This text was obtained via automated optical character recognition.
It has not been edited and may therefore contain several errors.

---

16	SPAIN IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY, 1785-1794
twenty-two commissions they have given, but no medals. They ga to each chief four Limbourg blankets and feur white woolen on-' and two of each kind to each one of the warriors, as well as powd ? and lead ingots, as they had no bullets for them. They did not giv them any knives, scissors, vermilion, or kettles, and only three rifl to the principal chiefs. They did not make any suggestion about the1 waging war, but merely stated that they would attempt once again to destroy the Kickapoos. However, they stated that, if they should be unable to succeed, they would make peace with them next spring.
Taskactoca, king of the Chickasaws, had gone to the Talapoosa?. He came back several days ago and sent word to Franchimastabe that he would come to the Choctaws here one of these days, and that he was to wait for him. The latter was getting ready to leave for Mobile with Tornair Bichairs. He says the commandant is expecting him there. He is being spoilt by being asked everywhere; he will think that he is more important than he is and will become more and mor troublesome. I made him postpone his trip four or five days, because I believe that the king of the Chickasaws is to come here with Tournef. boul who went to that nation with a passport from the commandant' of Mobile. Neither he nor the king has come back from the Chicka1. saws, and Franchimastabe is leaving for Mobile today, the fourth of, this month. I have just harangued all the chiefs and warriors of the Small Part. I arrj sending you a copy of what I said to them, hoping that you will approve what I have done. They told me that they begged you not to believe that any of the other chiefs were in favor of this trip since on the contrary they were opposed to it; but that the red men are not like the white men. for they are not disciplined-like them.	T
These chiefs seemed all to be having our interests at heart, according^ to their speeches, especially the chief of the Conchak, called Mingo-pouscouche. They received me gladly and told me that I should' witness their actions, and that I should thereby be able to inform you: as to who were the good Indians and who the bad. Upon arriving, at the nation I went to Yasou, Franchimastabe?s village, where. Tornair Bichairs was staying. After making my first speech there I went to the Small Part where I am going to residfe with Favre, who _ is employed by the King and who will serve me as interpreter. He is j the best one of the province, with a great influence over the minds of the Indians, and he knows how to lead them firmly whenever necessary. When he found out that I was coming as commissioner to this nation, he had a comfortable hut built for me. I shall live there if you will allow me because I find that life there will be simpler. Since it is only four leagues away from Franchimastabe?s village, I shall therefore be able to know what is going on in both parts with equal facility.
PROBLEMS OF FRONTIER DEFENSE, 1792-1794
77
*In Franchirfiastabe?s village there are nothing but drunkards who pose one all the time to the risk of being insulted and molested. I -lieve that it makes no difference in which part I live since the good f the service does not suffer; besides, Tornair Bichairs, who is trust-orthy, will inform me of what is going on in his village, which I can isily get to in two hours. Furthermore, I have to make frequent urs in the various villages of this nation to know what is happening. iVVTien I shall have regained a little strength I shall go to the Six illages to continue my harangues; although not one of those Indians as gone to Cumberland, it is wise to forestall them for fear that they will fall into error. The Indians like presents, and those received by the others might well tempt them.
If you could possibly forbid the introduction of liquor into this nation, you would be doing a great good, because it is coming from everywhere and is making the Indians nasty and insolent. Those who are obliged to live among them suffer from this fact. I called together all the traders of this nation and pointed out their line of duty to them. I obliged them to tell me all that they might learn and to warn me whenever some vagabond would wander in, and to bring him 'to me if the case necessitated it. I also warned them that, if they had >ny arguments, they were to complain to me and that I should deal '..out justice to them. They all seemed satisfied. There is a considerable ^mortality of horses in the nation. The traders have lost theirs and jthere is not one left to carry their furs to Mobile. The	Indians are
in the same fix, and besides they are going to die of hunger	because
the drought has caused their corn crop to fail. t God have you in His Holy keeping.
At the Choctaws, September 6,179%.
Jn. DeLAVTLLEBEUVRE (Rubric)
; To the Baiion de Cahondelet.
Decoigne to Trudeau September 8,179%80
Mr Father :	I am fulfilling the promise I have made you of
telling you all the news which I might learn.
None has reached me, except General Putnam?s invitation of which
I	enclose a copy herewith, and my departure for Post Vincennes. Wait for my return, which will take place in twenty days; at that time I shall give you a word for word account of the treaty which we are going to make.
My father, since I have gone into debt to send my son to school,
?* BL, (French).