298 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [BULL. 43

original seats of the Chitimacha. From Iberville's statement, how-
ever, as well as others to be noted presently, it would appear that
the tribes of Bayou La Fourche were properly the Washa and Cha-
washa, with possibly some other small bands, the real seats of the
Chitimacha being farther west. Undoubtedly the members of these
small tribes also hunted and camped throughout the territory
embraced between La Fourche and the Mississippi, or even crossed to
the eastern side of the latter- stream, and from this circumstance and
their later removal to the neighborhood of New Orleans it has been
too readily assumed, as by Sibley,a that they always belonged to that
district. In July, 1699, after Iberville's departure for France, his
brother, Bienville, made a vain attempt to place himself on a friendly
footing with them. La Harpe gives the following account of his
expedition:
 The 24th M. de Bienville left in two hark canoes with 5 inen, provisions
for three weeks, and merchandise destined for the savages, with the intention
of visiting the west pass of the Mississippi and to learn if it was navigable,
to go up afterwards as far as Bayagoula, in order to obtain guides there who
were acquainted with Red river. He crossed lakes Pontchartrain and lau-
repas, and on the 27th he arrived at the portage of Manclac, and the 3d of
September at the Ilayagoula village. There he took a guide to conduct him
to the Onacha nation, situated in the west fork of the river. He left on the
8th for this exploration. Having advanced 4 leagues he entered this canal
and found only 5 feet of water there. The 9th lie arrived at the landing
place of the Ounahas, 12 leagues within the fork; he went to the village a
quarter of a league inland; he found this nation fierce and difficult to approach,
and by their actions he perceived that they had evil designs, a fact which
induced him to retire to his pirogues.b These Onachas were allied to the
Chnouchas and Onquilouzas. wandering people of the seacoast. counting to-
gether 200 men. That night these savages wished to surprise the French;
but their sentinel having perceived them cried "Alrtc! They were obliged to
fire several volleys into the woods in the places where they heard them coming
and then to embark and take their way to the Mississippi. This event pre-
vented them from descending the fork to the sea, although it would have been
entirely useless to do so, since 0 leagues below the Ouachas this fork separates
into two branches, and lower still into nany rivulets, so that there remains
only enough water in it for the passage of a pirogue."
 From the topographical information given in this narrative it
would seem that the Washa village was in the neighborhood of the
modern Labadieville.
 Although the Chaouasha, a related tribe, are mentioned, we hear
nothing more of the Washa until 1718, after the founding of New
Orleans, when they moved to the Mississippi and settled 11 leagues
above on the south side, three-quarters of a league above the conces-
sion of M. de Moeuve.d P6nicaut states that their old village was
 aAnn. 9th Cong., 1087, 1S52.
 SUnless Bienville had changed his bark canoes for dugouts La Harpe has made a mistake
here in using the word pirogues."
 c La Harpe, Jour. Hist., 17-19, 1831.
 d Margry, Decouvertes, v, 557.