had its own peculiar coat of arms, answering to the present Indian "totem." This was painted on a piece of leather, and suspended above their doors. Some bore the sun, moon, or stars, and some different kinds of birds and beasts. What is most singular, is, that many languages were spoken in this single village.

CHAPTER XXIV.

Settlements oF THE FRENCH IN AMERICA.-Louisiana—Activity of the French adventurers—Unproductiveness of the colony of Louisiana— The patent of the colony granted to the Mississippi company—Law's celebrated Mississippi scheme-Effect of it upon Louisiana-Massacres committed by the French upon the Natchez tribe-Plot of the Indians— Massacres and devastations retorted upon the French-War between the Natchez and the Chickasaws-The Natchez submit to the FrenchTotal extirpation of that tribe-The French make war upon the Chickasaws-Ill-success of the French in their campaign against the Indians -Peace with the Chickasaws-General description of the colonists of Louisiana.

THERE is nothing so astonishing, in the annals of this period, as the number and extent of the distant voyages of discovery to the remotest points of this immense valley, which had been made by the French. On the whole, Louisiana was a heavy tax to the parent country. In five years, preceding 1717, the balance against France had been one hundred and twenty-five thousand livres. The government had been for a long time a monopoly in the hands of Crozat, a man immensely rich, but unable, with all his wealth, long to support such a losing concern. Under these circumstances, he gladly relinquished his patent, selling it, in 1717, to the Mississippi company. This company is well known in history to have had its origin in the famous bubble, which the celebrated projector, John Law, had just projected.

The mania of that scheme spread like an epidemic, and infected all France in its progress. The bubble soon' burst, and that country rang with the groans of beggary, ruin and despair. But this monstrous mischief wrought great benefits to Louisiana. During the excitement of

thousand and forty-four colonists were added to the inhabitants; and fourteen hundred and forty-six slaves were brought into the country, efficiently to commence agricultural labors. To furnish wives for the colonists, the charity and correction houses were emptied of their females, and poor girls were taken from the streets. Such kinds of colonists were not those most calculated to struggle with the difficulties of a new colony in the woods. An added number of mouths were to be filled with food; and the inhabitants, in the supineness of their indolence, received a new stimulant to their industry.

One of the most memorable events in the early history of Louisiana, is the massacre of the French among the Natchez, by that tribe of Indians, and the final extirpation of the tribe by the French. The history of this interesting nation has been given us by their destroyers. We may therefore presume that at least all the amiable traits that are given of them are true. They inhabited those delightful and fertile hills that now constitute the better part of the state of Mississippi. Their traditions lead to the impression that they had emigrated in ancient days from countries far to the southwest, probably from Mexico. They were, in many respects, compared with the Indians about them, a polished people. A few barbarous customs among them only indicate that a cruel and bloody superstition can stain the manners of a people in other respects peaceable and humane. They had laws, subordinate ranks, and institutions of various kinds. They were considerably acquainted with the use of their own medicinal herbs. They had an established worship, and a temple dedicated to the "Great Spirit," on the altar of which burned a perpetual fire. Their chiefs, like the Incas of Peru, derived their origin from the sun, and were held in such idolatrous veneration, that when about to be condemned to death, as we have seen, numbers of their subjects were still ready to offer themselves as voluntary substitutes for them. They were a numerous people, commanding respect, and giving the law far up and down the Mississippi. Amidst the ancient forests of these fertile

hills they had wandered, for the most part in peace, content with the simple gifts of nature. The admission of white men among them was the era of their doom.

The French both courted and dreaded this formidable people; and of all their allies they had been most perseveringly faithful. They had aided them in all their projects; and, more than once, by the supplies which they had furnished the French, had saved them from famine. The outrage that is now to be related, is the more memorable from the circumstance that the French were generally noted for being lenient, faithful and just in their intercourse with the savages. No doubt that these were the true secrets of their general ascendency among them. The cause of the quarrel that ensued between the French and Natchez, was of the most trivial character. A soldier of the garrison of fort Rosalie alleged that an old Natchez warrior owed him corn, and demanded immediate payment. The Indian replied, that the corn was yet green in the fields, and that, as soon as it was sufficiently ripe, he should be paid. The soldier persisted to demand prompt payment, threatening him with a beating, if he refused. Even the threat of being struck is ever insupportable to an Indian. The old man sprang, incensed, from the fort, and challenged the soldier to single combat. The soldier, alarmed by the rage of the Indian, cried murder! The warrior, on this, and seeing a crowd collecting, retired slowly towards his village. One of the guard fired upon him, and he was mortally wounded. No inquiry was made, or at least no punishment inflicted on him who had committed the outrage. All the revengeful feelings natural to savages were called up on the occasion. The Natchez flew to arms, and the French were assailed on every side, and many of them fell. The Stung Serpent, an influential chief, interposed his authority, and the slaughter ceased. A new treaty of peace was the result of the discussion that ensued, and the whole affair seemed to be buried in oblivion.

Soon after this, in the year 1723, under different pretexts, several hundred soldiers were secretly introduced

into the settlement, and the defenceless and unsuspecting Natchez were slaughtered in their huts. The head of the first chief was demanded as the price of peace, and the wretched Natchez were obliged to yield to the demand. The slaughter had continued four days, before peace was granted them. This was a deed, of course, never to be forgotten nor forgiven by the savages. They saw at once that there remained only the alternative between their own destruction or that of their enemies. They were moody, pensive, timid and slow; but they were sure in devising the means of vengeance.

Things remained in this situation until 1729. At this time, M. de Chopart, who had been the chief agent in these transactions, and who was excessively obnoxious to the savages, had been ordered to New Orleans, to meet an investigation of his conduct touching this affair. The joy of the savages was great; for they hoped at least to be delivered from his enmity and oppression. To their despair they learned that he was justified, and reinstated in his authority. He seemed, on his return, more vindictive towards them than ever. To manifest his ill-feelings, he determined to build a town two miles below the present site of Natchez, on ground occupied by a large and ancient village of the Indians. Accordingly, he sent for the sun chief, and ordered him to have the savage huts cleared away, and the inhabitants dispersed. The chief replied, "that their ancestors had dwelt there for ages, and that it was good that their descendants should dwell there after them." The order was repeated, with a threat of destruction if not obeyed.

The Indians dissembled, and, remarking "that the corn had just come out of the ground, and that their hens were laying their eggs, and that to abandon their village at that time would bring famine both on them and the French," requested delay. All that they could obtain of the haughty commandant was, to delay until autumn, on condition that each hut should bring a basket of corn and a fowl, as a tribute for this forbearance. The savages met and held councils in private; and the unanimous result was, to