travels in North America. 



ff$ thirteen or fourteen Leagues from the BUoxi, inclining to th^ 



7 Tv/r 1-1 Eaft, we find the River of the Maubiky which. 

 U/ />b^MauDiie. ^^^^ ^^^^j^ g^^^jj^ ^ ^j^^ j^^^^j^ 



of which is over-againft Dauphin IJland* It rifes in the Country 

 of the Chicachasy and its Courfe is about a hundred and thirty 

 Leagues. Its Bed is very narrow, and it winds much, whiçli 

 does not hinder its being very rapid. But there are fcarce any 

 but the little Pettiaugres that can go up it when the Waters arg 

 low. We have on this River a Fort, which has been a long 

 Time the principal Poll of the Colony ; yet the Lands are not 

 good, but its Situation near the Spaniards made it convenient 

 for trading with them, and this was all they fought for at that 

 Time, 



It is reported, that at fome Leagues beyond the Forf, 

 they have difcovered a Quarry ; if this i§ true, and the Quarry 

 abounds v/ith Stone, it may prevent the entire Defertion of thi^ 

 Poft, which many Inhabitants begin to forfake, being un^ 

 willing to cultivate any longer a Soil which does not anfwer 

 the Pains they take to improve it. Nevertbelefs, I do not be* 

 lieve that they will eafily refolve to evacuate the Fort of Mau-r 

 hile, though it Ihould ferve only to keep in our Alliance the 

 Tchaéîas, a numerous People, who make us a neceiTary Barrier 

 againft the Chicachas, and again ft the Savages bordering on 

 Carolina, GarcilaJJo de la Fega, in his Hiftory of Florida, fpeaks 

 of a Village called Mau^illa, which no doubt gave its Name to 

 . the River, and to the Nation that was fettled on its Borders, 

 Thefe Mawvilians were then very powerful ; at prefent there ar^ 

 hardly any Traces left of them. 



They are at prefent engaged in feeking to the Well of 

 Of the Ba St ^^F^mp^-> a Place fit to make a Settlg- 



Bernard^ ^ * ment, which may bring us nearer to Mexiço j 

 and they think they have found it at a hun^- 

 dred Leagues from the Mouth of the River, in a Bay which 

 bears the Name fomctimes of St, Magdalen^ and fometimes of Sf^ 

 Louis, but oftener that of 6*/. Bernard, It receives many Rivers^ 

 fome of which are pretty large, and it was there that M. de 

 Sale landed, when he milTed the Mouth of the MiJ/iJJjppi, 4. 

 Brigantine has been fent lately thither to reconnoitre it, but they 

 found there fome Savages, who appear little difpofed to re^ 

 ceive us, and whom they did not treat in fuch a Manner a§ 

 to gain them to us. I alfo hear that the Spaniçirds have 

 very lately prevented this Defign^ by fettling there before 

 us. 



There is in Truth fomething more prelîing, aud better to be 

 done, than this Enterprize. I know that Commerce is the Soui 

 of Colonies, and thaf they are of no Ufe to fuch a Kingdom as 



