( 2 5 I ) 



count of the connections which the Yafous particu- 

 larly maintain with the Englifh. 



There are a great many alligators in this river, 

 and I have feen two of them from twelve to fifteen 

 feet in length. They are never heard but in the 

 night-time, and their cry fo much refembles the 

 bellowing of bulls, that people are frequently de- 

 ceived by it. Our people, notwithstanding, bathe 

 in this river as freely as in the Seine. On my tefti- 

 fying my furprize at this, I was told, That they had 

 nothing to fear \ that indeed, when in the water, 

 they were conftantly furrounded by thefe animals, 

 but that none of them came near them, and feemed 

 only to watch them, in order to fall upon them, 

 the moment they were going to leave the river : 

 that then, in order to drive them away, they made 

 a fplafhing in the water with a flick, which they 

 took care to be provided with, and which made 

 thefe animals fly to fuch a diftance, that they had 

 fufiicient time to fecure themfelves. 



The company has a ware-houfe at this port, as 

 they have at the Akanfas but the fort and territory 

 belong to a private company, confirming of M. Le 

 Blanc, fecretary of ftate ; M. le Comte de Belle- 

 Ifle, M. le M arquis d' Arsfeld, and IV1. le Blond, 

 brigadier Ingeneer. This laft refides in the colony 

 in quality of director- general of the company. I 

 cannot well comprehend what has made them pitch 

 upon the river of the Yafous for the place of their 

 grant. They had affuredly much better lands, and 

 more advantageous fituations in their choice. 5 Tis 

 true, it is a matter of importance to fecure this 

 river, the fource of which is not far from Carolina ; 

 but a fort with a good garrifon would have been 

 fufiicient for this purpofe, as well as to keep the 



Yafous 



