( 28o ) 



in the lake. This village is built round a very 

 large fquare, and is indifferently populous. 



The chief's cabbin is finely decorated for an In- 

 dian's, on the outfide ; on which there are figures 

 in relief, not fo badly executed as one would ex- 

 pect. It is very obfcure within doors, and I could 

 fee nothing in it but chefts, full, as I was told, of 

 goods and money. The chief received us very 

 politely, he was drefied after the French fafhion, 

 and feemed in no-ways incommoded with his 

 cloaths. Our commandants repofe greater confi- 

 dence in this man, than in any other of the Indians 

 of Louifiana : he loves our nation, and has no 

 reafon to repent the fer vices he has done us. He 

 carries oh a trade with the French, fupplying them 

 with Horfes and poultry, and is very expert at 

 buii efs. He has learned from us the art of laying 

 tip money, and is accounted very rich. He has 

 long left off wearing the Indian habit, and takes 

 great pride in appearing always well-drelfed. 



The reft of the cabbins in this village are partly 

 fquare, like that of the chief, and partly round, as 

 at the Natchez the fquare upon which they all 

 fland is about a hundred paces in diameter, where 

 though it was that day extremely hot, the young 

 people were diverting themfelves at a fort of truck, 

 not unlike ours in Europe. There are two other 

 villages belonging to this nation at no great dif- 

 tance from this, which are all that remains of a peo- 

 ple heretofore very numerous. I have already ob- 

 served, that they had a mifiionary whom they 

 greatly efteemed, but have fince learned they once 

 expelled him, on account of his fetting their temple 

 on fire, which, however, they have not rebuilt or 

 rekindled its fire, a certain proof of their indifference 



with 



