 

 ed 



* A ft:ition near Mexico. There is a fettlemcn: cf Indians 

 p^ the Ri-z'iere Rcu^e, or Red-ritvei\ 



