Travels in North America, 365 



the Garrlfon of St. ^o/eph, named Dioniz^ and at our Arrival 



they told us very Urange News. 



They aflured us that ail Louijlana was evacuated by the 

 V ir Âl French ; that a large French Ship came to 



If alje Alarm. ^^^.^ jj^^^^^ embarked there the 



Commandant, the Diredlor, and all the Officers ; that after their 

 Departure, the Savages had killed all the Inhabitants and Sol- 

 diers that v/ere left, except a fmall Number vv^ho had faved them- 

 felves in two Sloops ; that being in Want of Proviiions, they 

 were gone to the Bay of St. Jofeph ; that thofe who arrived iirâ 

 were well received, but that they would not permit the others 

 to land, for Fear left fo many French being together, they fhould 

 be tempted to make themfelves Mafters of this Pofe, which we 

 formerly pofTeffed. 



All this Story had fo little Probability, that I could not pof- 

 fibly believe it ; but it was told with fo many Circumftances, and 

 coming from People who had fo little Intereil to impofe upon us, 

 and who being but at feven Leagues from St, Jofeph^ might have 

 News from thence every Day, that it feemed hard to think it 

 fhould be without any Foundation. The greateft Part of our 

 People were flruck with it ; and I found in myfelf that thefc 

 general Conilernations are communicated to the Heart, in Spite of ^ 

 our Underilanding, and that it is as impoffible not to feel fome 

 Fear in the midfl of People who are feised with it, as not to be 

 afflided with thofe that weep. I did not in the leafl believe 

 what they had juà told us, and yet I could not beeafy. 



In the mean Time our Company, in Spite of their Defpair, 

 finding Plenty of Provifions, and the Servants of the Sieur 

 Dioniz. very obliging, feafled all the refl of the Night. In the 

 Morning our Guides took Leave of us, according to their Orders. 

 We had no further Need of them ; for beHdes that we could not 

 liiifs our Way to St, Jofephy we met with at the Houfe of M. 

 Dioniz 2L Frenchman, a Soldier in his Company, and an old Defer- 

 ter from Mauhile, who was heartily -tired of the Spanijh Service, 

 among whom he was often almofl flarved, as he faid, though they 

 paid him well: So we eafily engaged him to go with us to 

 St. Jofeph, and from thence to Loiiifiana, fuppoling he could get 

 his Difcharge. 



We arrived about Five in the Afternoon at St. Jofeph, where 

 Arri'val at St were perfectly well received by the Go- 



îofeph ' vernor. We found there two great Boats 



" * of the Biloxz, with four French Officers, who 



were come to reclaim fome Deferters, but they did not find 

 them here. We had feen them the 24th, being Whit-Su7iday^ in a 

 Bark that was tîtider Sail, and which paiTed pretty near us. It 

 is very probab^|p that they had touched at St. Jofeph ; and to 



give 



