swanton] EARLY HISTORY OF THE CREEK INDIANS 163 
town, one barely escaping with his life, and that this was the cause 
of a war between the French and that tribe. 1 
La Harpe, a better authority than Penicaut, places this event in 
the year 1703. 2 We learn from the same explorer that in May, 
1702, eighl chiefs of the Alabama had come to Mobile to ask Bien- 
ville whether or not they should continue their war with the Chicka- 
saw, Tohome (Tomes), and Mobile, and that Bienville had advised 
them to make peace. 3 October 1 some of them came down, sang 
the calumet , and promised to make peace.' From this it appears 
that the alliance which Penicaut represents as existing between the 
Alabama and the Mobile and Tohome was not of long standing. 
The act of treachery in killing four out of five French traders was, 
it seems, a first act of hostility after peace had been made the year 
before. The leader of the traders was named Labrie, and the one 
who escaped was a Canadian. 5 According to Penicaut, Bienville's 
first attempt to obtain reparation for this hostile act had to be 
given up on account of the treachery of the Mobile, Tohome, 
People of the Forks, and other Indian allies who misled and aban- 
doned him "because they were friends and allies of the Alibamons 
against whom we were leading them to war." 6 La Harpe does not 
mention this. Bienville led another party later on with little bet- 
ter success. Penicaut places this expedition in 1702, 7 La Harpe in 
December, 1703, and January, 1704. 8 Two Tohome are mentioned 
by La Harpe as deputed along with three Canadians to bring in the 
Choctaw chiefs in order to make peace between them and the Chicka- 
saw, who had come to Mobile to ask it. This was December 9, 1705. 9 
On the 18th of the same month it is noted that Bienville "recon- 
ciled the Mobilian nation with that of the Thomes; they were on 
tin- point of declaring war against each other on account of the 
death of a Mobilian woman, killed by a Thome." 9 
This is the only mention of any difference between these two tribes; 
it is enough, however, to show that there was a clear distinction 
between them. In January, 1706, M. de Boisbrillant set out against 
the Alabama with 60 Canadians and 12 Indians. According to La 
Harpe he returned February 21 with 2 scalps and a slave. 10 Peni- 
caut, who places the expedition in 1702, says that he had 40 men, 
killed all the men in 6 Alabama canoes, and enslaved all of the 
women and children. He adds that the Mobilians begged the slaves 
from M. de Bienville, "because they were their relations,'* that the 
1 Margry, D6c., v, pp. 42S-129. 'Ibid., pp. 129-431. 
" La Harpe, Jour. Hist., pp. 76-77, 79. B La Harpe, Jour. Hist., pp. 82 83. The account i 
3 Ibid., p. 72. of these two writers are given on pp. 194-195. 
• Ibid., pp. 73-74. 9 Ibid., p. 94. 
5 Ibid., pp. 77, 79. w Ibid., p. 96. 
•Margry, D6c., v, p. 429. 
