Travels in North America. 305 



Garcilaffo de la Vega fpeaks of the Chicachas in his Hiftory of 

 Of the Chica ^ Conqueft of Florida^ and places them 

 ^Ij^"!^ * nearly in the fame Place where they are at 



prefent. He reckons them among the People 

 of Florz da who fubmitted to the Spaniards: But this pretended 

 Submifîîon lalled no longer than the Spaniards continued in their 

 Neighbourhood ; and it is certain that the Spaniards bought the 

 Vi6tory dear which they gained over them. They are flill the 

 braveft Soldiers of Louifeana. They were much more numerous 

 in the Time of Ferdinand de Soto than they are at prefent; but for 

 the Riches, which this Hiftorian gives them, I do not eafily con- ,^ 

 ceive neither from where they could get them, nor what could dry 

 up the Source from whence they derived them; for they are now 

 neither more wealthy, nor lefs favage^ than their Neighbour 

 Nations. 



It was our Alliance with the Illinois^ which fet us at War with 

 the Chicachasy and the E?iglijh of Carolina blow up the Fire. Our 

 Settlement in Louijîana makes them very uneafy : It is a Barrier,' 

 which we fet between their powerful Colonies of North America^ 

 and Mexico, and we mufl exped they will employ all Sorts of 

 Means to break it. The Spaniards, who are fo jealous of feeing 

 us fortify ourfelves in this Country, are not yet fenfible of the 

 Importance of the Service we do th^m.— — A few Days after I 

 had pafled by the Place where we faw the Poll of the Illinois, the 

 Chicachas had their Revenge on two Frenchmen, who followed me 

 in a Fettiaugre, Thefe Savages lay in Ambufh in the Reeds, by 

 the Side of the River, and when they faw the Frenchmen over- 

 againft them, they moved the Reeds, withour difcoveririg them- 

 felves ; the Frenchmen thought that it was a Bear, or fome other 

 Beafl, and they approached, thinking to kill it; but the Mo- 

 ment they prepared to land, the Chicachas fired upon them, and 

 laid them dead in their Pettiaugre. I was very fortunate in npt 

 being feen by them, for my People would lofe no Opportunity 

 of going after Game. 



The 23d, after a very cold Night, we had a very fine Day ; 



Ri'ver of the though the Earth was covered with 



Chicachas Snow, the Cold was to be borne. Thé next. 



Day we paiTed before the Mouth of the 

 River of the Chicachas, which is but narrow, but it comes 

 a great Way. Its Mouth is North and South. They reckon 

 from thence to the Kajkafquias eighty fix Leagues ; but the 

 Way would not be half fo much by Land. Nothing would 

 be more pleafant than this Navigation, if the Seafon was mil- 

 der : The Country is charming, and in the Forefls there ar^i a 

 Number of Trees always green ; the few Meadows we meet 

 with, alfo preferve their Verdure, and a confiderable Number of 



R r liian'ds 



