( 247 ) 



melancholy ruins of Mr. Law's grant, of which the 

 company now remain the proprietors. 



It was to this place, that the nine thoufand 

 German palatinates were to have been fent ; and 

 it has been a great lofs that that defign proved 

 abortive. There is not, perhaps, a country in all 

 Louifiana, excepting that of the Illinois, where 

 there is a better foil, for producing all forts of 

 grain and feeding of cattle. Mr. Law has been 

 very ill ufed, as well as the greateft part of thofe 

 to whom grants were given. In ail probability, 

 it will befome time before fuch levies are made 

 again, there is occafion for them in the mother coun- 

 try ; and befides, we commonly regulateour conduct 

 upon the firfb fuccefs of fuch enterprizes, without 

 confidering what has occafioned their failure, in 

 order to correct it for the future. 



I found the village of the Ouyapes in the great- 

 eft defolation. Some time ago, a Frenchman 

 pafiing this way was taken ill of the fmall-pox : 

 the infection was at firft communicated to a few of 

 the Indians, and foon after to the whole canton. 

 The burial-place appeared like a wood of (takes 

 and pofts newly erected, on which was fufpended 

 almoft every thing in ufe dmon^ft thefe barbari* 

 ans. 



I pitched my tent pretty near the village, and all 

 the night I heard nothing but weeping, in which 

 the men joined as well as the women, incefTantly 

 repeating the word mbabani, as I have heard it a- 

 mong the Illinois, and pretty much in the fame 

 tone. The evening before, I faw a woman weep- 

 ing over htr fonN grave, and pouring a great 

 quantity of fagamity upon it. Another had light* 



R 4 ed 



