^zo An Hijîorical Journal of 



large Iron Bar. If the Fad is true, for I fhould be willing to 

 . fee it before I believe it, the Saliva of thefe Animals mufl 

 be a very powerful DilTolvent. As for the Leg of a Man, 

 I would not truft it in their Jaws. This is certain, that the 

 Meat of that which I faw, was enough to fatisfy ten Perfons who 

 had good Stomachs. We ftaid all the Day in this Grant, which 

 is not much forwarder than the reft, and which they call le Bâton 

 rouge, (the red Stick J* 



The next Day we made eleven Leagues, and we encamped a 

 Defcritiion of ^^^^^ below the Bayagoulasy which we had 

 the Ba a aulas' ^^^^ the Right Hand, after having vifited 

 ^ ° " here the Ruins of the antient Village I men- 

 tioned before. It was very populous about twenty Years fince. 

 The Small-Pox has deftroyed a Part of its Inhabitants, the 

 reft are gone away and difperfed : They have not fo much as 

 ^ even heard any News of them forfeveral Years, and 'tis a Doubt 

 whether there is a fingle Family remaining. The Land they 

 poffelTed is very rich. MefTrs. Paris have a Grant here, where 

 they have planted in Rows a great Number of white Mulberry. 

 Trees, and they make very fine Silk here already. They alfo be- 

 gin to cultivate here, with much Succefs, Indigo and Tobacco. 

 If they laboured the fame in all other Places, the Proprietors of 

 Giants would foon be indemnified for all their Expences. 



The 3d of January we arrived about Ten o'Clock in the 

 An Account of ^^^^^^S little Village of the Oumas^ 



, ^ / which is on the Left, and where there are 



L X^^^^ T ^ome French Houfes. A Quarter of a League 

 /i;^L,netimacnas. higher the Country, is the great Vil- 

 lage. This Nation is very well afFeded to us. The MiJJtJJîppi 

 begins to fork, or to divide into two Branches, two Leagues 

 higher. It has hollowed itfelf on the Right, to which it always 

 inclines, a Channel, which they call the Fork of the Chetimachasy 

 or Sitimachas ; and which, before it carries its Waters to the 

 Sea, forms a pretty large Lake. The Nation of the Chetimachas, 

 is almoft entirely deftroyed ; the few that remain are Slaves in 

 the Colony. 



We went that Day fix Leagues beyond the Oumas, and we 

 pafted the Night on the fine Spot where they had fettled the 

 Grant of M. le Marquis D^Ancenisy at prefent Duke de Bethune ; 

 "which, by a Fire happening in the great Magazine, and by {eve* 

 ral other Accidents one after another, is reduced to nothing. 

 The ColapiJJas had here formed a little Village, which did not 

 fubfift long. 



The 4th v/e arrived before Noon at the great Village of the 

 " ColapiJJas. It is the fineft Village of Louijîana, yet they reckon 

 in it but two hundred Warriors, who have the Charafterof being 



V 8 very 



