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1 flayed among the Natchez much longer than I 

 expected, which was owing to the deftitute condi- 

 tion in which I found the French with refpeel to 

 fpiritual afliftance. The dew of heaven has not as 

 yet fallen upon this fine country, which is more 

 than any other enriched with the fat of the earth. 

 The late Mi d ? Iberville had defigned a jefuit for 

 this place, who accompanied him in his fecond 

 voyage to Louifiana, in order to eftablifh Ghrifti- 

 anity in a nation, the converfion of which he doubt- 

 ed not would draw after it, that of all the reft ; but 

 this miflionary on palling through the village of 

 the Bayagoulas, imagined he found more favours- 

 able difpofitions towards religion there, and while 

 he was thinking on fixing his residence airongft 

 them, was recalled to France? by order of his fu~ 

 periors* 



An ecclefiaftic of Canada was in the fequel fent 

 to the Natchez, where he refided a fufficient time, 

 but made no profelites, though he To far gained the 

 good graces of the woman chief, that out of refpedfc 

 to him, fhe called one of her fons by his name. 

 This miflionary being obliged to make a voyage 

 to the Mobile* was killed on his way thither by 

 fome Indians, who probably had no other motive 

 for this cruel action, but to plunder his baggage, 

 •as had before happened to another prieft, on the 

 fide of the Akanfas. From this time forth all 

 Louifiana, below the Illinois, has been without any 

 ecclefiaftick, excepting the Tanicas, who for feve- 

 ral years have had a miflionary whom they love 

 and efteem, and would even have chofen for their 

 chief, but who has not been able, notwith- 

 ftanding all this, to perfuade one fingle perfon to 

 embrace Chriftianity. 



T 3 But 



