LOUISIANA. 345 



French. M. de Belle- IJle's miftrefs attended iii 

 perfon ; fince this period the French have always 

 been humanely treated by the Attakapas^ who 

 have at their defire left off the barbarous cuftom 

 of eating human flefh. 



When the Attakapa^ came to "New Orleans^ 

 they were well received by all the French^ in 

 gratitude of the reception M. de Belle-IJle had met 

 with among them ; for without them, he would 

 have undergone the unhappy fate of his compa- 

 nions, 



M. de Bienville fometimes procured himfelf the 

 diverfion of a pantomime with thefe cannibals, 

 by means of M. de Belle-IJle^ who, as their pu- 

 pil, converfed with them by geftures. The At- 

 takapas are armed with bows and very great ar- 

 rows \ they cultivate maize, as the other North 



American 



*' father, the white man, whom thou feeft here, is thy flefh 

 " and blood, he was united tD us by adoption. His brothers 

 " were Ilarved to death, if my nation had found them fooner, 

 ** they would live lUll and enjoy the fame prerogative." 



The hofpitality fhewn to M. de Belle-IJle by the Jttakapasy 

 convinced usy that we muu regard their cruelty only as a. 

 fault of education, and that nature has planted fentimsnts of 

 liumanity in tlieif breaft. 



