( H ) 



from one of the Aionez,, and the following is the 

 ©ccafion, by means of which thefe things fell into 

 the hands of this perfon. 



About two years ago, fome Spaniards, who had 

 come, as they fay, 'from New Mexico, with defign 

 to penetrate as far as the country of the Illinois, and 

 to drive the French out of it, whom they faw with 

 extreme regret approach fo near the Miflburi, de- 

 fcended this river and attacked two villages of the 

 Octotatas, a people in alliance with the Aionez, 

 from whom it is pretended they draw their ori- 

 ginal. As thefe Indians had no fire-arms, and be- 

 ing befides furprized, the Spaniards eafily fucceed- 

 ed in their enterprize, and made a great flaughter 

 of them. A third village of the fame nation, and 

 at no great diftance from the two others, making 

 no doubt that the conquerors would pay them a vi- 

 fir, laid an ambufcade for them, into which the 

 Spaniards blindly ftumbled. Others fay, that the 

 Indians having learned that the Spaniards had al- 

 moft all of them got drunk, and were fleeping in 

 great fecurity, fell upon them in the night ; and it is 

 certain they cut the throats of almoft every one of 

 them. 



There were two chaplains in this party, one of 

 whom was killed in the beginning of the affair, and 

 the other faved himfelf amongft the MhTourites who 

 kepthim prifoner, and from whom he made his efcape 

 in a very dexterous manner. He happened to have a 

 very fine horfe, and the Mifiburites delighting in 

 beholding him perform feats of horfemanlhip, he 

 took the advantage of their curicfity, in order 

 to get out of their hands. One day as he was 

 fcampering about in their prefence, he withdrew 

 infenfibly to a diftance, when clapping fpurs to his 

 horfe> he inftantly difappeared. As they made no 



other 



