342 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 43 



"Now the snii is warm niul hrilliniit, tlic heaven is clear, there are no more 

 clouds, the roads are clean and pleasant, the water is so clear that we can see 

 ourselves within it, the game comes back, our women dance until they forget to 

 eat. our children leap like young fawns, the heart of the entire nation laughs 

 with joy. to see that we will walk along the same road as you all, Frenchmen ; 

 the same sun will illuminate us ; we will have but one word, our hearts will 

 make but one, we will eat together like brothers ; will that not be good, what 

 say you? " 



To this discourse, pronounced in a firm, assured tone, with all the grace and 

 propriety, I might almost say, with all the ma.iesty possible, M. de Bienville 

 replied in a few words in the common language [i. e., the Mobilian] which he 

 spoke with facility; he had them eat, placed his hand in that of the chancellor 

 as a sign of friendship, and sent them back satisfied." " 



This account should be accepted with caution, especially the speech 

 of the Indian word-bearer, although there is nothing impossible in 

 the latter, the writer of this paper having recorded speeches not very 

 different in tone or substance. There is also an apparent disagree- 

 ment with other writers in the statement that St. Cosme was killed 

 by but one Indian. Perhaps the man referred to was the last sur- 

 vivor of the band accused of the outrage. 



As this peace was concluded late in 1718 the Chitimacha did not 

 reach their new location on the Mississippi until 1719. It is a fair 

 question whether the party that settled here comprised the entire 

 nation, or indeed whether the entire nation was engaged in hostilities 

 w^ith the French. When we first get a clear view of the whole Chiti- 

 macha territory we find them divided into two sections, one living on 

 the Mississippi or the upper part of Bayou La Fourche, the other 

 on Bayou Teche and Grand Lake. It is possible, of course, that this 

 second division was the result-of a reflux from the Mississippi in later 

 times, but the Chitimacha themselves maintain that they have lived 

 there always. It may be suggested as possible that the term Yagna- 

 tcito, mentioned above, was applied to the division of Chitimacha on 

 the Teche, and that this duality in the nation was therefore of long 

 standing. 



In his descent of the Mississippi in 1722, Charlevoix appears to have 

 missed the Chitimacha entirely. Otherwise he would hardly have 

 stated that " the nation of the Chitimachas is almost entirely de- 

 stroyed; the few that remain are slaves in the colony."^ In 1727 

 Poisson found them above the concession of M. Paris and some dis- 

 tance inland, whither they had moved to escape the inundation of the 

 river. He gives the name of their chief as Framboise.'" 



The officer, with De Nouaille, in 17:^0 seems to have found th(Mn a 

 little lower down. He says: 



On the Stli of September we set out [from the Ilounias] at suiuMse and itassed 

 the night opposite the first villages of the Chitimaclias on the rigid l)aidv of the 



« Du TM-atz. Hist, do La Louisinno, i, 100,-114. '■ .Ifs. Uel., l.wu. -JiJO-llOl. 



I" French, Hist. Coll. L:i., ITil. is." I. 



