SWANTON] INDIAN TRIBES OF THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY 225

and spend the night. The necessaries for a feast, including wine
and brandy, had been taken there in advance by some negroes.a
 The same day the batteaux arrived, and the next morning the
Natchez repaired to the commandant and offered their services for
a grand hunt, in honor of the distinguished persons who had come.
The commandant accepted their assistance joyfully, and they at once
distributed themselves throughout the French settlements to pur-
chase guns, powder, and ball, which they paid for on the spot in
poultry, corn, etc., even at high rates. Meanwhile the great chief,
accompanied by his principal warriors and Honored men, proceeded
to the fort, ostensibly to bring part of the provisions that had been
exacted in return for the delay granted them in the removal of their
village, and to perform the calumet dance.6
 Suddenly, while they were in the midst of this dance, they seized
their guns and shot down several persons in the commandant's pres-
ence, and almost at the same time a company which had been
detached to capture the batteaux fired upon those who had charge of
it. At this signal the Natchez, who had taken good pains to dis-
tribute themselves in such a manner as to outnumber the French
everywhere, fell upon them and made an almost complete slaughter.
So few escaped that the details of this massacre recorded by various
writers naturally disagree in many points. According to some,
Ch6part was the first to fall, but Du Pratz and Dumont are probably
right in stating that the Natchez, having too much contempt for him
to kill him themselves, had a Stinkard beat him to death with a
wooden war club, toward the end of the massacre."
 Other prominent individuals killed were the Kollys, father and
son; Father du Poisson, missionary among the Arkansas; and M. du
CodBre, commandant at Yazoo. The missionary was on his way to
New Orleans to consult with M. Perrier, and to adopt with him
proper measures to enable the Quapaw to descend to the banks of
the Mississippi for the accommodation of the voyageurs. He arrived
at Natchez quite late on the 26th, intending to set out again the next
day, after saying mass. Unfortunately for him, the Capuchin father
who exercised parochial functions at that place was absent, and
Father du Poisson was requested to say mass and preach, it being
the first Sunday of Advent, and he consented. In the afternoon,
as he was on the point of embarking, he was informed that there
were some sick persons at the point of death. He attended them,
 a Dumont, Mem. Hist. sur La Louisiane, 11, 137-138; Du Pratz, Hist. de La Louisiane,
III, 254.
 b Shea's Charlevoix, Hist. Louisiana, vi, 81-82; Dumont, Mom. Hist. sur La Louisiaae,
II, 139-142; Du Pratz, Hist. de La Louisiane, Il, 256.
 SDumont, M6m. Hist. sur La Louisiane, 11, 144-146; Du Pratz, Hist. de La Louisiana.
jIl, 255-256.
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