194 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 73 
but he is perhaps in error in placing the visit of the chiefs before 
Iberville's return, as Iberville himself says nothing regarding it, 
while La Harpe states that eight honored chiefs of the Alabama came 
to the Mobile fort May 12, fifteen days after Iberville's departure. 
These eight chiefs, La Harpe informs us, "came to ask M. de Bienville 
whether they should continue the war against the Chicachas, the 
Tomes, and the Mobiliens. He counseled them to make peace, 
gave them some presents, and so determined them to carry out what 
they had promised." 1 In the report which he drew up after his 
return to France from this expedition Iberville speaks of these Indians 
as follows: 
The Conchaques and Alibamons have their first villages thirty-five or forty leagues 
northeast, a quarter east from the Tohom£s, on the banks of a river which falls into 
the Mobile five leagues above the fort, toward the east. These two villages may 
consist of four hundred families; the greater part have guns, are friends of the English 
and will be shortly ours. 2 
In May, 1703, the English induced the Alabama to declare against 
the French, and the latter, deceived by the promise that they would 
find plenty of corn among them, sent into their country a man 
named Labrie with four Canadians. When within two days journey 
of the Alabama village 12 Indians came to meet them bringing a 
peace calumet. That night, however, they killed all of the French- 
men but one named Charles, who escaped, although with a broken 
arm, and carried the news to Mobile. 3 According to Penicaut, 
Bienville immediately undertook to avenge this injury, but was 
deserted by his Mobile and other allies who were secretly in sympathy 
with his enemies. This obliged him to return without having accom- 
plished anything. 4 Such an expedition may have been undertaken, 
but from other information relative to the relations between the 
Mobile tribes and the Alabama an understanding between the two seems 
rather improbable. According to La Harpe it was not until De- 
cember 22, 1703, that Bienville set out to punish the injury that had 
been received. 5 This Penicaut represents as immediately following 
the abortive attempt just related. 6 La Harpe says: 
He left [Fort Louis de la Mobile] with forty soldiers and Canadians in seven piro- 
gues. January 3, 1704, he discovered the fire of a party of the enemy. A little after- 
ward, having discovered ten pirogues, he took counsel of MM. de Tonty and de Saint- 
Denis, who were of the opinion, contrary to his own, that they should wait until 
night in order to attack them. These Alibamons were camped on a height difficult 
of access. The night was very dark, and they took a trail filled with brambles and 
vines, almost impracticable. The enemy posted in this place to the number of 
twelve, hearing the noise, fired a volley from their guns through the bushes; they 
killed two Frenchmen and wounded another; but they soon took to flight in order 
1 La Harpe, Jour. Hist., p. 72. * Margry, D6c, v, p. 429. 
» Margry, Die, iv, p. 594. » La Harpe, Jour. Hist., p. 82. 
» La Harpe, Jour. Hist., pp. 76-77. 6 Margry, D<§c, v, pp. 429-431. 
